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Comment by Timon Scheven on August 27, 2009 at 11:04

Very exciting - thank for posting this and thank you for taking the time out to chat about it on the phone...

Comment by Nick Wright on August 19, 2009 at 16:19

Very interesting - I'd certainly like to find out more about some of the detail of the techniques they used (stamp books etc) - as I'm often involved with projects which aspire to engage local communities in decisions about long term strategy, change and identity.

And I completely agree with Nick's point about resources - as a consultant, I find it difficult to persuade many clients (public and private) to invest in this kind of intensive, collaborative working.

Comment by Nick Wilding on July 31, 2009 at 10:39

Great video, good job Kirsty and Scott!

It will be powerful to follow this story as it engages with the planning machinery; the extent to which the power of peoples' voices can be supported through this process to directly influence decision makers... to learn the mechanisms by which the clay futures team is encouraging culture change in planning to embrace these kinds of methods...

Many years ago I helped out with an 'ecocity' consultation project as part of Edinburgh city's planning for its South-East wedge (http://www.gaiagroup.org/Research/TF/eco-city/index.html). It was brilliant fun - focussed around involving 60 children from local schools building a huge model of their dream for the future of the place. The planners came for the presentation on the last day; the model was then transported and installed in the entrance hall to the City Chambers. Now it's ten years later and the 'wedge' has been built - there are some eco-buildings and other nods to the childrens' vision ... and also, these days, there are some senior planners in Edinburgh who understand much better the power of these exercises and are more open to their role in future plans... not that we see many resources to enable them.

The Clay Futures work, it seems to be, is coming at a good time - widespread acknowledgement that conventional planning processes don't serve communities, and powerful, visionary local voices making themselves heard. Thanks again for the video....