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Site News |
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Sea Defence Works
Leave Lasting Legacy |
The new planting area at Thornton Gate has been
planted
and maintained by local residents |
While the new sea
defence works serve to protect the residents of
Cleveleys from tidal flooding, there have been a
number of additional benefits from the works. Chief
among these has been the sense of local community
pride that has risen in the wake of the construction
works.
The
Cleveleys Seafront Partnership was formed in the
early years of the project by local residents and
businesses to conserve and enhance the new seafront
and to promote it's use and that of the cinema
complex and revamped Jubilee Gardens.
The
Rossall
Beach Residents Association was formed to
promote the beach area immediately north of the new
works and has been vigorously active in making
improvements to this section of Cleveleys seafront. |
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Local residents
and businesses have also got together to produce the
new Visit
Cleveleys website to actively promote local
events and to provide up to date news and
information on Cleveleys and local issues.
The installation
of local pride in Cleveleys has been one of the
major benefits of the sea defence works and will
hopefully continue to do so for many years to come.
The
latest phase of the Cleveleys sea defence works is
due to officially open to the public on 4 July. To
coincide with the opening, the Seafront Partnership
will be holding the first of its Sea Festivals, a
day of fun and entertainment for residents and
visitors alike (see the website for more details) |
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Cleveleys nearing
completion.
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The
latest phase of the Cleveleys sea defence works is
only weeks away from completion. The 244 metre
length of sea defence and associated promenade works
between Victoria Road and Kingsway will complete the
1 kilometre long multi award winning project.
Finishing touches to the scheme including
lighting, furniture, signs, etc are currently under
way to complete the works on time and to budget with
an expected opening
in June.
We are currently awaiting the
outcome of a European funding application which, if
successful will provide additional features to the
scheme. These will possibly include additional
furniture and lighting, landmark features, artwork
and a memorial to the recently grounded Riverdance.
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Cleveleys - Best in Britain |
The Cleveleys
Coast Protection Scheme, which has
proved beyond doubt that sea
defences can look stunning, has been
declared Project of the Year in
the national Constructing Excellence
Awards 2009.
Judges were
looking for a scheme that
demonstrated the highest level of
technical achievement, innovation
and application of best practice,
delivered to time and budget through
team working at all levels.
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Officers from Wyre Borough
Council and Birse Coastal were at Lords cricket
ground to accept the top award. Councillor Peter
Hawley, Living Economy Portfolio Holder for Wyre
Borough Council, said: "We thought we'd done
extremely well to pick up the regional prize back in
May, but to be named best in the country is a
fantastic achievement. "It's no more than the
project deserves of course. What Cleveleys has now
is so much more than an eye-catching seafront. As
well as providing essential flooding defences for
thousands of residents, it has also regenerated the
town centre and given the people of Cleveleys a real
sense of place ownership.
Officers from Wyre BC and Birse Coastal celebrate
their success at the awards ceremony.
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Latest
News:November 2009 |
 The
Cleveleys site team working on the latest phase of
the sea defence works recently passed another safety
milestone for the works - 100,000 man hours worked
without time loss or a reportable accident.
The team,
pictured left, is made up of workers from Birse
Coastal, Wyre Borough Council and their
sub-contractors who have worked closely together
throughout the project to ensure the highest levels
of site safety and best practice.
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Work on
repairs to United Utilities outfall begins
While works on the
latest phase of the Cleveleys sea defence improvements have
continued, local residents and visitors alike have noted a
strange construction on the beach and have asked if this
structure forms part of the works.
The short answer is No.
These works are being undertaken by United Utilities who
have contracted Volker Stevin of Morecambe to carry out
repair works to an outfall pipe which was damaged by the
ill-fated Riverdance last year.
The works consist of
the construction of a cofferdam which will allow the
contractor to protect the working area from the tide and
provide a dry area in which to work.
The works are
expected to take up to five months to complete.
Further details can be viewed on the
Blackpool Gazette
page.
