(left to right) Glen Henderson, Project Manager for Balfour Beatty, BBC Scotland’s Laura Miller who presented the award, and Peter Forsyth, East Lothian Council’s Project Manager in Growth and Sustainability who led the project’s delivery for the council.
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The creation of a new bridge and diversionary road replacing the Markle Level Crossing near East Linton scooped a top prize at this year’s Scottish Civil Engineering Awards.
East Lothian Council and infrastructure firm Balfour Beatty collected the accolade in the Rail Infrastructure Project category.
The awards are widely recognised as the highest honour for engineering excellence in the built environment in Scotland.
The council acted as project managers for the works which were undertaken by Balfour Beatty.
Peter Forsyth, who led its delivery for the council, and Glen Henderson, Project Manager for Balfour Beatty, were presented with the award at a ceremony held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre last month.
The works, which were fully funded by Transport Scotland, saw the construction of a single- span bridge to replace the level crossing along with the construction of a 1km diversionary road at Markle Steading.
Markle Level Crossing had been one of only two remaining level crossings on Scotland’s East Coast Main Line. Its closure removed the risk to road users and the national rail network. The new bridge benefitted pedestrians and road traffic by removing delays caused by lowered level crossing barriers when trains are approaching.
The project incorporated 70,000 tonnes of locally sourced materials and delivered a shared-use path providing safe access for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrian users.
A sustainable drainage system, including three attenuation ponds, was introduced to manage stormwater and reduce flood risk, alongside landscaping that enhanced biodiversity and integrated the structure into its rural setting.
At the awards, the project was praised for “demonstrating how civil engineering can improve safety, connectivity and the quality of life for local communities”.
Peter Forsyth, the council’s Project Manager in Growth and Sustainability, said: “This was an excellent example of a ‘Team Scotland’ delivery model, with the council working closely in partnership with Transport Scotland, Network Rail and Balfour Beatty.
“Within the council, this complex construction project was supported across our services, including Procurement, Legal, Planning, Roads and Estates.
“We’re pleased the award recognised the benefits brought to the community which was our key focus throughout the project.”
Keith Macdonald, Project Director, Balfour Beatty's Regional Scotland business, said: “We’re proud to see the Markle Level Crossing project recognised for engineering excellence, and this award is testament to the collaboration and commitment of everyone involved. Together with our partners, we’ve delivered safer, more reliable crossing that will benefit the local community for years to come.”
Flytipping in Stirling
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Homeowners across Scotland are being reminded they could face fines of up to £500 if their unwanted waste is dumped illegally, as part of a new campaign to tackle flytipping.
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has launched a campaign highlighting householders’ responsibilities when disposing of unwanted items and the impact flytipping has on communities and the environment.
The Scottish Government’s National Flytipping Baseline estimates that around 26,000 tonnes of material are dumped across Scotland every year, while 84% of people agree flytipping is a national problem.
The campaign urges people to take household waste to a council recycling centre or use a registered waste carrier to remove unwanted items.
Householders are also being warned that they remain responsible for their waste even when paying someone else to dispose of it. If illegally dumped waste can be traced back to them, they could face a fine of up to £500.
Heather McLaughlin, campaigns manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said many people simply chose the cheapest option when hiring someone to remove their waste without considering where it would end up.
She said: “Flytipping is a serious crime. We understand that the majority of people who want to get rid of waste simply pay the best price for someone to remove the items – they don’t think about what happens to it and whether it ends up in the right place or just dumped.
“But the bottom line is your waste is your responsibility; 38% of people don’t know it is your responsibility to check if the person you ask to remove your waste has a license.”
Ms McLaughlin added that flytipping was costly to clear up and had a damaging effect on local communities.
She urged anyone clearing out their home or carrying out renovation work to dispose of waste at a council recycling centre or check that any waste carrier they hire is properly licensed.
The campaign forms part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s support for the Scottish Government’s National Litter and Flytipping Strategy.
For advice on disposing of waste, finding a reputable trader or reporting flytipping, visit the Community Litter Hub.
Newtongrange Primary School nursery has been praised for 'inspirational' leadership
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A school nursery has been praised for its inspirational leadership and ‘culture of excellence’ after an unannounced visit by a care inspector.
Children attending Newtongrange Primary School nursery in Dalkeith impressed the inspector with their strong sense of “ownership and pride in their learning”.
The nursery was given the highest grade available for its leadership and play and learning provision of Excellent following the visit with support for children in its care graded Very Good.
Councillor Ellen Scott, Midlothian Council’s education spokesperson said the whole school team and families should be ‘incredibly proud of the outstanding achievement”.
The inspector said staff at the nursery were passionate and ambitious and worked with families to ensure parents and children were able to get involved in developing the service.
They praised support for learning in the day to day activities for children which targeted learning including literacy, communication and the STEM subjects (science, technologies, engineering and mathematics) particularly in the outdoor garden which was described as being ‘full of wonder and excitement’.
Their report said: “The development of outdoor science, technologies, engineering and maths enriched children’s learning experiences. Gardening projects helped children connect with nature, sustainability and the wider world.”
Councillor Scott welcomed the recognition of the nursery’s approach.
She said: “A particular strength of the nursery has always been its outdoor learning environment, where children are encouraged to learn through exploration, discovery and hands-on experiences.
“From planting, growing and harvesting food to investigating the natural world around them, children are given daily opportunities to develop curiosity, resilience and a deeper understanding of where food and nature come from. These rich outdoor experiences help bring learning to life and support children’s confidence, creativity and problem-solving skills.
“The nursery and wider school also have strong links with the local community, with children regularly attending the community garden and learning alongside local residents.
“Combined with high-quality, child-centred play, strong partnerships with families and a commitment to continuous improvement, it is easy to see why the nursery has achieved such impressive results. The headteacher, staff, children and families should all be incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement.”
The report comes just days after the council’s cabinet heard Hawthorn Family Learning Centre, in nearby Mayfield, had also earned an Excellent grading for its leadership and child support.
The centre, which is the only one of its kind in Midlothian providing support to children, parents and carer through early year placements and family learning, was praised for the strong relationships between staff and families and a family centred approach.
Midlothian Council said a report on the Newtongrange Nursery inspection findings would be presented to the next meeting of cabinet next month.
