Urban Geography Study Group. The symposium at the Newcastle conference
was on ' Housing and employment in the inner city'. Although reported in Area 9 ...
Area reference to Urban Geography Study Group Reference:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
(1975). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 7 (2), 133-134. (1977). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 9 (2), 132. (1978). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 10 (1), 74. (1979). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 11 (1), 27. (1980). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 12 (1), 93. (1981). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 13 (1), 93. (1982). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 14 (1), 89-90. (1983). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 15 (4), 396. (1984). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 16 (4), 352-353. (1985). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 17 (4), 349. (1986). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 18 (4), 346-347. (1987). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 19 (4), 367-368. (1988). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 20 (4), 391. (1989). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 21 (4), 452-453. (1990). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 22 (4), 413-414. (1991). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 23 (4), 396-397. (1992). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 24 (4), 441-442. (1993). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 25 (4), 433-434. (1994). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 26 (4), 410-411. (1995). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 27 (4), 398-399.
Extracts:
(1975). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 7 (2), 133-134. Urban Geography Study Group The first meeting of the year at Norwich adopted the general conference theme and a session titled ' Urban geography and public policy' contained contributions from Dr C. P. A. Levein of the Scottish Development Office and Mr D. B. Hall of North London Polytechnic. Dr Tony Champion (Newcastle University) convened the May meeting at King's College London with contributions by Roy Drewett (LSE) Tony Champion (Newcastle) and David Gregory (Aston) on ' Urban development: patterns and processes'. The three day meeting at Portsmouth in September (Behavioural studies in urban geography) proved popular and was well attended. Main sessions were concerned with consumer behaviour, perceptions and preferences, and residential mobility. The facilities and hospitality at Portsmouth were highly appreciated by all participants. The committee for the group was formed as follows as a result of the Annual General Meeting at Oxford. Chairman: Dr D. T. Herbert; Secretary/Treasurer, Dr A. M. Warnes; Publications Secretary, Mr B. D. Clark; Committee: Dr R. Bennett, Dr M. G. Bradford, Mr D. Burtenshaw, Mr R. Dennis, Dr P. N. Jones and Dr C. R. Lewis. Thanks were expressed to retiring members and particularly to Prof. Carter as retiring chairman. Meetings for 1975 will follow the same format in terms of timing and composition as in previous years, with a May meeting at King's College London and a September meeting (15 to 17) at Reading. A session on The city in the Third World is being arranged with the Developing Areas Study Group for Lanchester in 1976. All members are reminded that the committee is keen to receive any suggestionss for future activities and meetings. Offers to convene sessions or to read papers should now be sent to Tony Warnes at King's College London, or, in the case of the ' Third World' session, to Alan Gilbert at University College London. D. T. Herbert (1977). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 9 (2), 132. Urban Geography Study Group
The symposium at the Lanchester conference on ' The city in the Third World' was jointly convened with the Developing Areas Study Group. A report appears in Area 8 (1976), 1, 74-5, but special thanks go to Mr John Turner for agreeing to contribute. The May London meeting took the theme, 'Ethnicity in the city', and again we welcomed a guest speaker, Prof. John Rex, who outlined recent developments in race relations and in the housing of coloured groups in Birmingham. The September residential meeting was held at Keele, and consisted of Symposia on ' Office location policies in Europe', ' Urban historical geography', and 'Residences and residential patterns'. An innovation for the group was its participation in convening a session on' Urban geography and urban planning ' at the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting at Lancaster in September. Drs M. G. Bradford, R. Dennis and C. R. Lewis retired as committee members, and at the Newcastle AGM Dr D. Clark, Prof. R. J. Johnston and Dr A. Strachan were elected in their place. Continuing support encourages us to repeat in 1977 the traditional pattern of meetings. During 1976 the group completed a register of research interests, including details of publications where available. Copies are available from the Secretary, cost 50p. Tony Warnes
(1978). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 10 (1), 74. Urban Geography Study Group The symposium at the Newcastle conference was on ' Housing and employment in the inner city'. Although reported in Area 9 (1977) 70-1, I particularly thank Prof. G. C. Cameron (Glasgow), Dr N. Dennis (Newcastle) and Mrs B. D. M. Smith (Birmingham) for their invited contributions. Papers given at this meeting form the core of a forth coming theme volume of Transactions. The May meeting in London took the theme, ' Evolving urban systems' and is reported in Area 9 (1977) 207-8. The September residential meeting was held at Leicester, and consisted of symposia on ' Urban political geography', 'Retailing and retail centres', and on ' Crime and deviance in the city'. Three themes again proved a successful format, and were supplemented with the chairman's address by D. T. Herbert on Social geography and urban problems, and a superbly illustrated and elegant lecture by Prof. H. J. Dyos on The world of urban history. In preparation for 1978 is a joint May meeting with the Geography and Planning Working Party on London planning issues, and a residential meeting in Glasgow during September. Members are reminded that the committee requests offers to convene symposia or deliver papers, and welcomes suggestions for future activities. D. T. Herbert retired from the committee after 6 years successively as Secretary and Chairman, and warm thanks for his efforts were extended at the Hull conference by the incoming Chairman, Prof. R. J. Johnston. Other elections at the Group's AGM at Hull resulted in A. G. Champion replacing myself as Secretary/Treasurer, and in P. W. Daniels, R. L. Davies, G. Gordon and D. McEvoy filling the committee vacancies produced by the chairman's elevation and the retirement of M. B. Gleave and P. T. Kivell. A. M. Warnes
(1979). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 11 (1), 27. Urban Geography Study Group The Study Group was involved with two symposia at the Annual Conference at Hull in January 1978, as reported in Area 10 (1978), 59-61. Particular thanks go to D. T. Herbert for organizing the meeting on ' Socio-spatial activities in the city' and to A. M. Warnes and A. F. Williams for jointly convening the session on ' Transport and communications in the city' on behalf of the Urban and Transport Geography Study Groups. The May meeting was held, as usual, at King's College, London and comprised five papers on the broad theme of ' Offices and urban change '. The papers dealt with recent office development trends, the office development process, the role of offices in inner city regeneration, government office policy, and the influences of new telecommunications hardware and changing corporate structures on the location of office employment.
