Catha's Seat

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Mum's Bike Bench Update: Research & Development

Another exciting Friday down in Kent last week! Please see the pictures below that explain what we were up to. Sheila also had some photos and documentation from the original survey works with Mum that I have also included.

An email has gone out to the route 18 works project manager at Kent County Council to get advice on who the landowner is and how to approach them. Please keep your fingers crossed for progress at this crucial stage.


As dad would say we were "having a look, see" at Sheila's family seat on the Great Stour Way section of route 18. The seat has been designed with influences from old railway sleeper designs on other Sustrans routes, but now with an optimised seat height, lower back rest and curved top to mirror the railway bridge arches that the seat looks at. This installation has been a massive success with people constantly using it, and even some users practicing Yoga or sunbathing on the back section.


Meeting in Folkestone with ARC creative design - from the right Chris and Phil. Specialising in Tourism and Interpretation they brought together the installation of Sheila's seat. Village people might also be interested to check out one of their case studies from the Wye Downs http://www.arccreativedesign.com/casestudy_3.html.
The meeting with ARC helped us set the scene and the guys helped get our creative cogs going; Dad excitedly expressed his desire for the concept of our bench to be about making the user feel they are elevated out of the Downs - perhaps like they are on a balcony. When we have the permissions locked in we will be arranging a full site survey with ARC so we can develop the design.
Back in '96. Mum in action surveying the route on her trusty red brompton folding bike. This is just on the outskirts of Ashford where the M20 crosses the Stour behind the Henwood Estate.

Original proposed route submission - Canterbury to Godmersham stretch
Original proposed route submission - Godmersham to Ashford stretch

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