City planner starts Lectures

AN EXPERT on city planning is to kick off this year's Edinburgh Lectures.

Alberto Magnaghi, professor of territorial planning at the University of Florence, will provide the first lecture of the series, organised by the city council, on October 1.

The theme of the ten-lecture programme, which runs until next March, is the role of cities in terms of cultural, social and environmental challenges.

Prof Magnaghi's lecture will look at concepts like "a city of villages", local communities, community maps, self-government and participation.

Other speakers in the programme include Andrew Dixon, chief executive of Creative Scotland, writer James Robertson and London Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic.

The programme and booking details are at http://edinburghlectures.wordpress.com