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| 10 steps to turning around a sink estate | 10 steps to turning around a sink estate |
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| The Wolseley Road estate before (left) and after its transformation By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine | The Wolseley Road estate before (left) and after its transformation By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine |
| Graffiti. Muggings. Fly tipping. Drug taking. Vandalism. What to do when a housing estate is this blighted? Knock it down and start again is one solution, but it's extreme. | Graffiti. Muggings. Fly tipping. Drug taking. Vandalism. What to do when a housing estate is this blighted? Knock it down and start again is one solution, but it's extreme. |
| A year ago, young mother Nicola wanted out of Plymouth's notorious Wolseley Road Flats. By day she looked out on a rubbish-strewn courtyard, scorched crack spoons discarded in the grass near the swings her children played on. | A year ago, young mother Nicola wanted out of Plymouth's notorious Wolseley Road Flats. By day she looked out on a rubbish-strewn courtyard, scorched crack spoons discarded in the grass near the swings her children played on. |
| PROGRAMME DETAILS The Estate We're In is on BBC One at 0915 each morning from Mon 31 March to Fri 4 April Catch up on previous episodes at BBC iPlayer | PROGRAMME DETAILS The Estate We're In is on BBC One at 0915 each morning from Mon 31 March to Fri 4 April Catch up on previous episodes at BBC iPlayer |
| By night she was too afraid to leave her ground floor flat, under siege as hooded youths from nearby estates kicked in the security doors to party in the stairwell. | By night she was too afraid to leave her ground floor flat, under siege as hooded youths from nearby estates kicked in the security doors to party in the stairwell. |
| Her neighbours felt the same. When trouble kicked off, as it so frequently did, they just shut their doors and hoped it went away. But then Silla Carron, who transformed her own grim estate in north London and won a Pride of Britain award for her efforts, started knocking on doors with a plan of action... | Her neighbours felt the same. When trouble kicked off, as it so frequently did, they just shut their doors and hoped it went away. But then Silla Carron, who transformed her own grim estate in north London and won a Pride of Britain award for her efforts, started knocking on doors with a plan of action... |
| 1. UNITE - AND GALVANISE - RESIDENTS | |
| It is a symptom of modern life that few people know their neighbours. And with doors locked to keep out a threatening outside world, there are precious few chances to get to know one another. | It is a symptom of modern life that few people know their neighbours. And with doors locked to keep out a threatening outside world, there are precious few chances to get to know one another. |
| Support galvanised: Residents of the Wolseley Road estate muster | Support galvanised: Residents of the Wolseley Road estate muster |
| But collective action is vital. Start by saying hello, says Ms Carron. And organise a residents' meeting to raise concerns. Find somewhere to meet - even if it's someone's flat, in the first instance - badger people into coming and ask what they want done to improve matters. | But collective action is vital. Start by saying hello, says Ms Carron. And organise a residents' meeting to raise concerns. Find somewhere to meet - even if it's someone's flat, in the first instance - badger people into coming and ask what they want done to improve matters. |
| Some may well say demolish the lot - the course of action taken recently in Manchester's New Islington, where a council estate was flattened and smart low-rise houses built in its place. But a few changes can make enough of a difference to both the look of a place and to residents' attitudes to act as an incentive to do more. | Some may well say demolish the lot - the course of action taken recently in Manchester's New Islington, where a council estate was flattened and smart low-rise houses built in its place. But a few changes can make enough of a difference to both the look of a place and to residents' attitudes to act as an incentive to do more. |
| "People need to come out from behind their doors and take responsibility," says Ms Carron. "If it's outside your door, it's to do with you." | "People need to come out from behind their doors and take responsibility," says Ms Carron. "If it's outside your door, it's to do with you." |
| 2. IMPROVE SECURITY | 2. IMPROVE SECURITY |
| With all but two of the estate's 17 security doors broken, people could just walk in off the street. And they did. | With all but two of the estate's 17 security doors broken, people could just walk in off the street. And they did. |
| Steel casing around pipes prevents climbing, while old doors make way for new | Steel casing around pipes prevents climbing, while old doors make way for new |
