Archive
December 2008
Plans for how the £2m investment from central government’s "Parklands" funds will be spent were on display at a celebratory meeting of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership at Fort Amherst on Wednesday. Four projects will be delivered, focussing on the restored and unrestored areas of Fort Amherst, the link between the Fort and the Naval War Memorial, and the Field of Fire.
Cllr Rodney Chambers welcomed the 145 guests with a brief history of Fort Amherst and the Chatham Lines since they were declared surplus to military requirement, and the tremendous efforts of volunteers who have fought for the site's restoration and preservation.
Lindsey Morgan, Chair of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership, reflected on the many successes of 2008, culminating in the award of the Parklands money. She thanked everyone who had contributed their time and ideas throughout the summer, which had been a major strength of application.
Joanne Cable, project manager for the World Heritage Site application then introduced a Partnership vote to decide a name for the park, from all of those which had been suggested during the summer. Cllr Chambers closed the meeting with the announcement that the park will from now on be known as the Great Lines Heritage Park.
Chatham World Heritage Partners greet the annoucement made by Cllr Rodney Chambers.
As part of their work in planning for the park's future, the project master planners, HTA Landscape Design were also tasked with shaping a long term vision for the Great Lines Heritage Park, to guide future applications for funds. These plans can be viewed below:
The Character Areas
The Objectives
The Inner Lines
The Field of Fire
Fort Amherst
The Chatham Lines
Artist's impressions of the Great Lines Heritage Park have also been produced, and can be viewed here
Sincere thanks are due to the evening's sponsors ASDA, and Events with Elegance. ASDA generously supported the event in celebration of the opening of their refurbished store in Chatham.
December 2008
We're pleased to announce that Cllr Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway Council and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, will provide the opening words at the Chatham World Heritage Partnership meeting next week. A revised programme can be downloaded here.
With 155 people set to attend, registration has now closed. Plans for the Great Lines City Park will be available on line in the days following the event for anyone unable to come along on the night.
November 2008
GREAT NEWS FOR THE GREAT LINES!
Margaret Beckett, Minister for the Thames Gateway, has today announced the approval of our £2m application to the government's "Parklands" fund. This is excellent news, and thanks are due to everyone who took part in shaping priorities and plans for the park throughout the summer. Lindsey Morgan, Chair of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership, said: "This success is founded on the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone who took part in the master planning process. The Chatham World Heritage Partnership is an excellent model for community involvement, and I'm delighted to invite everyone to celebrate this success at the next Partnership meeting in December".
This meeting will take place at Fort Amherst from 6pm on 10th December, and plans for the park will be on display. As part of their master planning work, our landscape design team, HTA, have produced reports on the archaeology, ecology, and historic landscape of the Great Lines, as well as ecological and condition surveys. These will also be available for viewing.
In response to specific comments from consultation, there will also be an opportunity to help choose the final name for the park. Refreshments will be provided in the candlelit warmth of the tunnels, and there is free parking on site.
An agenda for the evening can be downloaded here. If you would like to attend, please send your name, address / e-mail address and details of any special dietary or access requirements to chathamworldheritage@medway.gov.uk (or call 01634 331176) by 3rd December. All are welcome, but space may be limited, so please register early. This meeting is kindly sponsored by ASDA, with lighting provided by Events with Elegance.
Artist's Impression of the Great Lines City Park. Click to enlarge.
Martin Hall, Director for Greening the Gateway Kent and Medway, said the new finance is a ‘great result’ for Medway and North Kent. He added: “The Thames Gateway Parklands is about promoting high quality, accessible and wildlife rich areas close to the communities of North Kent. The Great Lines City Park is an excellent example of what Parklands could be. We have put a lot of hard work into securing these funds and it is great to have such a positive result”.
Cllr Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway Council and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said: “Medway Council and the Department for Communities and Local Government's decision to invest in the future of the Great Lines reflects the outstanding significance of Chatham's World Heritage and the major role it will play in Medway's regeneration. The Great Lines City Park will enable everyone to take pride in Chatham's past and to have great confidence in Medway's future".
November 2008
There will be an open meeting at the Sunlight Centre in Gillingham next week for residents to view fresh plans for the first phase of the Great Lines City Park at the Lower Lines. The park is being designed and delivered by Mid Kent College as part of the planning agreement relating to their new campus. The meeting will take place on Monday 1st December, from 6pm and will feature a presentation from landscape architects RPS. All are welcome.
