ActionLines - Our Clients

24/7 Community Relations

CLIENTS

Clients range from utilities improving their infrastructure to developers regenerating brownfield sites. But they all have one thing in common - they know that ignored communities and interest groups can represent a major obstacle to project delivery. Latest clients include Tube Lines, Birse Metro and Metronet.

As part of its regeneration programme, Westminster City Council invested £62.5 million in the Paddington Bridge project. A 24-hour noise helpline was in place for two years to handle calls from the public.

The restoration of Brunel’s historic Royal Albert Bridge required sand and UHP water blasting. Not only are many homes in Saltash immediately under the structure, but intrusive night work was necessary to avoid disrupting the train timetable. Prospectus arranged two public meetings, launched a 24-7 Community Relations Call Centre, worked closely with the H&S Executive and local Environmental Health Officer and issued regular newsletters.

Our client was commissioned to re-lay one of the jointed rail tracks through Chalford, near Stroud. Not only is the village in a steep valley that exacerbates noise, but the relay necessitated night work. The CR Helpline team advertised the work schedule and prepared a detailed letter for the villagers. The On Call Manager also spent several days visiting lineside residents to discuss the project. As a result, the schedule was changed to take advantage of residents’ ideas. The same consultation process was carried out with environmental health officers, who were invited to tour the site. When the engineers returned to relay the second line, they were welcomed as trusted professionals who were known to be approachable and open to ideas.

A similar exercise was carried out in Steventon, Oxfordshire, where half the village was cut off when both level crossing were closed.