Camden News: Demolition | Railway House | Prince of Wales Road | Dalby Street

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden News - by PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 11 December 2008

No help from Boris as demolition begins

Hopes of opponents to Dalby Street flats dashed by Mayor’s refusal to stop road changes

A DEMOLITION crew – and Mayor Boris Johnson – dealt a series of blows this week to campaigners protesting against a seven-storey block of flats overshadowing their Kentish Town park.
Wreckers moved in on Monday to beat a January deadline to commence work on a 55-flat complex planned for Dalby Street, next to Talacre Sports Centre and gardens.
A fierce delaying action had been fought for nearly three years by opponents of the scheme, who claim it is too large and threatens the park, but appeared to founder when Mayor Johnson refused to intervene and stop crucial highway changes last week.
Demolition began on the historic, derelict railway house at 52 Prince of Wales Road with weeks to spare before planning permission, gained in January 2006, expired after three years.
Campaigner Nick Harding was watching the demolition on Tuesday. He said: “The Mayor of London decided that he would not prevent the development proceeding mainly because he saw it as a borough decision.
“We have always said that the sports centre will be seriously disadvantaged by this – its present access road will have a seven-storey building built on top of it. A new narrow road without pavements will take its place.”
His group is now investigating whether all the contracts are in place, as required by law, before the demolition of a building in a conservation area.
Mayor Johnson announced his decision on Thursday that the “stopping-up” of Dalby Street could go ahead, after a public inquiry launched by his predecessor Ken Livingstone gave it the green light.
The existing Dalby Street will be built on, and a “new” Dalby Street will be built alongside Kentish Town West station.
Haverstock councillor Matt Sanders described the announcement as “a real blow for residents”.
Developer Findon Urban Lofts is the holding company for Cornwall Overseas Development, which bought the site from Trac Properties for £3.5m after planning permission was granted in 2006.
The company has seen the project go through Camden’s planning processes, two investigations and a public inquiry into the proposed road changes to Dalby Street, and the most recent approval by the Mayor.
Findon has consistently pointed out that the scheme has passed every test required of it.
The council is now expected to rubber stamp the proposal when it is put to the head of the Environment Department for approval on December 22.
In a statement, a Town Hall press official guaranteed that no access road would be built across Talacre Gardens – one of the key fears of protesters. She added: “The continued success and future of Talacre Sports Centre is a priority for the council and continues to strongly influence the handling of the planning application and road closure proposals.”

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: