• CAMDEN’S hostile environment for cars in Kentish Town is being ratcheted up a step further with the imminent closure of Grafton Road at the Queen’s Crescent junction and the very strongly rumoured closure of Angler’s Lane, leading to introduction of a new left turn from Prince of Wales Road into Kentish Town Road (currently illegal).

Local, and well-concealed, “consultation” by the council apparently showed overwhelming opposition to these proposals, but residents’ views have seemingly been ignored by Town Hall planners.

From Leighton to Prince of Wales roads, Kentish Town Road is narrow and severely clogged at most times of day; while the Prince of Wales Road junction would seem to need serious realignment for traffic to make a 90-degree turn into a very busy high street.

Existing chicanes at the north of Grafton Road prevent access by oversize vehicles and twice-daily flow control prevents rat-running in rush hours; while roads such as Alma Street and Willes and Inkerman roads are already some of the quietest and most traffic-free in the area.

The council’s aim of stimulating walking and cycling may be laudable but little, if any, consideration seems ever to be given to bus users.

Forcing more and more traffic onto fewer and fewer main roads defeats attempts to increase public transport use as bus journeys take longer and longer. The Tottenham Court Road debacle is a case in point.

If the aim is to redirect all traffic to Kentish Town Road, with its numerous daily supermarket and business deliveries narrowing the road even further, the impact is likely to be a major increase in frustration for bus travellers, many more idling engines, and a failure to improve air quality, reduce pollution or improve general health.

Camden Council’s road closure plans are a solution in search of a problem.

DON KELLER, N15