Observatory PASCAL

Folkestone, United Kingdom

About the conference

Conference aims and themes

Who Should Attend?
The conference is designed to attract researchers, policy-makers and practitioners across the many fields of Place Management, Social Capital, Regional Development, Lifelong Learning and Regeneration. The conference will include keynote addresses, workshops and a new style ‘Debating Den’. It will appeal to policy-makers and practitioners in these areas particularly from regional development agencies, local and national government agencies and regeneration organisations, and will also be of significant interest to the research and academic community working in these fields. The structure of the conference will facilitate the sharing of experiences and research findings across a wide range of interests including:

• Economic, Environmental and Social regeneration issues with a specific focus on coastal are
• Learning how to create constructive partnerships at local, regional, national and international level.
• Demonstrating the value of policy makers and practitioners from public, private and NGOs working with academic researchers.
• Facing the challenges of changing demographics.
• Disseminating applied research findings to end users.
• Demonstrating engagement with community networks for social change.

Conference Themes
We invite academic papers, policy and practice papers and demonstration projects, which will be grouped into sub-themes with a specific focus on Coastal Regeneration as follows:

• Regional Development
• Sustainable Environmental Challenges
• Social Capital
• Learning Regions

Submitting an Abstract

DEADLINE: Monday 30th June 2008

We welcome submission of abstracts for individual papers and demonstration projects illustrating good practice, which are focused on one or more of the conference themes. They may include reporting on policy development, innovative practice, research in progress or completed research, methodological issues, theoretical issues or conceptual issues. We particularly welcome papers that have an international comparative dimension.

Abstracts should indicate:
The nature of the paper, for example, whether it is a report on completed research, work in progress, an analytical or discussion paper, a demonstration project of practice or a contribution to the ‘Debating Den’ session. A proposal for the ‘Debating Den’ session should consist of one innovative idea on Coastal Regeneration which seeks inspirational feedback from the panel, whilst other proposals may be focussed on any of the four sub-themes above.

The issues the paper raises

• The relationship of the paper to other literature, research, etc.
• The approach to the topic, and where relevant an outline of methodology, sample, etc.
• Conclusions and recommendations
• Abstracts should not exceed 200 words. The working language for the conference is English. Abstracts must be submitted electronically (Rich Text Format or Microsoft Word) no later than Monday 30th June 2008.

Please send abstracts by e-mail to: pascal@stir.ac.uk

Proposals must clearly state:

• Full name(s), job title(s), place(s) of employment, postal, telephone, fax and e-mail address(es) of proposers.
• Abstracts will be reviewed and contributors will be notified regarding acceptance of their papers by Monday 21st July 2008.

Each paper will be allocated 25 minutes in duration. Presentations should be no longer than 20 minutes, leaving at least 20 minutes for discussion and questions. There is no need to submit a full paper in advance of the conference: rather presenters should bring an electronic version to the conference, as well as 20 hard copies, which can be handed out to delegates attending the session.  Full papers will be considered for publication within proceedings of the conference and will be subject to an anonymous, full refereeing process.  Full papers should be of approximately 4000 words and style guidelines will be sent to all presenters.

Key note speakers:
Keynote speakers drawn from academia and leading practitioners in the fields of social capital, learning regions and community regeneration include:

• Simon Bell, Bayswater Institute/Plan Bleu
• Steve Weaver, Chief Executive, Blackpool Council
• Daryell Nowlan, Director for Community Development, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Roger De Haan/associate of Norman Foster, Creative Foundation, Folkestone

To register please visit: 

www.kent.gov.uk/pascalconference

What is PASCAL?
The Pascal International Observatory (www.obs-pascal.com) grew out of earlier OECD work on learning regions and regional development. It was created on the occasion of the International Conference on Regional Development in Melbourne in 2002 based on three founding member regions, Kent in England, Victoria in Australia, and Scotland. It is a significant international NGO with a strong panel of highly experienced associates in areas of public governance, regional development, higher education and lifelong learning. Kent County Council, in partnership with PASCAL, has organised this international conference.

Programme

OPENING DAY– Sunday 21 September 2008

19.30-22.00     Welcome Reception, carvery dinner at The Grand Hotel, Folkestone. Welcome by John Tibbitt.

DAY ONE – Monday 22 Setepember 2008

08.30-18.00     Registration, Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone
09.00-09.30     Welcome and Opening of Conference: Paul Carter, Leader, Kent County Council (KCC); Robert Bliss, Leader, Shepway District Council (SDC) and Peter Welsh, Head of Analysis & Information, KCC and PASCAL Board Executive Member.
09.30-10.30     Keynote Address: Roger De Haan/associate of Norman Foster (tbc)
10.30-11.00     Refreshments
11.00-12.00     Keynote Address: Steve Weaver, Chief Executive, Blackpool Council
12.00-13.00     Lunch
13.00-14.30     Parallel paper sessions
14.30-15.00     Refreshments and tour of key sites ‘virtual’ briefing
15.00-17.00     Tour of key sites (Creative Foundation and Keith Grimley, SDC)
19.30-23.00     Conference Gala Dinner at the Grand Hotel, Folkestone (welcome by leadership of KCC, after dinner speech by Jarl Bengtsson, Chairman of PASCAL)

