• ON June 21 Camden delivered a letter to all residents of West Kentish Town Estate (WKTE), informing them that all estate parking would be cancelled with effect from July 28, giving them only until that date to remove their cars and find other parking.

The reason given for this was that it was to enable the construction of the new estate to start, as the car parks would be needed for the “welfare facilities” of the demolition and main contractors delivering Phase-1 blocks.

Yet, according to Camden’s latest plans, no block on WKTE will be demolished before 2024. Which contractor – even were one to have been appointed – leaves their property anywhere, unsupervised and doing nothing for over six months?

This means that… Beckington, now set for demolition in 2026, will see its car park empty for three years; Milverton car park will be empty for five years; Durston car park eight years; two Chelwood car parks 10 years; Langridge car park 15 years; Edington car park 18 years!

Residents have still not been formally told about these new demolition dates, but now have to join the melee for already oversubscribed local “on-street” parking spots.

Please note that there are no plans for anything beyond Phase 1, which has now had Phase 2 quietly rolled into it.

Residents were given just over a month’s notice to make alternative arrangements, which is insufficient. And no consultation of residents’ views was undertaken.

Camden claims the cost of street parking is “very comparable” to estate parking, the highest street parking charge shown as £533.51pa. Yet the comparable WKTE parking bay costs £307.84 while residents have to deal with a cost of living crisis.

Residents have tried to work collaboratively with the council in all aspects of the regeneration and cannot understand why it has not consulted or even adequately explained why it is doing this?

WEST KENTISH TOWN TENANTS’ & RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION