Work on Royal Victoria Park Bandstand Wins National Award

Miles Barnes receives the trophy from David Bellamy

LOCAL COUNCIL WINS TOP GREEN AWARD

Bath & North East Somerset Council is one of the major prize-winners in the International Green Apple Awards 2006 for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage.

They have been given a National Silver Award in recognition of their work on The Bandstand in Royal Victoria Park.

The trophy was presented by top botanist and TV personality Professor David Bellamy, OBE at Kensington Roof Gardens.

The trophies are awarded annually in recognition of building projects that enhance the built environment and/or project our architectural heritage.

The judges commented:

“The bandstand is a conical, fan-shaped structure constructed with both traditional and non-traditional materials. The cast iron, shell-shaped bandstand was erected in 1900 to replace an octagonal one. Neglected and targeted over the years by vandals and vagrants, the council have now restored it to its former glory after a lot of painstaking research into its original materials and methods.”

The Green Apple Awards campaign is run by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-profit organisation that recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

Their supporters include the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and various other professional bodies.

National Organiser Roger Wolens commented: “We had around 400 nominations this year and presented about 50 awards, so they did particularly well to triumph against some very strong competition.”

Stephen Sheppard, Head of Building Consultancy, writes:

"I am pleased to say that the restoration of the bandstand in RVP has achieved the national silver award in the "Built Environment and Architectural Heritage" category of the Green Apple 2006 Awards. The awards are organised by The Green Organisation with support from the Environment Agency, SAVE Britain's Heritage, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and the Municipal Journal. The organisation is dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world and is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions globally.

"There has been an initial ceremony attended by the project officer in which the level of award and a presentation builders trowel were presented. We are preparing a press release and photos. There is a more formal ceremony in the Houses of Parliament in the autumn with award of a plaque to put on the wall, entry into a book of architectural heritage treasures, web publicity and draft press releases/photos.

"The works were specified, project managed and administered by Miles Barnes, a building surveyor, in the Building Consultancy. The contract was let on a quality/cost basis, and one of the key features was an aim to achieve sustainability (partly evidenced by only one skip for waste being used throughout the works on site).

"The work to the bandstand has previously received positive comment from the Chronicle and within some national technical publications.The project is also being considered by the RICS for one its international conservation awards."