Published: 2 February, 2012

• While not wishing to defend HS2 for a minute, I am at least able to allay the fears of Primavera Boman-Behram concerning subterranean rivers in the borough (Letters, January 26).

First, the course of River Fleet is a fair distance from proposed route of HS2 so is quite safe from any diggers, (but several tube lines do pass over or under it with little trouble).

Secondly, although I’m not sure what she means by “many more rivers running underneath Camden”; the only one nearby is the Tyburn.

As this 4ft-wide gushing torrent posed little problem for the railway pioneers going to Birmingham 175 years ago I doubt the HS2 engineers will be much trifled by it either – especially as HS2 will be deep underground itself by the time the two cross.

Of much more concern to local people should be the “automated people mover” options for a direct link between Euston & St Pancras, which could potentially drive a monorail right through the middle of Somers Town.

Tim Matthews
Albert Street, NW1