Green guardians Streetwatchers is marking a decade of helping local residents to improve the environment of their neighbourhoods. They are the people who perhaps care about their local areas more than anyone. Streetwatchers are residents who go out and about, reporting ‘envirocrime’ such as fly-tipping, rubbish, graffiti, fly-posting, abandoned vehicles and dumped goods. The work they do is reported back to Brent Council StreetCare officers who deal with the problem. The initiative was set up in 1999 and there are 200 individual Streetwatchers across Brent. Hasmukhrai Kothari joined ten years ago because he was concerned about his area. “Neasden had terrible problems then,” he explains. “Builders’ waste and shops’ rubbish was being dumped here. There were rotting vegetables and litter in the roads. Many alleyways were filled up with rubbish from people fly-tipping in them.” Mr Kothari, also known as ‘Hush’ and chairman of the residents’ association, joined Streetwatchers and started to report what he saw to Brent Council’s StreetCare unit. “The first thing the council did was to start alley-gating or blocking in the alleys to make sure people couldn’t fly tip. Then we started to tackle the litter and rubbish. I know council officers can’t be every-
where and we are there to report on particular problems. We have a very good relationship and understanding with the council.” He also asks other association members to report problems to him, which he feeds back to the council. Problems solved by other Streetwatchers include broken street furniture such as lamp-posts and benches, and abandoned vehicles in the streets. It was Harlesden Streetwatcher Lorraine Skinner’s idea to set up Green Zones while others have helped tackle excess packaging by big supermarkets, visited recycling plants in Brent and been involved in the Echo Action project around sustainability. Brent Council provides training for Streetwatchers, and organises trips and a yearly conference. ‘Hush’ Kothari They are also encouraged to get involved in some decision making, for example, the Streetwatchers were consulted For more on Streetwatchers, over a new tree policy for the email streetwatchers@brent.gov.uk borough. or call 020 8937 5050.
JANUARY 2010
THE BRENT MAGAZINE
25