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GREENS QUESTION REGENERATION APPROACH |
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 10th June 2008
County Green party members met yesterday, Monday 9th June, at St Marks
Hall, Cheltenham to hear a presentation on a Green approach to
Regeneration from Stroud-based green economist Molly Scott-Cato. The
presentation was followed by a discussion on projects like Cheltenham's
Civic Pride, Stroud's canal project and Gloucester's 'Magnificent
Seven', the name given to seven key development sites.
John Heywood, Cheltenham Green party coordinator, questioned aspects of the Civic Pride approach which seeks to preserve regency heritage and revitalise streets: "For 20 years in Birmingham I lived in an urban renewal area: the local economy wasn't regenerated as money went to big building companies and the jobs went to people outside the area. Cheltenham Civic Pride could, if we are not careful, also be taking the wrong route that focuses on a glossy upmarket boutique hotel, more roads and big retailers. This will be of little benefit to most of us living here."
Molly Scott-Cato, the Green party's Economic spokesperson, said: "The economy shouldn't be about money, but rather about people working to produce the things we need, in other words building community resilience in the face of rising oil prices and climate change. Projects like enabling community-owned renewables, getting serious about tackling the car culture, giving the lead on energy efficiency schemes, supporting craftspeople and local traders, developing local food links and smart IT."
Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor, said: "For many local authorities, aspirations to improve the material well-being of local citizens appear to conflict with tackling the challenges of climate change. However there are ways forward. For example we need to look at how we increase the proportion of consumed goods produced in our area and develop more local exchange within our area. When you put sustainability at the heart of policies, projects like Gloucester Quays, with it's Designer Outlet centre, can be seen as damaging to our local economy."
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