Building Communities

Yesterday around 30 delegates came together to improve their community under the guidance of the Federation for Community Development and Learning. Unlike Gateshead Council's bogus consultations this was a genuine effort from local people to decide how their community could be improved.

Gateshead Council have a track record of creating community organisations that they control. Most recently Planning Aid North were asked to run "community planning" exercises. Instead of being open events these were starting at the point of accepting the mass demolition policy of the local authority. Later on planners at the council implied that all attendees agreed with demolition. We understand now that 50 people, hand picked by Gateshead Council, will form the "community".

Our conference, in contrast, was developed with the help of the Federation for Community Development and Learning. Places were limited but the event was widely advertised in Saltwell and Bensham.

The Keynote address came from Professor David Byrne from the University of Durham. Professor Byrne is the Director of Postgraduate Studies at the School of Applied Social Sciences and a Fellow of Wolfson Research Institute. In addition David Byrne lives close to our community and represented it as councillor for a number of years in the 1980s. He also has a special interest in urban development.

Professor Byrne presented a short history of the area demonstrating that far from being a failing housing market the area had come about based on the idea of affordable homes for working people. He said the area had never been a slum or considered in need of general clearance.He widened his presentation to include the invention of the pathfinder idea and the current collapse in the housing market.

After a short break a presentation about how the law can help oppose demolition by Fatema Patwa. Fatema has recently represented two residents who successfully took legal action against Gateshead Council. The council was forced to admit acting unlawfully. Ms Patwa specialises in legal action against public authorities. After a question and answer session a number of residents had private discussions regarding their legal rights.

Susi Miller of FCDL introduced delegates to the idea of community development and some of their thoughts about what is good and bad about living in Saltwell and Bensham.

Sylvia Wilson, co-ordinator of Homes Under Threat (HUT), focussed on creating a community plan. Delegates were encouraged to come up with ideas about improving their community.

The conference broke up with an action plan for the future.


Links
Federation for Community Development and Learning
Sylvia Wilson (BBC News Item)