• AFTER several years of deliberation, Camden finally published its proposals for the Dartmouth Park Area Healthy Neighbourhood scheme in July, following delays caused by the pre-election periods from the London Mayoral and then general election.

The plans themselves are complex. They cover a very large area across two London boroughs and involve so many different types of interventions – making some roads one way, introducing various physical and camera-enforced road blocks, and restricting entry and access into other roads.

Many residents have told me that they find the maps confusing, while others have raised concern that the two community consultation meetings held last week were “heavily managed” and did not allow for broad discussion of the plans.

Many had also requested to attend, but capacity was limited and they were turned away.

I want to be clear, the idea of healthy streets is a positive one – they are safer, more attractive, and better for our air quality.

Yet, it’s imperative for our community that Camden gets these plans right. And as part of this, I believe it must take the time to listen to residents and run an open and transparent consultation process.

This is why I am backing calls from the Highgate Society, the Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum and eight other community and resident groups to extend the consultation period to the end of September as the current period coincides with the summer holidays.

My formal request to Camden to extend the consultation period was sadly declined a couple of weeks ago, but I hope that now the strength of the community demand for an extension encourages Camden to listen.

LORNA JANE RUSSELL
Green Party councillor, Highgate