Construct January 2012

construct January 2012

working well together

Prestigious Park Restoration Scheme Completed for City of Lichfield November saw the completion of the prestigious Beacon Park and Minster Pool project for the City of Lichfield. Located in the City Centre, in the shadow of the 14th Century Cathedral, it is arguably one of the most interesting schemes in P Casey Land Reclamation’s ever expanding work history portfolio of multi-faceted restoration schemes.

The £4m project required hard and soft landscaping, monument and balustrade stonework restoration and the construction of three new buildings. A Sports Pavilion for the Bowling Club, a 1400 sq ft Cafeteria and an extension to a sports facility to provide offices, changing rooms, and shower block were built in the park following demolition of existing buildings. A Children,s themed adventure play ground was also upgraded and extended with new equipment and layouts.

The Minster Pool is a significant landmark in the City located next to the Cathedral and restoration works provided new paving, stone walling and extensive metal fencing around its perimeter.

One of the more sensitive parts of the project was the restoration of the Remembrance Gardens in a secluded but picturesque setting next to the Cathedral and bordered by the Minster Pool. It required careful restoration of stone balustrades, the

and landscaping works.

The Park is of major historical interest and there were a number of interesting ‘finds’ including Napoleonic Coins, musket balls and bullets, presumably from some medieval scrap, and Cathedral Tokens which dated back to the 13th and 14th Centuries. Military badges and Buckles were also discovered along with old watch parts and a myriad of clay pipes, coins and personal artefacts dropped or lost by people who have lived and worked in and around the Cathedral over the centuries.

View of the Cathedral from the Garden of Remembrance

creation of a new entrance with architectural metal fencing and gates, new footpaths flower beds and lawns. A key element of this part of the project was the restoration of the War Memorial which is the annual focus of the British Legions Festival of Remembrance each November. The works were re-sequenced within the programme to provide a fully restored Garden in time for the event.

An interesting aspect of this project was the local archaeological metal detectors group who requested permission from our site management to maintain a periodic archaeological scan of the park during excavation

A New Year Message From Tony Chell I hope that each and every one of you has had a good Christmas and New Year break which we extended this year to take into account the Royal Wedding. The Royals are not content with awarding us an extra day in 2011 and plan to repeat the process again in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee. The late spring bank holiday Monday will therefore be on the 4th June, with the additional day on Tuesday 5th June.

We finished last year on a high with our visit

from HRH The Duke of Gloucester and our Christmas celebrations, but now we have to face the challenges of the year ahead.

It doesn’t seem too long ago that we were making plans for the new millennium. Who would have thought that some 12 years later we would be in one of the worst periods of austerity since the late forties? It is now even more important than ever for us to apply those same post-war frugal principles in an effort to haul ourselves back to a period of prosperity. In those days food and commodities were rationed and we dared not waste any useful resource.

We need to apply those same principles today to squeeze every ounce of waste from

The soft landscaping throughout the park comprised the creation of lawns and flower beds interspersed with newly planted trees, shrubs and bushes to provide a colourful array during the summer months.

Water features and fountains were also part of the project, being completely upgraded and refitted with the flower beds and stone work around them being restored also.

This quality project is just one of what is now a long line of high profile prestigious schemes in company with the £4.5m World Heritage Site ,Roberts Park, in Bradford; Sheffield’s £2.6m Weston Park; Preston’s £4m Avenham and Miller Parks; and the currently running and equally prestigious £4m Stamford Park in Ashton. our contracts to maintain the competitive edge that will secure us that much reduced volume of available work. These savings need to be considered in terms of both time and materials. Every penny will help make us more competitive.

Rising to this challenge of securing future work will enable us to continue to provide our client’s with the quality product and level of service that they have always known from the Casey Companies. I know you share my commitment to quality. I know that we are very proud of the work that we do As a nation after the war, we pulled together and prospered. As a company, we can now do the same. Think on, every penny saved will save jobs in the future!

