Joseph Corr

Dip.PR, MPRII, MSc Spatial Planning

Ravenswell, Rush

Hampton, Balbriggan

Huntstown, D15

•Topic: “Making retrospective connectivity improvements to enhance permeability in

existing residential areas and the challenges involved in doing so”

•Research question: Why is it so difficult to implement connectivity in established areas,

what are the main hurdles to doing so, is the communications requirement in spatial

planning being ignored and creating trust issues between the community and planners

•Questionnaire objectives: Find out general modes of transport and travel patterns of

people in their own areas

•Would people change their travel modes if there was more pedestrian connectivity

•Do they want more accessibility or would they rather the status quo remain

•What prevents pedestrian access measures from being implemented

•Is there confidence and trust in the statutory process involved

•Do they trust the decisions of planners and public representatives

•Is there a rational reason for opposing pedestrian access

Literature Review

The Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in UrbanAreas (2008) states that,“Connectivity and permeability: Convenient access needs to be provided between andwithin areas, particularly to larger community and commercial facilities and to places ofwork. Routes within the area should be accessible for everyone and as direct as possible,and for this reason “gated estates” should be discouraged.”

•The Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2008)

•Shaping Neighbourhoods: A Guide for Health, Sustainability and Vitality by Barton, Grant & Guise

•Analysis of Inter - Connectivity Levels of Urban Street Networks and Social Interactions in Enclosed Neighbourhood

in Johannesburg RSA

•Encouraging Walking: Advice to Local Authorities - Department of Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR), 2000

•Social Psychology (second edition), Tony Malim

•Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam

•Economic and Social Geography: Made Simple by R. Knowles & J. Waring

•National Spatial Strategy (NSS)

•Greater Blanchardstown Initiative (GBI)

•The Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2008) is a

clear directive from the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government (DoEHLG) and therefore

should form the thinking of planners in their approach to all construction projects. The difficulty is that this

document was produced by the DoEHLG subsequent to the largest construction boom in the history of the Irish

State.

•Shaping Neighbourhoods: A Guide for Health, Sustainability and Vitality by Barton, Grant & Guise. It sets out

the criteria for new development projects in three categories – Location, Access and Frontage. In terms of

location, it focuses on how social infrastructure and commercial areas should be within walking distance of

residential areas. All development regardless of size should have direct, visible access for pedestrians. It is

important that areas where schools and retail outlets and other major trip generators are located should have

easy access for pedestrians with permeability to the fore of planning.

• National Spatial Strategy states that From the point of view of strategic spatial planning, sustainable

development will, among other things, mean: maximising access to and encouraging use of public transport,

cycling and walking

Findings - Literature

•Dr. O. Fabiyi Oluseyi, Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria carried out a study called,

Analysis of Inter - Connectivity Levels of Urban Street Networks and Social Interactions in Enclosed

Neighbourhood in Johannesburg RSA which looked at the escalation in road closures as a way of stemming crime

in urban areas of Johannesburg, South Africa. He identified the difficulties that arose after such measures were

taken. One example of difficulty was the reaction times of emergency vehicles and another being the constraints

on residents wishing to access recreational spaces in and around where they live. Dr Olueseyi’s paper does tell us is

that stemming connectivity and ensuring permeability of communities is restricted, means urban design is used as

a support mechanism to enforce the law.

•Department of Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR) in the United Kingdom (UK) published Encouraging

Walking: Advice to Local Authorities. The document sets out how walking can be a good way of encouraging

people out of a sedentary lifestyle as well as areas being safer because of the passive surveillance of areas used by

walkers, making streets safer for everyone. This is in total contrast to the mindset used in South Africa where a lack

of connectivity is used as a way of keeping streets safe by discouraging civil unrest. The document also highlights

the facts that walking accounts for 25% of all journeys and 80% of overall short urban journeys of less than a mile.

It also states that walking makes journeys safer, more pleasant and easier than private transport use.

Findings - Literature

Social Psychology (second edition), Tony Malim describes how minorities influence a wider audience and describes it

as “The Influence of the Crowd.” He demonstrates that a crowd is intellectually inferior to an isolated individual and

states that “mob man is fickle credulous and intolerant” and attributes the primitive behaviour to three things:

•Anonymity: Individuals cannot be easily identified in a crowd.

