A civil engineer has called conspiracy theories surrounding the 15-minute city concept "patently ridiculous" and said implementing the idea on Merseyside would be a "great opportunity".
A 15-minute city is an urban planning concept that proposes the redesign of neighbourhoods to ensure vital amenities are within easy reach. Protests recently took place in Oxford after its city council included 15-minute city proposals in its local plan for 2040, with conspiracy theorists on social media arguing the idea could be a move to restrict personal freedoms.
Stephen O’Malley is the chief executive of civil, structural and transport engineering firm Civic Engineers and its parent company Civic+. He said areas across Merseyside would be well suited for a 15-minute city.
READ MORE: Look inside eco-friendly mansion on the market for £1.8m
He said: "Liverpool has a fantastic range of existing local and district centres across the city region, and a world-class built environment in its city centre.
"Reorganising the circuitry and setting up planning policy to foster a 15-minute city over the coming years presents a great opportunity to reenergise communities, attract investment, drive prosperity, and improve public health and wellbeing."
Following the protests in Oxford, Stephen said the idea of a 15-minute city had been "hijacked" and said he actually blamed the conspiracy theories on the marketing of cars. He added: "There's some contrived battle between the perceived ideological forces of freedom vs control and, in some extreme conversations, communism.
"The narrative that has evolved over the last 60 years has been to associate personal freedom with the perceived independence of car ownership. Car advertising sells the illusion of traffic free, open roads, with personal choice of music, climate and destination, whereas the reality is very different."
Stephen branded the conspiracy theories "patently ridiculous" and added: "There is a generational shift in the aspirational appreciation of city living, we have seen a growing trend in urban densification in the last decade, and this is forecast to accelerate.
"Cities, towns and villages can be inherently sustainable and healthy places, highly sociable and far better connected. Environmentally sensitive circuitry can provide greater vitality, purpose and improved experiences for inhabitants.
"Our current settlement, neighbourhood and community infrastructure is the result of decades of planning, investment and construction choices. It will take decades to reset these landscapes, repurposing tarmac for trees and parking bays to street play, however the sooner we start the quicker we will see the benefits."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Chief inspector owed thousands to criminal suspect with 'links to ex drug dealer'
Taxi driver bragged sleeping passenger had 'no clue' about sex assault
Merseyrail services delayed and cancelled after 'signalling problems'
Dad's two-word response as he's jailed for 'revenge' attack
I was in Disneyland four weeks go but now I can't look after the kids
