'London's Beirut' to be cleaned up

By Rosie Stewart

AN ISLINGTON estate is to be transformed from a concrete wasteland into a clean and green environment for local residents.

The Bemerton Estate’s Tenants’ Management Organisation (TMO) has joined forces with Groundwork UK in an effort to clean up the estate once referred to as “London’s Beirut”.

Groundwork Camden and Islington is part of a federation of national Groundwork trusts that help local communities to control the quality of their surroundings.

Sandra Hoisz, from the Cleaner Estate Initiative at Groundwork, pitched the idea to Bemerton TMO at their monthly meeting held this week.

She said: “We are hoping to work on the Bemerton Estate to improve the cleanliness of your open external spaces. We want to work closely with local residents so that they can have a say in making the improvements that will change their surroundings for the better.”

Bemerton TMO Secretary, Paul Dresun, has expressed his support for the project.
“This is a benchmark scheme," he said. " It is a really great opportunity to get some of the kids from around the estate out of trouble. We need to think quite creatively to get them to help do things around the estate.”

He added: “This is about integrating the kids, to get them to kill the weeds before they kill each other.”

A survey is to be conducted on the estate to gauge local reactions. It is hoped that work will begin in the New Year.

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