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 (February 26th – March 25th)
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:
- All block work now complete and cavity fully cleaned
- Roof fully installed
- Canopy roof installed
- Building wrapped and timber batons installed
- All timber flooring installed, garage floor poured, vinyl flooring and upstand installed
- All log retaining walls installed and stone wall (just awaiting copings)
- Windows, doors and roller shutters now installed
- All plastering complete
- Cladding 95 per cent complete
- Stud walling and plasterboard complete. All ceiling frame work installed along with internal door frames, window cills, skirting and architrave. Both kitchens installed, too.
- Steps, setts and tactiles all installed on footway
Area 16 Steps Progress
- All steps now re-laid
- All boulders installed up to Beeforth’s Hive
- Sandstone steps now installed
- All tactiles installed
Spa Bridge to tunnel (north side) Progress
- New stone walls built next to tunnel entrance, fence posts all installed and top soil put into planted areas. New copings installed
- Area now fully planed out and 90 per cent of surface course laid
Southern Footway near the Clock Café/Sunken Garden
- Dry stone walling now installed in various locations and around the Sunken Garden
- All gullies in the area cleaned and jetted
- All setts in the area installed and pointed up
- Sunken Garden dug out, stripped and set out for approval
- Area now levelled and set out with grassing matting installed
Italian Gardens Progress
- All steps in front of Shelter 5 removed and inspected
- Trenching work ongoing to install metal rail for resining surface
- ‘Secret Garden’ stone wall now rebuilt
Rose Garden Progress
- Set out for new aluminium edging
- Dug out footing and concreted
- Digging out section of footway to be reconstructed
- Installing new aluminium edge
Italian Steps Progress
- Removed all existing balustrades
- Put new concrete footings in on section of damaged radius wall
- Wall rebuilt and coping installed
- Installing new balustrades and copings
Phase 3 Footways (Italian Gardens to Putting Green) Progress
- Areas dug out and concrete foundations laid in putting green area
- Setts and boulders laid in Italian Gardens up to Shelter 6
- Setts now laid around putting green and back towards the Clock Tower
- New fan detail complete
Shelter 4 Progress
- Shelter inspected
- Pergola all stripped off, rafters and roof removed
- Scaffold removed from rear of shelter to allow brick work and render works to be carried out
Shelter 6 Progress
- All timber works completed
- Pergola now fully painted
- Scaffold removed
- Rendering work underway
Shelter 9 Progress
- Shelter now installed on site
- Stone wall and pavers repointed and cleaned
- Roof fully installed and underfelt installed
- Shelter now 95 per cent painted and complete
Shelter 18 (new toilet block) Progress
- All timber cladding on building removed. Plywood soffit and all internal ceilings also removed
- Roof fully stripped and re-felted with batons installed. Roof now complete with new ridge tiles installed
- Installing new fascia boards and soffit due to rot on existing
- New timber cladding, batons and membrane installed
- External wall removed, new concrete upstand poured and new block wall being built
Elsewhere across the project, work is continuing on:
- Shelter numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12 & 13
- Area 18 Steps
- Area 19 Steps
- The Clock Tower
- The Lost Shelter
- The Memorial Shelter
- Land drainage
- Area 22 steps & footway
Friends of South Cliff Gardens meeting
The Friends of South Cliff Gardens held their latest meeting earlier this month and Brendon Smurthwaite (PBS Construction Community Manager) was delighted to be invited along. He was able to give a short update on the progress of the project and also present the group with a donation of 20 hi-viz vests which will be used at their volunteer gardening sessions on South Cliff. PBS would like to thank the Friends for the invite and we look forward to working with them throughout the remainder of the project.
March site tour
The end of March saw us host our monthly site tour with around 35 members of the public coming along to be shown some of the progress being made on the project. There were some familiar faces, but also a good amount of first time visitors which was great to see as well.
Andy Thorley (PBS Project Manager), Tony Meehan (Stonemason, Set in Stone) and Brendon Smurthwaite (PBS Community Manager) led the tour which included a look at the northern section of the newly resurfaced accessible footpath, the tunnel, the Italian Steps, the Sunken Garden, Beeforth’s Hive (new community building) and Shelter 18 (new accessible toilet block). There were lots of questions asked (and answered!) and we look forward to doing it all again on Thursday April 28th!
Horticultural insight session for the Friends
Gardening volunteers from the Friends of South Cliff Gardens group were given an insight into the horticultural element of the project on a tour held at the start of March. Scott Matthews (Principal Landscape Architect at Southern Green) was joined by Vicky Thompson (South Cliff National Lottery Heritage Fund Project Officer) as they walked and talked the volunteers through the horticultural plans for the gardens. Doug led the follow up discussion, which focused on sustainable horticultural practices and how the volunteers can be supported to continue to play their essential part going forward. Later on in the day the team had an online discussion with a guest speaker from Holehird Gardens who gave an insight into how they successfully recruit, motivate and support volunteers in a historic horticultural setting.
Support for George Pindar Secondary School
George Pindar Secondary School recently held a mock interview morning for its Year 9 students and Brendon Smurthwaite (PBS Construction Community Manager) was one of the business volunteers who supported the event. Each student completed a mock application form prior to the day and was then interviewed for that role by somebody from industry. It was a great way for the students to practice a skill that they will need to use further down the track and Brendon commented:
“Mock interviews are a really good way of helping young people prepare for the real thing and it was nice to be part of the event. As well as being able to pass on advice regarding interview techniques, it’s great to speak to students and find out what they’re thinking in terms of potential career pathways.”
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 April 28th. 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.
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.
On our last considerate constructor inspection we were delighted to achieve an impressive score of 39 out of 45.
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 / QUANTITY SURVEYOR |
| BRENDON SMURTHWAITE | COMMUNITY LIAISON MANAGER 01482 211132 |
| DANNY LONG | HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGER |
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
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