Be brave call on regeneration plans (From Gazette)

Be brave call on regeneration plans

4:13pm Friday 29th January 2010 in

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TENDRING has been asked if it is “brave enough” to take up opportunities, by internationally-renowned urban designer Wayne Hemingway.

Mr Hemingway was the keynote speaker at a Regeneration Symposium organised by Tendring Council and attended by about 100 business people.

Hemingway Design has recently been involved with the transformation of another seaside town Boscombe, near Bournemouth as well as other towns and cities across the UK.

Mr Hemingway said he did not like the term regeneration, it was more about liveability.

“It is as simple as taking a place and making it better,” Mr Hemingway told delegates.

“It is all about making a place sing and grow with everyone buying into the idea, from the engineers to the bin men.

“Barriers have to be lifted - you cannot wait for Government to come in and help or outside agencies to give you vast sums of money. It’s about getting on with it and taking risks.”

The introduction of initiatives such as free buses, bikes to get around towns, outdoor gyms, different types of play areas for children, barbecue areas on the seafront all help to send out the right signals and are easily achievable, he said.

Mr Hemingway and his wife and business partner, Geraldine, have visited Tendring on several occasions and he said it had a great deal in its favour.

“There are so many opportunities in Clacton and Tendring - but are you brave enough to take them up?” he said.