Small is Powerful.A Local Transformation Plan for

Camley Street, Granary Street, St Pancras Way, and part of the Regents Canal, London, NW1.

Where there is the will, there is usually a way.

Small is Powerful

Dedicated to all who live in, or work in,

or visit, Camley St, Granary St , St Pancras Way or the Regents Canal, Camden, London, NW1.

Published by Realistic DreamsSt Pancras, London 2011.

Words by Chris Sanders.

Photos by Schmook.

Ideas from all over.

www.smallispowerful.co.uk

Contents

Introduction 1

1. Drinking Fountain Renovation Project. 3

2. Water Tower Development 7

3. Ideas for Wasted Roof Space 11

4. Regents Canal & Towpath 13

5. Granary Street Mooring 19

6. New Boat Moorings Proposal 21

7. A Small Unused Space Development 25

8. Potential Local Growing Spaces 27

9. Growing walls for Granary St 35

10. Wild Blackberry Idea 39

11. Local Wildlife Residents 43

13. Street Cleaning & Litter Picking 47

14. Community Retail Warehouse Shop 49

15. Local Construction & Developments 53

16. Conclusions 55

17.Local Contacts 57

18. Maps 59

Introduction

It seems to be a universal law that if you put several small things together (positive or negative) they always add up to something bigger. This little book covers just three streets and a stretch of canal in St Pancras, a small area of Camden, North London, NW1.

Each chapter is a relatively small project or simple idea, but combined something much bigger is created. Small becomes powerful. Using this simple principle we can efficiently transform a busy but tatty area, full of wasted opportunities and neglect, into something much better.

The over all result creates employment, housing and income for the local area. It generates clean electricity and attracts tourism. It cuts crime, pollution and litter. It improves the quality of life for local residents, visitors, and those working in the local area.

The most exciting aspect of this ‘Small is Powerful’ principle is that if the strategy works in one local area, it can work anywhere there is the will to make things better.

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.However all the ideas and proposed projects detailed in these pages require the support and agreement of those who control the areas discussed.

In every case the permission of a landlord or the local authority or other gate keeper is required, sometimes all three. For example the plan to create new boat moorings (page 21 ) requires the agreement of property landlords on St Pancras Way, Camden Council and British Waterways.

If this is you, these proposals need your support and you will benefit. If you are a local resident and you want to get involved in any way, please get in touch. This is a plan where everyone can be a winner.

There have been a lot of changes in the world, but one thing remains the same; where there is a will, there is usually a way. Thank you.

Chris Sanders, St Pancras, August 2011

Introduction

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1. Drinking Fountain Renovation Project.

In the Middle Ages people came from all over Europe to the seven natural ‘Healing Springs of Islington’, the most important spring being next to the Old St Pancras Church on St Pancras Road, NW1.

This is one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England, established about A.D. 314. Previous to the Christians it is believed a stone circle existed on the site.

In the 18th century the church and spring, and later the drinking fountain pictured above became a meeting point for some of the greatest writers and poets in English literature including Lord Byron, Coleridge, Yeats and William Blake. Mary Shelly wrote ‘Frankenstein’ while living close by.

By the time Charles Dickens died (1870) all of the ‘Islington’ springs had been polluted and covered over except for the one at St Pancras which was saved and converted into a classic Victorian drinking fountain (1877).

The drinking fountain continued to be functional until the late 1970’s when it was sealed, blocking the flow of water. It has remained blocked ever since. In 1998 it was officially registered as a British Listed Building.

At no cost to the local authority, we want to let the spring flow once again.

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Drinking Fountain Renovation Project.

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Drinking Fountain Renovation Proposals:

1. Renovate the drinking fountain so that it works for the purpose it was intended.

2. Using the fountain’s unique historical & literary connections, make it a tourist

attraction in co-ordination with the proposed Heritage Center (see page ).

3. Bottle the water for sale.

4. Publish a small booklet detailing the history of the spring & the drinking fountain.

5. Organize poetry reading events by leading poets to publicize the drinking

fountain’s literary history.

