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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 14 September 2007

Ann Widdecombe

Widdecombe’s TV estate set to be gated

HOWLED down for famously describing the Andover estate as a “dump,” ex-Tory shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe could this week be forgiven for saying, “I told you so,”.
Miss Widdecombe was commenting on the news that Islington Council has finally agreed to turn the troublesome 1970s-built estate in Finsbury Park into a gated community.
The 59-year-old MP confronted dope-smoking youths on the estate in an ITV documentary, Widdecombe versus The Hoodies, in January this year.
But later angry residents launched a petition accusing Miss Widdecombe, who lived on the estate for three days during filming, of exaggerating conditions for the 1,000 residents and provoking youths.
An East area planning committee has now agreed to improve security on the estate, including the installation of gated access control points to secure the courtyard – with access to alleyways through a fob locking system. It would result in the alleyways and green space becoming secure, semi-private spaces.
Residents for and against the proposals crammed into a meeting held at the Resource Centre on Holloway Road to hear the committee vote unanimously in favour of the changes.
Miss Widdecombe, speaking from her office at the House of Commons on Wednesday, said she felt entirely vindicated for making the programme.
She added: “It’s fantastic news that the Andover is to become a gated community. I’m delighted that I made the programme.
“I remember during filming thinking that high-level security was what was needed on the Andover. I’m sure it will make the estate much safer and more secure.
“I’ve seen other council estates which have become gated communities and they are highly successful. They have flower beds which are not vandalised and there is a completely different atmosphere. People can walk around late at night.”
Work on the new security scheme should begin in November and continue into the New Year.
Marian Spall, chairwoman of the Andover Tenants Association, put Miss Widdecombe up in her home during the making of the documentary, although she also later complained about the tone of the film.
She said: “I don’t think this is to do with the documentary because we have been campaigning for increased security for years.
“But the fact we are finally going to get it is absolutely brilliant.”
She added: “When you’ve got tenants confronted outside their front door with someone putting a needle in their arm a secure community is very good news indeed.”

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