Work in the Park!
It's all Kicked Off!
Updated: 10th July 2011
We're delighted to report that the restoration and improvement works in St.James' Park are very nearly completed, enabling the Park to be re‑opened on Wednesday 6th July, with just one area still fenced off (please see below) where further work needs completion in the next week or so. Thank you to everyone for bearing with us; if you visit the Park we're sure you'll agree that it's been well worth the wait!
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What's going to be done? |
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Who's doing the work? |
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When's it going to be done? |
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Where are we now? |
All information on this page, including plans and diagrams, is intended only as a guide.
What's going to be done?
Updated: 1st May 2011
Major Improvements
A number of significant improvements have been will be made to the Park, in the areas shown on the plans below.
St.James' Park, June 2010 |
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St.James' Park, late Spring 2011 |
The major changes are:
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New Trees
As well as the building works outlined above, more than 40 new trees - mostly indigenous species, with some hardy exotics - are being planted in St.James' Park, as well as a large number of smaller shrubs:
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Euodia |
This should more than compensate for the unexpected and sad loss of three cherry trees in the Playground, each of which was found to have succumbed to terminal fungal diseases and had to be removed for safety reasons, the removal of a holly tree to make way for the new SE Entrance, and the removal of three conifers to allow room for the Building to be extended.
All tree removals have been discussed with and approved by Southampton City Council's Trees Team.
The diagram above right indicates where the new trees have been or will be planted, starting in early February.
Who's doing the work?
Updated: 28th July 2011
Our Contractors
| Contact Details | ||
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working hours: Mon-Fri, 9.00am-5.00pm |
07545 503459 |
| out of hours: 5.00pm-7.30am |
023 8023 3344 | |
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stjames@grahammoyse.co.uk | |
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Graham Moyse Contractors Ltd. (GMC) of Fareham will be carrying out the development work in the Park. |
The work has been arranged to leave as much as possible of the Park available for public use at all times, especially throughout Summer 2010. However, it's inevitable that when certain areas of the Park need to be developed, they have to be made unavailable for public use.
Debbie Morey
Your understanding and co-operation during the development work is much appreciated.
If you have any concerns or questions about the development work and how it's being done - especially anything related to Health & Safety - please contact Debbie Morey, GMC's Public Relations Liaison Officer, via the dedicated phone numbers or e‑mail address that they have set up for this project (see above). Thank you!
GMC Newsletters
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To help keep local residents informed about work in the Park, GMC have been delivering regular newsletters to houses immediately surrounding the Park, and also sending these to FoSJP members. The latest edition of these is also pinned up on the noticeboards outside the Park, and displayed at Shirley Parish Office, from where additional copies are usually available. |
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These are large .pdf documents and may take a while to download. |
When's it going to be done?
Updated: 17th July 2011
The plan below is a guide to when the main parts of the Park will be developed, and to when certain parts will not be available for public use prior to or after being developed:
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In June 2010, GMC set up their site compound using the old tennis courts and the grass area behind the Building. In order to move vehicles and materials onto the site with minimum disruption, they also took over the NW entrance and fenced off a temporary roadway on the north and east pathways around the Central Pitch.
The Central Pitch will remain available throughout the development works. The Playground and most of the Rose Garden remained open throughout Summer 2010, during which time FoSJP operated the Kiosk to provide refreshments.
In September, the Kiosk ceased operation and GMC took over the Building and Playground in order to start development on those areas, followed by the the Rose Garden midway through January.
We had hoped that the development work would be completed by Easter 2011, but through a combination of circumstances beyond FoSJP's control, this will now be in July 2011. The good news is that most of the Park has now been re‑opened, including the new café.
Where are we now?
St.James' Park as at 11th July 2011
Updated: 10th July 2011
Which parts of the Park are closed off?
Although the Park has largely been re-opened to everyone, there is still one significant area that our contractors GMC have left fenced off, as shown on the diagram to the right. The areas inside the red line are still out of bounds for public use, while GMC work on resurfacing the pathways around the Central Pitch. Please do not use either the Anglesea Road or Winchester Road entrances for the time being.
Site Set-up
On Monday 28th June 2010, GMC moved into the Park and spent two weeks as planned setting up their site compound in the old Tennis Courts and Grass Area and bringing machinery and initial materials into the Park, including constructing a temporary delivery ramp at the NW Entrance to the Park.
In late March, GMC concentrated their site compound into the old Tennis Courts so that they could start work on the new Tennis Courts (where the Grass Area was), and in late April, started moving the site compound out of the Park completely, in order to work in the new Games Area (where the old Tennis Courts were). GMC no longer has a site compound.
Botanical Walk
On Monday 12th July, GMC started work on the new Botanical Walk, since when they've laid down service ducting and base layers, removed old plants, laid down planting area edging, laid paving, and constructed foundations for the Gazebo. In early February, they planted new trees and hedges.
On Monday 16th May, the Gazebo was brought onto site for assembly and was installed on Wednesday 18th May. Seating will be fitted under the Gazebo after the Park is re‑opened.
On Monday 23rd May, new benches were installed in the Botanical Walk, and on Tuesday 24th May, the beds in and around the Botanical Walk were planted up, with help from 30 children from Wordsworth Infant, Shirley Infant, and Shirley Junior schools. GMC has since arranged for further planting to complete all the beds in and around the Botanical Walk.
