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Marks Gate wins Living Streets award

Congratulations to the Marks Gate community in Barking and Dagenham. They've won a Living Streets award for making the route from Marks Gate to Chadwell Heath more attractive and welcoming, creating a better place to live and walk.

Walking in Marks Gate before

Several local community groups quickly got involved in the project, wanting to improve the walking route through the area, including Young at Heart, a group of older people; Agenda 21; Friends of Padwell Lake and the Wednesday Children's Club.

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Stepping towards success

The group carried out a street audit, identifying poor signage, unsafe subways, pavement parking, excessive guard railing and unattractive gardens.

In December 2009, the project partners were thrilled when the council approved their application for funding. A walking corridor linking Marks Gate to Chadwell Heath could now be built with £90,000 from Transport for London.

The community got involved, taking part in awareness-raising events, planting, litter picking and awarding residents certificates for well-maintained gardens.

 

Marks Gate transformed

marksgate_after_300.jpgThanks to everyone’s efforts, the original walking route has become a fully-fledged walking corridor, linking Marks Gate to Chadwell Heath through the attractive St Chad's Park, with dropped kerbs, better surfacing, and clear signs. The route is promoted by a walking map created by Marks Gate Primary School and a local artist, adding colour to the route.

Jeanette Scipio, a member of Friends of Padnell Lake, said:

“As a result of the project, the route from Marks Gate to Chadwell Heath is more pleasant. Taking barriers away made an amazing difference – you can actually see your way! More people are out walking now, including young mums and people in wheelchairs. It’s just a friendlier place. The surrounding area looks better too – last year we planted daffodils and now we’re planting climbers. Soon you’ll be able to see colour three seasons of the year.”

Marks Gate resident and Head of Agenda 21, Roger Gayler said:

“Because of the project, the landscape has changed, with signage on marked walks. It's been a great initiative, drawing people together and producing some encouraging results."