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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Broad Walk

Work has started in earnest on Broadwalk the bridge concrete has been in for some time done by the old contractor. But now the work has started to get the bridge supports in ready for the bridges that are coming in Jan/Feb
As part of this a new path has been created so you can get down to Coronation Walk as you can see above this is designed so it can be used by disabled people. On the other side will be steps and flowers. The path is way underway and the mole machine has been drilling down for the footings.
Everything is scaled down for Xmas but we believe there will be a lot more on site in the new year and work will forge ahead at a great rate of knots

Monday, December 14, 2009

Bandstand Dome Returns

The dome of the bandstand returned today and was lifted in place with a crane. Above ready to lift the dome in its glory with a gold leaf top and a repaired copper top ready weathered. If it wasn't weathered it would drip down and spoil the rest of the bandstand

The crane lifting the dome on a cold wet miserable day

The men inside the roof guide the dome into place ready to bolt it in place inside the roof
The dome on the final few feet being lowered


Inside the bandstand note the restored posts and railings and showing the roof and beams in the roof


A long shot from by the Boer War memorial showing the dome in place with the new roof some of which is still covered in plastic coating protecting it

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Queens Park Friends Meeting


STAKEHOLDER UPDATE DECEMBER 2009

The meeting was poorly attended maybe the dark cold night had something to do with it.

It was an interesting meeting with presentations by Lost Arts who are doing the Bandstand. We were shown the new design for the Cafe and Bowling club. Its hoped this can go before planning before Xmas and then tenders can be sought in the new year with work starting in March time.

One exiting piece of news is that the play area has been brought forward due to complaints and the horse and spider falling apart. Designed by children it will be divided into two areas one for very young children and one for older children. Its hoped it will be ready for easter next year so thats good new all round and it shows the council do take notice of people.

Its still hoped that the lake will be finished by March next year and open to the public at long last but some paths will have to be closed in the future for new paths to go in.
Chairmans report

Lake and Bridge Works (Tolent Construction)
Tolent have been on site for 11 wks following acceptance of their tender.
There has been a 6 day delay due to bad weather.
The Tolent site will close at Xmas from 18th Dec for 2 wks.
Works have focused on lake edges and islands plus preparations for bridge abutments and foundations etc.

The Inlet Bridge at the Tipkinder end of the lake is the first bridge to go in and it will arrive on site Tue / Wed next week, preparation works are ongoing.

All Lake Inlet walls have been repaired and repointed.
Gabion baskets all around the Burma Star Island to be faced with stone blocks. A stone sample has been agreed.

East and West Island walls have been completed but may be raised to allow fluctuations in water levels.
Works to modify bridge abutments are underway.

Broadwalk Bridge works on site for 3 days next week. This will be the last and largest bridge to be positioned estimate end of Feb. Footpath links will need to go in to facilitate all bridges.
Coronation Bridge - Completion is expected by the end of January - together with Burma Star Bridge.

Problem areas:
• Access roads require improving.
• Weather implications.
• Design modifications and approvals.
• Correction of Wrekin works where required.

BANDSTAND
Slight slippage of works largely due to discoveries on site and additional higher quality finishes which have been agreed. Matching of sandstone to closely match the original has been very successful.
A detailed update and explanation of how these structures are restored will be given by Domenic of Lost Art. The completion date will now be end of January 2010.
NB. Ian will be providing a detailed update on the Lake and Bridge works and progress with the bandstand.

PLAYGROUND
Rocking horse and spider's web removed due to safety implications see above.
An exciting consultation took place involving the Sir William Stanier Community School and their feeder school's i.e. children talking to younger children. The selection and design process is well underway. Additional monies via ex Mayor will be allocated specifically for the disabled element. A contractor will be selected early spring2010.

COUNTY LANDSCAPES
Curved railings are to be completed early in the New Year and the Gates will be the very last item due to heavy construction vehicles accessing the park to install the bridges.

EVENTING
A very successful community Youth Christmas Lantern Procession took place last Sunday. It attracted approx 300 people; we were very pleased with the response. Pupils of Pebble Brook, Monks Coppenhall, Edleston Road and Wistaston schools all participated.

