In 2005 the NHS in Lambeth proposed a new drug treatment centre in Brighton Terrace, in the centre of Brixton. Brixton has one of the worst drug problems in the UK and a desperate need for more treatment places.

A campaign by local councillors against the Brighton Terrace site persuaded the Lambeth planning committee to defer a decision with the intent of refusing planning permission. The campaign started in response to the threat that this would mean no improved treatment facilities for some years.

The campaign was started by an informal group of Brixton residents on local website Urban 75 and associated website 'My Brixton'.

The online campaign used a wiki for the arguments and succeeded in rapidly getting over 300 local residents to sign up in favour of planning permission. Discussion on Urban75 covered the relevant arguments for and against in depth and persuaded people to sign up on a real understanding of the arguments. Opponents of the scheme were given the opportunity to state their case and make the case for alternative locations – so that the campaign became a genuine debate rather than a slanging match.

The campaign reached out to groups usually excluded from planning decisions including recovering heroin addicts, people staying at local homeless shelters, local churches and local residents who are affected by Brixton's drug problems.

In late 2005 following submission of the 348 signature petition to the planning committee the provisional decision was reversed and the treatment centre was approved.

The campaign was run on a budget of zero, with small time commitments from three volunteers who organised it. The three volunteers only had time to meet in person once during the campaign so the campaign was almost entirely online.

Nominated by Rob Blackie, 25 May 2007

This is an excellent nomination.

Submitted by Alef Rosenbaum, 25 May 2007