Towns Summit
When you attend an event your employer had a hand in organising you’re compelled to react positively. 
Whether this arises out of a need for remuneration I’ll let you decide, but the phrases are usually the same: ‘thought provoking’, ‘timely’ and so on and so forth.
How refreshing it was to attend a recent event from the Scotland’s Towns Partnership (which we helped create) and Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) which was different. It really was thought provoking. No, honestly.
Some phrases have really stuck in mind like: Town Centre Truth and Reconciliation Committees; Collection of Weirdos (put more plainly, the Association of Town Agitators); and a ‘Framework for Mess’.
Leigh Sparks, Chair of our Towns Policy group, provided much food for thought with his excellent presentation; or ‘diatribe’ as he labelled it. As all presenters only had five minutes, they had no choice to be short, snappy and direct.
Julian Dobson of Urban Pollinators was another that stood out. His ‘20 things you could do in the High Street’ without shopping was a stand out.
Read his presentation and reaction to event
