The renovation of Pig's Field park is a testimony to the community spirit of people in Pembroke East, according to area MP Walter Roban.

Playground equipment and a walking track were added to the park in Bandroom Lane last year as part of the Ministry of the Environment's community areas programme.

It followed campaigning and fund-raising by the North Village Trust Executive, partly led by local resident and civil service head Kenneth Dill, which was concerned about the condition of the spot in the heart of Constituency 15.

Mr. Roban said that while Pembroke East has had its problems — with one high-profile local shooting and several others nearby — the spirit fostered over many decades in one of Bermuda's oldest communities remains intact.

"This is a project of pride for the citizens in the area," Mr. Roban told The Royal Gazette.

"Literally all the neighbourhood came and set up the foundation to this. That is synonymous with what this neighbourhood is about.

"It has a strong identity, a long history. That's what I'm inspired by. These people are North Shore people — they take pride in being North Shore people."

One mother visiting the park with two young children said: "I like this, it's better than it used to be. It gives them somewhere to play not far from where they live, and it's better than keeping them indoors."

Other issues mentioned when Up Your Street visited Pembroke East included the need for better road surfaces, paving and lighting, particularly in the Glebe Road area.

Kenneth Dyer, a Palmetto Road resident, invited this newspaper into his home, which has fallen into major disrepair with crumbling walls and the roof held together by 'sheet glass' not much stronger than thick cardboard.

Mr. Dyer, a painter who works on the Hustle Truck, said his home highlighted the difference between Bermuda's rich and poor.

"I'm living in not liveable conditions. The house is falling down," he said. "I'm tired of this. I don't even like Bermuda any more. My brother got fed up and went to live in Germany."

He said he did not know where to turn for help because he had been refused a loan at the bank; Mr. Roban has said he will find out how he can assist.

* Next week's Up Your Street visits Southampton West Central.

Residents of that constituency who want to talk about local issues should e-mail tsmith@royalgazette.bm.