This meeting relates to the Lower Lines section of the Great Lines City Park which is being delivered by Mid Kent College (circled on the photo below) and not to the entirety of the Great Lines City Park.
October 2008
The announcement regarding which projects have been successful in their application for CLG Parklands funding has been postponed, to allow the new Minister (the Rt Hon Margaret Beckett, MP) chance to fully acquaint herself with her new portfolio as Minister for Housing and Planning.
We will add further news on the progress of our £2m application for the Great Lines City Park as soon as we can.
October 2008
The summary report from September's Great Lines consultation event at Fort Amherst can now be downloaded here. Thanks again to everyone who took part in the day.
You can see more images in our Photo Gallery.
September 2008
Thanks to everyone who came along to the Great Lines City Park consultation event at Fort Amherst on Saturday. Over 130 people took part in the consultation activities, and enjoyed a rare afternoon in the sun. The event was a chance to view and comment on the concept plans for the park, which have developed following a number of consultation activities over the summer, including the full meeting of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership on 7th August. There were specific activities to capture children's ideas, supported by the Kent Architecture Centre, and local artists Fiona Watt and Tracy Ashmore from the New Arts Centre in Chatham. The event was also chance to tour the tunnels, witness reenactors from the 60th Rifle Regiment, and win prizes (kindly donated by the Royal Engineers Museum) in the Brennan Torpedo Eggstravaganza! We were delighted to have the Mayor of Medway, Cllr David Carr in attendance to judge the lucky winners and present them with their prizes. Finally, the Friends of the Admiral's Gardens came along in force to encourage people to volunteer in support of the first phase of the park which will open in autumn 2009.
The concept plans can be downloaded here, and there is still time to comment, for anyone who missed Saturday's event. Please email your comments to chathamworldheritage@medway.gov.uk before this Sunday, 21st September.
September 2008
Congratulations to Ayla Roberts and Shaley James, winners of the mhs Homes 'Perfect Park' competition, part of the summer programme of Great Lines City Park consultation. Ayla won the first prize of a family Medway Attractions Pass, worth over £100. Shaley was runner-up, and won a family pass to The Historic Dockyard.
Ayla (left) and Shaley, with their winning entries.
Thanks to Medway Council's Tourism service and the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust for kindly donating the prizes.
September 2008
Young people from Brompton aged 8 - 13 were given chance to have their say about the Great Lines City Park at a bespoke event at the Melville and Brompton Resource Centre last month. This event was kindly hosted by the Melville and Brompton Neighbourhood Co-ordinator, and supported by both Chatham World Heritage and the Kent Architecture Centre. Findings will be fed into the masterplan for the park, and will also help the development of young persons' consultation projects throughout the UK.
Kent Architecture Centre, together with two other architecture centres, has received funding from a DCSF grant to develop a young person's version of CABE's "Spaceshaper" programme. Spaceshaper is a practical toolkit which captures the views of people who use and manage a space to inform the development of proposals to make improvements to that space. The young person's version of the toolkit is being developed in collaboration with young people and the highly interactive consultation in Brompton was the first of its kind in the country.
Thanks to everyone who took part.
August 2008
Creating the Great Lines City Park
All are invited to Fort Amherst on Saturday 13th September, 2pm-4pm for the second stage of consultation on the future of the Great Lines. You can download the details here.
The proposed World Heritage Site application for Chatham Dockyard and its Defences presents a major opportunity for the Great Lines, and has led to a £2m bid to government to create a magnificent park. HTA Landscape Design are developing a
masterplan for this park, and would like as many people as possible to help.
This event is a chance to:
Tell HTA how you use the park now – and how you would like to use it in future
Find out about the hidden gems within and around the Great Lines
Discuss the plans stemming from last month’s event
Try out engineering skills and win prizes in a fun competition (ages 5 to 105!)
Be creative
Help decide a name for the park
Visit the historic underground tunnels at Fort Amherst for free
Learn about Chatham’s World Heritage bid, and join the Chatham World Heritage Partnership
Whether you came to the last event and are keen to see how ideas are developing, or whether this will the first time you’ve been involved – we very much look forward to welcoming you.
