Zero Carbon

An interesting talk at the NLA on Zero Carbon: a goal too far? began with Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the Zero Carbon Hub, talking us through government changes to the definition of zero carbon (reminiscent of Thatcher's changes to the definition of unemployyed, instantly bringing jobless queues down). What time we must waste manipulating figures to serve our causes.

I was mulling this when Jonathan Hines, director of Architype, started speaking and all this nit picking seemed irrelevant. In a strident speech, he said if zero carbon is the goal, we are asking ourselves the wrong questions. It's inefficient and wasteful to set up individual properties or developments to be zero carbon, which also provides no incentives for people to cut consumption. Far better to built mass recycling/ green energy installations and encourage thrift. He was convincing, and those who came after struggled with their pre-prepared speeches about construction of homes to Code Levels 4, 5 and 6.

Why are Britons so opposed to HS2?

The first train on the newly opened Paris to Strasbourg high-speed line in 2007 was full of journalists, but the French and British hacks had very different perspectives. As a France-based British journalist I had a foot in both caps. The French were interested in the technical achievements and the consumer experience, taking the advantages (economic growth for the region through better connectivity) as self evident and worth the disruption for folks living along the line (who were amply compensated). All the British questions focused on short-term considerations - how many years before the line would turn a profit etc.

I have often reflected on that journey as the debate over Britain's second high speed rail line (the first being forced by France on a reluctant Thatcher whose insistence that it didn't cost the taxpayer ruined hundreds of modest shareholders who ended up paying for it). News that the first phase (London to Brirmingham) of HS2 will go ahead has been met with threats of legal action. A public consultation showed respondents questioning the expense vs investment in the regular network, disruption to communities along the route, and environmental concerns.

If any country needs better connection to relieve pressure on an over-crowded capital suffering from a lack of housing, it is Britain. In France you can get from Marseille in the south to Paris in around three hours, allowing people who might like to live in the south of France, where there is a lack of jobs, the possibility to do so and still meet clients even for a breakfast meeting. It binds the country together and not only distributes the fruits of economic growth, but creates new growth possibilities through better connectivity. And France is hoping to build on its fast train network by connecting it to other countries and cement its geographical position as the centre of Europe. Poorly connected places on the periphery will be disadvantaged.

During the masters I just completed, I had cause to mull British and French attitudes. I think the difference lies in culture (less trusting of government), geography (crowded island, centralist government) and stingyness of compensation, and a short-termist attitude. Poor connectivity and infrastructure is one of the reasons cited by foreign investors for NOT putting their money into Britain. As the economic crisis bites, investors looking for safety are even less likely to look outside London. Even more reason to connect London to the rest of the country that as a capital it is supposed to serve. Budget considerations are clearly important at the current time, but we also need a long term strategy for our infrastructure needs that allows for balanced economic growth across the country, and not just harnessed to the south.

Edinburgh, Hogmanay and city branding

Way back when, before Edinburgh was the self-proclaimed New Year Capital of the World, Hogamanay was a much simpler affair. Everyone met at the Tron church for the bells, some midnight snogging occured, then everyone queued up to kiss the policemen and women. Then Edinburgh decided to build on its reputation for festivals and Scotland's reputation for New Year celebrations, and the party went professional. The city made the unlikely but prescient bet that tourists could be persuaded to come for an outdoor party in a freezing country where its likely to be either snowing or raining. Princes Street was closed off to become a party street, with bands playing from every corner. Only people with tickets (a proportion of which were initially free to residents) could enter. To get a seat in a pub required an early start, which in turn required stamina to last until midnight.
Tourists appeared to enjoy the Dec 31st celebrations, as they kept coming back in every greater numbers. Little thought had been given to what they might do Jan 1st, where almost everything bar the hotels was closed. That, I am happy to report, has all changed. Museuems are now open from 12-4, and bars and cafes - even a few shops - are bustling for business. Moreover, Edinburgh has invented the New Year's Games , with events all over the city centre pitting Uppies and against Doonies. You chose which team to support, with a basic guide that if you are from the north of your town or country you are an Uppie, and self-styled southerners are Doonies. I thought this highly creative and inventive, until an internet search revelead Edinburgh was probably not the first (although they deserve kudos for adopting the idea). Four venues including St Giles Cathedral, the National Museum, The Hub and The Grassmarket, hosted games which were fun for both adults and children. A minotaur was loose in the cathedral, and against a backdrop of beautiful music, you could sneak into his labyrinth and steal a ribbon off his back - if he didn't spot you moving first. It was beautiful, artistic and enticing. Ribbons were then translated into coins, which needed to be taken to Grassmarket to add to your team's tally. There, various activities including - when we were there - a humming game (essentially guess this song with humming), provided more entertainment.

