Chamber and committees

This information is not held centrally.

This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:(a) West of Scotland Water has set up the Community Forum to promote understanding of the project during the construction phase through the community councils, local groups and to the wider public. It was established as a result of proposals at the public meetings held on 29 and 30 August 2001. The forum comprises representatives of the local community councils and interest groups, together with Katrine Water Project personnel with the composition as follows:1 representative from Baldernock Amenity Society;1 representative from Baldernock Community Council;1 representative from Friends of Milngavie Reservoir;2 representatives from Milngavie Community Council;1 representative from Milngavie Civic Trust;1 representative from Mugdock Association, and1 representative from Strathblane Community Council.There are four representatives from Katrine Water Project involving:1 representative from West of Scotland Water (Chair);2 representatives from Stirling Water, and1 representative from West of Scotland Water Community Relations Unit (minute secretary).(b) The Community Forum meets every two months.(c) At the inaugural meeting, the Community Forum agreed the Terms of Reference as well as accepting a list of recipients for the approved minutes (refer to Appendix 1 and 2).(d) West of Scotland Water is committed to the objectives of the forum and the authority has also undertaken to address community concerns wherever possible. The Community Forum will consider how best to communicate project implementation issues to the wider public. With West of Scotland Water committed to the continual improvement of customer relations, appropriate resources will be put in place to assist the forum. West of Scotland Water and the Katrine Water Project have undertaken to take practicable steps to minimise the disruption to the local community during construction.Appendix 1KATRINE WATER PROJECTCOMMUNITY FORUMTERMS OF REFERENCEGeneral

• West of Scotland Water (WoSW) will organise a Community Forum (CF) for the Katrine Water Project (KWP).
• The CF will comprise representatives of WoSW, the KWP team and representatives from local organisations Milngavie Community Council, Milngavie Civic Trust, Baldernock Community Council, Strathblane Community Council, Baldernock Amenity Society, Mugdock Association and Friends of Milngavie Reservoir.

It is expected that all representatives will liaise with their respective organisations in a timely manner.

• Other attendees, as required, can be invited to specific meetings by agreement and at the discretion of the CF.
• The CF will run from the date of the first and inaugural meeting to twelve months after the completion of construction.
• The frequency of meetings and venue will be determined and agreed by the CF.
• WoSW will provide meeting facilities for the CF.
• WoSW will chair the CF and will provide a minutes secretary. Draft Minutes will be provided to all attendees and organisations represented within seven days of a meeting. Additional distribution of minutes will be agreed by the CF.
• WoSW will give a minimum of three weeks notice for meetings and will issue meeting documentation no less than seven days prior to a meeting.
• The agenda for meetings is : Agenda

1. Apologies for Absence
2. Minutes of previous Meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. Report from the Contractor
5. Community Feedback
6. Construction Programme
7. Community Feedback
8. Community Health & Safety
9. Construction Health & Safety
10. Agreed Actions
11. Any Other Competent Business
12. Date & Venue of next Meeting

• The minutes secretary should be notified of substitute representatives at least 24 hours before a meeting and be notified of proposed items for inclusion on the agenda no less than 14 days prior to a meeting.
• The Community Forum provides an opportunity for close co-operation between all participating organisations whilst acknowledging the independence of each organisation represented to act according to its own constitution and remit.

ObjectivesThe objectives of the Community Forum are

• to allow close co-operation between the organisations represented
• to promote open communication
• to promote an understanding of community concerns regarding construction, and to assess Contractor's compliance with Planning Approval conditions
• to promote an understanding of construction issues and requirements
• to provide information on the project programme
• to provide information on the programme of community events
• to provide an opportunity for community and project team feedback
• to provide an opportunity to help sustain Health and Safety at the project interfaces with the community and help sustain a safe local environment

Appendix 2List of Recipients for Approved Community Forum Minutes

Baldernock Amenity Society Baldernock Community Council Friends of Milngavie ReservoirMilngavie Community Council

Milngavie Civic Trust

Mugdock Residents Association

Strathblane Community Council

Katrine Water Project Team

Sylvia Jackson MSP Brian Fitspatrick MSPAnnabel Goldie MSPFiona McLeod MSPDes McNulty MSPTony Worthington MP

Cllr Stephen BaillieCllr Eric M GottsCllr Fiona RiskCllr Billy HendryCllr Keith MoodyCllr Catherine Orgon

Cllr Julia Southcott

Cllr Una Walker

Milngavie Public Library

Strathblane Public Library

Bearsden Public Library

Traveline Scotland aim to extend their existing telephone service offering integrated public transport information for the whole of Scotland to include delivery through the Internet by 31 December 2002. This will make integrated information about all modes of public transport across Scotland available 24 hours per day, seven days per week and will help to encourage travellers to make greater use of public transport.

