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Early November 09 Update
The
building has already had to withstand some pretty horrendous
weather these past few weeks and has coped well, despite not being
completely finished on the outside. The final internal layouts
have at last been agreed and work has begun in earnest on fitting
out the interior. Miles and miles of cabling and piping have been
laid and stud walls and plasterboard has been going up at a rate
of knots.
Deryk &
Hollie have also been choosing carpets and flooring and putting
together a long list of purchases required for the next phase, in
early 2010 – the furnishing!
Around
the outside, large drains have been dug to take away the water
which naturally flows into Mavers Cup and, as an added feature,
some pools have been dug on the land across the road – how long
must we wait for a rare wader on them?
The
new build
North side complete
but still a bit to do round the other side.
Photograph by Deryk Shaw |
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The entrance porch going up!
Photograph by Deryk Shaw |
The last pod/module is lifted into
place |
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Photographs by Dave Wheeler |
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Just 7 more pods to go!
Photo by Deryk Shaw
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Looks almost complete from this side . . .
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. . but lots going on round the front
Photos
by Dave Wheeler |
Photo by Deryk Shaw |
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Photo by Deryk Shaw |
Photo by Dave Wheeler
more at
www.davewheelerphotography.com |
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The pods are now being moved to Fair Isle by a smaller vessel, which can
travel in slightly rougher conditions, but it can only bring three or
four pods at a time. The first three arrived at 1am this morning and
by lunchtime, two were in situ. As of the 7th September there
were 12 modules on the Isle. However, the weather forecast for the
next two days is very poor so it is unlikely that any more pods will
arrive soon. |
All photos below
by Deryk Shaw |
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The foundations are finished and two cranes have arrived. |
The first three pods arrived last night. |
The first three pods arrived last night |
How the pods are getting to the site! |
The first pod in situ - the seabird room and plant room |
We have a ringing room and two showers & toilets |
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Things are on their way up
again! Foundations are being laid in preparation for the
arrival of the pods arriving from Orkney and the road at the
pier has been widened to allow for the 85T crane that will be
used to lift the sections into place. The huge barge which is
bringing the pods is coming from Sweden (!) to Orkney then to
Fair Isle. It was due to leave Sweden today (20th), however,
we have just heard that has been delayed and will now not get
to Fair Isle until the end of the month at the earliest - the
first major setback! How many more as the autumn progresses
and the weather deteriorates?
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20th August |
The road is being
widened in preparation for the crane |
9th August |
31st July |
21st July |
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T he
final days of the old Obs
6th July midday |
6th July 1430hrs |
6th July 1440hrs |
6th July 1442hrs |
6th July 1444 |
6th July 1444hrs |
6th July 1453hrs |
6th July 1454hrs |
6th July 1950hrs |
7th July 0845 |
7th July 1039 hrs |
7th July 1040hrs |
7th July 1050 hrs |
7th July 1052 hrs |
7th July 1052 hrs |
7th July 1053 hrs |
7th July 1056 hrs |
7th July 1058 hrs |
7th July 1103 hrs |
7th July 1105 hrs |
1105 - THE END |
Blockwork |
Photographs by Deryk Shaw |
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More clearance work!! |
Salvage those skylights, please! |
The Destructor!! |
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3rd July 2110 hrs
Our home! Gone! |
5th July
Off with the blockwork! |
The remains of our home! |
Hard to believe this was the entire Warden's flat and office,
plus two AW bedrooms and offices, bathroom and wee freezer
room |
Hollie's veg garden..and more! To be re-used |
Rest Stop! |
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On 2nd April we received the fantastic news that FIBOT has secured the last
major element in the funding package for the New Observatory. The SRDP
(Scottish Rural Development Programme) have granted us £1, 938, 250 (50%
of the total cost). Along with the initial £1,150,000 grant from SIC
(Shetland Islands Council), the recent £400,000 from HIE (Highlands &
Islands Enterprise) and almost £250,000 raised by our own appeal (so
far) means that we can now proceed with demolition and building work in
summer 2009, as planned.
Deryk & Hollie and the board of Directors are extremely grateful to all
those organisations and individuals who have granted or donated monies to
the project, reflecting the socio-economic importance of the Fair Isle Bird
Observatory to the island and Shetland as a whole.
We are still
waiting for final planning permission and a building warrant, but hope that
these will be approved shortly.
Our contractors,
Synergie Scotland (click for link)
and A H Wilson have drawn up plans and are standing by, itching to get to
work on the demolition phase.
We still require around £200,000 to
complete the funding package, but we are confident that, with the help of
Friends of Fair Isle, other visitors and private funding sources, we can
raise this during the coming year.
So do please keep on donating – no matter how small an
amount, it all adds up!
Watch this space for further developments!
Old Obs Demolition, days
1-14
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1. A fence has been placed around the building and the site has been
secured.
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2. Work has started. The Northmen are in removing doors and windows
for recycling on the isle…….
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3. Followed by internal walls and flooring in the Warden’s Flat.
Doesn’t it look spacious now?!
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4. Those long wooden beams will come in very useful.
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5. Next it’s the Obs Dining Room – firewood for months and months to
come!
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6. And the Lounge – where many a happy evening has been spent!
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