BackCommunities key to decluttering
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION KEY TO DECLUTTERING
National charity Living Streets say that community engagement with local residents is the key to effectively strip back streets that have been turned into obstacle courses by unnecessary street clutter such as guard railing, street signs and bollards.
Today’s announcement from government department CLG urging for less street clutter has given rise to debate on whether there are too many signs and whether benches should be removed. But Living Streets say there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to decluttering and talking to residents is the most successful way to ensure that decluttering is done effectively.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“We want to see councils speaking to their local communities about the changes they would like to see on their streets and stripping back street clutter to make our streets more welcoming spaces, where people want to walk."
“One of the best ways to address this problem is by involving local communities. We have been working with local councils to help them engage with residents and have seen success as a result including increased footfall and a better sense of community in some of the areas that we have worked." Living Streets does decluttering work through an activity called a Community Street Audit, where the charity trains and supports local people to identify both good and bad things on their streets.
Living Streets has a track record of delivering community street audits, throughout England and Scotland.
The community street audit process has been approved by the Homes and Communities Agency Place-Making Recognition scheme for its work empowering local communities to effect change and Living Streets work has been commented on by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles as being “big society in action”.
Published on: 26/08/2010
