|
'Better Places to Live' Home Zones conference, 09/02/04:
The Home Zones for Scotland Network [1] today announced details of its conference 'Better Places to Live' - to be held at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh next Monday, 9th February. Keynote speakers at the conference are: ¥ Scottish Executive Transport Minister Nicol Stephen
MSP Conference chair David Spaven (chair of sustainable transport group TRANSform Scotland) said: "Home Zones have been around in the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia for 25 years or more, where they have played a key role in improving the quality of life for people in residential areas." [3] "This conference will highlight the opportunities for Home Zones to become the norm in all new-build residential developments in Scotland. Home Zones can make an important contribution to improving the relationship between people and traffic, the desire to create nicer places, and the potential that bettering the physical environment can have in strengthening and reviving communities." ENDS Notes to Editors: [1] Home Zones for Scotland Network The membership of the Home Zone for Scotland Network includes childrens' organisations (Play Scotland, Save the Children), transport groups (TRANSform Scotland) and local authorities (Dundee City Council, Stirling Council). [2] Wayne Hemingway "Wayne Hemingway is the highly successful co-founder of Red or Dead which won the British Fashion CouncilÕs ÒStreet Style Designer of the YearÓ award three times in a row in the late 90Õs." http://www.hemingwaydesign.co.uk/wayne_hemingway_biog.htm He is Designer for Staiths South Bank, George Wimpey City Development, Gateshead - see http://www.gwcity.co.uk/staiths/ [3] What are 'Home Zones'? Home Zones are people-friendly residential streets based
on ideas that developed originally in the Netherlands, and have become
ordinary practice in many parts of Northern Europe. Home Zones are typically
based on the following four principles: Home Zones are one manifestation of current interest in the new approaches needed to improve the quality of, and the quality of life in, residential areas in this country. The concept has captured imagination and interest across the board and has become the subject of government policy and research. The original Netherlands 'woonerven', and most of the UK Home Zone pilot schemes, involved changing existing neighbourhoods with residents at the heart of the process. However, the cost and the complexity of such a process - while not ruling out the importance of doing it - was one of the reasons for focusing this conference on opportunities afforded by new residential development. See http://www.homezonenews.org.uk/html/hz_inuk_region.asp?region=Scotland for details of the four Scottish Home Zone projects. As well as four Scottish Executive-monitored pilot schemes there are many other Home Zones in the making in Scotland. [4] Background to the conference: 'Better Places to Live', the third Scottish Home Zones conference, was initiated and is supported by the Scottish Executive, and organised by the Home Zones Scotland Network. The conference follows on from events held in 1999 and 2002. The conference will report on progress made over the past four years in delivering Home Zones in Scotland. At the first conference (November 1999) the then Transport Minister Sarah Boyack committed the Scottish Executive to monitor progress in delivering Home Zone pilot projects set up by local authorities. In 2000, the Scottish Executive invited local authorities to propose pilot home zone schemes. Four were chosen, in Thurso, Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and are in the process of being monitored and evaluated. In 2001, the Transport (Scotland) Act allowed local authorities to designate areas as Home Zones, and in 2002, Guidance to the Act was published, followed by an extended consultation period (still ongoing). Following the 2003 elections, the Scottish Executive Partnership Agreement made commitment to "Support the development of Home Zones to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in residential areas". [5] Conference speakers The complete list of speakers is as follows:
END OF PRESS RELEASE |