From 'me' towns to 'we' towns

After Portas, is there a recipe for successful centres?From ‘me’ towns to ‘we’ towns

What did the Portas review achieve?

‣ Positive 1: Interest. The future of the high street has never been higher on the public agenda.

‣ Positive 2: Action. Nearly 400 town teams set up to revive English town centres.

‣ Positive 3: Different thinking. ‘Once we create social capital in the heart of our communities, the economic capital will follow.’

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And what did it fail to achieve?

‣ Negative 1: Analysis. The review failed to consider the wider factors behind towns’ decline.

‣ Negative 2: Confusion. The review’s recommendations were a menu of options, not a strategy.

‣ Negative 3: Inadequate response. Small pots of government money and assistance designed to generate headlines, not change.

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So where do we go from here?

From me to we: the might of the smallCan small towns be engines of a new urbanism?

‘When you’re growing up in a small townyou know you’ll grow down in a small townthere is only one good use for a small townyou hate it and you know you’ll have to leave...’

Lou Reed

or is this how it has to be?

The problem with ‘me’ towns

‘I want to park my car outside the shop I want

to visit’

‘I want to protect my

margins and income stream’

‘I want to buy from big

brands like everyone else’

‘I’m a consumer, don’t

expect me to contribute’

a.k.a. the death spiral of ‘retail-led regeneration’

Small towns with big heartsHow small (and not so small) places are demonstrating the power of ‘we’

Totnes: the town that said no to Costa‘If localism means communities have the right to decide what happens in their towns, it’s time for planners to understand this as well.’ ~ No to Costa campaign

Totally Locally: towns that say yes‘If every adult in Calderdale spent just £5 per week extra in local shops and businesses, it would mean an extra £40m a year going into our local economy.’ ~ Chris Sands, Totally Locally

Todmorden: ‘If you eat, you’re in’‘We’ve seen people who never thought they had a chance get a handle on their own future’ ~ Pam Warhurst

Hebden Bridge: owned by the community‘We feel we are exploring a new form of public ownership, one which looks back to 19th century models of mutuality and self-help as well as forward to 21st century models.’ ~ Peter Hirst

Wigan: pushing local loyalty further‘WiganPlus is about backing Wigan. It does this by offering rewards for supporting your local community and local businesses.’

JFDI urbanism: Townstock, High St Camp‘I was really impressed by #highstcamp today. Crowd sourcing and collective activism at its very best. 10/10.’ @BeepTreat, Bristol

‘Townstock: Really inspiring stories of people using parks, shops and streets to create places people want to live in.’ @mariaadebowale, London

How can we make it happen?

“High streets and town centres that are fit for the 21st century need to be multifunctional social centres, not simply competitors for stretched consumers.”

‘The 21st Century Agora’

A recipe for successful centres?

Support the local and the independent

Act as citizens, not just as shoppers

Prioritise producers, not just consumers

Become a flaneur in your

own town

Four kinds of behaviour that enhance the uniqueness of places

‘It’s the economy, stupid’

Create easy access space for start-ups

Love your local market, love local traders

Link the civic, community and

commercial

Try to turn each ‘why?’ into a

‘why not?’

Four steps towards putting towns back on their feet

“The soul of the city - the strength which makes it breathe, exist and progress - resides in each one of its citizens.”

Jaime Lerner, mayor of Curitiba, Brazil

thank you

more from me...www.urbanpollinators.co.ukmy blog: Living with RatsTwitter: @juliandobson