(31 May 2015, 7:53 pm)MurdnunoC wrote What were your overall impressions of the Garden Festival?
I thought it was quite impressive during the festivities, however, I thought they could've made some attempt at turning the festival (or at least some aspects of the festival) into a permanent tourist attraction. A lot of the site is now housing and some bits have still yet to be developed into anything. It may have brought tourists into Gateshead for 157 days; it may have encouraged more arts throughout Gateshead and the region; but after it ended, a lot of the hard-work went to waste as it essentially lay derelict for years after - the same as it did previously.
I enjoyed the festival itself.
Went many times and always found something different.
Like you, I was disappointed the land itself wasn't looked after or turned into a permanent attraction.
Housing has been built - all be it quite a while after the initial phase at the top end of the valley (Norwood?), but when private finance was relied on in times of recession - it wasn't going to be an overnight sensation.
I often look in when passing some of the derelict areas of the site. The staithes' falling into disrepair and being left for so long, was disappointing too.
I didn't actually realise how much private money went into the scheme (until reading that Chronicle article).
In principle, a brilliant idea.
In reality, the outcome was slightly different.