Whole city urged to commit to 'bold vision' for Portsmouth's future

Individuals, groups and businesses across the city have pledged to prioritise key issues in both their day-to-day activities and long-term plans including health and wellbeing, culture, education, the environment, transport and business.

It is thought by doing so a collective vision – known as the Imagine Portsmouth project and backed by The News – will be achieved by 2040, with the priorities set by around 2,500 people from 60 organisations in the city over the past 18 months.

Portsmouth City Council is one of the partners involved in Imagine Portsmouth. Deputy leader and culture boss at the council, Councillor Steve Pitt, said: 'This is about working with everyone in the city to make Portsmouth the best it can be.

'We have got organisations and businesses involved who could make small changes to how they run but also bigger commitments. An example could be cutting the use of plastic straws in everyday use while pledging to share cars or use car clubs to help the environment.

'But it's not just them – every resident can do their bit to help achieve a goal, no matter how small.

'The past year has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging Portsmouth has faced, but our hope is that this vision can help guide the city's recovery from the pandemic and shape a brighter future for everyone.'

The Imagine Portsmouth project was set up in 2019 by a board of 13 representatives from partners including the University of Portsmouth, Hampshire Constabulary, the Royal Navy and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

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Since then it has held workshops, focus groups, a citizen's conference and citywide consultation to establish its objectives.

The collective vision will be unveiled for the first time at this year's Shaping Portsmouth conference which is due to take place today.

Chief executive of Shaping Portsmouth, Stef Nienaltowski, said he was 'proud' to be involved.

'While a lot will change in the city, country and world in the next 19 years, this vision has been built on solid principles and objectives and, whatever the future brings, we will be able to make the vision a reality for the benefit of the entire city,' he said.

The targets set by Imagine Portsmouth have been endorsed by The News.

Editor Mark Waldron said: 'It rests with all the major players of Portsmouth to now seize this opportunity and drive the strategy forward. I was proud to be asked to play a part in shaping this vision and The News will continue to do whatever we can to turn what has been imagined into reality.'

More information can be found at imagineportsmouth.co.uk.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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