To submit articles or information for this newsletter, contact Debbie Hubbard on 07834 867580 or debbie.hubbard@casey.co.uk.

construct Above and Beyond Dear Sir/Madam I have just returned from a walk, with a friend and our dogs, in Dunwood park, Shaw. We go there regularly and have done for many years. We have not gone so often of late, due to my friends health, we are both ladies of a certain age!

This morning, we were walking through the park, tip-toeing through the broken fencing and debris [Not the Casey work area!! - H&S Dept], when a rather imposing character came into view. His first words to us were "Gotcha ladies, you have the right to remain silent, but anything you do say...." He introduced himself as Chris and gave his official title as something like "fencing operations overview leader" or "fool" for short.

HEALTH AND SAFETY A Fit and Healthy You for 2012 Christmas is now a distant memory and most of us will have gained a few extra pounds. You may have serious intentions to do something about it and have already joined your local gym or renewed your membership. Or you may just be trying to push the guilt of all that excess to the back of your mind and pretend it never happened. If that’s you, then shifting that Christmas weight might be easier than you think.

The NHS website has a number of 10 minute workouts which you can do at home without any gym equipment and there is advice on healthy eating too - www.nhs.uk/livewell/ Pages/Livewellhub.aspx

We spent twenty minutes in the company of your employee and thoroughly enjoyed every second. He explained what work was taking place, why we shouldn't be in that part of the park, suggested safer routes through the park and even walked us back to the car, to make sure we got there safely.

We laughed the whole time we were in Chris's company and it was a real treat to see my friend do so as she has had a dreadful year. He offered to let us go free from our trespassing charge, if we paid the on the spot fine, which was a promise we would take a safer route next time. When I got home and told my husband, he explained that we had been ticked off by the most diplomatic man in England. That may be true, but it didn't feel like a ticking off. It felt like three old friends on a stroll. Anyone who can make you feel like that, on a miserable December morning, after only twenty minutes or so, is a true gem.

I have written to you because I think it only fair to offer feedback when people do something well, as we are quick to complain when they do not. The decision to put Chris at the mercy of the public was inspired, as he has a wonderful nature and made us smile whilst he worked in the rain. A gem!

Yours with gratitude, Mrs J Clarke, Milnrow This letter was received on 1 January 2012. Chris O’Reilly is a subcontractor who lives close to site. Over the Christmas shutdown, he took it upon himself to visit the site on a daily basis to check that everything was OK. It is people like Chris who give Casey such a great reputation, so it’s not just thanks from Mrs Clarke, but Thank You Chris from all of us at Casey too!

If you have any examples of staff or subcontractors going above and beyond the call of duty, let us know.

sey employees, one of whom is John Walmsley. John had this to say “I would recommend anyone to Anthony’s programme. His energy and enthusiasm have really motivated me to stick with it, so much so it has now become ingrained as part of my lifestyle. I have even signed up to participate in the ‘Tough Mudder’ event with him in November, where we also hope to raise sponsorship for a good cause. I would never even have considered this a year ago. He is a real inspiration” So go on push yourself and give it a go. www.toughmudder.co.uk

Casey withdraws from Plant Sales At the end of November, P & C Casey Ltd closed its Plant Sales subsidiary.

For those of you who wish to go that one step further, we have our own personal qualified professional boxing trainer within the Casey Group.

Anthony McCormick is willing to put together a personal programme for you, including advice on diet and nutrition, free of charge to staff. Anthony can be contacted on email anthony.mccormick@casey.co.uk or extension 2273.

He already has a few “clients” amongst Ca-

The company had been loss making for some time and economic forecasts made it unlikely that the situation could be turned around. Chris Casey, Managing Director of P & C Casey Ltd commented, “The Group has funded the losses of Plant Sales for a number of years whilst endeavouring to turn the business around. Due to the much publicised downturn in the economy, we could no longer continue to support this part of the business.”

