Sunday 5 February 2012
Published: 21/01/2010 12:06 - Updated: 22/01/2010 10:46

PM Gordon Brown in Stevenage

 
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RESIDENTS in Stevenage were greeted by a surprise visitor today (Thursday January 21) as Prime Minister Gordon Brown came to the town to announce new funding to combat anti-social behaviour in Hertfordshire.

The Prime Minister visited the Bedwell Community Centre in Bedwell Crescent as part of the Government’s Family Intervention Scheme, which targets difficult families to give them support within the community.
 
Brown was greeted by MP Barbara Follett and the Labour candidate for Stevenage Sharon Taylor as he visited residents and shop owners in the area.
 
He visited Tony Wilkins greengrocers, Jack’s Pantry Butchers and W J Rowe Fish and Chips, all in Bedwell Crescent, where shopkeepers explained their own experiences of anti-social behaviour in the area.
 
The Prime Minister spoke with families, who had benefited from the scheme and the work of the community centre before making an impromptu visit to Marriotts School in Telford Avenue.
 
He visited Year 8 pupil Dean Richardson and his classmates. The 13-year old boy had written a letter to the Prime Minister about his own ideas on improving Stevenage and his school.
 
The Family Intervention Scheme, which will cost £8,000-£20,000 per family, requires any child or parent with an ASBO to take part in literacy and parenting classes and gives them the option to move to supported accommodation.
 
The Prime Minister said: “The family intervention scheme will be a step forward in tackling anti-social behaviour.
 
“ASBOs are part of the solution but we are calling for further tough action. The funding that will go to families and centres like this one, will enable us to tackle to problem.”
 
The Prime minister then headed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow where he was greeted by Health Secretary Andy Burnham and Harlow MP Bill Rammell.
He met members of the nursing staff to thank them for their efforts during the recent heavy snowfall.
 
 

 

 
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