Band Stand

Lost Arts the people who are rebuilding the band stand have provided us with some pictures of the work and band stand. Above you can see the state of the roof and dome before they started
The dome has now been restored at their factory with all new copper
The picture above shows the wood that holds the roof and this has given them a lot of problems as our bandstand was built by Baker which is rare normally they can remove the roof to rebuild it but our design makes this impossable
The main cast post that hold up the bandstand have been removed and some were rotten as water runs down the middle of them and this had blocked so they filled with water. A mold has been made so new one can be cast
Here is the final product the new cast post good as new
The vents from the top of the band stand have all been renewed and spaces have been left for the Bats to come back in as bats were living in the top in the past. All approved by the Bat conservation society
The ceiling rose which has been repaired
Finally the top of the bandstand being removed by a crane to be repaired

Friday, December 4, 2009

Queens Park Bridges

Work on the bridges bases are progressing well at the beginning of the week the base that was concreted last week had gone off as above

They are now putting the final layer shuttering in so the base can be finished this is the bases on the main side of the park

The shuttering is also underway on the far side of Burma Island its hoped this will all be done by next week. The small bridge by Tipkinder is already done and the one by the fish pool has had to be redone but should be finished by next week

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Bridge update


Work on the base for the bridge has gone ahead this week with concrete arriving on site mid week with the wood templates in place ready for it
By Friday the wood has gone and the new concrete is in place

Help Needed Charles Dick



We have a relation of Dick, Charles who is trying to find any information on
him or any photos if you have anything please contact us
Born at Broughty Ferry in 1838, he served an apprenticeship from 1854
under James How at Monifieth Foundry. After short times as a workman
in the marine-engine shops of J. & G. Thomson on the Clyde and of James Jac
k & Co at Liverpool, he was taken-on in the Crewe erecting shops in August
1860 after walking to that place from Liverpool in search of work.
In 1862, while a chargehand erector, he attracted the attention of young
Webb at the evening classes of the Mechanics Institute where he won a prize.
Webb brought him into the office as a temporary tracer and draughtsman, and
in 1863 he became an established member of the drawing office staff at 8s 4d [42p]
a day. He succeeded Kampf as chief draughtsman on 15 December 1871 at a salary
of £160 a year raised in steps to £225 at the end of 1874 and, as he himself wrote,
with heavy work and long hours. Under his charge were developed the designs of the
Webb Precursors, Precedents and coal engines.
 
In February 1877 he was appointed manager of the signal department at Crewe; he
had manufacture, installation and maintenance in his care, with much outdoor wor
k along the line in all weathers. G. P. Neele, the LNWR traffic superintendent,
paid him compliments for his signal work in Railway Reminiscences ( 1902).
 
In February 1882 he succeeded Worsdell as works manager, though the appointment
was still styled indoor assistant. He died on 2 June 1888 of chest and kidney
complaints at the age of 50, but in essence he was worn out by the work and its
responsibilities following his hard and often penurious youth. In reporting his
death to the Locomotive Committee Webb said "he was a very able and faithful
servant of the Company." A grant of six months' salary, less amount paid on
sick leave, was given to his four children aged 23 to 14, for he was a widower.
Dick came to take much part in Crewe local affairs. He was deputy mayor to Webb
in the Jubilee year of 1887, and presided at the public dinner to celebrate the
Queen's Jubilee and Crewe's railway jubilee, for Webb as mayor of the borough
was away at the national thanksgiving service in Westminster Abbey. He was treasure
r of the Mechanics Institute 1875-81. After Dick's death in 1888 a shelter was
erected in the then new Queen's Park i
n memory of him; he himself had supervised the layout of the park.
Webb and Dick always got on well together and were much of an age.
One of Dick's letters preserved long after his death shows him to have
been human and unaffected, and gives a good first-hand account of
Crewe in the mid-1880s.
 

