Camden Town could be turned into a bland, domestic looking high street if London Transport Property Ltd. get their way. It’s true Camden Town station needs sorting out, but they want to get compulsory purchase powers, knock down an entire block and put up something like the shopping center at Hammersmith station. This would mean loosing two of Camden’s six markets, the Electric Ballroom, a church and community center and numerous small businesses - along with Camden’s character and flavor.

Pretty soon, London is going to look the same all over. If we’re going to have a vibrant city with any character, then this plan should be opposed and stopped. This is a tiny enclave of high creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, where people have the opportunity to make and sell their own ideas because the rents are low and there is no bureaucracy. We should at least keep some of these areas.

There is a dedicated web site at www.camdenlock.co.uk and we have managed to hold our own. But we need as many people as possible to email those on our web site and give their views. Even better still, to put themselves on our email list, so we can mail them letters to send at the right time. Email  ctstation@camdenlock.co.uk

Camden Council has raised objections and The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone has told them to change the design, but LU are still going for compulsory purchase powers. By saying it is a transport issue, they may be able to get them under The Transport Act. But it is a commercial venture and they are not denying this. They just say they need the money. In our view, they’re being greedy. Camden is the opposite of Corporate and like others who are moving in, pushing the rents up and forcing out the small businesses that make Camden Town what it is, (Virgin Megastore please note,) anyone who wants to change it is just not welcome.

Please check out the web site at www.camdenlock.co.uk and lend us your support. You can email us to join the mailing list at  ctstation@camdenlock.co.uk Have fun and we’ll see you there some time.