The September meeting was held at the University of Strathclyde on two interrelated themes: the problems of inner Glasgow and public services in the urban environment. Particular thanks are due to the invited contributors, including A. McKenzie (Scottish Development Department) for his introductory survey of planning problems in Glasgow and A. Gibb (Glasgow) for leading the excursion, and to G. Gordon and the Strathclyde Geography Department for convening the meeting and welcoming the participants. The meeting also included a Young Researcher's Forum, a new development which the good response from postgraduate students suggests should be continued. The membership of the Study Group has increased from 530 to 560 over the past year. Spending over the financial year 1977/8 was broadly in line with income. A supplement to the 1976 register of members' research interests was produced in November 1978 and is available to non-members at the price of 50 pence. A. G. Champion
(1980). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 12 (1), 93. Urban Geography Study Group The Group made a significant contribution to the Manchester Conference's central theme of urban-industrial issues by helping to arrange three symposia. The remainder of the 1979 programme followed the pattern of previous years, with a May meeting at King's College London and a residential meeting in September at King's College Hall. The former, convened by R. Johnston, dealt with 'The state, local government finance, and housing markets' and took advantage of the proximity of the Centre for Environmental Studies, whence speakers introduced their research on the rate support grant, housing subsidies and house building rates. The September meeting, convened by C. Hammett and S. Bowlby jointly on behalf of the Urban and Social Geography Study Groups, explored the theme of 'Explanation and non-explanation in urban geography'. Last year's experiment with a Young Researchers Forum was continued at this meeting. Progress is also being made with two new ventures. The Group sponsored a meeting arranged by M. Moseley, to which academics known to be interested in increased interaction with European urban geographers were invited. The 1981 programme has also been geared to this end, with a proposed May meeting on European urban geography and a conference in Dublin in September. Secondly, the first three of a series of articles on recent developments in urban geography have been submitted to the journal Teaching Geography and will determine the future of the Study Group's attempts to provide information directly to the school teacher. A. G. Champion (1981). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 13 (1), 93. Urban Geography Study Group The Study Group's main activities comprised three meetings during the year. It was involved with two symposia at the Lancaster IBG Annual Conference, one on Selected themes in urban geography and the other, convened by R. J. Dennis (UCL) jointly with the Historical Geography Research Group, on Historical processes of urbanisation. The May meeting, held at UCL, followed up last year's initiative in sponsoring a gathering of those with interests in European urban and regional change; this meeting, convened by M. Moseley (UEA) jointly with the Geography and Planning Study Group and Regional Studies Association, focused on inner city problems and policies in Europe. The September meeting was held at Carysfort College, Dublin, and was designed to examine aspects of urban change in Ireland, particularly the Dublin area, and to exchange ideas with urban geographers working in Ireland. Special thanks go to A. J. Parker (UCD) and A. MacLaran (TCD) for organising this meeting. A major part of the 1981 programme has now been arranged. The future of the city centre is the theme of a conference to be held on 8-10 July in Newcastle upon Tyne, while the autumn meeting is provisionally scheduled for 14-15 September at Manchester University on Quantitative urban analysis. A publication is planned to derive from the papers presented at the July meeting, while the series of articles Updating urban geography are scheduled to continue through the year in Teaching Geography. The past year has seen income running at a somewhat higher level than expenditure, leaving the new officers and
committee a healthy balance with which to pursue new initiatives and to support any plans designed to contribute to the celebrations of the Institute's half-century. A. G. Champion
(1982). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 14 (1), 89-90. Urban Geography Study Group The group has pursued a varied programme during the past year, with two residential conferences as well as a full participation in the annual conference programme. In July, a conference was convened by Ross Davies and Tony Champion in Newcastle, on the topic of ' The future for the city centre ', jointly sponsored with the Geography and Planning Study Group. Participants included Study Group members both from academic institutions and outside organisations, as well as experts from fields other than geography. This was seen as a very useful forum for an exchange of views between academics and practising planners and will result in a publication of conference proceedings during 1982. The group was involved in a further joint conference in September, when it sponsored a conference with the Quantitative Methods Study Group on' Quantitative urban geography'. The conference, convened by Michael Bradford, was held in Manchester, and again demonstrated the value of jointly sponsored conferences in exploring areas of common interest. The annual conference programme in Southampton included three sessions organised in cooperation with other Study Groups. The session on ' Public service provision and urban politics', convened by Andrew Kirby (Reading) and Stephen Pinch (Southampton) on behalf of the Study Group and the Political Geography Working Party, was the first formal activity in this area supported by the Study Group. It included papers on the policies of urban service provision (Barbara Webster, Birmingham) and Weberian theory (Peter Saunders, Sussex), as well as more specific discussions of policies in the area of public housing provision (D. W. Lamont, Glasgow and A. Gilbert, UCL). The session concluded with papers examining the relationship between the level of public service provision and position in the urban hierarchy (Ken Newton, Dundee) and an American perspective on the political economy of urban service provision (Richard Rich, Virginia Polytechnic). The area of research covered by this session is to be further supported by the Study Group with a working group already organising other conference sessions both in the USA and Britain through to the autumn of 1983. The Southampton programme also saw the group participating in a session with the Industrial Activity and Area Development Study Group on the 'Industrial change in regions and cities', convened by H. D. Watts (Sheffield) and Andrew Gillespie (Newcastle). Papers included contributions by Glen Northcliffe (York, Toronto) or non-metropolitan manufacturing and the theory of production, and Brian Holly (Kent State) on local market office location in Akron, Ohio. Colin Mason (Southampton) summarised a detailed study of new firm creation in south Hampshire, pointing to the lack of new firms in the major cities compared to the remainder of the region. A third joint session was held with the Higher Education Study Group focusing on the Teaching Geography series. Andrew Kirby (Reading) and Colin Pooley (Lancaster) explained their approaches to the presentation of material on urban geography in the series, whilst D. M. Lambert (Ward Freman School, Buntingford, Herts), Rex Walford (Cambridge) and John Bale (Keele) gave teachers' reactions to the series material to date. A research register is being compiled to be published in mid-1982. This will be the third register of members' research interests following similar registers in 1975 and 1978. As such it will be a useful statement on areas of current research within our branch of the discipline. The group has continued to further its links with the teaching profession at school level with its continued support for the Teaching Geography series. In addition, a special session on developments in urban geography has been arranged by Andrew Kirby on behalf of the Study Group, at the Geographical Association's 1982 conference in April. An initiative has been taken to canvas the views of the membership of this large Study Group. A number of ideas have emerged from this, amongst which is an increase in the number of one day meetings held outside London. The committee have particularly taken into account the increasing number of members who have posts outside academic institutions and feel that such meetings may have a particular interest for them. A residential conference is being held in July at Birmingham on ' Urban morphology: research and practice in geography and urban design '. Full details of this conference will be circulated to members or are available directly from its convenors, Jeremy Whitehand and Terry Slater (Birmingham).