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Burma Island


Most of the work in the last 2 weeks has been done on Burma Island and also some on the bottom island.
Burma island has had the walls all rebuilt from scratch and its not far off being finished
These wall should last for years. Work hasnt been helped by heavy rain for the last two weeks as diggers have been stuck in the mud but its all coming together and progressing well.
Friends of Queens Park have a meeting on Tuesday 8th December at 6:00 pm at the queens park jubilee Cafe were everyone is welcome to come along.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Queens Park Bandstand

The work on the bandstand is progressing with the roof repairs well under way take November 2009
Some pictures of the bandstand as the crane lifts the dome off the bandstand
It is then lowered onto a trailer to be repaired off site
The crane moving in ready for the lift
A close up of the bandstand at the start of restoration

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Autumn Color in the Queens park

Autumn is a wonderful time in the park with some really colorful sites so armed with the trusty Finepix s1500 I have captured so of the scenes for those of you who have missed it

The big tree by the childrens play area
A colorful tress by the lake October 2009
Childrens Play area and lovely yellow leaves on the tree behind

Two shot across the lake as the trees loose their leaves
The tree by Princess Diana memorial from two directions

Winter moves in

The work continues this week on Burma Island with the soil and wall being removed and lots of cages being built at the front. What they are for I dont know I expect we will find out in time I assume some sort of template for the bridges.

There has been a lot of work going on and lets hope the lake will be open next March

With November the park shows its other side with Autumn color and the gardeners have come up trumps with a fine pansy display. It just goes to show no matter what time of year the gardeners put on a fine display for us and there is always something to see.


The ducks are not being left out as people are still feeding them even as winter approaches and the fallen leaves make a wonderful carpet of yellow

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Queens Park Tour



The first meeting of the Friends of Queens Park which has taken over from the Stakeholder took place on Tuesday night with a trip around the park to see the progress led by Ian Bright, from EBM consultants. A lot turned up despite the bad weather and darkness.



We were shown the new roadway being built by the lake as a temporary measure so heavy machinery can move about the park such as diggers and cranes.


A lot of work has been done on Burma Island and half of the island has been removed so it can be rebuilt. All the islands will need most of the surrounding brick work removed and rebuilt to prevent collapse


We were then shown Broad walk and the band stand. Most of the path is full of heavy machinery and work has been done on the main bridge which will span the valley to Coronation Walk. The heavy wooden bridge will be supported by a large arch and this time it will be level with steps on one side and a disabled ramp on the other so people can get to Coronation Walk. It will all be replanted.


Its hoped the new bridges will arrive in January- February and will then be put in place with huge cranes as the bridge will have to come in large pieces. It will be major work to get these cranes into confined spaces but it is all planned. The lake area should be open by March and the paths will be rebuilt as a temporary measure. In the future the paths will have to be closed so new ones can be built once all the work has been done. Its hoped the lake will have both boats and fishing once again. There is problem with having Carp in the lake but with a new filtering system its hoped this can be done

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Burma Island


Work on the lake has been mostly about Burma Island this week with the surrounding brickwork knocked down and the soil removed ready for a rebuild.

Half of the island has gone and will be replaced along with new brick work around the island. All the islands have to have the surrounding brickwork redone before they collapse into the lake

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Big stink at the Queens Park



There was a big stink at the Queens park today as all the flowers in the main drive were removed and tons of new soil and manure were delivered ready for next years growth. So we should have some good displays next year but in the mean time the park has some good healthy smells




Down at the lake work was being done on Burma Island and down by the sluice gates. Wrekins display boards were being removed at long last. So people can now go down to the park and see some action at last. Its been a frustrating time for all and tempers have frayed with no work since early this year. But at last we can see work being done. Check back for updates.

Finally dont forget the next meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Time:
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Location:
Queens Park Cafe, Crewe for a walk around the park ALL welcome

Friday, October 9, 2009

Queens Park Work Started at Last


The work on the bandstand is progressing and as you can see they are working on the roof at the moment



Down on the lake after waiting for several weeks for the new contractor to start work this week we have seen some action. Until now most of the work has been moving offices and tools and surveying the lake. But this week we have seen diggers out and work on the small bridge near the sluice gates so it hoped there will be lots of action in the coming weeks and we will keep you up to date with any action as it happens. People have been frustrated by the delays but now hopefully its full steam ahead