Who Should I Report Damaged Street Furniture To?
Furniture like benches, shelters, planters, cycle sheds and entrance canopies can become damaged through vandalism and general wear and tear, whilst it is the responsibility of your council to upkeep these and amend any damage; they need help from community members to identify problems that may go unnoticed.
Each council has a Neighbourhood Services Department which maintains the cleaning schedules for shelters, litter bins and other furniture, this department can also be contacted for further information or to report problems that you may have experienced with the street furniture that they have installed.
Every council aims to empty waste bins twice weekly in built up areas, whilst litter and dog bins in rural areas may be maintained across longer intervals. Reporting full litter or dog bins as well as vandalised or damaged furniture in rural areas is actually the same procedure as reporting problems in urban areas, and despite maintenance being carried out by smaller Parish Councils, all information requests and reports should be direct to your Borough Council.
The same applies for street name plates, despite the latest installations of plates being built into galvanised frames, a handy deterrent designed to combat vandalism and theft, many still fall victim to damage every day. These should be reported to the Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Services, who handle complaints about street name signs on council owned housing estates.
Canopies & walkways are also subjected to a rigorous cleaning regime; however, these are maintained less regularly than public bins, benches and shelters. Any problems with walkways and entrance canopies in your area should be reported to your Borough Council via phone or by using an online form. Damaged furniture that creates an immediate hazard for pedestrians will be resolved straight away.
Are problems with public furniture reported differently if you live on a new housing or business development? For new developments, both business and housing, the maintenance of street signs and furniture is the responsibility of your developer and should be reported to them directly.
Reporting damage to your street furniture is a vital part of being a responsible and thoughtful member of the community; in turn you maintain an attractive, smarter and safer street scene that everyone can enjoy!
If you’ve ever arrived at a job interview soaked to the bone or felt like it was too rainy to pop outside for some fresh air during a busy day at work, you’re not alone. Research shows that the first impression of a business is gained before even setting foot inside the door – the outside of the building, including maintenance of the grounds, any signs and other aspects such as benches, bins or a covered walkway are all taken into account when forming our first impressions. By installing a covered walkway outside your building, you’re protecting staff and visitors from the elements whilst creating a warm welcome for anyone braving the inclement UK weather.
Productive and Happy Employees
Research shows that people are more productive when they take regular breaks, and being cooped up in an airless office all day, staring at a computer screen, is bad for anyone. It’s important that your employees take regular breaks from their screens, whether it’s 5 minutes to pop for a coffee or a few moments outside for a breath of fresh air. With a covered walkway, staff can head outside for some fresh air no matter what the weather, and a few minutes to clear their heads can do wonders for productivity levels and creative thinking!
Protection from the Elements
Visitors to your building or those attending job interviews usually arrive feeling a little frazzled after their journey, particularly if the weather is bad. The UK’s winters are growing longer and global warming has led to increased rainfall across the country, which means colder, wetter conditions for travelling. A covered walkway is the perfect place for visitors to stop and take a moment to relax before entering your building. Whether they want to adjust their appearance, put things away in a handbag or briefcase or simply take their umbrella down and take a few deep breaths before their interview, a covered walkway protects them from the elements and gives them a few minutes to compose themselves before entering the building.
Installing a covered walkway is the perfect way to create an outdoor space with protection from the elements, allowing visitors to your building to enjoy a warm welcome whilst providing a space for employees to get some fresh air without braving the bad weather! You could even use your covered walkway as a bike shelter, encouraging employees to take alternative, healthier modes of transport to work.
How to Stay Safe When Cycling with Small Children
Visibility is key when it comes to maintaining safety as a cyclist, whatever your age, and many cyclists choose to ride in groups to enhance this. Family bike rides involve a mixture of different abilities so maintaining this ‘safety in numbers’ ethos works well especially when riding with smaller children. When riding with inexperienced cyclists, you must also choose your route well, children’s bicycles tend not to have gears and the brakes on these models may not be the best quality, so ensure that the journey you take from the school bike sheds to your home is free from hills and busy roads.
Taking snacks for the journey is also highly recommended, especially when undertaking longer rides. Take food and plenty of water to keep your little one refreshed and energised. Ensure you all stop at regular intervals to hydrate, eat and rest. Bike shelters provide plenty of shade and the perfect checkpoint for weary cyclists; bikes can also be secured so you can explore the area further on foot.
