Ivor Goodsite spreads the safety message
Dec 24 2010 by Chris Knox, The Journal
THE children of Cleves Cross Primary School in Ferryhill, County Durham, have been given important lessons about the dangers of construction sites after receiving a visit from builder Galliford Try and safety mascot Ivor Goodsite.
Uxbridge-based Galliford Try welcomed the children to its £2.2m development at East Howle, near Ferryhill, which will provide 26 single-storey units for travellers with adjacent hard surface parking for caravans and other vehicles.
The children were greeted and shown around by Ivor Goodsite, the costumed mascot of the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme and also known as Galliford Try contracts manager, Simon Grylls, together with Dave Chapman, Galliford Try’s senior health, safety and environmental adviser and site manager Gary Easton.
The visit was the latest stage in the close co-operation between the contractor and the County Durham school which has seen visits by Ivor Goodsite and the construction team to explain the dangers of construction sites and a poster competition for the children, with £70 worth of vouchers and goody bags awarded for the picture that best illustrated the perils of building sites.
Some of the school’s pupils are children of travellers themselves so the progress of the 26-unit site is of particular importance to them.
Contracts manager Simon Grylls said: “Ivor Goodsite is obviously a lot of fun for the children but he’s also a great way of getting over very serious points about the dangers of construction sites to children, so we’re delighted to be able to co-operate with the school.
“This particular development of 26 semi-detached units for travellers is also going to be home to some of the children so site visits are a good way of communicating exactly what we are building here.”
Designed by Newcastle-based architects Red Box Design, the contract will see 23 of the semi-detached units provided with underfloor heating and a day room, bathroom, kitchen and storage area with a further two adapted for accessible facilities and the final unit being a community building.
The scheme has been funded by the Government’s Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant 2008-2009 to provide new pitches to reduce unauthorised camping, and help improve conditions on existing authorised sites.
The funding will enable local authorities and registered social landlords to provide new authorised pitches for residents who will pay rent, council tax and other utility bills and is also designed to help reduce the costs of enforcing against unauthorised sites.
Galliford Try employs around 150 people at its North East arm in Ponteland.
