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Imprisoned in Camden

N | 13.05.2005 08:54

I walked out of my flat on the Ferdinand Estate in Camden, north London on Wednesday this week only to encounter a newly erected gate and fence in my way. I wouldn’t mind if this was a one-off, but this is the sixth time in the past year and eighth time in total this has happened. From being an estate with plenty of access, we are being increasingly closed off. I shall not be altogether surprised if one morning I find I cannot leave home at all!



The Ferdinand Estate is managed by the Chalk Farm Housing Group. I have been told that the gates were voted on at an AGM and ‘everyone agreed they want them’. The AGMs are not well publicised and I am sure that there was no indication on any notice prior to the last one or the one before that, that such an important decision was to be taken. If I’d thought there would, I would have attended.

Furthermore, I don’t know any of the ‘everyone’ who wants this to happen, as all the people I have spoken to considers it to be a complete nuisance to residents. What exactly it is supposed to protect us against is also a mystery as during the eight years I have lived here, the small number of violent crimes committed on the estate have all taken place inside flats and have been perpetrated by people who either live there or were visiting. None of them would have been prevented by any number of gates or fences.

As far as I can see, the only people who benefit are those in the business of supplying and fitting large metal gates and fences.

N