Looking further ahead to the 1983 Annual Conference in Edinburgh, the Study Group's programme is already taking shape. The group will be jointly convening a major session on urban conservation and its social and economic effects. In addition, a joint session with the Medical Geography Study Group is being organised. The group itself intends to convene a session on current research directions in urban geography as its own contribution to the 50th anniversary meeting. Mike Bateman
(1983). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 15 (4), 396. Urban Geography Study Group The Urban Geography Study Group has been active largely in the field of conference sessions during the past year. The Edinburgh Annual Conference saw two sessions involving the Group. Jointly with the Historical Geography Research Group and the Geography Planning Study Group, a session was convened on the ' Development and management of the historic city'. The notable characteristic of the session was the broad spectrum of international experience which was reflected in the papers presented. The Group joined with the Medical Geography Study Group to convene a session on health care provision in urban areas, providing a most useful forum for an exchange of ideas from, on the one side, researchers active in the field and, on the other, practitioners involved directly in health care. (See detailed reports in Area 15, 75-6 and 7981). In July, the Group held the third of a series of conferences on the theme of public service provision and urban politics. The previous conference had been held at the annual IBG Conference in Southampton in January 1982 and, with SSRC assistance, at Washington DC at Easter 1982. The Reading conference explored issues of education, health service and recreational facility provision in cities as well as providing an opportunity for more general theoretical discussion of work in this field. It was particularly gratifying to see the results of the working party in this field, which has been specifically supported by the Study Group. It is intended to continue the practice of offering limited term support and working party status to other Study Group members co-operating in clearly defined areas of research activity. The Research Register of the Study Group was published in late 1982. For the first time, and thanks especially to the efforts of John Dawson (now Stirling, then Lampeter), all Study Group members' research details are held on computer file. This facilitated the production of the research register and obviously enables a more frequent revision of the register to take place. Copies of the research register are available to non-members of the group from the Study Group secretary. M. Bateman
(1984). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 16 (4), 352-353. Urban Geography Study Group During the last year the Group has devoted its energies towards the organisation of conferences along the now well established pattern of participation in the sessions at the Annual Conference and one other meeting, usually residential, during the summer or in the autumn. The Group participated in two sessions at the Durham Conference. The first was organised by the Group and explored various facets of some recent research on urban retailing. The papers presented demonstrated the continuing interest amongst urban geographers in the spatial attributes of retail activity, its organisation, the behaviour of consumers and the implications of these for planning. The second session involving the Group was convened jointly with the Industrial Geography Study Group and was concerned with the impact of recession on the city and some of the methods which have been used to rectify the associated problems. Following the precedent established at the Edinburgh Conference in 1983, the Group again organised a film evening at Durham. A programme which included some classic footage on topics in the general area of urban planning was enjoyed by a small but enthusiastic audience. After the problems
encountered at Edinburgh over the arrangements, the Group is particularly grateful to the organisers at Durham for the efficient way in which they provided such good facilities for the evening. It is unfortunate to have to report that a joint residential conference with the Planning Study Group on the theme of Planning for Small Towns which was to be held at Somerville College, Oxford in mid-July 1984 had to be cancelled at the last minute because of inadequate support. The conference was widely publicised in the Group's Newsletter, Area and in a special circular distributed by the Short Course Unit at Oxford Polytechnic. It may well be the case that reductions in many institutional and departmental budgets are now beginning, in the way first noted in last year's Report, to have adverse effects on members' participation in residential conferences. It is possible that the conference will be reconvened in Autumn 1984 or Spring 1985. Publication of the Group's Newsletter has now been reduced to two larger issues per annum following the introduction of an extended listing of the contents of recent publications which are of interest to urban geographers, including books, journals and information about new journals in the field. P W Daniels University of Liverpool
(1985). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 17 (4), 349. Urban Geography Study Group Although one of the larger study groups (350 plus), this has been a relatively quiet year. But the time has been profitably employed to implement some new initiatives and prepare plans for a conference programme extending well into 1987. As a result of an amendment to its Constitution agreed at the last AGM the Group now has a separate Treasurer and Secretary. Michael Bateman (Portsmouth Poly) was elected to the former position and Fred Gray (Sussex) and Gwen Rowley (Sheffield) joined the Committee as new members. In an attempt to produce a more comprehensive and informative newsletter, the group has decided to appoint an Editor, currently Vaughan Robinson (Swansea), who may be a member of the Committee or co-opted to produce two issues a year. The first issue appeared in June 1985 and provided that Study Group members are prepared to provide copy on a range of matters likely to be of interest to other members, the newsletter should be a much more effective medium of communication among the membership of the Study Group. This year has also seen the publication of a Research Register to which over 120 members have supplied contributions, some of which update the entries in the previous register which appeared in 1982. At the Leeds Annual Conference, the Group held a session on urban finance, which was convened by Paul Knox (Dundee). In May 1985, the Department of Geography, University of Manchester was the venue for a successful one-day meeting convened by Michael Barke (Newcastle Poly) on perspectives on alternative housing tenures. A feature of this conference was the multi-disciplinary backgrounds of the thirtyfive participants who included representatives from the Building Societies, Local Authorities, Housing Development Agencies and Central Government Departments as well as academic geographers. Looking ahead, the group has made firm plans for a number of meetings including an initiative directed at the postgraduate membership of the Group. A young research workers work shop on ' 19th and 20th century city patterns; processes and problems ' is to be held in September 1985 at Gregynog Hall, Mid Wales. As always, the Study Group Secretary will be glad to hear from members with any ideas for meetings, indicating their willingness to organise meetings or with suggestions for more generally diversifying the Group's activities. P W Daniels University of Liverpool
