Eric Shackle: Is Wellington Really A Slow City?

Wellington wants to follow Perth's lead and be labelled as a slow city, according to a newspaper report just posted on the internet.

Wellington Economic Partnership has recommended that the town apply to join Cittaslow, an international movement of towns working towards a set of goals to improve the quality of life.

"The council's chairman Dave Mitton said the idea of establishing Wellington as a Food Town would involve it becoming the outlet for local food producers and being developed as a place known for the excellence of its food and drink," reads a report on the newspaper's website.

"He said that open spaces in Wellington could be used for a food festival, which could potentially draw in people from a wide area.

"Cllr Bob Bowrah suggested residents should be involved in coming up with a name for the event.

"Running alongside the plans, Cllr Mitton said individuals and businesses could be encouraged to become part of the Slow Food Movement, which would complement the Food Town plans, a food festival and Cittaslow."

Only a few weeks ago, there was a report on the internet that Perth also wants to be called a slow city. Investigation quickly revealed that it's Perth in Scotland, not the one in Western Australia, so it was no great surprise to find that the Wellington in question is not New Zealand's capital city, but its tiny namesake in Somerset, England.

"There are hopes that Wellington could flourish in becoming Somerset's dedicated 'Food Town' and play host to an annual food festival rich with local produce," Helen Rossiter wrote in the Somerset County Gazette.

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/display.var.953676.0.food_town_status_for_wellington.php

And to read about Perth's wish to be called a slow city, see a story in The World's First Multi-National e-Book.

http://www.bdb.co.za/shackle/articles/perth_slow.htm

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