Last Sunday the ‘Kingston Trio’ successfully ran 8.2 miles to help raise funds for Kingston Centre for Independent Living.

Riccardo and Martyn finishing in around an impressive hour… Amanda in (ahem…) slightly longer!

The RunKingston event took us in a loop from Kingston Town centre to Hampton Court, then 2/3 of the way to Esher, finally returning on the home stretch to Kingston.

Thank you to all who supported us and KCIL.

There is still time to donate!
www.justgiving.com/teamkingston

This Sunday, 9th October, Amanda and the Kingston project team will be taking part in RunKingston! An 8.2 mile run, we are supporting Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL).

The Kingston Trio are Riccardo from JMP, Martyn from Kingston Council and Amanda from Soundings. Look out for the green t-shirts… designed by our very own Neil from Tonkin Liu!

Thanks to all who have supported so far, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/teamkingston and donate to KCIL, a worthy cause, helping adults with learning and physical disability to lead independent lives.

Go Team Kingston!!!

One of Soundings’ earlier exemplary consultation projects has been granted planning permission at Lewisham Town Hall last night after a long project that has been developed and tweaked over 5 years.

This is a place which has a proud and active community and we were fortunate enough to be able to spend a long time working with the people of North Deptford between 2008 and 2010.

It’s a place that has previously been fractured by exclusive development, and guided by the long-standing community, we were able to significantly influence the proposals to ‘open up’ and create clear links with the surroundings area to become a resource for both existing and new communities.

Section 106 agreements will contribute to a Community Development Trust, a vehicle for local aspirations to deliver a number of viable community benefits.

The ‘Wharves Deptford’ is a mixed-use development that will provide new homes, business / trade space and local retail. A waterbody following the line of the disused Grand Union canal runs through the site, the disused Victoria Pub will be reinstated and Ascot Cabs flagship site will be expanded to become a major on-site employer.

Since June this year Soundings have been in Kingston, finding out what people value about Kingston’s Ancient Market Area and how they would like to see it change for the better.

The Ancient Market Area is at the heart of the town’s historical centre. Today, the ‘once was’ riverside industry has all but disappeared, leaving a riverside and Ancient Market Area fragmented from its town, not given the prominence and opportunity of an alternative offer that many feel Kingston would benefit from.

The area is one of the Mayor’s Great Spaces and identified as a metropolitan centre in the London Plan. JMP and Tonkin Liu have been appointed to develop proposals for the area.

Before the plans are developed we are understanding how people would like to see the area improve, uncovering local stories and understanding what Kingston means to people. Our findings have informed the initial design proposals for the Ancient Market Area.

From September 17^th to October 1^st we will be displaying the design ideas for the Ancient Market Area and asking for feedback and ideas.