The 02 Centre site in Finchley Road 

• A KEY issue is the way Camden Council has been structured, with departments independently responsible for their own activities with little or no oversight until the final stages.

As a result, by the time councillors become aware of even the basic details, it can be too late to change things because the plans have been worked on and developed – often for years.

This is what happened with 100 Avenue Road and is now happening at the O2 Centre, Murphy’s Yard and sundry other sites in the borough.

In all these cases, planning officers have had close contact and numerous meetings with developers and discussed their plans in detail, deliberately helping them accommodate the borough’s requirements, while residents’ concerns are largely ignored.

Officers have created what they call “development management forums”, where residents can find out about and comment on proposals as they come forward.

This, they say, is for large developments and allows developers to present their proposals to residents, businesses and organisations. Surely residents should have the biggest say on what happens in their neighbourhoods.

But, as the official guidance says, this “does not replace our formal consultation process on applications”. Residents have no power, all they can do is ask!

I’d replace this “developer-friendly” strategy with a requirement for all applications for development to be presented to elected representatives before any formal process starts.

Then councillors should engage in real consultation with residents and not just be lackeys for the planning department.

DAVID REED, NW3