We will carry out a range of surveys:
- Bat Surveys: Inspecting trees, buildings, and structures day and night using special equipment to monitor bat activity. If you see them using ladders or ropes, please give them space.
- Kingfisher Surveys: Kingfishers are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. We will check for nesting sites along the River Nith to ensure they are not disturbed.
- Invasive Species Surveys: Identifying and planning the removal of harmful plants and species.
- Fish and River Ecology Surveys: These surveys will monitor species like otters, freshwater pearl mussels, water voles, salmon, and lamprey.
- Noise Surveys: We will measure noise levels to ensure disturbance is kept to minimum during construction.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is working with experts from Jacobs, the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust, and the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board to carry out the surveys.
There may be times when surveyors require access to private gardens, land or greenspace to carry out these surveys. The council will contact the appropriate businesses and residents before survey work starts to explain what is required. Surveyors will carry ID badges and documentation with them at all times.
Most surveys will take place on public land along the River Nith. Work will begin in April 2025 and run through September, with possible follow-ups into 2026.
For more information or updates, contact whitesandsproject@dumgal.gov.uk or call 030 33 33 3000. Sign up to our Whitesands newsletter to stay updated.