Civic societies across the country take action to create better streets for people

Civic societies across the country are taking action to create better streets for people. In 2010, the Civic Society Initiative will be running a 'street pride' campaign to help rid streets of unnecessary clutter and create streets that local communities can be proud of.

The campaign responds to the enthusiasm expressed by civic societies during the recent debate undertaken by the Civic Society Initiative for action to improve our streets, says The Times. It builds on excellent campaigns already undertaken in Stamford, Oxford, Salisbury, Alnwick, Bath, Wakefield and elsewhere.

The outcomes will include a toolkit for civic societies to involve their members and others in identifying and urging action against unnecessary street clutter and a number of campaign workshops around the country. The focus will be on poor pavements and unnecessary signs, posts, bollards and guardrails. The results will feed into a national database and support a high profile campaign for national action.

The Street Pride initiative aims to mobilise communities into taking an active role to prevent local roads, squares and precincts being blighted by intrusive fixtures and other debris. Backed by 1,000 civic groups across the nation, the organisers say that they want to create a vibrant body of activists rather than reinvent a stereotypical organisation of middle-class 'do-gooders'.

Griff Rhys Jones, the comedy actor and presenter, will act as the figurehead for the campaign, which will be supported by English Heritage. There are already many local campaigns. Oxford, Stamford, Salisbury and Wakefield are making strides and bringing improvements to streetscapes.

In Camden, North London, the civic society has shown its mettle in persuading the council to force the British Museum to rethink plans for the redevelopment of its northwest extension and in Stamford, Lincolnshire, campaigners have highlighted the deteriorating condition of pavements.

Activists in Tonbridge, Kent, are determined to restart the high street clock to re-assert its importance as a landmark in the town and in St Albans, locals are opposing a warehouse development on Green Belt land that is bigger than Heathrow’s Terminal Five extension.

To get involved, help in arranging a campaign awareness workshop or simply keep in touch then contact: streetpride@civicsocietyinitiative.org.uk