Objectors to Segro’s plans to open a delivery depot in Spring Place, Kentish Town

• THANKS for highlighting the plans for huge distribution company Segro to open a “last-mile” delivery depot in Spring Place, Kentish Town, (Neighbours fear new distribution centre will clog up Kentish Town backstreets, January 21).

When we first spoke to Segro we were astonished that anyone could think that Spring Place is a suitable site for a depot, with large delivery vehicles (HGVs) bringing in goods and a mix of smaller vehicles taking them out.

The planning application seeks permission for this to be happening 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

At the time of our virtual meeting with Segro we were not made aware of their route planning. Now we have seen the plans we find it hard to believe that the company have done any proper research on the area.

The main inward routes would involve HGVs coming along Queen’s Crescent. Not only is the street closed for the market two days a week, but the council have recently been awarded a substantial sum to improve the area, to support market life, and create a healthy street.

Another part of the route is Grafton Road, which is already a main cycle route and where there are plans to upgrade this.

Holmes Road is another major part of the route plans and, as anyone who uses it knows, it is already heavily congested with frequent incidents of road rage and considerable danger to children attending the two schools along its route.

The developer has emphasised that the traffic will be no more than we had when Addison Lee used these premises.

We have seen no convincing evidence of this and would also point out that taxis are very different from HGVs and the kind of delivery vans used by the likes of Ocado and DPD (two of Segro’s existing clients).

And the world has moved on. When Addison Lee moved out four years ago, we were all much less aware of environmental issues, and there was little talk of prioritising pedestrians and cyclists over cars and lorries.

It is also unclear what real control there would be over traffic flow. Whatever Segro promises it will be whoever rents the property from them, not Segro, who run the site.

We very much hope that Camden’s planning officers are fully aware of the shifted focus of their own council, and are in close contact with the traffic officers who are working hard to make our residential areas and streets near schools and community facilities safe and healthy.

We are already aware that many people (including schools, cycling campaigns and other organisations) have written or are writing to raise their concerns about this application and we hope others will do the same (Camden planning applications, 3-6 Spring Place will find the details).

We recognise that many people benefit from home deliveries, especially in these difficult times, but with a major industrial centre just up the road in Regis Road, why choose a site like this?

DEBBY HYAMS
Chair, Inkerman Area Residents’ Association