Susanna Wilkey CRICKLEWOOD is making a bid for freedom with a campaign to move the area from the borough of Barnet to neighbouring Camden. Residents have started a petition claiming Barnet Council has so neglected Cricklewood, which is right on the borde

Susanna Wilkey

CRICKLEWOOD is making a bid for freedom with a campaign to move the area from the borough of Barnet to neighbouring Camden.

Residents have started a petition claiming Barnet Council has so neglected Cricklewood, which is right on the border with Camden, that it should be adopted.

The Campaign to Save Cricklewood has been launched by Steven Deller, who is planning to present his petition to the Boundary Commission.

He believes Camden Council would be more supportive of residents and would prevent Barnet Council ploughing ahead with the controversial Brent Cross Cricklewood development.

The Cotswold Gardens resident, who has lived in the area for 27 years, said: "What has become increasingly obvious over the last three decades is that Barnet is not interested in Cricklewood at all.

"Every time there is an issue the residents end up fighting the council. We want a review of the boundaries because Barnet does not care about us. They think we are expendable and they totally ignore us. This is an area which is more like inner London than outer London and we want to become part of Camden.

"The whole reason that this Brent Cross Cricklewood proposal exists is because Barnet is not interested in Cricklewood."

The �4billion Brent Cross Cricklewood scheme will create a new town centre as well as 27,000 jobs, 7,500 homes, doctors' surgeries, three schools, hotels, waste facilities and parks.

But some have opposed it claiming it will put too much pressure on the existing services, as well as increasing traffic.

Mr Deller continued: "These plans will do nothing for existing residents. The proposals are completely unworkable, particularly concerning extra traffic on the roads.

"The area would be better served by being part of Camden. If that happened Barnet could not alone decide on this development. I am currently distributing leaflets and so far I have had a lot of support."

Cricklewood is located between three main roads, the North Circular, the Edgware Road and the Hendon Way. Mr Deller wants the boundary to be redrawn along the Hendon Way so the area would automatically become part of Camden.

Mundher Al-Adhami, who lives on Clitterhouse Road, has signed the petition. He said: "The petition makes the right point. This area has been neglected for a long time. We have been living in this area for 19 years and nothing good has happened to it."

A Boundary Commission spokesman said it is already undertaking reviews but will not consider any new ones for the next year to 18 months. It encouraged anyone wanting a review to write in explaining why.

Deputy leader of the council Cllr Lynne Hillan, said: "Recent surveys carried out by the council have shown us that 80 per cent of Barnet residents are satisfied with the borough as a place to live while satisfaction with the council is also above the London average.

"The council works hard to improve quality of life and engage with residents in every area, including Cricklewood.

"I invite those people who have signed the petition to let us know their concerns through one of our engagement channels or by meeting or calling their local councillors and we will do our best to address them."

The petition can be seen at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Cricklewood.