Strategy:

1. Get permissions from Camden Council Parks department.

2. Apply for funding to the Drinking Fountains Association.

3. Co-ordinate with Camden Council and Heritage Centre project.

4. Have the water tested to prove is safe to drink.

5. Investigate bottling the spring water for sale. If possible launch a small business

project employing local people to market ‘St Pancras Spring’ water.

6. Research & publish free leaflet + booklet & postcard for sale at site & elsewhere.

7. Organize publicity including launch event at site with readings by leading writers.

8. Get listed in all tourist information sources.

9. Establish long term maintenance and protection fund.

Drinking Fountain Renovation Project.

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2. Water Tower Development

In a city with limited space this extraordinary local landmark, part of the Camden

Hospital on St Pancras Way, is screaming out to be developed in an imaginative way. perhaps as a gallery or simply for visitors to safely look at the view. At the moment it is wasted, and in some disrepair.

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Hopefully any development could keep the unique structural look while adding practicality.

Water Tower Development

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Sadly the water tower is looking neglected and unused at the moment (Aug 2011).

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Water Tower Development

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3. Ideas for Wasted Roof Space

There are acres of roof space or ‘real estate in the sky’ in the area which is home to an unusual number of large warehouses and buildings.

Their combined roof space amounts to several football pitches, right in the heart of central London. In real estate terms this is a wasted asset worth millions

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Five ideas for using wasted roof space:

1. The most obvious use would be as sites for the installation of solar panels. This would require a fairly serious investment commitment but with energy prices constantly on the increase, and the efficiency of solar power technology much improved, a ‘Solar Farm’ business plan could work.

2. The creation of ‘Roof Farms’ for commercial agricultural purposes would require investment, but given the price of farm land in Britain plus energy and transportation costs, this idea is worth seriously considering. Using economies of scale both in construction and farm management, investment in such projects could be profitable and would certainly bring jobs to the area.

3. The combination of solar and food roof production could make a lot of sense. The power required for the food farms could be purchased from the local solar roof energy providers.

4. With housing space at a premium in London, creative architecture could utilize some of the ‘real estate in the sky’ in the area to provide both luxury and affordable housing.

5. Due to the number of daily Google satellite map search ‘hits’ for central London some of this wasted roof space could be considered as a form of internet advertising. However given the potential value of this space for solar and food production, this might be a waste.

Ideas for Wasted Roof Space

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4. Regents Canal & Towpath

One of the greatest assets of the local area is the Regents Canal which passes through, making a tranquil waterways and towpath connection between Camden and Kings Cross.

Although a large number of Londoners do not even know that there are canals in London , this stretch of canal and towpath is heavily used by the people who do; boaters, walkers fishing people and cyclists. An amazing amount of wildlife also live on or alongside the water.

The St Pancras Cruising Club at St Pancras Lock (pictured right) is ‘home port’ for a number of local boats. There is also a busy dry dock for boat maintenance, plus a Club Bar in the beautiful converted Victorian Water Tower which was moved from its original location serving St Pancras station in an admirable act of preservation.

The club also has beautiful gardens which are kept up by members and there are plans to rebuild the old club house with a £240,000 development.

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The Regents Canal & Towpath

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The canal follows the path of the natural Fleet River which once flowed through St Pancras joining the Thames at Blackfriars. At one time the Fleet, which is now the ‘Fleet Sewer’ allowed large sailing vessels to dock at Kings Cross.

A plan to bring the Fleet River back to Kings Cross is supported by the Mayor of London although it has proved controversial amongst planners and engineers. Some say it is possible, others say it is impossible, if only because of the cost.

But there are some aspects effecting the local Regents Canal and towpath which are definitely improvable, and at little expense.

1. The canal towpath is an excellent route for cyclists in London, but sometimes they go much too fast. A few friendly ‘Cyclists Go Slow Please’ signs might help.

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2. The worst problem at the moment is the large quantities of litter floating down the canal from Camden Market.

3. Another blight effecting the canal towpath is the unwinable ‘graffiti war’ which sees the graffiti being removed only to reappear. One solution would be to install large picture frame graffiti boards at good locations and encourage the artists to use these displays instead of just anywhere.

For example a local graffiti art prize could be given once a year which would include a guaranteed interview at a local art college, and coverage in the Camden Journal.

Graffiti is a type of art even if we don’t like it. Graffiti is saying something important otherwise it would not be there. As the recent riots in Camden have shown, we need to listen - even if we don’t always like how the message is expressed.

The Regents Canal & Towpath

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Several community boats such as ‘Angel II’ and the historic ‘Tarporley’ (built 1938), regularly pass though the area giving access to canal boating experience to all kinds of people .who might not otherwise get an opportunity.

But there are other ways to get on the water which don’t have to be nearly as expensive as a narrowboat..This simple Anglo Saxon style coracle looks fun and costs £400 from Arrow Craft Engineering

There is even a local plan to bring a new design of craft which will allow cyclists to make their bicycles amphibious.!

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Boats passing though from top left: Tarporley by the Guardian, Beauchamp electric boat, fuel delivery, at St Pancras Lock, small working boat, traditional working boats.

The Regents Canal & Towpath

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5. Granary Street Mooring

Granary Street Mooring, NW1 0NF, owned by Camden Council, is an excellent example of wasted neglected space being turned to good use .

For over 30 years it was unused except as an unofficial rubbish dump. In the 1980s it was squatted by a couple of boats who cleared up a little, but they were evicted and site returned to being a rubbish dump and local eyesore for another 25 years.

Finally in November 2007 it became an official mooring for three boats who pay rent and council tax. Thanks to a lot of work and negotiation, and the support of local Camden Councillors, three legal moorings were created for boats forced leave a previous mooring at the ‘Goodsway Basin’ due to the Kings Cross Development.

Apart from providing mooring space for three boats, the development has benefited the local area by removing an unsightly rubbish tip, and it has made made a lonely stretch of the tow path a lot safer. A further improvement has been the creation of allotment space (see next page).

There are plans for more growing spaces, bee hives and a ‘growing wall’ ( page 35).

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Granary Street St mooring allotment space development:

The land on the mooring has been turned into an allotment and garden after being completely cleared of literally tons of buried rubbish and broken glass. In what are now food grow growing areas the land was hand cleaned and replaced with new compost provided by a local project run by the Alara Warehouse on Camley St.

The result is a new allotment space which is part of the London-wide ‘Capital Growth’ project to encourage the development of new food growing spaces in London. The site is also home to a rich variety of wild plants, some of which are relatively rare and have been saved from areas effected by the Kings Cross Development. Butterflies, bees, all kinds of insects, and a number of bird species are frequent visitors.

Granary St Mooring is now a thriving and useful space instead of a rubbish dump.

Granary St Mooring

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6. New Boat Moorings Proposal

All along the back of the old Post Office Sorting Office building on St Pancras Way, NW1 facing the Regents Canal is what looks like purpose built boat mooring space with big red signs saying; “Post Office Property. No Mooring or Landing” (pictured above).

This may be understandable for security reasons, but the buildings could be far more secure if there were some trusted boats permanently moored there. The long stretch of the tow path opposite would also be much safer. What is currently a rather unkempt and ugly frontage would be greatly enhanced by the romance of some beautiful narrow boats moored there. After all it is a canal.

Several thousand people have taken taking responsibility for their housing by living on boats as a solution to their housing needs, but they are currently facing a crisis simply due to a lack of moorings (see ‘Background’ next page).

It seems a crying shame to see this wasted mooring space when there are decent people ready to pay reasonable mooring fees and council tax, as well as the substantial British Waterways Cruising License. Practical proposals for some new moorings to be established off St Pancras Way, NW1 are on page 24.

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New Boat Moorings Proposal

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Background to London’s mooring crisis:

The government has recently announced it is to offer councils financial incentives to allow more moorings for houseboats on Britain’s waterways.This could help solve a mooring crisis effecting hundreds of people in London and elsewhere who want to live on their boats but have nowhere to moor.

Housing has always been a problem in London, but never has it been so expensive and out of reach for so many people who can’t get a council flat much less a mortgage, and who cannot afford private rents. Living on a boat has become a solution for some, but secure moorings, even on short term agreements, are very difficult to find.

Because of this, several hundred boats have taken to being ‘Continuous Cruisers’, meaning they have no mooring and have to move at least every 13 days, often staying at ‘Visitor Moorings’ or unofficial sites. Due to this practice there have recently been problems with British Waterways who control the canal network in London.

British Waterways say that boat numbers in London have gone up 39% in the past three years, and holiday cruisers can no longer find any space to moor. This is partly true, although ‘Continuous Cruisers’ often use unofficial mooring spaces which are not visitor mooring spaces, although of course this can also cause problems.

British Waterways has decided to enforce their rules in such a way as to make ‘continuous cruising’ almost impossible for those wishing to stay in London. This is intensifying the crisis for those without a legal mooring in London and elsewhere .

Partly the problem is simply the lack of space for new moorings. Islington Council recently decided there could be no new permanent moorings in the Borough because there is no suitable space left. But elsewhere in London, including Camden, there are still potential sites for new mooring spaces on the canal network.

If these sites were professionally developed, landlords would receive a reasonable rent, the Council would get Council Tax and British Waterways would get the ‘Mooring Fees’ they charge on top of their ‘Cruising License’ fees!

Property owners, businesses and tow path users would be safer from crime, and a considerable number of people and families who might otherwise be taking up council housing space, or getting behind on mortgages they can’t afford, or camping in friends living rooms, would be able to achieve some security in their lives.

Now that the government is even offering councils financial incentives for new mooring developments there really is no excuse for obvious sites to remain empty.

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Proposal for new moorings at St Pancras Way:

1. A feasibly study should be done into the establishment of boat moorings at St Pancras Way, including consultations with the property landlord, businesses leasing the building, Camden Council and British Waterways.

2. If all practical, legal and financial issues are addressed, a mooring management company ‘St Pancras Moorings Limited’, run by experienced people, should be established to co-ordinate the development.

3. The company would raise the necessary investment to create safe and secure mooring spaces, and would then be responsible for day to day management, mooring fee collection and maintenance.

4. The site will be developed to ensure complete security for the building behind the mooring as well as the mooring itself. Each boat will have a water connection and separately metered electricity supply.

5. Only attractive and well kept boats will be considered. Background checks and interviews will be done.

6. Legally agreed mooring access agreements will be absolutely non-transferable with one months notice stipulated.

New Boat Moorings Proposal

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7. A Small Unused Space Development

This large expanse of pavement on Camley Street, NW1 is completely wasted. It is also a paradise for drug dealers, muggers or rubbish dumpers .

This unusual space is so big you could build a house there according to a local architect.

Or it could be nicely fenced off with a gate, and turned into a secure growing area for local people.

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A Small Unused Space Development

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8. Potential Local Growing Spaces

Outside the Alara Warehouse on Camley St NW1 is a simple example (above) of how wasted space can be turned in to a useful food growing space.

All round the area are small plots of unused land, council & privately owned, which are often derelict areas collecting rubbish and litter and encouraging rats. Meanwhile hundreds of Camden residents are on waiting lists for allotments.

St Pancras Way on corner with Pratts St:

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These small plots of land add up to a large amount of space. If managed as a whole this valuable space could be efficiently developed and shared. There are plenty of people who wish to grow food and are prepared to be creative, and they are ready to help reclaim suitable wasted spaces to do so. The whole area would also be greatly improved with a number of eyesore spaces transformed.With food prices constantly going up for the foreseeable future, anything which enables even just a few local people supplement their diet with self produced locally grown vegetables can only be good .

