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15 minute cities coming to your area soon

(213 Posts)
petunia Mon 20-Feb-23 08:19:15

In recent months there has been increasing interest and chat around the concept of 15 minute cities. My understanding of the scheme is that within your own city zone, all your requirements for shops, education, health, recreation etc. will be available. Travel outside your zone on foot, public transport, cycle etc. will be allowed. However you would not be able to use your car more than 100 times per year to leave your zone to go into or cross another zone. To keep control of the use of cars, recognition cameras would monitor vehicle and fines issued to people who use their car to cross zones more than the allotted number of times. There would be exemptions for certain vehicles.

Oxford are proposing to launch this plan which will divide the city into zones quite soon leading to protests over the weekend. The interest in this scheme is widespread with many other councils coming forward to express future involvement in this way of organising their communities.

Have any of you grans-netters heard of this or had their council express an interest.

petunia Wed 22-Feb-23 17:25:02

Anti-mask, anti-vaxx, anti-EU, anti-woke, anti-immigrant, anti-feminist, anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-BBC, anti-green, anti-cyclist, anti-traffic-control, anti-21st-century, anti-groupthink

blimey LadyHonoriaDedlock . thats quite a list there. but i think you forgot NIMBY

Galaxy Wed 22-Feb-23 16:45:59

It's becoming increasingly impossible for people to understand that people may hold a different view to them. The word semi literate has just been thrown around on another thread. I know quite a lot of people who voted Brexit they have skills that people on here couldnt dream of, and to be honest tend to have more empathy than those who shout at them.

Doodledog Wed 22-Feb-23 16:39:25

Another thread that's turned unnecessarily nasty. There seems to be something in the water just now.

Galaxy Wed 22-Feb-23 16:26:14

Your tolerance on the other hand shines through Lady Honoria. To be honest that rant sounds no different to the conspiracy theorists, not much different.

Scottiebear Wed 22-Feb-23 16:19:25

Bit difficult for any of those who have to travel work, particularly to out of town areas, ie industrial estates, shopping precincts etc.

LadyHonoriaDedlock Wed 22-Feb-23 15:04:32

growstuff Freedom to do what the hell I like and bugger everybody else!

The Libertarian philosophy in a nutshell.

LadyHonoriaDedlock Wed 22-Feb-23 15:03:02

growstuff

MaizieD

LadyHonoriaDedlock

Why does my head hurt, growstuff? And why are there grey hairs all over the floor?

You can't beat a good conspiracy theory, LadyH grin

Yeah well! They got a bit bored with the anti-mask stuff, but who would have thought they'd have hijacked a perfectly sound theory, which has been around for years?

Anti-mask, anti-vaxx, anti-EU, anti-woke, anti-immigrant, anti-feminist, anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-BBC, anti-green, anti-cyclist, anti-traffic-control, anti-21st-century, anti-groupthink (oh the irony!)

Birds of a feather flock together. You'll never see one without the others nearby.

effalump Wed 22-Feb-23 15:00:08

While you're all talking about how to adjust to living in a 15 minutes city, then these will definitely go ahead. What you should be doing is making a noise. Get together and create groups that don't 'consent' to this type of tyrrany.

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 14:48:02

AFAIK there's been no serious plan to keep people in "their zone" and forbid travelling outside it (apart from a handful of crackpot conspiracy touts). They do love to build up a hysterical frenzy.

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 14:45:53

MaizieD

^And severely restrict free movement for everyone!^

It's that bit about restricting car journeys out of the zones, isn't it? Completely deaf to improving public transport, allowing certain classes of traffic etc. No, it's the 'free movement' of cars that's riling people... hmm

Never mind that people actual like to have local amenities nearby...

It's "Freeeeeeeeeeedom"!

Freedom to do what the hell I like and bugger everybody else!

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 14:44:49

Eloethan

It sounds like part of the plotline of the series Years and Years which, as the story went on, showed the introduction of more and more restrictions.

I don't like the sound of it at all. I agree that people should be encouraged to use their cars less often (I believe most car journeys are only for short distances), but I think the idea that you can take charge of people's lives to this extent is worrying.

I think the extension of ULEZ to the outer London boroughs is unfair - and some say it will have an insignificant effect on air pollution. Many people who live in the boroughs more distant from central London do so because they can't afford to live closer. Now they may not be able to use their current cars and cannot afford to buy another one. Obviously, it is better to walk or take public transport but that isn't always a practical option, and it seems very unfair that it is invariably poorer people who, in relative terms, pay the biggest price when such measures are introduced.

I quite like the idea of having cleaner air in cities with safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists and faster routes for those, such as emergency services, who actually need to use inner city roads.

If that's controlling people's lives, bring it on!

Meanwhile, I'd absolutely hate to live somewhere with no facilities within a 15 minute walk and feel for the people who are forced to do so.

MaizieD Wed 22-Feb-23 14:42:49

And severely restrict free movement for everyone!

It's that bit about restricting car journeys out of the zones, isn't it? Completely deaf to improving public transport, allowing certain classes of traffic etc. No, it's the 'free movement' of cars that's riling people... hmm

Never mind that people actual like to have local amenities nearby...

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 14:42:04

MaizieD

LadyHonoriaDedlock

Why does my head hurt, growstuff? And why are there grey hairs all over the floor?

You can't beat a good conspiracy theory, LadyH grin

Yeah well! They got a bit bored with the anti-mask stuff, but who would have thought they'd have hijacked a perfectly sound theory, which has been around for years?

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 14:40:11

Gabrielle56

growstuff

grantante What you're saying supports the idea of 15 minute cities. They're not about the traffic flow systems, but trying to ensure that most of the facilities people need for daily living are within a 15 minute walk or bike ride for most people. They would make traffic flow systems unnecessary.

And severely restrict free movement for everyone! Non runner on the idea of imposing restrictions, try persuasion? Maybe coughing up for electric vehicles for the working classes? That's anyone who works for a wage. Or encouraging industries to pry themselves away from concentrated cesspits of cities and overcrowded areas, sharing wealth and jobs more fairly? So many other ways to deal with modern issues, maybe old fashioned minds incapable of dealing with modern problems with the main solutions appearing to be along the lines of " clobber the less well off" ? As per usual.......already impossible to attend a major retail outlet without a car , Trafford centre Bluewater Cheshire Oaks et Al. Seemed a good idea at the time didn't it? Killed small town retailers off on altar of greed of the " chains"

But but but the the concept of 15 minute cities isn't about restricting movement for everybody. That's just what the conspiracy theory loons would want you to believe, when they bang on about "freeeeeeeedom". Freedom from what?

They've weaponised the 15 minute city theory to strengthen their argument against traffic flow systems.

MaizieD Wed 22-Feb-23 14:37:25

but the concepts of people using butchers etc is something that for the majority if people isnt a reality.

Try telling that to the three thriving butchers shops up the road and down the road from me, ^Galaxy*... This isn't 'middle class', it's reality.

(When OH and I were in full time work we went to the local butchers on Saturday.)

You missed our Lidl and Aldi, too...

MaizieD Wed 22-Feb-23 14:32:55

LadyHonoriaDedlock

Why does my head hurt, growstuff? And why are there grey hairs all over the floor?

You can't beat a good conspiracy theory, LadyH grin

Eloethan Wed 22-Feb-23 14:27:27

It sounds like part of the plotline of the series Years and Years which, as the story went on, showed the introduction of more and more restrictions.

I don't like the sound of it at all. I agree that people should be encouraged to use their cars less often (I believe most car journeys are only for short distances), but I think the idea that you can take charge of people's lives to this extent is worrying.

I think the extension of ULEZ to the outer London boroughs is unfair - and some say it will have an insignificant effect on air pollution. Many people who live in the boroughs more distant from central London do so because they can't afford to live closer. Now they may not be able to use their current cars and cannot afford to buy another one. Obviously, it is better to walk or take public transport but that isn't always a practical option, and it seems very unfair that it is invariably poorer people who, in relative terms, pay the biggest price when such measures are introduced.

