Councillors call for Ockendon pride (From Thurrock Gazette)

Councillors call for Ockendon pride

7:00am Saturday 26th May 2012 in News

OCKENDON residents are being encouraged to take pride in their community.

At a regeneration consultation on the Flower Estate in Ockendon recently, residents were invited to write down their concerns for the area and what improvements they would like to see.

Residents reported worries about dog fouling on the estate and several said they would like to see improvements to playgrounds and park areas.

Cllr Lynn Carr, who oversaw the event, said that while it is important to hear about and act on people’s concerns, residents need to take responsibility and pride in their communities.

She said: “This is a good way of engaging people who live on the Flower Estate to see what they’re worried about and what they want to see done.”

Cllr Carr spoke of the good work done by a 54-year-old resident Steve Woollard, living in Rosemary House on the estate, who took it upon himself to do up the homes’ communal garden, making it more attractive for people in the area.

When the effort he was going to was noted, Mr Woollard was supported by the council.

He has planted flowers, tends to the grass and works to ensure that the gardens of Rosemary House look nice and are a pleasant place for residents to sit.

It is this sort of thing that Cllr Carr to see more of, saying Thurrock Council can only do so much.

She said: “I would like to see more people coming forward to do this sort of thing and take pride in they live.

“Let’s go back to a time when people took pride in where they lived because people are affected by their surroundings, but residents have got to want to help.”