Project News Article
Works Completed up to 4th October 2006
By:
Jules
Date: 05/10/2006
Dove Construction began work on Monday 11th September 2006. Initial works in week one involved creating access to site with minimal disturbance to the heritage of our facility. Access has been gained via a new gate and temporary road laid behind the men’s changing rooms and across the lawn to the shallow end of the main pool. One major aspect involved opening up of the yew hedge to construct the temporary road through to the pool. Careful consideration was given to the prospect of removing 4m of the hedge and the Trust decided to employ the professional services of Shackell Landscapes to uplift the section and temporarily plant it nearby in an attempt to keep it alive and then replant in its original position upon completion of all works.
In week two works began in earnest within the main pool. The first task was to measure the exact location for each support pile and cut through the thick concrete pool floor using a disc cutter. Each section was then dug out using a breaker to expose the ground below the pool structure. Some areas were harder to break through due to thicker depths of concrete (when the pool was constructed in 1935 they found layers of peat which was dug out and additional concrete poured in its place).
A large amount of holes have been drilled into the walls around the pool just above floor level, these are for the reinforcement bars that will be used later in the project.
A digger started to remove some of the pool surround slabs.
In week three work continued cutting and digging out ready for the support piles within the pool and a temporary ramp was constructed within the pool to enable access for large machinery.
Work began on the fountain with the removal and setting aside the top coping stones.
Sections of the low wall around the pool were removed and set aside to provide a wider opening for large machines to access the pool.
All the pool edge slabs and remaining surround slabs were removed and the top layer of sand/soil removed.
In week four the piling rig arrived on site and started to drive the piles down into the ground.
Hardcore started to be placed on the pool surround to ensure solid foundations for the new pool slabs later in the project.