WORK to change the face of an estate in St Mary Cray will start soon with the creation of Bromley Council's first Home Zone.

In a bid to discourage people from automatically using their cars and to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, the Rookery Gardens estate will get a green make-over.

Concrete areas will be grassed over to create a "green heart" for residents, to include play equipment and seating areas.

During the last nine months, residents have been asked what they want to see on the estate, in what the council described as "one of the most detailed consultation exercises undertaken on a local transportation scheme".

The £270,000 cost of transforming Rookery Gardens, which will be the first Home Zone in the borough, will be met by the Government through the Department for Transport.

Crime reduction measures, including any changes needed to CCTV cameras, will form part of Bromley's ongoing scheme for the whole of the St Mary Cray area.

A report, which was due to be discussed by leading councillors earlier this week, states: "The Home Zone aims to change the way the streets are used and to improve quality of life by making them places for people, not just for traffic. Changes to the layouts of streets emphasise this.

"The new central green area and proposed secure gardens for ground floor maisonettes will encourage play and social interaction."

Cabinet member for the environment Councillor George Taylor was due to meet with colleagues on Tuesday night to approve the plans.

It is hoped, when the scheme is up and running, it will be used as an example for other Home Zones in the borough.

11:18am Monday 14th October 2002

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