A constantly changing view
28 October 2009
The View Tube, a new visitor and community
venue on The Greenway next to the Olympic Park, has been officially
opened today (28 October) by the Minister for the Thames
Gateway.
Shahid Malik visited the community facility
which is made from recycled shipping containers and includes a
café, education, arts and information spaces, bicycle hiring and a
magnificent viewing platform, joining residents and visitors at the
one and only community place where you can see the Olympic Park
taking shape.
The View Tube is an integral part of the long
term regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley and will become a focal
point for local residents where they can see and feel a part of the
fast-developing Olympic Park. It will also play a major role
boosting ‘Olympic tourism’ in London.
Minister Shahid Malik said: "The View Tube is
a fantastic new facility for people to see and learn more about the
fast moving regeneration work going on at the Olympic Park.
I'm particularly pleased that this centre is the result of
different partnerships working together. It's this kind of
cooperative and collaborative working that will make a real
difference in this part of East London.
"London 2012 is about communities just as much
as it is about sport. It's about a once in a life time
opportunity to provide a legacy across East London that will
benefit people for generations to come."
Peter Andrews, chief executive of the London
Thames Gateway Development Corporation said: “It is fantastic to
see the View Tube opening its doors to the public giving the local
community the opportunity to not only see the Olympic Park take
shape but feel a part of the progress being made in this area. This
is first and foremost a community facility and is another
demonstration of the benefits we are delivering in east London on
the back of hosting the Olympic Games.”
Paul Brickell, Chief Executive, Leaside
Regeneration Ltd, said: “Leaside Regeneration is very excited to be
opening this fantastic new facility. The project came
together extremely quickly as a result of very effective
collaborative working between ODA, LTGDC, Thames Water and their
contractors.
“We are delighted to have The Field Studies
Council, London Wildlife Trust, Bike Works and the Counter Café on
board and look forward to attracting many more people and
organisations to visit and to work in this unique location.”
John Armitt , ODA chairman said: “The View
Tube has an unrivalled view of the Olympic Park and will be a
fantastic facility for people to come and watch the Olympic Park
taking shape between now and 2012. The ODA is currently carrying
out improvement work to the Greenway which is a key walking and
cycling path for the area. The addition of this community centre
will help encourage local people to use this vital route and ensure
that the Greenway continues to be a visitor attraction after
2012.”
The View Tube is a partnership project between
Leaside Regeneration, London Thames Gateway Development
Corporation, the Olympic Delivery Authority and Thames Water, it
includes a café, education, arts and information spaces, bike hire
and a viewing platform over the Olympic Park and Stratford
City.
The View Tube will be open to the
public from 9 November 2009.
END
For further information about LTGDC please go
to http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/
Notes to Editors:
London Thames Gateway Development
Corporation
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
is the key government agency responsible for delivering social and
economic growth to transform the London Thames Gateway, part of
Europe's largest regeneration project.
It has significant powers to effect change, by
helping to improve the prospects for new homes, jobs, services and
environmental improvements for local people.
LTGDC is the lead regeneration agency for the
Lower Lea Valley and the London Riverside - the two areas with the
greatest potential for growth in London and the Thames Gateway.
For further information please go to http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/
Leaside Regeneration
Leaside Regeneration is a community-based
social enterprise set up in 1998 to develop and deliver a vision
for the regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley and the surrounding
area of east London.
Our ambition is to create a new Water City in
East London; an ambition we share with the area’s entrepreneurial
communities.
Our aim is to realise this shared vision by
working with local communities in practical ways and by using
physical regeneration as a tool both to inspire and to promote
skills, jobs and business opportunities.
It is this determination to co-create with
local communities, rather than to impose upon them that underlies
our achievements.”