Lib Dems help save the drains in South Hampstead
Community Joins Camden Lib Dems for Major Leaf Clear-Up in South Hampstead
A community-led leaf-clearance session organised by Camden Liberal Democrats brought out the best in the community and cleared away mountains of leaves and rubbish from South Hampstead’s flood-prone streets.
Over just three and a half hours, the team filled an impressive 74 green bags with leaves and debris, while also identifying fly-tipped waste that was collected later by Veolia. Special thanks go to Emily Wong at Veolia, who provided equipment and arranged a one-off end-of-day collection to support the effort.
The session focused on Goldhurst Terrace and Fairhazel Gardens, two streets known to be particularly vulnerable to flooding. While Camden Council and Thames Water are ultimately responsible for managing flood risk, the day showed how much community action can contribute to keeping drains clear and preventing blockages.
South Hampstead Candidate Laurence Lodge said:
“It was remarkable how much we were able to clear in just a few hours. But it also showed how much work is being left undone. Residents shouldn’t have to organise large-scale clear-ups simply to keep their streets safe from flooding.”
Despite the success, the volunteers highlighted a deeper issue: routine autumn leaf clearance is falling far short of what South Hampstead needs, especially on streets that are already known flood hotspots.
The Camden Lib Dem team is calling on Camden Council and Veolia to work more closely with residents, adopt a more responsive schedule, and provide better support for individuals who are already playing their part
“Today showed the community is more than willing to get involved,” Laurence added. “But we can only go so far without the Council and its contractor stepping up too.”
The Camden Liberal Democrats will continue pushing for better flood-prevention work, more responsive street maintenance, and genuine partnership between the Council and local residents.
