Recently I visited the public meeting where Camden Council was discussing the Arlington Road Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN). Well… telling locals what is happening whether we like it or not, whether it disadvantages older and disabled people or not. I raised their use of Camden Disability Action’s name in their flyer and was told: “What do you think was going to happen?” Well, maybe ask first? Maybe follow our requests?

Sadly, this whole incident has made me realize I will never be happy in Camden. There is no way of getting our needs considered by those who make decisions. We try, but are ignored. The borough wants disabled people out. To decrease our access to roads without increasing our access to public transport means our world shrinks. For non-disabled people it’s an inconvenience. For us, it’s life changing.

I feel that we are being used by the council. We are a box to tick, not a community to listen to. As I’ve said before I have never felt as disabled as I do now in Camden, a feeling which is growing weekly since we started coming out of lockdown.

END

Click here to read a Camden New Journal story in which Mik explains how Disabled people are being ignored in the borough.

And click here to read Mik’s Camden New Journal story about Camden Market’s poor level of accessibility.