So where will the children of the future live? The rich in their walled estates or in the countryside – that sounds idyllic?? Isolated from friends, no bus services, few clubs. The countryside? I have not seen one teenager walk or cycle through my village this holiday. Children are brought to school by car. Villages are increasingly dominated by the motor vehicle. One local village, after more than 50 years is about to get a bypass – and a couple of thousand more houses. Hopefully air quality will be improved in the middle of the village, but no new facilities are planned that I am aware of.
What is needed is proper planning that takes into account all aspects of life in an area. Planning appeals are dominated by the rich companies wishing to make their £50000 profit per house. Demography, socio-economics, environment, public services (buses run on a not for profit basis with free travel for under 16’s. PS. Why should I get a free bus pass when I can afford a car, yes I get thje environmental bit about buses, but children would benefit more.
Then there is the whole resource aspect of cities. Inputs of resources, food, energy, people from surrounding areas and afar, whilst outputs are waste and pollution.
It is time this country grew up and stopped being obsessed with privilege – who gives a fuck who is at the Coronation of some Nob and where they are sitting. Planning for the future has been neglected or left to the wealthy, who line their own pockets.
We could start with schools – give 6th Form Teadhers the task of creating a wholistic plan for the local area – students could gain the equivalent of A level – a British Bacculatiate? I am nearly 70 so it is not for me to determine what young people would like – at present they are ignored. My local secondary school spans 110sq.km and 6 major villages – would a minibus service be useful? What times? Could it be staffed by volunteers? Would capital cost of a minibus be worthwhile, or could they be shared with the secondary school? Water authorities and other utilities should be mandated to provide relevant data to schools – yes even promary schools – many a wise word has come from the mouths of pre-teens!
Almost finished now! If 2000 new homes or even 200 are being built does anyone consider the requirements of the new residents of all ages? I am sure they will have pretty envirinmental bits – but do these actually mean anything?