The penultimate part of this series on local government and independence looks at how local democracy and community spirit could be enhanced – in many respects without even needing independence.
Something a bit more fun this time.
“Civic pride” has a wide range of meanings, but boils down to a connection with a particular place or (as suggested) being proud of it. If civic pride is boosted, then it might improve civic engagement – higher turnout in elections, more volunteering, more buy-in to consultations and people taking greater care of their communities.
Flags & Symbols – There are already some county-level flags in Wales, though the closest most of us get to it is a county or town/community coat of arms; some more modern, some more traditional. I’m sure you can think of your own, but if you want an example someone’s reimagined the current Welsh county logos in the style of Japanese prefectures as one example.
Mascots – Returning to Japan, many regions have adopted mascots to promote the area (yuru-chara – some included in the title image), particularly if they’re far away from the major metropolitan areas. Some of these mascots – like Kumamon from Kumamoto prefecture (above) – have become iconic “brands” in their own right, generating tens of millions of pounds (equivalent) for the local economy.
Now, this may be culturally distinct to Japan and might not translate to Wales in the same way; “Ivor the Bridgend Shitehawk” probably wouldn’t sell many stuffed toys.
Civic & Cultural Events, Holidays & Fairs – Self-explanatory. Local and state fairs are a big deal in the United States where they try and deep-fry everything in existence. Some fairs in Wales are/were on a similar scale without catering to the Radio 4 audience; The Big Cheese in Caerphilly, Porthcawl’s Elvis Festival and, of course, The Royal Welsh Show amongst others.
In Scotland, some public holidays are set by local authorities.
Natural, Heritage & Built Environment – I went into this to an extent in IndyWales, Cultural Heritage & Listed Buildings. Ultimately, it’ll be down to local authorities and particularly their planning departments to protect and enhance the natural and built environment.
Laws and regulations could be relaxed to make it easier for councils to designate an area as protected open space and reserved from development. The Welsh Government has also pushed its “town centre-first” strategy to focus developments to the centre of existing urban areas instead of promoting out-of-town developments. Bringing old buildings back into beneficial use ought to be supported – the “how” and “how much would that cost” best left for another day.