As parents of young children will know, little minds tend to wander during longer trips so make sure you don’t hear ‘are we there yet?’ on your family bike ride. Take the road less travelled and explore together to keep the bike ride interesting. Create a learning experience for your child and get them involved in the environment around them whatever your destination. Don’t always take the same route either, instead mix it up to provide an enjoyable adventure every time!
When it comes to safety, the equipment you are using counts. Buying a good quality bicycle for your child is a great start; there are a number of models on the market but focus on the performance of brakes to ensure your child has a comfortable and safe ride. Make sure the seat is adjustable too, your child should be able to extend their legs fully when cycling. A helmet is also a must wear, regardless of the length or difficulty of your journey.
A family bike ride is the perfect bonding experience for everyone involved so stay in shape and explore safely this summer with a ride around your local park or a cycling day trip.
1. First Impressions
When potential clients have to brave the elements between your car park and your building it can really put them off. One way to ensure anyone visiting your site gets the warmest possible welcome is by fitting covered walkways to the entrance of your building so people entering are protected from the weather. That way clients will arrive at your reception feeling relaxed and happy which means you’re more likely to strike a deal.
2. Encourage Activity
These days employers have an obligation to encourage staff to get to work in ways that are less harmful to the environment. A covered walkway can double as a cycle shelter to provide staff with somewhere safe to put their bikes so they can avoid using a car to commute and help reduce the carbon footprint your business creates.
3. Out and About
Studies have shown that getting out of the office and into the fresh air for a break will not only make staff feel healthier and happier, but it could even increase their productivity. A covered walkway will provide the people who use your building with an area to meet and spend time outside whilst taking a break.
4. Prepare for Weather
UK winters seem to be getting harsher each season and over the past few years, snow storms have thrown the country into chaos. Business owners can lose thousands of pounds when snow strikes due to staff not being able to get into work, but a covered walkway will make it easy to get into your building whatever the weather so you’re less likely to lose out on production.
5. Keep Clean
A covered walkway is the ideal solution if you want to keep your reception area looking clean and tidy. Covered walkways will help keep floors dry in the rain and mean that your reception area stays looking presentable.
So give your building, staff and clients a treat and incorporate a covered walkway within your premises.
Today, it’s more important than ever to do what we can to protect the environment, but did you know that it’s not just cans, paper and plastic that can be reused for another purpose – it’s also possible to find all sorts of exciting recycled items that can be used within communities, such as recycled street furniture. If your local park, town centre or village square needs a facelift then take a look at these five reasons why recycled street furniture could be the ideal choice for you.
Durability
Recycled plastic is one of the strongest materials available that can be used to make street furniture. When you opt for recycled, the street furniture you choose will be incredibly tough and durable and can often last longer than a timber alternative. This means choosing recycled street furniture can be more cost effective than other materials as well as better for the environment.
Weatherproof
Street furniture needs to be able to stand up to the elements as well as general wear and tear. Recycled plastic is 100% weatherproof, which means it won’t get damaged by rain, sun, snow and so on. Unlike timber plastic furniture won’t warp in the sun or become damaged by rain, in addition, plastic furniture won’t rust like metal can.
Eco Friendly
Today, local councils have an obligation to ensure they are acting in an environmentally responsible way, which means making sure recycling targets are set, encouraging people to use fossil fuels less and thinking carefully about what is placed within the environment. By opting for recycled street furniture councillors can help preserve valuable natural resources and ensure that the council meets environmental obligations. In addition, utilising recycled street furniture is a great way to teach the local community about the importance of recycling.
Choice of Styles
Recycled plastic is an incredibly versatile material that can be moulded into any number of designs. It can be made in bright and bold colours that will really stand out, or if you prefer you can even choose recycled street furniture that’s designed to look just like wood, which is ideal in parks and green spaces. The bottom line is, recycled street furniture can usually be tailor made to your exact specifications to ensure that it fits right into the local landscape.
Whether it’s at home or in a workplace there are tons of great reasons to install entrance canopies outside your building. If you’re considering investing in an entrance canopy then take a look at these five reasons why adding an covered walkway to your building makes good business sense and could even end up saving you money.
1. Keep Visitors Dry
When it’s raining cats and dogs, entrance canopies are ideal for protecting staff, clients and visitors and keeping them dry. If you’re trying to create a good first impression it’s a great idea to make sure your visitors feel well cared for before they’ve even stepped through the door and staff will appreciate not having to start their work day soaking wet.
