Doing neighbourhood

Bishop David Walker hit the spot with his analysis of "exurbs", full of residents who "don't do neighbourhood" (27 February, page 25). As the Communities Plan is implemented, we seem set for a rapid growth of exurbs in Britain.

Unless housing associations that are involved in major developments take action right from the start, we run the very real risk of creating soulless communities full of financially hard-pressed residents who have little to do with each other and little incentive to participate in neighbourhood activity. One of the key tests of In Business for Neighbourhoods will be its success in getting associations to bring about practical solutions to these problems.

Walker touched on the fact that this challenge applies equally to other institutions, including religious ones. Surely church and faith groups are critical to securing neighbourhood life in our growing exurban community. My experience is that churches of all denominations, despite falling numbers, still contain people who "do neighbourhood". The problem is that faith institutions are increasingly inward looking as a result of divisions on issues such as sexuality and feel so strapped for cash that they fail to establish an appropriate presence in the exurbs.

However, key to the success of new communities will be the willingness of faith groups to use the resources that they do have to invest in neighbourhoods, both through the provision of appropriate buildings and also through the deployment of human resources (be they vicars, Salvation Army officers, youth workers or whatever).

When I examine the organisations and social activities going on in my own town, I see Christians everywhere, often in leading positions and serving in all sorts of public and voluntary capacities. They aren't the only people involved, but they are part of the life blood that our new exurbs need, and I hope that the church and other faith groups will rise to this challenge.