Research lab will not benefit Somers Town

Published: 15 July, 2010

• I WONDER whether Councillor Peter Brayshaw had done his homework before putting pen to paper (‘Super lab’ will bring real benefits’, Forum July 8).

UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) would not be “next to University College London, Wellcome’s own headquarters and hospitals” but next to St Pancras International station, British Library and social housing estates.

It would not bring “regeneration, community benefits, jobs and opportunities” to the area, as he is hoping.

In fact, none of British Library, a luxurious hotel down the street and St Pancras International station appear to employ local residents and benefit our community, so how can UKCMRI be different?

When Channel Tunnel Rail Link office was operating on that land, the office workers were flocking in from outside this area, and even the cleaners were commuting from somewhere else by motorbike! Instead, they increased traffic, noise level and air pollution.

I often see coaches from the hotel stuck on our narrow streets.

At the moment, I can see out of my window a small patch of that land used to grow some plants, but it is nowhere near compensating the loss of much-needed social housing in the whole Camden.

ATSUKO McCARTHY
Ossulston Street, NW1