Contractor chosen for park makeover
COUNCIL CONFIRMS HESSLE FIRM FOR REVAMP
ONE of the region’s best-known civil engineering firms has been given the job of transforming Queens Gardens in the city centre.
The public park set in a former dock is to be given a major facelift under an £11.7m project funded by Hull City Council.
Works will include rebuilding of the park’s boundary walls, creating new open spaces to host large-scale events and installing new footpaths, entrance ramps, and seating.
The park’s ponds will also be upgraded along with the Rose Bowl fountain in Queens Dock Avenue.
In addition, new public artwork will be installed to tell the story of the history of the gardens to promote it as a pedestrian route between the revamped Maritime Museum and a new visitor attraction at the former North End shipyard in High Street where the Arctic Corsair trawler will eventually be berthed.
Now CR Reynolds Ltd has been awarded the main Queens Gardens refurbishment contract by the council.
Founded in 1980, the Hesslebased firm is currently the principal contractor for infrastructure works at Siemens’ new train factory site in Goole and is also installing new cycle lanes in Bricknell Avenue.
City council leader Councillor Daren Hale said: “The Queens Gardens refurbishment will create a first-class and unique urban green space in the heart of our city.
“The gardens will also act as an impressive performance space and better tell its connection to Hull’s maritime past.
“This refurbishment is an important element in both the transformational Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project and our investment in the city’s open spaces.
“In recent years our commitment to investing in green spaces such as East Park, Pearson Park and West Park has greatly benefited residents, playing an important role in their health and wellbeing which has been invaluable during lockdown and the pandemic.”
A council report confirming the decision to award the contract says there is a potential for “unforeseen issues” during the works because of the site’s historic former use as a dock.
It says: “Due to the very nature of this project and the areas that are due to be renovated and upgraded, as the works progress, issues may arise that were previously unforeseen.
“While every effort has been made to understand the full extent of the works through appropriate surveys and appointment of required specialists, there is the potential for unforeseen issues to arise as the scheme progresses.”
Earlier this year, councillors agreed to allocate an extra £7.4m towards the refurbishment having originally set aside a budget of £4.3m.
The move was prompted by an increase in the cost of specialist building materials and a decision to expand the original scheme brief to include the Rose Bowl fountain works, additional tree replacement and replanting and upgrades to surrounding roads.