"Planners try to improve the Quality of life in large cities" Comment on this Statement.

• Few rich in comparison with the poor people
• Too many poor inhabitants
• An increasing number of migrants

Diseases such as Typhoid and Dysentery are very common and there is a high infant mortality rate in the slums (Favelas). There are few schools which leaves many children illiterate and lacking in the skills needed to get a job. The transport system is very poor meaning that those who get jobs struggle to get to them every day. There is also a high crime rate because of the depressing state of affairs in the Favelas.

To improve the quality of life in Favelas self-help schemes have been introduced. Families in the Favelas help each other to build new houses at low costs. Despite this local authorities struggle to keep up with increasing number of migrants.

The London Docklands is the best known example of an inner city redevelopment scheme in an MEDC. The London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was set up to renew the area.

Some of the things that have happened there in the past 20 years include:

• The gentrification of old buildings. This basically means keeping the outside of old warehouses and gutting the insides. Often these are then refurbished to become very expensive riverside flats.
• The Docklands Light Railway and Jubilee Line extension have increased access to the docklands area, whilst the City Airport has allowed quick transfers to places throughout Europe.
• Low tax rates and rents have been used to attract large businesses to relocate to the area. Examples include the Daily Telegraph and many financial institutions. Canary Wharf Tower has been the centre point of this business influx.
• Housing has also been built, not just for the rich, young workers in the city, but also for the under-privileged groups who were living in the docklands area previously. Low cost housing has been built, and schemes set up to help people buy them.
• Community centres and services have been introduced to previously declining areas in an attempt to engender more community spirit. Leisure centres and shopping malls have all added to the community feel.
• Not all the residents are happy though, as many of the new jobs are too highly skilled for the original residents of the docklands, and they resent the new people coming into their area.

Although authorities try as best they can to improve the quality of life in big cities they are, especially in LEDC’s fighting a losing battle against the increasing number of migrants.