On this occasion there is NO need to register.
August 2008
The full report from August’s very busy meeting of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership, focusing on the development of the Great Lines City Park, can be downloaded here. If you have any further comments or suggestions, please let us know. Everyone will be very welcome at the next event at Fort Amherst on Saturday 13th September, 2pm-4pm. This will be an opportunity to see how plans have developed, and continue to have a say – as well as to explore another of Chatham’s hidden heritage treasures. We look forward to seeing you there.
August 2008
Thanks to everyone who supported last week's Great Lines City Park consultation event - and particular thanks to everyone who was left standing patiently, once we ran out of chairs! Levels of interest in the park are extremely encouraging, and a feedback report will be circulated to all those present soon.
In the meantime, please mark the follow up event at Fort Amherst in your diaries - 2pm - 4pm on Saturday 13th September at Fort Amherst - and why not have a look at the photos from the event in the Photo Gallery.
August 2008
Over 150 people have registered to attend this Thursday's consultation on the Great Lines City Park, at the Royal Engineers Museum. This is a tremendous show of enthusiasm for one of Chatham's hidden heritage assets, and promises to be a very interesting evening. A second meeting will be held on Saturday 13th September. This will be chance to follow the development of plans, and for anyone unable to attend the August meeting to still have a say.
Watch this space for details, or contact chathamworldheritage@medway.gov.uk to be added to the mailing list for invites.
July 2008
Creating the Great Lines City Park
There will be a special meeting of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership at the Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham on Thursday 7th August from 6pm – 8pm (registration from 5.15pm).
This summer, Chatham World Heritage Partners will create an inventive and sensitive masterplan for the Great Lines City Park. The proposed World Heritage Site application for Chatham Dockyard and its Defences presents a major opportunity for the Great Lines, and has led to a £2m bid to government to create a magnificent community park. This summer, a team of masterplanners hope to talk with as many people as possible to guide how best this money can be spent. This meeting is an opportunity to:
- Meet the masterplanners
- Learn about the process and programme for developing the masterplan
- Share ideas, and shape the plan’s vision and priorities
- Influence how the money is spent
- Support a wider community event in September
- Say what success will look like!
If you would like to attend, please register your name, address, and e-mail address (if you have one) by Friday 1st August, at chathamworldheritage@medway.gov.uk, or on 01634 331176.
Light refreshments will be provided, and there is free car parking on site. This meeting is kindly sponsored by The Aerial Reconnaissance Company.
July 2008
Free entry to Fort Amherst this summer!
The spectacular Napoleonic fortification of Fort Amherst will open free of charge this summer, from Sunday 13th July and every following Sunday until 14th September 2008. There will also be free entry on August Bank Holiday Monday (25th August) and Saturday 13th September.
Opening times are 10.30am – 4pm.
The free admission is a joint undertaking between Chatham World Heritage and Fort Amherst Heritage Trust, aimed at increasing public awareness of the future Great Lines City Park, and the World Heritage Site application for Chatham Dockyard and its defences.
Visitors will be amazed at the extent of these fortifications in the heart of Medway, and a free guided tour through the maze of tunnels dug deep into the chalk cliffs will lead to one of the finest views across Chatham and Rochester.
No need to book - just arrive on the day. Free parking is available on site (voluntary donations will be most welcome).
June 2008
In anticipation of the success of our £2m application to government's "Parklands" funding stream, the Chatham World Heritage steering group have appointed HTA Landscape Design to develop a masterplan for the Great Lines City Park. Open consultation will take place throughout the early summer, and will help guide how the money could be spent. Oliver Rock is the Senior Landscape Architect at HTA, and comments: "We are delighted to be part of this exciting and significant heritage project. Our design team are looking forward to working closely with the World Heritage Steering Group and the local community".
A meeting of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership will focus on converting aspirations for the Great Lines City Park into reality. To make sure your views help shape this major step forward for Medway, register to join the Partnership here.
Some of the team from HTA.
June 2008
The application to Parklands for £2m of investment in the Great Lines City Park has passed the second stage of assessment. A final decision on funding is expected in October. Watch this space!