Photograph of the works in progress from
Cleveleys Argus system
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Cleveleys seafront earns its 17th award |
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Cleveleys seafront has scooped
yet another prestigious award. This time Cleveleys
Coast Protection Scheme has been declared Project
of the Year, the top honour in the North West
Construction Industry Awards 2009.
Delivered in partnership by Wyre
Borough Council and Birse Coastal, the £19m scheme
fitted perfectly with the judge's brief of the
highest level of technical achievement, innovation
and application of best practice while delivering a
project to time and budget and with team working
throughout the supply chain.
This latest accolade, the 17th
since the project began in 2007, was announced at a
prestigious ceremony in Southport on 21 May.
Receiving the award, Rob Posner, Director of
Neighbourhood Services for Wyre Borough Council,
said: "We are delighted by the continued recognition
for this exceptional project, which is so much more
than a sea defence scheme. Excellence has been
demonstrated on so many levels - the design itself,
the quality of the construction, the way it has
dealt with environmental issues, the part it's
played in regenerating the town centre and how it
links into the community.
Phil Wright, Managing Director of
Birse Coastal, added: "I am absolutely delighted
with this award. It is testament to the partnership
between Wyre Borough Council and Birse Coastal and
to the fantastic project we have jointly
delivered. The Cleveleys project has been a
resounding success from start to finish and to have
this recognised at a regional level is a great
achievement. I would like to acknowledge the
exceptional efforts of all involved, directly and
indirectly, with the scheme and hope that the people
of Cleveleys enjoy their new defences and promenade
for many years to come’ |
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Representatives from
Wyre Borough Council
and Birse Coastal Ltd collect the award at the award
ceremony on 21 May on behalf of the partnership. |
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The Cleveleys Coastal Defence
Scheme was funded by DEFRA, the Environment Agency
and ERDF through the Northwest Development Agency.
The scheme comprised construction of 1.1km of
precast concrete to replace the existing,
time-expired coast defences, creation of an iconic
promenade, seating, shelters, feature lighting, a
new café with wind turbines and extensive
landscaping.
Possibly the most important
factor is that it has made a real difference to the
local environment, the community, people’s lives and
their general well-being. The blend of engineering
and aesthetics, the uplifting colours of materials
and the ‘flow’ achieved in the layout makes this
project stand out from other public realm schemes
and proves that a major construction project can be
completed to the complete satisfaction of the
customer and the local community.
When awarding the prestigious
title of Project of the Year, judges commented that
the win was down to the regeneration that the
coastal defence work had inspired, that the
transformation to the area had created such a sense
of place and that the technical challenges overcome
(for example relating to landscape architecture in a
hostile environment were significant.
The scheme will now represent the
North West in the national awards later this year.
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Previous News Reports |
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Work set to
commence on latest phase of works
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WBC are very pleased
to announce that the Environment Agency have given
permission for the next phase of the Cleveleys
Seafront Scheme from Victoria Road to Kingsway to
commence. Birse Coastal who have successfully
completed the first two phases of the scheme have
been appointed and will be commencing works from
Monday 16 March. The works, which will regenerate
the seawall and promenade, are expected to continue
for approximately twelve months.
The works will
involve the placement of precast concrete units to
form a new stepped revetment, similar to that in the
previous works north of Victoria Road West, a new
rear wall and landscaping to the side of the road.
It is inevitable that there will be some
inconvenience to the public. However as on previous
phases both Wyre Borough Council and our partner
contractor, Birse Coastal, will be carrying out
constant monitoring of the site to ensure that any
disruption is kept to a minimum.
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Plans for the works
will be placed within the site information cabin at
the top of Victoria Road West and can be viewed from
9am to 5pm most days. |
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Wind
Turbines Fitted to Cafe Building
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The Cleveleys
Promenade café is nearing completion, the final
phases of the interior fit out and the recent
addition of helixical wind turbines will complete
what will be a jewel on the Fylde Coast. The café
itself offers panoramic views of the Lakeland Fells
and forms a visually attractive terminal point to
the award-winning promenade.
