Birmingham 'slum' flats rise again

Apr 1 2008 By Neil Elkes

A CITY estate, written off as a "third world slum" just a few months ago is now recovering following a £376,000 revamp.

Flats in Lillington Grove, Shard End hit the headlines last summer when residents called for them to be torn down as unfit for habitation.

Walls were plastered with graffiti, doors forced open, windows smashed, stairwells used by drug addicts and the apartments themselves were riddled with damp.

After seven years of broken promises it was only when the shocking state of the apartment blocks was exposed in the Birmingham Mail that action was finally taken.

And now residents are enjoying a new lease of life - vandalism and anti-social behaviour has been dramatically cut thanks to new fences, security cameras and door entry systems.

Graffiti has been painted or washed away, while the flats are warmer with new windows, central heating and new lighting.

Residents welcomed the improvements, but still have doubts.

Louise Hall, a 21-year-old single mum, said: "You do feel safer now, the Grove is better. There is less vandalism and drugs about."

She said that life had improved for her and three-year-old daughter Codie, but added that the flats are not suitable for families.

"They are fine for single people but they are not big enough for families. "They could have demolished them and built some houses instead," she added. A resident who lives alone and asked not to be named, said: "The vandalism has nearly stopped and there are less drug addicts about."

The flats are still a topic of political debate between the Conservative council housing boss John Lines and local Labour councillors.

Coun Lines said tenants had voted to stay with the city council and it was his duty to ensure that they get decent homes and value for money.

He said: "It is important to retain and make our stock decent to maintain the balance of affordable homes in the city.

"This investment has given them and extra 20 to 30 years of life."

But Coun Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End) said: "They have spent an awful lot of money on a property type, low rise blocks, that people just do not want."