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Letters to the Editor
 
Heather should not have joined in vote

• Your article sums up exactly the situation for the chairwoman of Camden’s Development Control Committee following the approval of the controversial Regent’s Park development (Towering row for ex-mayor, February 23).
After considering the planning objections and voices of support carefully, a cross party group of five councillors voted against the application. Five Labour councillors voted for it. One of those was Heather Johnson, who as the chairwoman had a casting vote, and so the application was passed.
Councillor Johnson admitted she had a personal interest, but stated that this interest was not prejudicial – ie: not biased towards the applicant. It is difficult to understand her argument.
Heather Johnson sits on the management board of the West Euston Partnership (WEP). The WEP campaigned in favour of the development. They told the committee that there would be great benefits for them if the application was passed.
Cllr Johnson is a ward councillor for Regent’s Park, where the WEP carries out most of its work. Cllr Nasim Ali, another Regent’s Park ward councillor also sits on the committee of WEP. He chairs its planning working group. Whether Cllr Johnson was herself party to discussions about the application with members of the WEP board is irrelevant: it was clear that approval meant certain benefit for the WEP and great political benefit in Regent’s Park ward.
It is difficult to imagine that any reasonable member of the public believed that Cllr Johnson should have participated in the vote on the Regent’s Park development.
The mere fact that she is backed by the WEP, the Labour Party and Camden’s own employees wouldn’t change that belief. This was a sad day for planning in Camden Council.
CLLR Don Williams (Con)
Town Hall
Judd Street
WC1


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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