Gwyn Rowley

Children describe their experiences of the city centre: a qualitative study of the fears and concerns which may limit their full participation

Abstract A large‐scale qualitative study of the views of British 10–12 years olds is reported. The focus is on childrens perceptions of their local urban centres, and in particular on the concerns and fears that they have about using the centres. It is argued that, in the context of the debate about such centres retaining business in the face of the challenge from out‐of‐town malls, designers should be more aware of the comparisons that such children draw between the two, not only for the current and future purchasing power of children, but also in the spirit of wider participation in the planning of our urban areas. Children of this age can give vivid accounts of their perceived threats, from some adults on the street, from older adolescents, and from groups from out of town. Children from the smaller towns more typically stress traffic as their major concern. Poor standards of maintenance may signal that no‐one cares. Agents of order, such as police, security guards and the presence of older people on ...

The child as citizen: Experiences of British town and city centres

The current state of town and city centres in the UK is a matter of growing concern for a range of professionals and politicians. In general, recent studies about town and city centres have not concentrated on the experiences of users and potential users. A 27‐month research project which investigated young peoples use and perception of their town and city centres in the UK was undertaken at the University of Sheffield. Over 2000 young people were involved with questionnaires and focus groups and this paper reports, from the qualitative work, on towns and the developing child, the developing civic identity, civic values, towns as resources and who the town is for, together with implications and conclusions from the work. Young people are significant users of their town and city centres and yet they feel that they will not be heard and their opinions not valued.

The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation: Urban regeneration, local economy and community

Abstract A brief consideration of the ideology of Urban Development Corporations (UDCs) in general and the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation (CBDC) in particular provides the backcloth to a critique of the proposals for economic regeneration within the Bay. Our special foci centre upon local housing and proposals for environmental improvement, and a community perspective. Our interim findings suggest that a far more specific and concerted attention should be directed to “local community” within the Bay. The most exciting dimensions of and possibilities for the CBDC are stressed.

The West Bank: native water-resource systems and competition

Abstract The particular focus of the paper is upon the mounting competition between those who utilize traditional water systems and incursionist Jewish developments within one part of the occupied West Bank. While hydrological backgrounds are briefly considered, attention is given to both the physical and human consequences of such competition. Here particular concern is directed to the relatively large-scale entrapment of water by deep and deepening Jewish wells, including the traditional systems to the east and south-east of Nablus noted in the field study of October–November 1986. In any consideration of such changes cause-effect problems are particularly apparent. Here, however, the nature and importance of Military Order 158, which controls the further development and indeed the continuing utilization of West-Bank sub-surface water resources, are identified. The specific contribution of the research endeavours to stress that it is the human characteristics—political controls and management initiatives—rather than any of the innate physical features of the native systems that pose the major and mounting problems.

The Market Research Terminal and Developments in Survey Research

Reports on survey‐behavioural research in a major and fundamental development ‐ the Questronic project based at the University of Sheffield (UK), and its first product, the Ferranti Market Research Terminal (MRT). States that the MRT is a battery‐operated, hand‐held data‐capture terminal and it is a replacement for the usual questionnaire necessity ‐ clipboard and pencil. Describes the MRT and its functions including keyboard and electronic storage, so aiding survey research, both economic and operational. Lists out the operations and benefits in detail enabling the user a fast, modern aid for use with questionnaires. Goes on to give further developing procedures and includes a contact address for further information regarding the importance of development MRT routines in survey research.

Political geography of contemporary events IV: Local government or central government agency?—the British case

Recent British Government proposals affecting local government are contained in White Papers on ‘Rates’ and ‘Streamlining the Cities’. The Secretary of State justifies such major proposals as the abolition of seven major authorities and the effective weakening of the powers of other local authorities with the somewhat simplistic assertion that ‘we [in Britain] live in a unitary and not a federal state’. A point of entry to the discussion on the role and place of local government is afforded by the views of the Royal Commission on Local Government, 1969 (Cmnd 4040):