Reigate & Banstead invest in new equipment

Reigate & Banstead invest in new equipment

The Parks and Countryside section at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council have invested in excess of £300,000 in new turf maintenance equipment for the 2005 season. The majority of the new equipment has been purchased from local turf dealer Ernest Doe and Sons Ltd and includes Ransomes ride-on and tractor mounted mowers.

The Parks & Countryside section is responsible for the day-to-day management and maintenance of all Council owned parks, open spaces and countryside areas. They also maintain the borough's highway verges, shrubs and bedding displays on the highway, in town centres, the cemeteries and churchyards.

Previously these services were contracted out; however since January 2005, all of these works have been carried out by a team of directly employed staff.

Robin Davis, Parks & Countryside Manager commented,"Following 10 years of outsourced services we now have all the works carried out by directly employed staff. The aim is to improve all-round quality and provide a service to the residents that is under the direct control of the Council. To provide this service we need quality equipment and support from reliable business partners.

"Ernest Doe won their tender with a combination of quality equipment from the renowned Ransomes brand and excellent service and back up support. They were competitive and are offering added value to the Council that will benefit our residents."

The Parks & Countryside section is part of the Neighbourhood Services Department which amalgamates all of the 'Clean and Green' services provided by the Council in one department. All of the Clean & Green services work closely together to ensure the entire public environment is maintained to similar high standards.

Photo: (l-r) Kevin Edge and Robin Davis (Reigate & Banstead Council), Phil Bush (Branch Manager, Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd) and Nigel Church (Regional Sales Manager, Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd).