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Is this Sheffield's worst estate?
IT was built as a green oasis for families moved from the crumbling slums - but the Sheffield estate has now gained the unenviable tag of being one of the worst areas to live in the city.
Serious problems of crime and deprivation facing the Gleadless Valley area have been revealed in a report compiled by Sheffield Council, being presented to the city's Successful Neighbourhoods Partnership Board today.
It states:
• Crime on the estate is double the city average of 87 incidents per 1,000 people.
• Anti-social behaviour is double the city average.
• Ninety per cent of residents feel yobs are plaguing the area.
• There are "a number of problems" with the quality and maintenance of the estate which appears to be uncared for. Issues include fly tipping, graffiti and criminal damage.
• Economic activity has declined, with household incomes "significantly below" the city average.
• Unemployment is more than double Sheffield's overall rate.
• Children's school achievement below the city average, there are high rates of exclusions and the youth centre at Herdings has become unusable due to an arson attack.
• Life expectancy in Gleadless Valley is lower than the city average, emergency admissions to hospital are "significantly higher" than in other neighbourhoods, and teen pregnancy rates are double the city average.
Dave Aspinall, the council's South Area Co-ordinator, neighbourhood management project officer Andy Christian and local action service manager Valerie Cotter, who compiled the report, say turning around the estate will be a "big task".
What do you think of Gleadless Valley and how does it compare to other Sheffield estates? Add your comment below.
However, they have identified a number of efforts which are beginning to improve the situation and believe the area has "huge potential to regain the reputation of being a very desirable place to live that it has previously enjoyed".
Coun Chris Weldon, Sheffield Council cabinet member for neighbourhoods and chairman of the Successful Neighbourhoods Partnership Board, said: "The council is well aware that there are problems and the area has not been improving as fast as we would have liked.
"The report describes problems faced but it shows some successes that we are beginning to have."
Measures to tackle crime have included an "action week" with extra patrols, while a dispersal order has been implemented meaning authorities can break up and move on gangs of youths.
A total of 200,000 is being invested in community safety, providing four neighbourhood wardens dedicated to the area and wheelie bin locks to prevent them being pushed against buildings and set on fire which is said to have "dramatically reduced" the number of incidents.
So far, 54 communal bins and 38 bins at residential properties have been fitted with locks.
Youths are being targeted with more activities, 60,000 is being spent on equipment for teenagers in Herdings Park, Sheffield Futures is increasing outreach work and 8,000 is paying for youth work training so more people can give assistance.
Extra family support is also being proposed, while providing adult and community learning opportunities to increase skills and cut unemployment has been identified as a priority.
Physical improvements to the estate are being carried out through the Decent Homes council house improvement programme, with work being carried out on 820 properties this year and a further 1,370 by 2011.
Investment in parks and green spaces in Gleadless Valley has been doubled and the council is working with retailers towards improvements to shopping centres.
Health problems are being tackled by providing advice to girls about contraception, an "enhanced public health programme" and giving greater assistance to elderly and vulnerable residents to reduce hospital admissions.
READ MORE OF OUR SPECIAL REPORT ON GLEADLESS VALLEY:<a
'Living in a ghetto' where even the bins have to be locked - AUDIO INTERVIEW
Sad decline of 'happy valley'
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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