BLOGPROMPT NUMBER 10

To What extent your Ward/SOA resembles a 'Sustainable Community' and to what extent you don't think it does? Give some evidence from your observations (or your memories) of this judgement.

I live in Netherfield, Woughton Ward, South East of Milton Keynes. The population in Milton Keynes is 232,000 according to Office of National Statistics in 2008. Population has been increasing since Milton Keynes was designated in 1967 from 60,000 inhabitants. Since 1981, it has been doubling in size to 124,300 and in 2001 it doubled once again.

Netherfield was built as a temporary community however,more than 40 years later Netherfield is a thriving community with local shops, schools, good transport links and the General Hospital is situated on its door step. Netherfield itself has no industrial areas but the industrial estates and large super markets are within an easy reach in a car. The way in which the estate of Netherfield was built makes it extremely difficult for public transport to access some parts of the estate. Fortunately, local bus routes run to the Milton Keynes General so residents benefit by being able to access Central Milton Keynes and beyond.

Netherfield has a Tenant Resource Centre where meetings and local issues are discussed. The Idea behind meetings at community centres is to establish the views of local residents and how to improve the safety, environment, infrastructure and services provided for the residents. As a result of these meetings, the local green areas have been upgraded and safe recreational play areas for the children have been improved. Another area where the community has come together in providing an important local community service is the sure start programme, where single parent families are invited with their toddlers to sit and play. The community also have recently started a programme to encourage the residents to engage in more healthy life styles. This involves yoga and aerobic sessions.

There are approximately 1400 people living in my ward. The age range of population is young. According to ONS, you are three times more likely to be on benefit and around 8% of people who live her receive Job Seekers Allowance. These figures show the same trend for incapacity benefit. The statistics show that only 6% of people who live in the area have professional occupations. The majority of people who live here and work have elementary occupation.

Education attainment shows that after key stage 1 achievement drops dramatically in Maths, English and Science. From key stage 2 to GCSE where there is a significant difference between the numbers of students achieving 5 or more A* to C grade passes in English, Maths and Science.

On the face of it Netherfield appears to be a vibrant community but the figures supplied by ONS show that there is a severe deprivation in income, employment opportunity. This impacts directly on poor health for majority of its residents and educational opportunity shows that along with deprivation in income and health, these contribute to poorer living standards and lower educational and employment expectation. The figure shows that the economic prospects of Netherfield residents are lower than those enjoyed by other Milton Keynes residents therefore, crime figures are high in proportion to the average in Milton Keynes and nationally.

Although housing is not perfect the housing stock remains well maintained. However, most residents of Netherfield seek housing exchanges as residents feel moving away from the area would improve the quality of life. A reason for this that there is a perception among residents and the people of Milton Keynes that Netherfield equals deprivation owing to lack of opportunity and high crime rate.

Reference : Office of National Statistics

BLOGPROMPT NUMBER 8

Education for Citizenship

Education for Sustainable Development also includes making learners aware of their role as 'Active Citizens'. Studies of 'citizenship' are intended to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for effective and democratic participation. It helps learners become informed, active citizens who have the confidence and conviction to work together to take action in their communities.

It is important to know about rights, responsibilities, duties and freedoms and about laws, justice and democracy. Citizenship encourages respect for different national, religious and ethnic identities.

2010 is election year. What is your attitude concerning people who are not planning to vote in the general election? What main concerns do you have that may influence your vote?

Every individual should know their rights because we are all duty biund to abide by the laws and justice system which governs our country. We live in a country that prides itself on freedom of speech and democratic rights. As Citizens we are openly encouraged to speak up, practice our religious beliefs and display our different ethnic identities.

Britain is a circular state that supports ethnic and religious differences and being citizens of Britain, we should respect all differences within the country.The way people actively participatein democracy is by voting in elections both nationally and locally. Elections are held every four ti five yearsin constituencies or wards. The outcome of the elections is only determined by the amount of people who vote for one particular political party. However, the MPs or local councillors can only represent the people who vote for them; as those people who do not bother to vote, can not effect change.

As an individual, every one should know about their righrs, responsibilities, duties and freedoms, if justice and democracy are going to work. It is essential that we exercise our democratic rights and vote at elections. Failure to do so may lead to a lack of individual choice in all aspects of life. Freedom of speech allows us to express ourselves without fear of being contradicted. It also allows for a diverse range of political and religious views to be expressed freely and these can be accepted or challeged in equal measure. In reality people who fail to register their votes do not realise their responsibilities in voting for justice, freedom and democracy.

One can understand why people elect not to exercise their democratic right to vote. The MPs expenses saga has further damaged the confidence of the electorate and the way they view MPs and local politicians. However, if change is going to happen, then individuals need to exercise their democratic right and vote for honesty and change.

The main concerns with voting is that MPs and councillors who are elected fail to represent their electorate. The individual has to consider whether or not the person and the party that they vote for represents the majority of their wiews and this is a difficult challenge. The idea of voting is that if we dont like something or someone then we can chane it. However, change can only be effective if ther is a concensus among people for similar ideas and values.

I live in Woughton Constituency.

My local MP is Phylis Starkey, Labour Party.

My Local Council is Milton Keynes Council.

Party dorminates my local Council - Liberal Democrats.

Reference: Office of National Stasistics [accessed on 30/03/10]

Blogprompt number 6 and 7

Sustainable Travel

Transport undoubtedly has had a major influence on economic and social development facilitating the movement of goods, people and ideas. Greater accessibility, mobility and communication has shaped the type of global society we live in today.

But is there a cost? Environmentalists will emphasize the problems associated with unlimited travel - depletion of fossil fuels, local air pollution, emissions of greenhouse gases, congestion and accidents, destruction of the countryside and the expansion of land under concrete to name but a few. Even our over-reliance on motorized transport has been linked to a general lack of fitness in the population at large.

So...what are your views? Is there really a transport problem? Do the benefits of motorized transport outweigh the costs? Are there any minor (or perhaps major) changes you personally feel could make our present transport system more sustainable?

It is recognised that current reliance upon motorized transport is too far great for individuals. Despite attempts from green organisations such as green peace and friends of the earth, people still travel in private cars often on their own.This means that precious resources are being utilised inefficiently as there is no legistlation in place to stop people travelling independently in their vehicles.

If the government decided to review transport policy by introducing efficient cheap ad reliable public transport, then the public would be more enclined to use it. The benefits of a consolidated transport policy would mean that fossil fuel will be used more efficiently for journeys, air pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases would reduce. Other improvements in a coordinated policy would mean reduced congestion, fewer accidents and less pressure on the countryside through the expansion of motorway and major trunkroad networks.
The question is, do the cost outweigh the benefits? To answer this we must look at how much money is spent on trasportation of people in private cars against an efficient and reliable public transport system. The government has attempted to discourage people from entering city centres in private cars through cogestion charges however, it appears that traffic has not been significantly reduced even though motorists are charged to enter such zones.

If we are going to improve upon our addiction to motorized transport, then the government will have to review how people travel in the future. Some local coucils have introduced cycle lanes and routes that give cyclists priority over other road users. On a national scale the government should spend more on trains and bus services to transport people around in their daily lives. If we adopted a coordinated transport strategy, then our reliance on motorized transport would diminish.

If more people were encouraged to use public transport then the revenue from it could be used to improve the infrastructure of public transport systems and the benefits of a more sustainable system with the use of electric or hydrogen powered vehicles would mean lower carbon emissions and less pressure on the environment.
Useful websites accessed on 15/02/10
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7936127.stm http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/demonstrationtowns/ http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/travelwise/