Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
Camden Councillors
The three Labour Councillors for the Bloomsbury Ward of Camden have continued to press the interests of the Covent Garden Community.
Our individual casework mostly arises from Friday surgeries at the CGCA offices in Macklin Street (upcoming dates are 27 July and 31 August, from 6.30-7.30, no appointment necessary). In recent weeks we have successfully dealt with rehousing cases and other individual problems.
We have also tried hard to defend the area and its people against unwanted encroachment from yet more late-night licences, and leisure and office redevelopment proposals. This is always difficult, as the legislation often opens the way to the proposers, and when we sit on the Council's quasi-judicial Committees we are bound by the requirements to be "fair" in terms of the existing law. We have, therefore, pressed proposals to change the ground rules so that they are more supportive of the needs of the local residential community.
The most serious problem currently is the growth in the drug-dealing and drug-taking activity in the area. We welcomed the Lilac Project and the fact that Camden Council seconded to it very hard-working and dedicated officers. But we are gravely concerned at the way in which displacement of drug activity to the area just outside the narrow boundaries of Lilac is making things worse for many residents who live there. We urge residents to report incidents they see, even if it doesn't seem as if much happens. Camden Council has also started rapid response on clearance of street encampments, and we recently arranged for the Chief Executive to visit along with officials and local police.
Other aspects of apparent tolerance also need to be dealt with, and we have lobbied hard for more enforcement, for example of illegal hot-dog sellers. We continually press for more environmental improvements to the area, for car-free days, and traffic controls.
Contact us with your ideas, problems, and proposals, via Members Services, Camden Town Hall, 020 7974 5798, or through the CGCA.
Cllrs Peter Brayshaw, Pat Callaghan and Nirmal Roy
Covent Garden Community Association Annual Report 2000-2001
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