Excavations on Green Areas

Limerick City Council Parks Department

Excavations on Green Areas; Guidelines for Contractors (including 'utility' companies)

Updated on Monday 25th May, 2009

Contractors seeking to undertake excavations or other works on green areas maintained by Limerick City Council’s Parks Departments are advised that they must contact the Parks Department at the planning stage of such projects to advise of the following (Contact may be made either by electronic mail (using a business address domain) or by surface post (using company headed paper)).

1. The nature, justification, route, and estimated duration of the project,
2. The proposed scope for the project to include depth of excavations, nature of plant installed, information on the construction of any kiosks etc. The construction of kiosks or other street furniture shall be undertaken in full accordance with statutory requirements. Notification of such works to the Parks Department shall not be deemed to have substituted for such requirements.
3. The insurance arrangements applicable to the project. In this regard, the Contractor shall take out (before the commencement of the project) and maintain, a Public Liability Insurance policy with a minimum limit of indemnity of €6,500,000.  This policy shall be in the joint names of the contractor and Limerick City Council and provide an indemnity to Limerick City Council in the event of claims arising from the use of the lands by the Contractor during the proposed works and for the duration of the “Guarantee Period” (See points 11 and 13 below).
4. The names and contact details of the 'Project Supervisor: Design Stage' (PSDS) and the 'Project Supervisor: Construction Stage' (PSCS) as designated under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 (See also point 3 below).

In the event of Limerick City Council’s Parks Department consenting to any such project, the following conditions shall apply without variation.

1. In accordance with City Manager’s Order F 09/01, applicable from 1st January, 2009, (a cheque made payable to Limerick City Council, for the sum of) €500 shall be lodged with the Parks Department as a bond. The Parks Department reserves the right not to refund this bond, should remedial reinstatement  works be deemed necessary, or to issue an invoice for excess costs incurred in any such re-instatement (See point 11, below). 
2. The Contractor shall photograph the route of the proposed project prior to any excavation being undertaken. True copies of these photographs shall be forwarded to the Parks Department. 
3. The Contractor shall advise Limerick City Council’s Parks Department of the commencement dates of a project in advance, and provide contact details of the appropriate supervisory and managerial personnel associated with the project as well as the hierarchy of responsibility for the project.
4. The working area shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent trespass or malicious interference and in full accordance with contemporary statutory requirements.
5. Cable ducts shall be laid in sand/fine fill and warning marker tape shall be laid overhead in accordance with standard practice. No duct shall be laid at a minimum depth of less than 500mm.
6. In the event of it being necessary for any unplanned works to be undertaken at the behest of the Contractor, e.g. repair of damaged utility plant etc, the Contractor shall be deemed by Limerick City Council’s Parks Department to be in charge of the project site and responsible for adherence by all parties on site with these conditions.
7. No vehicles shall be driven onto or parked on any green area unless verifiably necessary.
8. The grassed surface along the route of any excavation shall be re-instated to a high standard, flush with the level of the surrounding grassed areas. Where seeding is not undertaken e.g. as a result of weather or seasonal factors, exposed soil shall be smoothed out to a high standard.
9. Every effort shall be made to ensure that surrounding footways and carriageways are not soiled unnecessarily as a result of these works. Where such soiling occurs, it shall be removed forthwith. Furthermore, the Contractor shall ensure that kerbside gullies on adjacent footways and carriageways are not choked or obstructed as a result of the works being undertaken.
10. The requirements of Chapter 8 of the Department of Transport's Traffic Signs Manual and related documents shall be adhered to rigidly. No excavation shall be left unprotected while unattended. Standard 'Keep Left/Right' arrow signs shall be used as appropriate. All signs and cones etc shall be maintained in a clean condition. Warning tape strung between traffic cones shall not be deemed to be adequate protection of an excavation.
11. Limerick City Council reserves the right to conduct remedial works in the event of such re-instatement being deemed to be deficient and to recharge the full cost of such works to the Contractor within the “Guarantee Period”
12. The Contractor shall advise Limerick City Council’s Parks Department of the completion of the project and supply true copies of photographs verifying that the site has been left in a tidy condition, as far as is reasonably practicable.
13. The “Guarantee Period” for any such project shall be deemed to be twelve calendar months from the date of notification of completion but this period may be extended if deemed appropriate by Limerick City Council.
14. Limerick City Council’s Parks Department reserves the right to impose other conditions, or vary existing conditions as deemed necessary.

Contact Limerick City Council’s Parks Department to discuss any proposed excavations or works in or adjacent to any maintained green area.

by Telephone:         +353 (61) -  407 190

by Facsimile;           + 353 (61) -  407 255

by E-mail;                 environ@limerickcity.ie

by Post;                    Parks Department, Limerick City Council, City Hall, Merchant's Quay, LIMERICK

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