• I WAS surprised to hear that Camden’s planning committee will consider the construction management plan for 100 Avenue Road yet again on August 16.

This 24-storey tower is not a simple piece of engineering, and the committee identified many fundamental flaws with the proposal when it voted to reject it on July 19.

As the committee noted, the lorries using Winchester Road – instead of accessing the site solely via the A41 (Finchley Road/Avenue Road) – means the death of Swiss Cottage market, incursions into the Swiss Cottage open space, harm to local businesses and residents, and much more besides.

Given it’s being heard less than a month later, and thus apparently resubmitted no more than a week after it had been rejected, how can the developer have amended these harmful plans at all?

In particular, since July 19 the acceptance of a judicial review of cycle superhighway CS11 will have changed the facts on the ground quite significantly.

This is not to mention that many councillors and potential objectors will be away on holiday in August. This will mean less scrutiny and far more likelihood of the previous decision being reversed without the fundamental rethink that is required.

This CMP does not need a sticking plaster, minor amendments, or just more supporting evidence. It needs completely revisiting. And given the short turn-around time it does not seem possible that this has taken place.

KATE FAIRHURST
Swiss Cottage Conservatives