• FURTHER to the letter from Peter McGinty (Let’s have transparency on Camley Street future, August 1), I would like to invite Camden’s cabinet member for investing in communities and an inclusive economy, Cllr Danny Beales, to use your columns to explain his position.

As a resident directly affected, and as a member of the committee of EVTRA (the Elm Village Tenants’ and Residents’ Association), I can testify to readers that everything Mr McGinty said is accurate.

We have been kept fully aware of the Camley Street Neighbour­hood Forum proposals, in detail, at all stages, as have the public who have been given the opportunity for several public consultations.

We have felt very inspired by a plan which would maintain the employment of several thousand people on, and around, the site as well as providing the real affordable and social housing which is so desperately needed if our young people are to continue to be able to live in the community.

At present I can think of various explanations which would account for Cllr Beales’ responses. Either he has not read the documentation, in which case he should not be pronouncing on the matter; or he has read the documentation but not understood it – a worrying deficit for a councillor; or for some reason, hard to imagine, he has decided to adopt Trump-like tactics to rubbish the proposals; or he has some other agenda, about which he is not being frank.

Naturally, I would welcome a response by the councillor which would demonstrate these to be the theories of a cynic, and give us hope for the future of Camden.

EDWARD LEE
NW1