Welcome to the 9th edition of this monthly project newsletter
On behalf of everybody at PBS Construction, we would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Works are being carried out at South Cliff Gardens which is included on The Historic England ‘Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.’ The aim of the scheme is to rejuvenate the existing South Cliff Gardens and restore them to their former glory.
The scheme has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £4,665,700 with an additional £105,000 also being raised by local community groups.
Overview of the Works
The aim of this scheme is to rejuvenate the existing South Cliff Gardens and restore them to their former glory. The scheme has received substantial funds from the National Lottery Community and Heritage Funds with money also being raised by local community groups.
The full project comprises of the construction of a new maintenance and community hub, along with general refurbishment and landscaping upgrades to the existing South Cliff Park. The project also includes refurbishment work to the existing tunnel, currently closed off to the public under the funicular railway.
Construction Works to Date (November 20th – December 10th)
Progress has continued to be made on the construction of the new community building within the gardens, ‘Beeforth’s Hive’. During the past month the progress has included:
- Roller shutter frames have now been installed
- Brick work installed to correct height. Now cutting brick line to correct angle and holes for purlins ready to install cavity closure brick
- All lintels now installed
- All steel work and canopy installed
- Set out footway at the rear of the building; all dug out and stoned up
- Started installation of timber works for canopy
Tunnel Works Progress
- Internal wall removed and disposed of
- All arch brick work drilled and stitched – extra bars installed due to condition
- Joints grinded out and Helical bars installed
- All external brick work power washed and cleaned; repointing also completed
- New copings installed on top of retaining wall
- Down pipe replaced with black and connected into new manhole
Footway North of the Tunnel Progress/Spa Bridge Detail
- Logs installed to tunnel entrance, along with setts
- Ongoing installation of thresholds at Spa Bridge
- New fan detail at southern entrance to Spa Bridge now installed and grouted
- Pointing up between all setts on the footways now completed
- Footway in front of the tunnel entrance now tarmacked
- Soil put into planted areas and new fence and rail installed
Area 22 Steps & Footway Progress
- Log wall extended. Installation of new timber retaining walls, rockery edges, setts, fence posts, rails and crosses (on fence)
- New dry stone wall now installed in front of steps
- New dry stone wall installed next to slope. Boulder edges installed, stoned up and tarmac laid
Southern Footway near the Clock Café
- Setts and boulders now being laid on all different level footways
- All gullies cleaned and drain runs now jetted in this area
- New dry stone walls being installed in various locations, including the area next to the Sunken Garden
Shelter 1 Progress
- Timber treatment works complete
- Wall now rebuilt and pointed; timbers installed with damp proof course. Tongue and Groove boarding all installed
- All benches now installed with new timber legs and section of seating replaced with new due to rot and fire damage to existing
- Felt roof membrane and tile batons installed
Shelter 8 Progress
- Timber treatment works now complete
- All windows installed
- Southern roof rafter repairs/replacements complete
- All infill timbers now complete and three boards internal complete around roof
- Wall pan removed and replaced with new, all rafters complete
- New fascia boards and centre posts now installed. New door frames being installed
- Northern side internal roof now installed, along with door frames
- Roof felted and batons also installed. Tile installation almost complete
- Internal roof installed and bench repaired
- All steel work painted with primer and decorative woods installed
Shelter 12 Progress
- Works started on replacing roof rafters
- Window removed and being rebuilt
- Rotten posts cut out to expose concrete footing
- Exposed and cut out side panel, bench removed
Shelter 13 Progress
- All roof installed
- Timber treatment works complete
- Cill stone to be replaced
Lost Shelter Progress
- Area dug out and all buried rocks removed
- Lost Shelter area set out and levelled off
- Upper wall completed and all rocks at the rear cleaned and tidied
- Boulders removed, trees cut down (carried out in full compliance with ecology and environmental legislation), works area stripped off and survey completed
Shelter 18 (new toilets) Progress
• Scaffold installed and Heras fencing installed around the building
• All shelters now fully stripped out
• Roof inspected
Elsewhere across the project, work is continuing on:
- Shelter numbers 2, 5, 6, 9, 10 & 11
- Area 18 Steps
- Area 19 Steps
- The Clock Tower
- Land drainage
Supporting ‘12 Days of Xmas’
We’re delighted to be helping to spread some Christmas cheer by supporting the Rainbow Centre’s ‘12 Days of Xmas’ project. The initiative sees the Centre creating Xmas food parcels for those who need them most and they do it by inviting businesses to sponsor one of the major items that are used in the parcels.
The donation we’ve made has covered the cost of 800 tins of hot dogs and Brendon Smurthwaite, Community Manager at PBS, said:
“We’ve previously held a foodbank across our business for the Rainbow Centre so when they came to us with the idea of becoming one of the sponsors for the ’12 Days of Xmas’ project we were delighted to get involved.
