|
 |
Previous story (News Browser) Next story
Fifteen pupils from Trinity School, Belvedere, joined site staff at the A206 Thames Road project, to find out more about the engineering expertise at the heart of the scheme to widen this road. A key point in this dualling project will be the demolition and reconstruction of the Crayford Mill railway bridge in a year’s time, over Christmas 2006.
The 14 and 15-year old students, who were interested in finding out more about the construction industry, were accompanied by two teachers and hosted on site by the Council’s contractor, Mowlem.
On arrival, the pupils were given a mini-bus tour of the site. They stopped at several places along the route for detailed briefings on work that is currently underway. This includes: the diversion of underground services such as water, gas and electricity; piling works at the River Cray in preparation for the extension to the road bridge; and work at the Perry Street roundabout, such as drainage installation and minor adjustments to the alignment of the roundabout.
After their tour, the pupils returned to the site compound to watch a demonstration of a 55 tonne mobile crane, on loan from Ainscough Crane Hire Ltd. The boom was extended to its full length, approximately 40 metres, to show the pupils how the crane could be used for lifting something onto the roof of a tall building. The crane was then hooked up to a roller, which was carefully lifted and moved under the guidance of Mowlem’s foreman.
Following the outdoor demonstration, the pupils joined the engineers at their site offices for a series of discussions and workshops about traffic management, quantity surveying, highway design, project management and using modern technology to plan site operations. The expert engineers answered a range of questions about their industry, what qualifications they had, and the potential for career progression and earnings.
Information about progress and upcoming traffic management for the A206 Thames Road is available at www.bexley.gov.uk/a206. The project team can be contacted on the site office number, 01322 528701. Alternatively, contact the Council’s project manager, Dimitri Araj, by e-mailing dimitri.araj@bexley.gov.uk
The New Year has got off to the perfect start for book lovers, with the news that Bexley’s libraries are set to gain 19,000 new books.
Book borrowing is up, following the success of the local libraries strategy. The fact that many more books are on loan means that some of the library shelves have been emptier than they should be.
Each of the following libraries has seen a big increase in borrowing -
Northumberland Heath Library - 127% increase
Blackfen Library - 91% increase
Crayford Library - 41% increase
Council Leader, Cllr Chris Ball, has recently given the go-ahead to the spending of an extra £150,000 on thousands of new books to help keep up with this demand, on top of the 50,000 books bought for the libraries each year.
The first books bought with the extra money should arrive in libraries at the beginning of February.
“We’re delighted that the improvements we have made to Bexley’s libraries, and the good publicity given to the service has generated so much interest,” says the Leader of Bexley Council, Cllr Chris Ball. “Having signed up more than 20,000 new library members, it’s important we keep all our readers happy, and I was delighted to approve this extra spending.”
“I hope everyone will benefit from the fact that there will be more stock on the shelves, which is carefully chosen to meet all our customers education, information and leisure needs.”
The new books will be used to -
- Meet increased demand at the refurbished Central and Sidcup libraries and the new Blackfen Library
- Meet increased demand at Northumberland Heath and Bostall Library
- Stock the next libraries to be improved under the strategy - Slade Green, Upper Belvedere, Welling and the borough’s new mobile library
- Stock the Children’s Mobile Library, build up National Curriculum materials, the playgroups collection, dual language materials and stock for teenagers
- Improve the stock at those libraries not included in the library strategy.uk
|
|
