Community or Neighbourhood Forums

These are organised on a similar format to the workshops, but the invite list is much more specific. The aim is to get key stakeholders, groups and representatives together to discuss particular issues arising from the development, for example, environmental impact, ability to lead local regeneration or impact on transportation infrastructure.

Within any community there are a small number of key decision-makers. It is these people who can make or break a project. Often, they are shouted down by the protestors and those who are totally opposed. If these reasonable key decision-makers cannot find a forum, then their views may never be heard.

Community or neighbourhood forums are a way of bringing these people together so they can discuss the development, ask for changes and modifications and understand the constraints under which the developer may be working.

To work best, these forums are best kept small, any more than eight people can turn into an uncontrollable public meeting. Ideally, they should have an independent chairman and the developer should be in attendance to answer questions. These forums should meet on a regular basis say, monthly or bi-monthly.

If a project is particularly contentious, early meetings can be heated, but if there is good will and flexibility on all sides, then they quickly settle into a workmanlike pattern.

Green Issues helps facilitate these forums and often acts as an independent chairperson if one from the community is not forthcoming.