• ONE thousand people voted adamantly against Landsec’s O2 Centre redevelopment plan by taking time to write Camden Council and object.

Last Thursday seven sheep-like councillors, who do not live in the area affected, voted in favour of it. The plan passed. This is democracy in Camden.

West End Lane, one of the prettiest and most welcoming high streets in Camden, will now be overshadowed by heartless, grey towers. Are we Beijing? The way this was decided, we may as well be.

West Hampstead could have happily housed many families at that site, families who could be serviced by the transport, water, sewerage, health, shopping, and schooling that the area has the ability to provide.

Instead seven councillors, who meekly swallowed a biased set of propaganda by Camden’s planning department, voted for Beijing.

Even when BPS Chartered Surveyors, who did a feasibility study, said they had grave doubts that Landsec’s three phases could be completed, as the plan is £200million in deficit, the councillors did not blink.

That could mean much of the public housing, public greens, and the health centre would never be built. Landsec’s response was essentially that they were building this “out of the goodness of their heart”.

In a few years we and seven Labour councillors will find out the result of this inhumane and highly reckless decision. When it is too late.

SHIRLEY SKEEL, NW6