Graeme Reid, the council's inner-city manager, argues that it is neither feasible nor desirable for the area to go back to what it was, but that a new, vibrant, multi-ethnic city is evolving.

ECONOMIST: A city��s metamorphosis

Abu Sufian Khan, also a restaurant manager, added that he hoped it would bring more business to the area.

BBC: Crawley revamp 'money well spent'

"It was horrific and embarrassing, " says Gendron, a sales manager in the Boston area.

FORBES: Skin Deep