Work begins on Memorial Gardens

Construction work on repairing and refurbishing the Memorial Gardens will start on Monday (28 September).

The planned revamp will give the Memorial Gardens, at the top of Norwich an expected life of 100 years as well as turning the memorial so it faces St Peters Street. The work is expected to be completed in 2011.

Leader of the council Steve Morphew said: “It’s really good that we have been able to get on site so quickly. However, with a large and complex project like this, there will inevitably be some disruption.

“I would like to remind people that Norwich Market will be open just as usual throughout the work, so please do continue to shop there.”

The contract has been awarded to R G Carter, and is expected to last for 60 weeks.

A compound will surround the site, meaning the public will not be able to use some of the seats and bins in St Peter’s Street and on the back row of the market during the work.

There will be a temporary footway for pedestrians along St Peter’s Street.

The site compound will block access to a post box. An alternative site has been identified by Royal Mail.

Throughout the work, St Peter’s Street will become one way for vehicles,with traffic flowing from Bethel Street to Gaol Hill. It will not be possible to stop in the one way system and the loading bay and St Peter's Street taxi rank will be suspended throughout the work. The one-way system is to come into force in the week beginning 12 October and, while it is in place, drivers will be able to access the Forum car park from the Little Bethel Street side.

The motor cycle parking area will be closed and motor cyclists should use the alternative parking area in St Giles Street.

Funding for the £2.6 million project comes from a collaboration and investment agreement between Norwich City Council and the Government’s housing and regeneration agency the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). This partnership establishes a joint venture between the two organisations which will see £8 million invested in the city.

Terry Fuller, regional director for the Homes and Communities Agency, said: “The partnership agreement between the HCA and Norwich City Council has enabled us to reimagine the way that regeneration projects are delivered around the city. The refurbishment of the memorial gardens is one of a package of exciting projects that will provide real benefits to the local community.”

The memorial and gardens are on top of a substantial building which houses market storage and housed toilets for a long time. The work will involve repairing the structure of the Memorial Gardens building and replacing its roof. The stone finishes and gardens will be replaced as they are now but the memorial itself will be lifted and turned to be accessible from St Peters Street. A ramp and steps will also be put in place, leading to the central part of the garden from St Peters Street.

The council closed the gardens to the public from November 2004, after engineers identified defects within the supporting structure. These weakened it to the point where it was dangerous to allow uncontrolled crowds to gather on it.

25 September 2009