We are proud to work in partnership with Southend-on-Sea City Council, maintaining the city’s seven miles of coastline and 16 square miles of highways. From street lighting and footway improvements to carriageway resurfacing, dropped kerbs, and traffic management, our teams play a key role in keeping Southend safe and accessible.

As part of this work, our Southend gangs recently trialled the Takeuchi TB20e — a 1.5-tonne all-electric excavator — in a demanding two-week trial across the city. Here, it played a core part in the ongoing delivery of our contract, helping gangs install drop kerbs for residents.

As well as being reliable and straightforward to use, swapping diesel plant for an electric equivalent allowed Marlborough to significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with the works we conducted over this two-week period.

During the demonstration, operatives also mentioned that electric equipment made their worksites significantly quieter – benefitting nearby residents.

Communication between operational teams also improved, as the electric excavator was quieter, making it possible for teams to have a conversation while works continue.

Looking back at the successful trial, Marlborough’s Head of Transport & Plant Matthew Hoiles said:

“When we go to work, we need machines that can keep up with our gangs. The pace and variety of our programmes mean there’s no room for compromise – which is why it was really encouraging to see first-hand how capable these machines are, their broader benefits, and how they can help build on our ambitious environmental commitments.”

Matthew added, “The lessons we’ve learned from this trial are invaluable. As we continue to invest in greener and more sustainable equipment, insights like these will help shape the decisions we make in the months and years ahead.”