Playing the Environment Game - ACE042.3

Booker and Gray describe their scheme to become developers themselves, raising money to buy up the Tolmer’s Square area. Video record of Council meeting, July 18th 1973, discussing the situation. Tolmer’s Square. Commentary says that on October 10th, 1973, Camden Council decided not to go ahead with Levy deal and intended to find other ways of funding their housing programme. Booker and Gray talk about the change in attitude to development that is beginning to surface. Covent Garden, where residents are taking a stand against the developers. A representative of the Community Association, walking round the streets, says that though the Market would be moving the following year, the Greater London Council had never consulted local people about what they might like to see on the site thereafter; he describes public meetings and demonstrations, and other aspects of the campaign, as well as new facilities set up by the Association, and talks about the importance of the community. Derelict tenement buildings. Sandringham Buildings West, Charing Cross Road. Doug Dobell talks about his grandfather starting the first antiquarian book shop in Charing Cross Road around 1884. Commentary says that in 1970, Westminster Council started forcing out tenants of the shops and flats in preparation for demolishing the buildings in order to widen the road. Monica Dobell describes a Council meeting where they heard of the plans for redevelopment. Broken toilets, etc., destroyed by Council workmen to make the buildings uninhabitable. Decorators repainting interior as Council took example from a campaigning Housing Committee which repaired property and moved in some homeless people. Monica Dobell talks about the breaking up of the local community; her father says alternative premises in the area are too expensive for small businesses.