Cohesive, sustainable communities

I've just returned from a very special consultation meeting run by the local council - a meeting to which a number of rate payers were invited to be part of the development of the strategic housing plan for the next 2 decades. We talked about the drivers for the changes in the housing market and what our views were on the issues.

Guess what? Community was high up on people's agenda. Personally, I emphasised the notion that, instead of merging primary schools, (which forces people into their 4x4's to take their kids to school) we should be making the investment into real 'village' style communities ,with modern schools and shops and community halls that will again attract mums (and some dads!) back to the habit of walking their children to school and meeting and, more importantly, enjoying the interaction with each other on the journey!

With so much 'modern' culture which now pervades our society and materialistic values replacing simple humanity towards each other, it will take a big effort to make this kind of change happen. It will need guts and true leadership and a long term view from our councils and government, businesses and community leaders, to drive and support and encourage.

Can we expect this to happen? Or will we see our leaders continue to take the simpler, short term economic decisions when it comes to town and community planning?

I would like to think that someone in power and influence will eventually see that the real economy is a 'social economy' that comes not from saving capital now, but from 'using' money for housing (jobs, etc.) in a strategic way to create a more stable, cohesive, sustainable and cost effective community in the future.

The socio-economic benefits of creating truly interactive neighbourhoods will far outweigh the immediate costs in simple monetary terms.

Some who read this will want to pick holes in what I have not said, such as the complications of modern working cultures, the internet, crime and antisocial behaviour and so on. They would be right to pick holes - and I would be naive to believe things could be so simple. But fixing the issues of today's society has to start with some basic human principles, and where we live and how we live is a big part of the long term solution.