WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN BRITAIN?
“The European Union has a huge influence on everything from the food we eat, tourism, tackling climate change and our national security. Yet for most it is a distant institution about which we know very little”. http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/
“The European Union has a huge influence on everything from the food we eat, tourism, tackling climate change and our national security. Yet for most it is a distant institution about which we know very little”. http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/
In main urban areas we are generally used to enjoying most local services in our communities, including a post office, stores, chemists, pubs, GP surgeries, social community centres, libraries, launderettes, cafe's and restaurants and schools, including many other local amenities to choose from. In rural areas we may have some of these services, but fewer in comparison.
Over the last 20-30 years the concept of community life in Britain has seriously changed as government privatisation reform continues to affect local community services, and many people are concerned about local service decline. Social exclusion, practical and financial difficulties, even worse crime with fewer people on the streets are common to many – an experience we might think of as living in Ghost Town Britain.
In 2004, 70% of rural parishes had no general store: 75% no daily bus service: 83% no GP and 43% no Post Office (Rural Lifelines, Countryside Agency 2004) – and the result has been one of great difficulty for many of those residents.
Community decline is a major problem in Britain today and we might then consider what sustainable communities really mean to residents of local communities –are privatised services something to look forward to, or do they threaten to end community life altogether?
THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BILL IS NOW AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT
Why The Act?
(To promote local economies, local services and facilities; to protect the environment, to reduce social exclusion and to increase involvement in the democratic process).
In 2004 an Independent Inquiry into Britain’s democracy (POWER Inquiry – Chair: Helena Kennedy, Q.C. http://www.powerinquiry.org/) was set up to explore how political engagement could be increased and deepened in Britain, which was funded and established by The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, for their Centenary Project. The POWER Inquiry aimed at getting to the core of voter abstention, why there was a decline in political engagement in the UK, and how this might best be turned around to increase public involvement. In March 2006 a report was issued to Parliament (POWER To the People – (copies obtained from: York Publishing Distribution, 64 Hallfield Road, Laytherthorpe, York YO31 7ZQ). Local Works - http://www.localworks.org/, was the coalition campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill, and is now promoting the new bottom up process in the Act for community sustainability c/o Unlock Democracy http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/
In 2004 an Independent Inquiry into Britain’s democracy (POWER Inquiry – Chair: Helena Kennedy, Q.C. http://www.powerinquiry.org/) was set up to explore how political engagement could be increased and deepened in Britain, which was funded and established by The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, for their Centenary Project. The POWER Inquiry aimed at getting to the core of voter abstention, why there was a decline in political engagement in the UK, and how this might best be turned around to increase public involvement. In March 2006 a report was issued to Parliament (POWER To the People – (copies obtained from: York Publishing Distribution, 64 Hallfield Road, Laytherthorpe, York YO31 7ZQ). Local Works - http://www.localworks.org/, was the coalition campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill, and is now promoting the new bottom up process in the Act for community sustainability c/o Unlock Democracy http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/
(Main Section –Sustainable Communities Bill).
How can you help?
(1) Where possible, go online to read the above website information (including the SCB) and contact Unlock Democracy with your views and comments on community sustainability - subscribe and donate if you wish.
(2) Contact your local MP and local government party councillors to discuss the Act and to ask how this might best fit into any proposed future plans or manifesto for local people. You may also wish to contact any of the following to ask for their advice and support.*
(3) Residents to meet and discuss the election of a Residents' Panel Committee
(contact: communitymattersoxford@googlemail.com).
(1) Where possible, go online to read the above website information (including the SCB) and contact Unlock Democracy with your views and comments on community sustainability - subscribe and donate if you wish.
(2) Contact your local MP and local government party councillors to discuss the Act and to ask how this might best fit into any proposed future plans or manifesto for local people. You may also wish to contact any of the following to ask for their advice and support.*
(3) Residents to meet and discuss the election of a Residents' Panel Committee
(contact: communitymattersoxford@googlemail.com).
Why It Matters?
Post Offices
Between 1990-2004, 3,700 Post Offices closed in Britain - a 21% decline. (Postwatch Annual Report 2004). In 2008 a further 2,500 Post Offices are to be closed in October of this year. Many family residents of communities who have utilised the services of local post offices for much of their lifetime over the past 100-150 years, are finding closures difficult to accept. Elderly residents of communities, many of whom could not manage the demands of a bank account, who don't drive or possess a vehicle and are mostly confined to the area of their home because of disabilities, are not accepting this change easily. Social inclusion is also of tantamount importance to them, where a certain level of trust and dependency has built up over the years with local post office staff. Local post offices are one very important way for communities to 'stay in touch' with local events and day-to-day news as to the wellbeing of local neighbours. On-line services are also reducing local post office services. A £4m loss of funds per week does not answer the crucial question "will a centralised network system throughout the UK solve the existing Post Office problems, when millions of pounds have already been lost to the taxpayer in errors of judgment and often unscrupulous charges to the public from other nationalised services"?
