Engaging the Community in their Environment: Bushey Arches

The area known as ‘Bushey Arches’ is a major transport interchange close to the Eastern border of Watford, incorporating rail, road and pedestrian routes. Bushey Arches had been designated by Watford Borough Council as an area to be ‘improved with public art’. Watford’s Green Heart Team came together to build upon this, working with artists to turn Bushey Arches into a visually interesting space that celebrates the heritage of the site as a key transport interchange.

The initial stage of the project captured through creative triggers the perceptions of the community about the Bushey Arches and environmental issues. Supported by sculptor, Tony Stallard, film-maker Rayna Nadeem worked in the area around Bushey Arches throughout May and June 2006, engaging with people who live, work and pass through the area. Rayna’s DVD ‘Underneath the Arches’ resulting from this initial stage was used by the team to inform them about the next stage: to regenerate the site into a high impact visual gateway that will positively engage communities with their environment.

Hertfordshire Highways capital work has now been completed and planning permission has now been granted for the next phase to be completed in December 2008. The contractor will begin working on site from 6th October 2008. Artist Tony Stallard has developed a lighting scheme which will illuminate the archway with a colourful, slowly changing light installation, using low maintenance, energy efficient LED lights. Herbaceous plants (pollution-tolerant!) and recovered town centre paving materials will add the final touches to the scheme.

This achievement is the result of three years of hard work by all the partners involved. The project is facilitated by the Green Heart Partnership working with a project team consisting of Watford Borough Council, Hertfordshire Highways, Hertfordshire Constabulary and Project Managers Clipston Construction Control.

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