Creek
Dimensions: w: 38.9cm, h: 30.3cm
Photographs: 2011–2019
Book: 2019
Rotting jetties
Makeshift structures
Tide-born detritus
Broken boats
Quiet
Solitude
Passing ships
Muddy browns and washed out greens
Grey blue light
Sickly sweet smell from the soap factory on the opposite shore
Sickly sweet smell of landfill
Distant snarl of dirt bikes
Darting of the birds
Tides
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Creek is about a specific place, its location closer to the mouth of the Thames estuary than to London. At the tip of a small peninsula, it is a site of former industry, now razed. The area is invisible to the intrusion of Google’s Streetview as there are no roads, only a muddy, gated track.
It’s a place of escape, refuge and contemplation for the men who moor their boats and spend their time there. It's also reputedly the cheapest place on the entire river to rent a mooring from the Port of London Authority. I only spoke to one woman in all my visits. She was waiting patiently for her father in the passenger seat of his battered range rover; bright yellow, muddy and be-grilled, it was nearer to a tank from Mad Max than the shining conveyances of London’s privileged.
Neighboured by delivery depots, processing plants and landfill, the peninsula is a beautiful place that is easily missed. Even once discovered, it’s still easily dismissed and denigrated. After all, there’s nothing there. It’s therefore an ‘opportunity’, vulnerable to exploitation by capital, as everywhere now is.
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Plans revealed for 'Disney-style' theme park in Kent
Mon 8 Oct 2012
A new Disney-like entertainment theme park could be coming to north Kent, with the announcement of plans to spend two billion pounds building a theme park on an 872 acre brownfield site in the Swanscombe Penninsula.
The developers behind the bid - London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), are working in conjunction with the Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures company. LRCH claim if approved, their scheme would be of the largest regeneration projects in Europe and could lead to the creation of up to 27,000 jobs.
"Our vision is to create a world-class entertainment destination, the first of its kind in the UK," he said. "We are at the start of a long journey, but have been encouraged by the support and buy-in we have had to date. We are particularly pleased with the appetite we are seeing from investors, who consider this a compelling investment proposition.
"Over the next 12-18 months we will be progressing the planning application, while embarking on a wide-reaching programme of community consultation, while securing further commercial agreements with third parties. Our timetable for delivery, including the planning application process and construction timetable, is geared towards completion and opening in 2018."
Tony Sefton, Project leader, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH)
The proposed site is near Ebbsfleet International railway station - meaning it would be just a17-minute journey time from London, and two hours from Paris. The theme park would feature Europe's largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants, event space and hotels. It would be twice the size of the Olympic site. If approved the developers project an opening in 2018.
London Resort Company Holdings said it had signed an agreement with Paramount Licensing Incorporated to obtain exclusive UK licensing for a Paramount entertainment resort. LRCH is also in negotiations with a number of major British brands to sign licensing agreements.The company said it had been working closely with Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils. Jeremy Kite, the leader of Dartford Borough Council, and John Burden, leader of Gravesham Borough Council issued a join statement seeming to back the project.
"This development represents a tremendous economic growth opportunity for the region. We have been impressed by LRCH's commitment to integrating the development with the local community, recognising the many economic and social benefits it promises to deliver."
Jeremy Kite, Leader, Dartford Borough Council & John Burden, Leader, Gravesham Borough Council
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