DAY TWO – Tuesday 23 September 2008

08.30-18.00     Registration, Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone
09.00-10.00     Key Note Address: Simon Bell, Bayswater Institute
10.00-10.30     Refreshments
10.30-11.30     Key Note Address: Daryell Nowlan, Director for Community Development, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
11.30-12.30     Parallel paper sessions
12.30-13.30     Lunch
13.30-15.30     Debating Den
15.30-16.00     Refreshments
16.00-17.00     Final Plenary
19.30-00.00     End of Conference Dinner at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone (goodbye from leadership of KCC)

Wednesday 24 September 2008

9am:                Coach pick up outside The Leas Cliff, Folkestone for drop off at Heathrow.

Accommodation and Social

Accommodation
The following accommodation options are available:

• The Burlington
  The Quality Hotel Burlington stands in its own grounds and is set in tranquil surroundings overlooking the Leas Promenade and the English Channel.
  www.theburlingtonhotel.com
  
• Clifton Hotel
  The Clifton Hotel is Folkestone's premier AA rated three star hotel with an elegant cliff-top position and spectacular views of the English Channel. Built in 1864, originally as a seaside townhouse for its Victorian residents, it nestles in the centre of Folkestone's famous Leas, which is renowned for its well-kept lawns and gardens.
  http://www.thecliftonhotel.com/
• Salisbury Hotel
  Situated in the historical resort of Folkestone, the Salisbury Hotel is perfectly situated on the Leas, the town panoramic promenade. The property offers views of the English Channel and the lights of France (on a clear night) or the rolling green hills of the South Downs.
  http://www.thesalisburyhotel.com/

 Further Details
Please forward your request for accommodation at the time of online registration.

Should you have any queries on accommodation booking please contact the Conference Secretariat, Chris Judd:

• E-mail: pascal.conference@kent.gov.uk
• Tel:    +44 1622 221619
• Fax:   +44 1622 694782

Social

Sunday 21st September 2008

19.30-22.00:    Welcome Reception, carvery dinner at The Grand Hotel, Folkestone. The hotel has fabulous views across the world famous Folkestone Leas to the busy shipping lanes of the Channel and France in clear weather. For more information on the venue visit: www.grand-uk.com

Monday 22nd September 2008 

19.30-23.00:    Conference Gala Dinner at The Grand Hotel, Folkestone.

Tuesday 23rd September 2008

19.30-00.00     End of Conference Dinner, Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone.

Conference Venue
Kent County Council in partnership with Shepway District Council and the Creative Foundation, Folkestone, are hosting the conference. The conference venue, the Leas Cliff Hall, is a prime location to showcase the great coastal aspect of Folkestone.

The Leas Cliff Hall is owned by Shepway District Council and managed by Live Nation. Built in 1927, the original building was opened by Prince Henry, later Duke of Gloucester. The Channel Suite conference centre, a self-supporting structure, was constructed in 1999. Although abutted to the Leas Cliff Hall for access, no weight is attached to the original building. A truly modern improvement very much used for all types of meetings and conferences.

For more information visit: http://www.leascliffhall.org.uk

Kent County Council (KCC)
KCC provides a wide range of services that affect the daily lives of people living, visiting or working in Kent. These include roads, schools, social services, libraries, adult education centres, trading standards and planning. KCC has consistently been awarded the top rating of four stars in the government's Comprehensive Performance Assessments. KCC’s local targets reflect its determination to improve all services and continue to provide excellent services to people living, working and visiting Kent.

Kent is one of the largest counties in England with 1.3 million residents, and is widely known as the Garden of England for its stunning countryside. Kent's coastline is one of its most precious assets but the coastal towns - as elsewhere - face a drop in tourism and, in some cases, a reduction in port activity. Many are in regeneration priority areas and KCC has prioritised the coastal strip from Queenborough to Lydd with an initial focus is on the four areas of Margate, Ramsgate, Dover and Folkestone.

 For more information visit: www.kent.gov.uk

Shepway District Council (SDC)
Shepway’s coastline, with its 23 miles of sand and shingle beaches, offers great opportunities for leisure, sport and regeneration. The Leas is a mile-long cliff top promenade, once described as “one of the finest marine promenades in the world”. Its stunning sea views and well-maintained flower beds and grass make it a popular walk for visitors and local people of all ages. Given its popularity, Shepway District Council has worked with local partners and residents to ensure that the Leas Promenade is a place to be proud of:

The Lower Leas Coastal Park is a unique mile-long area of undercliff that was once one of the highlights of the south coast. The regeneration of the park as a popular place for local residents and visitors was key to the council’s regeneration plans. It includes the largest free children’s adventure playground in the South East, a 300-seat

amphitheatre and attractive landscaping. The coastal park also helps to improve physical links between the seafront, harbour and town centre. It provides a unique backdrop to the coastal protection scheme, creating sheltered swimming areas and a walkway and vantage point to view the coastline – and our famous Dave the Dolphin.

