| Pumped storage


attracts visitors. Visitors need facilities. In the areas where these future developments are planned, visitor accommodation is already only sparsely available. Consider then the impact too of construction phase operations, typically 500 to 1000 personnel with the specialist skills perhaps not readily on tap in these areas – potentially personnel descending from across the globe. They too will need places to stay, eat and play during the period of their contribution. No doubt some will decide to settle for the duration, whereas others will treat the locale more like a dormitory. Perhaps with overlapping and concurrent construction activities, there may be three of four of these projects being constructed at any one time, thus potentially 3000 directly-employed personnel and many other supporting services. Decisions key to communities’ wellbeing need to be made – deciding on the balance of permanent housing to expand these villages and townships, and temporary accommodation that will be removed at the end. Unlike Patrick Campbell’s experience, these won’t be open huts where beds sit top to tail and almost all “hotbedding” – we can’t ask that of our people in the 21st Century; can we? Without a doubt communities will be changed


forever by these major plans to decarbonise our energy needs. We need to ensure we leave a positive legacy harnessing the construction capability for long term wider benefits. Or, put another way, to ensure that constructing these invaluable assets for our future is done without detriment as we rush to realise our net-zero aspirations.


Given the published locations of some of the


projects, Tulloch, Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge Railway Stations appear ideally placed to support possible mass transit of personnel. However, with total annual passenger numbers less than the labour pool of one project I suggest there is likely to be a need for some infrastructure improvements to accommodate possible footfall. Fortunately, in support of managing fatigue, all these stations are served by the Caledonian Sleeper, allowing personnel to travel in relative comfort while contributing less CO2 on their journey to creating an energy storage resource which further reduces emissions. Better still, there is Invergarry Station – unfortunately no longer connected to mainline but temptingly, the track bed and abutment, and piers of principal structures still exist. After construction is completed could these heritage resources continue to be used and made available? A heritage asset that is already being considered for use is the Caledonian Canal. Through the Great Glen we benefit from the existence of the Caledonian Canal effectively connecting the North Sea to the Atlantic. This will no doubt become an essential linear asset supporting these projects as a few rely on its main water bodies, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness for their lower reservoir. Would Thomas Telford have used it the way it is today for projects today – how can it or crafts be sympathetically adapted to meet these upcoming challenges and future proof maintenance activities.


Lastly in our hierarchy of linear transit on net zero


journey should be road transport. Unfortunately the A85, A82, A83, A9 and A86 are all currently ill-equipped to cope with construction demands. The local trunk road network is currently occupied by the products of the north west highlands heading to market.


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Forest Products, Fish and Aluminium Ingots all head southwards deploying the apparent agility of road haulage – but at what cost? Our maintenance teams compete for space and availability on the highway with freight but also with visitors and other people travelling for work. The comparatively short distance from Glasgow, or Edinburgh to Fort William taking much longer than it could – and you need to keep your wits about you. Could these projects become a further incentive for trunk road improvements? With the potential to begin soon this possible


revolution could generate employment for 100s of people in construction phase, and continued employment in operation so perhaps most important of all is spreading the news to those in schools and colleges that there opportunities for the young. These huge underground projects can and will


create a lasting legacy, as did those constructed by our predecessors. Of this, perhaps the Net Zero goals are the most pressing now, but we nevertheless need to think carefully about what the lasting physical and human legacy will look like.


Above: Cruachan machine hall excavation 1963


Below: Cruachan penstock shafts 1964


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