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Significant works on the river walk at Chatham Waterfront have been completed since the regeneration project began earlier this year. These works included resurfacing, new lighting, new guard rail and some street furniture and trees will be planted during October. In addition, the existing CCTV coverage has been augmented to also cover the extended river walk by the new housing development; Empire Reach. The aim of these improvements is to encourage positive use and interaction between the town centre and the River Medway, following the recent installation of a new floating pontoon on Sun Pier, as well as providing an uninterrupted river walk stretching from Gun Wharf to Sun Pier for local people and visitors.  Improvements to the footpaths on Medway Street are now underway Further works in the riverside area include resurfacing and widening of the pedestrian footpath on Medway Street adjacent to the Staples retail warehouse. The intention is to make the area easier for pedestrians to access and potentially create a 'gateway' feature at the junction of Pier Chambers/Medway Street to encourage people down to Sun Pier and the River Medway.
It started more than three decades ago, but now a project to restore one of Medway’s oldest military sites, is one step closer to completion courtesy of a £200,000 grant. Work to restore Fort Amherst began in the 1980s and a new project will help the fort and surrounding area reconnect with its military roots and uncover secrets from the past. The Fort Amherst Heritage Trust and Medway Council have secured a £214,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to develop plans for the project, Command of the Heights.  The huge project will include the demolition of Riverside One, which sits within the walls of the historically important Barrier Ditch. Command of the Heights will also see the creation of a new entrance to Fort Amherst from Chatham town centre as well as the restoration of the Spur Battery which will be transformed into an amphitheatre.
Once the plans are complete, the council will apply for a further £2m from the HLF to complete the archaeological exploration and regeneration work. Restoration works are expected to run from early 2017 to late 2018. Councillor Rodney Chambers, who is in charge of investment and partnerships, said: “I am pleased we have been successful in securing funding for what is going to be an exciting project in Chatham. There is a lot to learn about the area’s military and naval history, and through Command of the Heights we hope to capture the imagination of Medway residents and those from further afield.” |
