Public participation: an approach using aerial photographs at Ashford, Kent

This paper describes an innovative participation methodology which used aerial photographs, coloured stickers and a simple questionnaire to encourage local people to think about changes occurring around their town and consider its future development. The methodology was attractive to all ages, did not require respondents to have facility in writing or speaking, was challenging but enjoyable and was an educative experience for participants and researchers alike. Although developed as part of an academic research project studying change in the urban fringe of Ashford, Kent, the methodology has potentially wider applications in fields where the involvement of local people in the decisions that affect their lives and environment is increasing in importance. This paper is a contribution to new thinking on ways of evolving and implementing genuinely cooperative participation. -from Authors