The site in Caversham Road

PLANNERS should stop a big company from permanently running a new car park in Kentish Town if the council is serious about its green ambitions.

This is the warning from opponents to NCP’s proposals for a site in Caversham Road, who believe that there will be a significant jump in the number of cars passing through the street.

The parking giants need “change of use” permission because it had previously used as space for a hire firm to store its vehicles.

In a message published online by the council on its planning website, former councillor Simon Pearson said the site would be operated “significantly different”, adding that “it would encourage car use in and out of the borough which is contrary to Camden’s advertised policy of discouraging private car use”.

The council has regularly called for people not to use cars for short journeys and to walk or cycle if they can.

Another objector, Jerome de Biasi, wrote to planners: “They have very cheap prices, bookable by the hour, and therefore cheap parking means increased movement, which every time has to cross the pavements, creating a supplementary safety risk, even more so as this is an otherwise fairly quiet residential street.

“I believe the council should reject the application, as this is contrary to the objectives of net zero… Cheap car parking does the exact opposite, and incentivises trips of all lengths, short and long, as you know you have cheap parking at the other end of your journey.”

NCP said in its application that its car park was similar to the land’s old use: “Vehicles will enter and leave the site spread over the day and the site is well screened by existing wall and fencing to ensure there is not visual impact on the street scene.”