St Pancras Way opposite the Coronation Pub:

This strip of land has been derelict for years. It has got some good black berry plants .These could be encouraged but there is plenty of space to grow other things. The fence badly needs replacing and a lockable gate installed for secure use by licensed people.

Sad to say most of the blackberries here are inaccessible due to the rusting wire fence; they end up rotting. Currently this strip of land is a total waste and an eyesore.

Potential Local Growing Spaces

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Camley St north of canal bridge:

Camley St south of canal bridge opposite Camden Coroners Court:

This is a long and surprisingly deep piece of wasteland backing onto the railway tracks. It is used as an unofficial rubbish dumping facility.

Camley St backing onto Old St Pancras Church Yard:

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North Camley St:

Left: excellent blackberry patch + growing area. Right: purpose built street growing area, but seemingly abandoned. Full of rubbish.

Far north end of Camley Street:

Above: A large area of sunny unused land, secure but wasted, i.e. ‘wasteland’.

Potential Local Growing Spaces

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Baynes Street strip facing Regents Canal towpath:

This is a long and fairly wide strip of land along side the canal which is well fenced and secured, but does not seem to be used for anything. It gets a lot of sun and would make an excellent growing area being close to the canal and relatively away from road pollution.

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Map showing some potential local growing areas:

There are of course many other other opportunities in the area should the owners wish. Marked above are areas which are under development as growing area (Granary St Mooring), disused public areas surrounding warehouses (Camley St), or along roads (Camley St, St Pancras Way), or next to Regents Canal Tow path (Baynes Street).

Proposal:

At least some, if not all of the pieces of land mentioned here could be systematically developed as growing areas, and efficiently managed as an allotment style ‘farm’.

A local co-ordination ‘Project Group’ could work with the council and property owners, and with Capital Growth who provide practical help and support as well as cash grants to encourage the development of new growing area in london.

Work could be done by volunteers who are on the council allotments waiting list.

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Some growing space creation examples

This grow box on Warren Street includes tomatoes and sun flowers.

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Above: Grape vines growing by the side of the Alara Warehouse in the industrial estate on Camley St. If it can work here it can work almost anywhere

Potential Local Growing Spaces

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These are a couple of simple ways to grow food at almost any location..

9. Growing walls for Granary St

A quiet, forgotten and predominately grey backwater, Granary Street, NW1, is one of the more desolate streets of Camden. Unusually most of the street is lined by brick walls, while at one end is Camden Mortuary.

Even one of the local councillors for the area did not know where Granary St was, but they do now! Being a fairly quiet back street it is often used as a ‘park and rest’ spot for taxi and van drivers, but it is also a well used ‘rat run’ for journeys between Camden and Kings Cross. It is the perfect site for a ‘growing wall garden’ project .

If the full length of this side of Granary St was one long growing wall it would transform the street, turning it almost into a park. Using simple techniques it could be a spectacular avenue of green and flowers.

Growing Walls For GRanary Street

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Part of the brick walling on Granary Street is almost purpose built for growing as some wild plants have already discovered. Growing boxes and a bit of planning would be better. Most of this side of granary street is in full sun light all day, it is a perfect growing site for all kinds of plants.

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The dilapidated and unsightly concrete wall on the corner of Granary St pictured below is Camden Council property (Granary St Mooring). Replacing it completely with a purpose built growing wall might be the best plan, but a simple growing wall installation (see over leaf) would be a lot cheaper, and would hide the ugly wall.

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A simple growing wall installation:

This simple growing wall was built on the towpath of Regents Canal in Kings Cross.

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10. Wild Blackberry Idea

Blackberries are a valuable cash crop and they are growing all over the area, often unharvested and wasted. There are excellent blackberry patches growing along the local stretch of the Regents canal, and on several plots of waste land in the area (see map).

