Arches Local is a group in the community formed when the Luton Arches area received a £1 million fund from Big Local/Local Trust over the next 10 years, focusing on local issues. Since the formation of the group, a number of meetings have been held to find out what local residents felt needed improving to make the area a better place to live, work and play in. Following the meetings and suggestions sent to us and Arches Local online, they have been able to complete a Big Local Plan to outline the issues they will be focusing on in the next year. One of Arches Local's primary aims is to regenerate the area where the Luton Arches are situated, improving the public realm and general image of the area. The historic Driver Fountain is proposed to be reinstalled in its original location when it was first revealed in 1898 by three-times mayor of Chatham, William Driver. We have also had our part in driving regeneration in the area forward, by addressing structural issues of the railway bridges to Network Rail - the damaged metal guttering is now planned to be replaced by the end of this year, following our report to them. Also, safety concerns in relation to deceased pigeons caught in the bird netting have been raised by local residents and will be passed on to Network Rail for further investigations. Recently, Arches Local revealed their impression on their Facebook profile of the vision for the regeneration of the Luton Arches area in the upcoming years. The image is an initial early sketch of the community's ideas put together, outlining opportunities for further improvements. Although this is not the final sketch, Arches Local are welcoming your feedback on the impression, to allow them to organise a community clear up of the area in partnership with Medway Council and Network Rail.
What do you think of the sketch? How else would you regenerate the Luton Arches area? Please send in your feedback via Arches Local's Twitter or Facebook page, or you may use our online form so that we can pass on your ideas to them. As part of a bid to improve Chatham town centre and surrounding communities in the area, the Cabinet of Curiosity Studio to take part in a worldwide community project. The Neighbourhood Postcard Project aims to tell stories and connect local residents through creating stunning, unique postcards to promote local areas. The Luton Arches area is the first UK version of this engaging community-based scheme, as it expands across the world. They have designed a postcard unique to the Luton area of Chatham that asks local residents to share what they love about their neighbourhood. The postcard features the architecture of the railway arches that marks the gateway to the Luton district and Chatham town centre; magpies that connect to the geographical location through street names, pub signs and the birds themselves that are a common sight in this town; and a design that draws upon vintage postcards. The postcards will be made available to residents within Luton through a combination of face-to-face meetings and by locating distribution and delivery points, taking the form of post boxes, in local libraries and community centres. The aim is to use the programme to initiate funding towards larger projects within the community, as the All Saints Community Project and Arches Local are currently doing, that will have a direct impact on raising the quality of the local environment.
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Archive
August 2023
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