Whole Town Strategies

Increasingly, we are recognising that holistic thinking is neded to make better places. Places are about both the physical environment and the people who occupy these environments. Both change, constantly. In this context, places are never fixed. They are ever changing, like a dynamic artform. How then do you suatain a place when the reasons that connect people and place are in constant flux?
The answer to this question requires us to think big and act small. It is hard to get our heads around the whole idea of a town or city. It is easier to understand a neighbourhood or stret. However, just like a russian doll, everything fits together, each part makes a contribution to the next. Whole town strategiesmust allow us to work at both levels, in a clear and practical way. Scottish Renaissance Towns offers one way forward. The Neilston charter looks at the town as a whole, and the components within it. It was derived by people for people, and links local agendas with bigger issues. On October 29th, the learning from the Neilston pilot will be presented at a conference on Whole town strategies. We look forward to both making a contribution and learning from the discussions, and progressing holistic place based thinking.