Huge investment by Birmingham Parks Service
Huge investment by Birmingham Parks Service
By Peter Driver
Birmingham City Parks Service has taken delivery of further turf maintenance equipment worth over £1 million to help with the upkeep of the highways, premier parks and golf courses under its remit.
This latest equipment is the second tranche in a five year preferred supplier agreement with Ransomes Jacobsen, the Ipswich-based turf equipment manufacturer and their local dealer, TH White Ltd of Redditch.
Darren Share, Best Value Contracts Manager for Birmingham City Council said, "We are responsible to the residents of Birmingham for the upkeep of the highway verges, the premier parks and six golf courses across the city. We take an intrinsic pride in providing our residents with high quality presentation of our green open spaces.
It is our aim to equip the golf courses to the same standard as those in private ownership and to do this we have to be flexible in our selection of machinery. For instance, we are using a Ransomes Parkway triplex, traditionally a municipal mower to maintain the semi rough at two of our courses.
"With the cutting season fast approaching it is imperative that we have not only the best possible equipment, but also a programme of mowing that is both visible and scheduled. For our residential areas we have 'Named Day' schedules and therefore we must be cutting those areas on the specified dates.
To do this we must have the optimum support from our business partners and this is where our relationship with TH White's is vital. Our contract includes all round service support and they have been excellent at maintaining the equipment and their spare parts service has been first class."
Peter Cooper of TH White added, "This season's delivery is part of a projected £2.5 million investment in replacement machinery, service and spare parts over a five year period. Our successful tender in winning this business will ensure 10 years of continuity with Birmingham and we are delighted to have won the business."