Camden New Journal - FORUM: Opinion in the CNJ Published: 04 October 2007
Artist’s impression of how Britannia Junction might look
Public art can act as a beacon for our rich cultural heritage
Following mixed reactions to the launch of last week’s vision for a renewed streetscape at Britannia Junction, Simon Pitkeathley defends his plans for Camden Town
HERE’S a confession. Twenty years ago I was a struggling singer-songwriter playing the bars and clubs of Camden Town trying to launch a musical career that was ultimately so successful I ended up working in banking and politics.
Slightly embarrassing to look back on such youthful, naïve days from my current age; not to mention my new job as Chief Executive of Camden Town Unlimited (CTU). What is also slightly embarrassing is how little parts of Camden Town have changed in the intervening period.
The north end of the High Street, particularly the Lock, Stables and the Roundhouse, have reinvented themselves and are thriving. But further south the town appears to have gone backwards.
The burnt-out buildings and empty shop fronts and the long line of “To Let” signs are apparent for all, including Richard Cobden, to see. And the in-your-face skunk dealers that pollute our public spaces around the Tube station and canal areas are an embarrassment to us all.
Despite all this, I retain a deep affection for a town centre that is unique and steeped in character and heritage.
So it is all the more frustrating to read of the negative comments following the launch of our vision to renew the streetscape of the town last week.
Our proposals include the suggestion of a piece of public art at Britannia Junction in the form of a 30ft beacon, which would incorporate street lighting (replacing around 14 lamp posts) as well as CCTV. I make no apology for this. Public art is at the heart of our proposal in order to reflect the rich cultural heritage of Camden Town. We wish to develop a public realm that contributes to and celebrates the esoteric experience of Camden Town. There is plenty of scope for other ideas, including references to “remembered heroes”.
What I suggest is important is that we change the first impression experienced by new arrivals exiting the Tube station.
Some commentators seem to think our ideas include the pedestrianisation of the High Street and a reduction in parking facilities. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, overall parking would be increased.
Also untrue is the suggestion that we are promoting a reduction in the number of lanes of traffic on the High Street. We do, however, think that measures to calm traffic and to make Camden Town more pedestrian- friendly are long overdue. And all our ideas have been approved by TfL and would be perfectly suitable for emergency use.
There has also been a suggestion that these measures would be ineffectual in terms of crime reduction. It is true that bigger pavements alone do not get rid of drug dealers. But they do help create communities and the presence of these communities, even people merely sitting in cafés, has been shown to deter on-street dealing. And the increased usage of the High Street by local residents and older visitors would reduce the market for such activities.
CTU has been working with the council and the police for 18 months to increase police and PCSO numbers on the streets of Camden Town. These new officers are now mostly in post and the benefits are starting to show.
But the root cause of the problem will only be addressed by changing the environment and making Camden Town the sort of place where on-street drug dealing is unacceptable. The “designing out crime” elements of our proposal are aimed specifically at this root cause.
Much has improved in Camden Town over the past 20 years. But if we’re to create a town centre that those of us who live, work and play here can be proud of, we need vision and energy, not fear of change or despair that the place is not worth the bother. We at CTU, together with our partners, are working hard to provide the former. It seems we must do so against a background of people who, currently, remain committed to the latter.
• Simon Pitkeathley is Chief Executive of Camden Town Unlimited
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