Club Meeting

On Thursday 4th August, President Sandy Mackenzie of Rotary South Queensferry welcomed members and guests to a most interesting and relevant presentation at Conifox Bistro. The speaker was David Learmont, chairman of the Queensferry Heritage Trust. David is also a member of the Community Council and has a keen interest in civic and environmental affairs.

The talk was titled: Climate Emergency - Net Zero and District Heat.

 When the Heritage Trust was investigating Dalmeny, David took particular interest in the shale mines which were operational in the area from 1871 to 1926. He screened pictures of mines, miners and maps, showing the extent of activity and the location of workings, most of which will now be flooded. A map showing the Dalmeny Shale Oil  Industry made around 1917 can be seen in Queensferry Museum.

David Learmond is convinced of the environmental benefits of District Heating and has liaised with many partners, including university researchers, to establish the viability of using the shale mines in Dalmeny as a heat source. David emphasised that this was not fracking, but the use of the hot water source that exists in these flooded mines. Test drillings will reveal which flooded workings are most suitable. David said that the UK was lagging behind many European countries in exploiting this heat source. In Scotland, Glasgow and Dunfermline already use the system to heat public buildings and residential property in some areas. In proposing a vote of thanks, Helen Tulloch, who has many years' experience in the oil and gas industries, said David's talk had shown how, in the present energy crisis, small, local solutions may be the way ahead. David Learmont was introduced by Neil McKinlay.