Shaping Neighbourhoods by Hugh Barton, Marcus Grant and Richard Guise aims to provide a workable eco-friendly model for town-planners. It cites the mental and physical health of the individual as the keystone to any sustainable society, and highlights the importance of using waste as a resource.
Environmental campaigner Jonathon Porritt, speaking at the launch, praised the book’s approach and talked of the need to implement the ideas it puts forward. Addressing guests at the Town & Country Association in London, he criticised the current trend of government spending. “It is ironic that government money is pouring into the health service to combat illness, while at the same time little is done to promote healthy places where people live,” he said.
“We are still exacerbating the problems and effectively pouring good money after bad. If we concentrate on solving problems upstream, it will create far healthier neighbourhoods downstream. Shaping Neighbourhoods helps bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality.”
The book argues that heightened public awareness of ‘clean’ waste disposal is paramount to achieving collaborative results. As well as environmental and technical services, planners and designers can also make a significant impact in this regard. Proposals include mini-recycling centres in estates where communal rubbish collection facilities already exist.
Also speaking at the launch, Mr Barton, a Reader in Planning at the University of the West of England, proposed an end to standardised solutions for different neighbourhoods. He said each area should be treated individually, and should aim to embed re-use and recycling in the daily life of residents and businesses in the locality.
Shaping Neighbourhoods is published by Spon Press and has ISBN number 0-415-27852-X (hardback); 0-415-26009-4 (paperback).
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