Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Imagining Possible Futures for Wightman Road
With all the attention on the benefits and disbenefits of the current closure of Wightman Road , we haven’t yet spent much time thinking about what the future of Wightman Road might be. With both the current closure and traffic study, now is the ideal time for us to start that process.
I should perhaps begin by saying that I write in full knowledge of the problems caused by the current closure, including the significant impact on some businesses and longer queues at some ‘pinch points’ especially at ‘rush hour’. I’m also very aware that there is more traffic on some roads such as Hornsey High Street, Green Lanes and Turnpike Lane as well as other roads further afield. Alleviating those problems needs to remain uppermost in our minds.
It seems like the most discussed longer-term solution to Wightman Road’s woes locally is permanent closure. Could limiting access, in the current way be the best solution to the danger, pollution and noise caused by the traffic in the block of residential roads made up of Wightman and the ladder roads?
I was one of those who previously thought this was impractical. But now I’m beginning to question this assumption. I’ve been taken aback by seeing and hearing how significant a difference it’s making to people lives; small children cycling to school, cyclists calling out to each about how lovely it is, Wightman Roaders being able to open their windows for the first time, kids skateboarding, hearing birdsong, walking to the station actually being pleasant.
The dangerous pollution levels along Wightman Rd which breach EU limits presumably have been eliminated, taking significant numbers of people including children out of real danger. As others have said this option could also create a pleasant and safe cycling, jogging and walking route, not just for residents of the immediate area, but for a wider group of people across Haringey and beyond.
The other reason for my change of heart is that as time goes on, the level of negative impact gives cause for hope that it may be possible to find good mitigating solutions for the traffic and pollution dispacement. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be done in the surrounding area to help buses flow or/and avoid traffic queues? Can anything be done about the pollution in Turnpike Lane and Green Lanes? What else would we need to think about?
If permanent closure is not the answer, it will be gut-wrenching just to go back to the old status quo and I think the Council will have a fierce fight on its hands if it wants to do that. So what other possible solutions are there that might both allow for an improved quality of life but allow some traffic flow to other Haringey residents? I’ve read elsewhere on HoL about the idea of road-pricing, or limiting access to HGVs. What could we do to drastically reduce cross London traffic rat-running along Wightman and the Ladder roads, yet still permit some access to more local traffic?
Is permanent closure the only option or is there another way?
Tags for Forum Posts: harringay traffic study, traffic, wightman bridge closure, wightman road
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karen Alexander on
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Ian, this is a great idea. Definitely willing to help.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Me too
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Permalink Reply by Frederick Guy on
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Two-way was horrible because there was too much traffic. But, the loop system currently in place in most of the ladder seems a good half way.
Another approach would be to filter the ladder roads at the Passage, with a turn around on each side of the Passage and an emergency access gate at the Passage (the turn-arounds would require no parking in the bit near the Passage, and probably shared use pavements to accomodate the turn). Then filter Wightman at just one point - it wouldn't matter where - to cut N-S through traffic. That way, the two-way segments of the ladder roads would be shorter, and there would be no cars crossing the Passage, making it safer for kids to walk to N & S Harringay.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I'm not sure that you could accommodate enough space for lorries to turn though, Frederick.
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There are a lot of filtered streets in other boroughs - they seem to manage. In Islington, opposite Finsbury Park along Seven Sisters Road, for instance. I expect that bigger lorries have to back up, and others (those working for the council, for instance) may have keys tot he gate. Don't know, but it as I say it seems not to be an insurmountable obstacle.
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Possibly, but the roads off Finsbury Park, for example, are significantly wider than our streets. They have parking on both sides in addition to accommodating two-way traffic.
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They are wider, but not wide enough to turn a big lorry.
I think the lorry-turning criterion has been invented by people who don't actually want to do anything to restrict traffic, and it's got us all scared. Many, many local residential streets in the world do not have sufficient space to turn a lorry around, and life does not grind to a halt.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on
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How do you deal with muppets like this Frederick? Just outside Moka this morning. I watched him for 5 mins try to get down Burgoyne, but he could not urn because of the traffic island. I believe he went out the way he came in (the wrong way) down Umfrevrille!
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They don't come around every day. People who drive these things do know how to back up.
Traffic islands engineered so they can't turn into the road is another question.
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Bet they sell drones.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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Drones! That's a great thought Michael. Park up on a local lorry park area (TBA) and deliver the local stuff by drone TIC**
**tongue in cheek
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