Levenhowe Study with West Dunbartonshire Council.
Levenhowe Study with West Dunbartonshire Council.
The below emails was received on the 15th May 2025 and 19th May 2025 from Liam Greene and Gail Macfarlane from West Dunbartonshire Council regarding the Levenhowe Study
Repy from Liam Greene on 15th May 2025
Dear Denis and Jackie
Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding, the team have been liaising with the consultant to progress matters as much as possible.
We have not been able to undertake any of the survey works on site which we originally aimed for early May, but the team have been liaising with the consultant to agree a scope, specification and pricing schedule for the survey and assessment works to ensure we address both the issues raised by the residents and those raised by SEPA. The consultant has also been updating and developing the required hydrology modelling required to ensure that they can input the information gathered during the site survey works without any further delay.
We have been informed by the consultant that the specification for the site survey works is being reviewed by their senior management, in line with their internal quality management procedures, before being presented to ourselves for approval and agreement. The site survey works cannot progress until this element is signed off and we do not have a confirmed date for these site works to be undertaken. We have asked the consultant to provide an indicative programme and are pushing for the survey works to be undertaken before the end of June, if not earlier but this will be dependent on availability of an appropriate survey contractor. I will be able to advise fully once we receive the project programme however, I would highlight that the on-site survey works only make up a small portion of the project. The current anticipated cost of the assessment in £100k and the primary cost is for the hydrological assessment, modelling, and cost benefit analysis work. Unfortunately, it is this background works which can often take the most time on such projects.
We feel that the most appropriate time to engage with residents further when all the required modelling and survey data have been collated. This would give the consultant and the Council an opportunity to present the findings and allow residents to provide feedback. This will allow us to capture any additional local knowledge that may not be reflected in the current modelling. We would then move on to evaluating options and undertaking the required cost analysis.
We appreciate that the consultant has not progressed the works as indicated at the outset however as part of the requested programme and have asked that it includes any proposed actions to mitigate any delays to delivery of the final report. We will provide a copy of the programme as soon as this is received and confirmation of dates of when the on site survey works will be undertaken as soon as it is confirmed.
I trust the above information will be of use.
Liam Greene
Roads and Transportation Manager
West Dunbartonshire Council
Repy from Gail Macfarlane on 16th May 2025
The reply from Gail Macfarlane of West Dunbartonshire Council answered the two following questions.
1. What solutions are being considered as part of the survey?
2. Can you assure us that residents will be engaged as part of the survey and before any publication?
1. Apologies I have not met with the consultant directly so can not confirm the scope of study but I recall at the SEPA meeting we discussed that there may be alternative solutions that may be acceptable to SEPA if the dredging continues to not be acceptable following this additional study. I would suggest that the study will identify potential interventions following the modelling and information gathering exercise. At this point they will be able to set out recommendations and undertake cost benefit analysis. Any request for a budget to be allocated from Council would require these.
2. Yes I can confirm this will happen. Liam has been clear with the Consultant that the residents knowledge of the burn should be an integral element of the evidence gathering and survey work and be considered within the study.
Kind regards,
Gail