Esk River Improvement Group Meeting Minutes of Meeting – 10am, Monday 20th November 2023, Microsoft Teams

Attendance: Douglas Lyons, Colin Beattie MSP, Jenny Gray, Rob Munn, Scott Fraser (Scottish Water), Ross Hughes (Forth Rivers Trust), Ann Stewart-Kmicha (Dalkeith & District Community Council), Claire Tochel (Fisherrow Harbour & Seafront Association), Pauline Crear (Fisherrow Harbour & Seafront Association), Rachael Langfield (Coal Authority), Peter Finnie (SEPA), Katrina Wilson (SEPA), Chris Gall (SEPA), Conor Price (Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme), Rory Sandison (Nature Scot), Mark Heron (Midlothian Council), Roger Croft (Esk Valley Trust), Shona Grant (East Lothian Council), Rebecca Lewis (Riverfly on the Esk/Buglife), Shona Grant (East Lothian Council)  
Apologies: David Ogilvie (SEPA), Steven Boon (Scottish Water), Paul Butler (SEPA), Rachael Elliott (Nature Scotland), Anne Hyatt (Roslin and Bilston Community Council), Philip Duncan (Musselburgh Racecourse) Merlin Planterose (Forth Rivers Trust), Rob Mitchell (SEPA)
 

Welcome
CB welcomed everyone to the meeting and the previous minutes were approved.
1. Scottish Water – Scott FraserSF updated on the Lord Ancrum Woods CSO project
 

• SF currently doing boreholes onsite.
• They are to start onsite in January 2024.
• Attended Mayfield and Easthouses Community Council meeting for a Q&A on the project and looking at some engagement with the High School.
• Had an onsite meeting with CB and Cllr Mackenzie at Newbattle Abbey surrounding local concerns.
• Esk pumping station - repairs are on track. Information explaining what is happening onsite and there is also on the website.
• At Eastfield pumping station - work replacing the hydraulic ends is on track. The facility will remain operational during this work.
• The UK government has a consultation about banning wet wipes that contain plastic. Advised a lot of work has gone into this consultation.  SF asked if people would take part in this consultation.

 
CT Asked, considering the end date is Autumn 2024, can temporary the walkway be given some attention, the walkway has poor lighting and not comfortable for wheelchairs. Adding that the gate is left open and that the prom. is no longer traffic free.
 
SF advised that he will look into this to make sure that is better for all users and he will look into the gate being left open.
 
RC asked, which of the reservoirs in the catchment is used for water supply?
 
SF Most of Midlothian is supplied by Gladhouse Reservoir. Glencorse Reservoir supplies part of the Penicuik area.
 
RC Asked about Flotterstone and North Esk Reservoir.
SF will look into this more to illustrate which of the water supply supplies which areas.
 
SF highlighted that at Gladhouse there is ongoing issues with a large increase in visitors which has caused issues. Scottish Water have funded ranger to Midlothian Council by in this area. There are actively trying to improve parking in this area. But there are ongoing issues regarding the land ovnership.
 
2. Forth Rivers Trust – Ross HughesRH Updated that they are currently doing the third round of outfall safaris. Taking place past Penicuik in the North Esk. The goal is to have the main channels of the river surveyed for their outfalls and the impact that they are having.
Adding that the weather has not been favourable, as they want to look at outfalls when there is little rainwater/when they are not supposed to be functioning.
 
RH explained they are preparing an online learning module for the outfall safari. Looking to have this completed by early next year.
 
RH is looking at increasing invasive and non-native species monitoring next year.
 
RH added that he will be sending out invitations to local groups to who may want to go on walks and then might want to get involved in surveying.
 
RH updated the group on a recent visit with 15 interested local residents to three Coal Authority Minewater Treatment plants in the Lothians. Adding that this was a very successful trip and will look to do another one soon.
 
CB Asked, if there is a lot of Giant Hogweed growing along the riverside on the Esk.
RH Answered that his understanding is that Giant Hogweed is very much downstream on the Esk. Advised to consult the East Lothian Countryside Volunteer’s website. Explained that they have had a lot of success tackling invasive species in the South Esk
 
RC Asked if they are going to do any work on Himalayan Balsam, as it is along the riverbank and going further upstream.
RH Stated that they don’t have a map showing where all the invasive species are in the Esk. Ideally you want to work upstream then work downwards. Adding that they might look within his project, but could also help with getting local involvement by recognising what work needs to be done.
 
RL stated when you clear invasive species, it can be that the riverbanks are not replanted, which can be a pollution problem into the river. Asking if you would look at replanting with native species.
 
RH From the FRT point of view, where they are taking out non-native species, look at replanting with native species.
 
3. Coal Authority – Rachael LangfieldRL – Updated the group that following an extensive evaluation on the tenders for construction of the mine water treatment plant and in particular on the spread of risk and final cost, this has led to the meeting with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero being moved back (provisionally to Feb 2024).
 
