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Letters to the Editor
 
King's Cross plan is good for everybody

• Camden Council last week gave the go-ahead for the regeneration of King’s Cross. This decision means we will create 25,000 jobs, a third of which are for local people, and more than 1,900 homes, more than 40 per cent of which are affordable.
The regeneration will also provide a wide range of public leisure facilities and public open spaces. On balance, this is a better choice for local people than your paper’s option of ‘saving’ 67 acres of derelict, brown field land (Save Our King’s Cross! March 9).
Although your article focused on some groups’ criticisms of the redevelopment, the regeneration that Camden Council will achieve actually reflects many of the local views received during our extensive consultation over the last five years.
As a result, the council has secured an exciting regeneration package that has more affordable housing, green open space and health and community facilities than originally proposed by the developer. It has also prioritised the highest urban design principles and ambitious requirements to meet high environmental and sustainability standards.
The redevelopment will provide new community sports, leisure and retail facilities, including: a pre-school children’s centre and nursery; play facilities; primary school; two health care centres; a public leisure centre with a 25-metre swimming pool; indoor sports hall; multi use games area; community centre, employment and training centres; three new green public spaces, plus new landscaped squares and well-designed and accessible streets, forming almost 40 per cent of the site.
It also means that much of the area’s unique architectural heritage will be preserved, including restoring landmark buildings to new uses, and that the redevelopment is leading the way in terms of creating a sustainable and attractive future environment.
Now it is time to look to the future: King’s Cross has the best transport links in the city, of huge significance to Londoners and the South East, as well as for the 2012 Olympics. Our strong negotiations have delivered a regeneration development for King’s Cross that crucially balances its wider importance with the needs of local residents and businesses.
Cllr Raj Chada
Leader, Camden Council

• The King’s Cross campaigners are obviously well-meaning, but their fantasies of viewing towers in gas holders and ‘Regent’s Park-sized’ open spaces are hopelessly naïve.
Why do they automatically demonize single professionals in favour of families?
Every morning we pick up the rubbish dumped outside our neighbouring council property, while arguing to get them more trees and cleaner streets.
Nobody wants another Canary Wharf, but balance is everything, and the campaigners should recognise that professional-power in King’s Cross makes civic contributions too.
Christopher Fowler
Albert Dock
King’s Cross N1

• The Town Hall meetings I witnessed last week to decide on the future of King’s Cross resulted in a betrayal of the residents.
The vote to approve developers Argent’s plan will, in my opinion, emerge in years to come as the most infamous final act of this Labour council.
Half of the 10-strong council executive along with the ex-Leader, Dame Jane Roberts, were amongst those responsible for approving in outline a ghastly soulless Office City shrine to Mammon. How could a Labour council be so obviously in thrall to developers? “It’s all or nothing” Argent said – and they won the day.
Liberal Democrat councillor Flick Rea hit the spot symbolically on the green issue when she said that, rather than promise to “use best endeavours” to achieve a meagre 10 per cent sustainable energy target over 15 years, we should set our sights far, far higher, to European expectations.
To the councillors who voted yes to Argent’s scheme, I say this: “Shame on you.”
Paul Braithwaite
Bartholomew Villas, NW5

• I’ve never written to the CNJ before, despite being a Camden resident for 40 years – but your headline on the King’s Cross development has prompted me to contact you.
Campaigners have claimed that they want to “Save King’s Cross” by retaining a derelict old building and thus preventing the regeneration of the area at the back of the station. The back of the station has, for many years, been a total eye sore and such a waste when this borough has such a desperate need for social housing.
I personally am delighted that councillors had the intelligence to approve the planning application for this site. Far too may people claimed that they wanted to retain old useless buildings. Whenever I have heard them quoted it makes them sound as if they were just entirely opposed to the development – and they should have been more honest about this.
To the councillors who opposed the King’s Cross development – I say shame on you. This scheme will create local jobs, houses, a new school and so many things that the area needs.
It is interesting to hear that the councillors that voted against the scheme were mostly Conservative’s representing far flung parts of the borough.
So I offer a hearty to congratulations to the councillors who supported this development. They have clearly listened to the public. For this, we owe them a debt of gratitude.
Rita Hayes
Harmood St, NW1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.
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