Hoardings feature the words of people living in the area

Three, eye-catching and vibrant hoardings featuring the words of people living on the South Kilburn Estate have been unveiled.

The artwork is the culmination of months of hard work between poets from the Poetry School, who transformed the words of residents into a number of poems which were re-interpreted into three striking designs by artist Andy Edwards.

The end product of the South Kilburn Speaks project can now be seen in Albert Road, Peel Precinct and the roundabout at Carlton Vale covering the site where new homes will be built.

The arty hoardings were unveiled last week by the mayor of Brent, Cllr Aslam Choudry and South Kilburn resident, Merle Barriteau who will have one of the new buildings named after her.

Watching the mayor cut the ribbon were pupils from Queens Park Community School and Kilburn Park Primary School.

Andy Donald, Brent’s director of regeneration, said: “These hoardings are a really attractive addition to the street scene and it’s wonderful that each of the designs incorporate the words and feelings of the local community who have been such an enthusiastic and engaged part of the process to re-invigorate and re-develop South Kilburn for generations to come.”

Poets Niall O’Sullivan, Aoife Mannix and Simon Mole have been working on the project since January and have also held a number of writing workshops for people living in South Kilburn.

Councillor George Crane, lead member for regeneration and major projects, said: “Congratulations to all those involved in the South Kilburn Speaks projects for managing to create such interesting and vibrant street art that really captures the spirit of South Kilburn and its diverse community.”