20 June 2014

Residents of Newham, East London, will have a healthier future after a group of Costain-Skanska  Joint Venture (CSJV)  volunteers reinvigorated a patch of greenery.

The project team working on contract C295, together with volunteers from Crossrail and subcontractor Blu-3, pitched in to bring new life to the borough’s William Paton Community Garden.

For the past year the team has been working on the Thames Water Asset Monitoring project across London. To assure Thames Water that its large water mains – anything up to 30 inches in diameter – are not damaged by tunnelling for Crossrail, sensors have been installed on the mains at some 60 sites across the capital to flag up any problems.

The overgrown community garden was cleared in a day and 10 new plots were created on which local residents can grow vegetables and herbs. 

The plots were assembled using surplus manhole covers, large polymer sections shaped like picture frames that were donated by the joint venture. The polymer sections, already made from recycled material, were effectively recycled a second time in their new role, said Community Relations Manager, Angelika Chraska-Pongo.

The sections were built up, one on top of another, to create containers and stabilise the ground in the garden.

Costain-Skanska JV also donated recycled compost, while all the tools and equipment used by the team were left behind for residents to use.

Project Manager, Danny Asser, commented: “It was hard work, but it’s a great way to have a positive impact on thelocal community and the environment. By re-using project materials and creating a new space we have a site that local people can use and enjoy.”

A local allotment society is taking over the ground and will allocate plots to locals keen to grow their own vegetables. The community garden has around 40 plots.

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