Research into the Issue

Why do we need to focus on regeneration?

Regeneration is important and something we should focus on because it is something that can benefit everyone within a community. It can affect an area socially, economically, environmentally and aesthetically. Creating a new area that offers the locals opportunities to interact such as a community centre or park gives the area a sense of community and belonging. It gives people a place to go to and relax; an example of how Baldock could use somewhere like this for teenagers would be by building a skate park. The town offers nowhere for teenagers to socialise- the parks are used by families and younger children and the church hall and community centre give adults opportunities to interact. 

Some regeneration projects can help the local environment and wildlife, for example Ivel Springs, the small nature reserve in Baldock. In the last few years, the Friends of Baldock have worked on redeveloping the area, with volunteers regularly checking up on the area. It was redeveloped to make it not only more friendly for the wildlife living in the fields there but look more aesthetically pleasing and raise awareness of the area to encourage people such as bikers, dog walkers and runners. Making somewhere look more appealing to the community can have a positive impact on the area as more people will want to go there. (X)

The current state of the Springs; clean and spacious with clear pathways for visitors

Regenerating an area can not only benefit the community but the local economy too. An example of this on a large scale is the East London Docklands. The docklands were on the Thames and used for trade and transporting various products in and out of London, however around 1960, as industry developed (e.g. aircraft, trains) the warehouses there were forced to closed and the docks left abandoned. Another contributor to this was the Blitz in the Second World War, that ruined many or the larger buildings and had a negative impact on the business. As the warehouses shut, people lost their jobs and began to move away. Unemployment was high, and poverty and other social problems were rife; the area became a popular site for vandalism and gangs. Regeneration began on the area in 1981, when the LDDC was created (London Docklands Development Corporation). The area was rebuilt upon; there were houses built as well as many new offices and the iconic Canary Wharf building, which was, at the time it was built, the tallest building in London. Jobs were created in firstly creating new buildings and then in the offices themselves. People began to move back into the area, bringing more money into the local economy. The opening of the Millennium Dome in 2000, nearby the docks in Greenwich would have also benefited the area, as well as the Olympic Park, opened in 2012 the other side of the river. The Olympic Park is an example of regenerating an area that not only benefits the area economically but leaves a legacy and is a reminder of the event for generations to come. The sporting facilities can also be reused for sports teams. This is an example of the positive impact that regeneration can have on an area.

An abandoned area of the Docklands in the 1950's, after the Second World War

The Docklands now- large offices have been built in place of the warehouses such as Canary Wharf

 Why is getting people involved with community and green space so important?

It is important to get people involved within their local community; it gives people time to interact with different people and make new friends within their area. It also gives people a sense of belonging and makes them feel as if they have a voice within their community. People who are involved with community generally safer within the area that they live in because they know that they are not isolated; they have people to rely on if something goes wrong. Most towns will have lots of different clubs and activities. For example; Baldock community centre offers foreign language classes, dance and cheerleading classes, Sunday School and parent and toddler groups. There are also plenty of local groups to get involved in who work with the local council to improve the town. (X)

Green areas also play an important part in community. Places like parks and nature reserves offer locals a place to escape from any stress, and helps them to relax and calm down. It also is important to preserve these areas for the sake of any wildlife there is. It also creates a place for people to play sports and start teams, which links back in to why community is also important. Some people also enjoy green spaces because they break up blocks of building in larger cities and can bring life to a community. (X)