Planning policies - environmental issues - agenda 21
What do we mean by Quality of Life?
There are many things which affect how we feel about
our lives including:
- where we live
- whether we have a job, (and how good it
is!)
- our health
- friends and family
- how good local schools are
- crime; and so on.
Because we all have different needs and values, there are lots
of things we could add to this list, some of which would be
important to you and some to your neighbour.
The three main themes that determine Quality of
Life in Allerdale, or anywhere else for that matter, are:
Economy
A thriving local economy usually produces high levels of
employment and, so long as the jobs are reasonably well paid and
rewarding, this allows people to enjoy a good standard of
living.
Other parts of our lives can be improved by a prosperous local
economy such as transport, leisure and education facilities.
It is wrong to think that improving our local economy will
always damage the environment. New business developments are
encouraged on brown-field sites which have previously been used and
are very often derelict, are in danger of becoming so or the land
may have been contaminated.
A good example of this is the new complex created by M-Sport on the
site of the old hospital at Dovenby. Jobs have been created, old
buildings have been brought back into use and the environment has
been enhanced.
Environment
We often think of the Environment as the countryside, where
animals, birds and flowers can be found.
Although taking care of the natural environment is important, we
should also think about where we live, work, shop and play; our own
local environment.
Many things which we know damage the natural environment can
also make where we live unpleasant such as litter, pollution and
the effects of traffic.
Community
Decent housing, good schools and access to basic services are
all important parts of what most of us expect in our society. Good
public transport and high quality local council services, such as
leisure facilities and clean streets, are also part of society's
needs.
We also hope for good health, low crime levels and having a say
in local decisions to help us feel part of our communities.
What is Local Agenda 21?
In 1992, one hundred and seventy-two governments met at the
Earth Summit in Rio-de-Janeiro in Brazil. They all signed a global
action plan for the 21st Century called Agenda 21 which aims to
improve quality of life and protect the environment.
Local authorities throughout the world were asked to agree a
Local Agenda 21 with their local communities. This means that
individuals, businesses, community groups and governments all need
to do their bit and try to achieve Sustainable Development.
Want to know more?
Download our Allerdale
Futures - Our Local Agenda 21 further down the page