Sir Roger Gale
Member of Parliament for Herne Bay and Sandwich (including West Thanet)
 

Margate's MP, Roger Gale, has described as "Turner Extraordinary" the final design for the Turner Contemporary Gallery presented to the public by award-winning architect David Chipperfield this week.

"The design is extraordinary in the literal sense of the word" says the MP. "An extraordinary amount of intelligence has been applied, by David Chipperfield, to the concept.  An extraordinary degree of attention has been paid to the need to create public space that meets the real needs of real and sometimes disabled people.  Extraordinary use has been made of the geographic location of the site and of the northern light and the southern light that is available.  The cladding - in re-cycled glass - is extraordinary and the design itself is exciting and outstanding".

Speaking at the close of the launch presentation of the project at the Theatre Royal, Margate, this (Tuesday) evening the MP said:

"The Chinese say that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.  When those of us who have been party to this project took that first step I am not sure that we could even see the horizon, much less the end of the journey.  But we have come a very long way along a winding and sometimes bumpy road and I believe that our faith has been justified. Though the exciting talents of David Chipperfield and the dedication of the artistic director, Victoria Pomery and her team, we are in reach of something very special indeed.

We have always said that the Turner Gallery would be the cornerstone of the Margate Waterfront Development and so it will be.

But those of us who are elected members at District, County and Parliamentary level have to play our part.  The Car Parking and the regeneration of the Old Town and the High Street and the provision of mundane facilities such as public lavatories require detailed attention if we are to create a destination resort that is user-friendly for visitors and residents alike.

David Chipperfield has created the jewel - it is up to us to create the appropriate setting."

​

​

​

​