TRACKWAY SEE MONSTER
On track
Trackway experts discuss best practices, event trends, and industry challenges
S
ee Monster, a decommissioned North Sea offshore platform that transformed into one of the UK’s largest public art installations, opened to the public this autumn. The installation – developed and engineered by NewSubstance – could be found on Weston-super-Mare’s seafront, wowing thousands of visitors who had come to gawp at the 35-metre-high structure, consisting of a 10-metre-high waterfall, and kinetic wind sculptures. However, to create the installation, the 450-tonne rig had to be moved into position. After a five-day voyage around the British coastline on a flatbed barge, See Monster was transported up the beach by self-propelled modular transporters onto a 50m x 50m support platform comprised of more than 200 of TPA’s heavy-duty aluminium panels. This was one of TPA’s more unusual projects of the summer, which also saw the temporary access provider install heavy-duty aluminium panels and pedestrian walkways (800 metres) at Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).
to cater more for customers with additional access needs. TPA’s TerraGuard panels were installed and helped guests to negotiate the terrain between marquees. In addition, TPA’s Trax panels provided more than 7.5 kilometres of temporary access roads in multiple locations, including around the main grandstand, car park access lanes, and three off-site campsites. David Walkden, managing director of TPA, said: “Our largest event this year was the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. This was the first year we utilised our new pedestrian walkway system called TerraGuard, which proved to be a very effective system for pedestrian access. “We also had one of the driest summers on record, which has impacted the demand for trackway. We can’t predict the weather in the UK and event organisers must plan for the worst, so we did find ourselves holding stock for wet weather conditions that were ultimately not required. On the plus side, the panels that were installed came back from the site a lot cleaner than usual.”
WEATHER AND DEMAND
Indeed, the hot weather had a huge impact on the events industry, but a lack of resources had an even greater effect. Jeremy Simpson, managing director at Event Flooring Solutions – which recently
TPA has a three-year contract with RIAT and 2022 was the company’s second year working at the event. RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises, the organiser of RIAT, was keen
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MARK PRUCE
NICK RUSSELL
“NORMAL BUSINESS”
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