Replacement plans for park greenhouse
THE GREENHOUSE in a Widnes park is due to be replaced and upgraded to bring it up to modern standards.
The facility in Victoria Park is currently around 45-years-old and is in ‘very poor state of repair’, a report prepared for Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board said.
The current greenhouse is in a Victoria style and is described as a ‘central part’ of the visitor offer in the park.
The report said: “It is proposed that the existing greenhouse is replaced and the facility upgraded to bring it up to modern day standards.
“This will both enable the council to reduce running costs, and enhance the visitor offer in the park.”
After a feasibility study took place to find a manufacturer to offer the best value in terms of cost and quality, as well as keeping the preferred ‘ Victorian style’, Hartley Botanical has been chosen.
The firm built the existing greenhouse and offered the ‘best value’.
The main building work including foundations, groundworks and brickwork
is due to be done by Link, the council’s term contractor, with Hartley Botanical acting as a sub-contractor and providing the greenhouse itself.
The project was initially forecast to cost almost £400,000, nearly £100,000 more than the current available budget of £305,000 allowed.
The cost has since been reduced to just over £309,000 and a further saving of nearly £25,000 has been identified by the council by splitting the work into two packages.
Including fees, the project’s total cost would be £304,367 – £633 below the current available budget.
The report said: “If we are aren’t able to bring the cost of the work within the available budget the project will not be able to proceed as desired.
“In order to follow this ● course of action a waiver of standing orders is required so that a direct award can be made to Hartley Botanical for £159,348 which will allow us to save £24,934.
“The waiver of standing orders will allow the council to save an additional £24,934 from the quoted cost of the works and enable the project to be financially viable and proceed.
“The greenhouse is a very prominent feature in Victoria Park, particularly due to its location near the main entrance.
“Its renewal in a ‘ Victorian style’ will help both enhance the visual appeal, and visitor experience when visiting the park.”
The plans to waive the standing orders and directly pay Hartley Botanical nearly £160,000 to allow the project to proceed was due to be given the green light on Thursday, June 13.