Latest news with #WaterEnvironmentFund
Scotsman
7 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
River Restoration Project enters new phase
An important environmental project that will bring significant benefits to wildlife, biodiversity and communities to the north of Glenrothes and Markinch has begun its construction phase. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Back Burn project will see 5.8 km of watercourses restored to their more natural condition, which will bring many advantages including local resilience to climate change. Fife Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have commissioned this river restoration project. It's being managed by Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT), supported initially with funding from the Water Environment Fund and forms part of the wider Leven Programme. The project's technical designers are cbec eco-engineering. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Contractors McGowan Environmental Ltd have now been appointed to the project following a design phase that included site surveys, computer modelling, securing permissions and stakeholder engagement. Blue sluice gate at Coul Den, Glenrothes The Back Burn has been affected by many man-made changes over time. These changes include artificial straightening of the burn with wire baskets filled with stones (gabions) and the building of barriers, such as weirs, across the burn. Restoration works will now begin with a focus on improvements at Coul Den and Balbirnie Park. At Coul Den the original watercourse will be restored, while preserving the historic blue sluice gate. Visitors will also see new bridge and boardwalk crossings being created which will improve water flow and flood management. Improvements at Balbirnie Park include removing weirs to allow the burn to flow more naturally and installing step pools in the river to support wildlife. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The start of construction on the Back Burn project marks an exciting moment for our local communities," said Councillor Jan Wincott, Fife Council spokesperson for environment and climate change. "This is about more than just improving a waterway — it's about bringing nature back into the heart of our towns and creating spaces where people of all ages can connect with the environment. "We're grateful to everyone who's helped shape this project and look forward to seeing the Back Burn become a place the whole community can enjoy and be proud of.' Lynda Gairns, River Restoration Specialist at SEPA, said: 'SEPA's Water Environment Fund (WEF) are delighted that the Back Burn restoration project is starting its work phase which will see construction taking place over the summer months. This disruption will be short term and after a few growing seasons will see the Back Burn, and its surrounding greenspace, recover and improve habitat for its fish populations, nature, and access for residents. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are committed to improving rivers that have been historically altered throughout Scotland, for the benefit of nature, climate and people.' Jeremy Harris, Chief Executive at FCCT, said: 'We bring to the Back Burn our experience from managing the highly successful River Leven Restoration Project for our partners. We're excited to begin the building phase at Coul Den and Balbirnie Park. Visitors will see some big changes that are all to the benefit of species biodiversity, flood resilience and local communities.' Diversions will be clearly signposted at both sites and visitors are asked to please adhere to them. For up-to-date information on path closures and diversions please keep an eye on the FCCT website, social media and project page. Any questions should be directed to
Press and Journal
03-06-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Cash-strapped council pushed to AXE £3m Denburn restoration after grant snub
Planning chiefs are pushing for the £3 million restoration of Aberdeen's Denburn to be 'paused indefinitely' after they were refused a crucial grant. The restoration project was launched two years ago to make the ancient stream and surrounding wetland habitat more accessible to residents. Under the plans, the 1.5 mile stretch from the Den of Maidencraig nature reserve to King's Gate in the west of the city would have been enhanced. It was also proposed to re-meander the Denburn and create new footpaths for visitors to stroll along. And for the last two years, council leaders have been trying to work out how to fund the project – securing extra support from Sepa and Nestrans. But now, planning officials are recommending the project is kicked in the long grass after they were denied a £1.5m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The local authority has already secured some promises of cash to help bring the project to fruition. Sepa pledged to pay up to £950,000 through its Water Environment Fund, however, this funding is time-limited and would be lost if the project is delayed. This is on top of another £250,000 which they gave the council for the designs. Money was also secured from Nestrans and bus lane fines for the new path works, which will also only be awarded if the proposal moves forward. However, planning chief David Dunne explains that if they don't find the remaining money needed to complete the project by September, they will have to refund it all. The whole scheme is estimated to cost around £3m – nearly a million more than initially expected. After securing the first batches of cash and joining with Sepa to develop the project, city chiefs were tasked with finding external sources for the final piece of the puzzle. The National Lottery Heritage Fund was found as the best match and the application was submitted in November – but refused just a few months later. Lottery bosses explained they preferred to give the cash to other projects and suggested the Denburn one would benefit from more financial support from the council instead. And now Mr Dunne has advised that it would be wise to shelve the project until they find other avenues to fund. This is one of four options drawn up by his planning team, which also include moving forward as planned despite the grant snub and scrapping the restoration altogether. In his report, he writes: 'The Den Burn Restoration Project is an active project with SEPA and is prioritised for funding with them. 'Pausing the project indefinitely will very significantly raise the risk of losing this existing external funding. 'However, there appear no other choices in the absence of match funding.' Members of the local authority's net zero, environment and transport committee will discuss the Denburn project when they meet next week.
