Red Tape Blocks Church Expansion to Deprived Areas

The Mayor of London has told black church leaders in London that he wants to back their offers of help to transform communities thwarted by violence and vandalism - but says he has no powers to help them establish churches in deprived London areas due to planning laws.

Following months of campaigning and petitioning by black Christians in Greater London, Ken Livingstone wrote this week to Olatunji Adebayo, chief executive of TA Property Consultants of Willesden, who represents over 350 churches looking for larger premises in the capital.

In his letter, the Mayor said that he was personally supportive of allowing churches to convert redundant industrial units and vandalised commercial property into churches, but was prevented from doing so because many properties were in Defined Employment Areas, and that he had no power to change planning law.

Mr Livingstone said he would therefore ask the Government to review planning guidance to local authorities.

Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, also received a 20,000-strong petition, calling on a change in planning law. She said, however, that the matter had nothing to do with central Government, and advised Mr Adebayo, on behalf of the churches, to engage with the Mayor of London so that he could include the planning law change in his London Plan.

Mr Adeboye said: "Mrs Kelly said she was sympathetic, but it was up to Mr Livingstone and Mr Livingstone says he's sympathetic, but it is up to central Government and that he has no powers.

"The victims of crime in these areas, and the churches who want to help, do not want any more sympathy from politicians, they want joined-up-action.

"In the middle of this political fudge is the fact that both central and local Governments have been calling on the Black Communities to own the problems of violence which has led to several people being stabbed to death in the last year alone in the capital."

Prime Minister Tony Blair has called on the black community numerous times to become 'a part of the solution'.

In his last seven weeks of office, the black-led churches of London are calling on the Prime Minister to put as much effort in London's community life as he has to Northern Ireland and to help bring about a lasting solution.

Mr Adeboye added: "There are 350 churches looking to help create better local communities. All we need is for the Prime Minister to summon Ruth Kelly and Ken Livingstone to Downing Street and knock their heads together.

"He's been able to broker a solution between Gerry Adams and Dr Ian Paisley. Surely some positive action between two members of the labour party ought to be possible?"