Deliveroo can and will continue to operate while they are allowed to make a further appeal

• I WAS a spectator at the planning committee meeting which was set to decide on the right for Deliveroo (which operates in the gig economy) to continue its business on Finchley Road, (Deliveroo ordered to pack up and leave Swiss Cottage, April 8).

I heard detailed, rational, and fully comprehensive, evidence presented to the council by residents showing the issues and problems that Deliveroo brought not only to local people but also to the danger in which it placed its employees crossing four-laned traffic on a busy highway.

I was therefore astonished by the dogged determination of the planning solutions manager to bludgeon his, and clearly the council’s, desire to support Deliveroo’s business in spite of this extensive evidence against it.

The chair, Cllr Heather Johnson, gave the officer “the floor” while he sought to circle around and around, digging deeper and deeper into the irrational, and so extending the meeting to an unnecessary length of time.

His arguments for Deliveroo remaining were further bolstered by a planning officer who again, repeatedly, put forward often incomprehensible reasons for Deliveroo to remain. For example, if they can’t do it here they may end up in a worse venue!

Fortunately all but two, with one abstention, of the planning committee councillors were able to remain awake long enough under this bombardment to support the residents with their indisputable evidence, and so refused Deliveroo their right to continue in their Finchley Road venue.

We residents send our thanks to the councillors for their support. Sadly this will have no effect on Deliveroo who can and will continue to operate while they are allowed to make a further appeal. So much for democracy in Camden.

E CHAMBERS, NW3