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Re:Car Free Development - 2006/04/28 10:10Here's a little more about this wonderful guy...
"Roger Madelin, chief executive of developer Argent, delivered an almost vitriolic attack on local politicians and a planning process which was slow, obstructive and mistrustful. Entitling his presentation “Trust me, I’m a developer”, Madelin argued strongly that he was in the business of investing for long-term gain and that good design and profit went together.Madelin said he had already commissioned dozens of design studies ... but was becoming tired of the meddling and “incompetence” of local politicians. It was politicians who suffered from short-termism, he said, and he was frustrated by planning officers and counsellors (from both the local authority and the GLA) who wished to comment on the proposals without ever having read Argent’s 100-page report. Although he was comfortable with the idea of public consultation, Madelin said he was “totally confused” by the current system. Central government should make up its mind whether to assume total control over planning matters, or to hand control back to local authorities."
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charles style
Re:Car Free Development - 2006/04/28 10:34Dear Tony, I really admire Roger Madelin and what he and Argent are proposing to do to transform the derelict Kings Cross area into a thriving part of the metropolis, that is brilliant. His views on planners, the planning process and the consultation process are something I have only just read and are not really relevant here other than to say that it is a very common complaint from developers throughout the UK that the planning process is too slow and that this is hampering development and regeneration. The government in numerous studies have I beleive come to the same view and are trying to find ways to streamline the process and at the same time encourage consultation with local communities. It is however a lot easier to do without a car in London, particualarly in a development right on top of Kings Cross station than it is living outsdide of a huge metropolis with all it has to offer and a very good public transport system. Noentheless the idea of having a fleet of electric vehicles available to residents is one we might consider and perhaps one that other residents of Lewes might consider. Dea campbell said in her first posting that she was trying to wean herself off using her car and I think that is really the point, a lot of us are trying to use our cars less but in some ways the freedom of owning and operating one is something that society is still very enamoured with and it will take some time and encouragement to make serious inroads into the reducing car ownership and useage. We are proposing car clubs, bicycles etc, we are also proposing a development that has to be attractive to new people moving in and i feel it is not really going to for most people to not have the freedom to keep a car when they live effectively on the edge of the countryside and might wish either to go to work outside Lewes or to travel around in their own car. If the development is not attractive to new people moving in it will fail and I have to be aware of that. All green issues including sustainable buildings and promoting of less car useage are being seriously considered and will be a major part of our proposals we do not however be so daring in our use of new technologies and ideas that the project is no longer viable.
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Annabel Davies
Re:Car Free Development - 2006/04/28 12:46Thank you Charles for your views on a Car Free Development. I, like Dea, am also trying to wean myself off using my car. As someone who lives right on the boundary of the Phoenix I would be very interested in anything that would help me do so, obviously a car club seems like a great idea. Would it be only for Phoenix residents or could anyone join? I agree that existing without a car would be significantly easier in a city, but that is only because of the public transport. I believe that the idea of a 'hopper bus' travelling from the Phoenix to The Cliffe and The High Street has been discussed in the past. Could you tell us your current views on the subject?
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Dea Campbell
Re:Car Free Development - 2006/04/28 13:56I have to disagree with what Charles said about car free development being an unattractive proposition to people moving in to Lewes. I think a car free development would attract three different groups of people, one of whom would be urban refugees; well-off families from London who actively want to embrace exactly the kind of lifestyle this would offer: tranquility, sense of community, the kind of place where your kids can play in the street. All this within easy reach of London, and with the benefit of having access to a car without the expense of running it. The other two groups would be: the grown-up children of Lewes people, maybe starting out in the housing market, and able to borrow the family car when they really need it. And those in Lewes and around, of whom there are many, who actively want to pursue a 'green' lifestyle. I think it is nonsense to talk about discrimination in not allowing people to own a car. What about the freedom of living in a place where you can hear the birds sing, chat and socialize in the streets, and regain that lost sense of community we gave up when we started allowing the needs of cars to take precedence over the needs of people?
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Annabel Davies
Re:Car Free Development - 2006/04/28 13:59My sentiments exactly Dea.
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Adam
Re:Car Free Development - 2006/04/28 14:50I mean this in an entirely friendly way, but isn't it the case that both Dea and Annabel have cars? It's no good talking about trying to wean yourself off your car, you either have one or you don't. And to have one, but try to prevent others from having one, well, that IS hypocritical, isn't it? One rule for us, another rule for them? I don't see any alternative to practicing what you preach, otherwise what you're saying seems pretty meaningless. Or is there another way of looking at this issue that I'm missing?
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