• CAMDEN Council are proposing to sell off two small green spaces in Gospel Oak for development.

These sites are on the Barrington Court estate, adjoining Grafton Road, the so-called “Three Sisters” sites for which Camden developed plans in 2104.

Thankfully the council have realised the stupidity of trying to sell a site with a mature beech tree on it.

However the other two sites also have mature trees and should be kept as green amenity spaces.

They contribute hugely to the pleasant green character of Grafton Road, which benefits everyone who lives in Gospel Oak.

When Camden submitted the planning application for the development of the Three Sisters sites in 2014 there were 50 objections and only two responses in support (one of which was from then councillor Theo Blackwell).

Many objectors called it a “tragedy”, “disgrace”, “vandalism” and a “terrible shame” that Camden should consider blighting the area in this way.

As local architect Dean La Tourelle said at the time: “The small spaces for trees and gardens at the end of each terrace are an integral part of Powell and Moya’s design and contributes very positively to Lamble Street’s and Grafton Road’s character.

“Losing those spaces would impoverish our local streets and places.”

Another objector said: “Powell and Moya were one of the most important British architectural partnerships of the post-war period.

“Their Barrington Court Estate epitomises society’s mid-20th century vision of the future, heralding in a new cultural and architectural era.

“Barrington Court was at the forefront of the ‘humane modernism’ approach to urban building.”

The 20th Century Society, a charity dedicated to protecting modern buildings of merit, objected in principle to the proposal.

We need new affordable homes but these sites are not strategic, and would yield very little capital through sale.

It is probably embarrassing to the council that they have already wasted so much time and public money to date, but it would be better and more responsible of them to listen to the voices of residents and concentrate instead on developing sites such as the previous Bacton Low-Rise estate.

If they do not have the financial resources to do so, they should consider breaking up this large parcel of land into a number of sites which can be developed by others to meet the housing needs of local people or handing it over to a community land trust.

SUE SHEPHERD
Savernake Road, NW3