ROCK blasting is set to be carried out in Lealt on Friday (17.11), in a bid to provide material for the Staffin community harbour development.
Staffin Community Trust’s (SCT) contractor, G.F Job Ltd, has started work on the borrow pit at Lealt Quarry in a £300,000 contract which will involve several rock blasts. The first blast will be held between 12 noon and 2pm on Friday. It will involve a temporary road closure of about five minutes and the car parks, viewing platform and path at Lealt Gorge will be shut from Thursday evening (16.11).
The 10-week contract is crucial for the harbour development with the blasting and planned extraction of rock, including large armour stone, for the construction of a new breakwater at the current slipway, five miles north of Lealt.
No material will be moved to the slipway in this phase.
SCT director Angus Ross said: “We are pleased that we have reached this milestone. It is an important phase as sourcing the rock from a local borrow pit keeps costs down and will reduce the impact on the environment with a far shorter haulage distance.”
Adrian Johnstone, G.F Job director, said: “GF Job Limited are delighted to be involved in the Staffin Harbour project. Blasting is a key requirement in the production of the quality of rock armour which is an essential part of the construction of the new breakwater.
“Prior to blasting operations, every effort is made to keep those who may be affected by the quarry operations informed of activities. Any local road or car park closures will be kept to a minimum and any, if required, emergency vehicles can still be routed through the restricted area by careful management of operations.”
G.F Job Ltd, an experienced Highland-based contractor, was recently working in Kingsburgh Quarry on a contract related to the redevelopment of Uig Pier.
The Lealt project follows enabling works last month that saw Edinbane contractor Craik & MacRae dig out a 1-5km trench from Columba 1400 Centre across the Garafad common grazing to lay an electricity cable to the harbour, which will be connected by SSE.
The Lealt contract is supported by the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. SCT would like to thank the Kilmuir Estate (Department) for supporting the quarry works and community harbour project in Staffin.
SCT is working to deliver major improvements to the current harbour including an enhanced breakwater, upgraded slipway and on-shore facilities to support and create new jobs.
Meanwhile, SCT is currently advertising for a harbour manager, ahead of the community buy out of the slipway from Highland Council and the Department being concluded in early 2024. The deadline for job applications is Friday, November 24. https://skyeecomuseum.co.uk/la...