(1986). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 18 (4), 346-347. Urban Geography Study Group A number of conferences and workshops have been organised, a research register published and two issues of an enlarged newsletter published during the last year. The Group was also required to prepare a statement for the SGRC Committee on the current directions of urban research, future priorities and work that might be of relevance and interest to the public at large. The exercise demonstrated the eclectic interests and concerns of urban geographers; the city seems to provide a context for work by researchers
with systematic interests stretching across geography. ' Pure ' urban geographers are perhaps less numerous than the Group's large membership roster suggests. In September 1985 the Group convened a Young Researchers Workshop and this explores the range of issues, rising from research initiation, design and implementation. Although the attendance was lower than hoped, there was consensus that it was a stimulating event and the Group should think of organising another Workshop in the future. The utility of the Group's research register as a barometer of research in urban geography continues to be one of its principal strengths but much depends upon the terms made by members. Less than one third responded on this occasion and this means that the document is notable for the items not included as much as for those that are included. It was fitting that a venue for the annual conference located in the heart of an area favoured by high technology industry should be the occasion for a one-day session organised by the Group on the theme of technology and urban form. This was sponsored by Tesco plc and all four modules during the day were well attended and discussion was lively. There are plans to publish the proceedings before the end of 1986. Following the success of the one-day May conference held last year in Manchester, a similar event was held again in May 1986 at King's College, London. The theme was' Crime and space in the city: multidisciplinary approaches' and a feature of this meeting was not only the excellent support and the quality of the discussion provoked by the papers but also the active participation of individuals from other disciplines such as criminology. The new-style newsletter continues to go from strength to strength as a comprehensive source of news and information. Book reviews were included for the first time in the November 1985 issue and it is hoped that these will become a regular feature. Plans for the coming year include a joint conference with the Industrial Activity and Area Development Study Group on services and area development, to be held at the University of Liverpool in September. The group is one of three invited by the IBG President (Professor Lawton) to help convene a major session at the annual conference in Portsmouth on ' The rise and fall of great cities '. The group is also involved in the joint organisation of a one-day session at the same conference which will mark the fortieth anniversary of the Town & Country Planning Act 1947. Peter Daniels University of Liverpool
(1987). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 19 (4), 367-368. Urban Geography Study Group Most of the Group's activities this year have centred on the conference programme as the Committee tries to identify topics attractive to a good cross-section of the members. Although a large Group, its membership is notable for its diversity and unless it engages in jointly convened meetings, it is not always easy to come forward with conference topics which are exciting and attractive. A joint conference on ' Services and area development' was organised with the Industrial Advisory Area Development Study Group held at University of Liverpool September 1986. This conference provided the first opportunity for the final report of the IBG limited Life Working Party on Producer Services in Britain to be presented to a wider audience. More than 50 participants including representatives of local and central governments and eight colleagues from overseas (Norway, the Netherlands, France and the United States) received and commented extensively on the work of the Working Party. The remainder of the conference was devoted to several papers which explored some new research on various themes arising from the rapid diversification of the service sector during recent years, especially producer services. A valuable opportunity to consider some important comparative issues was provided by the contributions from the overseas participants. At the Annual Conference in Portsmouth the Group was involved as co-organiser in two sessions. The first was a major session initiated by the President of the Institute (Professor Lawton) on 'The Rise and Fall of Great Cities'. The Urban, Population and Historical Geography Research Groups combined resources to invite a distinguished group of speakers to provide both an historical and a contemporary perspective on the processes that have shaped and are shaping the development of major metropolitan areas. Spread over one and a half days, the contributions were stimulating and sometimes provocative, but as usual on such occasions there could have been more time made available for discussion. The Group was also involved on the joint organisation of a one day session (with the Planning and Geography Study Group) which marked
the 40th Anniversary of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. This was notable for the number of local authority planners and central government officials who agreed to present papers and the Group is grateful to David Clarke and Fred Gray for helping to convene an interesting session. Following the success of similar previous meetings at Manchester and King's College, London, Coventry (Lanchester) Polytechnic was the venue for our Spring Conference convened by Leigh Sparks (Institute of Retail Studies, Stirling) on 'Shopping centres: a geographical appraisal'. Six specialists on urban retailing and retail planning presented informative papers and it was a pity that the conference did not receive the support merited by the substantial effort that had gone into its organisation. Nevertheless, the 15 delegates were mainly specialists in retail studies and this ensured an informed discussion of the papers. The Group's newsletter continues to be published twice each year under the editorship of Vaughan Robinson (Swansea) who has succeeded in maintaining the breadth of content, including conference reports, news about forthcoming meetings, lists of contents from urban journals (compiled by Paul Knox (Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg)), book reviews and occasional reports on developments in urban geography outside the U.K. Since the Urban Group is one of the largest in the Institute, the newsletter has a vital role in ensuring effective and timely distribution of information to its diverse membership and there are plans to develop further the high standards already set. The forward programme of the Group includes an important session at the Loughborough Annual Conference on' Conceptualising and measuring urban change in Britain'. Several of the major research groups working on various facets of this issue have already offered papers and some prominent urban geographers, who are not directly involved with these projects, will critique the work undertaken thus far. Plans for a Workshop on Urban Information systems in April/May 1988 are in hand. A Postgraduate Workshop along the lines of the successful inaugural effort in 1985 is to be held at Gregynog Hall, near Newtown, in September 1988. P W Daniels University of Liverpool
