A £64m Ministry of Defence jetty project on Loch Long has been delayed for a second time.
Originally due to be complete in March, the work is designed to update the jetty at Glen Mallan for the Royal Navy’s huge new aircraft carriers.
Initially Covid-19 restrictions had not delayed the project, with staff seen as key workers and the project classed as ‘critical national infrastructure’.
But in March the MoD said social distancing had reduced the size of the workforce, meaning construction would not be complete until August.
And this week a spokesperson said: “The completion date for the re-development of the Northern Ammunition Jetty in Scotland has now moved to November 2021, due to the impact of Covid-19.”
The initial cost of £63m was revised to £64m earlier this year, but the MoD says the project is still within that budget.
The capacity of the jetty, which is close to the MoD’s munitions depot in Glen Douglas and near the boundary of Scotland’s first national park will be increased – doubling the maximum size of vessels using it to 65,000 tonnes, meaning the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers will be able to go alongside and be loaded with ammunition.
Earlier this year HMS Queen Elizabeth went to Glen Mallan despite the project not being completed.
Initially the MoD wanted to ban all vehicles from stretch of the A814 between Arrochar and Finnart while munitions were being loaded and unloaded, but this was ruled out by Argyll and Bute Council.
Instead a ‘clearway order’, enforced by MoD Police, will see parking banned on the A814 and the C69 Glen Douglas Road.
Signs for this order are in place along the road, but currently covered up.
The jetty was first used in 1958 – the MoD says it has deteriorated and without replacement it would only last another 15 years at the most, while the new jetty’s expected operational life will run until 2070.
A total of 127 piles will be driven and drilled into the seabed.
Planning permission was not needed for the project, unlike recent buildings at Faslane, since it was seen as ‘permitted development’.
A portable building and car park beside the A814 lochside road were initially said to be temporary, although the MoD said this year that ‘any proposals to retain the car park on a permanent basis will be subject to local authority consents’.
Pre-application consultation events were held in Arrochar and Garelochhead and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) shows a range of public bodies including environmental watchdog SEPA were consulted,
SEPA’s response referred to being short-staffed and struggling to meet timescales before stating: “I understand that it is proposed to refurbish an existing jetty with a minor extension and other minor works.
“Given the small scale nature of the works we would not provide site specific advice in this instance.”
Leave a Reply