• THE October 31 report (Ssssh! TfL are against bus stand move) on the freedom of information from Transport for London regarding the South End Green “streatery” plans tells us all we need to know about Camden’s proposals.

The information details a scheme that is flawed to the extent that TfL refuses to support it.

As well as contacting TfL I also requested FOI details from the council (which stakeholders did Camden contact or consult in 2024 re amendments to the scheme?) and was told “the council did not consult in 2024”.

But they did contact TfL and failed to reveal this fact.

This is a serious failure of planning and democracy and reinforces my feeling that Camden developed a poor scheme with fundamental failings from inception (of which Camden was made aware by TfL as early as February 2023).

In essence it wasted more than a year, during which time, with TfL’s initial concerns in mind, a practical, credible scheme could have been developed for proper consultation. That TfL had to chase Camden for progress some 16 months after initial consultation and shortly before the decision speaks volumes.

Rather than address the failings of a flawed scheme Camden chose, at the last minute, to develop ad hoc plans with Fleet Road cynically nominated as the stand for three 24 buses without this being part of the broader consultation.

So with no consultation and a scheme roundly rejected by TfL (of which Cllr Adam Harrison or his officials must have been aware as they signed off their grand design) this does not look good.

Despite the controversy Cllr Harrison has been clear he wants the streatery element to go ahead “rather than throw out the whole scheme,” it appears, at whatever cost to residents and businesses.

He cites the accommodation of future electric buses as the reason the buses need to move, the current stand being inadequate.

Yet TfL’s own “bus standards” require vehicles shorter than the 24s in service at the moment.

The next generation electric buses coming into service are both shorter and with a smaller turning circle. This appears to undermine the rationale for turning Fleet Road into a bus station.

As Cllr Harrison says, the streatery would “benefit the many visitors, patients and workers at the Royal Free”; for a few warm months of the year, perhaps, but in my view Camden has chosen to exclude residents from a decision that impacts my and my neighbour’s quality of life and amenity based on an inadequate and costly consultation.

The standard response from Camden is that the Fleet Road bus stand will be subject to an “experimental” traffic order, but given implementation of the streatery at great cost, what is the realistic likelihood of this being revoked once in place?

The only sustainable approach is for Camden to maintain the status quo and present all stakeholders with a credible scheme in order that the voices of those impacted can be considered with integrity and honesty.

SIMON FAIRBURN, NW3