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“You may find the story winding and complicated at the outset, populated by characters that are often virtuous in some ways and flawed in others…”

“Dreamers, who only see what they want to see, and realists, whose view is likewise narrowed by their practical nature.”

“Although a choice may seem easy today its repercussions can destroy you tomorrow”

Extracts of reviews of a Steinbeck classic or working at the coalface of the regeneration & growth agenda?

One Positive

The Thames Gateway Project provides a vital spotlight through which to champion and convey some really powerful stories that instil a sense of identity, pride, place and belonging within communities across the area which for many years have suffered fragmentation and disconnection.�� One such example in my patch is encapsulated in the Flying Start project which seeks to celebrate the first home of British aviation on the Isle of Sheppey (see figures 1 and 2).�� It is a £28 million project which will not just be a look backwards to the good old days but, critically, it will make the unique heritage asset relevant to present day living�� and potential future prosperity.�� In this sense I strongly believe that, like other similar initiatives such as the 2012 London Olympics, Flying Start will provide the much needed inspiration to nurture the aspiration that so many people consider to be missing from many of our local communities but important for the way they pursue and enjoy meaningful and fulfilled lives.����

A vision of Swale's future

One Negative

Linked to the positive of a strong identity, I have a real concern that too much energy and resource could be poured into branding the Thames Gateway.�� Like Swale, the Thames Gateway is an administrative construct and, although useful for organising public policies, services and resources, it will never be an address.�� People will come from Sheerness, Southend or Barking, Kent, London or Essex but, I would strongly argue, never the Thames Gateway.

One Hope

When I come back to Swale in 25 years with my grandchildren there are two things I would like – to know where I am and to be able to say with pride, “I was involved with that.”�� We all have a real challenge and responsibility to ensure quality, be it planning, partnership working, architecture, urban design, training, community development, environmental enhancement and so on.�� Quality simply has to be the writing in the rock through everything we do.����

One Fear

Very early on I became aware that we are facing a crisis (and potential time bomb) in the construction industry across Europe with a significant undersupply of skills and labour.�� This is a position that will be amplified over the coming years with a steep increase in demand associated with a number of major programmes e.g. the Government’s Communities Plan, the 2012 Olympics, major structural fund investment into the accession states and increased market demand for new commercial development right across Europe.

If this shortfall in skills and workforce is not addressed the degree and pace of construction required by the ambitious major programmes will not be achieved and as a result core European, national and local policies will be seriously undermined and potential inward investment lost. We are currently working with others across north Kent to address this issue head on with a number or worthy and effective local initiatives.�� However, ultimately we must understand that the construction labour market is a European one and likewise any solution must also be at that level.
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Lastly to express how I and a majority of regeneration interests I have come into contact with over the years view our chosen field, I will end where I started with an extract from a review of the Steinbeck classic…

“A beautiful work that is multi-thematic, complex, and yet very personal.”

Greg MacDonald is the Chief Executive of Swale Forward.