Firm Footing for Playing Fields After Years of Shifting Sands

After more than ten years of interventions, a major project has been completed to protect waste water services to customers in Renfrew.

Since 2013 Scottish Water has been involved in efforts to address the challenging ground conditions around Provost Driver Court and the King George V Memorial playing fields.

Brian Campbell, Delivery Manager with Scottish Water said: “The ground is mainly Clyde Alluvium – clay, silt and sand deposited by the river – which is easily compressed and becomes unstable.

“Unfortunately, over the years this has caused a range of problems culminating in a sewer collapse, eight metres underneath the King George V Memorial playing fields.

“The scale of the challenge has been matched by the scale of the solution and completion of this project marks a significant milestone for the community and our customers.”

A substantial package of ground investigation and monitoring work was undertaken which included regular tankering from the sewer to clear back-up and the installation of temporary pumps.

In the meantime, a project was developed to address the difficult ground conditions and replace the damaged section of sewer.

Carried out by delivery partner George Leslie and specialist sub-contractors, work began in November 2023 and involved driving metal sheets into the ground to create a cofferdam.

Ground water was then extracted from the work area to allow the eight-metre-deep sewer to be safely excavated.

The pipe and associated manholes were then replaced, and the site backfilled using more suitable materials to minimise the risk of further subsidence or collapses.

“To say this has been a challenging project is an understatement, and we are extremely grateful to the local community for their patience and understanding over the years.

Their co-operation has been just as important as the engineering excellence shown by the project team.”

Brian Campbell
Delivery Manager, Scottish Water

Ian Jardine, Contract Manager, George Leslie said: “The technical collaboration exhibited by our entire project team including our designer, Cowi and specialist contracting partners including WJ Dewatering and Mabey Hire were critical in resolving the challenges we faced.

“We are proud to have delivered for Scottish Water. The innovative engineering solutions we found to tackle the complex ground conditions will be a valuable case study for future civil engineering projects.”

Brian Campbell added: “To say this has been a challenging project is an understatement, and we are extremely grateful to the local community for their patience and understanding over the years.

“Their co-operation has been just as important as the engineering excellence shown by the project team.

“The work reflects the difficult ground conditions in Renfrew in general, and we have been investing heavily in the area, not least in Provost Driver Court and King’s Inch Road to ensure customers and the environment are protected.

“We are now in discussions with the local authority to ensure the playing fields are reinstated to a standard that meets the community’s needs and expectations for many years to come.”