LCC Broadcast News Room

Tube Lines, the body charged with reforming the underground, have sheduled over a year and a half of weekend closures on the Northern Line starting in March, with Camden and surrounding areas thought to be worse affected.

Around 80% of business at the towns famous market comes from tourists and the majority of them use the tube.

The closures are likely to affect Camden Town station and others to the north, athough the final list of affected stations is yet to be released.

Tube Lines have already been criticised for huge delays in completing works on the Jubilee Line which are expected to finish in October, 10 months late.

However, Tube Lines insist that the work will transform the Northern Line and provide a new signalling system allowing more trains to run per hour.

A Transport for London spokesman said: "The Mayor and TfL are pretty furious at this latest demand from Tube Lines.  We believe Tube Lines' demand shows they have not learned from the delayed and hugely disruptive Jubilee line upgrade.

"The Mayor and TfL are calling on Tube Lines and its shareholders to think again and urgently review its Northern line programme."

One local stall holder Clive Varlar told LCC News; "we've got a petetion up but even the mayor says he can't do anytnhing about it. We've just got to hope for the best."

A source close to the Mayor told LCC; "Boris is more furious about the PPP the more he thinks about it and is simply not prepared to be carried bound and drugged into responsibility for Tube Lines malpractice for the next seven and a half years,".

Commuters were equally unimpressed. Camden resident Jess Seldon said the closures would lead to a loss of business for her. 

"I am a massuse and rely on the tube to get to digfferent jobs. A lot of my clients can only see me in the evening and if the tube closes I will be stranded. I intend to write to the Mayor this afternoon." 

Click here for the official guide Camden Market