Manuel
February 11th, 2005, 03:51 PM
Can Paris teach London a lesson?
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Just seen this story on the BBC Site.
Can Paris teach London a lesson?
By Marie Jackson
BBC News, London
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4244609.stm
In debates over the latest planning blueprint, the Mayor of Paris has shown his determination that his city should not suffer the fate of 'la Londonisation'.
By this, he means the middle classes abandoning the city to make way for financiers and creating a metropolis over-run by mobile phone shops and fast-food restaurants, sapping the vibrancy out of city life.
So to keep la Londonisation at bay, mayor Bertrand Delanoe is introducing measures to encourage small shops and key workers to stay put.
He has promised more affordable housing, priority for key worker housing and a law banning half of the 70,000 shops from being owned by the likes of mobile phone companies.
The next 20 years are now carefully mapped out for Paris but are his comments just a cheap shot at their Olympic bid rivals or is there substance to his views that London could learn from?
Fishmonger Peter Curd is in no doubt that Monsieur Delanoe's requirement for shops to remain in the same trade would encourage a growth in independent shops.
"Ken Livingstone [London's mayor] could learn a lot from Paris," he said.
"We pay £1,000 a week in rent and business rates before we even open the door to sell a fish. It is difficult."
The 45-year-old, who works in Blagden's, a west London family fishmongers established in 1892, believes small shops are a huge benefit to consumers and communities because they sell "real" food and bring a high street to life
"In France they want to see a trade at every street corner - and, to think, we used to be a nation of shopkeepers.
"If, like in Paris, you have a street with passing cars and small shops, you have things flowing, things are lively."
If Paris' message to international companies is 'your money is welcome but please leave your culture behind', London's lead is just going to grow further
Among trade associations, there is a general perception that small businesses in London have declined in number.
The number of fishmongers in London has dipped from 132 in 2002, to 120 last year.
But there is no chance of Mr Livingstone following Paris' lead, according to his spokesman.
"Paris' choice will increase London's competitive edge in a globalised and modern economy - in reality trying to buck the trend of a modern, globalised city won't work," he said.
Architect Simon Foxell is chairman of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and played a major role in shaping the mayor's long-term plans for London.
"You have to make it attractive to run a small shop. It's a matter of making it a walkable city with plenty of local centres," he said.
"It's much more about the culture of shopping than the rules."
The London Plan outlines targets to build 30,000 new homes every year. Of those, more than half would be "affordable".
Similarly, Paris' Local Urbanisme Plan will require developers to include 25% social housing in any development over 1,000 square metres.
Monsieur Delanoe wants to create 4,500 council homes a year, particularly in some of the more wealthy areas.
This plan is intended to avoid the apparent social divide of London.
As Jean-Yves Mano, the councillor in charge of housing policy, said: "I don't want Paris to look like London, with a very wealthy population on one side and a very poor population on the other."
But at the launch of the London Plan last February, Mr Livingstone said it was his aim was to "correct the imbalance in wealth and opportunity between east and west London".
Claire Thompson, who lived in Paris for three years, said it was a beautiful city but the segregation was starker.
"The council housing in London is evenly spread whereas in Paris it is all together on the outskirts, creating them and us."
Mr Foxell believes there are few more cosmopolitan cities than London.
"It is extremely socially mixed. There are high levels of social housing all over the place, " he said.
"It has the world's greatest mix of nationalities and cultures with new arrivals, adding to its richness."
Whether it is unflinching civic pride or the result of tensions being stirred by rival Olympic bids, both mayors seem determined to embark on very different views of what constitutes the best for their cities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just seen this story on the BBC Site.
Can Paris teach London a lesson?
By Marie Jackson
BBC News, London
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4244609.stm
In debates over the latest planning blueprint, the Mayor of Paris has shown his determination that his city should not suffer the fate of 'la Londonisation'.
By this, he means the middle classes abandoning the city to make way for financiers and creating a metropolis over-run by mobile phone shops and fast-food restaurants, sapping the vibrancy out of city life.
So to keep la Londonisation at bay, mayor Bertrand Delanoe is introducing measures to encourage small shops and key workers to stay put.
He has promised more affordable housing, priority for key worker housing and a law banning half of the 70,000 shops from being owned by the likes of mobile phone companies.
The next 20 years are now carefully mapped out for Paris but are his comments just a cheap shot at their Olympic bid rivals or is there substance to his views that London could learn from?
Fishmonger Peter Curd is in no doubt that Monsieur Delanoe's requirement for shops to remain in the same trade would encourage a growth in independent shops.
"Ken Livingstone [London's mayor] could learn a lot from Paris," he said.
"We pay £1,000 a week in rent and business rates before we even open the door to sell a fish. It is difficult."
The 45-year-old, who works in Blagden's, a west London family fishmongers established in 1892, believes small shops are a huge benefit to consumers and communities because they sell "real" food and bring a high street to life
"In France they want to see a trade at every street corner - and, to think, we used to be a nation of shopkeepers.
"If, like in Paris, you have a street with passing cars and small shops, you have things flowing, things are lively."
If Paris' message to international companies is 'your money is welcome but please leave your culture behind', London's lead is just going to grow further
Among trade associations, there is a general perception that small businesses in London have declined in number.
The number of fishmongers in London has dipped from 132 in 2002, to 120 last year.
But there is no chance of Mr Livingstone following Paris' lead, according to his spokesman.
"Paris' choice will increase London's competitive edge in a globalised and modern economy - in reality trying to buck the trend of a modern, globalised city won't work," he said.
Architect Simon Foxell is chairman of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and played a major role in shaping the mayor's long-term plans for London.
"You have to make it attractive to run a small shop. It's a matter of making it a walkable city with plenty of local centres," he said.
"It's much more about the culture of shopping than the rules."
The London Plan outlines targets to build 30,000 new homes every year. Of those, more than half would be "affordable".
Similarly, Paris' Local Urbanisme Plan will require developers to include 25% social housing in any development over 1,000 square metres.
Monsieur Delanoe wants to create 4,500 council homes a year, particularly in some of the more wealthy areas.
This plan is intended to avoid the apparent social divide of London.
As Jean-Yves Mano, the councillor in charge of housing policy, said: "I don't want Paris to look like London, with a very wealthy population on one side and a very poor population on the other."
But at the launch of the London Plan last February, Mr Livingstone said it was his aim was to "correct the imbalance in wealth and opportunity between east and west London".
Claire Thompson, who lived in Paris for three years, said it was a beautiful city but the segregation was starker.
"The council housing in London is evenly spread whereas in Paris it is all together on the outskirts, creating them and us."
Mr Foxell believes there are few more cosmopolitan cities than London.
"It is extremely socially mixed. There are high levels of social housing all over the place, " he said.
"It has the world's greatest mix of nationalities and cultures with new arrivals, adding to its richness."
Whether it is unflinching civic pride or the result of tensions being stirred by rival Olympic bids, both mayors seem determined to embark on very different views of what constitutes the best for their cities.