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 Michael Anderson on
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Over the time period for the data it seems be around the 20-25k mark. If anything I would have imagined the January 2016 readings would be on the low side - the period after Christmas, drop in people going into central London, that kind of thing. I think the influencers are probably well outside of the immediate area. North Circular roadworks and so on.
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Sorry, that bit of Seven Sisters Road isn't the A10. Anyway I did a bit more looking at busy roads in the borough and they look like this (this is vehicle movement per day)
Green Lanes (N4/8 bit). 25,700
Wightman Road. 17,142
Ladder combined. 42,842
Other roads to compare this to
Seven Sisters Road (by Wikes). 18,294
Broad Lane (A503). 37,370
Turnpike Lane (Wightman junction). 12,983
Bounds Green Road. 21,332
A10 (junction White Hart Lane). 29,044
A1 (near Highgate station). 24,695
A1 Aylmer Road. 31,256
That means that Wightman Road is taking traffic volumes on par with Seven Sisters Road and that the area as a whole takes more traffic than the busiest part of the A1 as it passes through Haringey.
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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Biggs on
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I must admit as a resident of the ladder roads, it is lovely to walk along whiteman road at the moment. I was thinking it would be a great time for a street party or street market. It would be wonderful for all local residents if an alternative to full closure or fully opening the road again could be found. Green lanes from the Salisbury Pub to Haringay Station Bridge is a nightmare - trying to get out of B&Q car park is practically impossible. Decisions on what will happen to whiteman road obviously needs looking at in relation to all other roads in the area, as a change in one impacts on another. I hope they have some creative thinkers in Harringey council.....
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Door to door collection?
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Hi souvarine, you will need some funds I'm not sure about applying for official road closures, but power (sound systems, lighting, cooking perhaps) it depends what's beening planned. security ( if your thinking you may get a couple of thousand people) first aid, toilets ( unless your offering yours) children's entertainment, a band to play possibly, all needs paying for and usually up front.
I think £2500 is a fantastic deal. But the money will have to come from somewhere.
( I'm not being flippant, for those who read my previous post)
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Permalink Reply by Anna on
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Agreed, the map is a very useful visualisation of the degree of road closures across the area which coupled with the train lines and parks etc squashes East to West traffic down West Green Road and St Anne's Road into that stretch of Green Lanes going South.
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