Samba dancing at the event organised by the Lib Dem councillor Linda Chung

A BLAST of clean air – or a gridlocked pollution nightmare?

Councillors were on collision course this week over an event in Hampstead which saw the High Street, Heath Street, Church Row and Downshire Hill car-free.

Organised by Liberal Democrat Linda Chung, it was aimed at promoting both clean air and extra shopping for local businesses, with performances in the streets.

But rival Tories say she signed it off without even asking them – even though they also represent Hampstead on the council – and the closures led to jams all around the car-free areas.

Councillor Steve Adams, leader of Camden’s Conservative group, was fuming at not being consulted and said: “Hampstead was brought to a complete standstill by Cllr Chung. Keeping it hidden from other councillors just because they’re Conservative is a clear abuse of office.

“Far from delivering cleaner air, this stunt made pollution considerably worse for local residents. I’m not sure why we weren’t told. High-handedness? Rudeness? Disdain? More and more the Lib Dems seem to be cornering the market for madcap stunts and this to me was a madcap stunt.”

Residents in Church Row had to move their cars for the event with traffic diversions being routed through Arkwright Road and Fitzjohn’s Avenue.

“Car-free day my backside,” said Cllr Adams, adding: “It was ‘car stick them somewhere else for a day’.”

Traffic around Hampstead on Sunday

But Cllr Chung defended the event which saw hundreds of people turn out to celebrate World Car Free Day.

It was opened by Camden’s environment chief, Labour councillor Adam Harrison, and featured stalls, and a samba parade.

Cllr Chung said: “Car-free day was excellent – but it is a first-time thing so it should get bigger and better and we need more time for people to understand what World Car Free Day is about. Having Hampstead car free – people loved it. All the local residents’ groups had postal deliveries about the event, but the Tories were not happy about it.

“We must celebrate World Car Free Day. I think the Tory councillors and their supporters don’t like the idea of streets being car free. They think the world revolves around one certain industry and that sadly is the fossil fuel industry. We have to wean ourselves of that and think of our children and all generations.”

The Hampstead Town ward is a split territory and will be a battleground at next May’s council elections.

Conservative ward councillor Stephen Stark said: “Measures to improve air quality are vitally important but if you look at that congestion, that does nothing for air quality. Pollution occurs more when cars are in traffic jams than when cars are free flowing. The question in all of this was what was the process with Camden because I believe there are fees to be paid and forms to be filled out and I’m not sure if that was done at all.

“There are many questions and these questions should have been dealt with in consultation with the other elected councillors.”

The council confirmed they had received an application and had granted the road closure.

Cllr Chung acknowledged that there was some congestion on the roads but that this was the first time this event had been run and that public transport was still in operation.