03/09/2012 Update
Last week we (Cllr Bennett, officers and myself) visited the new development to see how the project was doing.
It is fair to say that we were more than impressed. To see the building really taking shape and visualise how it will be used in the near future increased expectations even further. This is going to be a truly great asset for Pelsall.
The architects employed by the Council, Council officers and the contractors ISG have excelled. Of course a project of this magnitude, an injection of £4M into Pelsall, will always mean that a few people might not be as pleased, e.g. people in the immediate vicinity who have had to put up with construction efforts and a change of view. Everyone has worked really hard to minimise any negative impact and my thanks go to ISG in particular for being so responsive and considerate.
ISG have released a newsletter updating on progress and this can be viewed here.
Lots of photos (mostly internal) were taken and although they show what is still a building site they can give an idea of the scale and scope of the project. You can view them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86549525@N08/sets/72157631385427220/
ISG confirmed that the project is on schedule for opening late September with the initial transfer of the doctor’s surgery in the first instance to allow for demolition of their old facility to the right of the new complex. This will mean that demolition of the old surgery can take place to create all the car parking that is part of the project.
02/12/2011 Update
Development works for the new combined facilities in Pelsall are progressing well.
I have received very few representations from Pelsall people with concerns about the development and these have been resolved expediently by the contractor ISG or the Council. So far so good.
ISG have published a newsletter which I am pleased to circulate: this contains details of a coffee morning on Monday 12th December between 10.30 am and 12.00 pm in The Club Room, Pelsall Community Association, Station Road, Pelsall. Click here to read it.
I hope that people can come along to meet the contractors, ask questions and be part of the building of this great asset that we are so very lucky to have in Pelsall.
—————————-
05/07/2011 Update
July 4th, an important day across the pond, and worthy of a film or two. But that’s not the principality (as I like to call Pelsall).
This 4th July, largely unnoticed, marked a significant day in the lives of Pelsall people. It will in-fact go a long way towards improving independence, not from an occupying force (!) but from the obstacles and grip ill-health can have on so many people’s lives, especially the most vulnerable.
Contractors (ISG) finally moved on site erecting ‘Heras’ fencing with plans to soon erect hoardings around the whole site perimetre. I joined my colleague Cllr Bennett to meet site management for the second time in a week to discuss plans. So far ISG have made a good start and they seem keen to maintain a good relationship with ourselves, neighbours and all Pelsall people. So far so good.
Fencing and signage being erected
We have had initial reports of cars parking on the Common/verges. While we cannot be sure whether this is contractor traffic, what is sure is that it will upset a number of people if this continues. If it is contractor traffic, then the recent suggestion by the Chairman of the Friends of Pelsall Commons:
…Could the site manager identify legal parking spaces or apply for planning permission to fence an area of common for workers’ use only, subject to agreement with Walsall Council and DEFRA. and providing for a sum of money being agreed for restoration work? If we allow unrestricted parking for the workmen we are faced with the problem of other users breaking the law and since the project could take twelve months the issue needs to be tackled in its infancy…
…does seem eminently sensible. Would it be possible for Traffic Management at the LA to consider this and post a reply? It would also be nice to see meaningful progress on the parking issues mentioned in my previous post which resulted in a site meeting with the head of traffic management last friday, well attended by residents and by colleague Cllr Bennett; we await feedback…
ISG MD. Cllr Bennett, ISG Project Manager, Cllr Longhi
ISG have promised to produce a monthly newsletter. Rather than extract and interpret information I thought it might be better to reproduce these in their entirety as I receive them so, here it is: ISG Pelsall newsletter – June 2011
———————————————–
At last. It seems we are only a short period away from making meaningful progress on site. Today I received this message from Sue Grainger, head of Library Services:
Dear Councillor,
I should like to let you know that ISG have been confirmed as the contractors for the project to build the health centre, library andchildren’s centre in Pelsall.
They will start on site on Monday, 4th July and willbe arranging a coffee morning on Tuesday, 28th June to introduce themselves to residents and to give out their contact details. The venue for the eventwill probably be at Pelsall Community Association in Station Road. You should be receiving aninvitation shortly.
Prior to their formal possession of the site on 4th July. ISG propose to start dropping fencing materials at the existing car parknext Wednesday, 29th June 11.
The following signs will be put up around the car park atthe end of this week:
Car Park Closure
“This car park will close at 5pm on Tuesday 28th June2011 to allow construction of the new Pelsall development to commence. We apologise for anyinconvenience that this may cause.”
It has been a long time in the planning process, but at last the project is about to break ground and building can start.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contactme.
Sue
A huge amount of counsultation has underpinned this project from the outset, and it is paramount that the Local Authority ensures that the feedback we have received from residents is indeed catered for. it is a priority for my colleagues, Oliver and Garry, and myself that we manage the development phase well; a very important part of this means making sure that immediate neighbours’ needs/concerns are met and that service users receive continuity of service where possible.
The LA has done really well in relocating the Library to the former Neighbourhood offices on Norton Road and all credit to the staff who made that happen.
However, we still need to ensure that the agreed neighbours car parking arrangements and noise abatement measures are in place for immediate neighbours to the development.
Fingers crossed, let’s try to make sure that we don’t provide ammunition to those very few whose only ‘raison d’etre’ seems to be to complain.
Marco Longhi was elected in May 1999 and represents Pelsall ward in Walsall.
