Water surprise as work on new road helps surrounding wildlife

20 Nov 2006

Design work for the new Kirkintilloch Link Road is progressing well with a number of environmental precautions underway to ensure the protection of the surrounding land and wildlife. The new road, one of Kirkintilloch’s Initiative’s (KI) flagship projects, will link Kirkintilloch to the national motorway system by a high standard road for the first time.

Environmental survey’s carried out recently discovered 12 families of water voles, a protected species thought to be the UK’s most rapidly declining mammal. KI have been working closely with environmental consultants to put in place proper procedures to protect the animals. It is an offence to carry out construction work on a water vole burrow, so specialist consultants were brought in to advise on the best way to deal with it.

The water voles are currently being captured and relocated to an alternative animal sanctuary until work on the road is completed – after which they will be reintroduced to their original habitat. Careful consideration has been given to the design of the road to make sure the animals will be safe when they are returned.

Over the coming months, a number of trees around the Bothlyn Burn area will be removed. In order to minimise the effect on the wildlife, the tree removal will be completed before February 2007, in advance of the nesting season, to ensure minimal impact on the birds and bats in the area. The KLR landscape scheme, will ensure that these trees will be replaced in due course.

As part of the detailed ground investigation it was decided that the land being used for the construction of the road, owned by KI, should be fenced off to minimise the risks to livestock in the surrounding fields. Fencing is due to be erected around the site within the next few weeks.

Duncan Hamilton, project director for Kirkintilloch’s Initiative is impressed by the level of work so far, and the efforts being made to protect the wildlife:
“Not only are people working tremendously hard to design the new link road, but the amount of work put in by all the people involved in preparing the ground work has been really impressive. There is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes as well as on site, to ensure that the proper precautions are taken to protect the surrounding areas.”

“Its great that we were able to relocate the water voles without causing any harm to the species, and I want to thank all the people who have been involved for all their hard work.”

Detailed design proposals are currently being finalised and will form the detailed planning application which will be submitted to East Dunbartonshire Council later this year. Plans will be put on public display nearer the time. Construction work on the link road is due to start in Spring 2007 for 18 months with a view to the road opening in Autumn 2008.