The coalition government published new guidance aimed at helping local authorities to design high-quality shared space schemes that reduced the dominance of motor vehicles (involving the removal from streets of most highway infrastructure such as traffic signs, road markings, and other street furniture).
Source: Shared Space, Department for Transport
Links: Guidance | DT press release | Living Streets press release
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined ways in which public spaces could be planned and designed so as to limit the scope for crime and public order offences.
Source: Louise Clarke and Alan Gilbertson (eds.), Addressing Crime and Disorder in Public Places Through Planning and Design, Construction Industry Research and Information Association
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined children s attitudes to the police, together with their experience of bullying, crime prevention behaviours, hanging around in public spaces, and access to leisure activities.
Source: Jacqueline Hoare et al., Children's Experience and Attitudes Towards the Police, Personal Safety and Public Spaces: Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey interviews with children aged 10 to 15, Statistical Bulletin 08/11, Home Office
Links: Bulletin | Home Office press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-May
A think-tank report said that preserving public spaces – such as local playgrounds, parks, and green spaces – was crucial for stimulating social action and realizing the coalition government's vision for the 'Big Society'. Public space acted as a site for the pursuit of social action as well as for discord, debate, and discussion, all of which could lead to the development of valuable citizenship skills.
Source: Stuart MacDonald, 'Big Society': Social Action and the Role of Public Space, Centre for Local Economic Strategies
Links: Report | CLES press release | Groundwork press release
Date: 2011-Feb