Waterways set to benefit from canal engineering and maintenance contracts
9 February 2009
Following competitive tendering, British Waterways has awarded nationwide contracts for its major canal engineering works and day-to-day vegetation and facilities management.
The arrangements with external contractors, which bring financial efficiencies and improved environmental, heritage and safety standards, will support British Waterways’ in-house engineering and bank staff in providing essential repairs and waterway maintenance.
The new framework contract to provide support on major canal engineering has been awarded to May Gurney. A four-year network-wide agreement with a possible two-year extension, the contract is worth approximately £20 million a year and is effective from the beginning of April. Forming part of British Waterways’ repairs and improvement programme, the agreement will include major works across up to 150 locks, bridges, aqueducts, weirs, reservoirs, tunnels, towpaths, embankments and cuttings.
Whilst the major works contract excludes spend on waterway dredging, May Gurney is also likely to deliver a number of additional third party-funded canal improvement projects on behalf of British Waterways and its partners.
Commenting on the award, Philip Fellowes-Prynne, chief executive at May Gurney said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract with British Waterways. It demonstrates our success at building strong long-term customer relationships and cements our position as a leading provider of maintenance and improvement services to the public sector. Moreover, it testifies to the strength of our sales pipeline that, together with our record order book of £1.25 billion, gives us much confidence for the future. Our team are really looking forward to a long and successful relationship with British Waterways.”
The contract to undertake day-to-day vegetation and facilities management in England and Wales has been awarded to Fountains plc. British Waterways has consolidated approximately 100 smaller contracts to award the three-year programme (with an optional two year extension), which also starts in April. The new arrangement is expected to be worth around £5 million a year and as well as bringing financial savings, which will allow greater level of vegetation and tree works to be delivered for the budget available, the Fountains contract is intended to provide a more consistent level of service across the waterways. It will also ensure a more rigorous adherence to British Waterways’ environmental and safety standards.
Richard Haddon, chief executive from Fountains, comments: “We are so pleased to have won this contract on the back of our pilot project which clearly demonstrates our high standards and professional abilities. We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with a customer who has demonstrated to us their true care for the environment.”
Jim Stirling, technical director at British Waterways comments: “British Waterways cares for the third largest collection of listed structures in Britain and today our waterways are enjoying a renaissance in popularity and use. Keeping them open and working, however, requires a year-round programme of care, maintenance and investment. These contracts will support our work in-house and will ensure that we continue maximising money that’s available to spend on waterway upkeep.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
British Waterways cares for 2,200 miles of the nation's canals and rivers. Rich in heritage, abundant in wildlife and teeming with activity, inland waterways are as popular today as they've ever been. Half the population lives within five miles of one of our waterways and an incredible 11 million people use them every year as part of their everyday life – as a short-cut to work, for walking the dog or simply for taking time-out and watching the boats. British Waterways' job is to ensure the waterways attract enough investment to be well maintained and remain appealing to society and the local communities through which they pass.
www.britishwaterways.co.uk
British Waterways’ incumbent major works framework contractor, Morrison Construction, will complete the remainder of the 2008/09 works programme.
May Gurney is a dynamic integrated support and construction services company providing maintenance and enhancement services to the highways, rail, utilities, municipal waste and general infrastructure markets, primarily with public sector and regulated sector customers, across the UK. The company focuses on long-term relationships, has over 5,000 employees and delivers solutions through two primary business segments - Maintenance Services and Engineering & Project Services – and is listed on AIM.
The Maintenance Services segment is focused on the core markets of highways, municipal waste and utilities. Activities include highways maintenance under long-term partnerships with local authorities, waste management services, and network improvement and maintenance services provided to major UK utilities networks, including mobile telecommunications operators, under long-term framework contracts.
The Engineering & Project Services segment serves public and regulated sector customers across a broad range of industries. Core services include the enhancement of road and rail infrastructure, flood protection, ground remediation, foundations, geotechnical engineering and building.
www.maygurney.co.uk