• ROLAND Denning (Camden Gardens will never be a place of tranquillity, March 30) agrees with Patrick Uden’s statement that “the residents just don’t like change”. This is unhelpful. Do they believe that all change is good?

Mr Denning wants to know why we can’t have constructive conversations with the proponents of the highline rather than dismiss it. For that to happen the people behind the scheme would have to engage with residents.

Despite their assertions that they have spoken to residents, the developers have not had any meaningful contact at all with us. The Camden planners have also ignored our concerns.

Indeed, it was only at our request that the planning officer visited our street and he seemed surprised by the proximity of the highline to people’s homes.

The highline developers conduct “tours” but never take their visitors down Ivor Street. Perhaps because they know how close it is and prefer not to shatter the illusion of the fantasy they are trying to sell. Why else did the planning officer have no idea?

Our councillor Richard Cotton, who initially supported the highline scheme, was so concerned about the impact on the neighbourhood during the same visit, that he changed his mind and now supports the residents.

It is good to know that some people can keep an open mind on this issue and retain some much needed empathy; unlike those who seem to think that any change, no matter how ill-conceived, is progress.

MELANIE HILL
Ivor Street, NW1