Actors join battle to save cobbled lane from lorries

Protesters led by actor Tom Conti lay down in the road as they tried to save a historic London street from becoming a rat run for lorries from a nearby building site.

The Shirley Valentine star is campaigning with other celebrities - including film director Ken Loach, actors Bill Nighy and Roger Lloyd Pack and Dave Davies of the Kinks - to protect the 10ft-wide cobbled lane off Highgate Road in Kentish Town.

Campaigners claim Little Green Street, which dates back to 1760, is under threat as developers want to use it as a through route for lorries supplying a housing development. According to protesters the development will involve 46-tonne lorries driving along the Georgian street every three minutes during building works, which could take four years.

Mr Conti, 66, who lives nearby in Hampstead, said: "I have a friend who lives here and was absolutely appalled when I heard about the plans to use this narrow street as a truck route. This development is going to make people's lives a misery for four years and have serious implications on their health, safety and homes."

Developers Euro Investments want to build 20 three-storey houses and 10 flats, plus underground parking for 17 cars on derelict land behind the cul-de-sac, which is used as a school run by many families in the area.

The developers have conditional planning permission, but have to convince Camden Council that what they want to do is possible and practical.

Elisabeth Payne, who has lived in the street for 14 years, said: "You've got people with buggies and wheelchairs using the street daily. There's about five primary schools in the area."

Lloyd Pack, who played Trigger in Only Fools And Horses, said: "I'm aware of the need for more housing but this plan is insane."

An on-line petition supporting residents has collected more than 2,500 signatures including those of MP Frank Dobson and former Kinks guitarist Davies.

The Kinks used the street for their promotional film for the single Dead End Street in 1966.