Five years ago, (five!), we were all staring down the barrel of Covid lockdown right about now. The above photo depicts what soon happened to the ‘vibes’ in Camden High Street - a photo I snapped on the Mayday Bank Holiday of that year. Bloody hell.

That very junction, where Hawley Cres and Jamestown Rd intersect with the usually perma-tourist-thronged drag over the canal bridge, is soon to be where rerouted traffic will swerve the trial pedestrianisation of the carriageway, leading up from the tube.

The announcement of the scheme, due to take effect at some undisclosed point quite soon, gained national attention this week via a mix of the standard incendiary clickbait headlines mixed with broadly positive sentiment from anyone who actually uses the space on a regular basis.

If you dive into the ‘below the line’ comment cesspit on some predictable websites and social platforms, you’ll soon find outrage (is that a Russian bot accent I detect?!), banging on about the rights of ‘the motorist’, and some confused, dated stuff about the supposed ‘threat’ of 15 minute cities. But overall, you get the feeling that the majority of people think it’s quite a good idea.

Political allegiances - at least for now - seem to have given way to common sense. But I do wonder if those muttering softly about the potential for an ‘increase in street crime’ or ‘chaos for local residents’ are biding their time, ready to protest more vociferously about the ‘net zero madness’ of it all at the first sign of a traffic jam.

Remember, in today’s nutzoid political climate, it didn’t take much online disinformation hype around traffic calming proposals in Oxford city centre to attract avowed Nazi protesters, marching into the frame from elsewhere.

As always, experiments like these have many varied impacts, and can’t be reduced to a binary based around how left or right-leaning you are - yet some people will doubtless wantonly skew their opinions in that way. Unfortunately, botched schemes nearby, such as the laughably slow repaving of Queen’s Crescent Market or the rerouting of traffic and parking bays around Dartmouth Park making certain roads comically impassible, can overshadow the air quality gains and the fact that the majority of locals don’t even own a car, anyway.

It’s easy to forget that, less that 100 years ago, Camden High Street still had working horses clip-clopping daily to and from Chalk Farm’s extensive stables complex, or that a failed 1960s scheme to turn the whole thing into a giant slip road onto the M1 was thwarted, but could easily have flattened all we might argue over today. Who ever really has the ‘right of way’?

One thing is for sure though; nothing in a city stays the same for very long, so snipping about it online is the digital equivalent of being the pub bore. If you do want your views to be actually considered, then engaging with the consultations in advance remains the best way - yet hardly any of us ever do it.

A case in point? Camden’s current review of its licensing policy, something that will impact our collective experience of the borough’s cultural, social and entertainment landscape for the next five years.

I’m reliably told that the moaners have (of course) mobilised, fixated on their blind mission against late night businesses, despite all the evidence that pushing people towards cheap supermarket booze deals and house parties because there’s nowhere left to go after midnight is a recipe for far more noise nuisance, violence, disorder and cost than letting then dance and drink in licensed, professionally managed venues.

You’ve got until next Friday 14th Mar to have your say in the consultation, and represent the silent majority who don’t think that central London benefits from being a ghost town after dark. Our streets are far safer when they are busy and vibrant at night, with people out and about on foot at all hours, not just shuttling around in Ubers en masse when the pubs and clubs are forced to kick out.

Meanwhile, we wait to see if pedestrianising the gritty thoroughfare outside Camden Town tube for 18 months ends up a transformative crowd pleaser, or a crime-riddled nightmare filled with furious spurned motorists and rent-a-Nazi protestors.

The reality, as always, will be a glorious mélange of everyone and everything (except, perhaps, those long-lost working cart horses) - but that sounds like it’ll be suitably Camden enough to me…

📊 This week’s one-click poll

We’ve asked this before, so let’s see if sentiment has changed in the overall results. Do leave us a comment after voting too, as it’s always great to hear your more detailed thoughts

Last week’s results to the question: Do you feel you are involved with enough real world communities in your daily life?

