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Wolverhampton suffered in the late 1970s with crime and racial tension, due to industrial contraction, which created a bad image for the town. The town centre was cut off from its hinterland by a ring road. When law and order began to deteriorate in 1987 a partnership was set up between the local authority, police and business leaders.
The revitalisation has been incremental, starting with environmental improvements, focusing initially on ‘clean and safe’ issues. A well lit entertainment area has been promoted and cars allowed back into the town centre in the evening, reducing the feeling of a desert. This was followed by more specific projects and private sector involvement which included one of the first town centre CCTV systems and a radio link to help retailers combat shoplifting. A late night bus service policed by club bouncers takes people home after the clubs have finished.
An audit by consultants, and subsequent work to agree a strategy, has led to a ‘Town Centre Forum’ has been set up. This is a partnership between the council and major stake holders from business, the community and other institutions to implement the Action Plan and to promote the centre to investors and visitors.
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