A 30 year landmark has just passed for a specialist civil and structural engineering consultancy. Now based in Woodbridge at The Salt House, Tide Mill Way, the business was originally launched in 1974 from the home of founder, Graham Robertson, in Little Bealings. With his wife, Audrey, the business grew into premises at Little Bealings railway station and eventually expanded to its present site 10 years ago.

Specialist skills are an intrinsic part of this type of engineering, where design proficiency and a knowledge of the science of materials go hand in hand. Typically the firm would provide technical backup to architects and building designers who may require anything from site surveys to check foundation conditions or in-depth calculations and drawings of complex structures. This service can involve providing data for the sizes of lintels or piers for supporting work, stabilising floors or designing roof structures etc. Work is also carried out directly for larger clients, for instance local hospitals and schools, and plan checking for local authorities.

The structural aspects of building restoration work and alterations to existing buildings is also a speciality - Woodbridge's Shire Hall is one current project, conversion of the existing New Street Woodbridge County Primary School building into a new Woodbridge Library is another. Experience in historic buildings includes timber framed structures and barn conversions. The company, however, can also design and advise on the structure of new timber framed buildings either by providing design calculations and details or in addition undertaking detailed fabrication drawings to enable entire building frames to be manufactured as panels for rapid erection on site.

Other work includes structural engineer's reports of all types of property. These reports are normally required when a chartered surveyor's survey reveals structural defects in a property.

A qualified engineer's report in respect of prospective house purchases can contain advice on condition and recommend remedial works to the property. Investigations of subsidence are also undertaken with written reports compiled.

In fact members of the public are very welcome to contact the firm, along with contractors and builders etc. for structural advice on basic works such as installing steel beams and alterations to loadbearing structures etc.

From June 1st 2004 the status of the firm is changing to a limited company, G C Robertson & Associates Ltd, but the personnel and the service given will not change.