 Stop the press!
This lovely little unicorn was found in the Hilsea Lido car park on Wednesday 5 February. It was a bit soggy, probably from being left out all night, but it's had a bath and is safe and sound inside the site office.
If it's yours, contact Gareth on 07484 431390 or email him at gareth.walters@beardconstruction.co.uk
 This white tank on the right of the image is known as an 'impervious control tank'. The pool is undergoing testing at the moment and this tank, along with one at the other end of the pool, will confirm that the concrete is stable, and ready for the next stage.
And we know that we talk about concrete a lot...but this is very exciting! When constructing the pool, the concrete had an element added to it known as Xypex Crystalline Technology. Basically, this chemical works inside concrete, blocking water and harmful liquids. The water reacts with the concrete to form crystals that fill the tiny gaps, creating a permanent barrier for lasting protection. This means the concrete that has been used is self healing, so any cracks that present, will just fill themselves meaning this sustainable pool will last for years and years.
There's a cracking video about it...
 The plant room is coming along, the floor is concreted, and the team are just waiting for the structural engineers to approve the shuttering designs, which will be used to concrete the walls. All being well the concrete pour for the walls should start next week, and then the steel bars across the top can be removed.
 In this photo you can see the ground is prepped and ready to be resurfaced, which will be happening any day now. All the surrounding edges of the pool will be completed, and in the coming weeks a large tent will be erected over the whole pool to protect it from the elements, while the team move on to the next stage. As the pool is 67m long, this is going to be a HUGE tent, and so the ground needs to be hardened and ready to take the weight.
 Here we have....ANOTHER tank. This one is very busy...it's a filtration tank that is sucking the ground water out from underneath the crane mat, filtering it, and pouring it back into the drain.
The water table around the area is high, and if we didn't do this, then the ground underneath the crane pad would get too wet and soggy, and wouldn't be able to take the weight of the crane.
There's plenty more news from Hilsea Lines...
 Casemates Studios is a hidden gem tucked away in the heart of the Hilsea Lines - a perfect spot for drinks, delicious food, and good vibes.
They host an eclectic mix of events, from "Sip and Sew" and craft-and-canvas workshops , as well as live music and tribute nights.
All their events are listed on their website.
 SGN will be carrying out essential gas pipe replacement work over the next two weekends, and to do this safely, some additional lane closures will be in place while traffic is quieter. The work will take place from 7pm on Friday to 5am on Monday on 7-10 February and 14-17 February.
SGN will be working days and nights over both weekends, which means the lane closures can be removed sooner than planned, and the impact on peak weekday travel will be reduced from 11 February onwards.
During the next two weekends, please be aware of the following changes:
- Hilsea’s dedicated slip lane from the A27/M27 will be closed
- London Road southbound will be reduced to a single lane
- Lane closures will be in place around Portsbridge Roundabout and Northern Road, but at least one lane will remain open
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Some bus stops within the lane closures will be temporarily closed – we recommend checking with your bus provider for updates, especially for the Donaldson Road stop between McDonald's and Portsbridge Roundabout
We advise motorists to plan ahead, avoid the area if possible, and use alternative routes during the weekend works.
If you have any concerns, please contact SGN on 0800 912 1700.
 On Wednesday 19 February, 11am-2pm, Hampshire FA are hosting a free family lunch, and turn up and play football session at King George V Football Complex, just north of Hilsea Lines in Cosham.
This offer is available to families that qualify for income related free school meals.
Children can either play football outside, or sit and play board games inside until 12.15pm, then there will be a free lunch provided by Creed Foodservice.
This session is unsupervised, which means parents/carers will need to stay with the children throughout the day.
There are a limited number of footballs available, but if you have one it's best to bring your own.
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