Cittaslow is a membership organisation that only towns and cities with a population of less than 50,000 people are eligible to join. Individuals can’t join Cittaslow in the way that they can join the Slow Food movement.

Cittaslow provides a set of goals and aspirations for towns and cities based on the following principles -

• Encouraging diversity rather than standardisation.
• Supporting and encouraging local culture and traditions.
• Working for a more sustainable environment.
• Supporting and encouraging local produce and local products.
• Encouraging healthy living especially through children and young people.
• Working with the local community to build these values.

Put together, these principles aim to enhance the quality of life in Cittaslow towns for residents and visitors alike.

Cittaslow is not anti-progress. It aims to intelligently apply cutting edge solutions in communications, transport, hospitality, consumption, commerce and administration to find new ways of improving people’s lives in a sustainable manner.

Every town that applies to join Cittaslow is assessed against over 60 different criteria that are grouped under 6 main headings.

1. Environment policies.
2. Infrastructure policies.
3. Enhancing the quality of the urban fabric.
4. Celebrating and promoting local produce and local products.
5. Hospitality & Community.
6. Communicating awareness and understanding of Cittaslow

To become a member of Cittaslow, a town must demonstrate that it is meets at least half of the 60 criteria and is actively working towards meeting the rest. After becoming a member, Cittaslow towns are re-assessed at regular intervals to ensure that they are continuing to uphold Cittaslow principles and are still working to improve their quality of life.

There are now 7 Cittaslow towns in the UK. We hope Linlithgow will shortly become the 8th.

Cittaslow Linlithgow Steering Group is gearing up for a crucial day in their schedule, with Cittaslow UK having confirmed that they will be carrying out an official Assessment Visit to Linlithgow on Friday May 9th

After overnighting at a local B+B, the Assessors will receive a series of short presentations from members of the Steering Group outlining how their respective organisations relate to the Cittaslow initiative. This will be followed by a High St walkabout in which the Assessors will meeet with various independent retailers, and will be shown some of the key heritage assets of Linlithgow. The Linlithgow Slowfood Convivium will be organising a Slowfood buffet lunch to which key supporters of the local initiative will be invited.In the afternoon the Assessors will be taken to a variety of locations in and around Linlithgow where particular Cittaslow- relevant projects are under way. Finally, The Assessors will conduct a discussion with Steering Group members about specific issues arising from the formal submission documents. To round off the day key participants will gather in a rather less formal atmosphere in a local hostelry to review the day’s proceedings, and hopefully convince the Assessment team of the merits of Linlithgow’s bid.

The Steering Group has made very significant progress since being established in August 2007. Hard work and committment on the part of all participants, including West Lothian Council,Linlithgow Business Association, Linlithgow Pride and Passion,Linlithgow Slow Food Convivium and many others has got the initiative to this critical stage, and I am confident that all the preparations will pay off on the day

Phil Murray

Chair

Cittaslow Linlithgow Steering Group

What is Cittaslow?

Cittaslow (Italian for “slow town”) is a network of over 100 towns worldwide that brings people together to improve the quality of life in their town and to share good ideas, experience and knowledge.

Cittaslow grew out of the Slow Food movement and seeks to raise awareness of the ways in which quality of life can be enhanced by good food; excellent hospitality; the protection and improvement of the environment and the promotion of local producers and traditional production methods.

The original manifesto for Cittaslow states:

“We are looking for towns brought to life by people who make time to enjoy a quality of life; towns blessed with quality public spaces, theatres, shops, cafés, inns, historic buildings and unspoiled landscapes; towns where healthy eating, healthy living and enjoying life are central to the community.”

Put simply, a Cittaslow town is a good place to live and a good place to visit.

Please download the Cittaslow Charter for more information.