Recently an excellent blackberry patch in the area was destroyed by Camden Council workers. Perhaps there was a good reason, but instead we should be encouraging this valuable natural resource in suitable areas. The brambles make also excellent security.

We should be farming this blackberry gold, harvesting and gathering it where ever it grows, then making Wild Blackberry Jam.

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The Blackberry Plan:

The idea is to establish a wild blackberry gathering ‘industry’ in the area, harvesting what may be the most valuable but wasted annual cash crop in London, and then make it into Wild Blackberry Jam, using recycled glass jars. This could involve local volunteers as well as having the potential to create paid employment or work experience, at least on a part time seasonal basis. Profits could be used for local fundraising.

Blackberry Strategy:

1. Identify, protect and encourage existing blackberry patches (see map p ?).

2. Find suitable sites for establishing new growth.

3. Locate good existing sites elsewhere in London in order to boost production.

4. Involve local people and organisations.

5. Following all Heath & Safety Regulations, establish production of Blackberry jam.

6.Market jam, profits going to local organisations, create employment, enjoy etc.

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Local blackberry patches

Wild Blackberry Jam Recipe

1. Lightly wash blackberries.

2. Simmer in pot with no added water for about 10 min stirring well.

3. Add approx. 1.5 cup brown sugar to 2 cups blackberries.

4. Add juice of lemon.

5. Boil very hard for at least 15 mins or until nice and thick.

6. Put in pre sterilized glass jars (boiled or heated very hot in oven for 15 mins).

7. Put grease proof paper on top of jam and then tightly seal lid to create vacuum

when cooled.

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Above: Blackberrys ripening and then ripe.

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There is a big wildlife population in the area who should be taken into consideration at all times ... or at least consulted.

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Above: Spider and the ‘Stealth Bug’.

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Above: some temporary affordable accommodation. Even the birds recycle now..

Local Wildlife Residents

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13. Street Cleaning & Litter Picking

Local businesses and residents pay taxes to Camden Council to keep the area clean, but all the waste ground in the area is full of rubbish and litter. Some of it looks like it has been there for years. Meanwhile bobbing down the canal is a constant parade of floating rubbish. This all adds up to a public health hazard.

Who ever is running Camden’s street cleaning operation is obviously not doing their job. They may blame lack of funding and ‘the cuts’ but that is not an excuse at all. It would not take much to keep the area clean but they don’t seem to want to do it.

Instead, one beer can and a MacDonald wrapper adds to another. Before you know it there is a rubbish tip, or if no one ever takes responsibility, lots of rubbish tips. This is a negative example of ‘Small is Powerful’ in action.

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People get depressed living or working in a area full of wayside rubbish everywhere they look. Visitors end up describing the area as ‘tatty’ or ‘run down’ and deciding not to return. This is litter blight; it cuts property values. We often do not even realize how much litter actually oppresses us psychologically. The rusting cans and rotting rubbish become subliminal, filling our brains with trash, when there could be flowers instead.

Litter is not only a public heath issue, it is a public happiness issue.

A litter blight solution:

As Camden Council’s street cleaning department is seemingly not fit for purpose in this area, there is another way to keep the area tidy.

The council could create opportunities in each local area for a limited number of local people to earn deductions from their Community Charge Bill by doing litter picking just around where they live, for just one hour a week.

Litter could become a thing of the past, at a very nominal cost to the local authority while greatly strengthening community spirit and involvement.

Street Cleaning & Litter Picking

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14. Community Retail Warehouse Shop

Every local area should have one, but nowhere does: A non-profit retail warehouse where you can go and buy good quality nutritious food and other goods at cost price.

‘Non Profit’ does not mean operating at a loss. It means no profit goes to shareholders. It means the customer only pays the actual cost of supplying the goods. This of course includes wages, rent, transportation, electricity, phone, taxes, maintenance, insurance and other unavoidable charges..

