Hosted by Dartford Borough Council, the day began with a presentation by Paul Bell, Senior Project Manager, and Sonia Collins, Head of Planning Services, who gave an overview of the Dartford Town Centre regeneration scheme and insight into the challenges and successes of the scheme delivery. 

A walking tour of Dartford Town Centre followed the presentation, providing the opportunity to see first-hand the completed works at the High Street, Instone Road/Lowfield Street junction, West Hill/Highfield Road junction and the sites for future works. Plus, the opportunity to get a picture with the statues of Dartford’s own Mick Jagger and Keith Richards at One Bell Corner. 

CIHT President, Professor Glenn Lyons: “There are days you remember when you’ve been in great company, been inspired and feel you’ve added to your professional development. The CIHT South-East day in Dartford on 12 June was one of those days for me. Not only did it open my eyes to Dartford itself and the transformation taking place, but we subsequently delved deeply into climate change and climate action with candid expressions of views and feelings spanning different career stages as well as the global north and global south. Very much a day to be reminded that CIHT offers important kinship to us all. My thanks to the regional Committee for their great organising and hospitality, including the doughnuts on our walking tour!”.

CIHT South East Chair, Kerry Bangle: "It was a great privilege and pleasure for the South East region to host Glenn Lyons' last President's regional visit (saving the best to last, perhaps?!). We were made to feel so very welcome by the fantastic folks at Dartford Borough Council, hearing about their ambitious and much-needed plans to redefine a town centre that is dominated by traffic, made worse by frequent perturbations on the strategic road network. We enjoyed a walking tour in the sunshine and saw firsthand the impressive transport and public realm improvements which really hit home for us how important these projects - and our jobs in highways and transportation - are to enhancing people's quality of life. Glenn's 'CLIMATES at speed' session in the afternoon prompted deep debate and reflection as well as personal pledges of what we can all do differently going forward. A thoroughly enjoyable day of learning, laughing and connecting."

In the second half of the day, Professor Glenn Lyons delivered a ‘CLIMATES at speed’ session and presented the results of the CIHT CLIMATES initiative and its recommendations. The session was engaging with participants sharing their thoughts on the challenges the sector faces and more widely in relation to climate change. Read the CIHT CLIMATES report.

From the CIHT South East committee, in attendance were Kerry Bangle, Lukman Agboola, Deborah Sims and Henry Heath. Thank you to all for arranging a fantastic visit and to Dartford Borough Council for hosting the day. 

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If you would like to learn more about CIHT South East, please contact: regions@ciht.org.uk

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