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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 20 September 2007

Time for another chapter in the story of Amazing Talacre

• THE forgotten campaign to transform a Kentish Town Second World War bombed site into what is known today as Talacre Gardens was a most inspiring documentary.
The struggle to create a park began in the early 1970s by ordinary people who lived locally. It emerged from a need to provide a place for local kids to play.
Nothing had prepared me for this charming documentary shown at the Kentish Town Community Centre last Saturday. It’s all about what life was like in Kentish Town only three and a half decades ago.
As is the case today, many local kids, in what is now known as the Haverstock ward, had little money, nowhere to play and nothing to do.
Yet, despite adversities, volunteer residents took over derelict and unsightly land and turned it into an adventure playground for local kids. Hundreds of residents managed to convince a reluctant council into transforming this site into a park.
Today, Talacre remains under threat as private developers continue to set their eyes on the park. Recently, the council almost allowed a private developer to have a lorry route go through Talacre Gardens.
The same developer is constantly trying to encroach on the park with the Dalby Street seven-storey building scheme.
Many of us consider the idea of a Town Green under the new Commons Acts to be the only realistic way of ensuring that Talacre Gardens is protected as a green open space forever.
Then, and only then, will the park finally be protected from the ambitions of private developers and be made safe for generations to come.
The decision as to whether the Town Green will become a reality now rest with the council. Lib Dem councillor Matt Sanders has made it his electoral pledge to push for such a Town Green status.
Will he succeed or will we the public turn ‘ugly’ and fight to make the council stand up and pay heed to what residents want and need?
PETER CUMING
Friends of Talacre Gardens, NW5

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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