Probe into problems

12:44pm Monday 30th April 2001

A MAJOR investigation into poverty and crime in Lewisham and Greenwich is to be conducted as part of the huge London-wide probe by the Greater London Authority (GLA).

The GLA hopes to establish why tragedies such as the murder of Damilola Taylor continue despite the millions of pounds poured into estates by successive governments.

The economic development committee will be examining housing, education and crime regeneration schemes, run over the past six years, in an attempt to try and find out ways to improve them.

Chairman of the committee Eric Ollerenshaw said: “There's a ring of huge estates shaped like a horse shoe.

“It runs from north to south London, starting in Camden, down through Hackney, and across into Greenwich, ending up in estates like Kidbrooke in Lewisham.

“Our concern is that successive governments have poured hundreds of million of pounds into these estates, yet there are still people in these areas living in poverty.

“We're not looking to blame anyone.

“We just want to work out what works and what doesn't work, so we can provide workable ideas for the future.”

Chairman of the London Assembly, Trevor Phillips, who has taken a special interest in the investigation said: “Poverty and run-down inner city estates breed crime, and Damilola's murder is symptomatic of the issues which face these communities.

“Government regeneration schemes have brought many improvements, but his death shows just how far this regeneration still has to go.

“We now need to ensure every single penny goes toward improving someone's life.”

The committee will approach every group in London which has been awarded a Single Regeneration Budget (SRB), a specific grant to fund projects in deprived areas, as well as handing out a questionnaire to members of the public.

It hopes to announce its finding in January 2001.

For more information call the public liaison unit on 020 7983 4100.

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