CB asked if this constitutes a delay in the project.
RL confirmed that this will be a delay of three months.
 
ASK asked about communication to the local community.
RL answered that there is work to do let people know about the delay.
RH added that he has been receiving questions about the delay.
 
4. SEPA - Katrina WilsonKW provided an update

• Bathing water classifications are due on 21st November.
• Summer sampling results are on the website and KW will email the associated results to CT at FHSA.

DL advised, following a planned meeting with MLC, that CP will update on the issue of dead trees that are falling down in the Ironmills park area and whose responsibility is this.
 
KW advised that RM will draft an update on the Esk Barriers for anyone that will need one.
CT asked why the historical data has been removed on the website from the data download. Adding that there should probably be a full historical record of this data.
KW will ask this question and send answer by email to CT.
ASK – Added that she would like an update on the Esk Barriers. ASK commented that there is concern about what might be happening at the weir at Ironmills. KW added that she would take this to RM.
 
5. Riverfly on the Esk/Buglife - Rebecca Lewis (RLe)Riverfly on the Esk: RLe provided an update to the meeting.
1. A new database is up an running for the project.
2.Had  meetings with SEPA and reps from the Esk Valley Trust to discuss MorPH. Looking at potential to get funding to train people.
3. Data continuing on their pilot study of 2 rivers (Angus S. Esk and Lothian Esk), furthering our understanding of citizen science techniques.
4. Continuing work with Early Learning Centres.
5. Completed 2 filming projects, with Landward and Scotland – The Big Picture, filmed at Newbattle Abbey. Had more volunteers after the showings.
6. Presented at the Scottish Freshwater Conference Day.
7. Results for benchmarking of the results from 5 sites have just been completed and will report back on this.
Buglife:
1. Have received funding for a new staff member.
2. Developing relationship with project partners (SEPA/Nature Scot.).
3. Facilitated a couple of workshops for the de-catchment partnership.
 
6. East Lothian Council - Shona GrantSG updated regarding the draft report in relation to the Newhailles Landfill. They are currently looking into the detail as to what they are going to do into the leachate onto the beach. This is being undertaken by the contaminated land officer.
 
7. Midlothian Council - Mark HeronMark Heron was welcomed as a new member and represented MLC at the meeting. His role is within Environmental Health.
 
CB asked about the Midlothian Flood protection register/plan and that there was work being undertaken on this.
MH stated that he would bring up with the emergency planning officer.
MH noted that there was an increase in rats along the river in recent years.
 
RL asked if there has been any update on the dumped waste at Dalhousie Burn.
MH comment that planning enforcement are looking into this
 
8. Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme – Conor PriceCP provided a brief update of the MFPS

• Currently contemplating consultation inputs and the ongoing conversation with regulatory partners as they look to revise the outline design.
• Will present to a special meeting of East Lothian Council on 23rd January where they will give a full update of the outline design.
• Working with Dynamic Coast to understand their modelling of coastal erosion. A report will be presented to the Council in January.
• In relation to Natural Flood Management, a report was given to East Lothian Council in October. (This is publicly available via the council’s website). A number of recommendations were approved by the Council in October.
• The report allowed the MFPS to bring to the Councils attention the lessons learned from the Scottish Governments Natural Flood Management Project in Eddleston. Within the report they identified that they had a number of major natural flood risk management projects in the plan and they intended to keep them in it. Received confirmation from Council that they wanted them to maintain maximum nature-based solutions within the evolving outline design.
• The report confirmed that it is the considered opinion that the development of a raft of more minor natural flood management measures within the scheme was not sensible or viable at this point.
• The Council identified two new actions that were approved. To evolve a strategy for the development of natural flood management in the Esk catchment in the longer term and that would be advanced through the local flood risk management plan process.
• The council confirmed that they will work to support a new organisation in the Esk Catchment. This may be called something like the ‘Esk Forum’ and could be equivalent to the undertakings of the Tweed Forum.
• CP added his thanks for letters of support that have been received for the River Restoration project. It is his expectation that a meeting will be held at governmental level to advance river restoration on the Esk.

 
 
9. AOB    
SF asked what the plan for the group is next year
CB added he is open to suggestions as to how often the meeting is held. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas about priorities and issues we have not yet covered, please email into DL.
 
Next meeting scheduled 22 Jan
 
Meeting ends at 1115
 
Summary of Actions
 
Scottish Water
 

• SF to look into issues around the temporary walkway at the Esk Pumping station and the issue of unauthorised traffic using the access to the site.
• SF will look to provide information about what water(reservoirs) supply which areas.

 
Coal Authority

• RW provide a community update on the progress of the project

 

• RW provide community update on the progress of the project
• RM to provide an update on the Esk barriers to ASK
• KW to provide an update to CT on availability of historical data
• CP (Conor) took an action to raise at an upcoming meeting with flood officer at MLC the issue of dead trees in the Ironmills park area.

 
MLC

• MH to look at what work is being undertaken on the Midlothian Flood protection register/plan.