May 2008
The World Heritage steering group recently submitted an Expression of Interest to government's "Parklands" funding stream, for £2m of investment in the Great Lines City Park. The project team has been formally asked to develop their proposals into a full application, for submission in early June. More news to follow!
May 2008
The Medway Mile - a free day of sporting fun within the Great Lines City Park!
The event takes place at the Black Lion Leisure Centre, Medway Park on Sunday, 27 July 2008 - four years to the day until the start of the Games in London.
Hundreds of people of every age and ability completed last year’s mile, with families with pushchairs, and milers in fancy dress running side by side with Olympic and Paralympic legends Steve Backley and Danny Crates.
The climax of this year’s event will be the mass one-mile fun run at 4pm, but with sport galore available throughout the afternoon and free swims all day, it promises to be a great family day out. From 1.30pm to 6.30pm, milers will be able to try their hand at everything from hockey to hulahooping as sports clubs and organisations lay on taster sessions in the indoor and outdoor arenas. There will also be the chance to find out about healthy lifestyle opportunities in Medway, sign up to become a sports volunteer or learn about Medway’s 2012 activities, including the transformation of the Black Lion into Medway Park - the sporting and activities zone of the Great Lines City Park
The Medway Mile is free to enter, and everyone who takes part will receive a free souvenir t-shirt in one of the five Olympic ring colours.
You can register for the Medway Mile now at the Medway 2012 website.
April 2008
There is an exciting community vacancy for a Trustee for the Lower Lines Park - also known as the Admiral's Gardens.
The park will open in autumn 2009 and is the first phase of the Great Lines City Park. It has been made possible thanks to the development of Mid Kent College's new campus, off Medway Road, in Gillingham. The Lower Lines Park will be owned and operated by an independent trust and the college is seeking a local resident to join the Board of Trustees. The successful applicant will have:
- experience of working on a voluntary or elected body,
- a strong commitment to the local area,
- an enthusiasm for heritage and / or ecological issues.
More information can be downloaded here
Click on the photo to enlarge.
March 2008
Another step towards the Great Lines City Park!
Work is underway at Fort Amherst to create an action plan for the third phase of the Great Lines City Park. Fort Amherst could become a major public entrance to the Park, providing excellent links with Chatham town centre and waterfront. Survey work is now determining what work will be required to create and maintain the site as a free-access public park.
The survey has been commissioned by the Chatham World Heritage steering group, and is being carried out by specialist consultancy The Bailey Partnership. The work is being paid for by Medway Council, the South East England Development Agency, English Heritage and the European Union.
Tony Goulden, Chair of Fort Amherst Heritage Trust, said: “We are delighted that Fort Amherst will be making as major a contribution to Chatham’s future as it did to its past. The fort is integral both to the World Heritage Site application, and to the regeneration of Chatham town centre and waterfront. The Great Lines City Park will be a landmark fusion of heritage and regeneration.”
Phase One of the City Park – the Lower Lines Park – will be complete in autumn 2009. It will feature restored defensive ditches, pedestrian bridges, panels depicting the site’s fascinating past, and recreational and leisure areas. Work began earlier this year, with a scheduled opening of autumn 2009.
Phase Two is Medway Park, the £11million sporting and activities zone of the Great Lines City Park, which will be complete in 2010. It will see the current Black Lion leisure centre expanded into a centre of sporting excellence, providing lasting local benefits from the 2012 Olympic Games. It is funded by Thames Gateway, Medway Council, and the University of Kent.
February 2008
The Modern Pentathlon World Cup will be coming to Medway Park in 2010.
Around 200 of the world’s top pentathletes will take part in the four-day competition. It is the first major international sporting tournament that Medway has ever hosted. It will inaugurate the world-class potential of Medway Park - the sporting and activities zone of the Great Lines City Park - and echo the world-class heritage of the Great Lines.
The modern pentathlon involves swimming, fencing, show-jumping, shooting and running. It was introduced to the Olympics by the Games’ founder, Pierre de Coubertin. It was designed to simulate the experience and expectations of a 19th century soldier, and exemplifies the skills required behind enemy lines.
The Great Lines is no stranger to sporting spectacle. Throughout the mid 19th century siege exercises by the Royal Engineers attracted vast audiences, and were a public display of skill, strength and stamina. Crowds were known to number 70,000.
