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Camden is one of London’s most famous locales. But that means the neighbourhood gets extremely popular and, these days, to visit it takes a certain level of commitment. As soon as you exit Camden Town station, you will be faced with an overwhelming sea of people. You’ve just got to take a deep breath, mentally prepare yourself and cling onto your companions for dear life.
Part of the reason Camden High Street can be such a nightmare to walk up is the fact that there’s a busy road running right through it and pedestrians (up to 40,000 at peak times) are limited to the pavement. But that’s about to change.
As part of a trial by Camden Council, Camden High Street will become pedestrianised. To be more specific, it’s the junction at Parkway and Kentish Town Road up to the junction of Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent that’ll be shut off to transport.
The decision comes after a recent consultation in which more than 70 percent of respondents said they support pedestrianisation. TfL has coughed up £130,000 for the development of the trial, which will last up to 18 months.
All the buses that currently go along Camden High Street to Chalk Farm will be rerouted and travel along Kentish Town Road and Hawley Crescent instead but bus stops in the trial area won’t be changed. The trial will also see blue badge parking lanes installed on roads nearby and contra-flow cycle lanes set up.
Adam Harrison, cabinet member for planning and a sustainable Camden, said: ‘The high street is the first thing many people see when they exit Camden Town tube or get off the bus. But at peak times there can be as many as 40,000 people on the high street, creating significant overcrowding and a stressful experience.
‘So many people ask why the high street is not already pedestrianised – now we are delivering on that call.’
There’s no specific date yet, but Camden Council says that the trial is due to begin some time later this year.
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