• LIKE Cllr Steve Adams, the main sponsor of the Belsize Village streatery, I was delighted that 83 per cent of residents backed it becoming permanent.

Also like Steve (in the CNJ), I was shocked to have heard from residents that Lib Dems claimed he opposed the Streatery.

Conservative councillors were the only party that voted to make the Streatery permanent, with Labour councillors split and the Lib Dems abstaining.

But it’s not just on the Streatery – the Lib Dems have form when it comes to sitting on the sidelines on local measures.

They have done nothing to stop Camden weakening planning policy to allow 1,800 flats to be built at the O2 Centre, despite it being opposed by over 95 per cent of local residents.

When Labour Camden wanted to replace all parking on Haverstock Hill with cycle lanes, 69 per cent of local residents opposed the proposal – but the Lib Dems abstained. Only Camden Conservatives sided with residents.

When Camden wanted to close King Henry’s Road and redirect all traffic into Belsize, 78 per cent of residents opposed the proposal – but the Lib Dems were silent.

Camden Conservatives fought alone for residents to be heard – and persuaded Labour-controlled Camden to drop the scheme.

When TfL closed a lane on Finchley Road and created a bottleneck, Labour backed it remaining and the Lib Dems were unconcerned. It was only Camden Conservatives’ persistence that persuaded TfL to remove the bottleneck.

On bin collections, only Camden Conservatives have committed to restore weekly bin collections.

Lib Dems propose motions on national policy on areas that they cannot influence. But when it comes to local issues, they do nothing: on the streatery, on the O2 Centre, on traffic schemes, on bin collections.

For councillors that will listen to local residents and take action to hold Labour-controlled Camden council to account, this coming May, the only choice is to vote for local Conservatives.

AARTI JOSHI
Conservative candidate for Belsize ward