The turbines will
help to power both the café and the promenades
feature lighting, providing up to 20MW of power
annually from the five turbines installed. The
turbines are an innovative design from Quiet
Revolution, which are both visually stunning and
have proven to be quieter than traditional turbines.
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The café and
turbines are the final touches in the transformation
of the Cleveleys Promenade phases 2 & 3 which have
been funded by the Department of Environment Food
and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency, Wyre
Borough Council and the European Regional
Development Fund. |
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Work on next phase of scheme to commence mid-January |
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Work on the next
phase of the Cleveleys scheme is scheduled to start
in mid January 2009. The works will extend the replacement of the old sea
defences and improve the promenade and its
facilities over a 200m length from Victoria Road
West to the boundary with Blackpool at Kingsway.
The works will be
constructed by Birse Coastal, who successfully bid
to win the contract to complete the final phase of
these award-winning sea defences
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Cleveleys scheme scoops top tourism award
Hard on the heels of receiving the British
Construction Industry Award for Environmental , the
scheme has won the Northwest Tourism Award for the
best public space in the North West.
Organised by the Northwest Regional Development
Agency. the awards are much coveted throughout the
industry and Cleveleys beat off stiff competition
from Morecambe, Wirral and Windermere to take the
title.
Judge's heard how
a kilometre stretch of run-down sea defence and
crumbling grey promenade has been transformed into
an unusual living landscape added to by the
community. Iconic architecture, innovative lighting
triggered by the tide, complimentary street
furniture and a striking pavilion are al key
features of the project which is a partnership
between Wyre Borough Council and the main contractor
Birse Coastal.
Councillor Peter
Hawley, Living Economy Portfolio Holder for Wyre
Borough Council, said "To be hailed as best public
space is particularly poignant as the intention has
always been to create an open space that belonged to
the people. That's why it's been called the People's
Promenade.
We are thrilled
that yet another awarding body has recognised what a
fantastic scheme this."
The scheme will
now go on to represent the North West in the
national finals next April. |
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For the second year running the
Cleveleys Seafront scheme was shortlisted for an
award in the British Construction Industry Awards.
The BCI Awards are widely regarded as the
industry's 'Oscars' and are the most rigorously
judged Awards in the construction sector.
The Cleveleys
scheme was nominated in five awards including
the prestigious 'Prime Minister's
Better Public Building Award'. Last year the scheme
received a 'highly commended' and hopes were high
that the scheme could go one better this year.
At the Awards
ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in
London's Park Lane on Wednesday 8 October 2008, the
scheme won the Environmental Award
for the way it
"transformed a dilapidated 1920s seafront into an
attractive, vibrant frontage which is safe, robust
and has stimulated demonstrable regeneration".
The award was greeted with delight
from key partners. Councillor Peter
Hawley, Living Economy Portfolio
Holder for Wyre Borough Council,
said: "This is fantastic news and
just shows what can be achieved
through the kind of working
relationship the council has been
able to forge with Birse Coastal.
"The seafront has captured
everyone's imagination, not just
because of its appearance, but also
the way it incorporates the public's
ideas. That's why we called it the
People's Promenade and what makes it
such a great installation.
"We also need to recognise the part
the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs, the North West
Development Agency and the
Environment Agency played. Without
their funding, none of this would
have been possible."
Construction work on Phase Four of
the development, that will see the
new sea wall extended to the
Blackpool boundary at Kingsway, is
expected to start early next year
subject to final approval of £3m of
funding from Environment Agency.
Full details are available at
http://www.bciawards.org.uk/awards/awards_2008.asp
 The
BCI Environmental Award presented to
the Cleveleys scheme
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Latest phase of beach works on hold
Work on the ground stabilisation element of the
latest phase of the sea defence and promenade
improvement works has now been completed. A total of
683 vibro stone columns have been installed
between Victoria Road West and Kingsway to
strengthen the poor
ground
conditions. This work will significantly improve the
load bearing capacity of the ground, allowing the
permanent works to be constructed on a sound
foundation.
With the columns now installed,
the beach is to be left to settle prior to the
commencement of the new defence works planned
for October 2008.
Photo:
Installation of stone columns in progress
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Cleveleys Shortlisted For Another Top Industry Award
For the second year running the Cleveleys Seafront scheme has been shortlisted in
the British Construction Industry Awards. The BCI Awards are widely regarded as the industry's
'Oscars' and are the most rigorously judged Awards
in the construction sector.
The
Cleveleys scheme has been nominated for both
the 'Best Civil Engineering Scheme Award' and the
very prestigious 'Prime Minister's Better Public
Building Award'. Last year the scheme received a
'highly commended'; hopes are high that the scheme
can go one better this year.
The
Awards will be presented at the Grosvenor House
Hotel in London's Park Lane on Wednesday 8 October
2008.
Further
details are available at
http://www.bciawards.org.uk/
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Phase 4
of the works begin
Work on
the latest phase of the Cleveleys sea defence and
promenade improvement works began this week when the
first of the sheet steel toe piles were driven into
the beach.
Phase 4
of the works was originally planned to begin in 2012
but was brought forward following the success of the
earlier phases which have been well received by the
public and have been awarded a number of
construction industry accolades.
While
initial works have begun on the beach, production of
the precast concrete units that will make up the
main part of the new phase of works has continued at
the Thornton precast yard.
The main construction works are expected to commence
in late summer after analysis of site investigation
data has been undertaken. Construction is expected
to continue until summer 2009.
Piling works on Cleveleys beach
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Wyre
Mayor opens 'People's Promenade'
On
Saturday 19 April the Mayor of Wyre Borough Council,
Councillor Keith Riley, officially opened the latest
phase of the construction works.
The
Radio Wave roadshow kicked off the festivities
before comedian Frank Carson warmed up the growing
crowd ahead of the opening ceremony.
Addressing the crowd
of local residents and invited dignitaries
Councillor Riley praised all those involved in the
design and construction of the works, and thanked
the official bodies, including Defra and the North
West Development Agency who had provided the funds
for the scheme.
Following
the opening ceremony, those attending were treated
to a day of music and dance from local musicians,
entertainers and celebrities courtesy of the
Cleveleys Seafront Partnership, a group of local
business leaders and residents dedicated to
revitalising Cleveleys.
Chairman of the
Partnership, Mr Peter Wills, hailed the day as a
great success for the people of Cleveleys.
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Latest phase of
Cleveleys works opens to Public
 The
latest phase of the Cleveleys works, covering the stretch of North
Promenade from Beach Road to Victoria Road West, was
opened to the public ahead of the Easter holiday weekend.
The seafront
works have cost £20 million, much of this being provided by
the government and through European funding.
The official
opening on Saturday 19 April will be carried out by Wyre
mayor Keith Riley, following which a day of public entertainment has been organised by the
Cleveleys Seafront
Partnership.
The new Plaza
area at the head of Victoria Road West
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Cleveleys scheme
to open for Easter holidays
.jpg) Phase
3 of the Cleveleys works, covering the stretch of North
Promenade from Beach Road to Victoria Road West, is to be
opened to the public ahead of the Easter holiday weekend.
The seafront
works have cost £20 million, much of this being provided by
the government and through European funding.
Councillor
Russell Forsyth, Leader of Wyre Borough Council said, "The
transformation at Cleveleys is astonishing. It is a credit
to everyone and anyone who has anything to do with its
successful outcome. It has become one of the major
attractions in Wyre."
The official
opening on Saturday 19 April will be carried out by Wyre
mayor Keith Riley following which a day of public and
entertainment has been organised by the Cleveleys Seafront
Partnership
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Cleveleys scheme
set to open to the public
.jpg) The
final finishing touches are currently being made to the
promenade construction works ahead of the official opening
to the public in April.
The works are
planned to be completed by the beginning of March at which
time the new-look promenade and sea defence will be opened
up to the public .
The official
opening on Saturday 19 April will be carried out by Wyre
mayor Keith Riley following which a day of public and
entertainment has been organised by the Cleveleys Seafront
Partnership
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Stricken ferry 'Riverdance' on Cleveleys beach.
