Islington Council has been accused of “cowardly” behaviour after its members voted against taking public questions at the annual Budget Meeting.
Residents who attended the meeting have accused the Council of using an “us and them” style after being banned from posing their questions about planned changes to the gyratory transport system on Archway Road– changes that residents say will see 50 empty buses an hour coming down Archway Road simply to turn around.
The public had been informed that Councillor Claudia Webbe, Islington’s transport leader, would be answering questions on the matter.
But when at the start of the meeting the Mayor asked councillors to vote on whether or not they would take questions from the public gallery, they resoundingly voted “no”.
Attendee and Archway resident Chris Sparks said: “This is downright disgusting behaviour and something I would never expect from a Labour council.
“We were upset, there is no need for this us and them style. That is not democracy.”
At Islington Council budget meeting. Shocking treatment of public asking important questions on pollution by the Labour Cabinet #islingtonfc
— Ben Hickey (@BenMCHickey) February 25, 2016
Plans to remove the gyratory system on Archway Road were announced earlier this year by Transport for London (TfL).
The scheme will see the one-way system made two-way. Bus stands from the existing site on Vorley Road will be moved to on-street locations, meaning new bus stands on Archway Road.
Transport for London, which is implementing the change, says the scheme will make the area safer and more attractive, making it more pedestrian- and cycle-friendly.
Residents fear the scheme will worsen pollution and increase congestion around the Archway area, displacing traffic onto residential streets. A high-speed crash outside the Vorley Road nursery at the end of last month raised further alarm about the impact increased traffic will have on an area with a high population of children.
A peaceful protest was staged outside the Town Hall before the budget meeting and a petition against the plans has gathered more than 1,000 signatures.
@JamieBullenES Peaceful protest against gyratory changes at Islington Town Hall last night. Whole council entered by back door to avoid us! — Anna Offer (@Anna_Offer) February 26, 2016
Chris Bailey, resident of Harberton Road, said: “The idea that [the council] would consciously work with TfL on a scheme that puts that level of unnecessary bus journeys through a residential area past all these kids walking to school beggars belief.
“I find it remarkable and depressing that they didn’t at least give people the opportunities to make their views heard. By not doing that, they increasingly suggest they have something to hide.”
During the meeting Councillor Webbe gave two responses to questions that had been submitted by residents on the issue. They both received booing and heckling from the public gallery.
The first question came from Kiat Phua, who is campaigning against the plans.
She said: “Many parents are alarmed by the accident outside Archway Children’s Centre on 28 January .
“Could the council make Vorley Road safer by banning left turns from Junction Road as part of the traffic reversal – and look into separating Vorley Road from MacDonald Road as part of the longer-term plan for more affordable housing in the area?”
The second, from Jenny Thompson, questioned what would be done to ensure the 600-plus families who regularly use the centre are not exposed to high levels of pollution as a result of the changes.
Cllr Webbe’s responses to both questions were met with shouts from the public gallery including: “It’s too late!”, “It’s a dog’s dinner!” and “Did you consult your tenants on Anthony Road? No!”
Since the meeting, Cllr Webbe has told Islington Now: “The Council responded to the consultation on behalf of residents and represented all the views expressed as part of its response.
“Our response to the consultation is publicly available and I believe is detailed on both TfL’s and the Council’s website. We were praised by all for fairly representing their views.”
Picture: Google Streetview
Please correct – The Council did not consult on the TfL gyratory removal scheme at Archway, TfL consulted on this. The Council responded to the consultation on behalf of residents and represented all the views expressed as part of its response. Our response to the consultation is publicly available and I believe is detailed on both TfL’s and the Council’s website. We were praised by all for fairly representing their views. Please correct.
Councillor Claudia Webbe
Executive Member for Environment and Transport
Labour Member for Bunhill Ward
Mr Boris Johnson
Mayor of London
Greater London Authority
City Hall
The Queen’s Walk
London
SE1 2AA
13th January 2015
Dear Boris,
Archway Gyratory Proposals
I am writing to provide Islington Council’s formal response to the recent consultation on the proposals
to remove the gyratory at Archway. A more detailed technical response to Transport for London has
also been prepared and is appended to this letter.
First, I would like to thank you for the work that your colleagues at Transport for London have done so
far in terms of engaging with the local community and groups in the lead up and during the public
consultation, including presentations at the local Ward Partnership meetings, and meetings with local
businesses and stakeholders (such as pedestrian and cycle groups).
The removal of the gyratory will bring significant economic, transport and place making benefits to the
local area. Relocation of the bus stand will unlock an important development site at the heart of the
town centre providing new homes for local people.
At this point in time, Archway is experiencing unprecedented levels of change with still further change
to come as key sites in and around the town centre are developed. The planned public space and
pedestrian improvements will make Archway a more attractive and inviting place to live and visit and
will support its revival as a shopping centre. Islington Council therefore continues to support the
removal of the gyratory and looks forward to working with Transport for London to further refine these
proposals and take them forward.
In particular, we look forward to working with Transport for London to develop detailed plans for the
new public space outside the station. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to create a new public
space in a densely built up urban area and it is important that this scheme makes the best possible
contribution to the regeneration of the area. We expect the Council and local community to remain
closely involved as the plans for the new space develop.
T
I am also very keen to talk to you and your colleagues at the GLA about how the development and
construction of this scheme can be used to provide employment and training opportunities for local
people. I would be grateful if you could let me know how I should best pursue this matter.
