The civic societies movement has a national representative organisation in England once again with the launch of Civic Voice set up to give national expression to over 1,000 civic societies who collectively have over a quarter of a million members.
The new body has been created to replace the Civic Trust which collapsed into administration last year.
Civic Voice says local people continue to be concerned at risks to their local environment and heritage.
"Civic Voice is being launched as the nation debates its political future and communities are campaigning for more control over what happens in their local area," said Griff Rhys Jones, one of its leading supporters.
"With three in four people identifying something valued locally which is at risk, the time is ripe for a powerful new grassroots voice. Civic Voice will turn local action into a national movement to make the places where we all live more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive."
A membership survey revealed three out of four fear risks to something local they value and rated natural settings and views, open space and well-cared for historic buildings among the top five things they value.
"The civic movement should be in the driving seat of a new politics
which responds to the pride people have in the place where they live," said its director Tony Burton.
"Civic Voice will campaign nationally and work locally to protect the local places we can be proud of and to improve those which should offer more to their communities."
