Groundwork began working in
New Calthorpe Estate, near Kings Cross in 2004. We started to talk
to residents about what their priorities were for improving the
open spaces around the estate. We also worked with young people
from the estate in the summer holidays to create a mural for the
playground wall. The theme they chose was the local area.
This initial consultation spurred on a group of residents to form
there own tenants association (TA). Since then, they have worked
hand in hand with Groundwork every step of the way on this project.
During consultation it soon became clear that the priority for
residents here was not simply improving the children’s play
area or gardens but community safety! We then began to look at ways
of improving safety and reducing fear of crime through making
improvements to the open spaces. The improvements that have been
made are:
These improvements were
completed in April 2006. Together, they have helped make the estate
look and feel both, cleaner, smarter and most importantly safer.
Residents have told us they feel safer particularly because mopeds
can’t speed through the estate as easily now. In March some
local residents helped put the finishing touches to the
improvements by planting up beds along Cubitt Street.
This project was funded
by London Borough of Camden, Housing Department and The Boulevard
Project.
Before After
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