Urban dictionary describes my beloved home town of Orpington with the following, highly accurate, statement,
“Total and utter crap hole town located in the London Borough of Bromley. Pretentious people who don’t wish to admit they live in Orpington, try and cover up where they live by describing their home as being in “Chelsfield”. In reality, it’s Orpington.”
After 21 years living in gypsy Mecca, the council have made the decision to rejuvenate the town centre and create a friendlier environment. Any change, be it positive or negative, will always be met with some form of opposition, because it’s in our nature to resist anything that will alter the natural order. In many cases however, change can be a positive force that reinvigorates and encourages growth. Cottinger 1997 says that no organisation can mature without necessary conflict, as it encourages people to challenge the status quo, in the same way that the new plans will improve the stale condition of the local high street.
Regardless of the positive aspects these changes will bring to the town, many shoppers and residents have taken to online forums to voice their concerns. One such angry local illustrated his feelings on the issue with the simple, yet effective, “More money wasted trying to make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear!” apparently he’s not convinced.
A seven screen Odeon cinema is expected to bring much needed footfall to the high street and the addition of a further four retail units, three restaurants and a complete revamp of the public square, suggests to me, nothing but positive change. Orpington’s MP Jo Johnson (Boris’s brother) has made it clear that the £10 million project will meet “a great number of local needs” and claims to have considered feedback from residents at every stage of planning.
A public consultation was held by the development company to give the neighbourhood an opportunity to express any concerns or suggestions for the remodelling plans. This type of involvement in the process is another way to ease the level of conflict surrounding an issue. If people feel they have more of a say in the change being imposed on them, they will be less hostile towards its implementation. Similar to a work place environment, the practice of careful communication is essential to prevent unnecessary worry or anger arising through lack of understanding. Managers are “advised strongly to communicate effectively and regularly with their workforce” (Wakeling 2010) to avoid those circumstances occurring and it’s a similar practice used when corresponding with the community.
Personally, I feel that any attempt to improve the decaying face of Orpington is a welcome one and there will always be opposition to change until people realise the personal benefits of a new system; something that won’t be recognizable until the development is up and running late next year.
What is your opinion on community conflict? Has your neighbourhood ever been up in arms about proposed change? Did the council try and take away your parking spot? Mrs Smith start dumping her rubbish on your drive? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
BROWsing... 