| Break-ins were a constant fear. And the communal stairwells were magnets for those from neighbouring streets to drink, take drugs, play loud music and hang out - none of which they would do on their own doorsteps. With scant exterior lighting, walking around the estate's dark nooks and crannies felt decidedly threatening. | Break-ins were a constant fear. And the communal stairwells were magnets for those from neighbouring streets to drink, take drugs, play loud music and hang out - none of which they would do on their own doorsteps. With scant exterior lighting, walking around the estate's dark nooks and crannies felt decidedly threatening. |
| But with new lights fitted and security doors that open outwards - making them impossible to kick in - residents began to feel safer, and vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the stairwells ceased. | But with new lights fitted and security doors that open outwards - making them impossible to kick in - residents began to feel safer, and vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the stairwells ceased. |
| 3. RECRUIT HELP | 3. RECRUIT HELP |
| From local police, anti-social behaviour units and from councillors and housing officials at the local authority. These people are paid to look after residents' interests. | From local police, anti-social behaviour units and from councillors and housing officials at the local authority. These people are paid to look after residents' interests. |
| People get so used to locking their doors... While the building is changing and the atmosphere is changing it's a good time to let people know they can come out Silla Carron | People get so used to locking their doors... While the building is changing and the atmosphere is changing it's a good time to let people know they can come out Silla Carron |
| Make sure they know what the problems are. Provide examples - detailed descriptions or photos of troublemakers, for instance, or photos of broken security doors - and "don't take no for an answer," says Ms Carron. | Make sure they know what the problems are. Provide examples - detailed descriptions or photos of troublemakers, for instance, or photos of broken security doors - and "don't take no for an answer," says Ms Carron. |
| "If you don't like something, don't just sit there moaning. Moan to the council; it's their job to work for you. Then something might get done." | "If you don't like something, don't just sit there moaning. Moan to the council; it's their job to work for you. Then something might get done." |
| 4. MONEY MONEY MONEY | 4. MONEY MONEY MONEY |
| Security comes at a cost, as does building work. But funding is available for all manner of projects. Find out what's on offer and start applying. On Ms Carron's own estate, she raised some £6m for building improvements, a mini golf ground and a five-a-side pitch with tennis court markings for those two weeks every year when the nation gets their racquets out. | Security comes at a cost, as does building work. But funding is available for all manner of projects. Find out what's on offer and start applying. On Ms Carron's own estate, she raised some £6m for building improvements, a mini golf ground and a five-a-side pitch with tennis court markings for those two weeks every year when the nation gets their racquets out. |
| At Wolseley Road, the tenants talked hundreds of thousands of pounds out of the council for a paint job, a new roof, lighting and new security doors. Today it looks like a new estate. | At Wolseley Road, the tenants talked hundreds of thousands of pounds out of the council for a paint job, a new roof, lighting and new security doors. Today it looks like a new estate. |
| 5. BE VIGILANT | 5. BE VIGILANT |
| Vandalism and anti-social behaviour can be tackled, in number | Vandalism and anti-social behaviour can be tackled, in number |
| One person alone will be reluctant to confront trouble. But there is strength in numbers if residents as a whole make it clear that vandalism, drunken or drug-fuelled rowdiness, bullying and littering will not be tolerated on their patch. | One person alone will be reluctant to confront trouble. But there is strength in numbers if residents as a whole make it clear that vandalism, drunken or drug-fuelled rowdiness, bullying and littering will not be tolerated on their patch. |
| As well as a Tenants Association, the residents of Wolseley Road began a neighbourhood watch group. By taking charge of their own security, by reporting suspicious behaviour and providing descriptions, they not only felt safer but actually became safer as trouble evaporated from the estate. | As well as a Tenants Association, the residents of Wolseley Road began a neighbourhood watch group. By taking charge of their own security, by reporting suspicious behaviour and providing descriptions, they not only felt safer but actually became safer as trouble evaporated from the estate. |
| 6. MAKE OWN CHOICES | 6. MAKE OWN CHOICES |
