Residents Of Dover Estate Invited To Hang Out Ideas For Improvement

Residents on a Dover estate are being invited to hang out their ideas for improving it on a special washing line this weekend.

The line will be strung across Khartoum Square at Old Park, Whitfield, this Saturday (March 10th) from 12noon to 3pm.

Local people will be given cardboard cut-outs of T-shirts, trousers, skirts and socks. On one side they will write down something that they like about the area and on the other something that needs improving.

The event has been organised by Town and Country Housing Group, which has 170 homes on the estate.

Town and Country's resident engagement officer, Simon Massingham, said that residents were already looking forward to the unusual event.

"We wanted to find out what local people would like improved on the estate but we didn't want to do a boring old clipboard and questionnaire survey," said Simon.

"The washing line gives people an ideal chance to air their views. Our artist in residence Jane Churchill will be there to encourage people to decorate the clothes with paint and glitter and then write their ideas on them."By hanging them on the washing line it will get people talking and spark debate about what's really important. It could be to do with landscaping or fences or anything else that would improve the look and feel of the area. The people who really know what the area needs are the people who live there."

As an added attraction, Kent Circus School will be running circus workshops from 12.30pm until 3pm.