Plans to begin the second phase of a multi-million pound flood prevention scheme in the Capital can now proceed since funding was approved last Thursday morning at the meeting of the full council.
The Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme (WoLFPS) is a key infrastructure project to help protect hundreds of properties in vulnerable areas of the city from future flooding. It has not been without its difficulties since the first phase exceeded the original estimate.
The council explained in January: “Construction work for Phase 1, which included defences at Veitches Square, Stockbridge Colonies, Warriston, St Mark’s Park and Bonnington, began on 15 March 2011 with a scheduled completion date of 23 October 2012 and an estimated construction cost of £15.225m.
“However, following a number of issues including disputes with the Contractor, civil engineering work was largely complete in October 2013 and a Minute of Variation was entered into with the Contractor on 9 April 2013, including a cost to complete for a fixed price of £23.5m, subjected to substantiation.”
Our photos show the level of works required around Stockbridge and Warriston in the first phase.
Following the completion of the first phase overall costs for a reconfigured Phase 2 at Murrayfield/Roseburn were estimated at £25.241m.
However, the available capital budget for this second phase stood at £20.539m, leaving a shortfall of £4.702m and jeopardising the delivery of this next stage of the WoLFPS.
The City of Edinburgh Council has now agreed to fund this shortfall through a realignment and transfer of existing Services for Communities capital budgets, meaning that the formal procurement process can now get under way, with flood prevention works starting in the Roseburn and Murrayfield area in Autumn 2015.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “It’s fantastic news that we can now proceed with the next stage of this hugely important project, which will safeguard hundreds of properties from flooding in the future. We’ve been working extremely closely with the community and key stakeholders to make sure they were fully involved in the plans from the outset and with reinforced governance and protocols in place, we’re confident that Phase 2 will be delivered efficiently and at best value to the taxpayer.”
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