Learning from Docklands London/ 他山之石─ 英國倫敦
◎By Anna Lin
In order to study and learn from London's waterfront construction projects and the successful transformation of Manchester City, the Acting Mayor Chu-lan Yeh led a delegation to London on March 5th to the 12th. During the visit, the delegation held a briefing on future construction projects, such as the Kaohsiung Port Aerial Tram, the light railway, the image design competition for the Port of Kaohsiung, and the new Administration Building. The delegation welcomed any conglomerates interested in entering Taiwan's market to participate in the city's future construction projects.
Headed by the Acting Mayor Yeh, the main purpose of the delegation was to study Britain's city infrastructure and cultural developments. During their stay, the delegation visited the Dockland Regeneration Area in London, London's waterfront construction, Heathrow Airport, Transport for London (TfL), the Railway Industry Association, the British Consultants & Construction Bureau, London's Organizing Committee for the Olympics Games 2012 (LOCOG), Wembley Stadium, and Manchester City.
Among all the places on the itinerary, the Dockland Regeneration Area in London was one of the most important stops. By providing tax incentives and imposing appropriate control over the developments taking place in London, downtown, the government has successfully shifted the commercial center to the new urban districts. Most importantly, along with the building of the light railway system and other mass transportation, such as subway and highway systems, the Docklands Regeneration Area has been fully converted into a financial and political center.
In early years, Manchester City was the biggest industrial city in Britain. Nowadays, it has transformed into a business center. Much of the credit must go to the transportation construction of transportation such as the light railway system, the urban development and the well-planned investments by the government and conglomerates. As a result, Manchester City now has a new face.
The Acting Mayor Yeh acknowledged the excellent job London City Government has done and the prosperity that the transport systems have brought. She indicated that these are models that Kaohsiung could make good use of. She is confident that Kaohsiung city would be able to deal with the property issue effectively since the government is in possession of the Port area. She also agreed that the light railway system would be an essential element in Kaohsiung's development.
Meanwhile, to better prepare for the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, the delegation visited London's Organizing Committee for the Olympics Games in 2012, and the Wembley Stadium that will soon be completed. The Acting Mayor Yeh recognized the construction of the stadium. Even though Wembley only has a population of 300,000, the building of this 90,000-seat stadium will definitely benefit the city and the local community. The Acting Mayor also mentioned that Kaohsiung city will regard some of the measures taken by Wembley as important points of reference. For example: open the stadium to the public during the construction; aim to build a multi-sports stadium to ensure the smooth running of the program, etc.
During its stay, to attract foreign businesses to participate and invest on Kaohsiung's future construction projects, the delegation took the opportunity to elucidate several planned construction projects while visiting the Railway Industry Association and the British Consultants & Construction Bureau. Construction plans include the Kaohsiung Port Aerial Tram, the light railway system, the image design competition for Pier 1-22, and the construction of the new Administration Building.
◎文／汪芙
為了觀摩英國倫敦水岸城市建設，以及曼徹斯特城市轉型成功經驗，高雄市代理市長葉菊蘭3月5日至12日，率市政考察團赴英國參訪﹔並簡報高雄市最近規劃的建設如跨港觀光纜車、輕軌建設、港區競圖及新行政中心等計畫，歡迎對台灣市場發展有興趣的廠商參與高雄市的重大建設。
由葉代理市長領軍的「高雄發展及城市願景考察團」，以實質的城市建設與人文規劃為參訪主軸，行程包括倫敦港區再造、倫敦河岸建設、倫敦希斯洛機場、大倫敦交通局、英國軌道協會、英國工程顧問協會、2012倫敦奧運籌備處、溫柏林體育場、曼徹斯特市等。
這之中，倫敦泰晤士河左岸的舊港區（DockLands）再造經驗是考察團重要行程之一，該地區透過公部門的賦稅優惠措施，以及都市計畫限制倫敦市中心的發展，促使商業辦公大樓移往新開發區﹔最重要的是，搭配輕軌及高乘載運具如地鐵及公路等基礎建設，方便大批人潮進入，舊港區因此全面開發。
曼徹斯特從早期為英國最大工業城市，轉型為商業大城，透過輕軌等交通規劃，以及以發展教育產業、配合計畫性招商，讓曼徹斯特走出工業城市的框架。
葉代理市長表示，倫敦市政府透過都市計畫限制市中心的開發，讓發展順利轉移到舊港區，加上基礎交通建設的興建來帶動發展，非常值得參考，尤其是高雄港區大多為國有土地，應該可以更有效的處理﹔而輕軌更是帶動城市發展的重要關鍵。
另外，為籌辦2009年世界運動會在高雄，考察團也分別參訪了即將完工的溫柏林體育館以及2012倫敦奧運籌備委員會﹔葉代理市長表示，倫敦溫柏林區只有約三十萬人口，卻興建一座九萬人的體育館，對於帶動地方發展有相當助益，而興建過程開放全民參觀，以及採多功能用途、確保其營運的做法，將可作為高雄世運主場館參考。
市政建設考察同時，為招攬國際優良廠商參與或投資高雄市重大建設，考察團也分別在拜會英國軌道協會及工程顧問學會時，說明多項重大建設計畫來招商﹔包括：空中纜車、輕軌運輸、１－22號碼頭國際競圖和新的行政中心規劃等。