•Contagion: ideas and emotions spread rapidly and unpredictably.

•Suggestibility: the savagery which is just below the surface is released by suggestion

Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam. In his book Putnam explores

the participation, or lack thereof from private citizens. He discusses how Americans have become apathetic toward

public participation to the point that they are unwilling to vote in local or national elections. This would support the

scenario that I have outlined in terms of the Tony Malim section. If people are disaffected to the point they do not even

know who represents them in the political sector of society, there is little hope that they will participate in

collaborative planning or in community/public consultation on an individual basis. However, according to Malim, such

people may participate as part of a crowd where their anonymity is safe and their subtle suggestibility can find an

outlet. That is not to say that such people seek out issues that may be controversial in their community. However, if

such issues may give a platform to them in order to vent existing grievances with the local authority.

Findings - Literature

Methodology

Questionnaires

Interviews

Social Media

Methodology

Questionnaires

•Approximately 70 people filled out questionnaires

•Determine the level of understanding about connectivity

•Find out the travel patterns of participants

•Case Study Area questionnaire to test the opinion of residents in a specific area

•Learn about the attitude of the residents

•How connectivity would improve their area – or not

•Do they trust the process

•Are their voices and opinions being heard – and listened to

Methodology

Questionnaires

•Examples of analysis arising from the questionnaires in regard to travel habits

16 – 183%

19 – 200%

21 – 3017%

31 – 4040%

41 – 6540%

65+0%

What age group are you in:

Yes59%

No20%

Not a car user21%

If permeability was improved in your area, would it encourage you to walk or cycle instead of using a car:

Public Transport 20%

Shops 19%

Schools 15%

Medical care 13%

Work 3%

Community Centre 10%

Pub(s) 17%

None of the above 3%

Could you walk comfortably from your home to the following:

Statement Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree

“Fingal County Council could do more to

make walking easier in the community by

opening up pedestrian access points.”8% 17% 17% 21% 37%

Statement Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree

“I trust the process that Fingal County Council

uses when making decisions on planning

matters in my area.”

0% 21% 21% 29% 29%

Statement Strongly Agree Agree Undecided DisagreeStrongly

Disagree

“Stronger communication between the

community and the council is needed to

adequately address transport and planning issues

for residents of the area.”

29% 54% 13% 0% 4%

Statement Strongly Agree Agree Undecided DisagreeStrongly

Disagree

“I would support the temporary opening of

pedestrian/cycle points in my estate by Fingal

County Council for a three month period to see

if access is improved for residents.”

8% 21% 4% 21% 46%

Statement Strongly Agree Agree Undecided DisagreeStrongly

Disagree

“The redesign of my housing estate would

generate savings in terms of transport costs

for residents.”

12% 17% 4% 42% 25%

“The redesign of my housing estate would

facilitate more walking/cycling and would

make the area safer.”

4% 17% 12% 38% 29%

“The redesign of my housing estate would

lessen the impact on the environment in

terms of carbon emissions.”

8% 25% 13% 33% 21%

“The redesign of my housing estate would

encourage me into living a healthier lifestyle.”8% 13% 17% 33% 29%

Findings - Questionnaire/Interviews

•Would people change their travel modes if there was more pedestrian connectivity?

•Opponents to connectivity measures – No

•Supporters of connectivity measures – Yes

•Do they want more accessibility or would they rather the status quo remain?

•Opponents cite fear of antisocial or criminal behaviour would escalate

•Supporters don’t believe this to be the case

•What prevents pedestrian access measures from being implemented?

•Fear of antisocial behaviour, haphazard parking, abuse of the general area

•Is there confidence and trust in the statutory process involved?

•Serious reservations from opponents about the process

•Confidence from supporters

•Do they trust the decisions of planners and public representatives?

•Serious display of mistrust from opponents (maybe a safety mechanism )

•Is there a rational reason for opposing pedestrian access?

•On the face of it strong arguments can be made stand up but lack evidence

Methodology

Interviews

•10 interviews carried out

•“Touchy Feely” way of getting information

•Open discussion

•In-depth information

•Flexibility in asking questions

•Flexibility in responses from residents

•“How do you feel about the issue”

•“What do you believe is the best option”

•“What your experience is”

Methodology

Social Media

•Questionnaire distribution

•Level of interest in the topic

•Variety of opinions

•What is the level of knowledge

•Quality of the discussion

•Comparability of different areas

•Proposed solutions

•Who is “Pro” and who is “Anti”

•Various contributors

Methodology

Social Media

•There is an immense amount of information on the subject and it is a highly charged, emotive issue in

densely populated or major growth areas for ‘anti’ people.

