We are developing an action plan to improve our local area.
Tania:
At the end of January, Sue and Ieuan from the Urban Studies Centre came
into school to meet with us. Together we went on a short walk along the
streets and roads close to our school. We were looking for things which
we thought were good, or bad or ugly. We recorded our observations and
we also took photographs. Back in class we talked about our feelings and
thoughts. There were a number of issues but the top three concerns were,
graffiti, dog fouling of pavements and dumped rubbish, particularly in
people’s gardens or behind fences. To end this first session we created
posters highlighting and illustrating all our concerns.
Jess: By our second session, a week later, we had decided what we wanted
to try and do. We wanted to do something about improving these ugly places
in our locality. But what could we do? During our second session with
Ieuan, we were introduced to HFM, your magazine from Hammersmith and Fulham.
We looked at and discussed several articles and discovered that the Hammersmith
and Fulham Council are targeting several of our key issues in a big way.
We needed to find out the views and opinions of others. We began to draft
questions for a questionnaire. We decided to ask parents of the pupils
in the school and our own families at home. We gathered a lot of information
which confirmed that our concerns were also shared by the majority of
the people we surveyed. From our questions two main facts appeared.
Tania:
One, was that very few of the parents asked, received the HFM, and so
they were not aware of the council’s campaign and efforts. The other
was that very few people, only 5% of those surveyed were aware of the
smarter borough campaign and the hotline number for reporting things like
graffiti, dog fouling, and rubbish dumping. We have made this number known
to everyone surveyed. People were pleased to hear about this smarter borough
campaign, and everything the council is trying to do.
Jess: For our third session we went to the Urban Studies Centre where
we met a number of people including representatives from the parks constabulary,
a local councillor, and people from the council’s direct services
and environment section and a waste development officer. During our session
they told us about their jobs and plans and we asked these people a number
of questions. Councillor Gerald Johnson said we can help by involving
families in our plan. David Newman, the waste development officer, told
us that the council have a graffiti busting team, which uses high pressured
hoses which can target graffiti quickly. We really enjoyed talking and
discussing a number of issues. We came away with lots of ideas and enthusiasm.
Tania:
We are currently developing our action plan including success criteria.
For example we have distributed the hotline number to the parent surveyed.
We have also made contact with a local resident association. Their chair
has agreed to put up some of our posters on their notice board. Incidentally,
she has only seen one of five recent issues of HFM. We also have posters
in a local shop and hopefully will soon have more displayed.
Jess: We also want to liase with local business and offices as we have
become aware that many people who work in the borough are not residents.
We do have posters in a nearby office. This too is part of our action
plan.
Tania:
We found out that the police are also targeting graffiti. Hundreds of
photographs have been taken and a database is being created. We think
this too is another way to support the council’s campaign. Only last
week, an article in the Evening Standard highlighted these very issues.
People in London are sick and tired of graffiti and litter. Something
has to be done! So let’s be smart together. Let’s not only make
Hammersmith and Fulham a smarter borough, but the smartest! Are you smart
enough to take part? We would like to think we are. We also think those
who have helped and supported us are too! By working together we can make
a difference and make our borough a much nicer and better place to live
and learn.
Jess: On behalf of year 6 we would like to thank all those who have helped
and advised our class, especially Sue and Ieuan. We have really appreciated
everyone’s time, interest and encouragement.
Thank
you, and don’t forget that hotline number: 020 8753 1100
Researching the quality of our local environment
and
discussing it with David Newman, H&F Waste Development Officer and
a representative from Wastewatch
