10 March 2009

Delegates from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany arrive in Chester this week as the new European project ‘Portico’ is launched at Chester Racecourse (Wednesday 18 March).

The leader of Chester City Council, Councillor Margaret Parker will lead the signing of a Portico certificate with vip’s from the partner cities; Alderman Mr Harm Janssen, Utrecht, representative from Köln City Council, Alderman Mrs Martine de Regge and Alderman Mrs Lieven Decaluwe, Gent and Drs. P.P.M. Baltus from the Stichting Domplein 2013 project in Utrecht.

PORTICO is an ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Interreg IVB project led by Utrecht (Netherlands) with partners including Ghent in Belgium and Cologne in Germany. Chester’s element of the project includes repairs, interpretation for visitors, access improvements and a study to investigate how the city walls can help boost and sustain the local and regional economy as well as investigating new uses for the towers. The PORTICO project also forms a major part of the emerging Walls Improvement Programme. The PORTICO project runs until mid 2012.

Councillor Stuart Parker, Executive Member for Development said “We are delighted to welcome the European delegates to Chester at the start of this exciting new project that will help Chester preserve and develop some of our greatest heritage assets.”

The overall aim of the Portico project is to stimulate urban development of historic cities by linking the knowledge economy to the experience economy, developing and testing new techniques and carrying out unconventional urban projects with mixed partnerships.

The specific aims are to:
* Create opportunities to develop inner-city locations with high prices of land, currently “locked” because of their archaeological value.
* Create experience economy profit zones in historic city centres and spin-off for wider urban socio-economic development.
* Develop and use new techniques for multiple use of urban space and underground building.
* Develop and use techniques to enhance the experience of the history of Europe.
* Create a stimulating environment for talent (attracting people with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset) and for experiences (attracting consumers and tourists).

For more information contact Michael McGivern on 01244 402362.

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