Costs and therefore prices are cut significantly by avoiding the use of expensive high street retail premises, by using some volunteer labour, dispensing with expensive packaging and advertising, sourcing as near to the local area as possible, and last but not least; simply following good business principles.

The ‘People’s Warehouse’:

The ‘People’s Warehouse’ sells good quality products at very heavily discounted prices: Fresh meat, fish and vegetables, beans and pulses, tinned goods, rice and pasta, dairy products, pre-cooked food, confectionary, soft drinks,. personal and household goods, toilet paper, cleaning products, personal hygiene products, tobacco and alcohol.

Good quality ranges of basic clothing such as jeans, coats, hoodies etc would also be available along with specially researched ‘best buy’ electrical goods and white goods.

Locally produced food, home baking products (with in health & safety regulations) and the product of local small business will all be available. A warehouse kitchen will produce good value nutritious ‘TV’ meals plus jams, cakes, bread etc

The Warehouse will provide financial services such as a ‘Credit Union’. Other services will include cost price broadband, travel insurance, and a home repairs job agency for trusted self employed local builders, plumbers, electricians etc.

Customers who pay a small annual ‘investment’ fee get a discount as do customers who volunteer to work several hours a week earning ‘points’.

Products will be sold in ‘small bulk’ or ‘large bulk’ to make the supply process more efficient and further cut costs. Ordering will be possible using the internet or phone.

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Transforming the health and the wealth of the community

As the world financial ‘crunch’ with reality continues, more and more people in Britain are going to have problems being able to afford to eat properly, but the Sainsbury’s ‘Basics’ answer is “less fruit, spreads more smoothly”.

Already today (Aug 2011) very few low-income families ever make the ‘Five a day’ vegetable and fruit target set by government nutritional health advisors.

Every week we are more or less forced to spend a considerable and increasing portion of our incomes at local supermarkets, but as transportation and energy costs escalate all super market food is set to continually rise in price.

There seems to be no escape as sadly the 99p shop does not sell vegetables although it has started to sell some food products; this is possibly a sign of the times.

Meanwhile the most expensive supermarket in Camden is the ‘Co-operative.’ This is sad and ironic as the ‘Co-Op’ was originally set up to provide cheap food.

Apart from rising energy costs, the main cause of high food prices is that supermarkets have to make a profit for their shareholders. This means every price the customer pays includes what amounts to a profit tax which goes to the

Community Retail Warehouse Shop

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shareholders. Almost every price is double or more what it actually costs the supermarket to deliver. This is how they make billions every year for their shareholders.

In fact supermarkets act as a sponge for local peoples wealth, moping it all up and taking it away. Almost nothing goes back to the local community except in the form of some low paid jobs and government taxes, and these are cut to the bone by expensive accountants.

Yet on Camley St, within a few minutes walk from thousands of people’s homes, there are several wholesale warehouses selling many of the same food products as the supermarkets at half price, or less. Unfortunately members of the public are not allowed to shop at these outlets, but they could supply the Retail Warehouse.

The health and the wealth of the community can be saved and transformed by the establishment of a non-profit Retail Warehouse Shop.This is as important for public health as having a local hospital. Every area should have one.

Above: The ‘Booker Wholesale’ warehouse on Camley Street, NW1, is open 6 am to midnight, but not for the general public. Everything is 50% or less than in the shops.

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Above: the Alara and Marigold wholesaler warehouses on Camley Street.

Community Retail Warehouse Shop

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15. Local Construction & DevelopmentsThere are a number of developments in the area or near by which are either already underway or are planned Some of these have been controversial but one thing is for sure; they are all going ahead.

Over all the main effect on the area will be more visitors and more local jobs. The surrounding area is being transformed from being a famously sleazy and run down area into an amazing cultural hub of activity, attracting millions of visitors and many new jobs and opportunities. It is essential that people in the local area share in that positive development where possible.

Local Developments:

1. Kings Cross Development. One of the biggest developments in Europe is transforming Kings Cross and the ‘massive ‘Goods Yard’ area behind the station, virtually derelict since the Second World War.

