Opinion: ‘Conspiracy theorists on 15-minute cities do really walk among us’

The concept of ‘15-minute cities’ is the idea of designing urban areas in such a way that residents can access most of their daily needs within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their homes.

So residents would have access to everything they need – work, shops, medical services, parks, leisure facilities – all within a 15-minute walk or short cycling distance from where they live.

But according to those subscribing to conspiracy theories, 15-minute cities are a covert plan by governments or powerful entities to exert greater control over the population.

By centralising essential services and amenities within neighbourhoods, it becomes easier to monitor and influence people’s activities, limiting their mobility and access to resources.

They have even said that those living within a 15-minute city won’t be allowed to leave it without permission (yes, they’ve really said that).

And some conspiracy theorists have argued that the implementation of 15-minute cities involves a vast surveillance network.

They claim that the increased concentration of people within small areas would use extensive monitoring through cameras, sensors, and data collection systems, potentially infringing upon individual privacy rights.

Oh yes they are out there and walk among us, people who really believe they have got this right and the rest of us need to open our eyes, stop being sheeples and get ready to man the barricades.

The conspiracy theorists have become so strident that earlier this year, Cllr Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Cheshire East Council has been made aware there are some residents that have been left alarmed – through social media campaigns and fringe media outlets – by false information stating the concept of ‘15-minute cities’ are a means of controlling the freedom and movement of the population.

“We are not looking to introduce any highway management arrangements that seek to constrain residents’ civil liberties in Crewe, or indeed anywhere in the borough.

“I can categorically say this suggestion is entirely untrue and has no substance.

“Though we cannot speak to the motives of the people pursuing this campaign, we can say the concept of the 15-minute city has been badly misrepresented.

“This concept is to make more convenient neighbourhoods as well as improve the wellbeing of residents by reducing traffic and pollution.”

Generally speaking, I’m in favour of having everything I need within a 15-minute walk but there are sane and reasonable arguments against them (that don’t involve vast surveillance networks, state control or Bill Gates injecting us with microchips that can be controlled by the 5G network).

Critics argue that implementing the 15-minute city concept can be challenging from an urban planning perspective.

Restructuring existing cities to accommodate the necessary amenities within a 15-minute radius can be logistically complex and expensive.

There’s also a risk of gentrification and displacement. As neighbourhoods become more desirable due to increased amenities and services, property values may rise, making it unaffordable for existing residents.

And it’s probably true to say 15-minute cities are not going to work in rural areas which could be a bit of a problem if all services and amenities are centralised in towns.

The problem with the conspiracy theorists is sometimes there is just the smallest kernel of truth in their madcap ideas, just enough for those ideas to take hold.

So one of the early manifestations of the 15-minute city concept is Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) where streets are blocked off to through traffic or access to certain areas are electronically controlled while cyclists and pedestrians are free to come and go as they please.

And that element of control (loved by some, absolutely hated by others) gives just enough credence to the conspiracy theories – they’re controlling our traffic at the moment, what are they going to control next?

Now I was happy to believe that these people were very much on the fringes until a ‘newspaper’ dropped through my letterbox this week. I won’t name it but it’s strapline was ‘The Uncensored Truth’.

This ‘truth’ consisted of gems such as the 9/11 attack was a false flag event, there is ‘no scientific evidence for [Covid] contagion; there is nothing wrong with the climate or the Earth; and my personal favourite Liz Truss’s economic policies were right but she was beaten by a ‘powerful economic establishment’.

And yes, there was an article about 15-minute cities and LTNs cheerfully telling the reader people will be fined if they leave their area and they are being done “in the name of made-up, scientifically baseless climate change”.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.