• THIS is the last chance for all local residents and users of the Swiss Cottage leisure facilities to change the disastrous Construction Management Plan proposed by Essential Living (Swiss Cottage) Ltd, developers of the monstrous 24-storey tower full of private, high-rent, flats which is soon to dominate our neighbourhood.

This plan shows that they intend to route their massive demolition and construction vehicles through the park, around the Hampstead Theatre and into the pedestrianised Market Square and then around the corner by Mora Burnett House onto Winchester Road. They plan to do this every weekday between 9.30am and 6pm, for at least three years.

Local people will not need to be told how unworkable and dangerous this idea is, you can’t even walk through the Market Square on Wednesdays, yet they propose driving massive trucks through the whole area, confirming the developer’s utter contempt for all local people!

Details of the plans can be seen at: camden.gov.uk – search for Planning Application – 2017/6638/CMP.

Please respond now, telling Essential Living and Camden Council why this is an utterly appalling and unworkable idea which cannot work without danger and massive inconvenience to all users of the Swiss Cottage complex.

And there is an alternative: with some effort all the demolition and construction traffic could gain access from the main frontage of the building in Avenue Road, where it would have much less impact on all users of and visitors to the area. And now, with the CS11 changes to the gyratory system on indefinite hold, this could be even easier.

Please spread the word. All comments must be received by January 20 at the latest.

Please send your comments today to the developers, Essential Living (Swiss Cottage) Ltd, calling themselves: theatresquare@essentialliving.uk.com and the London Borough of Camden: 100AvenueroadCMP@camden.gov.uk.

The safer alternative must be demanded.

There are five main points:

• The use of the park, Market Square and Winchester Road system must not be allowed. This would put all the thousands of users of the area in jeopardy with at least three years of noise and pollution as well as possible impacts with all the vehicles involved.

It will inevitably have a major impact on the use of the park and the operation of the markets running five days a week, most notably the Farmer’s Market, which completely fills the Market Square on Wednesdays.

It will be almost impossible to route their trucks through the narrow and highly used Winchester Road, where jams are already routine and of course the noise and pollution will impact all residents, including the house-bound elderly people in Mora Burnett House, right on the corner where their trucks will be trying to turn.

• The whole process can be handled using direct access from the whole frontage of the building on the A41 Avenue Road. They are already proposing to use this access point for some of the work, why not all of it?

• There was inadequate consultation: EL only distributed anonymous leaflets through the doors of the homes immediately impacted by the proposed vehicles when, in fact, all local residents and users of Swiss Cottage will be impacted as their vehicles clog the local side streets. Camden should be made to conduct a proper consultation, they must not let the developers get away with this inadequate process.

• The fire safety of the tower is inadequate: only one fire-safe access is proposed. After the awful Grenfell Tower disaster we know this is inadequate and Camden know that this is wrong.

• Finally, the metal-faced shed adjacent to the proposed 24-storey tower houses a gas-pressure reduction station, whose potential risk of fire and explosion is high. Is Camden prepared to allow this stupidity?

There is also a technical point which Camden must address: Sections of the proposed route through the park are subject to Land Registry covenants which forbid its use for any purpose other than as open land.

Save Swiss Cottage Action Group will be raising this matter, but feel free to add this as a further illustration of the contempt of the developer for the local community and all users of the Swiss Cottage leisure facilities.

In the years of discussion they have not made a single change to their awful buildings, or any aspect of their plans. It’s disgusting and our council must be made to protect our interests and safety.

You may be aware of other problems, please feel free to add to this list and expand on any of the points made, adding your own personal concerns.

We sincerely hope you will provide your support in this final battle, and if you can spread the word, please do so. We need to make Camden Council realise how appallingly dangerous this plan would be for all users of Swiss Cottage.

MONIKA CARO, Chair
KATHARINE BLIGH, Secretary
DAVID REED, Treasurer
Save Swiss Cottage Action Group