LadyHonoriaDedlock Wed 22-Feb-23 14:08:16

Why does my head hurt, growstuff? And why are there grey hairs all over the floor?

Gabrielle56 Wed 22-Feb-23 14:08:11

growstuff

grantante What you're saying supports the idea of 15 minute cities. They're not about the traffic flow systems, but trying to ensure that most of the facilities people need for daily living are within a 15 minute walk or bike ride for most people. They would make traffic flow systems unnecessary.

And severely restrict free movement for everyone! Non runner on the idea of imposing restrictions, try persuasion? Maybe coughing up for electric vehicles for the working classes? That's anyone who works for a wage. Or encouraging industries to pry themselves away from concentrated cesspits of cities and overcrowded areas, sharing wealth and jobs more fairly? So many other ways to deal with modern issues, maybe old fashioned minds incapable of dealing with modern problems with the main solutions appearing to be along the lines of " clobber the less well off" ? As per usual.......already impossible to attend a major retail outlet without a car , Trafford centre Bluewater Cheshire Oaks et Al. Seemed a good idea at the time didn't it? Killed small town retailers off on altar of greed of the " chains"

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 14:06:47

Galaxy

Well in terms of an implementation group the numbers cant be that large or its unworkable but in terms of consultation there was a good attendance. I would say the majority of people in the village were aware of the plan which whatever I may think of the views of some driving the plan is an achievement.

So what are they objecting to? I hope it's not social housing which might affect their house prices.

I've been involved with our local planning committee for almost ten years. Despite a vocal few, most people haven't a clue how systems work or what's going on. They just expect the council to produce what they want as individuals and come out with a load of guff about the good of the town, about which they actually couldn't care less.

We spend a lot of time sending out notices, getting articles in the local press and doing surveys and questionnaires. We're lucky if 20 people turn up for meetings or more than 10% of questionnaires are completed. It doesn't stop people having a huge moan when there's development they don't like.

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 14:00:35

Well said Maizie. I live in a town, where the majority of people are quite wealthy, but it's those who don't have access to a car (and there are quite a lot) who make most use of the local facilities.

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 13:58:18

Coco51

Just another hairbrained scheme from people who have too much time on their hands, and no knowledge of what it is like to live in a village. I can’t see M&S or other like retailers coming to every ‘city’. Given that my County has few railways , no motorways and to get anywhere on public transport requires driving into the city centre to get anywhere else on public transport, and usually requires a trip into London before accessing transport to destination. I can’t see M&S or other like retailers coming to every ‘city’.
It’s another means of social control.

And the conspiracy theorists would want people to believe what you do!

The idea of 15 minute cities isn't a harebrained scheme. Many people already live in them and it's what people would like when they move to a new development. They want to live in communities, rather than individual boxes with closed doors.

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 13:55:12

Gabrielle56

Ok so I work , say in a "city" 40 miles away, as we used to? Arecwe allowed to drive to work , shifts , on call and without any rights to strike ?

Yes! Why on earth wouldn't you be allowed to do that?

Don't tell me you've swallowed the conspiracy theory propaganda.

growstuff Wed 22-Feb-23 13:54:00

Fair enough! So make sure there's planning for a decent supermarket which is accessible for most people! Encourage supermarkets to return to more central locations with rate reductions, etc!

I live in a small town and have Tesco, Aldi and Waitrose within a 15 minute walk. There are also a number of convenience stores. It's not about small butchers and greengrocers, although we happen to have those too.

The issue arises when large housing developments are planned, but there are no facilities, including supermarkets, and people are forced to own a car.

It's not rocket science to understand that having the needs for daily living within easy reach is good for people's, society's and the environment's wellbeing.

Gabrielle56 Wed 22-Feb-23 13:53:10

Ok so I work , say in a "city" 40 miles away, as we used to? Arecwe allowed to drive to work , shifts , on call and without any rights to strike ?