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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 11 September 2008

Where the City of London’s road would run

Bitter opposition to new road on Heath

City unveils plan for access route alongside lido

THE City of London want to build a new road on Hampstead Heath and are facing fierce opposition to their plans.
Designs released this week by the City show plans for a new road running from the lido entrance, behind the cricket enclosure and up to their staff depot behind William Ellis School.
But residents in Lissenden Gardens, the 275-home estate which backs on to the fields, say it will encroach on the area’s natural feel and could put walkers in danger.
Lissenden Residents Association chairman St John Wright told a meeting of the Heath’s consultative committee on Monday night that the idea of a road on the Heath was bitterly opposed by people living nearby.
He said: “This is causing a lot of distress. Our homes back on to the Heath, but there was no consultation with us whatsoever.
“This is the least countrified part of the Heath, but to find a new road may be built is troubling and there are concerns about health and safety.”
The project comes as part of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to revamp the lido, the running track, demolish the bandstand cafe and new landscaping.
The City say the current access route to the yard, from Highgate Road, is also the busiest pedestrian entrance. The staff yard has around 10 deliveries a day and around 1.5 million people use the path from Highgate Road through to the bandstand each year.
Heath chief Simon Lee told the meeting the road would mean less traffic.
Mr Lee said: “While we want a segregated drive into the staff yard, we want to downgrade it as a major depot and move up to Kenwood.”
He added other options had been considered, included moving the depot to tennis courts opposite the William Ellis School playground.
After hearing the concerns of people living in Lissenden Gardens, Mr Lee promised to meet them to discuss the matter further.

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