 During
the evening of Thursday 31 January the 6,000 tonne Sea
Trucks ferry ‘Riverdance’ ran aground on Cleveleys beach
500m south of the new sea defence works during high wind and
heavy seas.
Cargo from the heavily listing vessel, including bags of
peat, chocolate biscuits, timber and polystyrene insulation
boards, has been washed up on the beach in front of the
works.
Officers from Wyre Borough Council and Birse Coastal have
been liaising with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in
monitoring the condition of the vessel in case oil from the
ferry's fuel bunkers leaks in the sea.
Coastguards are advising members of the public who plan to
visit the site to view it from a safe distance on the
promenade and not to venture down onto the beach.
For
a live view of the Riverdance go to
here
and click on
camera C3
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Opening Date for New Promenade
Announced
 The
Mayor of Wyre Borough Council, Councillor Keith Riley, is
set to officially open the new sea defence and promenade
improvement works at Cleveleys on Saturday 19 April 2008.
The latest section of the works extends south from Beach
Road to the junction of South Promenade and Victoria Road
West and concludes the £20million works currently under
construction by Birse Coastal.
The
opening will be followed by a day of music and dance
courtesy of the Cleveleys Seafront Partnership. All are
welcome to attend.
His Worshipful the Mayor,
Councillor Keith Riley
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Cleveleys scheme
nominated for
ICE award
.JPG) The
first phase of the Cleveleys sea defence
works, opened in March 2007, has been
nominated a top award in the Institution of
Civil Engineers North West Awards 2008.
One of thirteen
nominees, the scheme has been nominated for
the 2008 Merit Award which recognises and
encourages excellence and imaginative
concepts in civil engineering practice in
the ICE North West Region.
The awards will be
presented by ICE President David Orr at the
81st Annual Awards Dinner in Liverpool on 8
February 2008
Further details can be
viewed at the
ICE Merit Awards web-site
Details of all nominees
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Cleveleys scheme shortlisted for Local Government award
The
Cleveleys scheme has been shortlisted in the
LGC national awards for Local Government
2008.
The
awards, sponsored by the Local Government
Chronicle magazine, give local authorities
the chance to compete for the top prize in a
number of categories.
Wyre Borough Council has been nominated for
the Local Government Public/Private
Partnership Award
for their work with Birse Coastal on the
Cleveleys scheme.
The
awards are due to be decided in March 2008
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Cleveleys scheme scoops another top award
 BEST
in BRITAIN - that's the verdict on the
new-look North Promenade and sea defences at
Cleveleys.
The £20
million project was entered for the Regional
Monitor Excellence Awards 2007 which aim to
celebrate the very best in local innovation
and best practice around the UK.
Members
of Parliament studied the short list and
decided that the Cleveleys scheme should
have the Urban Renewal Award for the project
judged to have done the most in the last
year to regenerate an urban environment or
community.
Rob
Posner, Head of Neighbourhood Services at
Wyre, was at the presentation evening at the
headquarters of the Institution of Civil
Engineers in London to receive the trophy.
 Then
it was handed over to the Mayor of Wyre,
Councillor Keith Riley at a meeting of the
full council and will be displayed in the
Civic Centre at Poulton.
Living
Places Portfolio Holder Councillor Vivien
Taylor handed the trophy to the Mayor and
commented: " This is a further example of
the excellent work by this council and by
Birse Coastal. It shows yet again what a
great scheme this is."
This
award is the latest in a list of accolades
which have been handed out for high
standards achieved at Cleveleys.
Councillor Peter Hawley, who has been
involved with the Cleveleys project from the
start, said: " I would like to thank Wyre's
engineering staff under the guidance of Mr
Rob Posner and our partners in this Birse
Coastal, the contractors. And we should not
forget Defra and the North West Development
Agency for providing the finance."
Further details available at
http://www.dodsparlicom.com/awards/
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British Construction Industry Awards 2007
Cleveleys scheme misses out on top honour - but gets
commendation
Cleveleys' new look seafront has scooped a
national honour after being highly commended
in a major awards ceremony in London.
