• THROUGHOUT history many have warned of the dangers of a lack of political competition.

Today we see this in Camden where 43 of the 55 elected councillors are from the Labour Party.

We need a strong voice from the left to hold Camden Labour council accountable.

That’s why on Thursday September 5 I’m standing for election for Green Party councillor in the Kilburn ward.

I spent a weekend in Kilburn talking to residents of the famous Alexandra Road estate.

Residents here are frustrated as years of neglect by successive Camden Labour councils have left the building’s innovative heating system in a terrible state.

Constant mismanagement has left the heating system barely operable.

Residents have complained that in winter the heating is turned so high that they have to leave their windows open in freezing cold temperatures.

Now Camden Labour have a plan to replace the innovative heating systems of the Grade II-listed buildings with radiators.

This is despite the opposition of residents, such as architect Thomas Muirhead, who point out that these new radiators will cause damp and terrible mould on the heat-conducting wall used by the old heating system as the warm air condenses on the newly cold surface.

There is frustration as well among some Alexandra Road estate residents that Camden Labour are not passing on energy subsidies, with one resident citing a quote from British Gas that was comparable to their most recent heating bill.

As a resident of Camden I know that my fellow residents, whether they be council tenants; private renters; leaseholders or freeholders, have all had enough of the shoddy service they get from Camden Labour.

Like a big business monopoly price-gouging its customers, Camden Labour feels comfortable that its voters can’t hold it to account.

This September vote Green to keep this Camden Labour council in check.

MICHAEL GOMES VIEIRA, NW1