“Christmas can be difficult for many families and if we can play a small part in helping to make it a happier time then it’s an easy decision to make. I’ve seen what an amazing job the Rainbow Centre does for the local community and it’s a real pleasure for us to be able to support them.”
December Site Tour
We hosted our regular site tour for the public earlier this month, albeit a week earlier than normal due to the imminent arrival of the Festive Period! There was a record turnout for the tour with around 20 people braving the cold to come along to site and see firsthand the progress that is being made on the restoration of the gardens.
Andy Thorley (PBS Project Manager) and Alan Clarke (PBS Site Manager) were on hand to lead the walk and share their expertise around the project. Mark Dobson (Safety, Health & Environmental Manager for the Hull Building Safety Group) was also on site and joined in as well!
Amongst the highlights of the tour was an opportunity to look at the progress that has been made around the tunnel which runs underneath the Cliff Lift. It’s the first time in many years that the tunnel has been re-opened and the interest in that part of the project is particularly high.
Getting to know……Connor Cooper
Each month in this newsletter we’ll be shining the spotlight on a member of the PBS site staff working on the gardens. This month it’s the turn of Connor Cooper, PBS Quantity Surveyor on the South Cliff Gardens Restoration, to step into the spotlight.
Q. How did you get into construction and can you outline your role at PBS?
I have been involved in construction from an early age with my parents owning a plant hire business in Scunthorpe. After school, I started working for them in the office, helping with the accounts, as well as taking orders and organising deliveries. This was whilst I studied L3 Construction & The Built Environment at College. During my studies, I quickly realised that my interests were in the commercial side of things which is why I have progressed my career in Quantity Surveying.
This entails submitting monthly accounts, site measures, certifying subcontractor accounts and liaising with the client regarding cost effective solutions to any problems that may occur on site.
Q. If you hadn’t have chosen construction, what career path might you have followed?
I would like to say a footballer, but I’m not 100% confident that I would have made the cut.
Q. What would your advice be to a young person looking to go into construction?
Surround yourself with people who have experience in their trade and don’t be afraid to throw yourself in to the deep end to better yourself.
Q. What has been the most interesting project you’ve worked on?
I have been involved in numerous schemes that have been interesting and had their own challenges, but this scheme is definitely up there.
Q. Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
Although some people think it’s strange, I have two different coloured eyes.
Q. What type of music do you have on in your car?
I’m partial to a bit of Enrique Iglesias, but mostly Drake.
Q. How do you fill your spare time?
Being a long-suffering supporter of Scunthorpe United, I ‘sometimes’ like to go to their football matches on the weekend. I also enjoy watching the Formula 1 and visiting the different circuits around the world.
Q. What is your ideal meal?
There’s nothing better than your typical Sunday Dinner.
Monthly Site Tour
We will be hosting a monthly site tour on the last Thursday of every month throughout the duration of the project. Our next tour will be held between 1-2pm on Thursday January 27th. All are welcome. Anyone who would like to come on the tour should meet at the Clock Tower just before 1pm. Please note that these tours will include walking on uneven paths and surfaces, inclines and steps and may be unsuitable for those with mobility issues.
Considerate Constructors Scheme
This project has been registered under the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which means that we will agree to abide by the Code of Considerate best practice beyond statutory requirements. Alongside this we have registered with The Considerate Constructors Scheme who are working with the Lighthouse Club, the Construction Industry Charity to promote the Construction Industry Helpline. The Construction Industry Helpline operates 24/7 and provides practical support on occupational health and mental wellbeing, access to support on legal, tax and debt management matters and also grants emergency financial aid to construction families in crisis.
Meet the PBS Site Team
| NAME | ROLE / CONTACT NUMBER |
| ANDREW THORLEY | PROJECT MANAGER 07834 651678 |
| ALAN CLARKE | CIVILS SITE MANAGER 07813 536660 |
Supported By
| NAME | ROLE |
| PETER SMURTHWAITE | CHAIRMAN |
| GLENN SMURTHWAITE | MANAGING DIRECTOR |
| MARK BROOKS | COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR |
| CONNOR COOPER | QUANTITY SURVEYOR |
| BRENDON SMURTHWAITE | COMMUNITY LIAISON MANAGER 01482 211132 |
| DANNY LONG | HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGER |
| AIMEE FRITH | QUALITY & SOCIAL VALUE LEAD |
Community Liaison Manager Contact Details
Brendon Smurthwaite
Community Liaison Manager
PBS Construction (North East) Ltd
1 Trinity Street, Hull, HU3 1JR
Office: 01482 211132
Email: brendon.smurthwaite@pbsconstruction.co.uk
PBS CONSTRUCTION (NORTH EAST) LTD
Head Office: 1 Trinity Street, Hull, HU3 1JR
Phone: 01482 211132
Email: info@pbsconstruction.co.uk
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