Esk River Improvement Group Meeting Minutes of Meeting – 10am, Monday 17th July 2023, Microsoft Teams

Attendance: Douglas Lyons, Colin Beattie MSP, Jenny Gray, Moira Cartwright (Midlothian Council), Scott Fraser (Scottish Water), Ann Stewart-Kmicha (Dalkeith & District Community Council), Claire Tochel (Fisherrow Harbour & Seafront Association), Pauline Crear (Fisherrow Harbour & Seafront Association), John Batty (Coal Authority), Ross Hughes (Forth Rivers Trust), Rebecca Lewis (Riverfly on the Esk/Buglife), Paul Butler (SEPA), Peter Finnie (SEPA), Joy Godfrey (ENCC), Rachel Warrington (Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme), Rachael Elliott (Nature Scotland), Joy Godfrey (ENCC), Anne Hyatt (Roslin and Bilston Community Council)
Apologies: Anna Griffin (SEPA), Audrey Murray (EnjoyLeisure), Rachael Langfield (Coal Authority), Steven Boon (Scottish Water), Rob Mitchell (SEPA), Shona Grant (East Lothian Council), Conor Price (Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme)
 

Welcome
CB welcomed everyone to the meeting and the previous minutes were approved.
 

1. Scottish Water – Scott Fraser

SF updated on the Lord Ancrum Woods CSO project

• Explained to the group the background of the project was the history of sewer related debris coming from the sewer network into the Mary Burn in Lord Ancrum Woods, (in between Easthouses and Newbattle).
• Mentioned that it has been a lot of work over a number of years and campaigning from local groups that have brought forward this project. There has been local Scottish Water campaign and clean ups that have had an impact, but still some sewer related debris remained.
• The project has been taken forward through ‘the investment needs criteria’ process to achieve funding. The project was agreed for investment by both Scottish Water and SEPA.
• The old CSO is in a complex location with difficult access making it difficult to use this location for a new CSO. The new CSO in a different location and link into an existing surface water outfall. Improved storage, new improved screens and monitors will be installed. The CSO will be underground. The old CSO will be abandoned.
• £2.26milion of investment will be made in this CSO. Plan to start construction in October 2023. Estimated 6 months onsite. Explained that it is a potential community communication option when onsite.
• Currently doing site investigations and testing the ground.

 
ASK Have Scottish Water presented to ENCC about this?
SF Happy to provide an update to them and to local schools and happy to provide more details on the project for the next meeting.
 
JG Commented on the positive impact of the changes and difference that the work that is going to take place will make to the Mary Burn.
 
CB asked to what extent do you liaise with Midlothian Council on these sort of projects
SF On land, road and service access. If they need planning. Added that they work with a lot of different departments in the Council and in this instance other organisations such as Newbattle Abbey College.
 
ASK There are other areas of concerns. On the South Esk there was a smell of sewage and spillage onto grassland at Newbattle Abbey Crescent.
SF Will check if Newbattle Abbey Abby Crescent has been reported recently and encourages anyone to report incidents as they will do clean ups of incidents.
 
CB asked about Fisherrow pumping station and if works are currently on track?
SF answered that he believes so, but he will report back on this after making enquiries.
CT commented that there are still no signs on sight at the Esk Pumping station that advise about the disruption and how long it will remain like this. Enquiries have already been made asking about this matter.
SF will look into this and report back on the status of the work.
 
 
2. SEPA – Peter Finnie PF provided an update

• Will defer update on fish passages until the next meeting.
• Rainfall has meant recent water scarcity warnings have abated, although this may return as dry weather is forecast.
• If dry weather happens, there will be lower river flows in the Esk and increased visible staining as a result.
• Fisherrow has been designated as a bathing water.          

RL Asked about water abstraction happening near cowpits, Musselburgh and if he had knowledge why this was happening.
PF did not know about this. He will ask the local team and report back.
CT Welcomed the designation at Fisherrow if it reflected better water quality. Questioned how this decision had been made as it had previously been suggested that it would take several years of better water quality testing before a decision was reversed. They had no prior communication. Had something happened that they were not updated on?
PF It was required to wait for the Ministers approval of the redesignation before they could communicate.  They will continue with monitoring of this site.
 
CT will the monitoring of the Burnstane burn continue?
PF does not know this level of detail.
 
ASK if there was any update on weirs fish passages.
PF offered to provide a short written update  to ASK. An update will be given in the September meeting.
 
