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Traders protest in front of the iconic mural
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Rail firm drops threat to ‘iconic’ bridge mural
Pledge to help ‘refresh’ landmark where hoardings were planned
A RAIL company with designs on a Camden Town landmark have backed down amid claims that its application was a mistake.
In December proposals to cover Camden Lock bridge in Chalk Farm Road with advertising boards were submitted.
This week, Network Rail blamed Clear Channel, the American media company which submitted the plans on its behalf. A Network Rail spokeswoman said it intended to take up the issue with Clear Channel.
The application horrified market traders last week when they discovered “before and after” diagrams. The first showed the bridge as it is – with its mural of two workmen on swings painting the words ‘Camden Lock’ – but the second showed an illuminated advert for Gap.
Trader Thierry Duriex said at the time: “It’s just going to be advertised on by people who aren’t from Camden – people who can afford the money.
“This is about money – they’re after £15,000 a year. It’s a prime spot. How many millions of people will see it every month?”
The big fear among market traders is that Network Rail will continue to re-apply for permission.
A Network Rail’s spokeswoman said: “I can only talk about where we are at the moment. I can’t look into the future and know what’s going to be there. The fact that we want to work with the council indicates we want to keep it as a local icon.”
She said Network Rail hoped to help the council “refresh” the mural.
Stables market manager Roi Mengelgrein warned that any threat to the mural could put livelihoods at risk. “The bridge is very important,” he said. “People come from all over the world just to take a photograph with that bridge. It would be the same as taking the lions out of Trafalgar Square – it’s as important as that.”
Camden Town is judged to have around 35 million tourists annually.
Will Fulford, manager of Camden Lock market, whose father, Professor Bill Fulford, owns the market, says the mural symbolises the area’s regeneration.
He added: “If the bridge is repainted as is, we’ll be ecstatic.”
Ward councillors Libby Campbell (Lib Dem) and Pat Callaghan (Labour) have pledged to help fight off future applications.
Cllr Campbell said: “They will keep trying their luck. It’s prime advertising space. We should fight to get the mural repainted.” The application is to be amended to cover only the north side of the bridge.
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