Help shape future city plans by popping into pop-up shop
People are being invited to help make Plymouth’s future "the perfect fit" by popping into a shop filled with ideas, facts, photos, maps and interesting ways for them to add to the Plymouth Plan.
Plymouth City Council hopes lots of people will get involved in shaping future plans and policies for Plymouth through the shop front initiative.
The old Lawson shop in New George Street will open for "brainstorming" business from June 8 and, according to the Council, "promises an emporium of ideas that covers every aspect of city life."
An exciting programme of events is planned with different themes for each day. There will also be permanent stalls from organisations such as RIBA – the Royal Institute of British Architects and Plymouth’s Urban Enterprise – a free scheme to help people launch their own business. Other Council scheme experts that will be involved include the travel planning team, the Easylet and House Let teams.
A community radio station will be on the air daily and there will be ‘happenings’ including an artist building a futuristic home, a chance to film people’s opinions, watch videos produced by school children, debates about the waterfront and a gardeners' question time.
Councillor Brian Vincent, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “The Plymouth Plan is all about getting opinions and thoughts from our residents about what direction the city should take.
“It is not about dry documents and strategies that end up on a dusty shelf, but a chance to talk through issues that affect every one of us now and in the future. We hope people will find it interesting, fun and thought provoking."
Specific topics will be covered on certain days and more are being arranged. They include:
- Saturday 8 June
Local Community – crafty types will be knitting on the Plymouth Plan sofa, there’s a chance to plan the future of your neighbourhood and find out about North Prospect and other exciting projects happening.
- Wednesday 12 June
House and Living – Explore the future of housing, what kind of homes will Plymouth need in 20 years time, what is happening now to help people find homes and get empty homes back into use.
- Thursday 13 June
Education and Learning – features the latest developments from the university, plans for the city’s first creative school, apprentices talking about their experiences and the city’s first young laureate
- Friday 14 June
Prosperity and Affordability – Urban Enterprise, updates on latest waterfront developments including Millbay and Sutton Harbour, a free theatre performance looking at people’s voice in the city
- Saturday 15 June
Arts and Culture – discussions about the History Centre and the City of Culture bid as well as drawing and knitting workshops
- Wednesday 19 June
Getting Around – cycling, personal travel planning and debates about transport improvements needed for the city in the future
- Thursday 20 June
Greener City – explore what a low carbon city means, join in the city gardeners’ question time and visit the forest in the shop
- Friday 21 June
Health and Care – debate how to improve life expectancy across the city, what is needed to support a population that is getting older and help people to live a healthier lifestyle.
- Saturday 22 June
City Pride – celebrate what people love about the city and debate how to promote and improve the image of the city.
The following week there will be events at the shop aimed at celebrating Coop fortnight as well as Love Architecture week. More details of these will be announced in the near future.
For more details visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymouthplan, follow us on Twitter @plymouthplan, Facebook www.facebook.com/whatsthefutureshop or call 01752 305477.