(1988). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 20 (4), 391. Urban Geography Study Group The group still strives to provide conference programmes that will attract an audience from a membership which is more varied in its interests and research than most others within the Institute. In attempting to provide interesting topics during the past year the group has failed in its ambitions because September and May conference sessions have been cancelled. Unfortunately the groups' effort to be involved with Chinese urbanists resulted in the cancellation of the September meeting. Likewise the May conference on information systems which was due to be held at Middlesex Polytechnic, had to be cancelled when access to the equipment was curtailed. It is hoped to re-organise that session for later in 1988 or early 1989. The conference session at Loughborough focussed upon an all-day session convened and chaired by Professor P Williams (UWIST) on conceptualising urban change, in Britain. Attendance varied as competing sessions captured interest. Those who attended all the presentations from the workers on three major urban change projects directed by staff at UWIST, Manchester University and Sussex University found it to be a profitable occasion hearing a summary of the progress of each project and discussing the problems involved in the variety of approaches to the topics. At the AGM Peter Daniels was replaced by David Burtenshaw as Secretary of the Group, Peter Larkham, assumed the role of editor of the Newsletter and John Carter remained a coopted member with the task of completing the new research register. D Burtenshaw Portsmouth Polytechnic
(1989). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 21 (4), 452-453. Urban Studies Group This year has been a relatively quiet one for the group as we move from one set of initiatives to the next. In September a successful post-graduate forum, organised by Peter Larkham, was held attended by twenty
aspiring researchers from universities and polytechnics. The annual conference sessions were not that well attended despite the demand from the membership for a submitted paper session. It would appear that submitted paper sessions appeal more to ex patriots than the researchers in British institutions who have adequate outlets in other sessions. The group now look forward to the start of its major new initiative which is a series of research conferences on' The contemporary challenge for British cities '. The opening conference will be in Birmingham in August 1991, to be followed by similar sessions at the Glasgow and Sheffield Annual Conferences. This year also marks the final year in office for our Chairman, Professor D Diamond. The group extend our thanks to him for being the instigator of the conference series. D Burtenshaw Portsmouth Polytechnic
(1990). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 22 (4), 413-414. Urban Geography Study Group The Urban Geography Study Group has had a somewhat eventful year, which at the Glasgow Annual Conference provoked a re-examination of its purpose and potential roles. This discussion resulted in a feeling that there was definitely scope for the UGSG, first as a focus of debate for specifically urban theory, urban analysis and urban policy, and secondly as an' umbrella 'covering a wide variety of urban interest groups that might otherwise not be viable. The immediate programme for the revitalised UGSG draws first on the work of the Urban Morphology Research Group at Birmingham. A national seminar on ' Recent developments in urban morphology' in April was attended by 36 delegates: the day went very well, marred only by British Rail's attempt to lose those travelling from Cardiff. A two-day international Conference on the Urban Landscape, held in July, attracted 40 delegates, originating from Calcutta to Switzerland and representing academics, local authority planners and private practicing planners. This event was also sponsored by the Historical Geography Research Group, the British Council, Nuffield Foundation and West Midlands '90. These sessions were convened by Julie Horn, Andrew Jones, Peter Larkham and Jeremy Whitehand. The future programme includes a third postgraduate workshop, to be held in September in Manchester, and two sessions at the Sheffield IBG, on the 'Future city' (convened by Peter Newby) and ' Cities of spectacle' (convened by Paul White and Peter Jones). Another urban theory session is being planned for September 1991, convened by Liz Bondi and Michael Bradford. Sessions on retailing and tourism are proposed for the Swansea IBG in 1992. The past few years activities of the Group have been characterised by well-attended sessions at the annual IBG Conference, but poorly-attended one-day or residential conferences at other times of the year. The lack of support for such mid-year meetings culminated in the cancellation of BIRMINGHAM '89, the first in a proposed conference series on ' contemporary challenges for British cities '. This was surprising, given the favourable response within the IBG to the first idea of the series, proposed by the outgoing Chairman, Professor Derek Diamond. It was the cancellation of this meeting that led to the reappraisal of the role of the UGSG. In contrast, the theme of the IBG Conference at Glasgow, 'urban regeneration and regional development', provided UGSG members with a peculiar problem: there were too many urban sessions to permit attendance at all. The UGSG's own sessions began with the second in the ' contemporary challenges' series, on Glasgow, convened by Allan Findlay. A wide range of papers was presented, varying from perception and the quality of life to housing and retailing. The second UGSG session, convened by Peter Jones, discussed 'theoretical developments in urban geography'. This designedly broad topic was addressed by four very different papers, of which Phil Cooke's 'modern urban theory in question' stood out, as he talked around a pre circulated typescript. Unfortunately, the audience was too large for his stock of copies! UGSG members were also active elsewhere in the programme in topics ranging from selling places to historical perspectives on urban redevelopment. Thanks go to retiring Committee members Derek Diamond (Chairman), David Burtenshaw (Secretary), Allan Findlay. The advent of the new IBG Newsletter, together with rapid rises in printing and postage costs, have meant the decline in size of the Group's own Newsletter, and so at present there is no designated Editor: although any volunteers to fill this position would be most welcome. In order to continue to
