Pavement in Camden unsafe and ‘like a ski jump’, pedestrians say

A pavement which was laid in north-west London has attracted criticism from local people who have complained it has been left “like a ski jump”.

The stretch of footway on West End Lane in West Hampstead was laid as part of a development on the road, but both Camden Council and residents said it was not what they were expecting.

Campaigners are now pressing to have a wider, level path put in place.

Janet Grauberg, a Liberal Democrat councillor for West Hampstead, said her “ideal outcome” would be that “all of those with an interest in this slope get together and work out a plan to get it fixed quickly”.

One campaigner, Bridget Dunne, said she did not think there was another pavement like the one in West End Lane “in the whole of London”.

“It’s really quite astonishing that they thought that this was acceptable.

“We had no idea what was being built until they took the hoarding down, and then we saw this incredible slope, this very dangerous trip hazard here, and it replaced what was a very wide, very level pavement,” she said.

Ian Ferrie was similarly annoyed: “They’ve made a ski jump. That is very, very dangerous for older people.”

Camden Council apologised to residents for any inconvenience.

A spokesperson said: “The work to the pavement was carried out by the developer without permission.

“With agreement from local groups, the planter was placed on the footway to better mark out the sloping pavement for pedestrians while we work to rectify the issue.

“We are moving forward with plans to upgrade the footway.”