No VOTE No SAY!
I am shocked and appalled to have canvassed many local Belsize residents, especially if they are not on the voting register, simply appear to have been ignored by Camden and all the political parties in relation to HS2 consultation. To further evidence my concerns I have only on Tuesday 16th May discovered that the recently announced HS2 Belsize Workshop with Camden Officers of 19th May 2pm to 8pm at Swiss Cottage Library was actually as reported to me by a Camden officer at the request of a Belsize councillor which smacks of political opportunism just 2 days before the local elections and only three days to the deadline for petition submission on the 23rd May.
I am shocked and appalled to have canvassed many local Belsize residents, especially if they are not on the voting register, simply appear to have been ignored by Camden and all the political parties in relation to HS2 consultation. To further evidence my concerns I have only on Tuesday 16th May discovered that the recently announced HS2 Belsize Workshop with Camden Officers of 19th May 2pm to 8pm at Swiss Cottage Library was actually as reported to me by a Camden officer at the request of a Belsize councillor which smacks of political opportunism just 2 days before the local elections and only three days to the deadline for petition submission on the 23rd May.
What is so scary that many of our local residents still do not know of the
highly disruptive tunnelling and air ventilator shaft plans that will unless
the HS2 route changes will go ahead through Belsize in 2019 with massive
“utility” preparation works from 2016 – 2018 in Fellows Road, Eton Avenue and
other surrounding streets, it is not yet known the full extent of the
collateral disruption to our iconic leafy area. I call this the community party political disconnect. No Vote No Consult. How often have local politicians seen every day asking at the doors to find out if the electorate lives at an address, when told they don't have voting rights for what ever reason, the politician hastily makes a retreat. Is this a "true" sign of democracy. NO. When I have canvassed a non voter, I still capture their local concerns and inform, especially on matters such as HS2, which most certainly effects them on Eton Avenue. This is the BIG advantage of being Independent.
The disruptions to Eton Avenue will adversely affect the
local school run to the large number of private schools there. Also Fellows
Road together with parts of Adelaide Road will see the bulk of the disruptive
preparation GAS and water mains replacement works ahead of the tunnelling
operations currently scheduled to start anytime around 2019. The disruption to
Belsize could last a decade,
Those that have been notified by local political party communications
have been told that HS1-HS2 Link through Camden (Camden Town) has been
cancelled, which it has, But many have been therefore by use of clever wording
been falsely given wrong impression that Belsize HS2 route has been changed or
cancelled, which it has not.