Development Update from DCC
Below is an update from Brian Evans in relation to the progress made on the developments in Prestatyn.
"Dear Councillor
I received an Email from a member of the Town Council asking for an explanation as to why progress appears to be slow in relation to the surfacing of the High Street and the paving works on the Bus Station .
I thought you should be all aware of the issues so you are able to respond to any questions raised by the general public.
The two main packages of work remaining on High Street and Bus Station are the surfacing work and laying paving blocks both of which are affected by the weather.
If I can take the opportunity to explain.
Re Surfacing High Street
In my last update to the elected members and the Forum I explained that the quarry must have an instructions on a Friday if material is to be delivered on Sunday.
This is so that LGV drivers are able to take sufficient time off as the hours they are allowed to work are restricted and tightly controlled.
In addition the process of preparing/mixing/delivering the tarmac is lengthy and takes place some distance from Prestatyn.
Preparing the tarmac will start in the early hours of Sunday morning probably soon after midnight to enable the material to be on site early on Sunday morning.
If a decision is taken to cancel the order after Friday you will appreciate that this will cost the supplier,haulier money and so there is a scale of charges which I am told run into thousands of pounds if a decision is taken to cancel late into the weekend.
I understand it was dry for most of the day on Sunday but overnight and early on Sunday morning it did rain and so a decision was taken to reduce the order and not take the risk of having to send material back to the quarry which I am sure everyone agrees would be a waste.
With regard to the contractor meeting deadlines the surfacing of the High Street is due to be completed by the 16th July .
I am told that two more days are needed to complete the surfacing therefore there should be sufficient time for the contractor to complete the work in order to meet the deadline of the 16th
This of course is weather dependant.
With regard to the paving work this again is affected by the wet weather.
The paving blocks need to be set on dry sand and or a cement mix.
The paving blocks are positioned and then the gaps between each block is then filled with dry sand, the whole area of paving is then consolidated so that the dry sand fills the voids and makes the whole area a solid area on completion.
Wet weather makes the sand wet and prevents the sand filling voids so there is a likelihood that soon after the paving blocks are put down they become loose and worse case will need re setting which will cause further disruption to the public as well as the additional cost of the remedial work.
I trust this explanation (not an excuse for the contractor) provides you with a better understanding of how the wet weather does impact on progress.
The deadlines the contractor is working to are-
Complete Surfacing - 16 July
Opening Bus Station - 15 July
Completion of lower part of High Street by the embargo - 20 July .
Please accept my apologies if you were already aware of the above processes but I have tried to provide everyone with an appreciation of how the wet weather affects progress in the two main areas of work .
This weekends weather will be critical and I will find out what contingencies are planned if rain is forecast for this Sunday .
I will be circulating the next Newsletter on Thursday afternoon ,this edition will include the above information so that hopefully everyone will understand the issues ."
Brian Evans
Rheolwr Is-Adran
Section Manager
"Dear Councillor
I received an Email from a member of the Town Council asking for an explanation as to why progress appears to be slow in relation to the surfacing of the High Street and the paving works on the Bus Station .
I thought you should be all aware of the issues so you are able to respond to any questions raised by the general public.
The two main packages of work remaining on High Street and Bus Station are the surfacing work and laying paving blocks both of which are affected by the weather.
If I can take the opportunity to explain.
Re Surfacing High Street
In my last update to the elected members and the Forum I explained that the quarry must have an instructions on a Friday if material is to be delivered on Sunday.
This is so that LGV drivers are able to take sufficient time off as the hours they are allowed to work are restricted and tightly controlled.
In addition the process of preparing/mixing/delivering the tarmac is lengthy and takes place some distance from Prestatyn.
Preparing the tarmac will start in the early hours of Sunday morning probably soon after midnight to enable the material to be on site early on Sunday morning.
If a decision is taken to cancel the order after Friday you will appreciate that this will cost the supplier,haulier money and so there is a scale of charges which I am told run into thousands of pounds if a decision is taken to cancel late into the weekend.
I understand it was dry for most of the day on Sunday but overnight and early on Sunday morning it did rain and so a decision was taken to reduce the order and not take the risk of having to send material back to the quarry which I am sure everyone agrees would be a waste.
With regard to the contractor meeting deadlines the surfacing of the High Street is due to be completed by the 16th July .
I am told that two more days are needed to complete the surfacing therefore there should be sufficient time for the contractor to complete the work in order to meet the deadline of the 16th
This of course is weather dependant.
With regard to the paving work this again is affected by the wet weather.
The paving blocks need to be set on dry sand and or a cement mix.
The paving blocks are positioned and then the gaps between each block is then filled with dry sand, the whole area of paving is then consolidated so that the dry sand fills the voids and makes the whole area a solid area on completion.
Wet weather makes the sand wet and prevents the sand filling voids so there is a likelihood that soon after the paving blocks are put down they become loose and worse case will need re setting which will cause further disruption to the public as well as the additional cost of the remedial work.
I trust this explanation (not an excuse for the contractor) provides you with a better understanding of how the wet weather does impact on progress.
The deadlines the contractor is working to are-
Complete Surfacing - 16 July
Opening Bus Station - 15 July
Completion of lower part of High Street by the embargo - 20 July .
Please accept my apologies if you were already aware of the above processes but I have tried to provide everyone with an appreciation of how the wet weather affects progress in the two main areas of work .
This weekends weather will be critical and I will find out what contingencies are planned if rain is forecast for this Sunday .
I will be circulating the next Newsletter on Thursday afternoon ,this edition will include the above information so that hopefully everyone will understand the issues ."
Brian Evans
Rheolwr Is-Adran
Section Manager