West of Scotland Water Authority schemes completed since 1996 which will have improved water quality in the River Clyde are as follows: Allers Sewage Treatment Works (STW) Outfall SewerDaldowie STW Phases III and IVHelensburgh STW Secondary TreatmentArdoch STW Secondary TreatmentDalmuir STW (PFI)at a total cost of over £95 million.Schemes in the current investment plan 2002-06 that will improve or maintain water quality are as follows:Bothwellbank STW UpgradingAllers STWCarbarns STWHelensburgh Sewerage SchemeVarious Combined Sewer Overflow Improvements (2002-06) with further work between 2006-10together with capital maintenance at:Shieldhall STWDalmarnock STWDaldowie STWHamilton STWat a total cost of some £30 million.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) continuously monitors river and estuary water quality and regulates the performance of discharges into watercourses. Since the 1970s, the River Clyde has been improving year on year, in terms of chemical and biological indicators in the SEPA water quality classification schemes. Migratory salmon now regularly return to the Clyde, Cart and Kelvin systems.The multi-million pound programme of improvements, described previously, to CSOs will ensure that this improvement continues, and SEPA is confident of continued improvements in water quality.

The Clyde has been improving year on year since the 1970s, in terms of the chemical and biological indicators in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) classification schemes. Migratory salmon now regularly return to the Cart, Kelvin and Clyde systems.Improvements to combined sewer overflows, and sewage treatment work upgrades throughout the Clyde and its tributaries, aim at continuing this improvement. The SEPA has published an interactive CD-ROM, called West Region Water Quality Review, which gives information about water quality, river flows, monitoring activities and environmental initiatives. It is available from the agency's Corporate Office at Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4TR or by contacting: [email protected].

The information requested is not held centrally. I am aware, however, of a number of initiatives, including the Loch Lomond Catchment Plan, being progressed by Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and others; the Millennium Forest for Scotland Project; and the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park Project, being undertaken by Forest Enterprise in Partnership with the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Executive.The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Interim Committee also continues to undertake a programme of work aimed at providing a properly managed infrastructure for visitors.

I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. His response is as follows:The plans for the new Water Treatment Works at Milngavie take into account the need to conserve and enhance the existing reservoirs. For example, no above ground construction is planned, except behind the tree belt around the site at Barrachan. Additional planting is also to be established to reinforce this tree line.One of West of Scotland Water's environmental objectives is to improve public access to its properties, as far as this does not compromise water quality, public safety or essential maintenance activities. Once the new plant is in service, this will take all operational and maintenance activities away from the existing works at the south of the reservoirs, along with personnel access and chemical deliveries. This will remove the conflict between public access and operational requirements, leading to a possible reduction in the existing restrictions on public activities. Some further tangible evidence of delivery of the authority's Environmental Strategy in the Craigmaddie/Mugdock area, include improving path networks and signposting within accessible areas, by December 2002. Suitable locations for bat boxes have also been identified in the locale and will be pursued in due course. When the project is completed, the need for bird scaring on the reservoirs will also be removed.The authority and East Dunbartonshire Council have undertaken to discuss the long-term future of public access to Milngavie reservoirs. These future discussions will help formulate how to best meet the needs of the population, with respect to the reservoirs, Mugdock Country Park, access between them, and car parking.

I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. His response is as follows:The current consumption of water at Balmore water treatment works is approximately 220 megalitres per day. The consumption of water at Milngavie water treatment works is approximately 400 megalitres per day.The capacity of the Balmore works is approximately 350 megalitres per day. With a leakage reduction of approximately 20 megalitres, this means that 150 megalitres will be available to the Glasgow network. The proposed new water treatment works at Milngavie has been designed to provide 240 megalitres per day based on a leakage reduction for the Glasgow area of 43 megalitres per day.

Responsibility at community level rests primarily with NHS boards. They are well aware of the Executive's commitment to promoting equity of access to all services, including primary prevention measures. The results of the national demonstration project in primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), Have a Heart Paisley, will be rolled out to all parts of Scotland. The lifestyle changes which help reduce the prevalence of CHD and stroke are also effective in reducing the prevalence of cancer.

The draft Designation and Election Orders for the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park were tabled for Parliament's consideration on 26 February. Ministers continue to consider the recommendations contained in the Scottish Natural Heritage Report with regard to the establishment of a Cairngorms National Park. We hope to complete that consideration soon and to consult on a draft Designation Order for the Cairngorms National Park in the near future.