Graffiti clean-up - Saturday 30 August
Graffiti clean-up organised by our local ward Councillor Dr Hannah McHugh, on Saturday 30 August from 10.30am
Hannah has asked if you plan to volunteer then email her at hannah.mchugh@islington.gov.uk so she can ensure sufficient supplies and equipment. Hannah says.....
As Councillor for St Mary’s and St James’, I’ve walked the canal paths more times than I can count — and like many residents, I’ve seen the creeping tide of graffiti that’s begun to scar one of our area’s most treasured public spaces.
Graffiti is not a trivial issue. When left unchecked, it becomes a symbol of neglect — and once neglect takes hold, it invites further decline. In a place like Islington, where the built environment is so tightly interwoven with our everyday lives, the condition of our streets, paths and public spaces has a real impact on how we feel about our community and each other.
I know from experience just how passionate our residents are about where they live. Whether it’s the engaged neighbours along New North Road, the vibrant network of locals in the Arlington area, or the determined residents’ associations on our estates — like those at Popham and Cumming — I’ve seen again and again how much people care. There is a deep civic pride here, rooted in community and history.
Groups like the Angel Association have done important work pushing for improvements along the canal, and myself and my fellow Councillors have raised these concerns too with the Canaland Riverside Trust. While they’ve been responsive in parts, the reality is the Trust’s limited funding only allows for removal of the worst and most offensive graffiti. That leaves the rest to accumulate — and for many of us, that’s simply not good enough.
Civic pride and visible community action matter. When we look after our neighbourhoods, it sends a clear message: this place is loved, and it is watched. Strong, collective community action can act as a powerful deterrent to further neglect. It builds social trust, strengthens ties between neighbours, and helps people feel connected to where they live. We shouldn’t underestimate the impact that a group of residents, coming together with purpose, can have on the health and spirit of a place.
Since the pandemic, we’ve all noticed a fraying of the public realm. Fewer people using public space, slower responses, tighter budgets — the cumulative effect has been felt across Islington. But that only makes it more important that we, as residents, step in where we can.
That’s why we’re organising a Community Canal Clean-Up Day on 30 August at 10.30am, meeting at the junction of Baring Street and New North Road. This is more than a tidy-up — it’s a chance to make a statement: that we care, that we’re not prepared to let things slide, and that this canal matters to us.
If you can spare some time, we’d love you to join us. Bring gloves, energy, and a sense of pride. We and the Trust will provide all the other equipment. Together, we can make a difference — and remind ourselves that our local environment reflects who we are as a community.
Cllr Dr Hannah McHugh