2. Travis Perkins Development, St Pancras Way. Recently agreed with Camden Council, this will see the huge Travis Perkins builders supply warehouse on St Pancras Way completely reconstructed to include 500 student accommodation places.

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3. UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation, St Pancras Road behind British Museum.While there has been some local opposition, this will bring hundreds of scientists together to create what is expected to be a medical research powerhouse. There are many potential benefits for the local area, but will they happen?

4. Regents Canal Foot Bridge, Camley St This bridge will connect the Goods Yard side of the Regents Canal tow path to the Camley Street Nature Park. This will open up the park to many more visitors and make a useful new route in the area. Next to the park the ‘St Pancras Cruising Club‘ at St Pancras Lock is planning a major redevelopment to replace their old club house.

5. Heritage Centre, Old St Pancras Church Yard. This area has an incredible history worthy of a Heritage Center for sure. With millions of new visitors to the area it will be a popular tourist attraction as well as being a valuable education facility.

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16. Conclusions

Above: Meeting room in Camden Town Hall, Judd Street.

At the moment these ideas for improving three streets and a stretch of canal in Camden are just ideas. They are all achievable, but how?.

One requirement for success which all these ideas have in common is that they require successful negotiations with the Council, with land lords, businesses and residents. Who is going to do this? At the moment no one is taking responsibility for the ‘micro area’.

The way to change the lack of anybody taking responsibility for small areas is to establish a body that does.

Such an entity would be a locally representative and legally established ‘Local Area Committee’ with a clear mandate to develop and maintain the area for which it is responsible.

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The local committee could include (if they wish to participate) local ward councillors from all parties, local business representatives, local residents representatives, local individuals and other local stake holders plus the police and local charities, local health workers and people with useful expertise such as builders, gardeners, architects and designers.

Once established, meetings of the Local Area Committee could be held quarterly, while for efficiency all agreed projects could be autonomously run by Project Groups who would also be responsible for their own fund raising and accounting.

In this way a representative entity with responsibility and power would be created to efficiently improve, develop and maintain the local area in a cost effective way, both in terms of time and money.

To help develop these ideas into reality please get in touch (page 58), or if you don’t mind, we might get in touch with you.

Conclusions

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17.Local Contacts

This is a partial contact listing of some of the companies and organizations who are

either based in, or have some connection with what happens in the three streets and

canal covered in this report.

Camley Street

Camley St Nature Park:: 020 7833 2311.

Camden Coroners Court & Mortuary: 020 7387 4884/2.

Marigold Health Foods: 0207 388 4515.

Brooker Wholesale: 0207 3872585.

Alara: 020 7387 9303.

Granary St

Granary St Mooring: 07869125620.

St Pancras Way

Old St Pancras Church: 020 7387 4193.

St Pancras Hospital: 020 3317 3500.

St Mungos Homeless Hostel: 020 7383 2748.

Travis Perkins 0207 391 7200.

The Constitution 020 7387 4805.

Camden Garden Centre (2 Barker Drive) : 0207 387 7080.

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The Regents Canal

St Pancras Cruising Club: 0207 278 2805.

Regents Canal Conservation Area Advisory Committee: 020 7485 0991.

British Waterways: 020 7985 7200.

Residential Boat Owners Association 07825 172021.

Fishing Licensing: 020 7985 7200.

Local organisations & services

Camden Council: 020 7974 4444.

Camden Councilors: 020 7974 5707.

Camden New Journal: 020 7419 9000.

Camden Borough Police: 101.

General Organisations & Services

Capital Growth: 020 7837 1228.

London Transition

London Cycling Campaign 020 7234 9310.

London Wildlife Trust: 020 7261 0447.

Small Is Powerful:

Website & blog. :Email: schmoontherun@gmail.com. Tel 07869125620.

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18. MapsA Local Transitional Development Plan, London 2011

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Maps

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Small Is Powerful