‘Queen’s Crescent has become a barrier, a division, policed by technology and fines’

• CAMDEN Council are consulting on making permanent the closure of Queen’s Crescent as a through-route, (Camden.gov.uk/QueensCrescent until March 18).

Even though nearly 80 per cent of local people have said that they want Queen’s Crescent to be opened back up to traffic, Camden are still trying to pedestrianise it.

Residents and business are concerned, angry, and upset that Camden has cut the community in two.

People are frustrated that they can’t get around, businesses are suffering from lack of passing trade from car drivers, carers can’t get to the elderly, wheelchair-users can’t get picked up and people can’t get to hospital by taxi.

Queen’s Crescent is our local high street but, instead of being a conduit, it has become a barrier, a division, policed by technology and fines.

This is not a good feeling. The new proposed scheme still makes Queen’s Crescent a back-water and will harm the potential for growth of local business.

LTN, low traffic neighbourhoods’ are not suitable for high streets. We can’t think of any other high streets in Camden where an LTN has been imposed.

Unfortunately the council doesn’t understand the nature of Queen’s Crescent and the importance of the shopping street to local people.

In addition the traffic restrictions in Queen’s Crescent and Grafton Road have caused increased congestion and air pollution on residential roads, outside two primary schools, and in housing estates. This is a serious public health hazard.

Local people have asked Camden Council to look at an option that maintains a through-route, with an innovative design to reduce traffic speeds to 10 miles per hour and to prioritise pedestrians.

We would like to be given this choice.

NEIGHBOURS OF WEST
KENTISH TOWN