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The shed in Elsworthy Terrace, Primrose Hill |
Brakes placed on bike shed
Town Hall orders couple to remove garden structure used for secure storage
A GARDEN shed used to store a young family’s bicycles must be demolished after falling foul of the Town Hall’s planning laws.
Documentary film-maker Ivan O’Mahoney and his wife Tash Clark, an interior designer and architect, built the shed after a crimewave in their Primrose Hill cul-de-sac.
But Town Hall enforcement officers are now demanding they knock down the small, painted wooden shed following complaints from a number of their neighbours.
The couple, who have lived in the Elsworthy Terrace property for two and a half years, say the ruling contradicts the council’s attempts to encourage the borough to go green and police advice about beating crime.
Ms Clark, who has a one-year-old son and whose home is in a conservation area, said: “On our street crime is incredibly high. There have been daily thefts of bikes and scooters.”
A number of stolen bicycles and motorbikes have been found dumped in the street – which leads on to Primrose Hill park – and there have also been a spate of muggings. Ms Clark’s mother was among the victims during a visit from Australia.
Following a meeting with neighbourhood police officers, the couple were told to lock their bikes in a secure place. They live in a third-floor flat, making it impossible to carry their bikes up to their home.
Ms Clark said: “We were told the best way to beat crime was to anticipate it. This means not leaving your bikes in view, as the police told me it was just asking for it to be stolen.”
The shed was built and painted by the couple in July last year, and they had a retrospective planning application dismissed in December.
Ms Clark added: “Camden’s policy is entirely contradictory. They have legislated that any new developments have to provide secure bike storage, but said we can’t do exactly that.”
She said the ruling would hamper individuals trying to do their bit to beat global warming.
She said: “Over a third of Camden residents live in a conservation area, and this means they essentially are not allowed to have bikes because they will not be able to store them. I am trying to do all I can to be a little bit greener.”
However, a neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said the shed had to go. “We have to watch carefully to make sure the integrity of the street is not compromised,” said the resident. |
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