Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Proposed Wightman Road bus route - the Mayor speaks
Campaigners for a new bus route along Wightman Road will be disappointed at Boris Johnson's cavalier response to a question put forward by Labour GLA member Joanne McCartney.
The Mayor's answer is as follows:
"The vast majority of the area served by this suggested new route is within walking distance of high frequency services providing very similar journey opportunities. These routes include:
• The 29 which serves the other side of the “Harringay Ladder” which links Wood Green, Finsbury Park and Holloway;
• The W3 which links Stroud Green and New River Village to Wood Green and Finsbury Park, where other high frequency services facilitate interchange for those wishing to travel to Holloway; and
• The 91 which links Hornsey Road to Holloway and Crouch End where other high frequency services facilitate interchange for those wishing to travel to Wood Green.
The suggested route would therefore not increase passenger numbers sufficiently to justify the cost."
The Mayor has ignored the fact that the main interest in a proposed bus route along Wightman Road comes from residents of that road who find it difficult to climb the often steep roads which connect Green Lanes and Wightman Road and who are therefore impeded in their access to the bus network. The existence of bus routes along Priory Road and along Green Lanes does not address their concerns.
There may well be reasons for not introducing a bus route along Wightman Road. It is, after all, both narrow and residential, and I have yet to make up my own mind.
What I can say, though, is that the Mayor’s reason is not a good reason and that he has failed to look into the question properly.
Perhaps HoL subscribers should club together to buy the Mayor a topographical map.
David Schmitz
Liberal Democrat Chairman for Tottenham
The Mayor's answer is as follows:
"The vast majority of the area served by this suggested new route is within walking distance of high frequency services providing very similar journey opportunities. These routes include:
• The 29 which serves the other side of the “Harringay Ladder” which links Wood Green, Finsbury Park and Holloway;
• The W3 which links Stroud Green and New River Village to Wood Green and Finsbury Park, where other high frequency services facilitate interchange for those wishing to travel to Holloway; and
• The 91 which links Hornsey Road to Holloway and Crouch End where other high frequency services facilitate interchange for those wishing to travel to Wood Green.
The suggested route would therefore not increase passenger numbers sufficiently to justify the cost."
The Mayor has ignored the fact that the main interest in a proposed bus route along Wightman Road comes from residents of that road who find it difficult to climb the often steep roads which connect Green Lanes and Wightman Road and who are therefore impeded in their access to the bus network. The existence of bus routes along Priory Road and along Green Lanes does not address their concerns.
There may well be reasons for not introducing a bus route along Wightman Road. It is, after all, both narrow and residential, and I have yet to make up my own mind.
What I can say, though, is that the Mayor’s reason is not a good reason and that he has failed to look into the question properly.
Perhaps HoL subscribers should club together to buy the Mayor a topographical map.
David Schmitz
Liberal Democrat Chairman for Tottenham
Tags for Forum Posts: TfL, W1 Bus, Wightman Road, public transport
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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But the proposal on here DID suggest a service from Morrisons to Waitrose, taking in Wightman, as it was felt that the supermarket shoppers would help the service pay its way. I doubt if even the most optimistic envisaged a service running up and down Wightman alone.
Ms Mc Cartney's question exactly reflects the views expressed on here.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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Quite simple Graham .. we re-route your underused W5 along Wightman via Turnpike Lane and Green Lanes to Sainsbury's - nobody looses out and lots more gain..
@John D, cost/benefits don't have much to do with bus routes 'paying their way'- most don't..
There are very sound reasons for wanting a service along Wightman Road and that it might end up with others perhaps loosing out - is plain to see..
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Permalink Reply by Justin Hinchcliffe on
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I thought political comments - in this case coded - were not allowed on this site?
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Comments made by members of political parties without acknowledgement of their role e.g. chair of the Tottenham Tories are not permitted but as we have observed elsewhere, many things that we discuss on the site are by their very nature political.
If you are referrring to the comments you flag up below, then as far as I am aware Graham does not comment from a party political viewpoint but has a particular interest and knowledge of transport issues that he shares with us. His comments on Joanne Mc C and David Schmitz suggest to me only that he feels that they do not have a full grasp of issues around transport. I'm sure Graham will correct me if I am wrong.
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"So Ms McCartney needs to put a proposal to them that doesn't have these problems (or ask them very specifically about Wightman Road), and Mr Schmitz needs to stop scaremongering" (Graham P 22 hours ago)
HEAR, HEAR!
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No, I completely agree with Graham.
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Justin wrote: No, I completely agree with Graham.
about what? Graham has written a lot recently.. what does TT's spokesperson think? I'd be interested to know..
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Oh, then I'm not up to date, last time I read anything about it, the replacements were to be double deckers..
The use of single-deckers again means that either capacity on the route has reduced or he has to finance more vehicles and drivers.. I'm sure those who now will have wait longer at Waterloo & Victoria will be praising Mr Johnson..
I've always presumed that you can't be a public transport user, as otherwise you wouldn't write as you do..
No - definitely a 'toot-toot' car-user .. :o)
Here in Germany we have the pro-car user groupings - Freie Fahrt für freie Bürger - which literally means 'Clear road ahead for free citizens!' ..bah.. perhaps you'd could start a Harringay group? :o)
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Plan for today -
AM Turnpike Lane to Leicester Square - Oxford Circus - walk to Warren Street - Turnpike Lane.
PM bus to and from workshop in Crouch End.
All public transport. Freedom Pass, much used.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Eddie and I thought a bus along Wightman Rd was a good idea.
David did some digging and said that London Travelwatch usually want a petition before they will look at a bus route.
Before we could put a petition to residents we needed a "proposed route". I came up with the route fully expecting it to be changed if it ever came into being, the important bit for us selfish locals is that is goes along Wightman Rd. I thought it was quite a good proposal though, my ego wants it to be a "new" bus route.
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John, it isn't all gloom and doom - I would suggest the interest shown (& bickering) by politicians of all the major parties here, means that we are on to something... It just needs to be done in the right way..
Those with cars will scoff that there's no need for a bus, but I expect that once up and running, it will be patronised sufficiently to ensure it's survival.
It looks as though an extended route is most likely - I would suggest that 153 is the better candidate, with the right sort of frequency and hours of operation and it's links to Holloway, Barnsbury, Angel (close to St Paul's) and Liverpool Street.
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Yes the 153 does look promising but the important thing is the signatures and the Wightman Rd part of the bus route (Boris used to shop at Waitrose Holloway road, but in his people mover). Actually, I'm partial to the Campsbourne extension too as I play cricket at Alexandra Park and have to spend half the game looking out on that extremely deprived area trapped between so much wealth and it offends my inner socialist.
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