But Manchester is now at a crossroads. With the 'no vote' in the congestion charge referendum limiting transport development and with the housing market weakening in the face of the global recession what should Manchester now do to ensure regeneration continues and economic success is sustained?
On Thursday 30th April 2009, Greater Manchester Fabian Society presents a special debate:
'What now for regeneration?' at the Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD.
The event will start at 7.30pm.
This event is open to all but you will need to book a place in advance. To book a place please email Graham Whitham on graham_whitham@hotmail.co.uk or call 07917644435. To cover room costs attendees will be asked to pay a £5 entrance fee.
The event will be chaired by:
- Jonathan Schofield, writer, broadcaster and guide
- Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure and Labour councillor for Fallowfield
- Chris Farrow, Chief Executive of the Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company
- Neil McInroy, Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies
- Ben Williams, Head of Regional Development at Groundwork Northwest.
1 comments:
I found the inspiring maxim of the evening was, "Politics and economics should be as participatory as football," which jibes a lot about the state of this country.
The best idea was the concept of refurbishing the length of the Irwell as a linear park with waterfront for the connurbation's central population and workforce. If you can find a copy of: Geoffrey Ashworth "The Lost Rivers of Manchester" Willow 1987 Altrincham ISBN 0 946361 12 6, grasp it. Ditto Richard Dean "Canals of Manchester" [map]Baldwin 1989 Kidderminster ISBN 0 947712 12 7.
As for making things: we have in our town-hall files the stats and locations of social housing and public buildings - by the thousands. It is no problem to acquire from the web and the Carbon Trust the dozen or two contractors for installing heatpumps which produce heating energy for a quarter MWhrs of burning fossil fuels. Into the bargain we have the system of covenants to secure payment when a building is sold (if it can not be paid meanwhile from energy savings); and we also have quite a few well built redundant mills to use as bases for firms installing assembling and making the equipment for heat pumps and insulation. We ought to assemble in principle and practice a market for the new technology, kicked off by refurbishing the public/social sector and point the way to the private householders and economic sector.
On precedent a major change in infrastructure and associated industries takes ten years and will be just on time for peak oil in 2020 at latest and its energy price surges of fossil fuels.
What Manchester does today; the rest of the World does tomorrow.
Yours, Frank Adam
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