Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

A letter just dropped through y door asking for feedback. Here is mine:

"I hope the council considers the permanent closure of Wightman Road. Gradually commuters and long-distance drivers are realising they need to either use alternative main roads, or switch to public transport or cycling. The study shows that residents overwhelmingly do not own a car (61%), and prefer public transport, walking or cycling for their commute (82%)."

Tags for Forum Posts: harringay traffic study, traffic

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Esat , unlike you and my brother ( also a southgate resident) some of us don't want to live in the frozen northern wastelands beyond the north circular.
Just one point Esat, why are the needs of traffic more important than the needs of residents? By the way, I don't drive but rely on buses locally so am in the same traffic as you. Despite that I still want to see a reduction in traffic in my area.

This is a classic NIMBY argument. I want roads to drive on to get where I'm going but I don't want people driving past my house to get where they're going.

Isn't this the whole closure of Wightman Road arguement. I have yet to see a concrete proposal on how to improve the mess that is currently on Green Lanes and the impact that the closure has on Crounch End etc. It just seems to be a I'm alright Jack attitude or do as I do, because my way is the right way.

Pat, there have been loads of "concrete proposals" on this site and on the interactive website to improve Green Lanes e.g. needs longer bus lanes and longer bus lane hours, parking/loading restrictions, better traffic light phasing, changes to some junctions e.g. Alfoxton, St Anns, the Arena, changes to some bus stops e.g. Arena.

I don't know Crouch End so well so can't speak for them. But do we have to solve the entirety of North London's traffic crisis before we can benefit from the same traffic reduction measures in place everywhere else?

Green Lanes is not wide enough to have two bus lanes. Having longer bus lane hours and parking restrictions will not stop the current car park that is Green Lanes, which is a danger to health for all the people living in Green Lanes. The impact of closing Wightman has caused build-ups in Crouch End and even as far as Ally Pally during rush hour traffic and at weekends, so yes you need to have a plan that does not affect your neighbours. The current situation has only pushed traffic to other areas but your attitude is that is okay because 'I'm not affected'. The Parade is not only a through road but also a hub for families from all over London to meet and eat. For many of these people public transport may not be an option they want to choose.

I don't understand why you think extending bus lane hours and restricting parking wouldn't improve traffic flow? I had to drive northbound on GL recently and by far the longest part of the journey was while I was stood still waiting for a van to reverse park in front of me.

I also don't understand why you are now keen for families all over London to drive into the area to visit the Turkish restaurants. I'm sure you've posted before about the problems this causes with parking and congestion in the Gardens.

I accept we have to balance the interests of residents and traders, Ladders and Gardens, locals, visitors and through traffic, drivers and public transport users and cyclists. Reopening Wightman without any traffic reduction measures tips the balance very far away from the residents in that area.

I may not like families coming from all over London combining to Green Lanes to meet and eat but that would be selfish of me. I may moan about the inconvenience that free parking in the evening and on Sunday causes me but again it would be selfish of me to what to put a stop to all these people enjoying an evening out. The Parade used to be a horrible place with all the 'cafes'. It is now a vibrant and safe place and changed for the better so I may moan but it is a necessary inconvenience. I use the buses all the time to get to work and to get to central London. Green Lanes is only wide enough for one bus lane, which is directed to commuters going to work. Increasing the hours would have no real effect as the rush hour peak would be over. In the evenings, it would be better to have a bus lane in the direction of Turnpike Lane but Green Lanes is not wide enough. Preventing parking on Green Lanes during the day would be an option but that would mean more use of the side streets (the Ladder roads & Garden roads) as parking. It would also affect the business on the Parade and we will be back to more pound shops and 'cafes'.

Your last sentence, why is it ok to tip the balance to Crouch End and beyond? The current situation on Green Lanes is also untenable as it creates a hazard for crossing.

The long queues has resulted in impatient drivers stopping in the middle of pelican crossings and some don't even stop (and don't even get me started on the cyclists that think it is okay not to stop when people are crossing).
Bus lanes are TfL's Red Routes by the back door.
It's a problem for all of us, most movement generators need to be accessible by public transport.

There are more than 2 Esat, its just not everyone comments or has time to read these posts. I've made my arguments above. The rights of residents to Health and Wellbeing should not be sacrificed to traffic expediency. This is not just a local challenge, its a London challenge and will only become more so with population growth; behaviour has to change. Check out the council and regional initiatives, lobbies and strategies. And I drive (rarely) but use public transport for meetings, work and getting around. And I would either walk to Finsbury Park (20 mins) or get the train (every 10 mins) or tube (every 2 mins). 

The campaign to keep the road closed seems very cycle-centric. I don't imagine that most car owners on the ladder are happy about being forced onto the gridlock on Green Lanes.

It also ignores the fact that many other roads in the area are suffering from increased traffic, and obviously pollution. I would say far more people are affected by NO2 levels on Green Lanes than on Wightman Road, as the foot traffic must be an order of magnitude greater. So why is it fair to shift all this extra traffic onto Green Lanes by keeping the road closed after the completion of the bridge works?

It is a moot point anyway are Haringey are going to re-open the road in September. Has the Living Wightman campaign proposed any other traffic calming solutions other than 'close the road and lets see what happens'?

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