Task force to revive 'no-go’ London estates

Press, 21 February 1987, Page 12

Task force to revive 'no-go’ London estates

By

ROBIN CHARTERIS

in London

A programme to revive some of London’s worst "no-go” housing estates is planned by the Government’s Inner City Task Force.

New shops are to be built, and derelict buildings that have been destroyed by vandals restored, mainly using local, unemployed labour. The task force, led by the Minister of Employment, Mr Kenneth Clarke, will begin the programme on the Gloucester Grove estate in north Peckham. It is situated near the

notorious North Peckham estate, one of several of Britain’s inner-city slums which have been declared “no-go” areas by tradesmen and which the police enter only in pairs and with special precautions because of the violent behaviour and high crime rate of/the occupants. Other means of reviving the housing estates outlined by Mr Clarke include better security and improved street lighting. Initially, £850,000 ($2.4 million) will be spent at Gloucester Grove, with aid work on other estates to follow.

The aim, said Mr Clarke, woiild be to include -local people and give them a sense of involvement in the hope that that would deter future crime.

After a year in charge of the Government’s inner-city programme, he believes fear of crime is the greatest anxiety local residents have.

The best way to tackle the problem is to raise local morale by restoring shops and repairing the damage done by crime. This, and the use of local labour, should help create community spirit, he said.