ASK highlighted an issue with a flood risk map for Midlothian that had a misplaced name
PF took a note of this issue

3. Coal Authority – John Batty (JB) JB provided an update to the ERIG on the Dalkeith Water Treatment Plant.

• Completed site fencing. This had been vandalised and has been repaired twice.
• The plant process design is complete.
• Some additional mine water testing will take place over the next 2 months to verify the processing design.
• Obtaining approximation for the quality of the sludge so they can obtain the best disposal method. They are trying to avoid landfill.
• Tender for the construction of the plant is due back at the end of July with a view to returning to the Commercial Approval Board in London in late August.
• Looking for construction award in mid-September

 
CB Asked that the Coal Authority have requested a Letter of Support in the past and if they need another in this occasion.
JB added that they had used these Letters of Support and that they do not need another. Adding that if they do require a Letter of Support he will come back to CB. Adding that it is a very factual approval.
 
RH Asked if a visual could be provided illustrating why a water treatment plant is being installed. Explaining that a lot of people do not know what the outflow from this area looks like and do not understand why such a large piece of infrastructure is being installed.
JB commented that they have recently been taking drone footage of the conditions of the river. Adding that this might serve a purpose for what RH asked for.
 
JG Asked if the waste will be sold. Is it still going to be sold if you are testing it for its quality.
JB Answered that this is the intention. To sell it they need an estimate of the quality.
 
ASK Asked what the process have been undertaken to provide alternative energy from the mine water or from solar panels.
JB Answered that an external team is looking at heat capture from the minewater.
 
4. East Lothian Council
Shona Grant was unable to attend, but passed on that the Newhailles water discharge report was now complete and that they are waiting for internal approval.

5. Midlothian Council MC
The environmental crime team are now operating implementing Midlothian’s Environmental Crime strategy and will be out in the community issuing fixed fine penalties for dog fouling (£80), fly tipping (£200) and littering (£80). They will also be undertaking proactive work in the community and working with businesses in relation to their waste contracts and the presentation of their bins.
CB added that this is a positive development.
CB mentioned that he asked about other areas in Midlothian that had potential to be at risk from flooding and that MC was going to get a response from planning about this.
MC has asked planning, but not heard anything back on this, but will get back on this matter.
 
ASK added that there is information on the Midlothian Council website that mentions that they are preparing new information for the Midlothian Local Development Plan and local communities are looking at this when they are doing their Local Place Plan. Also adding that the SEPA maps have flood risk data.
 
6. Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme
–Rachael Warrington RW provided an update on the MFPS

• The focus has been on the public exhibition that took place on 20th-21st of June where the vision for the outline design was presented.
• 900 people attended and everything that is presented is on the website.
• Received 187 feedback forms at the event 537 online.
• The team are reviewing the feedback to continue with the revision of the outline design.
• Explained that they might require further consultations with specific groups.
• The aim is to present the outline design to East Lothian Council in January 2024.

 
7. Forth Rivers Trust
Ross Hughes RH provided an update to the ERIG

• Explained they are currently running an Outfall Safari on the North and South Esk, undertaken by Citizen Science volunteers, this will be completed by 7 August.
• Attended Newtongrange and Loanhead Gala Days and had good engagement from locals.
• Took their river table to the Fisherrow Harbour Festival which was useful to help demonstrate local issues with the river Esk.
• Will be undertaken a site visit to a location further up the North Esk where the know that there is discharge from an old mine site. RH offered to the ERIG group if they want to join in with the visit.

 
8. Riverfly on the Esk/Buglife - Rebecca Lewis (RLe)RLe provided an update to the group.

• Working with the Esk Valley Trust. Had an initial meeting on a Citizen Science project called Morph, which is assessing the physical habitat and hydro morphological functioning.  
• Continue to work with the National Museum of Scotland on the Source to sea story.
• Attended a careers event in Newtongrange and keen to do more work with schools to engage them with their river.
• Working with Napier University. Have a Masters and a PhD Student. Also working with St Andrews University.
• DNA Citizen Science work will be looking at comparing the different citizen science techniques we have, looking at the health of the river. Looking at 2 rivers and the River Esk will be one.
• 2 new rangers are trained up with testing in Dalkeith Country park.
• Buglife - have trained up 23 groups since it was launched in October. 170 people have completed 6 hours of training. Received more funding. Looking to establish a network of trainers across Scotland.
• Attended the SEFS conference in Newcastle

 
9. AOB         
​None, Meeting ends 1130am