Is Kentish Town South tube station set to reopen?
Mothballed Kentish Town South could help ease congestion problems at Camden Town
Published: 5th May, 2011
by DAN CARRIER
THE abandoned Kentish Town South tube station could be re-opened to help ease congestion in the Camden Town area, the New Journal has learned.
The “ghost” station, which was built in 1907 and closed in 1924, has emerged as an option as developers finalise plans for new homes and businesses in the Hawley Wharf area.
And campaigners say that to help ease the pressure on Camden Town station, developers and Transport for London (TfL) must urgently look into the feasibility of giving Kentish Town Road back its mothballed tube stop.
The Hawley Wharf development, which is yet to be officially submitted to the Town Hall for planning permission as developers Stanley Sidings thrash out its final look, could bring in scores of new homes, businesses, an arthouse cinema and a farmers’ market. It could also have restaurants and more stalls alongside the canal and on industrial land behind Hawley Road – all adding pressure on local trains and bus services.
Hawley Wharf Action Group member Peter Clapp said he feared that transport issues around the new development had not been sufficiently looked at.
“The developers employed engineering firm Arup to look at it and they say they do not think the development will generate very much extra traffic,” he said. “But we think it will mean a massive influx of additional people, perhaps twice as many, and we worry this is something the developers have not sufficiently addressed properly.
“Re-opening Kentish Town South would certainly help alleviate the present situation for which there is no answer coming in the foreseeable future, and we hope it will be investigated properly.”
Camden Town and Primrose Hill ward Labour councillor Tom Neumark said: “I am concerned about the extra burden being placed on transport. People who live in Camden Town cannot use their own station on Sundays at the moment, and the buses are full.”
Cllr Neumark revealed he had met with TfL chiefs but they had told him a lack of cash and a focus on the Olympics meant schemes like redeveloping Camden Town tube station or re-opening Kentish Town South could remain on the back burner for another decade.
He added: “This is just not good enough for people who live here, the businesses, and tourists who come to visit. They need to open Kentish Town South, or refurbish Camden Town tube, as a matter of urgency.”
Cllr Neumark’s views have been echoed by business group leader Simon Pitkeathley, the chief executive of Camden Town unlimited.
He said: “You just have to look at the numbers of people who come here to know there’s a struggle to cope at times. Anything that helps improve transport around here has to be good for businesses.”
Mr Pitkeathley said that the area was well served, with three stations, overground services and buses – but it was often a case of making sure people were aware of these options.
A TfL spokesperson said despite plans to upgrade and expand Camden Town being turned down in 2004, there remains a long-term aim to expand the station when “funding becomes available”, but added: “There are no plans to re-instate the former South Kentish Town station. It would be prohibitively expensive to bring what remains of the station’s infrastructure up to today’s standards.”
Stanley Sidings declined to comment.