Parks and Open spaces
The Ealing / Acton contract is one of the largest; stand alone, grounds maintenance contracts under the Veolia Environmental Services brand. These contracts are responsible for all the entire boroughs parks and open spaces comprising more than 100 parks. The work involves large grass mowing operations, shrub works, litter collection and formal bedding. We are also required to maintain many sports facilities including bowling greens, croquet, lawn and Redgra tennis courts and cricket wickets. Numerous sports fields, athletic tracks and football pitches are maintained to a high standard.

We also operate a Brent river maintenance crew as and when required to keep the river clean and flowing, free from debris. This includes the recovery of stolen vehicles, and removal of storm blown trees.

We are responsible for the cutting and baling of over 100 hectares of conservation grass each year.

Veolia has successfully gained and maintain Green Flag Awards for 2 of its parks. It is hoped that we will help gain a further two Green Flags this year, with results expected shortly. We win on a regular basis ‘London In Bloom Awards’ each year for our formal bedding arrangements.
Veolia also help sponsor these awards each year.

Housing Estates, Community housing and Education facilities
We maintain in excess of 100 individual housing sites. These include multi-tenement blocks within housing estates and numerous sheltered and elderly peoples homes. This work mainly involves grass cutting and shrub work along with other general horticulture requirements. Similar work is carried out in numerous schools and education facilities throughout the borough. This also includes a number of private schools and high schools.

Golf
We maintain 4 municipal golf courses spread across Ealing Borough. These include 1 x 18 hole course, 2 x 9 hole courses and 1 x pitch and putt. Our 18-hole course is rated along with the privately run course adjacent to the municipal one we maintain.

Cemeteries:

Grounds
We maintain 5 large cemeteries within the borough. This involves the mowing and strimming of grass around each individual grave. The large areas surrounding each of the cemeteries are also kept tidy by way of general horticultural work, grass cutting and formal flower bedding.

Burial Services
Veolia provides grave digging and burial services to the borough. Ealing borough has a rating of seventh in the country by the ICCM Bereavement Service that we are proud to uphold.

Parks and Countryside Contract:

Installations
The P and C contract is responsible for the installation of park furniture, creation of paths both tarmac and gravel. Hard and soft landscaping works throughout the Borough and other parts of London and surrounds as required.

Playground - Inspections and repairs
We carry out inspections of all council owned playgrounds throughout the borough. This includes in all parks, education and housing sites. Repairs and maintenance work is completed by our trained fitter to ensure to all equipment is repaired and maintained to the BSI standard.

Bedding
The P and C contract is responsible for the ordering and maintenance of up to 54,000 bedding plants twice per year. These plants are distributed throughout the borough to all the various sites determined by our client’s requirements. Trees and shrubs are also purchased for use within the borough within this contract.

Health & Safety:

The Ealing / Acton contracts have been the first to be involved in the Occupational Health survey pilot programme to determine any long term affects of Hand / Arm Vibration (HAV’s) on our staff.
This has involved staff being assessed by an occupational nurse who has carried out checks for potential ‘white finger symptoms’ that may have been caused by incorrect or prolonged use of vibrating equipment. Staff are now required to complete daily use equipment forms, so as to monitor safe operating levels of each piece of vibrating equipment.

During the health checks hearing impairment and other health/work related issues were established. General health checks, like blood pressure were also completed.

Safe working practises are now in place to ensure staff are no longer put in a compromised position when required to use this type of equipment. The company is less likely to face any potential HAV’s claims as a result of these actions and practises.