improve its work, the committee needs new members at the Sheffield IBG. It welcomes the active support of group members. Peter J Larkham University of Birmingham
(1991). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 23 (4), 396-397 Urban Geography Study Group The main effects of the UGSG over the past year have gone into organising a full programme of sessions for the IBG Annual Conference. Two full four-module sessions were produced, ' The future city ', convened by Peter Newby and ' Contemporary challenges for British cities: cities of spectacle ' (convened by Paul White and PeterJones). The Future City produced a wide-ranging set of views from academics and planners, with some of the views of J B Wilson (Department of the Environment) on 'Where is the city going?' appearing in the following morning's news papers. Special mention should be made of the contribution by John Gold (Oxford Polytechnic), replacing Jean Gottman who was ill. John produced a well-illustrated and provocative paper showing the marketing forces that have shaped, and are still shaping, urban form and society. The Group are most grateful for the generous sponsorship of Abbey National plc for this session, and is hopeful that a publication will result. Cities of Spectacle also produced fireworks, with a video camera from the local TV news recording parts of the first session, dealing with the thorny political and financial problem of the World Student Games in Sheffield. We had the views of a local politician, businessman and academic: once the games are over, perhaps some form of follow-up may be possible. Other modules compared a variety of British perspectives on urban spectacle and major spectacular scenes, and the session was ably rounded off with papers on the US new urban landscapes from Paul Knox and a view of Paris from Paul White. This session received support from Sheffield Partnerships Ltd. The other activities of the UGSG this year have been more behind the scenes. Papers from the UGSG session at the 1989 Annual Conference have appeared in book form, edited by M Keith and A P Rogers; work is proceeding on editing papers from the 1990 International Conference on the Urban Landscape, and publications are expected from both 1991 and 1992 IBG Conference sessions. The functions of the UGSG Newsletter are currently under review. It is expensive to produce and post a substantial Newsletter, and much of the UGSG's own news is now being publicised through the Institute's own Newsletter. We remain committed to publishing at least one sizeable issue each year, with the usual variety of news, reviews and reports. Considerable effort has gone in to formulating replies to the ESRC's Research Methods Initiative consultative document, and in preparing the substantial review of the Group's past and future activities required by IBG Council. The future programme is full, with a session convened by Liz Bondi on behalf of UGSG on 'Gender relations and urban space' as part of the Urban Change and Conflict Conference (Lancaster, September); two sessions planned for the Swansea IBG Conference, with some sponsorship already arranged; a midyear meeting on housing issues in preparation, and thoughts for the 1993 Annual Conference well in hand. The UGSG wishes to record its appreciation of the efforts of its retiring Committee members, Peter Jones (Thames Polytechnic) and Michael Keith (QMW, London), and welcomes Cathy Garner (MVA Consultancy, Edinburgh), Charles Pattie (Nottingham) and Steven Pinch (Southampton). Peter J Larkham University of Birmingham . (1992). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 24 (4), 441-442. Urban Geography Study Group The Group's main efforts continue to be focused on the organisation of sessions for the Institute's Annual Conference, although mid-year specialist (but often smaller) events are also planned. In this respect, UGSG is grateful to Liz Bondi (Edinburgh) for organising a session on 'Gender relations and urban space' on behalf of the Group as part of the Urban Change and Conflict Conference held in Lancaster in September 1991.
This ably continued the Group's policy of serving its members' interests and providing interesting events through developing links and joint events with other organisations-not necessarily overtly geographical. Two full sessions were convened for the Swansea Annual Conference. Greg Ashworth (Groningen) and Peter Larkham (UCE, Birmingham) organised a session on' a new heritage for a new Europe' which, beginning with an informal wine reception the evening before the main paper session, proved interesting and successful, with audiences of over 50. There was a wide variety of speakers from a number of countries, with both academic and practical backgrounds. The problems of heritage interpretation, management and marketing were widely discussed in the context of a rapidly-changing conception of Europe as a sociopolitical, and geographical, entity. This session was greatly aided by a generous grant from the Nuffield Foundation for the travel costs and accommodation of speakers. Colin Thomas and Rosemary Bromley (Swansea) convened a 12 day session on urban retailing which included 16 papers, which must make it the largest session this year. It was designedly wide-ranging, with sessions dealing with contemporary issues in retail organisation, new retail developments and the CBD and social issues of retail change, with additional regional perspectives from the USA and Spain. Considerable debate both during and after the sessions was stimulated by these papers, with the sessions themselves being lively and well-attended. The Group considers that wider publication of the academic results of its conferences is important, and a book based on its 1990 mid-year international conference will appear in December (Whitehand, J W R and Larkham, P J (eds) Urban landscapes: international perspectives, Routledge). All four Swansea session conveners are also preparing edited volumes for major publishers. Wider publicity of the Group's own activities is also important. A recent review of membership and activities shows that, although the membership is large, the fields of interest are disparate. Rather than offering large, wide-ranging events, the Group therefore plans to concentrate on these smaller sectional interests. Events are thus designedly smaller in scale. The costs of circulating material to this large membership is high, with individual departments no longer able to subsidise the printing and postage of a substantial Newsletter several times yearly. Publishers are also evidently unwilling to support a Newsletter, with their advertising and review copies going to the Institute's Newsletter and journals. With some reluctance, therefore, the UGSG's Newsletter is becoming a much smaller-scale operation, and increasing use is being made of the IBG Newsletter for publicity purposes. The recent successes of conveners in attracting substantial sponsorship, and the small surplus accruing through lower Newsletter costs, means that the Group will in future be able to consider giving some financial support to a wider range of activities. A small grant has recently been made to support a workshop on ' Sexuality and space ' to be convened by David Bell (Birmingham). The UGSG will be undertaking a review of the types of initiatives that could be supported in this way. It is, however, concerned that success in attracting outside support should not imperil continued financial support of its activities from the Institute through its subvention to Study Groups. The future programme of the UGSG is full, with a session on housing being planned for September by Cathy Garner (Scottish Homes) and Michael Chapman (Heriot-Watt); two IBG Conferenece sessions and discussions under way on meetings for 1993. This has been a successful year for the UGSG. There will be major changes in the composition of its Committee in January, and the incoming committee will have a firm basis from which to work. Peter J Larkham University of Central England in Birmingham
