The new sewage outflow pipe

[NickB]

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Leave Balfour Beattie alone by all means - they have enough problems to contend with trying to get everything working and reinstated. But Scottish Water is a very different animal. They are an inefficient, arrogant and publicly funded body who have stuck two fingers up to Seil, as they have done to many other small communities in the past. Their initial roll-out of the plans was deliberately obscure and their consultation processes have been a joke. I am currently waiting for a response to a simple query I put to their 'customer care' department nearly four weeks ago.

Ask the residents of Tighanbruaich, Lochgilphead and Campbeltown if SW should be 'left alone' and see what they say. In Campbeltown, according to data released by Scottish Water themselves to local residents under freedom of information legislation, sewage overflowed into Campbeltown harbour for 2,303 hours during 2007, mostly in the winter, due to 'excessive rainfall'.

Re. the trees/fence at the plant - of course you can't plant trees any closer to the road - they won't grow in tarmac. However, it doesn't take a genius to realise that you could have planted a row of trees outside the fence if the fence had been a few feet further back. That's not Balfour Beattie's fault either, the plans were all drawn up by Scottish Water - who don't think and don't care.

So come on Scottish Water's equivalent of Insideman - where are you? Let's be hearing Scottish Water defending themselves with slightly more authority than Maggie can muster.

[Sandy MacSeil]

I fail to see how spending in the order of £12,000,000 on providing a modern sewage system for Seil represents "sticking two fingers up at Seil" nor have I found the consultation process "deliberately obscure" and "a joke". I find little substance and much irritation in your rants, Nick, and very much support Maggie's view that we should not prejudge the final outcome. Personally, like the majority here, I am optimistic.

[NickB]

Personally, like the majority here, I am optimistic.

54% is hardly an overwhelming majority. If you think that represents a PR triumph for Scottish Water then fine, but I don't think so.

I am sure the residents of Campbeltown were also optimistic and didn't want to prejudge the final outcome, and what they got is a matter of public record. As a matter of interest, when do you think would be a reasonable time/date for us to take stock and see if we are happy or not?

If you are so irritated could I suggest as a remedy that you simply don't open threads started by me with titles obviously related to the sewage project?

[Sandy MacSeil]

Actually I said and meant that the "irritation" lies within your comments and apparent negative attitude to the project and to SW. Similarly "final outcome" will refer to a date when the works are completed. This stuff is all in the words.

[longshanks]

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Leave Balfour Beattie alone ..... But Scottish Water is a very different animal. They are an inefficient, arrogant and publicly funded body.

I quite agree.
As a shareholder in Balfour Beattie I am very pleased with their dividend level and chuffed that their profits increased by 72% last year. The share price has held up well since the start of the recession (its seen as a defensive stock in The City) and should soar in the recovery with Crash Gordon pumping billions into construction.
Now; as for Scottish Water. I'm with you on this one MacB. It should be privatised asap (monies raised to pay off part of our massive National Debt). In private hands efficiency will rise massively and massive profits will be made with Gordo's billions sliushing around. I would invest and look forward to a handsome return in terms of both dividend and capital gain.

Shankers (Keynsian by choice)

[khartoumteddy]

Privatise Scottish Water
Surely You Jest
Did it work for the Post Office
The Coal Board,British Rail Etc Etc

Coal Industry GONE
Steel Industry GONE
Post Office Dead in The water

Nice to see your shares doing well longshanks
unfortunately most shares have followed the trend set by Marconi.Woolworths Polly Peck.etc

Thankfully we still live in a small set of islands which can be beautiful
pipe outlets permitting.
with an interesting outlook and the ability to express our own views
not that they always agree.
eg
nick b v maggie
but at least the subjects are kept to the fore
and it provides us with an outlet for some discussion

Teddy :English Flag :jack

[Sandy MacSeil]

In the cause of objectivity and for comparison purposes, could NickB please provide us with photos of the sewage discharge outlets as they were before Scottish Water began this project? How did the effluent from the end of the T&T's pipe look? - and those of the other properties which discharged raw sewage? Were the many pipes discharging from myriad septic tanks terminating below low water mark and were they masterpieces of engineering? We need to know....

[MonaLott]

I hope Nick and the rest of the inveterate sewage-works complainers are pleased with the recent extension and burial of the effluent discharge pipe in Balvicar Bay? Credit where it's due. Well done to Scottish Water and the contractors.

[NickB]

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It's looking a lot better - hopefully it will now stay buried. A smooth job, with no embarrassing sunken digger incidents this time

Anyone got the latest scoop on Scottish Water's plans for Ellenabeich?