Successful transport decision-making - Osmose

Vol 2 - Table of Contents Next Practical information
Who participates and how?
How it works – in brief
The Planning for Real exercise starts with the construction of a threedimensional
model of the local neighbourhood. Local people are
encouraged to carry out this activity, sometimes with external
assistance, using their specific local knowledge to ensure the model
represents the place, as they see it. Often, children in a local school
might undertake this task as an educational exercise, to maximise
ownership and awareness in the community.
In the second stage, people are invited to attend a Planning for Real
event(s) - often assisted through publicity about the model in the local
press - where the model is exhibited. People are encouraged to place
comment and suggestion cards on the model, noting specific
problems and possible solutions. Cutouts - such as trees, zebra
crossings or bicycle stands - may also be provided, so that people
can place them where they would like to see such facilities provided.
Participants then review comments, agree on priorities and form
working parties.
In stage three the working parties, made up of local people aided by
professionals, review the ideas put forward at the meetings, and
discuss any conflicting interests. This usually leads to a number of
concrete project proposals, which can then be turned by the project
team into action plans.
Resources required
You can either use the Planning for Real 'kit' promoted by the
British Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation
(www.infonline.org.uk), or prepare your own. Local language
versions of the 'kit' have been developed in Holland, Germany
and Poland. For your own material 'pack' you will need:
Map of the area or community.
Material for model making (coloured card, balsa wood,
photographs of facades, polystyrene, glue, scissors, etc.).
Wooden sheets or desks for exhibiting the model.
Material for cut-out features, and suggestions and priority
cards (coloured card).
Material for the ad hoc 'working parties' (paper, pens, flip
charts etc.).
Steps in a Planning for Real event
Step 1: Initiation phase (2-3 months)
Define the study area and set up a steering group involving local
residents and the local authority. Prepare your Planning for Real
'kit' or purchase one.
Step 2: Model making (2-3 days)
The model is often built by local residents, assisted by school
children or students. It is usually at 1:200 or 1:300 scales; it
should be easily transportable.
Step 3: Publicise activity (2 weeks)
Exhibit the model in your area (e.g. cafes, libraries), and seek
media support.
Step 4: Distribute talent sheets (2 weeks)
In parallel with the publicity, gather information on the talents of
local residents. This will form a resource for the working parties
and later implementation.
Step 5: Public sessions (one or more times
in different locations, 3-4 hours)
The session should be introduced by the facilitator, explaining the
objectives and the process:
People view the model (10 mins).
Participants place suggestion cards on the model (30 mins).
Participants discuss the results and rearrange cards, until
they are happy with the outcome (30 mins).
Participants record suggestions and their locations (30 mins).
Participants prioritise suggestions, by placing cards on 'now,
soon, later' boards (30 mins).
Participants discuss next steps and establish working parties
on key issues (20 mins).
Step 6: Working parties (1-2 months)
Working parties cover topics such as environmental protection,
traffic, play areas; actions plans are worked out in more detail.
Step 7: Implementation and feedback
The working parties start to implement the projects and actions
plans or contact relevant authorities. The public should be
informed about the results through newsletters or press releases.
Participants are generally drawn from a particular
target community or neighbourhood. Local politicians
and staff from the local authorities should also be
invited to the public sessions, but try to avoid an 'us
against them' atmosphere: the emphasis is on
community inputs, so professionals and officials
should not contribute until asked to do so.
How much does it cost?
Professional staff costs and time will be involved in the
preparation, participation and facilitation of the events.
Resource costs include the meeting space, catering,
information material and appropriate model-making
facilities.
What skills are required?
The Planning for Real facilitator should have good
skills in moderation, group work, conflict solving, and
chairing meetings. People are also needed to assist in
running the event, for example volunteers from the
community or neighbourhood. Train-the-trainers
workshops - offered, for example, in the UK or
Germany - can be found on the internet and promoted
by the British Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation
(see 'resources required').
How is it used with other techniques?
A Planning for Real event can be free-standing, or
form part of a broader engagement strategy. It should
be linked into the project's media strategy, in order to
publicise the event and the outcomes in local
newspapers and radio stations.
What are the drawbacks?
A Planning for Real exercise is suitable for broad urban or
community development projects; not, on the one hand,
for general strategy development, nor, on the other, for
informing people about a detailed scheme proposal. The
exercise and the implementation of the action plan needs
considerable time and resources.
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