• AT Monday’s meeting of Camden Council residents made clear and heartfelt pleas for the Labour administration to listen more closely to the needs of children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

This was in relation to the implementation of Healthy School Streets schemes on Maygrove Road, NW6, and on Netherhall Gardens, NW3.

These types of schemes have clear benefits in terms of air quality and safety around schools. But if they are designed badly or implemented too rigidly they can be counterproductive and inflict harm on people with specific, serious needs.

The Liberal Democrats had proposed a motion for Monday’s meeting, calling on the Labour administration to take action to address the daily harm the flawed implementation of these two schemes is having on disabled children and vulnerable older residents.

Labour refused to hear the motion, preferring instead to make rambling points about the terms of reference of the pensions committee.

In over 10 years on the council I have never seen such blatant filibustering. They even voted against our suggestion to extend the meeting.

So there you have it – a Labour council that won’t find 20 minutes to discuss helping disabled children.

CLLR TOM SIMON
Liberal Democrats
Leader of the Opposition