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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I think that maybe you could try looking at it a different way Paulie. Stand on Wightman Road and think "If I was planning traffic flows for the borough, would this be the right place to take over 100,000 vehicles a week"
Just because that is how things have ended up doesn't mean it is right or that it should always be that way.
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Permalink Reply by Paulie on
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I freely admit I had no idea just how many cars it took but also that I have no real idea of how that number relates to traffic flows in other areas. I think I have made it abundantly clear that if I could I would reduce car usage hugely. Of course I myself am a driver (and cyclist and pedestrian) but try not to use the car too much or just drive around showing off like many on GL seem to be doing. So I think my view would be
(a) this seems like a good road for getting to Stroud Green / Finsbury Park / Crouch End etc especially as it will relieve queues on GL
(b) we must make sure that usage is controlled and reduced where possible by hugely taxing use of single-occupancy cars etc.
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Now we're talking Paulie! Lots of data on this thread.
http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/traffic-survey-data?id=...
My road (Warham) is a major feeder road for Wightman. Look at how the number on my street compare with somewhere just the other side of Green Lanes like Warwick Gardens.
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I didn't say that I thought the road should go back to taking 100,000 cars a week. I was simply pointing that it is a road; it was designed as a road; and we have been able for decades to be able to use it to go north / south etc. However I can see how living on it must be pretty crap in recent years and would support moves to reduce flows.
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We would not want to close it because it has made GL far worse and that is bad for drivers (boo), residents, cyclists and pedestrians and because it removes a useful and longstanding vehicular (or cycle) route from Harringay to Finsbury Park and Crouch End and to many, many other areas.
I have an elderly relative who I often need to take to Finsbury Park station. I can't now, so have to take this person to Seven Sisters instead - thereby increasing traffic for the residents of Tottenham.
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Paulie, I rely on buses on GL and it's been rubbish for the past few weeks but it is actually getting better. I think that there is a bit of short term memory loss going on though. Before the closure of Wightman I would often walk to Manor House as the bus took up to 30 minutes sometimes to get there from the stop by Iceland. Coming back the other way I've also frequently given up at Manor House station as the traffic tailed back into Seven Sisters Road and towards Stokie and walked. It's been going on for years. As my husband can't manage walking too far we played "beat the bus" and I normally won. What we have at the moment is crap but it always has been.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on
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As annoying as working out which point you are replying to Paulie with your browser-that-will-not lay-ball?
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Permalink Reply by Antoinette on
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Touche
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Well, not really. I have been trying to reply to people and have been let down by the tech. I haven't posted and then quickly edited my post to deal with someone's comments which is what appears to have been happening. If you have an answer to my posts you can just post a response!
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No, you seem to have worked it out now Paulie- but compounded the confusions with a changed avatar...
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Permalink Reply by Karen Alexander on
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So, at Manor House, come off Green Lanes and go through Finsbury Park then cycle the whole length of the lovely, peaceful, cycle friendly closed Wightman Road - hey presto - you don't even have to use any of the Green Lanes stretch of Harringay.
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I go through Finsbury Park as it is - I then come out by the Beaconsfield onto GL and head home. WR is of no use to me because I would have to get off and push for five minutes and then cycle up a hill before coming down again and then finally head down a ladder road and into St Ann's to get home. Some help!
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