Work on multi-million highways depot in Sandy begins

Work on the 4.3m highways depot - set to be completed by the end of the year - has begun in Sandy. Picture: Central Bedfordshire Council (Image: Archant)

The depot in Beamish Close will be used by Central Bedfordshire Council’s highways department, passenger transport fleet and its contractor, Ringway Jacobs – with Highways England also making use of the site.

Construction is due to be completed later this year, with the depot set to provide vehicle storage facilities and house gritting vehicles for the winter months.

There will also be a fuel store and an office building for the various organisations’ staff on the site.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Central Beds Council’s executive member for assets Councillor Eugene Ghent said: “This new depot will allow our fleet vehicles and gritters to be kept securely, yet close to the areas where they’ll be operating.

“Having all the vehicles in one place at the start and end of the day will also allow minor maintenance and safety checks to be undertaken and allow the staff to meet each day. By having bunkered fuel on site, the fuel costs will be reduced – and it will allow all vehicles to be available when needed, especially in an emergency, so we can continue to provide essential services to the public.”

The new depot was built after Central Beds Council lost its two previous sites.One new depot, Dunstable’s £16.9m Thorn Turn site, is already operational.

Building contractor Morgan Sindall were awarded the contract to construct both depots.

The company’s area director, David Rowsell, said: “We’re so pleased to get construction work underway on the new Central Bedfordshire Council Highways Depot, which will provide a key service for Sandy and its surrounding communities. We’ll be handing over a state-of-the-art facility later this year.”