Towns within cities – those historic urban centres that embody so much spirit and character – are being given more say in shaping their futures, finds Dominic Ryan
THE character of every city is actually made up of a thousand disparate and seemingly contradictory elements: cultural and social nuances that ultimately all add up to make an urban gathering so much more than the sum of its parts.
These differences are to be found in the distinct neighbourhoods – the ‘towns within cities’ – where neighbours share strong bonds and nurture a determination to protect the livelihood and future of their local communities.
We can be rightly proud of this sense of community spirit, but there are also tangible benefits to be gained from harnessing our shared civic pride!
Whether you’re Glaswegian or Aberdonian, hail from Dundee or Inverness, or claim Edinburgh as your home, the unique identity of your individual area within the larger city is a passion that resonates loudly.
Our differences are also what brings us together. It’s true that Shawlands in Glasgow, with its sandstone tenements and rich high street culture, is in many ways strikingly different from Govan, with its shipyard heritage.
Yet these two distinct communities, when brought together, symbolise a Glasgow that is at once eclectic and all-embracing: offering a sense of belonging that makes the city as a whole so welcoming.
The same dynamic can be said of the famous areas of Leith in Edinburgh, with its revitalised infrastructure and new residents, and the city’s Grassmarket, with its cosmopolitan nightlife and historic market.
Stoneywood and Old Aberdeen in Aberdeen. Gowrie Park and Broughty Ferry in Dundee. Whether it’s accents, interests or history, these areas and their differences are woven as one into the DNA of our cities.
Harnessing and promoting the passion we have for such local communities also helps to maximise the potential inward investment and new business opportunities.
By understanding what these towns within cities have to offer we can redirect the kind of forward-thinking, sustainable and long-term investment that supports local communities and entire cities.
Of course, this means considering what’s best for our neighbourhoods first and maximising this to get what’s best for our cities.
As Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government and Housing, points out in his exclusive article inside, this is about "local folk demanding more control and say in their own futures and showing a determination to roll up their sleeves and build better places".
This focused and magnified approach to community-based investment and support has gained fresh support from the Scottish Government.
By passing the Community Empowerment Act, the Government wants to put more power back into the hands of townspeople and communities.
This can have huge and wide-ranging benefits, from major boosts to tourism and strengthened public services to enhanced green spaces, amenities and a renewed focus on attainable housing.
Let’s not forget, too, the possibilities for improvements to joined-up public transport, super-fast digital connection and, of course, new jobs.
By handing the power back to communities we empower the people who are most knowledgeable and best equipped to deal with challenges – and opportunities – in their neighbourhoods.
Such sharp focus inevitably assists the regeneration of some our cities’ poorest and yet most culturally significant areas.
Often what’s needed is a recognition that we must accentuate the positives – and community empowerment is all about just that.
This shift in emphasis promises two things: a renewed passion and pride in some of our cities’ most famous and unique areas, and a boost in the economic fortunes of communities and cities as a whole.
It’s a chance to celebrate what makes us all different and a chance to bring us together to make our cities thrive and prosper in the years ahead.
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