National property maintenance provider Facilities Services Group (FSG) was on hand to support British Waterways with extensive cleaning and inspection works at the iconic Falkirk Wheel boat lift. FSG - which works with British Waterways nationally to deliver reactive and planned maintenance works - oversaw the health and safety aspects of the project, and supervised the cleaning works on-site.

Maclean and Speirs, were nominated as the cleaning specialist sub-contractor, while Sale Associates Consulting Testing and Inspection Engineers carried out a condition survey on the paint system on the structure.

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Paul Anthony, Operations Manager at FSG Reactive, said: “After the scope of work, method statements, risk assessments and environmental considerations were finalised, the work on cleaning the structure was scheduled.

“The project was carried out in the hours of darkness for several evenings in order to prevent disturbance to the boat lift’s day-to-day operations, and the process was supervised under task lighting by FSG Contracts Manager Jason Ling and FSG Supervisor Gordon Jamieson.

“It was very rewarding to have the opportunity to get involved in maintaining a landmark symbol.”

The Falkirk Wheel boat lift was completed in 2002, to restore navigability across Scotland on the historic Forth & Clyde Canal and Union Canal, whilst providing a corridor of regenerative activity through central Scotland.

It is the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world, and is regarded as an engineering landmark for Scotland.

(GK)