THE work done by the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation (TTGDC) was celebrated on Thursday (8 March) afternoon when Bob Neill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities visited the borough.
The event, at the High House Production Park in Purfleet signalled the formal handover of the corporation’s work to Thurrock Council under the government’s localism agenda.
As well as Mr Neill — the “London Gateway minister” — other speakers included Will McKee, chair of the corporation; Cllr John Kent, Leader of Thurrock Council; Niall Lindsay, chief executive of the corporation and Mike Butterworth, chief operating officer, Capital Shopping Centres (owners of the Lakeside Shopping Centre).
Mr McKee said: “Everyone at the corporation is immensely proud of the organisation’s achievements, in particular its strategic policy framework and the transformational projects we have developed and implemented since becoming fully operational in October 2005.”
And Cllr Kent added: “The work of the development corporation cannot be understated, its role has not been to build the buildings, but to lay the foundations and create the environment and the conditions for growth and investment.”
Mr Neill, born and brought up in nearby Havering, said he knew Thurrock well, adding “I know Thurrock Council will rise to the challenge and the next phase to take Thurrock forward.” He said he wanted to pass on congratulations “from the Prime Minister down” for the way the corporation, the council and the government had worked together to reach this point.
Cllr Kent said: “Thurrock Council’s challenge now is to deliver the regeneration agenda while improving the life chances of local people by enhancing their education, health and well-being.
“This would not have been possible without years of detailed hard work by the development corporation, work preparing the way for what Thurrock Council is now looking forward to moving forward.”
And Mr McKee said: “The localism ceremony has given us a great opportunity to celebrate our success and for the development corporation and council to reassure the Thurrock community that regeneration of the borough will continue long after the corporation’s demise.”
Don’t forget all you clever people mentioned above, you should do what Thurrock residents want.
Not what you think we want and need!
Don’t take us all for granted, we at least have a vote.
jmw118 makes another good point. i think we want less of the photo opportunity and more real work to improve Thurrock. I have not really understood what the development corporation has achieved or done for Thurrock. We now need action not words and pictures. As jmw118 says dont take us for granted.
This picture sums up Thurrock and the DC. It looks like a picture of 5 Mafia bosses posing after they have discussed ‘ business’ did nobody review this picture before the release? what totally inadquate press and poor visuals of our so called leaders. Maybe it was about telling us who is in charge. The two at the end with arms crossed look like hench men. the bunch look smug and Cllr Kent dont just talk about delivery, we want to see some real action.
Thanks God it’s gone. A complete waste of money but I cant help but wonder whether Kent and crew will be able to manage such an agenda considering they cannot manage Morrisons well.
Mr Kent, just a quick bit of advice, when having your picture taken for a publicity shot, stand up straight and take your hands out of your pockets, it looks like you are searching for loose change 🙂