Ground Control - Urban land ownership & privatisation

[Gerrard Winstanley]

Ground Control: Fear and Happiness in the Twenty-First-Century City (Paperback)
by Anna Minton (Author) 

http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do;jsessionid=CC1D90757FB40E37C99A7EBC2A6BCA5E.worker2?ISBN=9780141033914
Reveals the untested urban planning that transforms not only our cities, but the nature of public space, of citizenship and of trust. This book argues for an alternative, continental approach that celebrates shared space.

Description
When the figures say crime is falling, why are we more frightened than ever? Could our towns and cities be creating fear and mistrust? More property is being built in Britain than at any time since the Second World War – but it's owned by private corporations, designed for profit and watched over by CCTV. From the Docklands boom to cities such as Manchester, gated apartment developments, gleaming business districts and plazas have sprung up over the country. Has this `regeneration' really made our lives better? This passionate and vivid polemic shows us the face of Britain today, revealing the untested urban planning that is transforming not only our cities, but the nature of public space, of citizenship and of trust. Anna Minton meets those who live and work in the new private spaces, those who've fought against them and those who are excluded from them, providing forceful evidence that physical barriers are leading to a divided nation. Yet there is another way. Offering some surprising solutions, Anna Minton argues for an alternative, continental approach that celebrates shared space. Ultimately Ground Control presents a better, happier future for our communities, and our society.



GROUND CONTROL
Fear and Happiness in the Twenty-First Century City
ANNA MINTON
http://www.annaminton.com/Ground_Control.htm
To be published by Penguin Books, paperback original, 25th June 2009, £9.99
Britons are increasingly aware of living in a society plagued by fear and unhappiness. Could our towns and cities be the cause?   GROUND CONTROL is an in-depth and passionate exploration of the state of Britain today, revealing how the market place has taken control from the local electorate. Now, untested urban planning has transformed not only our cities, but the very nature of public space, of citizenship and of trust.  
More property is being built in Britain than at any time since WW2 - from high security gated apartment developments, gleaming business districts and plazas, to homogeneous city centres.   However, Anna Minton argues that this 'regeneration' actually has a negative impact on our lives, because it is the result of private companies wresting control away from local government, creating spaces designed for profit and watched over by CCTV.
>From Liverpool to Manchester, London to Newcastle, more and more streets owned by private companies with the sole aim of making money and homes are left to deliberately fall into dereliction so the land can be bought cheaply, imposing skyscrapers and fortress-like developments which not only provide physical barriers but engineer fear and mistrust.   Yet there is another way.   Offering some surprising solutions, Anna Minton argues for an alternative, continental approach that celebrates a socially cohesive and shared public space and will reinvigorate our civic engagement.
About the author
Anna Minton's writing has always highlighted complex subject areas which are vital to the way we live but are often overlooked.   Ground Control emerged from a series of three agenda setting reports, two of which were published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and another by the think tank Demos.   Anna is also the author of The Joseph Rowntree Foundation Viewpoint on fear and distrust, and is a member of the writers' panel for The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.   Her media experience and networks in urban policy have led her to advisory boards for a number of public and private sector clients.   Anna is the recipient of five national journalism awards.   She was on the staff of the Financial Times and writes regularly for the Guardian.   Ground Control is her first book.
Press contact: Mari Yamazaki, 020 7010 3419 / mari.yamazaki at uk.penguingroup.com ROUND CONTROL
Fear and Happiness in the Twenty-First Century City
ANNA MINTON
To be published by Penguin Books, paperback original, 25th June 2009, £9.99
Britons are increasingly aware of living in a society plagued by fear and unhappiness. Could our towns and cities be the cause?   GROUND CONTROL is an in-depth and passionate exploration of the state of Britain today, revealing how the market place has taken control from the local electorate. Now, untested urban planning has transformed not only our cities, but the very nature of public space, of citizenship and of trust.  
More property is being built in Britain than at any time since WW2 - from high security gated apartment developments, gleaming business districts and plazas, to homogeneous city centres.   However, Anna Minton argues that this 'regeneration' actually has a negative impact on our lives, because it is the result of private companies wresting control away from local government, creating spaces designed for profit and watched over by CCTV.
>From Liverpool to Manchester, London to Newcastle, more and more streets owned by private companies with the sole aim of making money and homes are left to deliberately fall into dereliction so the land can be bought cheaply, imposing skyscrapers and fortress-like developments which not only provide physical barriers but engineer fear and mistrust.   Yet there is another way.   Offering some surprising solutions, Anna Minton argues for an alternative, continental approach that celebrates a socially cohesive and shared public space and will reinvigorate our civic engagement.
About the author
Anna Minton's writing has always highlighted complex subject areas which are vital to the way we live but are often overlooked.   Ground Control emerged from a series of three agenda setting reports, two of which were published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and another by the think tank Demos.   Anna is also the author of The Joseph Rowntree Foundation Viewpoint on fear and distrust, and is a member of the writers' panel for The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.   Her media experience and networks in urban policy have led her to advisory boards for a number of public and private sector clients.   Anna is the recipient of five national journalism awards.   She was on the staff of the Financial Times and writes regularly for the Guardian.   Ground Control is her first book.
Press contact: Mari Yamazaki, 020 7010 3419 / mari.yamazaki at uk.penguingroup.com