Pleasley Vale Cycle Path

Fitzgerald have successfully completed the construction of a new 250m long cycle path and footway through Pleasley Vale Woods for Bolsover District Council.

The new cycle path and footway connects into Pleasley Vale Business Park, improving sustainable transport access to the Business Park and replacing the existing and overgrown walking route through the woods for residents, walkers, and cyclists. The project is part of wider aspirations to open-up walking and cycling routes around the Business Park and contributes to Bolsover District Council’s ambitions to improve health and wellbeing and increase participation in leisure activities.

The cycle path was installed using a Flexipave porous paving solution. We worked with the client team and our supply chain partners, KBI, to reduce the imported materials within the cycle path design, saving associated transportation and installation costs.

We closed off a part of the woods designated as a SSSI, successfully ensuring no intrusion into the SSSI and no impacts on the trees within it. The use of tracked dumpers for excavation tackled the relatively steep gradients of the new cycle path, ensuring minimal ground disturbance in the wooded area. Careful management of the existing and surrounding walking routes, with temporary diversions put in place for the seven-week duration of the works, allowed continued access to the woods for walkers.

We worked collaboratively with both Balfour Beatty and Bolsover District Council to deliver the scheme on time and with no impacts on walkers or occupiers of the Business Park. Co-location of site offices with the Balfour Beatty Project Management Team enabled quick resolution of any issues and weekly progress meetings. Weekly site visits and ‘walk-arounds’ from the Bolsover District Council team further embedded the collaborative approach to delivery.

The works were completed with an excellent safety record, with our approach to the control of environmental issues described by the Balfour Beatty Project Manager as the best he has seen.

“Fitzgerald’s were a pleasure to work with, be it pre-construction, during construction or after construction. The site was run very well by a very knowledgeable and safe site team. Everything was well-planned and executed, and nothing was too much trouble.” Christopher Beard, Balfour Beatty.