Camden High Street’s traffic ban has overlooked disabled people and concerns of businesses, charities and stakeholders claim.
On 26 February, Camden Council agreed to make part of the High Street near the station pedestrian and cycle-only for a trial period of a maximum of 18 months.
The decision prompted disabled residents and charities to speak up about their concerns over how they will continue to access the area.
Camden-based author Gary Comenas said: “I will never forgive Adam (Councillor Adam Harrison) and his cohorts for what they did to TCR (Tottenham Court Road).
“It makes it very difficult to get to UCLH (University College London Hospital) for myself and the other disabled residents in my building, a council block, and I just hope the same doesn’t happen in Camden.”
According to Camden Council, many people have been asking for the High Street to be pedestrianised due to overcrowding, stressful experiences and concerns about air pollution.
As an international destination and transport hub, the number of people on the street can reach 40,000 which can lead to pedestrians sharing the road with cars, according to Labour councillor for Bloomsbury Adam Harrison.
The pedestrianisation of the street, which Transport for London has provided £130,000 towards, aims to create more safe space for pedestrians, reduce emissions and encourage more time on the street.
More than 70% of the 1,866 people who took park in a public consultation run by the council in summer 2024 agreed with the traffic ban.
One respondent said: “It’s a brilliant idea – would make the high street so much more accessible, less overwhelming and less polluted while having a clear motor route available.”
However, respondents with mobility issues worried that they would no longer be able to access the pedestrian area if motor vehicles are prohibited.
London disability charities feel disabled people have been left out of planning.
An Inclusion London spokesperson said: “We find time and time again that disabled people are only consulted once a new scheme has already launched.
“Many of us cannot walk the long High Street and rely on buses, cars and taxis to get us exactly where we need to be, and it’s unclear how that can be maintained with pedestrianisation.”
The range of services which disabled people use to get around the borough and beyond such as PlusBus Door to Door and Dial-a-ride would no longer be able to access the traffic-free section of Camden High Street.
Camden Disability Action’s engagement and communications officer Tom McDonough said: “We were not consulted on this change and first learned of it from the press.
“It is vital that planners work in conjunction with disabled people and organisations like ours to ensure changes like this are made with the full diversity of disabled people’s needs in mind.”
“While many disabled people will benefit from a traffic-free and less packed Camden High Street such as some of those with autism, mental health conditions or visual or mobility conditions, others, such as wheelchair users and people with severe pain may struggle to make use of the new environment unless adaptations are made.”
According to statistics released in the Camden Community Safety Partnership Plan 2024-2027, three in 20 Camden residents have a disability or long-term condition that limits their day-to-day activities.
Research published by disabled and older person-led campaign group Transport for All argued London’s planning system excludes the city’s 1.2million disabled people.
Transport for All added the current planning systems are outdated, and measurements of accessibility disregard many of many things that matter to disabled people such as a clearer definition of step-free access, pavement quality and functioning toilets.
For the manager of vintage clothing shop Rokit Vintage, the decision is invasive and disruptive for businesses due to the new loading and delivery areas proposed on Buck Street meaning they will have to wheel their stock through the street which sometimes includes three heavy rails.
This will put them at risk of muggings, added the manager while they fear the loss of potential new customers without passing traffic, despite the increase in footfall.
They were also concerned pedestrianisation might open the street and their shop front to more drug and public disorder offences.
Camden, along with Westminster, saw the largest year on year increase in crime levels of any boroughs across London during 2023, with robbery being the largest increase in Camden in percentage terms at 28.3%.
Laine Brewery expressed concerns that the pedestrianisation of Camden High Street would lead to increased security risks and business costs due to a higher volume of foot traffic, but without any benefit to their business.
For other businesses, the plan is welcomed, and Camden Open Air Gallery said they were excited about what increased footfall might mean for the gallery and event space.
Historic changes to traffic organisation in London have proved controversial.
Tottenham Court Road was given the go ahead to become a two-way system for buses and cyclists in a £41million development in 2015.
This aimed to make journeys quicker and safer, a more attractive place for people to enjoy and benefit the whole community, according to Labour councillor at the time Phil Jones.
But since the changes, resident Comenas claime funds have been diverted away from public facilities like the essential lift on Greese Street, which has been broken for over three weeks.
In Bethnal Green, concerns about the Low Traffic Neighbourhood led to Mayor Lutfur Rahman removing the restrictions in Columbia Road, Arnold Circus, and Old Bethnal Green in September 2023.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “LTNs have been one of London’s most contentious issues – a one-size-fits-all solution that has divided boroughs, communities, and even political parties.
“While LTNs improve air quality in their immediate vicinity, they push traffic down surrounding arterial roads, typically lived on by less affluent residents.”
Camden Council said: “The council will also continue to work closely with local stakeholders, including community safety teams and the police, to monitor and address anti-social behaviour.”
“The council will continue engaging with businesses and carefully monitoring the proposals throughout the trial period, making further changes as necessary.”
Camden councillors were approached for comment.
Featured image: Free to use via Unsplash
Join the discussion