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The 'fairground' that is Inverness Street |
‘We’re sticking to our own script’, council tells writer
Planning chiefs reply to Sir Jonathan Miller’s views on changing face of market
ONCE upon a time drug dealers and gangs were notoriously the scourge of Inverness Street in Camden Town.
Now, following a £3million revamp of the market street, council chiefs find the greatest thorn in their side is a knighted playwright and philosopher.
After the huge cash investment and years of planning and discussion spent on the renovation of the street, councillors might have expected a pat on the back and a big thank you.
But all they have got from one of their most illustrious taxpayers are cutting put-downs.
Sir Jonathan Miller, who lives nearby and has a kept hawkeye watch on developments, has compared the street, now lined with marquees with “a concentration camp” in one of his angrier moods, and “a fairground” on cheerier days.
So this week the New Journal asked Camden’s councillors what they made of his criticisms.
They said that Sir Jonathan was entitled to his opinion but that he might as well stop moaning, because they are not changing it again now.
Conservative environment chief Councillor Mike Greene said: “I’m, sure Dr Miller has his own point of view but the vast amount of people seem to appreciate what we’ve done. Clearly individuals are going to have their own view on aspects of work done to improve Inverness Street but few can doubt that it is a hundred times more attractive than it was two or three years ago.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Councillor Flick Rea said: “Jonathan Miller has made a career out of being reasonably controversial. So he does not like it – well there’s lots of things people don’t like. He’s entitled to his own opinion, but we’re certainly not going to revamp it again.”
Her colleague Councillor Libby Campbell, a ward member for Camden Town, said Sir Jonathan’s ridicule that the new street signage “made the place look like a concentration camp” was “a little harsh and probably a little unfair”.
She said: “It’s not the most exciting sign but I wouldn’t describe it as Bergen-Belsen or anything. I don’t feel like an inmate when I’m shopping. Dr Miller has never approached me with his concerns. By all means get Dr Miller to give me a buzz. It’s still a work in progress – you don’t just tick a box and it’s done – but it’s much improved on what it was.”
In past years, the subject of Sir Jonathan’s vitriol was “the feral groups of youths, public urination and drug dealing” which he claimed were destroying the area.
While it says something that his bugbears are now canopies and a metal sign, Labour councillor Pat Callaghan admitted that the writer and polymath had “some very valid points”.
She said: “Inverness Street market has been a learning curve. If we were looking at doing a market again we’d certainly make some changes.
“Jonathan’s very wise, he has a lot to do with the market and what he says makes sense, but we wouldn’t have the money to redo it now.
“Unfortunately, at the moment I can’t see it changing.”
SIR Jonathan has never been frightened to speak his mind about the state of Inverness Street market.
December 13, 2007:
“The wind lifted up these idiotic tents. It could have decapitated someone. If you get these Eurotrash tourists coming in you may as well give them something to look at. Traditional barrows would be a much better idea.”
November 1, 2007:
“There has been a ‘piazza-fication’ of Inverness Street.
“They have a sign at the top of the market which looks like the entrance to a concentration camps.
“Once you get to the bit where the tourists don’t go, there is less of an interest to do something about it.”
July 27, 2007:
“I am not certain that I like the sort of fairground look they’ve got with the new stalls.
“Thank God they didn’t put up that terrible mural, though.
“That brick wall is a great piece of old modernism.
“And the ridiculous Inverness Street sign should never have gone up in the first place.”
August 8, 2005:
“They [the council] have these idiotic ideas of turning the place into a piazza when it just needs to be properly looked after.”
November 11, 2004:
“The council don’t seem to be getting their priorities right.
“I don’t know where they get their cost estimates from. Instead of their crackpot schemes, they should deal with the rubbish and chaos.”
November 5, 2004:
“The proposed changes are shallow cosmetic adjustments and a scandalous waste of money. Camden Town has become an open toilet.
“There are people relieving themselves against the doorways, so their urine seeps into the basements of shops.” |
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