The O2 Centre site 

• LAST November a CNJ editorial said: “Council seats should be at stake in battle for O2 site.”

The proposal to throw up a wall of skyscrapers at the O2 Centre is exactly the sort of thing councillors can control.

I watched aghast as Liberal Democrats and Labour lined up at the last council meeting before the local elections to vote in favour of allowing high-rise buildings across the borough’s low-rise areas.

Camden’s Conservative opposition had tabled an important motion blocking high-rises, which would have had effect immediately as a factor in decision-making and stopped the 15-storey development at the O2 Centre.

That motion was backed by a deputation from the Combined Residents’ Associations of South Hampstead, supported by several residents’ associations.

In response Labour tabled a wrecking amendment to only do anything to review the policy on high rises in 2023, after the O2 Centre and Murphy’s Yard applications are decided.

This was challenged robustly by Conservative councillors, who immediately saw it for the calculated attempt to wave through high-rises before then that it was.

But residents will be appalled that the Lib Dems voted for Labour’s amendment not to even consider protections against high-rises until after the O2 Centre is approved. Anybody that voted Lib Dem thinking they were getting opposition councillors will be severely disappointed.

Lib Dems and Labour have not listened to residents and will support the building of high-rises at the O2 Centre. They won’t urgently toughen up Camden’s planning policies.

We’re used to Labour not listening to residents on planning, but the Lib Dems also don’t challenge Labour policy and just meekly vote it through.

The CNJ was right in November. However you ordinarily vote, council seats should be decided by this single issue of whether you want the area to be filled with high-rises.

But as the meeting showed, only the Conservatives are listening to residents and challenging the plans to build high-rises at the O2 Centre and elsewhere.

AARTI JOSHI
Conservative Candidate for Belsize ward