Volunteer work by the canal [All photos: John O’Sullivan]

TOWPATH mess has become so bad that residents got together to tidy it up themselves.

Around 50 people picked up litter, cut back shrubbery and repainted the canalside walls earlier this month, including members of the Angel Association and of tenants’ and residents’ associations from homes near the canal on New North Road estate, Cummings estate and Baring Court.

Clean-up organiser Labour councillor Dr Hannah McHugh said the high turnout showed just how many people care about the canal.

“The canal has sometimes been an overlooked part of Islington, and it really matters to people,” she said.

“It’s a very loved space. There are so many groups in the community that want to be an active part of it.

“A lot of issues in Islington are related to the housing crisis we have, so we need to make sure people who don’t have access to gardens and green space really get to enjoy public spaces.”

Councillor Dr Hannah McHugh

Cllr McHugh put together the community clean-up after hearing residents’ frustration about what they saw as the decline on the canal walkways, and after noticing an increase in graffiti and littering in public spaces since the pandemic herself.

“It’s not looked after as it should be,” she added.

Despite running through the borough, the canal is not managed by Islington Council but by the Canal & River Trust, which oversees the upkeep of waterways across the country.

“I understand there are funding constraints, but I’ve been disappointed by how much the CRT are able to commit to maintaining the public realm,” said Cllr McHugh.

“We don’t have much power as a council – there’s not much we can do other than lobby the trust to do as much as they can. It’s hard.”

The benefit of taking matters into the community’s own hands is that the CRT will work with them once they come forward, bringing cleaning equipment and taking away rubbish to support the effort.

The volunteers ready to sort out the walkways

Cllr McHugh plans to hold a similar event later this year.

But it’s unlikely to be enough to make the murky waters swimmable, even if it’s technically feasible, when compared with cities like Amsterdam.

“If Paris managed to do it with the Seine for the Olympics, maybe Islington can compete at that level,” Cllr McHugh joked.

“But I think we’re very far away from that.”

A Canal & River Trust spokesperson said: “Our Towpath Code asks visitors to the canal to take their litter home. Unfortunately, a minority don’t follow the code and risk spoiling this precious space for others. It’s always a team effort clearing up after those selfish individuals, and the local people who joined our charity’s clean-up in Islington last weekend are part of an army of hundreds of volunteers who help us keep London’s canals alive.

“We also advertise regular volunteering events on the Regent’s Canal which anyone can join. These activities are scheduled alongside weekly clean-ups by our operatives and contractors, which ensures all collected waste is removed and recycled or disposed of appropriately.”