Scrooges!

Published: 25 November, 2010

• FOR some time now I’ve stopped using the scruffy, half boarded-up, traffic-infested, Camden High Street for shopping preferring instead the cheerful, car free, clean, ambience of Brunswick Square and its surrounding area.  

So, on reading in the New Journal that there was to be a car free party in Camden High Street with a Christmas lights ceremony, against better judgment I decided to brave the smelly, broken, pavements of the south end of Camden Town in the hope of finding something joyful and communal on this grey November day. 

What did I find? 

That the day was a bit of a Camden Council token effort which, paradoxically, was causing fume-filled, traffic chaos at the south end. 

You couldn’t make it up. Why wasn’t the through-traffic diverted away from the area back at Euston Road?

Token too were the “Scrooge” Christmas decorations, barely noticeable on those really ugly lamp-posts – and no Christmas Tree. 

Camden’s idea of a party was one “green” council vehicle giving out leaflets telling us to cycle (On these roads? No thanks)! And a “health bus”, when what was needed was a decent loud, big jazz band with a cleared area for some dancing, with wine, beer, food stalls and seating all nearby for atmosphere?

There was a bit of jolly music from a small band bravely doing its best opposite Camden Town station but that was the extent of it.

I wonder why the council bothers with its half measures as there appears to be no talent or imagination to do things with a zest no matter which party dominates the Town Hall. 

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED NW1