EFTC (The European Federation of Town Centres)

The European Federation of Town Centres

The European Federation of Town Centres (EFTC) was formed in 1996 and now includes members from most EU countries. Whilst our member organisations are all very different in structure and stages of development, the objectives and goals are clear for all – clean, safe town centres which create viable places in which to live and work. 

The role of the EFTC is to research issues relevant to Town Centres, act as a champion through advocacy and provide services to its members.

Current EU policy will have a great impact on Town Centres.  Changes in structural funding and policy priorities include new funds for priority Urban Areas and Pilot Projects; the urban forum; urban transport studies; urban retail research; and new research funding for comparative studies on cities.

Such changes provide a golden opportunity to raise the profile of Town Centres across the EU, but we can only achieve this through partnership.  By joining together
Under one organisation, the EFTC member groups will create a powerful, Europe-wide body with a unified and focused voice.

Our Objectives

Members of the ETFC will work in partnership to protect and maintain the life, vitality and viability of Europe’s town centres for the benefit of the entire community, which lives, works, shops and plays in our centres.  To achieve this, the EFTC will address the range of issues which effect town centres, namely:

Commerce, Retail and Services
To create an environment in which all business types can prosper and to provide secure employment and services to communities in partnership.

Environment
To ensure that the physical environment is clean, unpolluted, in harmony with its surroundings and an enjoyable place in which to spend time.

Access
All people, whether they travel by car, take public transport, cycle or walk, should enjoy easy access and good facilities such as parking and transport interchanges.

Safety and Security
Town Centres should be free from crime and all the users should be free from the fear of crime.

Location
To ensure that all centres have equal competitive advantage and that none are discriminated against, creating harmonious neighbourhoods.

Leisure
To encourage facilities for people to enjoy their leisure time in the centre and to promote high quality open spaces.

Housing
A variety of housing types should be available to encourage people to live and work within the town, with new uses found for old or existing buildings.

Tourism
To encourage visitors from outside the local community to enjoy and share in a range of facilities and to enhance the heritage of the area.

The EFTC promotes the creation of true public/private partnerships and the use of Town Centre Management as a mechanism for addressing theses issues while a variety of views and resources are involved.

 
EFTC RESOURCES
Organisations affiliated to the EFTC can offer a range of resources, from publications to study tours.  The following information, compiled from information received, lists some of the resources available.  For contact details, see below

För Nya Stadshärnan, Sweden, has around 160 members and supplies a newsletter, study tours and publications.  The Association has also been involved with the Royal University of Technology in Orebo, to develop two courses: ‘Town Centre Revitalisation in theory and practice’, and ‘Town Centre Leadership in shopping centres, galleries and town centres’.
H Norsk Sentrumsforum, Norway, was established in March 1995 as a cooperation between nine town centre organisations.  It now includes 15 members, all professional town centre managers in Norwegian Cities.  The organisation offers networking, exchange of information and experience between the members, plus information to local and national authorities.
H Nederlandse Vereniging van Binnenstedelijkeondern, Netheralnds, was formed in 1995 and now includes 31 formal members, mostly medium-sized citi9es but also four major cities.  The NVBO promotes the sharing of information and experience through activities such as conferences, workshop and documentation.

BCSD, the German Federal Association for City and Town Marketing, was established in Berlin in 1996 and represents more than 50 members. BCSD publishes a quarterly newsletter of current information from its member towns, plus publications and membership polls on current topics.

Association de Management de Centres Ville, Belgium, publishes CentreVille, a magazine featuring current issues, activities and case studies; ‘Town Centres, a new approach’; Town Centre Management’ (Dutch) and ‘Town Centre Management in Sweden’.  The AMCV also offers a three-week training course in Town Centre Management and is conducting field research into key indicators.

The Association of Town Centre Management, UK, publishes a quarterly magazine, Forum, plus documents such as ‘Managing Urban Spaces in Town Centres’, Town Centre Partnerships’, A Guide to Good Practice’ and ‘A New Town Centre Manager’s Survival Kit’.  The ATCM has also linked with Oxford Brookes University to establish a Certificate/Diploma course and has developed a group of over 200 Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss Town Centre Management issues.
 
The EFTC network
Belgium

Jean-Luc Calonger
Association de Management de Centres-Ville
65 rue du Moulin
65 – 6060 Charoleroi-Gilly
Belgium
Tel: +32 71 70 24 22
Fax: +32 71 30 14 50
Email: amcv@skynet.be

The Netherlands

Mr Henk Santing
Chairman
Nederlandse Vereniging vor Binnenstedelijke
Ondernemers
PO Box 68
5260 AB Vught
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 73 65 89 040
Fax: +31 73 656 1665
Email: info@bro.nl

Sweden

Ms Jeanette Berggren
Managing Director
Svenska Stadskärnor
Box 1221, Krämartorget
S-701 12 Örebro
Sweden
Tel: +46 19 672 18 30
Tel: +46 70 668 69 62
Fax: +46 19 611 18 30
Email: jeanette.berggren@svenskastadskarnor.se

Denmark

Ms Kirsten Toxvaerd
Managing Director
Kobenhavns City Center
Gammel Kongevej 1
DK-1610 Kobenhavn V
Denmark
Tel: +45 33 25 74 00
Fax: +45 33 25 74 10
Email: kit@woco.dk

Norway

Mr Finn Sandven
Norsk Sentrumsforum
Postboks 546
N-5501 Haugesund
Norway
Tel: +47 52 72 10 00
Fax: +47 52 72 11 80
Email: fsandven@online.no

United Kingdom

Simon Quin
Chief Executive
Association of Town Centre Management
1 Queen Anne’s Gate
London, SW1H 9BT
UK
Tel: +44 20 7222 0120
Fax: +44 20 7222 3460
Email: simon.quin@atcm.org

Germany

Mr Gerold Leppa
BCSD
C/O Braunschweig Stadtmarketing Gmbh
Kleine Burg 14
38100 Braunschweig
Germany
Tel:  +49 0531 470 2104
Fax: +49 0531 470 4445
Email: gerold.leppa@bcsd.de

Spain

Tamyko Ysa
Asociación Española de Gerentes de Centro Urbano (AGECU)
Av. Pedrables, 60
Barcelona
Spain 0803
Email: tamyko.ysa@esade.edu