The initiative, entitled Street Pride, 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.
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.
In Wakefield, West Yorkshire, residents are anxious to improve the rundown Kirkgate area, while in Oxford the society is pushing for a “Streets for People” campaign that almost mirrors the nationwide Street Pride campaign for citizens to reclaim their streets and take greater responsibility on their impact for local communities.
Elsewhere there are plans to provide good playgrounds and save open spaces for community recreation. A priority will be to work with schools and to inspire children from an early age to value their local streets and distinctive buildings.
Prince Charles told members of the civic trusts across Britain: “Out of adversity you now have an opportunity to build something even stronger — a powerful community movement which can address the challenges of a fast-changing world and remain a steadfast champion of the fabric and character of our nation’s cities, towns and villages.”
Audits are planned for every town in the country to find out the scale of problems.This information will be used to lobby ministers for powers to force councils to keep streets free of clutter and poorly-designed buildings.
One option is for an extension to the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which gave councils and private landowners a legal requirement to clear litter from public spaces.
Rhys Jones said: “I am proud to be a Nimby. Because this is not my back yard, this is my garden and if I don’t look after it who will?”
