Good afternoon everyone, 

Just a quick note to let you all know that due to operational requirements our site team will be working within the park area adjacent to Village Heights this weekend. 

They will be on site between 08:00 and 16:00 both Saturday 1st May and Sunday 2nd May 2021. 

Thank you 

Becky 

Afternoon all,

As those of you using the park or living nearby will have noticed, we started back on site on Monday after a delay caused by unforeseen ground conditions and the need to re-design to adapt to this. Hopefully that's the end of those issues and we can really get going on the project.

As we are back working there will be more noise than has been the case over the past few weeks due to increased activity, labour and a couple of excavators on site and the installation of rock anchors up coming. As always we will endeavour too keep disruption to a minimum.

Thanks

Dave Eden

Good morning,

Residents may have noticed that our site activity has paused.  This is due to ground conditions in the area, which we are currently investigating.  Our team are reassessing our methods of working to manage the new situation. We hope to have a new solution by Monday, however our site team will keep us updated.

Thank you for your patience.

Christine

Injured Kitten

Morning All. We have sadly found a tabby kitten on site this morning which has been badly mauled by a dog or fox. It appears to be someones pet as it was very tame. The guys on site have taken the initiative and taken it to the nearest vet, Blythman and Partners, for treatment so please contact them if your kitten is missing.

Afternoon everyone, the days have flown over with us getting busier onsite, so much so that I almost missed this fortnightly update.

After a few minor issues agreeing and arranging the best way forward we are now full stream ahead.

We have installed further protection measures on site, this time a stone protection layer to the work area has been laid to protect the large water mains underneath. We have also installed piling guides so that when the piling operations starts we can be sure we are in the right position and again that no damage will come to the water mains.

We are due to start the piling tomorrow which may be somewhat noisier that previous operations but we will monitor and endeavour to minimise this. We are using the augering method to form the piles, essentially drilling into the ground and filling the holes with concrete, rather then the much noisier method of hammering pre-formed piles into the ground. Once formed, these piles will provide the strength needed to resist the force of all that water pushing against valves and fittings in the mains.

Once the piling is completed it will be time to start looking at concreting and new / altering pipe works.

I've attached a few photos which hopefully help fill in the picture.

Thanks

Dave

Good Morning All,

I'm Dave Eden the site manager for this newest batch of Tyneside Water Network Improvements.

As you may have seen we are now set up in Windmill Hills to carry out the improvements on the major water mains running through the park. We have taken over the central cobbled area for our cabins, so apologies if that is a favourite spot of yours, and we have fenced of the work area in the south west corner of the park including closing access through that gate. Please be aware that the rest of the park remains open and we have maintained access through all other gates and footpaths, even where they pass between our compound and work area, so there is nothing to prevent you continuing to use this open space.

We have noticed a sizable rodent problem in the park which, as some of you have mentioned, is causing issues to nearby residents as well. To deal with this we have started a pest control programme for the site and this will hopefully have the added benefit to the neighbourhood of reducing rat numbers in the surrounding areas, including private gardens. All control measures are inside our fencing so will not cause any hazard to pets.

Works have begun on site to excavate for a new cross connection between the two mains which will allow us to turn each main off in turn to carry out our works whilst also maintaining a top quality water supply. This excavation is almost entirely through rock so please bare with us regarding any disruption and slow progress. Once this is complete we will move onto installing rock anchors which will tie our new works in place ensuring the water mains are fully secure.

I've attached a few photos, so feel free to peruse them.

Thanks 

Dave Eden

Good morning,

We have now been on site a couple of weeks and you may have seen our team in the park area.  Our compound is in place and we promise to keep the area tidy, however if you do notice anything we need to address please let us know direct.  You can do this by approaching one of our team or messaging me direct on here. We have also constructed a temporary access road to enable us to carry out our works and removed some vegetation.

Our site are friendly and approachable, however please keep a safe distance (2m) at all times.  Each and everyone of our team will be happy to discuss our work or answer any questions. 

Our team

Dave Eden, our Site Manager, is always on site and is extremely experienced.  His role is to oversee the day to day activities on site.  He is assisted by Jordan, the site engineer, and they both work with our pipe layers, led by Peter.

Andrew McKenna is our Contracts Manager, for Esh-Stantec, and will be overseeing the scheme as a whole.  As for me, I am the Customer Service Manager for Esh-Stantec, me and my team will be contacting you over the course of the works to keep you informed.

We will update you all again very soon.

Christine

Good afternoon,

Northumbrian Water are coming to your area on the 1st February 2021.

Residents near to Village Heights may have received a letter advising of works in the Windmill Hills Park.  Northumbrian Water are investing £800,000 in their strategic water network in the area.  We, Esh Stantec, are the construction partners who will be installing 2 electronically operated valves (EOV’s) on two large diameter trunk mains in the area of the park. Part of this work will involve the installation of a control kiosk and aerial near the new chamber.

Whilst we carry out our work we will be following government guidelines, to keep our teams, customers and communities safe during our work. If u want to ask us a question or simply say hello to any of our site team, please remember to keep a safe two-metre distance.

Our site team will provide an introduction on here over the next few days.

If you do want to discuss this any further please contact the Customer Centre on 0345 7171100.

Christine

Good Evening

We have now carried out the general tidy up works to the verges around the new kiosk and chambers, coupled with the removal of the external fencing. Our planned activities next week are the commissioning of the equipment installed and general tarmac surfacing to the roadway adjacent the existing manhole chambers.

Our works should all things being equal be completed by the middle of next week.

Have a great weekend.

Kind Regards

Kevin McGargle

Site Manager

Good morning

You will now notice that we have completed the decommision of the temporary overland water main that has been visible over the last few weeks and the area now reinstated, works are currently progressing with the electrical works to the new kiosk installed near stanton mill.

We are working to have this area of our scheme clear by the end of next week.

Kind Regards

Site Manager.