Haverstock Hill

• WHILE I support cycling for those who can, I am very concerned about the loss of disabled parking places on Haverstock Hill under the proposals for putting in cycling lanes.

This is a well-used shopping and café area for local people as well as those Camden residents living further away.

Pedestrians, including those who travel by bus and tube to the busy area opposite Belsize Park tube, are the largest group of customers of the shops and cafés; followed by car drivers, many of whom are elderly and or disabled.

And lastly cyclists. The steep hill, does, however, prevent anyone, except proficient adult cyclists from cycling here.

The proposal to remove virtually all disabled (and paid) parking and put more cars into already overcrowded side streets is not going to solve the problem of being able to park outside a shop when you can only walk a few steps.

The proposal to move parking spaces into the side streets will not solve the need for parking in the main road.

The side streets are already full, mainly with residents’ cars, and not close enough to the shops including Boots and Budgens, which has a much-used post office.

The council paper states that cars can park or drop off in side roads. It appears not to be understood that if someone is unable to walk more than a few steps, they need to park close to a shop.

Most elderly and disabled drivers drive themselves so are not able to be dropped off and collected!

While welcoming the addition of extra crossing places, moving of bus stops into the carriageway, as suggested, looks dangerous for pedestrians. Cycling lanes, it is proposed, will be put on both sides of Haverstock Hill.

While a number of people are concerned about the loss of customers for shops and cafés on Haverstock Hill, many of us are worried about the loss of use of local amenities by disabled people.

One suggestion is that the cycling lanes could be put just on one side (the Belsize Park station side where there are few shops).

Please help to get this scheme looked at again so that all disabled parking is kept in use on the main road.

CARLIE NEWMAN, NW3