Welcome to the story of the dozen families who live in one of Londons' oldest streets.

The stuff of picture books of Georgian England, built before American won its independence, the street survived Nazi bombing and generations of children with no front yard to play in. However, in 2008, the residents, users and friends of the street lost an eight year battle to prevent it being used as a truck route to develop a small patch of land theoretically only accessible down this seven foot wide cobbled lane. The history is in this site, but look at the pictures and video and see for yourself. We are at a loss as to what to do to save our homes, protect our children and conserve the sort of place that everyone else on the planet can not believe is at risk. Please spread the word: someone can help, but doesn't even know it yet. Happy Christmas/Holidays to you all. May the New Year bring you peace and good health.

PLEASE LINK TO US TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

 

December 14, 2008

The national Government's agency determined in August that construction can go ahead exactly as the developers propose. That's it. For an indefininte period, as soon as the developer (or other owner of the consent) can get the money (and chutzpah) together, they can arrive with monster trucks and trash the street with impunity. Apart from being a textbook study as to why the planning system is deeply and profoundly flawed, it defies public will on a massive scale. What happens next? No-one knows, but its not good.

 

September 20, 2008

As another passer-by knocks on the door, anxious about what is happening, the answer is "Dunno". Camden are taking advice about whether its June 24th yet (planning permission lapsed on June 23rd) in which case, possible nothing. If only it were that simple.

Keep watching the skies. Or at least, the site.

 

September 1, 2008.

Quietly, a note from the Planning Inspector arrives. He has decided in the developer's favour.

 

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This story begins with a moral. "Don't buy at auctions unless you're really sure you are getting a good price for something that you not only want, but can also use".

Don't pay over the odds for an unremarkable bit of land you can only cheaply get to down a tiny cobbled lane, for example.

As of the end of February (and after a huge public outcry), the developers' THIRD attempt at a construction methodology statement was rejected. They appealed and the Planning Inspectorate decided it was in the public interest to turn this little green street into a truck route.

To read the history, click around... 

 

Pre-History 

And so our story begins. And ends. Three planning applications, one appeal and three (or is it four?) attempts at providing an adequate 'Construction Methodology Statement' later, here we are, about to find out "In October 2007" according to a letter we read in The Times (not one sent to the people who live here, but that's another story) if the street is to be forever changed and the lives, not only of the people who live in it, but also those of the tens of thousands who use the road it spurs off, will be profoundly and unnecessarily disrupted. For years. Four years.

What was that moral all about? Oh, yes. If only someone had looked, they'd have realised that it isn't possible to do what is being asked down such a tiny road as this. Nothing personal. Its just silly and a great number of people have committed themsevles to proving that in the hope that it can be made to go away.

Please look around the site and then act - everything is in 'What can you do?' - the last red link on the left.

Look at the photos of the street and then measure out 2.5m for yourself. It's a bit longer than most mattresses. That's how wide the cobbles are.