Queen’s Crescent: ‘Something isn’t right here – and that something is the council’s approach’ 

• BUSINESSES say they will lose trade if their part of Queen’s Crescent is pedestrianised. Yet Camden Council says it is making a traffic-free area precisely to support them.

Something isn’t right here – and that something is the council’s approach. This is top-down change to the neighbourhood’s main artery forced in during a pandemic.

That’s the wrong way of going about it at the wrong time. Without warning, the council aims to impose this trial as a “traffic experiment”. That’s a serious misdescription.

Worse, the closure of Grafton Road to through-traffic, the other half of the scheme, is not openly described at all.

Yes, Queen’s Crescent needs a boost. It’s a vital hub for its surrounding communities with mainly BAME businesses, religious and community centres, a surgery, food outlets and more.

To succeed change must have these multi-layered interests at its heart. The Covid-19 pandemic would always prevent the community engagement needed for success.

But the council has used it to speed the scheme and crush debate. The online “consultation” meeting blanked the community. Apart from councillors, “participants” were invisible and muted throughout.

The council saw no one and heard from no one. How perfectly that captured their approach. I have lived in the crescent for 25 years and have admired much Camden Council has done.

Maybe that’s why I’m so taken aback. It must pause now, and confirm that no scheme will go ahead without strong local support.

CHARLIE FORMAN
Queen’s Crescent, NW5