Oppose the boundary change proposal to separate Primrose Hill from Camden Town
Friday, 25th October 2019
• THE Local Government Boundary Commission is recommending changes to Camden ward boundaries in order to deal with the fact that significant population growth in the King’s Cross area means that the St Pancras & Somers Town ward is significantly oversized and that has knock-on effects to every other ward.
However the proposal to separate Primrose Hill from Camden Town and move it into a proposed new ward called Adelaide & Primrose Hill, stretching to the north and west across to Swiss Cottage makes no sense at all.
From 1900 to 1965 Primrose Hill was part of Ward 4 of the Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras which linked it to Camden Town west of the High Street and Chalk Farm Road.
From 1965-2002 it was part of the Chalk Farm ward of Camden which also included parts of Camden Town (west of the high street and Chalk Farm Road).
The current ward boundaries were established in 2002 so Primrose Hill has now been linked electorally with parts of Camden Town since 1900.
Going back even further, Primrose Hill and Camden Town were both parts of the parish of St Pancras served by the St Pancras Vestry on which George Bernard Shaw was a vestryman. The Regent’s Canal has linked Primrose Hill with Camden Town since 1820.
The only public transport link (the 274 bus) links Primrose Hill with Camden Town and that is where most of the inhabitants of Primrose Hill do their main weekly shop.
Primrose Hill residents use the entertainment and cultural facilities of Camden Town including the Jewish Museum, cinemas and a plethora of music venues.
Many Camden Town school students attend Primrose Hill School and many Primrose Hill School students attend schools in Camden Town notably the Cavendish School and local church schools.
Primrose Hill’s road transport links are also with Camden Town, notably Prince Albert Road, Regent’s Park Road and Gloucester Avenue and the two communities are bound together in opposition to the environmental damage caused by HS2.
Many local residents have objected to these proposals and you can join them by emailing to: reviews@lgbce.org.uk or by post to: Review Officer (Camden), The Local Government Boundary Commission, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50, Victoria Street, SW1H 0TL.
CLLR RICHARD COTTON
CLLR PAT CALLAGHAN
CLLR LAZZARO PIETRAGNOLI
Labour, Camden Town with Primrose Hill ward
