Reclaiming the space

All too often, habit and busy lives can make us forget that urban spaces and pavements can be more than a path along which to hurry from A to B. These under-used assets could be enhanced to help revitalise our town centres, boost economic performance, support regeneration, and build community pride and social integration.

Read the rest of the Government report : "Re-imaging urban spaces to help revitalise our high streets."

Stella Parkes

The social value of public spaces

Public spaces play a vital role in the social and economic life of communities. New kinds of public spaces and meeting places are now being created in towns and cities, which can be an important social resource. In this summary of research projects undertaken in England and Wales, Ken Worpole and Katharine Knox explore how people use both traditional and new public spaces, and how these places function, often successfully, sometimes not. The summary provides clear evidence of the importance of public space in successful regeneration policies, and for creating sustainable communities.

Read the rest of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report here.

Stella Parkes

More picnickers

Back in the autumn of 2014 you would have been lucky to find a place to sit on this sunny Saturday. If you recognise yourselves in this photo - please get in touch.

Mike Goodenough

Unanimously agreed

Here is the minuted decision of Stroud Town Council at their March 2nd meeting:

'It was unanimously agreed that public access to the curtilage of the restored Medieval Hall at the top of Stroud High Street should be preserved, and to give the Town Council’s support to an application on behalf of the local community to have this space registered as a Town Green.'

Mike Goodenough

A garden for the whole of Stroud

Trying to establish how large a ‘neighbourhood or locality’ we can claim is served by the Courtyard Garden has been difficult. However, we have now been advised by a planner experienced in Town Green applications that it would be reasonable in this case to say that it served everyone within the Parish of Stroud.

This boundary would include the lady I photographed on Saturday. She had been to see the Shaping the Heart of Stroud exhibition at the Subs, and was eating her lunch before walking back home to Uplands.

As she observed, lots of people moved to Stroud so that they could be within walking distance of the town centre - and this the perfect place for a snack in the early spring sunshine.

Mike Goodenough

Getting the word out

Thanks to Stroud Life for highlighting this story in the paper on Wednesday.

Stella Parkes

A special place

Early, with the sun striking Rodbourgh Fort in a cloudless sky and crocus unfurling at my feet - it's easy to understand why this garden is so special.

Mike Goodenough