Cartoon by John Sadler

• YOUR Comment column and news story about the dire threat to Somers Town resulting from the imminent closure of Eversholt Street demonstrate exactly why our fine local newspaper is so important to Camden’s community, (Now HS2 wants to close Eversholt Street for six months, March 7).

Despite my very active participation in HS2 community meetings for the past seven years I only learnt of the proposed total closure of Eversholt Street at the Euston Community Representatives Group meeting on Wednesday March 6 and I was horrified.

But the New Journal was ahead of me and the next day you accurately reported the Somers Town ramifications of shutting that main artery for six months and you published Cllr Roger Robinson’s well-founded demand that this closure should be stopped.

Without your coverage Camden’s residents outside of Somers Town would have remained oblivious to the massive disruptive affects until they’d started – just like the closure of Gloucester Gate, Regent’s Park, on January 4.

Two months ago we witnessed what chaos ensued from the closure of Hampstead Road for just three days, resulting from a burst water main at Drummond Street.

For the past three weeks we’ve observed the tailbacks on Midland Road since the closure of Judd Street. The prospective delays to bus routes 253 and 168, if they were to be rerouted onto that road south­bound, would be dire.

The New Journal rightly focused on the disenfranchisement of disabled and older residents but also in Somers Town we have 1,600-plus secondary school students at the new Marie Fidelis campus and Regent High alone, plus many more at primary schools. They need to be able to get to school (and their exams) reliably.

Camden’s councillors do have the prerogative and must refuse this proposed road closure. It was not authorised in the HS2 enabling bill. In Albany Street we’ve had a parallel example of massive utility works that have proceeded without any closure.

Given that HS2 doesn’t even have a station design for Euston, protracting their utility works should be their problem not the community’s.

HS2 is already causing Camden too much havoc on our streets. Long may the New Journal continue in your vital role. Thank you.

PAUL BRAITHWAITE
Bartholomew Villas, NW5