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Junior planners with designs on Bracknell

18/01/05

Junior planners with designs on the future of Bracknell town centre presented their ideas for regeneration to Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) last week (January 13).

The group of pupils from Year 5 at Binfield Primary School visited the town centre exhibition at 30 Charles Square to hand over a book full of ideas on how Bracknell town centre could be improved.

Ideas range from a monorail around the town and a stage in Charles Square to play areas for children and a library that has a book-shaped roof. The nine and 10-year-olds have spent geography lessons recently considering ideas that they think could be incorporated into the 750 million regeneration scheme.

The youngsters selected an area or building in the town centre they would like to change and created models of their new designs.

Last Thursday’s trip to the exhibition was an opportunity for pupils to hand over their ideas to BRP’s David Gregory and Helen Barnett who will see how far the ideas can be incorporated into the regenerated town centre.

Helen Barnett, from Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, said: “The children have spent a long time considering their ideas and have translated them into colourful and very imaginative models. We have been astounded by the children’s creativity.

“All great design starts with young, fresh ideas and we will see if we can incorporate and adapt any of the pupils’ ideas into the designs for the town centre. BRP will ensure the regenerated town centre is one that the children will be proud of.”

After handing over their ideas the pupils toured the exhibition and had the opportunity to ask questions about the proposed development and the jobs involved in large-scale regeneration including architecture, planning and building.

Class teacher Edith Pattinson, said: “The children are very enthusiastic about the regeneration and have worked on this project with great excitement. The visit to the exhibition was a fantastic opportunity for the children to learn first hand what’s involved in regeneration and they were all very excited to know the experts would be looking at their ideas.”