The £20m
project to redevelop the North Promenade,
giving improved flood protection and a
stunning 21st century seafront view, had
been shortlisted for five different awards
at the prestigious Building Construction
Industry Awards in London. This included a
nomination for the ceremony's top award, the
key Prime Minister's Better Public Building
Award.
At the
ceremony, held at the Grosvenor Hotel, the
council received a High Commendation in the
Best Practice Award, one of only three high
commendations given out for all of the
awards.
Work
began to transform the Cleveleys seafront in
November 2005 with the first phase completed
in March 2007 - this has introduced
innovative new sea defence structures to the
promenade which have already won industry
awards for design and construction. In
addition the new look promenade is now twice
as wide as its predecessor.
Stage two
of the project started last winter and will
include further improvements to sea defences
as as well as extensive redevelopment of the
recreational area close to Victoria Road
West - to include new picnic areas and
seating.
Robert
Posner, Wyre Borough Council's Head of
Neighbourhood Services, said: "For us the
commendation is a recognition of how
successful the scheme at Cleveleys has been
so far, particularly as it was nominated in
so many different categories.
"The
British Construction Industry awards are
extremely prestigious and are regarded as
the "Oscars" for the construction industry.
Our achievements have therefore received the
highest level of recognition.
"What is
also encouraging is that the project has
still to be finished - we are thus hopeful
that when it is completed next year we will
have a chance of doing even better in the
awards then."
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Cleveleys scheme shortlisted for further award
The
Cleveleys Sea Defence Works scheme has been included among
the finalists for this year's Prime Minister's Better Public
Award. The award is a special category within the British
Construction Industry Awards, sponsored jointly by the
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and
the Office of Government Commerce.
Inclusion in the shortlist is a very significant
achievement. The Cleveleys coast protection scheme was one
of 117 entries for the award this year.
In
selecting the shortlist the judges looked for the highest
standards of design, construction, financial management,
procurement and environmental sustainability. They described
the project as a striking response to an increasingly common
problem.
The
winner of the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award
will be announced by James Purnell, Secretary of State for
Culture, Media and Sport, on 10 October 2007.
James
Purnell MP,
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
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VIP Visitor for Wyre’s People’s Promenade
Alistair Burt MP, Shadow Minister for Local Government and
Regeneration, visited Cleveleys Seafront on Wednesday
1 August, accompanied by Eric Ollerenshaw OBE. They met with
officials from Wyre Borough Council and considerate
contractors Birse Coastal Ltd before taking a tour of the
£20 million award-winning People’s Promenade.
Councillor Russell Forsyth, Leader of Wyre Borough Council,
organised the visit to the People’s Promenade.
He said: “The completed phases of The People’s Promenade
have transformed the seafront and this innovative project
will help to protect and enhance Cleveleys for many years to
come.
“We
are proud of what has been achieved at the People’s
Promenade and it is a very exciting time for this popular
seaside town. This regeneration project has attracted more
visitors to the area which will ultimately help to boost the
local economy.”
The £20 million integrated sea defence and promenade
enhancement scheme has provided a bold, futuristic new look.
The new promenade is now twice as wide as it once was and
incorporates landmark features - such as bespoke heated
seating - designed to improve the visitor experience.
The project has been financed by the Department for the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency
and the Northwest Development Agency.
 Alistair
Burt MP (centre) with Councillor Russell Forsyth (right) and
Andrew Mason, Birse Director, inspects the new sea defences
at Cleveleys
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July 2007
300,000 hours
safety milestone passed.
Birse Coastal
workers on the Cleveleys sea defence scheme recently reached
a new safety milestone, passing 300,000 man hours without
time loss or reportable accident.
Operations
Director Andrew Mason praised the achievement of the site
team in reaching the milestone claiming it as “ A great team
achievement in such a harsh working environment.” He added
that this was “A credit to all team members; may this
success continue until the completion of the works”
The two-year long
£20 million scheme to update the sea defences and promenade
facilities at Cleveleys is expected to be completed by the
end of the year.
