Cittaslow - TrustNews Dec 04
Cittaslow - the Slow City movement began in Italy as part of the Slow Food movement. The Slow Food movement was the brainchild of Carlo Petrini in reaction to Fast Food, when a branch of McDonalds opened in 1986 in the historic heart of Rome. Slow Food has now spread to over 100 towns in 10 European countries - you may have seen its snail logo in restaurants.
Cittaslow rejects the homogenisation of towns by the multiple chains - not just McDonalds but the host of other companies that make every High Street look the same up and down the country and even across the globe. It doesn't mean looking backward, or stagnating. It aims to protect and promote local skills and produce, and in so doing protect jobs and the environment. It means using the best of old and new technology - broadband, renewable energy - to improve the quality of life for everyone.
The places so many of us like to visit on holiday are just those places that still have their independent shops and restaurants, have kept their old street patterns - have kept their local distinctiveness. The first UK Slow Cities are Ludlow in Shropshire and Aylsham in Norfolk. Winchester would not be at the cutting edge but would be joining a well-established movement of very special places.
The idea that Winchester should become a Cittaslow was well received at September's AGM. The Trust now has a working group to look at Cittaslow's 55 targets, and wants to work with the City of Winchester to achieve them. So far the reaction of the City has been favourable, as it has from the recent Town Forum. And of course, our Farmers' Market, voted the best in the UK and about to go fortnightly, is a marvellous start.
By the time you receive this TrustNews, your gallant band of investigators will have visited Ludlow, to try to assess the impact Slow City status is having there. We will report back in the next News.
Meanwhile, if you would like to comment on the subject, do please send your views to the Secretary at the Heritage Centre.