Marx de Morais with Calvin Nic and Valeriy after the big clean-up 

• GROWING up in the socialist nightmare East Germany, with a command economy that can hardly be called a developing country, I am used to many things.

With these memories in mind, Camden nevertheless manages to surprise me every now and then.

When I was just visiting a friend in Harben Road Estate, Swiss Cottage, I had one such moment of bad memories.

Security gates were malfunctioning or not working at all, immensely endangering residents’ safety. Behind the estates, drug deals take place quite publicly.

Neglected by Camden, residents planted rose bushes along the fence which successfully prevented addicts and dealers from jumping over, Camden would not accept residents taking matters into their own hands and chopped them down.

Now the gangsters can escape over the fences again into backyards where not a single street light works.

Where is the value for money for the tenants and leaseholders of these apartment complexes who pay excessive service and maintenance fees?

The entire ensemble has fallen into disrepair and fly-tipping has turned parts of the site into a dumping ground.

I didn’t want to just end up complaining, so I decided what I learnt early in life – never trust a one-party state to work things out in your favour – take matters into your own hands.

So I teamed up with a few people and spent an afternoon cleaning up the area, doing the council’s job.

MARX DE MORAIS
Conservative Candidate for South Hampstead ward