Women turn crime and litter hotspot into 'Narnia'

A fly-tipping hotspot has been turned into a vibrant street project by volunteers.

Tower Street, in Woodston, in Peterborough, was blighted by street drinking and dumped litter, according to volunteers Pippa Phillips, Mo Redmond and Erica Bergin.

Their creations, for the Tower Street Project, include murals, a bug hotel made from a discarded cabinet, plant pots from fly-tipped toilet suits, and 'Gnomeland' with 35 gnomes.

"It had a lot of problems. But now it's like walking into Narnia, it is completely different. Bit bonkers but amazing," Phillips said.

Former Labour councillor for Woodston and Fletton, Alan Dowson, who started the project three years ago, passed away earlier this year.

Phillips, who has lived on the street for 40 years, worked with him on the project.

"We were fed up with the fly-tipping and the rubbish and there were little dark areas where drugs were going on. I saw the area go down over time," she said.

She said nearly everything used has been re-purposed from rubbish dumped on the road - including cans, car tyres and bricks.

"One of our really quirky ones is a fireplace that we found. We have turned old bricks into books," she said.

Redmond, a retired railway ticket inspector who has lived in the area for 12 years, said: "I'm sure people think we are a bit loopy, but the kids love it and it puts a smile on people's faces.

"In the world the way it is at the moment, people need a reason to smile."

Tower Street has alleyways, which are often used as cut-throughs. But Redmond said people avoided walking through them until a few years ago, due to issues with "discarded needles and even human and dog poo".

"The street just looks bigger, brighter and safer for people to walk through - especially as we have a school up the road, you want the children to be safe," she added.

The street's transformation has been attracting visitors from Peterborough and beyond.

"I think people have taken a lot from it and some people just come to have a look and admire it," Phillips said.

"It's just such a cheerful, happy place to live."

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