For more information visit: http://www.shepway.gov.uk

 The Creative Foundation was launched in 2002. Although it is closely involved with many of the other regeneration activities in the town, its focus is on the transformation of the run down Old Town area of Folkestone around the harbour. The Chairman of The Creative Foundation is Roger De Haan. Until 2004, Roger De Haan was chairman of the town’s largest private sector employer, SAGA. The Foundation has brought together influential local figures and developed a radical new vision for Folkestone, which goes further than many previous models of arts-led regeneration in placing the arts squarely at the heart of every aspect of the regeneration process.

The Creative Foundation's vision is to draw together economic growth, educational transformation and significant enhancements to the built environment and thus to deliver dramatic increases in quality of life for local people. The Creative Foundation has been working since it was founded to turn that vision into reality. Already 200,000 square feet of property is under the control of the Creative Foundation spread across around 80 individual buildings. Many of these have been refurbished and scores of creative individuals have been attracted to the area. A new university centre has been founded and many other initiatives are in the pipeline. The arrival of the high speed rail link in 2009 and the plans for the sympathetic regeneration of the 35 acre harbour and seafront site will, over the next 5 to 10 years, transform Folkestone forever.

For more information visit: www.creativefoundation.org.uk

About Kent
Kent was settled well before most other parts of England and has the oldest recorded place name in the British Isles. The county's history is closely bound up in its proximity to mainland Europe. Archaeological remains from prehistoric times show clear links between Kent and Northern Europe, as well as a land link.

Much of West Kent is now London commuter territory and towns like Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge have expanded rapidly in size and population. With its close proximity to mainland Europe and the construction of the Channel Tunnel and the International RailLink, it is not surprising that Kent has a positive and progressive approach to its European activities.

So refreshing, so close, so Kent
Picture yourself picnicking with friends and a bottle of wine in a bluebell wood, kite surfing along an exhilarating shoreline, exploring a magical castle with the kids. Feels good? You can visit much of the best of Kent by rail, with the remainder a short cycle, walk or taxi ride away. You can do them all in Kent thanks to its unique blend of countryside, coast and breathtaking historic attractions - all perfect places to relax, refresh, inspire.

Further information on Kent can be found at: www.visitkent.co.uk

Travel
Planning your journey – from the UK

Getting to Kent, in the southeast corner of England, is easy by car, coach or train. And once you’re here, you can travel around smoothly thanks to an excellent road network and efficient local rail and bus services. London is just half an hour away and France is a short hop across the Channel, so you also have the option of combining a stay in the Garden of England with splendid days out elsewhere. 

Driving
Choose your own pace. The M2 and M20 motorways run through the heart of Kent, linking all major towns and cities. Or take to well-signposted country roads. For help with mapping your journey, visit www.theaa.com and click onto ‘AA Route Planner Great Britain’.

Public transport
Regular train services run to all major towns in Kent. For example, you can travel by rail from London Victoria, Waterloo (East), Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge, as well as from the rest of Southern England. Southeastern Trains offers ideas on its website for outings from London to Kent by rail.

Or sit back on a National Express coach, operating from London’s Victoria Coach Station to many parts of the Garden of England. You can get timetable information for Kent’s local bus network from Traveline.

National Rail:               Tel: 08457 484950 - www.nationalrail.co.uk

Public transport:          Tel: 01622 605095 - www.kentpublictransport.info

Southeastern Trains: Tel: 0845 000 2222 - www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

By air
Those arriving at Heathrow can take advantage of a bus provided by Kent County Council Passenger services, departing at 1430, or hire a car and travel into Kent via the M25 and M20/M2 motorways, or catch the Heathrow Express train into London where you can transfer onto trains to all parts of Kent.

From Gatwick you can hire a car and be in the heart of the county in just 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can catch the frequent Gatwick Express train direct to London's Victoria Station (30 minutes) and then hop onto a train to one of Kent's mainline stations.

Stansted airport also offers easy access to Kent via the M11 and M25 motorways.

For more information on travel visit:http://www.visitkent.co.uk/maps-travel/default.asp

Confirmed Keynote Speakers
Keynote speakers drawn from academia and leading practitioners in the fields of social capital, learning regions and community regeneration include:

• Simon Bell, Bayswater Institute/Plan Bleu
• Steve Weaver, Chief Executive, Blackpool Council
• Daryell Nowlan, Director for Community Development, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• (Roger De Haan/associate of Norman Foster) tbc

Registration
Early Bird Fee (before 27/06/08)        £315 tbc
Standard Fee (after 27/06/08)            £375 tbc
Partners Fee                                          £100 tbc

Full Delegate Fee includes participation in the conference, refreshment breaks, two lunches, welcome reception (buffet dinner), conference gala dinner and end of Conference Dinner.

Partners fee includes participation in the conference, refreshment breaks, two lunches, welcome reception (buffet dinner), conference gala dinner and end of Conference Dinner.

 

The sub-theme for which the abstract is submitted.