18 November 2009

The Parkway project at Newbury, with Costain as main contractor, played host to West Berkshire councillors recently.

David Woodhouse, the Costain Project Director, gave a presentation about the logistics of the retail/development project and the way in which Costain was dealing with the problems of ground water and diversion of services.  The councillors were shown drawings together with artist's impressions of the structures that were being erected and a series of aerial photos that showed the progress to date.

The councillors also heard about details of the work and co-operation Costain was undertaking with local schools in the area. Costain also invited one of the outstanding work experience students along - Sophie Cath, from St Bartholomew's School - to give a first-hand account of her recent stay with the project that has prompted her to seek a career in Civil Engineering.

After the presentation, the councillors were taken on a tour of the site where they were able to see the progress being made on the massive excavation for the underground car park and the erection of the steelwork for Debenhams and shops in the new East Street. The councillors expressed their gratitude for the tour which had given them a better understanding of the size and complexity of the work involved and thanked Costain for their efforts in minimising disruption to the Newbury Town Centre.

Ends