Image of what the Camden Highline could look like

• THE proposed Camden Highline appears to be a lovely idea, but the more the project’s proposals are scrutinised, the more concerned I become by the contradictions and discrepancies contained within it.

One example (and there are a number) is the question of noise levels. The business plan put forward by the project says that noise and disturbance will not exceed the baseline level but then adds: “We have not undertaken a baseline noise assessment.”

It baffles me as to how you can be certain the noise from the highline will not exceed baseline levels if you have no idea what the baseline levels are, not having measured them.

The reason given for this omission is that there is no need to measure baseline levels because noise levels will be high anyway due to the trains.

It then argues that although trains will be thundering past a few metres from the highline walkways, (one every five minutes, on average) “noise… from passing trains is not overly disruptive”.

So which is it? The highline will run behind my home and, along with residents in neighbouring streets, we’ve commissioned an independent acoustic report which indicates many of the assumptions made by the project are based on flimsy evidence and don’t bear close scrutiny.

It is vitally important a project which will cost millions and bring many more tourists to the area (while providing very little for residents) is rigorously thought through and not just accepted because it seems like a nice idea.

ALKARIM JIVANI
Ivor Street, NW1