• A SHORT history of the Queen’s Crescent road closures:

September 2020, formation of the Secret (GO Vision) Assembly. Thirty unknown and paid “community representa­tives” meeting in secret.

January/February 2021, mainly online “consulta­tion” on closure proposals, supposedly previously “endorsed” by the Assembly.

This “consult­ation” at the height of the pandemic. Virtual consul­tation meeting (February) on the details of the proposals. Residents not allowed to speak.

Closure notices put up at the beginning of June. Protests begin.

Two QC champions appointed to get community feedback in June, only seemingly present on one occasion since then. Public open air meetings of residents and businesses; no councillors or officers present.

July’s “un­an­nounced” visit of three senior officers who were una­ware of effects of closure on the area, including closure of foodbank.

Growing local concern as evidenced by articles and letters in the press. Notices put up by residents advising how to respond to proposals mysteriously removed. Secret meeting arranged on July 20, the most sacred day in the Islamic calendar.

Latest: Offers of “QC grants” of £2,000 to businesses and £1,000 to stallholders (actually government Covid money) as “bribes”. Many will have lost more than this through road closures in the past two months.

Contrast these two paltry sums with the around £10,000 each per year in extra allowances that council cabinet members (including those two responsible for “over­seeing” this project) voted themselves in 2019.

Perhaps they would let those of us with disabilities who are forced to pay more for taxis to medical appointments know if we will also be offered “compensation”.

Thus “bribery” joins secrecy as the tactics of the council imposing this scheme. Response from local councillors please.

MICK FARRANT,
NW5