•Proximity to the proposed access point intensifies opposing attitude of residents and they take a Zero

tolerance approach to the issue because they live close to access points. ‘Pro’ people are willing to

support their neighbours even those with differing opinions. Older people prefer the option to walk to

shops or other locations in the community. There may be an issue emerging in regard to the

affordability of private transport.

•Trust between the community and the planning authority is at a low level with major misgivings about

the statutory process involved from residents opposing pedestrian access.

•Anonymity allows uninhibited behaviour in regard to public consultation “Safety in numbers” so I

believe Social Psychology has a significant role to play in planning matters and it needs to be embraced

by the planning authorities

Conclusions - Social

•Policy documents exist but do planners/developers adhere to them. It is clear that sacrificing good

planning to pander to the emotional needs of the community is counter productive and bad practice. It

is not enough to have the policies in place if they are loosly implemented - “Great policies but rubbish at

implementing them.” Rob Kitchin – NIRSA

•South African solution to crowd control during the Apartheid era may sound extreme but stemming

connectivity as a crime prevention measure is being used to a lesser extent in Ireland. We need to find a

balance between what is sustainable urban design and a good quality of life standard for the

community.

•Health benefits of good connectivity may outweigh the antisocial implications and dealing with the

issue could lead to an urban design revolution brought on by planners who use a ‘sledgehammer to

crack a nut’ when seeking to implement policies, instead of a more measured approach. “You catch

more flies with honey than with Vinegar!”

Conclusions - Regulation

•Political leadership does seem to be non-existent with a “Jump – How high?” approach being employed. The

leadership is lost when the fears of residents which are not evidenced based or proven, are given priority over

proper planning practice.

•There is a disconnect between planners and the community when the political conduit is lost because the

planners now have community opposition and political opposition.

•Planners are perceived as having a “Save the people from themselves” attitude if they decide to ride

roughshod over the wishes of the community and this is where strong political opposition comes into play.

•David Cameron’s comment that “Bad Planning” had contributed to the London riots feeds into such

controversial issues because by that logic, permeability and ease of movement by pedestrians and cyclists is

making it easier to cause civil unrest in urban areas! Back to the RSA mindset.

•Definite compromises required where greater good of the community is in question with a need for on-going

communication. A Proactive approach instead of Reactive approach could reap mutual benefits. Sometimes,

solutions proposed by planning authority may not be a solution at all (Ballisk Gate), and “Community

Workshops” could be a tool for planners where the trading of opinion is valuable and trust is built up but most

importantly, where information on sustainability indicators can be gathered.

Conclusions - Role of the political reps & planners

•If a number of persons are not in some way angry at the planner, then no principles have been presented;

the planner has been merely a secretary to the mob, and the plan will be weak to the point of being useless.

~ Andrés Duany

•We have legislators who think it their duty only to listen to the people instead of becoming expert on the

subjects which they must decide upon. ~ Andrés Duany

•Democracies have great difficulty solving the long-run problems created by policies that provide short-term

benefits. Once people receive the benefits, they do not want to give them up. ~ Anthony Downs

•I have never seen a fact that would stand up to a myth at a public hearing. ~ J. Gary Lawrence

•A hundred years after we are gone and forgotten, those who never heard of us will be living with the results

of our actions. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Quotes

•Establish and mandate multi discipline local government teams to achieve sustainable

development in established urban areas.

•Encourage planners to engage with stakeholders to ensure a change in public attitude to

sustainable urban design is.

•Remind politicians of their responsibility to the wider community and not just a vocal

minority.

•Work outside the statutory process period by holding “Town Hall” meetings.

•Look at pragmatic measures to eliminate emerging Transport Poverty.

•Take steps to prevent the further marginalisation of urban dwellers.

• Encourage and support political courage to deliver a better quality of life via spatial

planning

•Training, education, and more up skilling.

Recommendations

Joseph Corr

Dip.PR, MPRII, MSc Spatial Planning