Debate - Options for Bristol's Regeneration

bristol | corporations | event notice Tuesday September 30, 2008 14:24 by David Mowat - Bristol Quakers

Public Debate to mark Cabot Circus openning: new found land or same old fair?

Cabot Circus is the biggest building project Bristol has seen since the reconstruction following World War II. In light of climate warming, financial meltdown and energy crisis, what will it achieve? What are the next aspects of Bristol which need regenerating? Tony Weekes, Quaker economist and James Bailey, Centre Manager for Cabot Circus will present, and YOU the public will debate.

7.30pm Thursday 9 October
Central Quaker Meeting House
River Street, off Wade Street, Cabot Circus, BS2 9DG
Refreshments provided. Retiring collection.

article
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688959

video
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688946
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FfL0diNQxw
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4151329869799703594

Bristol Quakers may have left the historical Quakers Friars building in 1962, now housing Brasserie Blanc, but only went round the corner to River Street St Jude’s. Their new Meeting House will be the venue for an unmissable public meeting and debate on whether a consumer bonanza at Cabot Circus can create real wealth for Bristol, or if not, what are the alternatives.

James Bailey, Centre Manager for Cabot Circus will describe the many benefits to Bristol brought by purchasing the world’s finest goods in the nation’s most popular retail outlets. Cabot Circus builds on a long tradition of city centre markets from the Old Market and on ‘Broad Meade’ onwards. 4,000 jobs will, it is hoped, be created and emphasis is on people from the most deprived areas of Bristol getting them.

Tony Weekes will stress the need to put creativity not consumerism into the heart of regeneration. How can we make our cities convivial and valuing of nature? And what of the impact of Cabot Circus on smaller shopping areas of Bristol? Tony was an economics lecturer at York University before going freelance. Now Fergusson Fellow at the Quaker study centre, Woodbrooke College, through whose generous support he’s able to be here, he’s applying the thinking of Fritz Schumacher, of ‘Small Is Beautiful’ fame, to local sustainability.

After hearing both speakers, members of the public will put forward their opinions and questions.

Is a car-dependant luxury retail sector going the wrong way in the face of energy shortages, a massive personal debt bubble and climate warming? Or will the eagerly-awaited Cabot Circus put much needed glamour back into the heart of Bristol?

In the past Quakers were leading, not always ‘clean handed’ entrepreneurs, for example running the Brass industry just down the Frome river valley at Baptist Mills, which was an integral part of the slave trade. Quakers started Lloyd’s Bank. And as well as public involvement in reforming the worst excesses of capitalism such as the Abolition of Slavery, Quakers have put emphasis on living simply without wasting resources on unnecessary possessions, whilst cultivating a rich inner spiritual life. Can there be such development of quality of life now without costly economic growth?

Whatever it is, come put your point of view! Refreshments, and retiring collection to cover expenses.

For all details contact Judi Brill Tel: 0117 942 9142 or see http://www.bristolquakers.org.uk/events. Look up Central Meeting for location

Related Link: http://www.bristolquakers.org