Civic Societies represent us all. They are groups of local people who, like the Civic Society Initiative are passionate about the places in which we all live, work and relax. It is a network of over 1,000 voluntary civic and amenity societies and 250,000 members who play a crucial role in defending and celebrating the identity and quality of the places where we all live.
The civic society movement is one of England’s unsung treasures.
Examples of civic society activities and campaigns include:
- Bradford Civic Trust’s publication of alternative “common sense regeneration” plans for the city
- Camden Civic Society’s campaign to improve the design of the British Museum extension recently refused planning permission
- Leicester Civic Society’s campaign to save the unique Bowstring Bridge and re-open the listed Silver Arcade
- Skipton Civic Society’s detailed survey of listed buildings in the town centre and guide to the ginnels and yards of the town
- Oxford Civic Society’s “Street for people” campaign in partnership with Oxford City Council to promote streets as social places for everyone to enjoy and remove unnecessary clutter from signs, posts and bollards
- Huddersfield Civic Society’s plans for a heritage trail and blue plaques recognising the town’s important buildings, open spaces and people
- Stamford Civic Society’s Paving the way report revealing the deteriorating condition of much of the pedestrian pavement throughout the town centre
- St Albans Civic Society’s campaign against a rail freight terminal in the Green Belt with five warehouses each larger than Terminal 5
