• THE news that Camden has been granted £1million by London’s mayor to create a low emissions environment is, on the face of it, good. But when one looks at how the borough intends to spend it, the choice seems questionable.

The council’s intention is to experimentally close, just for a few days, about 200 metres of Camden High Street north of the tube – up to the lights but south of the canal. Our millions of visitors would certainly enjoy this pedes­trianisation but what’s in it for us?

To achieve the closure there’ll be traffic backed up to Mornington Crescent, rat-running either side of the high street and jams up Kentish Town Road and in Hawley Crescent.

All buses through Camden would inevitably be delayed. The scheme would therefore surely be to the detriment of Camden’s residents and overall air quality?

Would it not be more sensible, towards the objective to benefit residents with a low emission neighbourhood, to apply £500,000 plus to a lasting experiment in an area where lots of Camden’s ratepayers live?

PAUL BRAITHWAITE
NW5