2. Useful Waiting Area
An entrance canopy can also act as a useful waiting area outside your building where staff and visitors can wait to be picked up or get some fresh air whilst still being afforded some protection from the elements.
3. Staff Meeting Place
Studies have shown that staff who spend time outside during the day are more productive than those who don’t take breaks and stay in the office. A covered walkway will encourage your staff to get out, take a break and ready themselves for more hard work.
4. Say Thanks to Staff
When people feel appreciated by those who manage them they’re much more likely to go the extra mile. An entrance canopy to keep staff dry and provide them with a place to meet will let them know that their hard work is appreciated.
5. Keep Clean
Wet floors can be dangerous, especially in public buildings, whilst a dirty floor creates a negative impression for anyone walking in. a covered walkway will help keep your floors drier and cleaner inside so your building is well presented and safe. With UK winters becoming ever harsher more and more people are missing work days due to snow. A canopy will help keep the entrance to your building clear in the event of snow so that it can be easily accessed by staff which could help save you money in missed work days.
So whether you own a business premises or a home consider installing a covered walkway and make your building easier to access, more appealing to visitors and a better environment for staff to work in.
A great office is a well-oiled machine with good organisation at its heart. If you own a business premises and you’d like to make it work even harder then take a look at these five ways that you can improve your building to increase productivity and make your business more appealing to outsiders.
1. Install a Covered Walkway
If you want to make a great first impression it’s best to start at the entrance to your building. Covered walkways are a great addition to any workplace because they give your building a more professional edge that will impress potential clients and offer staff and other visitors protection from the elements when they enter the premises. A covered walkway will keep everyone who visits dry and keep the floors in your reception area cleaner and drier too.
2. Clear Reception
One thing that really puts potential clients off is an ineffective reception area. Make sure the place where people enter your building is always kept clean and well presented, incorporate plenty of comfortable seating and give your front of house staff adequate training and make sure they know how they’re expected to meet, greet and treat visitors.
3. De-Clutter
A poorly organised and messy office is not conducive to productive working so enlist the help of staff to keep everything organised. Encourage workers to keep their desks tidy by choosing office furniture with storage and make sure unnecessary paperwork is cleared and recycled regularly. If you’re just starting out buy more storage than you need so you’ve got room to grow and if possible find a separate space for storing servers and other bulky electronic equipment.
4. Avoid Open Plan
Open plan has been all the rage since the 1970’s but recent studies have shown that it’s not as effective a way to work as you may think. Wall-less offices can have a negative effect on staff thanks to noise pollution, distractions and the threat of constant interruption. If your building is open plan consider using office wall partitions or create glazed office spaces to keep the space light and bright but cut down outside distractions like noise and traffic.
5. Give Staff a Break
One sure fire way to encourage your staff to work harder and go the extra mile is by letting them know they’re appreciated. If you don’t have anywhere for staff to take a break then install a break area in another room or somewhere in your office where staff feel able to relax and take five so they’re better prepared to deal with the rest of their day.
It’s not just schools that can benefit from cycle shelters, these days all types of businesses and facilities can be improved with the addition of this quick and cost effective street furniture. If you own a building or establishment and are looking for a fast and efficient way to instantly improve your premises and attract more visitors, then take a look at the following ways a bike shelter could benefit you.
- With concerns about the environment growing ever stronger, it’s more important than ever to find ways to reduce the amount of damage we do on a daily basis. One of the most effective methods for doing just that is by using a bike instead of a car. However, many bike enthusiasts would agree that a lack of places to park and safely store your bike discourages them from using it. Whether you run a school, theatre, ice rink or office building, adding a bike shelter to your premises will give people more reasons to say no to the car and get on their bike instead.
- As a nation we’re growing steadily fatter and are constantly being told to exercise more and lose weight, but in the world we live in finding the time to keep fit can be very difficult. Riding a bike to work or cycling to school with the kids is a great way to fit fitness into your day and if you’ve got facilities to safely lock up bikes the people who use your building are far more likely to use pedal power to get to work or school, which will help them keep fit.
- If you want your facility to be as well used as possible then it’s important to make it quick and easy to get into and out of. Schools, offices and public buildings tend to have busy traffic surrounding them, especially during rush hours, which can discourage people from using them at all. Adding a cycle shelter to your establishment will encourage more people to ride a bike their and subsequently the amount of traffic will be reduced.
