The Grand Pier Pavilion re-build continues at pace with this week seeing the cladding to the southern elevation being completed, the northern elevation more than half way complete and work has also started on cladding the towers. Also, the roof is almost completely covered with the 'under sheet' that sits beneath the final waterproof sheeting of the main roofs.
The metal floors creating the first and second levels are in place and ready for the concrete to be poured early in the New Year.
Kerry Michael said, 'we are pleased with the progress we are making however we have slipped a little due to the adverse weather throughout December. We are hopeful to make up any lost time as soon as the building is fully enclosed and in the dry. It's taking shape now and for the first time you can see the outline and scale of the new Pavilion. The response from the public has been fantastic as the building goes up and we are all very encouraged by the support we are receiving'.
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Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Re-build is Racing Ahead!
The Grand Pier re-build is racing ahead. Most of the structural steelwork for the Main Pavilion has now been erected and contractors are starting on the new building which is going on the Pier head. The large steel panels that cover the entire surface area of the Pavilion creating the new floor have also now been installed.
The first roof sheets are going on and cladding has started to the north elevation. Progress with this should significantly increase this week as a number of additional staff have been drafted in to speed up the build. The front of the new building has been scaffolded to facilitate access.
Pier owner Kerry Michael said, ‘although contractors have been working for most of this year, their work was mostly beneath the deck and it’s only now that the building is springing up above the deck that people can actually see what’s happening.
We are receiving hundreds of letters and emails every week and the web cam hits are growing every single day so people are really noticing what’s going on. We expect to carry on making good progress and we are confident of achieving our opening date, the only threat is the weather but the last few days have been good for us.
For the latest images, please see our Facebook Gallery: November 2009
Also, please check out our new webcam: Located HERE
The first roof sheets are going on and cladding has started to the north elevation. Progress with this should significantly increase this week as a number of additional staff have been drafted in to speed up the build. The front of the new building has been scaffolded to facilitate access.
Pier owner Kerry Michael said, ‘although contractors have been working for most of this year, their work was mostly beneath the deck and it’s only now that the building is springing up above the deck that people can actually see what’s happening.
We are receiving hundreds of letters and emails every week and the web cam hits are growing every single day so people are really noticing what’s going on. We expect to carry on making good progress and we are confident of achieving our opening date, the only threat is the weather but the last few days have been good for us.
For the latest images, please see our Facebook Gallery: November 2009
Also, please check out our new webcam: Located HERE
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Creative thinking needed to solve Grand Pier challenges
How do you get a 60 tonne crane onto a jack up barge that is 240m out to sea and is 30 times too heavy to move down the Pier?
You build a ramp, 20 metres long and 3 metres high out of sand to allow the crane to drive from the last point of the shore that it can reach, to the barge.
The new “jack-up” barge was tested this week to make sure that it can be properly secured in the Weston mud. With this test successfully passed, the ramp will now be created with 2 diggers and 2 dumpers taking sand from inside the Grand Pier fence line. After the crane has reached the safety of the barge, the sand will be replaced.
Joint owner of the Pier Kerry Michael said: “This is one of many creative solutions that we have had to come up with to solve the challenges that are created in building this extraordinary Pier. I’m sure there will be many more improvisations before we are finished!”
Richard Sutton is the Senior Contracts Manager for main contractor John Sisk. He said: “We have checked with Natural England about moving the sand and they have given us the all clear as there will be no problem or harm to the environment. The ramp was the quickest method to put the crane on the barge.”
You build a ramp, 20 metres long and 3 metres high out of sand to allow the crane to drive from the last point of the shore that it can reach, to the barge.
The new “jack-up” barge was tested this week to make sure that it can be properly secured in the Weston mud. With this test successfully passed, the ramp will now be created with 2 diggers and 2 dumpers taking sand from inside the Grand Pier fence line. After the crane has reached the safety of the barge, the sand will be replaced.
Joint owner of the Pier Kerry Michael said: “This is one of many creative solutions that we have had to come up with to solve the challenges that are created in building this extraordinary Pier. I’m sure there will be many more improvisations before we are finished!”
Richard Sutton is the Senior Contracts Manager for main contractor John Sisk. He said: “We have checked with Natural England about moving the sand and they have given us the all clear as there will be no problem or harm to the environment. The ramp was the quickest method to put the crane on the barge.”
Read All About It
The story of Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier will start unfolding along the seafront hoardings surrounding the Pier’s building site from next Thursday (12th November). The 180 square meters of hoardings are currently painted white but soon will show a complete time-line of the Pier, following its history from the original opening in 1904 to the present day.
Pier Owner Kerry Michael said: “These barren hoardings will soon be brought to life. The design is packed with information, facts and figures, photographs, history and fun. It will make the walk along that part of the seafront more interesting as there will be something for everyone to enjoy. A special children’s area has been created and “peep holes” will be cut into the design so everyone can see what is going on. We wanted the design up in time for the Carnival.”
The designs have been produced by the Grand Pier using its own archive material and items sent in from the public. Some reproductions, such as a front page of the Weston & Somerset Mercury showing pictures of the 2008 fire will also appear. The designs will be digitally printed on pvc banner material and produced in 10 ft lengths.
Pier Owner Kerry Michael said: “These barren hoardings will soon be brought to life. The design is packed with information, facts and figures, photographs, history and fun. It will make the walk along that part of the seafront more interesting as there will be something for everyone to enjoy. A special children’s area has been created and “peep holes” will be cut into the design so everyone can see what is going on. We wanted the design up in time for the Carnival.”
The designs have been produced by the Grand Pier using its own archive material and items sent in from the public. Some reproductions, such as a front page of the Weston & Somerset Mercury showing pictures of the 2008 fire will also appear. The designs will be digitally printed on pvc banner material and produced in 10 ft lengths.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Happy Birthday Grand Pier
The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare will quietly celebrate its 106th birthday on Saturday. On 7th November 1903 work started on the building of the original Grand Pier. The contractors were Mayoh & Haley of London. The celebration will be low-key because the focus of the company is directed completely towards the rebuilding.
The Grand Pier always has a bursting email box with followers from around the world. Recently received was an email from Anne Mayoh, the grand-daughter of Arthur Mayoh, of Mayoh & Haley. Anne is also the daughter of Karl Mayoh who worked on the Pier in 1931. She now lives in Australia.
Kerry Michael, owner of the Grand Pier said: “We were so pleased that Anne got in touch with us as we love receiving interesting items for our social history files. I have invited Anne and her husband to attend one of our opening events and I very much hope she will visit the new Pier and be impressed by our work.”
The Grand Pier always has a bursting email box with followers from around the world. Recently received was an email from Anne Mayoh, the grand-daughter of Arthur Mayoh, of Mayoh & Haley. Anne is also the daughter of Karl Mayoh who worked on the Pier in 1931. She now lives in Australia.
Kerry Michael, owner of the Grand Pier said: “We were so pleased that Anne got in touch with us as we love receiving interesting items for our social history files. I have invited Anne and her husband to attend one of our opening events and I very much hope she will visit the new Pier and be impressed by our work.”
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