Yes - I love being part of a whole range of shared group endeavours
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 40%

Maybe - but I could/should probably participate in some more
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ 37%

No - most of my communities are now online
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 23%

and some of your comments:

“I’d love Camdenist to give a regular focus to the local groups and organisations out there.”

“I wanted to touch on last week. I HATE going out these days in fear of a techie booking or having to order via an app - it infuriates me! I did want to say after working at Camden Market that the rental prices are F**king ridiculous, hence paying £10 for potatoes and sauce!”

“I enjoy being part of various communities, especially with the coming of Ramadan. Sharing iftar and going to the special daily evening teraweeh prayers in the local mosque makes one feel part of the community (and wider world), experiencing the trials and joys of the fasting month together.”

“It’s great to bump into people you know in the street, in the supermarket, wherever. Not necessarily immediate neighbours but people you’ve met in person before, at some community group event.”

MORE CHANCES TO HAVE YOUR SAY

🛥️ Help shape Camley St

The Council and developer Ballymore Lateral are looking to transform the Camley St area into what they term to be a ‘sustainable, vibrant community,’ announcing plans for at least 350 new homes alongside workspaces, job and training opportunities, improved walking and cycling routes, retail, and public green spaces.

Locals are invited to drop-in and participate in a special design and learning event next Sat 15th Mar (11am-3pm) at St. Pancras Cruising Club, to engage in fun family activities and meaningful opportunities to shape the future of the area. More info here, where you can register to get involved.

FOOD & DRINK

🐦‍🔥 Phoenix rises as Camden Town’s latest pub opening

The chequered history of the lower Camden High Street arcade boozer, formerly The Cobden and latterly the short-lived Brondes Age, has taken another twist, but this one thankfully looks quite robust. Phoenix Camden is a gaming and drinking joint, with video consoles, piles of classic board games, a programme of live events and, most importantly, 16 taps featuring eight rotating beers from proper breweries such as Kernel, Deya, Track and Verdant.

There’s also what they rather modestly call “NY-ish” pizza from the acclaimed Freewheelinpizza, and some brand new blood-red livery, which certainly make the whole place catch the eye. At first glance, a strong new addition to the area’s line-up of hostelries. When you’ve given it a test drive, do let us know what you think…

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MORE CAMDEN CULTURE

🍾 Lafayette drops live gigs for theatre

Having hosted the likes of Charli XCX, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Maggie Rogers, Dave, Olivia Dean, Beck, Becky Hill, Anne-Marie, and The Pretenders, King’s Cross venue Lafayette is dropping gigs for the foreseeable future, but for quite an exciting reason.

The venue, along with its selection of it’s classy food and speakeasy drinks vendors, will instead be hosting the world premiere of Sabrage, a new theatrical experience combining circus and cabaret for a stage spectacle which takes its name from the ceremonial practice of slicing open a champagne bottle with a saber.

“This year, we’re excited to evolve and expand our definition of what an arts venue can be,” explains Lafayette founder and Mumford & Sons star Ben Lovett. “With Sabrage, we’re introduce a one-of-a-kind experience to Lafayette, blending creativity and innovation in new ways.”

It will be really interesting to see how this one goes. The show opens on Mar 15th and is booking until 6th July.

📚 St Giles excellent Farsight Gallery is currently hosting the Rock and Roll Public Library, an exhibition stuffed with artefacts and curious of 20th century pop culture, collected over a lifetime by British musician and songwriter Mick Jones. It’s open daily until 16th Mar. 

🐔 A Year Spent Grieving is the new show at Hypha HQ, the meanwhile-gallery to be found in the ground floor innards of the currently derelict Euston Tower. Using sculpture, film, paintings and sound, it aims to disrupt the space and ask visitors to consider how loss travels through the walls of the body. Open Tues-Sun until 5th Apr.

STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

🎭 Amy Winehouse movie spotlights Camden’s credibility and cliches 

👩🏼‍💻 A new home for celebrating youth culture is coming

📃 All the best bits from Camdenist back in 2024

🍞 Is Queen’s Crescent our neighbourhood’s ‘left behind’ market?

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