 Birse
Coastal Operations Manager, Andrew Mason.
“A credit to all team members; may this success continue
until the completion of the works."
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March 2007
Wyre shares accolade for high
standards at Cleveleys seafront
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The Cleveleys Coastal Defence Scheme
wins another industry accolade.
 On
Friday 18 May at the North West Regional Construction Awards
2007 in Manchester, the Cleveleys Coastal Defence Scheme was
awarded the Lancashire Best Practice Award for the best
construction project within Lancashire.
The project will now go forward to the national
Constructing Excellence awards which are held in July.
The award is a reflection of the hard work and
effort undertaken by all of the project team during the design
and construction of the Cleveleys scheme to date.
Further details can be viewed
at the
Consulting Excellence website
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March 2007
Opening ceremony for
new-look Cleveleys seafront
The Mayor
of Wyre, Councillor Peter Hawley, is set to open the latest
developments on Cleveleys seafront on Friday, 16 March.
The
section between Carr Gate and Beach Road is now complete apart from
the café area at the Rossall end which will be finished during the
summer.
Wyre’s
Principal Engineer, Carl Green, said: “I think that the new look
North Promenade is a big improvement on the old one and we hope that
it will be enjoyed by both local residents and visitors alike.”
The
seafront project has two aims. The first is to replace ageing sea
defences with new structures which will remain effective for at
least 50 years. The second is to give the Promenade a 21st century
look.
The first
new line of defence against the sea is a barrier of step-shaped
concrete blocks called a revetment. It contains 3,600 individual
units made from concrete mixed to a special formula and cast at the
Hillhouse industrial site in Thornton and transported to the scene
by road. Behind that is a new middle and rear wall, also made in
concrete sections at Hillhouse.
Carl
said: “The installation has been tested in severe storm conditions
and performed exactly as we had planned. It was very effective.”
The new
promenade is twice as wide as it once was with very modern lighting,
seats and shelters – they even have heated seats. Blue glass is used
in the floor covering and replicated in other parts of the
Promenade. Some of the concrete carries a wave pattern design which
is replicated in the soil beds that line the roadway side of the
promenade. They will be home to a variety of shrubs and plants and
to grass which has been cultivated on mats to fit into the area. The
growing has been done by the experts at the council’s own Ashdell
Nursery in Thornton.
Now, work
is underway on the stretch between Beach Road and Victoria Road
West. It should be complete early in 2008 and will include a large
and elegant public piazza at the top of Victoria Road.
The
Cleveleys work has a price tag of £20 million which is government
financed. The next chapter in the never-ending battle with the sea
is likely to cost more like £30 million. It will see a
reconstruction of sea defences in Fleetwood between the junction of
Westway and Fairway (the former Rossall Hospital site) and the
junction of Chatsworth Avenue with Fairway.
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 January
2007
Landmark safety milestone achieved on
prestigious coast protection scheme
The Birse Coastal team constructing
phases 2 & 3 of the Cleveleys Coast Protection scheme have
achieved a landmark safety milestone – 200,000 man
hours worked without time loss or reportable accident.
The £19m Cleveleys scheme is a partnership between Birse Coastal,
customer Wyre Borough Council and designers Faber Maunsell and
involves construction of 1.1km of new coastal defences. The
defences include the import and placement of 10,000 tonnes of armourstone, 150,000 tonnes of fill material and manufacture and
placement of 1000 interlocking precast concrete revetment units,
each weighing 16 tonnes.
Commenting on his team's outstanding performance and safety record,
operations director Andrew Mason stated ‘Having a truly integrated
client, contractor and subcontractor team, with each of its members
focused on achieving the highest levels of site safety and best
practice has resulted in such a great achievement. Experience and a
real understanding of the risks associated with working in the
coastal environment are also key reasons for the ongoing success of
this project.’ The scheme commenced in
November 2005, after a 10 month Early Contractor Involvement period and
is due for completion in December 2007. |
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.JPG)
The Mayor of Wyre, Councillor Peter Hawley
(right) with members of the Management Team with the Considerate
Constructors Scheme silver award.