PROPERTY owners in the vicinity of the Bedford Hospital got together on Saturday morning with borrowed brush-cutters to mow long grass on the verges and rake the gutters.
It was a hot, sunny day, very conducive to stoep-sitting, but the team slaved away with the sweat dripping out from under their sun hats.
One of the instigators of the work-party, Jan Alberts, said, “Our ratepayers’ association is constantly lobbying the council to fulfil their obligation to keep our streets clean.
“But in the meanwhile we decided to roll up our sleeves and get going ourselves.”
Inspired by their example, Luxolo Tyali and Buhle Siyo, who work at the hospital and live as tenants in a hospital house, got going as well – supported by a friend, Nicholas Theu, from down the road.
Tyali said, “We saw these people cleaning up so we thought: We are off-duty, let’s lend a hand. I have often complained and tried reporting the state of affairs around here, but I got nowhere. Now by joining forces with neighbours, I can see some action is possible.”
They all knocked off at lunch time and enjoyed a chat and well-earned wors rolls.
Alberts said, “A big bonus of the day was getting to know neighbours we had never met before. We are definitely going to strengthen our bonds of friendship and work together to improve this corner of town.”
The team has issued a challenge to the rest of Bedford to keep their part of town clean and neat.
Thanks to good rains and the autumn growing season, the grass on Bedford’s verges has grown so vigorously that even the cows that wander about (illegally) have not managed to keep it down.