(1993). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 25 (4), 433-434. Urban Geography Study Group The Urban Geography Study Group continues to serve its large and varied membership by taking a very wide view of ' urban ' geography, and organising appropriate events. Cathy Garner (Scottish Homes) and Michael Chapman (Heriot-Watt) organised a major meeting with UGSG and the Housing Studies Association in September 1992 which was very popular, made significant sum for the Group, and raised the Group's profile in an allied professional and academic field. Themes considered included: housing/labour markets, owner-occupied markets; identification of housing markets; spatial identification markets and planning issues. The Group exends its thanks to the conveners for their work in organising such a popular and successful meeting. Charles Pattie (Nottingham) convened a session on ' urban governance ' at the Royal
Holloway annual conference, closely following one of the conference themes, and Heather Barrett (Worcester CHE) made a very good start to the Annual Conference with a well-attended session of postgraduate papers on heritage/planning themes. Both Conference sessions have already been reported in Area. A number of sessions are in preparation for the next two years, including annual conference sessions in Nottingham convened by Steven Pinch (Southampton) on the ' Post-Fordist welfare state ' and Michael Keith (Goldsmith's) and Steve Pile (Middlesex) on ' Imaging the city: from Chicago to Los Angeles'. A session on suburban development was proposed by Peter Larkham (UCE) and Richard Harris (Ontario) for the 1995 annual conference, as was a possible session on public participation. Other topics recently discussed for probable mid-year events included public/private partnerships in Eastern Europe; retailing/consumption; economic development; ethnicity, and the possibility of joint sponsorship of a Second National Seminar in Urban Morphology is being explored. The future programme is thus filling rapidly! A number of recent group conferences were generating publications in the form of edited books. The international conference on the Urban landscape (Birmingham, 1990) had been published as Whitehand JWR and Larkham PJ (eds) (1992) Urban landscapes: international perspectives (Routledge). The retailing and heritage sessions at the Swansea Annual Conference were in advanced production stages for Mansell and Routledge respectively. The Group is also actively pursuing other edited publications, including a possible theme of urban research techniques and data sources. The AGM in 1993 saw the retirement of several long-serving committee memberships. Particular thanks must go to Michael Bradford (Manchester) for having taken the chairmanship at a difficult period for the group, and having very successfully resusucitated it. Peter Newby (Middlesex) and Liz Bondi (Edinburgh) had also been enthusiastic committee members and event organisers. They were replaced by a large infusion of ' new blood' including Richard Dennis (UCL), the welcome return of Michael Keith (Goldsmith's), Tim Hall (Birmingham), Phil Hubbard (Cheltenham & Gloucester CHE), Steve Pile (Middlesex) and Kris Olds (Bristol). The Group's representation amongst postgraduates and young researchers is high! Steven Pinch (Southampton) was elevated to the Chair, while both Peter Larkham (UCE) and Tim Rideout (Bartholomew, Edinburgh) had terms of office as Secretary and Treasurer extended to ensure continuity of experience and to permit a phased retirement of officers in the future. The Group is also pleased that Heather Barrett (Worcester CHE) has agreed to take over editorship of the Newsletter: a welcome demerger of secretary and editor. Peter J Larkham University of Central England
(1994). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 26 (4), 410-411. Urban Geography Study Group Report The major event of the year for the study group was the session at the IBG annual conference in Nottingham on 'Monitoring the Post-Fordist Welfare State'. One of the most important influences upon human geography in the last decade has been regulation theory and ' break-point ' theories like Post-Fordism. However, the adoption of such ideas has been uneven throughout the subject; they have been highly influential in the study of production and especially in the context of the study of industrial districts but have had much less impact in the sphere of social reproduction. This one day session was an attempt to help redress the imbalance by displaying the growing body of geographical work on the changing nature of welfare states. Post-Fordist notions have been subject to critical debate in recent years and this was reflected in papers by Mark Goodwin (North London) and Joe Painter (Durham) who argued that it was premature to talk of a new Post-Fordist welfare state. Indeed, a paper by Julie Charlesworth, John Clarke, and Allan Cochrane (Open University) stressed the geographically uneven nature of the shift towards 'mixed economies of care', while a paper by Jamie Peck and Martin Jones (Manchester) examined Jessop's concept of a Schumpeterian workfare state in the context of the Training and Enterprise Councils. Other modules subjected Post-Fordist theory to critical analysis. John Mohan (QMW, London) argued that accounts of change in the NHS that stress the underlying logic of transition from Fordism tend to ignore or underplay political strategies. Likewise, Fiona Williams (Open University) stressed the desirability of taking seriously issues of diversity within welfare whilst at the same time recognising the relatedness of different forms of oppression. Other papers throughout the day stressed the unevenness of change in welfare states, the diversification and divisions within key service sectors, like education, and the possibilities
