© 2009 Bradwell Area of the Diocese of Chelmsford

 

The Church in the

Thames Gateway

The Thames Gateway Parklands Vision

 

The Parklands Vision was announced in 2007 and the Vision documents were published in 2008. “The vision for Parklands is holistic. Water landscapes and urban areas are included as well as green areas that are more conventionally seen as landscapes. A countinuous Parkland landscape what reaches into each Thames Gateway community is envisaged, and is about making green and open spaces part of people’s everyday lives. The Parklands vision acknowledges the Estuary’s industrial and funcional past, and its strategic importance as the engine room of the regional economy, now and in the future.”

The approach of providing a vision but accepting the reality and the need to work from where we are and in many directions with a number of different approaches is probably realistic and achievable. The motto is “One vision, a thousand projects”. Already in excess of £10m has been announced for 5 significant South Essex projects ranging from wetlands to green entrances to towns. The documents look impressive, let’s hope the delivery can live up to them.

The Vision has been produced by architect Sir Terry Farrell and his team. In reviewing The Vision the Evening Standard said, “In the morass of vain hopes that is the Thames Gateway, Farrell’s park is the most realistic and inventive way of getting anywhere.”