All creditors have been paid, and other companies within the group can service client needs.

New frameworks for Casey Casey has been awarded Approved Building Contractor status for a new and exciting affordable housing framework in the North West.

The Innovation Chain North West is a partnership of four award winning housing associations in the North West with a fundamental commitment to sustainable development and sustainable communities. They are: Plus Dane Group, Adactus Group, Great Places Housing Group and Harvest Housing Group.

The estimated value of total construction works is up to £500,000,000 for the 4 year duration.

There are eight contractor categories which relate to specific geographic boundaries and Casey has been selected for works including £500,000—£3,500,000 and £3,500,000—£10,000,000.

Together, the partnership will be driving construction innovation and delivering greener homes for the North West and all partners will share learning, embracing new technologies and delivering energy efficient, environmentally responsible development projects.

construct

Energy efficiency and what YOU can do It is generally accepted now that the earth is getting warmer.

The debate still rages about whether the rise in average global temperature is part of a natural cycle or is caused by man and his lifestyle. However, whichever side of the climate fence you sit on you have to accept that there are things that we can do to reduce our carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, and slow the process down.

We also have the problem of declining natural resources such as oil, gas, and coal so we have to find alternatives and use what we have wisely.

Did you know that domestic households are responsible for the production of a quarter of all CO2, the greenhouse gas produced when a fossil fuel is burnt? And that on average, of every 35 units of energy that you use in your home, 13 units are actually wasted? With scarce resources forcing the price of energy higher all the time, that’s a lot of money seeping through your walls or loft.

A warmer home is also a healthier one.

30,000 people die from cold related illnesses every year, and over 75% of these are over the age of 75.

At Casey, our business is improving the fabric of a building to raise the quality of housing. But what you don’t always realise is that it’s not just lagging and insulation that keeps your energy bills down. There are ways that you can change your behaviour that will cost little or nothing, but will keep your home warmer and your energy bills down – by up to £250 per year.

Low Cost and No Cost Tips So what can you do?

• If you’ve got central heating, turn the thermostat down by one degree. It could cut your heating bill down by 10%. The thermostatic valves on your radiators are another way of cutting costs, as are timers.

• Don’t use stand-by. Switch off the TV, dvd recorder, computer and stereo when they are not being used.

• On washday, make sure your washing machine has a full load and keep the wash temperature as low as possible. If you can’t wait until there is a full load, use the half load or economy setting.

• Air drying your clothes is cheaper than tumble drying but if you can’t dry your clothes outside, pick a room where you can have the doors closed so the dampness won’t spread. Keeping a window open slightly will help with ventilation. If you do use a tumbledryer, the vents should lead outside unless you have a condenser fitted.

• When using the fridge or freezer, don’t leave the doors open longer than necessary. The motors have to work harder to replace the lost cold. And defrost your freezer regularly to cut down on running costs.

• Use the shower rather than the bath if you can. It uses a third of the water.

• Keep the hot water thermostat at 60ºC. Any hotter than that and it’s burning your money.

• Making a brew? Don’t overfill the kettle.

If it’s just for one cup, you only need to just cover the element. If you can, use a kettle with a water gauge.

• Put the lids on your pans when you are cooking. It will use less energy for the same result, and produce less condensation.

• In your kitchen, does your cooker stand next to your fridge or freezer? If so they will be working against each other. If you can’t separate them, try at least to ensure a decent gap or insert a piece of insulation board.

• Draw your curtains. They are a great way to keep the heat in. Close them when the sun goes down and open them when it shines.

Heavier curtains, or thermal linings, are even better.

• Fit energy efficient light bulbs. Each one could save you up to £70 over the life of the bulb. And some of the newer bulbs do work with dimmer switches.

• Make sure you turn the taps off properly. As well as being irritating, a hot tap left to drip all day will fill a bath.

That’s a lot of hot water down the drain. Persistent drips can usually be sorted out with a new washer.

