That's the spirit!

Swindon Council is looking at the possibility of creating a Home Zone scheme in the Broad Green area of the town.

It would involve ripping up existing roads including Broad Street, Gladstone Street, Ponting Street, Salisbury Street and Graham Street along with pavements and lampposts.

New streets would then be designed, improving the appearance of the area for hundreds of residents.

A similar scheme, costing in the region of £2m was tried in the Morice Town area of Plymouth last year.

Residents complained of similar problems to those suffered in Broad Green, such as vandalism, litter, dog fouling and lack of open space. But since the Plymouth scheme was completed in February, there has been a noticeable decline in these problems.

Adrian Trim, project manager of Plymouth Home Zone, urged the people of Swindon to back the council to turn their plans into reality.

He said: "There is no way that a council can progress with a Home Zone without public backing. People need to find out about the plans and get actively involved."

Mr Trim said that although problems have not disappeared completely they are on the decrease.

"Speeding and petty vandalism have certainly diminished in recent months, although we did have a problem with a group of people who vandalised features in the early stages of the project.

"We have created a sense of ownership that is gradually growing into respect.

"We are finding that people are now reporting their anti social neighbours."

Adrian Dean, Swindon's traffic management officer, hopes to create a similar atmosphere.

He explained: "We intend to make greater use of open spaces as it will get more people out onto the streets, creating a form of natural surveillance."

The use of greenery will play a key role.

He said: "In Plymouth, people took it upon themselves to plant their own flowers and shrubs in the containers that were provided.

"People saw how good they were and wanted to keep it going. We want to create the same kind of community spirit here."

Under proposals being considered by the council, emphasis will be placed on involving whole sections of the community particularly ethnic minorities who according to Mr Dean, feel excluded from the rest of society.

He said: "Home Zones is about working together to improve the quality of life for all residents. Broad Green has a high percentage of ethnic groups so it is extremely important that we involve them."

Mr Dean said that linguists would be brought in to discuss plans with residents and community leaders.

"We can learn a great deal from other schemes across Europe. Projects in northern France and Germany show just how effective this is."

Council officials have been holding several key talks with German Stefanie Duhr of the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister in Bristol.

He said: "We have learned a lot from Stefanie about ways to include minorities.

"She has seen for herself the effectiveness of this through her Govern-ment's work with the Turkish guest workers."

At a packed public meeting last February at the Broad Green Comm-unity Centre, residents overwhelmingly backed the proposals.

Les Horn, chairman of the Broad Green Residents' Association, said: "Home Zones will mean that the residents of this area will have something they can finally call their own," he said.

"It will inject some quality into the area that has been lacking for some time now."

Mr Horn, 82, who has lived in the area for 45 years, believes people will respect any new development that improves quality of life.

He said: "I am sure that people here will look after it. They will take responsibility for it as it will be their own."

The scheme now rests on the council being able to find funding from the European Community.

Mr Dean said that he is looking for Dutch, French, and German cities to form partnerships with.

"The money will only be given to us if we can prove that it will be of value to other European cities," he explained.

"These cities must be allowed to see the advantages and disadvantages, so they can learn lessons from them."

If funding is approved work could start by early 2005.

Although the speed limit is likely to remain unchanged, Mr Dean says the design of the road will force motorists to slow down to speeds as low as 10mph.

Asked if he thought this would serve to encourage kerb crawlers in the area he said: "Slower speeds will encourage more people to come out onto the streets.

"With time, prostitutes will get the message that this area is not for them.

"I want people to open the curtains in the morning without having to look down at litter and whizzing cars."

Coun John Taylor (Lab, Central) said: "I think that it is an extremely exciting concept and people seem delighted with it.

"There is no doubt that it will transform for the better the quality of life for the residents of Broad Green.

"The scheme is about improving the standard of living as well as safety."

What is a Home Zone?

Description taken from Area Panel East council agenda:

"The Home Zone concept was developed in the late 1960s in Holland, where the term Woonerf is used, which means literally 'living yard'.

A Home Zone is the UK term for a street where people and vehicles share the whole of the road space safely on equal terms and where quality of life takes precedence over ease of traffic movement.

In practical terms this requires the removal of the existing roads and pavements.

A new single surface is constructed incorporating parking areas; improved street lighting is provided and hard and soft landscaping is introduced with play areas where appropriate."

A Home Zones is not a 20mph zone, which normally has traditional footways and a kerbed carriageway and its primary purpose is to reduce accidents.

Home Zones are not accident prevention schemes although there will be safety benefits.