Local Distinctiveness is all very well
Faversham
is a remarkable place to live, a small town with a strong sense of community
and rich in history. For years I have hovered in station bookshops, whiling
away time waiting for trains, checking that Faversham has not been written up
too enthusiastically in the latest guidebooks; so far so good.
Faversham
is situated between the old Roman road, the A2, between
and
Faversham have not seen the fine market square and guildhall or arguably one of
the finest streets of diverse vernacular architecture in the
the Hop Festival do you find more non-local than locals in the streets and
Faversham has a rich programme of street events throughout the summer months
with Open House and Secret Garden Festivals. See www.faversham.org but don?t tell too many
people about it.
So imagine
my concern when
on Sunday (07 Sept 2008) carried the following
“Elizabeth
Carter, editor of the Guide, was impressed by
“reporters to the Good Food Guide have identified an area, not a town, as
the gastronomic hot spot.
“A
rough triangle encompassing
Whitstable and Faversham in
lured quality chefs, drawn by the high quality Kentish meat, fish, vegetables
and fruits. Is this east
triangle the new
The
and Marches Food and Drink Festival held two weekends after the Faversham Hop
Festival every September has been an addiction for Kate and me for years ? we
enjoy the food culture and spending time with other enthusiasts ? but most of
all it is about meeting the producers and sharing their enthusiasm. It beats
shopping in Tesco.
So the editor of The Good Food Guide thinks Faversham may be
part of a gastronomic hot spot ? that will increase the trade for local
restaurants and food producers, and we have some real gems, that’s the good
news.
Of course I favour more prosperous local businesses; they
are small businesses, owner managed, and
employing local people. But I shall loose the option of deciding to eat out on
an impulse ? I?ll need to book.
Another negative social impact of tourism ???
