Getting Local Voices Heard

In this Podcast Jane Maggs and Ian Harvey will discuss how local voices can be heard and how communities can be engaged.

Two years ago it was revealed that a 17-storey redevelopment was being proposed in Southgate that would substantially alter the look and feel of the town centre, a designated conservation area. Jane, as vice-chair of Southgate District Civic Voice (SDCV), led a campaign to ensure the views of local people were listened to.

She helped organise a community planning weekend in a local church to encourage the wider community to come together to discuss and respond to the application. Jane then contacted Civic Voice, a national charity representing the civic movement, to seek their help in facilitating a series of workshops to give local people a better understanding of the issues at hand – more than 250 people subsequently attended.

So we will be interviewing Jane and also Ian Harvey from Civic Voice about the initiative they set up of a community Panel and whether this can be replicated in Enfield as an important tool for wider engagement.

Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement in England. They aim to make places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive and to promote civic pride.