November 2007
The Friends of the Admiral's Gardens held their second AGM yesterday, and reflected on a year of very positive contributions towards the new public park on the Lower Lines.
All are welcome at Friends' meetings. With works due to begin on the park in the New Year, now is an ideal time to find out more. For more information, contact the Secretary, Adam Price at aprice_nthgill@hotmail.com
August 2007
Medway Park - the sporting and activities zone of the Great Lines City Park - received a massive cash boost this week, with £5m of investment committed from national government. Plans include an eight-lane athletics track, a purpose-built gymnastics centre and the complete refurbishment of the Black Lion. The University of Kent at Medway has already pledged £3m to the project.
For more information, please visit the dedicated Medway 2012 website at www.medway.gov.uk/london2012
August 2007.
Disappointing news has been received regarding our application to the 'People's Millions' programme, for £75,000 of lottery support. Competition for funds was described as 'intense' and Medway was unfortunately not selected. Despite this, the Great Lines City Park project is making strong progress: the Lower Lines Park has recently received planning permission, and a decision on government funding for Medway Park (the sporting and activities zone of the Great Lines City Park) is eagerly awaited. A further request for funds has also been submitted to government, to help investigate and establish future management arrangements for the Great Lines.
July 2007
To celebrate planning permission being granted for the eagerly awaited public park on the Lower Lines (see below), the Friends of the Admiral's Gardens have unveiled their new leaflet. Please click here to download.
All are welcome at Friends meetings. To find out more, please contact the Secretary, Adam Price at aprice_nthgill@hotmail.com
June 2007.
The first phase of the Great Lines City Park project will hopefully receive the official go-ahead within the next few weeks. Mid Kent College have tabled exciting plans to unite their existing campuses on a single site at the Lower Lines (next to the Universities at Medway).
As well as building new college facilities, Mid Kent College will work in partnership to develop a public park. The proposed park will restore heritage features – such as the defensive ditches – and provide information panels telling the story of the site. There will be play areas for children, and relaxation areas. The park will be owned by a Trust, who will ensure the long-term care and maintenance of the park, and ensure it is a community asset for years to come.
A proposed name for the park is the Admiral’s Gardens. A Friends of the Admiral’s Gardens group has already been set-up, and is looking forward to seeing the park become a reality.
To find out more about the Friends group, contact the Secretary, Adam Price at aprice_nthgill@hotmail.com
May 2007.
Medway Council has submitted an application to the BIG Lottery Fund’s “People’s Millions” programme, for a £75,000 project for the Great Lines. The “Great Minds on the Great Lines” project would run throughout 2008.
A project leader would work with residents and visitors to the Great Lines, to gather recollections and impressions of what the site means to them, and what it should mean for Chatham’s future. These would be produced in a guidebook to the Lines, complete with detailed maps of the site, highlighting ‘commuter’ and leisure routes.
A favourite recollection would be reproduced in a public landmark – such as a new gateway entrance to the Great Lines, a new seating area, or a sculpture. The community will choose the landmark.
The project application was submitted in May 2007. If it passes the first assessment stage, it will enter a televised competition on Meridian News, in November 2007.
May 2007.
Medway Council is proposing a major investment in the sporting and activities zone of the Great Lines City Park, to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics. "Medway Park". will deliver benefits for 2012 and beyond, targeting the sporting elite and the community at large.
The first phase of this project will be focussed on the existing Black Lion Leisure Centre. It will include:
·a radical overhaul of the Black Lion Leisure Centre
·a new purpose-built gymnastics centre alongside Jumpers, offering world-class training and facilities in all gymnastic sports
·a new athletics track
·specialist sports therapy and sports science resources.
To find out more, please visit www.medway.gov.uk/london2012
January 2007.
The Living Landmarks application for the Great Lines City Park, submitted to the Big Lottery Fund in 2006, has unfortunately failed to make the final stages of the competition.
Medway Council would like to thank all partners for the tremendous support they gave the project – and in particular the local community, who responded to consultation requests with imaginative and insightful suggestions.
Rejection by the Big Lottery Fund does not spell the end for the Great Lines City Park project by any means: the Great Lines are a very important part of Chatham’s World Heritage application, and project partners are committed to securing other funding sources to take the project forward.
September 2008 DRAFT docs
