A Labour MP has said that she will push for “residents’ voices to be heard” after a backlash over a cycle lane.
Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, said that she was aware that there were concerns about the cycle scheme in Haverstock Hill.
Camden Council recently closed its public consultation on whether to make the trial scheme in Belsize Park permanent.
Business owners in Belsize Park told the Ham and High that the lane installed by the council last year has affected trade, costing them many customers.
Dean Phipps, owner of Frame Factory, said that the cycle lane in Haverstock Hill had reduced parking on the street.
He said: “Some people just haven’t been able to deal with it because of the parking.
“The reason why we’ve maintained trade is because we are offering to deliver work for people, as opposed to them picking it up, at our own cost.
“It affects my business, it affects my customers, it affects my trade.”
Following the backlash, Ms Siddiq has now called on Camden Council to ensure residents’ voices are heard when considering proposals to make the scheme permanent.
She said: “I know from my correspondence with constituents and local businesses that there are concerns about the cycle lanes on Haverstock Hill and I have been raising these issues with Camden Council.
“It is important that cycling is encouraged and that our roads are made safe for cyclists.
“However, we must ensure that any changes to the design of our roads have the support of the local community so I will continue to push local authorities to ensure that residents’ voices are heard on this.”
The council’s consultation on making the cycle scheme permanent closed at the end of last month (May 28).
In May, Cllr Adam Harrison, cabinet member for a sustainable Camden, said: “Following the feedback received and lessons that we have learned during the trialling of the scheme, we are proposing to upgrade some of the features that we trialled but also make several further changes.
“The final decision on whether to go ahead with these proposals will be made based on evidence including our engagement and consultation responses, relevant policies, officer observations, and other data and information collected over the course of the trial.”
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