| The Clarence Way estate where Silla (inset) lives, and helped transform | The Clarence Way estate where Silla (inset) lives, and helped transform |
| As if piling insult on top of injury, the vandalised communal stairwells at Wolseley Road were painted an unpleasantly institutional gold. Rather than await a vat o' institutionally hued paint from the council, the residents asked for colour charts to choose their own scheme when the estate was given its facelift. | As if piling insult on top of injury, the vandalised communal stairwells at Wolseley Road were painted an unpleasantly institutional gold. Rather than await a vat o' institutionally hued paint from the council, the residents asked for colour charts to choose their own scheme when the estate was given its facelift. |
| "It used to be tatty here and now it's not. It feels like our estate," says one boy. "We chose the colours and it doesn't feel like someone else's property now." | "It used to be tatty here and now it's not. It feels like our estate," says one boy. "We chose the colours and it doesn't feel like someone else's property now." |
| 7. ENGENDER RESPECT | 7. ENGENDER RESPECT |
| Residents take more care of their surroundings when they feel a place is their own - and that includes children. Those at Wolseley Road formed children's gardening club to clean up the neglected flower beds and plant colourful primula and hardy vegetables. | Residents take more care of their surroundings when they feel a place is their own - and that includes children. Those at Wolseley Road formed children's gardening club to clean up the neglected flower beds and plant colourful primula and hardy vegetables. |
| And when a boy from a neighbouring street pulled up all the plants, the kids were incensed. They quickly put the vandalised plants back in the soil - the flowers are flourishing once again, and the vandal hasn't been back. | And when a boy from a neighbouring street pulled up all the plants, the kids were incensed. They quickly put the vandalised plants back in the soil - the flowers are flourishing once again, and the vandal hasn't been back. |
| 8. MEETING SPACE | 8. MEETING SPACE |
| Whether its a tidied up playground or a communal flat for meetings, parent-and-baby groups and coffee mornings, somewhere people can come to find a friendly face and to air ideas is important. | Whether its a tidied up playground or a communal flat for meetings, parent-and-baby groups and coffee mornings, somewhere people can come to find a friendly face and to air ideas is important. |
| This also provides a central information point for council and community notices. | This also provides a central information point for council and community notices. |
| 9. THROW A PARTY | 9. THROW A PARTY |
| Residents of Wolseley Road celebrate the transformation | Residents of Wolseley Road celebrate the transformation |
| "People get so used to locking their doors, and it stays that way," says Ms Carron. "While the building is changing and the atmosphere is changing, it's a good time to let people know they can trust themselves to come out and bring their community back together." | "People get so used to locking their doors, and it stays that way," says Ms Carron. "While the building is changing and the atmosphere is changing, it's a good time to let people know they can trust themselves to come out and bring their community back together." |
| Having organised several successful festivals on her own estate, Clarence Way in Camden, she encourages those at Wolseley Road to do the same. A bouncy castle, a barbeque and a DJ tempt residents out of their flats - even if for some it's to hang over the balcony - and actually speak to each other. | Having organised several successful festivals on her own estate, Clarence Way in Camden, she encourages those at Wolseley Road to do the same. A bouncy castle, a barbeque and a DJ tempt residents out of their flats - even if for some it's to hang over the balcony - and actually speak to each other. |
| 10. KEEP AT IT | 10. KEEP AT IT |
| Tenants associations and neighbourhood watch groups across the nation know that momentum ebbs and flows, and that often it comes down to a handful of can-do types to keep things going. "Without support, nothing will change," says Ms Carron. | Tenants associations and neighbourhood watch groups across the nation know that momentum ebbs and flows, and that often it comes down to a handful of can-do types to keep things going. "Without support, nothing will change," says Ms Carron. |
| A year on, the estate is clean and safe with a growing sense of community. What does young mum Nicola now think? "It's looking great with the kids playing outside, it feels a lot safer. It's brilliant." | A year on, the estate is clean and safe with a growing sense of community. What does young mum Nicola now think? "It's looking great with the kids playing outside, it feels a lot safer. It's brilliant." |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |