Torridge District Council with help from East-the-Water Community Primary School break ground for new Operational Services Centre

Councillors and officers along with children from East-the-Water Community Primary School took part in a turf cutting ceremony today, Wednesday 29 January, to celebrate the start of construction for Torridge District Council's new Operational Services Centre.

The site, which is being built by local construction company Devon Contractors is expected to be completed and fully operational by the end of this year.  The new site will act as the main hub for the council's Operational Services teams and will provide office space for employees working in waste and recycling and street cleansing.  The site will also include vehicle workshops and parking for the council's vehicle fleet.

As well as providing a new purpose-built site for employees working in Waste and Recycling, the new operational services centre will also bring the following community benefits:

• An educational resource which will be available to local school children.
• An attenuation pond open to the local primary school for environmental education.
• The Drovers trail, will be retained to the east, connecting it to Manteo Way.
• Improved cycle links - connecting routes between Manteo Way and Alverdiscott Road.

Councillor Doug Bushby, Chair of Torridge District Council, said:

"I would like to thank everyone involved in getting us to this point today and we are so pleased to be joined by East-the-Water School.  I am delighted that Devon Contractors are now on-site to deliver this much needed new facility which will allow us to improve operational efficiencies in the collection of household waste and recycling material and create capacity for the future growth of the district."

"This is an important project for the District, but it is also an important project for the Local Community. If one of the children here today or in the future takes an interest in working in Construction, Engineering or the Environment then we are building far more than just a new Operational Services Centre for Torridge. We are creating a legacy of ongoing opportunities for the young people who will shape our future communities." 

Councillor Chris Leather, Lead Member for Waste and Recycling, Torridge District Council, said:

"We are so pleased that we can finally begin to move forward with a new purpose-built site.  The team is currently operating across four dated and poorly serviced sites that pre-date our responsibility to collect recycled material.   This will not only help us to improve operational efficiency and create a safer, more modern working environment for our employees, but ensure that that service provision will be improved for the district for many years to come."

Nigel Whelan, Managing Director, Devon Contractors:

"We are thrilled to be part of the team delivering this exceptional new Operational Services Facility for Torridge District Council. This project reflects our commitment to high-quality construction and sustainable development, and we look forward to working closely with the council and stakeholders to create a facility that will serve the community for years to come."

Jan 25