that forms of welfare pluralism may be emerging. Steven Pinch is editing a collection of the papers for a special issue of Environment and Planning A, due out sometime in 1995. In addition, the Study Group is maintaining its high output with another book publication deriving from the session on ' European Heritage ' held at the IBG annual conference in Swansea in 1992. Greg Ashworth and Peter Larkin jointly edited the proceedings and a book, to be published by Routledge, entitled 'Building a New Heritage', will be published in July 1994. The study group is involved in two joint sessions at the 1995 IBG in Newcastle. One session, organised jointly with the Historical Geography Group, is based on the theme of medieval and early modern town planning analysis. In particular, the sessions will consider the origins of suburbia, as a concept and idea, as well as a material reality. What are the various conceptions of suburbia and what are its social and psychological dimensions? The other session is being organised jointly with the Political Geography Study Group on the theme of ' The Politics of Local Economic Development'. The sessions will consider reconceptualisations of the nature of local politics and will appraise the significance of local social relations in mediating wider structural transformations in the cities. Papers will be given on place marketing, the new partnerships in local economic development, and on social and community networks in the politics of the city. In addition, there will be a special session on the politics of local economic development in the North East involving local politicians and policy makers confronting some of the academics critical of the transforming nature of local governance in the area. This should prove to be a stimulating and controversial session! Contributors to the day will include Jamie Peck (University of Manchester), Mark Boyle (University of Strathclyde), Uulie Charlesworth and Allan Cochrane, Open University), Aram Eisenschitz (University of Middlesex), and Fred Robinson (University of Durham). Rob Imrie Royal Holloway, University of London
(1995). Urban Geography Study Group. Area, 27 (4), 398-399. Urban Geography Study Group Area This period, has been dominated by two major events organised by the Study Group, a one day session on ' Local Corporatism and the Politics of Local Economic Development' at the IBG conference, Newcastle and the 10th Urban Change and Conflict conference (held 5-7 September 1995). The latter event is an international event and has significantly helped to raise the profile of the Urban Geography Study Group. The broad aim of this session at the IBG Annual Conference in Newcastle was to reflect on current developments in the politics, policies, and, institutional frameworks of local economic developments in both North America and Western Europe. To many, analysis of these changes points to the emergence of a 'new urban politics ', with geographers on both sides of the Atlantic broadening the scope of their investigations to consider the wider social and political contexts of urban regeneration, aided (although some might say hindered) by notions of urban entrepreneuralism, partnerships, growth coalitions, and regime theory. In considering the theoretical and empirical relevance of such concepts, the sessions were divided into four. The first was a conceptualisation of the changing modes of local economic governance, with Martin Jones' (Manchester) paper focusing on third generation regulation theory, an approach sensitised to the roles of institutions, politics and political action in the social regulation of capitalism, thus providing some scope for linking macro and micro scales to one another. In developing this, Andrew Wood (Sheffield) argued that local interests are a necessary condition for the development of a politics of local economic development, and that greater attention needs to be paid to the place-specific nature of social relations as a condition for the development of local social structures. This was illustrated, in part, by the final paper of the session, by Julie Charlesworth (Leeds) and Allan Cochrane (Open University), which argued that the reshaping of the socio-institutional basis of local politics is a crucial element in the emergence of transformed political and state relationships. The second session considered the evolving nature of partnerships and socio-economic networks. Jamie Peck (Manchester) provided an in-depth analysis of two Training and Enterprise Councils, showing that while they are subject to strong central control (through budgetary, contractual and political means), they are also exposed to local influences, by virtue principally of the (geographically-variable) nature of their relationships with other local organisations and interest groups. Such exposure, as Peck argued, indicates the possibilities for a distinctive local politics. Steven Syrett (Middlesex) continued the theme by noting that partnership in local economic development is not just about the bringing together of various social partners,
but is also about the active promotion of a range of local social partners to strengthen the local political arena and the policy-making process. Mark Boyle (Strathclyde) then posed the issue of how one can understand the different forms that new political conflicts are taking in different cities. Examining the work of a range of theorists, he provided a critique of political economy approaches to urban governance in the understanding of the politics of place marketing, calling for a theoretical re-positioning by interlinking such analyses with a consideration of what he termed the cultural politics of place. The third session was a departure from the standard format, in that it comprised an invited panel of speakers from the local policy community (Alastair Balls, Chief Executive, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation, and Jonathan Blackie, Director, West End City Challenge, Newcastle) who were asked by the session convenor (Fred Robinson, Durham) to reflect upon the role of partnerships in rebuilding the economy of the north east of England. Perhaps the most provocative comment was from Alastair Balls who claimed that all the talk of partnerships is empty rhetoric. It seems like it's time for (some) academics to hang their pens up! The day was rounded off with a series of papers which reflected on community involvement in local economic development. Aram Eisenchitz's (Middlesex) paper explored local democracy, partnership networks, and the role of community economic initiatives, while Colin Williams (Leeds Metropolitan) considered the role of informal sector networks as a means of local economic development. Mike Beazley and Alex Marsh (Birmingham) concluded the session by arguing that while non-elected local government potentially squeezes out a range of community interests in local economic development, communities do have specific forms of power with which to influence central state appointed institutions. The 10th Urban Change and Conflict conference was held at Royal Holloway, London and Steven Pinch (Southampton), Rob Imrie (Royal Holloway, London), and Mark Boyle (Strathclyde) comprised the conference committee. Its theme was 'Identity, Citizenship, and Power in the Cities' and a range of international speakers attended. Amongst them Saskia Sassen, Andrew Sayer (Sussex), Nigel Thrift (Bristol) and Denis Cosgrove (Royal Holloway, London). Papers ranged widely from ' Theorising Culture and Economy' to a consideration of ' Ungovernable Spaces'. We have been invited by the journal Urban Studies to edit a special issue from the conference proceedings. Rob Imrie Royal Holloway, London