Compared to many quiet town centres across Britain, Edinburgh was humming. And as the city branding competition intensifies, that must be a good thing for the place.

Make everything ok

If 2011 wasn't a good year, press here.

Glasgow 2014

I heard a Scottish comedian talk about London's 2012 Olympics as a "warm-up" for the games we all know is important - the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. After 18 months immersed in London and the Olympics, I was reminded of this visiting architect friends in Edinburgh, and opening a drawer full of souvenirs from 2010, when I spent some time with Glasgow City Council's Planning Department. London has to a large extent turned its back on the rest of the UK, and its easy to forget there are exciting things happening elsewhere, even if the economic slowdown is biting harder. Among my Glasgow souvenirs, I've a series of beautiful postcards depicting Glasgow's Lighting Strategy, lending an elegance to the old industrial city (that I hope is being continued, even if there is no more funding for postcards), and a plethora of brochures on the Financial Services district (although key tenants include Direct Line and ACE Insurance - not exactly cutting edge multinational institutions.) I also remember attending meetings on the Commonwealth Games, which will bring investment and opportunities to Glasgow's East End, just as the Olympics is doing for the East End of London. For the gloomy regeneration practitioners out there, London 2012 is not the only show in town......

Edinburgh trams

Spend some time in Edinburgh, and people will soon be complaining about the delayed and over-budget tram system, which many of the mainly automobile-based Edimburgers regard as civic eogtism. This Christmas, the main shopping street is closed to all vehicles (or "open to pedestrians" as the tram people put it), as part of the tramsworks Christmas embargo. Princes Street will soon be full of Hogmanay revellers, but even in the post Christmas sales it seems underused, while George Street (where many of the up-market shops have migrated due to cheaper rents: Princes Street is I believe the only main street in Europe to have shops only on one side - with gardens on the other - making it incredibly expensive) is overloaded with buses, traffic and people.

Despite the terrible press, getting around this tiny city by bus I can't help thinking the tram will be wonderful for Edinburgh - when it eventually comes. The reason most people go by car is despite constant moaning about traffic and tram-induced diversions, you really can get from one end of the city to the other very quickly - if you go by car. Going by bus is another story however - in my experience it's mostly quicker to walk.

Alex Salmond - and the importance of visionary local leaders

For some reason I can't fathom, England doesn't seem to be keen on regional and local politics. The north of England voted against regional parliaments, kyboshing the previous Labour administration's devolution agenda. And when they had the chance to vote for directly-elected mayors in 2000, only 37 local councils (out of 353) held referendums on their introduction, and most voted against (25 against to 12 introduced). It may be that local politicians have so little power in the UK that voters don't see the point. Or they may buy into the theory that corruption in politics is endemic at local level (although if this is true, better to make the local politicians democratically accountable). England will shortly be given the chance to vote again for mayors - and I hope they see the light.
In Scotland, Alex Salmond's leadership has recieved a plethora of accolades, and even international recognition. The London-based Times voted him Briton of the year. Apparently (Murdoch's firewall prevents direct consultation) the newspaper hailed the SNP's win and a first ever majority government at the Scottish Parliament in a system designed to prevent exactly that. "He persuaded voters that he was a man of bold vision, a man who, with charisma, would be able to do things differently." Salmond is a captivating speaker who is bringing much-needed confidence and ideas to Scotland , and for whom I have great respect (even if leaving a room after hearing him speak, some of the magic falls away and you think 'hang on a second'). 2011 has been his year with awards including "Best Politician" at The Scottish Green Energy Awards and the "South Australia International Climate Change Leadership Award" from the government of South Australia. He was also named "Politician of the Year" by the Spectator magazine, the Herald newspaper and The UK Political Studies Association. BBC Radio 4 spoke about the inspiration of local politicians making things work for the places they know well.
 
Ken and Boris have both raised the profile of London politics, fought for London, and won respect for doing so. The dominance of Westminster in British politics is such that more regions should be clamouring for respresntation. The South East keeps claiming to be the bread-winner for the rest of Britain, but if policies were designed to stimulate other parts of the country and not just the South East, you would see a more balanced economy. If The Times of London (as the newspaper is known internationally) recognises the benefit of Salmond, hopefully this will inspire other parts of the UK to challenge the London dominance and show they have leaders with the talent, charisma and vision to make their economies and communities vibrant and confident and just as valuable as the South East.