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| NEWS | BY JANE WRIGHT |
 Roadworks at the junction of Delancey Street and Parkway |
The criticism was sparked after work began six weeks ago on installing speed tables, improving junctions and upgrading pavements in Camden Town streets including Parkway, Delancey Street, Albert Street and Arlington Road. Three Town Hall projects have coincided to ensure they are completed by the end of March, thus meeting a deadline for spending Transport for London grants and other cash. Delancey Street resident Melanie Cracavelli described the disruption as “absolutely appalling”. Another resident, Sarah Haydon, of Arlington Road, said she had complained to council leader Councillor Dame Jane Roberts after streets were “reduced to chaos because the Town Hall is not controlling the works”. Mrs Haydon said she had been forced into long detours to get home and was constantly getting stuck in traffic. She added: “It’s stupidity to dig up a junction on Friday afternoon, then just leave it all weekend. As usual, no consideration is paid to council tax payers.” Catherine Colley, of Delancey Street Residents’ Association, said that the queues of stationary traffic meant residents were constantly subjected to noise, traffic fumes and passengers on double-decker buses looking into their homes. “The way the roadworks are dealt with has created new problems because the decisions are taken by people who don’t live in the area or suffer the disruption or understand how the roads work,” she added. After a meeting with councillors on Thursday, she added: “A forum could be set up for residents’ representatives from each street or area to be consulted, to avoid this hassle and chaos.” An example of the kind of problem it could tackle was traffic queuing at the spot where small children crossed the road outside Cavendish School in Arlington Road. Sequences of traffic lights need adjusting, she said. Deputy council leader Councillor Theo Blackwell, who attended Thursday’s meeting, said: “Some residents have complained about the roadworks. Installing speed tables will take longer than speed humps, but that’s what residents wanted. “The Town Hall is looking into contractors closing roads on a Friday afternoon. “I’ve also followed up humps being left unmarked on dark streets, because the marking is done by a different contractor. But these works are bound to cause some disruption.” A council press official added: “Roads are dug up on a Friday afternoon to ensure our contractors keep to a tight schedule. We do continue work on Saturday, but don’t want to disturb residents on a Sunday. “A Camden-employed engineer is on site full time for residents to consult in case of problems.” The Town Hall scheme to create a 20mph speed zone with road humps in the Parkway-Delancey Street area caused a storm of protest from residents last summer, which delayed the start of work. A second outcry postponed changes currently being implemented at the junction of Parkway and Prince Albert Road. At the same time, pavements are being widened under the Boulevard street improvement scheme. |
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