• Bounce your heat back. Install reflective

panels behind your radiators to bounce the heat back into your room and stop it escaping through the walls.

• Set your timer so that your heating only comes on when needed.

Remember the time it takes to heat up and cool down – set it to come on 30 minutes before you get up and to go off 30 minutes before you leave or go to bed.

• Where possible use off-peak electricity, usually between midnight and 7.00am.

• To monitor your electricity usage, you could get a real time electricity monitor.

Some energy suppliers provide them free with certain tariffs, or you can buy them from retailers for £30-£100.

If you are now feeling motivated and keen to take it further there are some serious savings you could make.

Lag your hot water tank if you have one. A well fitted jacket, about 8cm thick, for the tank and pipes should do the job.

Insulate your loft and cavity walls. More than 40% of household heat is lost here.

Fit extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom. They are not expensive to run and can make a big difference to condensation and damp problems.

When you are buying new appliances, look for the Energy Efficiency Recommended blue triangle. Those with an A grade are the most efficient.

They may be more expensive, but they will give you savings in the long run.

One last thing, consider whether you are on the correct tariff with the right energy provider. It’s not difficult to change your supplier and there are several websites that can help you. It’s probably the easiest way to cut your energy bills. All you need is your last 4 quarterly bills. For more information check www.uswitch.com ; www.energyhelpline.com ; or www.ukpower.co.uk For further information on reducing your carbon footprint, keeping your home warmer and, best of all, keeping your costs down, please visit the following websites: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk ; http://www.manchester.gov.uk/ info/500017/energy_efficiency ; http://www.superhomes.org.uk/ We’ve even more tips on our blog. You can check it out here: http://www.casey.co.uk/casey/ blog/2012/01/how-you-can-save-energyand-money/

construct It’s a Wonderful Christmas Time We ended the year on a high at Casey with Christmas carols from Wardle High Brass Band, and the choir of St Patricks RC Primary School.

Entertainment at the party was provided by great Manchester band, Green Hot Clover, whilst Tony Chell and fellow Directors worked the bar!

Staff Moves and Grooves A big welcome to James Larmett who started with us in October and Daniel Benson who joined us in November, both as Assistant Quantity Surveyors.

Dan Benson

James Larmett

Congratulations to Jim McCumaskey Jnr, Rebecca and big sister, Eva-May, on the birth of baby, Jaimes. Jaimes arrived a little early, but is doing well. Another Jim to add to the long line of Jim McCumaskeys.

Should we be reserving a desk for him?

Congratulations also to Danny Lyle, Leanne and big brother Daniel on the birth of baby, Eva. Mum and baby are doing well.

And well done and congratulations to Gerry and Pauline Beirne who celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary in November!

Royal Thanks The Duke of Gloucester would like to pass on his thanks and appreciation to all those involved in his visit in November. He sends his very warmest regards to all of us at The Casey Group and wishes us all the very best of luck for the future.

Movember 2011

Casey Socials

With a little help from The Casey Group Ltd, our fabulous team raised £1000 for Movember UK!

We are looking to arrange a few social events over this year so that we can further improve the rapport and contact between staff from all divisions and departments of the company. We’ve proved what a great time we can have when we all get together!

“Changing the face of men’s health”

We are not looking to set up a formal social club requiring a commitment to regular meetings, but if you have any ideas for events, are keen to come along to one or can help with organising a night out or “do”, contact Debbie Hubbard or Dave Stoddart.

RIP Dave Lett

There is always a lot of input required to produce this newsletter, and it’s a team effort. We would like to say a big Thank You! to all contributors: Tony Chell, Phil Hey, James Billing, Roy Looms, Tony Doran, Chris Williams, Anthony McCormick, Caroline Jones, John Walmsley, Ged Coen.

The Casey Companies Rydings Road, Rochdale, OL12 9PS T: 01706 341121

F: 01706 861156

E: info@casey.co.uk

W: www.casey.co.uk