Hoylake Park and Ride
As part of a package of measures to help capitalise on the
influx of visitors expected during the Open Golf Championship,
Wirral Borough Council has invested in a raft of transport
improvements, including a new 137-space car park, on 6,000 square
metres of land adjacent to Hoylake train station in Wirral.
Site:
Hoylake Park and Ride
Client:
Wirral Borough Council
Contractor:
Bethell Construction Ltd
Products used:
In line with sustainable development principles, Wirral Borough
Council specified a Sustainable Drainage (SUDS) System to minimise
the impact of the 4,500 square metre site on the natural water
environment.
Project objectives
Following the identification of potential flooding issues as a
result of the development, the client's engineers took the decision
to implement the innovative Sustainable Drainage System.
Traditional drainage practice moves rainwater as rapidly as
possible from the point at which it has fallen to a discharge point
– the local drainage network. However, in this particular area,
investigations showed that it could increase a risk of flooding in
the local area after medium rainfall. Wirral Borough Council
therefore enlisted specialist expertise to help design a system to
minimise this risk.
Charcon solutions
Following detailed investigations, Charcon designed a solution
specific to the requirements of the site. Due to the relatively
good permeability of the soil and restrictions on discharging water
into the existing drainage system, Charcon developed a system which
would replicate the natural infiltration of surface water into the
water course.
This required the level of the car park to be elevated to
increase the capacity for controlled drainage, using Aggregate
Industries’ open granular sub-base to delay the speed with which
rainwater enters the watercourse. Charcon Infilta block paving was
selected to surface the parking areas, specially designed to
combine the aesthetic appearance, strength and performance of
Charcon’s established block paving ranges with the added
environmental benefits of sustainable drainage.
In addition to reducing flooding risk, Charcon’s solution has
delivered additional benefits including minimal visual impact,
reduced pollution and waste water, improved biological diversity
and consistent soil moisture levels.