Construct - Issue 43

PARKLETS

On behalf of the London Borough of Merton, FM Conway has also installed 50 gulley sensors to measure silt levels in high-risk flooding areas, through its new contract, and introduced 70 electric vehicle chargepoints installed on lamp columns throughout the borough as part of its SureCharge service (see box). Other projects include supervising the installation of “Parklets” to provide outside seating for hospitality businesses (see box) and supporting the borough to change its pay and display parking to pay by phone. “Incorporating everything into one contract has been a massive help to us,” says Merton Borough Council infrastructure manager “Consultancy did an assessment of each site from a safety point of view – making sure the Parklet was not too close to a junction and would not affect sight lines,” Dean adds. “Then we went in and assessed the kerbs and reset them if they needed it, as well as doing any minor civils work.” This year FM Conway has supported Merton Borough Council’s efforts to help hospitality businesses thrive by programming and supervising the installation of eight “Parklets” – small pavement extensions built in front of restaurants and cafes to give extra outside seating space. “The Parklets can be designed to any arrangement,” explains FM Conway principal engineer Dean Gibbs. “They are all bespoke and can be edited to take account of utility covers, services and drainage.” The Parklets were made and planted up by a subcontractor, so FM Conway’s role was to facilitate the project and support Merton on the design and delivery side. This provided a safe working environment for the subcontractor, as well as the consultancy and civil engineering teams.

(highways) Gary Marshall. “We know that we can call on FM Conway to support our teams if their expertise is needed.” Carbon reduction is a high priority for Merton, so the borough and FM Conway are working hard to introduce technologies, materials and ways of working that will cut carbon, including electric construction plant and equipment, and warm mix asphalt. Three warm mix schemes have just been completed (see box), with the material coming from the company’s asphalt plant in the neighbouring borough of Croydon. “We’ve laid three substantial schemes and asked FM Conway to show us the carbon savings,” explains Gary. “Having an asphalt

LOCATION

N

Putney

Richmond Park

Streatham

Wimbledon

A23

A24

Mitcham

A3

Croydon

10