5jt.com: Trouble on the Green (2)

17 January 2005

Trouble on the Green (2)

Trouble on the Green Although Cr John Thane’s response on the integrity issue was not wholly satisfactory, I’ve written today about the substance of the issue for tomorrow's meeting of the Environment subcommittee at Camden Town Hall.

Cr Thane wrote on 10 Jan

I have not said to anyone, or even thought, either that the plan has 'no prospects' or that I have no plan to discuss it. Both assertions are outright lies.

This is hard to reconcile with his remarks reported verbatim in the Hampstead & Highgate Express on 30 Dec that

We have looked at about 20 schemes, none of which had prospects. This one is much the same. […] It is not intended we discuss it in January.

There are slight differences between what the Ham & High reports Cr Thane saying and what he denies saying. But the differences don’t seem to bear the weight of his outright lies. Seems there’s still ample scope for removing rancour from this debate.

Sent: 17 January 2005 07:35
To: Thane, John
Cc: editorial@camdennewjournal.co.uk; editorial@hamhigh.co.uk;
support@saveourgreen.co.uk; anna.stewart@camden.gov.uk;
sue.vincent@camden.gov.uk; theo.blackwell@camden.gov.uk;
margaret.little@camden.gov.uk
Subject: RE: Standing buses at South End Green

Dear Cr Thane

In your reply of 10 Jan, you addressed the subject of integrity, but not the substance of the matter. I'm writing now about that.

Is Camden obliged to provide space to stand buses? That seems unlikely.

The operating companies now run more buses. For this they need more fuel, more drivers, more tyres — and either more standing space or other ways to manage drivers' breaks. Other ways include managing bus movements to avoid congestion, or more drivers to keep the buses moving. All this is within the scope of operations and expenses that the companies control.

It is proper for the companies to avoid these costs if they can, and to ask Council for more standing space. It is proper for Council to offer it — IF it can be had without substantial loss of amenity. It is NOT proper for Council to sacrifice private and public amenity to accommodate private companies.

This applies here. You know amenity would be lost, because the Save Our Green (SOG) group — with a substantial residential membership and the support of all the local traders' groups — says so, vigorously. Loss of amenity seems one issue beyond dispute.

You write of 2-3 years spent debating, the "apparent lack of an ideal solution" and it being "time to make a decision". We agree so far.

The SOG group has proposed a scheme, which you reject (H&H 30 Dec) for not having "general support". You know it does not, because it has opponents.

Council's proposal clearly fails this test too. If opposition indicates lack of general support, Council's proposal has even less support than SOG's.

You are close to concluding that if no scheme has general support, Council's proposal must prevail, because the bus companies must be accommodated.

Not so.

If no scheme has general support after 2-3 years diligent search, and if Council has no superior obligations to the operating companies, then its clear duty to electors is to decline the companies' request — and enforce existing agreements.

I shall attend tomorrow's meeting and look forward to hearing this addressed.

Kind regards
Stephen Taylor

Posted by SJT at January 17, 2005 07:55 AM

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17 January 2005

Trouble on the Green (2)

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