Canalside market sunk - No loss to the visitors

No loss to the visitors

There are acres and acres of stalls and markets in the Camden Town area, and the local residents made it perfectly clear that they did not want even more market, some of which is very tacky, right in the heart of their community. The loss of the expansion of the markets at Hawley Wharf would not deprive visitors and tourists of anything, and in fact it could be an opportunity to provide a wider range of attractions and facilities for the visitors, as well as a much improved canal experience for them.

It should be noted that authorities such as the Mayor's Greater London Authority, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment CABE, English Heritage and others would not back the plans.

British Waterways 'no objection'

However, Camden Council, the ones who shoehorned the Kings Cross development through, supported the Hawley Wharf market development had recommended consent. So did the main authority whose responsibility is the well-being and good order, and the secure long-term future of the canals, British Waterways, that had ‘no objection' to the planning application. In fact British Waterways said that the scheme would celebrate and enliven the canal, and that this would improve safety on the towpath! What a lot of nonsense we have to put up with.

The British Waterways support for the Hawley Wharf market application is unfortunate, and flies in the face of years of difficulties for boaters with disorder at the locks at Camden Town, and the recognition that Camden Town is the busiest honeypot site on the canal network, by a long way. The photo  from back in June 2010 leaves no doubt about that, and it has become busier still over the years.

It was not for the lack of trying that British Waterways' disinterest in Camden Town persists, as many letters and complaints have been made to British Waterways for years about the standard of maintenance, lack of security and safety for boaters in the area. Letters to the Chief Executive seem to have had little effect, even though British Waterways is so often obsessed with Health and Safety. It does not even appear to have prompted visits from British Waterways management to Camden Town on busy weekends to see the problems for themselves.

Not a good omen?

The attitude of British Waterways is a worry when a serious situation is dealt with by the community who recognise the problems, yet British Waterways does not back them up, or as in this case of the Hawley Wharf market, goes against them.

Is this a portent for the future of our waterways when more and more is left to the community, that British Waterways is just not there to assist and provide guidance, as well as work alongside the community. Is this a clue that the waterways will continue to be dealt with just as before by the navigation authority, ineffectually and without much responsibility and leadership?

Illegal market stalls

The present Hawley Wharf market with its ‘beach hut' stalls was constructed in the conservation area without planning consent after the Camden Town Fire in February 2008. Also the fence that separated the market from the canal was removed illegally, with the go-ahead being given specifically by the British Waterways London manager, even though it is illegal to carry out any demolition in a conservation area without planning consent.

There is a strong movement by the locals calling for enforcement action to be taken by Camden Council to smarten up the ‘temporary' market which will not now be rebuilt for a number of years, and for some form of dividing fence to be replaced to protect the canal from intrusion of the commercial pressures of the market.

We hope to see calm restored to the Regents Canal, and then Jenny and Alex (pictured at Hawley Locks) with their delightful London Canal Cruises on Helix will once more be able to say to their guests ‘welcome to Camden Town'.