A proud and empowered community
We have heard that there is strong pride in the community, with many people hugely valuing their relationships with neighbours, local family and friends. There are many extended and multigenerational families. We have heard amazing stories about the pioneers who first came to the area from London.
Those first pioneers were attracted by a place that was greener, offering their families better homes, green spaces, increased safety, and new economic opportunities, in modern manufacturing such as pharmaceuticals and engineering. This vision compelled them to have the courage to move out from their homes in London.
Recently, we have heard that this sense of pride has started to dim, particularly for young people. We have heard from parents that they don’t want their children to stay in the area. We have
heard from our young designers that they wish to leave the area. We have heard the sense of loss and decline that the closure of community spaces such as Westside Community Centre, the library and The Beacon have contributed to.
We are exploring how we can create a vision for the future, which celebrates and builds on the vision for the past, but also creates a reinvigorated sense of vision for the future for everyone.
We are exploring how people identify the different communities within Buckskin and South Ham, and how this should be reflected in any design. We are also exploring ideas for new community spaces, indoors and outside, to give an anchor to the community.
