Soapbox:

The disappearing public

By Mohsen Zahran

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One of the most obvious symptoms of urban erosion today is the systematic invasion of riverbanks by clubs or public organisations, denying the public free access to -- and recreation on -- the landscaped waterfronts. Instead of developing water edges as green magnets for pedestrian amenities, diverse gated developments proliferate.

This type of invasion is taking place on Alexandria's coastline, which has been partly allocated by the local government for exclusive use as private beaches for various syndicates and organisations. Meanwhile, Lake Mariout continues to shrink by systematic infilling for use by public and private developers, coupled with dangerous levels of water pollution by sewage drainage laden with cadmium, lead, mercury and other heavy metals. These are serious environmental and health hazards, which could cause definite fatalities and irreparable damage, despite universal and national calls for due respect for the environment, and the necessity of adherence to planning objectives and directives.

The problem is not the shortage of urban regulations, standards or urban laws, which are abundant and well known, but rather their denial and negligence by the formal and informal sectors, as well as various groups and individuals. Education, the national media and information networks have failed to instil environmental urban values and underline the dangers of their violation. The problem lies as well in the lack of enforcement of, and reluctance to implement, the objectives and directives of urban order. The guardians of public trust and gatekeepers of public domains are dangerously threatened, and slowly disappearing.

This week's Soapbox speaker is professor of urban planning at the University of Alexandria.