Skip Navigation

Government debunked 15-minute city conspiracy it now backs

www.opendemocracy.net Government debunked 15-minute city conspiracy it now backs

Levelling up department’s own guidance contradicts comments by transport secretary Mark Harper at Tory conference

Government debunked 15-minute city conspiracy it now backs

The government has endorsed a conspiracy about “15-minute cities” as part of its major policy announcement prioritising car owners – despite having already debunked the theory.

Speaking to the Conservative party conference in Manchester today, transport secretary Mark Harper called himself “proudly pro-car,” while describing the concept of 15-minute cities – where local amenities are located within a 15-minute walk or cycle – as “sinister”.

“What is sinister, and what we shouldn’t tolerate,” said Harper, “is the idea that local councils can decide how often you go to the shops, and that they can ration who uses the roads and when, and that they police it all with CCTV.”

There has been opposition to 15-minute cities from those who say they are a front for “everlasting surveillance” and designed to restrict people’s freedom.

But these theories have been widely debunked, including by the government itself.

10

You're viewing a single thread.

10 comments
  • I mean 15min cities are dense areas. Yes if you live in a dense city there is way more survelleince. Most stores will have survellience cameras and its becoming quite common with homes to. If you can see your neighbors home they can see yours but personally I like to be able to walk to get groceries.

You've viewed 10 comments.