Independent Grocery Stores
Between 2000-2005 8,600 independent grocery stores closed (a 25% decline)
(Institute of Grocery Distribution).
Bank Branches
Between 1995-2005 3,757 bank branches closed (a 23% decline)
Bank Branches
Between 1995-2005 3,757 bank branches closed (a 23% decline)
(Campaign for Community Banking 2005).
Police Stations
Between 1997-2003 200 police stations closed (Telegraph Article 10.08.04). When police services disappear and more people move out of the community crime is harder to control. The presence of people on the streets plays a vital role in discouraging violent attacks and in itself deters street crime and denies the space to criminal elements. (Violence Research Unit, The Guardian 20.2. 2000: Crime and Space in Inner Cities, Crime Design Studies Vol 1 1995: Whitzman and Wierkle 1995).
Independent Newsagents
Between 1995-2004 13,000 independent newsagents closed
(National Federation of Retail Newsagents).
GP Surgeries
Between 1994-2004, 700 GP surgeries closed.
GP Surgeries
Between 1994-2004, 700 GP surgeries closed.
Green Belt Developments
Between 1997-2004 162 green belt developments were approved
(Article in the Telegraph 09.05.2004).
Specialist Stores
Between 1997-2002 50 specialist stores (e.g. butchers, bakes and fishmongers) closed per week (Clone Town Britain – nef, 2004).
Independent Pubs
Between 1997-2003 20 independent pubs closed per month
Between 1997-2003 20 independent pubs closed per month
(Campaign for Real Ale Research).
Produce
Between 1990-2002 the number of apple orchards in the UK halved
Produce
Between 1990-2002 the number of apple orchards in the UK halved
(Ghost Town Britain – nef, 2002)
Between 1990-2000 UK fruit and vegetable production reduced by 37%
(Local Food 2002).
Climate Change
CO2 emissions continue to increase. From 1991 to 2003 the average shopper travelled an extra 100 miles a year, the average trip was up an extra mile (DOT statistics). The average petrol car driving one mile emitted 0.3kg of CO₂ (Defra, 2005; Tindal Centre, 2005). . In the mid-1980s the average person made 1.5 trips by car to supermarkets each week; 10 years later this had increased to 2.4 trips (Article in the Ecologist 2004). The distance per average tonne of UK food transported in 1978 was 82km, and in 1999 was 125km (Sustain report: Eating Oil). Between 1985-1998 there was a 57% increase in distance of weekly car shopping trips per person from 14km to 22km (Sustain report: Eating Oil). In London, 8% of people visiting high street shops reached them by car, compared to 60% of those shopping at a Sainsbury’s superstore (Article in The Ecologist 2004)
Social Exclusion
The sudden decline of local services and social connections reports an increase in social exclusion and even practical isolation.
…….and the situation is not getting any better
Useful Addresses:
*Dr Evan Harris, MP (Liberal Democrats) http://www.evanharris.org.uk/ and eharris@parliament.gov.uk; The Rt. Hon. David Cameron, MP (Leader of the Conservative Party) http://www.davidcameron.com/ and camerond@parliament.uk;Craig Simmons (Leader of the Green Party/OCC www.oxford.gov.uk/council/councillors.cfm/detail/130 and cllrcsimmons@oxford.gov.uk; Andrew Smith, MP (Labour Party) http://www.andrewsmithmp.org.uk/ and andrewsmith.mp@virgin.net; The Rt. Hon Ruth Kelly, MP (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – Lab.); http://www.ruthkellymp.com/; The Rt. Hon Eric Pickles (Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – Cons.)http://www.conservatives.com/redir.cfm?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eericpickles%2Ecom and eric@ericpickles.com; Kate Hoey, MP – All Party Post Office Group http://www.katehoey.com/ and hoeyk@parliament.uk; Ruth Bond (Chair: Public Affairs Comm.: National Federation of Women’s Institutes) http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=9269 and hq@nfwi.org.uk;
AND, write to MPs via http://www.theyworkforyou.com/
or at
House of Commons
London SW1A OAA.
For local Oxford support and discussion contact:
COMMUNITY MATTERS (OXFORD)
communitymattersoxford.blogspot.com communitymattersoxford@googlemail.com
‘PEOPLE POWER’ WORKS WHY NOT USE IT TO SUPPORT LOCAL DECISION-MAKING FOR LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY?