On Thursday 9th June, a drinking fountain was installed near the Gazebo.
Following completion of a central design under the Gazebo and replacement of some damaged Yorkstone slabs, this area is now open, although in a few weeks' time GMC will be installing a proper seating surface on the Gazebo seats to replace the temporary wooden boxes that are there for safety reasons.
Central Pitch
On Friday 30th July, GMC started work on the new pathway at the S end of the Central Pitch. They've laid down all planting area edging and most of the base layer surfacing.
New benches and bins have been installed along both the new S and the existing W and E pathways. GMC have been making repairs to the existing pathways around the Central Pitch, and will be resurfacing them very soon: hence the safety fencing will remain around the pathways for another week or so.
Scenic Walkway & NE/NW Entrances
On Wednesday 18th August, GMC started work on the Scenic Walkway. This work was delayed because of problems with existing ground levels, and the design had to be simplified slightly. After a period on hold while details of the simplified design were being finalised and new materials were ordered, work resumed. The base layers for the pathway and the 3 new lookouts are now in place, waiting for benches to be installed.
On Monday 15th November, GMC started work on the new NE Entrance. The steps are now complete, the top surface has been laid, and a timber handrail installed after a request from local elderly residents. A new self‑closing gate will be installed very soon to complete this entrance.
In early February, GMC started planting trees and hedges along the Scenic Walkway, followed by smaller shrubs, and in late May, they seeded wildflowers.
In June, GMC started work to remove the temporary delivery ramp at the NW Entrance and have been restoring the original banks and the top surface of the pathway there. A vehicular gate and a self‑closing pedestrian gate have now been installed at the NW Entrance and into the Scenic Walkway.
This area is currently fenced off to allow GMC to resurface the pathways around the Central Pitch, but will soon be available.
Young Play Area
The Playground is now officially closed!
(Martin Gardner, September 2010)
Building work hampered by cold weather
(Martin Gardner, December 2010)
The new Gazebo is now in place
(Martin Gardner, May 2011)
On Monday 6th September, GMC took possession of the Playground, and have since removed all the old equipment, constructed the main platform for the new zipwire, a channel and pool for the new water feature, and a new sandpit, and re‑landscaped what will become the Young Play Area.
On Wednesday 19th January, GMC took possession of the remaining part of the dog-free Rose Garden area, and have since constructed earthworks for the zipwire landing zone and sunbathing mounds, which have now been turfed over.
On Friday 8th April, GMC started installation of the various swings in the Young Play Area. On Wednesday 11th May, GMC started installation of the rest of the equipment in the Young Play Area, starting with the play towers and slides, and followed by the toddler hut and belt bridge. All equipment has now been installed, including the late arriving gyroscopic swing which is currently fenced off but should be available by Monday 11th July.
The Young Play Area has now been planted up, with a combination of small palm trees, various types of bamboo, and juniper for ground cover. It's now open for general use, but new benches will be added soon.
Building & SE Entrance
On Monday 6th September, GMC took possession of the Building and has since stripped out its internals, constructed new reinforced foundations including those for the new roof extension, removed the original concrete roof, constructed a replacement roof, and constructed new foundations to support the new roof extension. GMC have also installed a new drainage system for the Building and its surrounding areas.
On Tuesday 22nd February, GMC installed steelwork to support the roof extension for the café, and on Monday 7th March, started working on construction of the timber roof for this extension, which is now complete. On Tuesday 28th March, the café windows were installed, and from Monday 4th April work started on the inside of the building, with underfloor heating and replacement flooring being installed, new external doors and windows being installed. On Saturday 20th May, rooflights were installed.
On Monday 13th June, kitchen installation started for the new café, and construction work inside the Building is now completed, with just one or two minor issues outstanding.
Outside the Building, surfacing has been laid all around, and palm trees have been planted to give that tropical touch.
On Wednesday 23rd February, GMC started constructing steps and piers for the new SE Entrance, with a new Yorkstone landing to meet the pavement, and handrails have now been installed to complete this entrance.
Games Area
On Monday 7th February, GMC began work in the Games Area, starting with the foundations for the new activity wall which is now complete except for fittings. GMC have laid turf to the grass area, constructed foundations for the gym equipment, and laid down bark safety surfaces. On Friday 20th May, GMC reshaped the grass bank next to St.James' Road, which has now been re‑turfed and seeded. The shelter is now installed and seats have been added, and the top surface of the basketball court has been laid and painted with court markings.
The Games Area was completed on Monday 4th July by adding climbing wall footholds and handholds, a basketball hoop, and outdoor gym equipment.
Almost ready in time for Wimbledon!
(Martin Gardner, June 2011)
Tennis Courts
On Friday 18th March, GMC began work on the Tennis Courts, starting with drainage channels, and have since laid base and top surfaces. On Wednesday 20th April, GMC started erecting fencing around the courts; on Wednesday 27th April, GMC started constructing foundations for net posts, and starting on Thursday 5th May, GMC have now laid the top surface which be painted towards the end of the works. On 1st June, GMC started installing fencing around the courts. On Monday 27th June, the courts were painted in two-tone green, and on Wednesday 6th July tennis nets were installed to complete this part of the Park.
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