However, we have a number of concerns with the proposals, which we understand are shared by
residents and businesses. We hope that Transport for London will address these concerns as the
scheme progresses, although we recognise that in many cases this will be extremely difficult.
Displacement of Traffic into Local Streets
Residents are concerned about the displacement of traffic into local streets as a result of the
proposed banning of certain traffic movements, and in particular, the banning of the right turn from St
John’s Way to Archway Road/Highgate Hill.
Vorley Road and MacDonald Road
The banning of the above right turn will lead to increased levels of car traffic on Vorley Road and
MacDonald Road. To some degree this will be mitigated by a reduction in the number of buses that
will use these streets due to the removal of the bus stand. However, there are a couple of very
sensitive land uses located on these streets – the Vorley Road Children’s Centre and the Girdlestone
Estate, and we are concerned about the impact of any increase in traffic levels, and associated
impacts on air quality, on the children and residents. We are therefore asking Transport for London to
investigate some options that would eliminate or mitigate against this increase in traffic.
Cressida Road, Hornsey Lane and Hazelville Road
The banning of the right turn will also lead to increased traffic levels in these streets much to the
concern of local residents. Again we have suggested measures that will eliminate or mitigate against
these increases. In the event that these measures are not practical, we would ask that traffic levels in
these streets are monitored before and after the gyratory is removed and supplementary traffic
measures are implemented if necessary. This work should be carried out in close collaboration with
the residents of these streets.
St John’s Grove and Pemberton Gardens
There are also concerns that more traffic may use other local roads that are already used as a cut
through, such as St John’s Grove and Pemberton Gardens which has a school. These roads should
also be monitored, to ensure that any impacts are minimised and mitigated where necessary.
Relocation of Bus Stops
Whilst supportive of the proposals to remove all traffic from the western arm of the gyratory, we share
residents’ concerns about the impact that this will have on bus passengers. In particular, residents
are concerned about the increased walking distance between some stops and the fact that some bus
routes travelling in the same direction will be split across more than one stop (most notably for buses
to Archway Road). We have asked Transport for London to examine options to eliminate or mitigate
against these impacts.
Extension of Local Bus Routes
Local residents have suggested that local bus routes (routes 17, 41 and 390) could be extended
northwards to serve the Whittington Hospital and southwards (routes 143 and W5) to serve Upper
Holloway Station. Again we have asked Transport for London to give serious consideration to
residents’ suggestions – we are particularly keen to see improved bus access to the Whittington.
Cycle Facilities
The proposals provide substantial improvements for people cycling in the local area, but we think
further improvements are needed. The Islington Cycle Action Group has raised concerns and has
asked for further improvements to the scheme. We hope that Transport for London will carefully
consider ICAG’s concerns. In particular, we hope that Transport for London will explore:
• whether it is possible to extend the off-road cycle tracks further up Archway Road in both
directions; and
• alternatives to the southbound cycle track through the new public space to avoid conflict
between cyclists and pedestrians.
To accommodate the expected increase in cycling in the long term, and to provide alternatives for
people who prefer to cycle on quieter roads, we hope to continue working with Transport for London
to improve the wider cycle route network.
Pedestrians
The proposals provide substantial benefits for people walking in the local area. However, we would
ask that as the scheme progresses to the detailed design stage Transport for London explores
options to widen and declutter the footways particularly on Holloway Road, St John’s Way and the
south side of Junction Road. We also hope that Transport for London will implement a wayfinding
strategy to make it easier for pedestrians to navigate their way around the newly redesigned town
centre.
Traffic calming and 20mph speed limit
To further encourage walking and cycling, to make the area feel more safe and welcoming, minimise
impacts on air quality, and to mitigate against any displacement of traffic in local streets, it is essential
that traffic speeds are reduced and physical traffic calming measures are implemented. As Islington
is an enforceable 20mph borough, we would like to see the 20mph speed limit to be extended to
cover TfL’s roads as well.
Air Quality
Whilst it is likely that air quality will improve in some parts of the town centre, other areas will be
exposed to increased traffic levels and possibly a reduction in air quality – notably on Vorley Road /
MacDonald Road and St John’s Way. We hope that Transport for London will work with us to
properly evaluate the impact that the proposals will have on air quality and to develop measures to
mitigate against any adverse impacts where possible.
Loss of Trees and Green Space
The proposals could lead to a loss of around 25 trees in a densely built up urban area and the loss of
a small area of the Archway Corner green space. We therefore hope that Transport for London will
ensure that the final scheme includes a tree planting and greenspace strategy to increase the amount
of green space and the number and quality of trees in the local area as the scheme is built out.
Parking and Loading
Local businesses are concerned about the potential loss of parking and loading facilities within the
town centre and we look forward to working with Transport for London to examine how this can be
avoided or at least mitigated.
Management Arrangements
Following implementation of the scheme, we hope that we can put appropriate management and
maintenance arrangements in place to ensure that the new road layout and public space is properly
cleaned and maintained.
In conclusion, the council remains keen to see the removal of the gyratory go forward as we feel that
the benefits of the scheme outweigh the dis-benefits by far. However, it is vitally important that local
concerns about the scheme are fully and properly addressed. Whilst accepting that it may not be
possible to fully resolve every concern that has been raised, I hope that Transport for London will
work with us to properly consider these concerns in detail and amend the proposals wherever
possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss any of the matters raised in this letter.
Yours sincerely
Councillor Claudia Webbe
Executive Member for Environment and Transport