- With a well-designed bike shed it’s not just cyclists who can benefit. You can find cycle shelters incorporating a waiting area for pedestrians so walkers will be encouraged to visit knowing that they have a safe place to shelter from the rain.
So if you want to make a quick and easy improvement to your building or facility then consider adding a bike shed, bike rack or cycle shelter.
What are the Benefits of Using Recycled Street Furniture?
Recycled street furniture is very popular and has a number of advantages over other types of street furniture made from other materials. Often people may think that because it is recycled it is not as good as furniture made from materials that have not been recycled, but the opposite is often true. So what are the advantages of using recycled street furniture?
Durable
One of the main features of recycled street furniture is that it is very durable. Recycled plastic is one of the toughest materials that you can use to construct your furniture. It will last a long time, often significantly longer than timber, and this means that it usually works out as more cost-effective in the long term because you do not have to replace the furniture as frequently.
Weatherproof
Recycled plastic is also completely weatherproof, meaning no maintenance is required over the lifetime of your bench or table. This saves you a lot of hassle and money because you do not have to look after the furniture in the same way that you have to look after timber benches.
Environmentally Friendly
One of the most important benefits of recycled street furniture for many authorities is that it allows them to improve their environmental practices. By using recycled materials in the construction of benches, tables and other street furniture, manufacturers are able to save precious natural resources and reduce the amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.
In addition, people who use the benches will also see the benefits of recycled materials. It is a good way to educate people on the importance of recycling and to show the physical results of all of their recycling to make them aware of how important it is.
When the item of street furniture is no longer suitable to be used and needs to be replaced, it can be recycled yet again, reducing the environmental footprint of each item of furniture even further.
Wide Range of Styles
Recycled plastic is one of the most versatile materials that can be used in the construction of street furniture. Some people prefer timber furniture because of how it looks, but the truth is that recycled furniture can be made to look just like timber, but comes with the benefit of being far stronger and longer lasting.
Bespoke street furniture can also be designed in a huge range of styles to convert the street furniture into an interesting and unique feature in the park, school playground or street where it is used.
Safe to Use
Recycled street furniture is also very safe to use. Unlike timber, it does not splinter, crack or split, making it particularly suitable for playgrounds or public spaces where children are likely to use the furniture.
Consider Street Furniture Made From Recycled Materials
Recycled street furniture is very popular for the above reasons. If you are considering purchasing street furniture, make sure that you consider the benefits of furniture made from recycled materials. It could be more suitable and it could end up saving you money, so always make sure that you consider it.
Cycle shelters are springing up all over the place, and many companies, schools and local authorities are realising that providing secure and high-quality shelters for employees, pupils and members of the public can be a very good idea. So why is erecting a bike shelter such a great thing to do?
Promote Cycling to Work
Everyone knows that cycling has many benefits, both for the cyclists and for the environment. Cycling cuts down on the use of cars, and if you have an office full of people, putting up a cycling shelter may well encourage a number of staff to cycle into work instead, thereby reducing the amount of car journeys significantly.
This leads to a far more pleasant environment, and it also helps to keep your employees fit and healthy, thereby possibly reducing health problems for your staff and reducing sick days. If you add other features to cycle shelters such as locks, gates and racks for security, you can make the shelter even more popular with employees.
At the same time, if you want to market your company as having strong green credentials, this is one way that you can do so. This may help you to improve your company image, which could even lead to more business.
More than One Function
Modern cycle shelters no longer have just one purpose. Of course, storing bikes is the main use of a cycle shelter, but the best shelters can double up as a number of things to provide a whole range of uses so you can really get your money’s worth.
For example, a cycle shelter outside of a school can double up as a pleasant waiting area for parents when they turn up to collect their children. It could also provide a useful playground shelter for the children when it is raining. Outside an office, it could be used for meetings or as a place for staff to smoke outside, making shelters very versatile.
Interesting Feature
One of the best things of all about cycle shelters is that they can liven up otherwise dull areas. Modern cycle shelters can be designed in a limitless range of styles, using different designs and colours to create something unique and original.
If your playground or parking area is looking dull, a bespoke bike shelter is just what you need to add an interesting feature to the area without having to make any drastic changes.
Consider Installing a Cycle Shelter Today
Cycle shelters are becoming increasingly popular due to all of the benefits that they have. Cycling is such a great activity to promote, and the advantages of erecting a shelter outside your office or school are numerous. Just remember to choose a company with a proven track record in designing and erecting high-quality shelters to ensure that the final product is exactly what you are after.