• THE three Labour councillors who have broken party ranks and now criticise the proposed new ward boundaries in Camden (Letters, October 25) are right: the eastern boundary of Primrose Hill ward should return to the Camden High Street.

But there is a much bigger upheaval proposed – to destroy Camden Town ward itself. Camden Town lies east of the High Street – the estate set out by Lord Camden from 1790 on the Cantelowes demesne.

Its boundary ran north beyond Jeffreys Street, turning at Rochester Road and up to the Brecknock Arms. This land, facing Camden Road, is all NW1 and not Kentish Town. The only connection is the narrow Sandall Road.

From the Islington border, the North London (now Overground) railway line is a major barrier. At the end of Agar Grove stood Cantelowes manor, where Rousden Street is now.

St Pancras Way runs southwards beside the Fleet River, whose water sick horses gratefully drank at the veterinary college, the first commercial building of Camden Town.

Crowndale Road (historically Fig Lane) has no road access to Somers Town and forms a real community separation.

While St Pancras became the parish church for Somers Town, All Saints’ and St Michael’s were built for Camden Town. The proposed ward of “St Pancras & Somers Town” should stop naturally at Crowndale Road.

Equally contentious is for five ward boundaries to meet at the crossing of Camden Road and Royal College Street.

To keep the neighbourhood shopping centre and transport links together within Cantelowes ward, the east-west ward boundary should be Regent’s Canal, bending its way under four road bridges.

The council’s 2018 submission used on its front page an old picture of the railway bridge painted as “Camden Lock”.

The commercial areas beside the canal serve many tourists but few residents. Sainsbury’s is in Camden Town. Which ward should include the lock, Hawley Wharf and the railway lands market?

In its recommendations for a new south Kentish Town ward, the Boundary Commission stated that: “As the proposals were not locally generated, we would particularly welcome comments…” The council was also requested to “bring the review to the attention of the public [and] promote the consultation online…” but this has not happened.

The present consultation is due to close on November 11. Papers and responses are found at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/greater-london/greater-london/Camden.

Would readers engage in local debate?

MARK McCARTHY,
NW1