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Tony Campbell: ‘Dustmen may not be aware of this rubbish’ |
‘Snoopers? We just take pride in our little patch’
Green volunteers reject claim that they spy on neighbours
ISLINGTON'S army of green volunteers angrily hit back this week at claims they could be acting as “citizen snoopers”.
A national newspaper suggested that the 1,200 Eyes of Islington volunteers, who report litter, fly-tipping, furniture dumping, graffiti and tree, road and pavement damage, could end up spying on neighbours.
It was claimed children as young as seven in Islington and elsewhere throughout the country were being recruited as volunteer “snoopers.”
Tony Campbell, a retired British Library worker and an Islington Eye for seven years, said the newspaper report gave a completely wrong impression.
Standing next to a pile of rubbish dumped near his home in Essex Road, Canonbury, he said: “I assume the dustmen will be collecting this rubbish but they may not be aware of it. My main concern is to keep my little patch of Islington clean. It’s not my job to report people in the act of doing something. I leave that to the police or council wardens.”
Volunteers like Mr Campbell deal with dumped fridges and mattresses. He reports damaged trees, broken pavements where people can trip up and holes in the road. He added: “The council haven’t got eyes all over the place. That’s why we’re called the Eyes of Islington.”
Before the organisation was launched in 2002, Mr Campbell said it could take days or weeks for the council to deal with problems. “Now we ring a dedicated phone number and the problem is usually dealt with promptly. It’s a great idea and more people should volunteer.”
Bridget Fox, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Islington South and Finsbury, launched Eyes for Islington when she chaired the council’s environment committee in 2002.
She said: “We launched the scheme with actress Sue Pollard, who became our first Eyes for Islington volunteer. It’s made an enormous difference.
“I’m also a volunteer. If I see fly-tipping or a hole in the road I phone up and report it. That’s being a good citizen and neighbour. It’s nothing to do with snooping and everything to do with having pride in where you live.”
Children are involved in the scheme through schools, said Ms Fox. “They are taught, for example, that in our throwaway society dropping litter is not socially acceptable.”
For information about Eyes for Islington call co-ordinator Fatma Mehmet on 020 7527 2334. |
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