40 Years of Westway Development Trust

Jemma
By Jemma Last edited 153 months ago
40 Years of Westway Development Trust

What do you do when an ugly motorway flyover is built, slicing through an iconic area of London and dividing a community?

In the case of the Westway, which ploughs through Portobello Road, the answer was to fill the space underneath with local charities and facilities for community use. Westway Development Trust - formerly North Kensington Amenity Trust - was born to do just that; their mission to “enhance local lives” through investing in enterprise, opportunity, sports, education and arts.

Stretching from Latimer Road tube through Ladbroke Grove and almost to Westbourne Park the Trust's land beneath the elevated roadway includes Westway Sports Centre, Portobello Green Fitness Centre, Portobello Market, the skatepark plus offices and industrial units: nearly 800 people have jobs on Trust land where once there was just rubble.

To celebrate their 40th birthday, Westway Development Trust is putting on a series of joyful and inclusive events, sandwiched between two big festival days. The first on 11th June at Westway Sports Centre with free fun for all the family, and the second on 19th June at Portobello Green. Echoing the cultural mix of the community, expect circus, African dance, youth theatre, Caribbean Quadrille, rap, rock, tea dances, poetry and the community choir. Local History will be explored through workshops, discussions, and archive footage at their pop-up cinema.

All events are free, so come along. Just make sure you bring some community spirit.

Visit http://www.westway.org/  for more information.

Last Updated 06 June 2011