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 Penny A on
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Michael, one other ‘residential’ area I think we’ve missed which is restricted through its development/position next to park and railway to ‘through’ traffic ie The area beneath Alexandra Palace park to the East of Priory Road/Hornsey High Street as boundaried by Chadwell Lane/New River Avenue, Newland Road/N View Road and Redston Road
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Yes! You only go in here for access.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Done - hope I got the boundaries right!
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Permalink Reply by Frederick Guy on
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Worth noting that the failed filter on Woodlands Park Rd. helps make the St Ann's Rd crossing at the junction with Woodlands Park problematic one: if drivers aren't zooming down St Ann's, they're in a hurry to get round the bend from Woodlands to St Ann's to Salisbury Rd. Better if there were no rat runs through the neighbourhood bounded by St Ann's, Blackboy Lane, West Green Rd & Green Lanes.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on
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Paulie. Fair point, it is not gated, but traffic is restricted. Certainly this will stop lorries/vans/HGVs. In fact this is exactly the sort of calming I have been suggesting on Ladder roads for some time. One of the issues we have across the Ladder is not just the volume but the 'quality' of traffic. That is, folks hooning up and down our roads (Michael's data analysis suggested at least a third of the traffic across the Ladder was travelling in excess of 20mph. This is noticeable especially as vehicles hit and come off humps and raised crossings. This sort of technology will let you know pretty swiftly, and with no right of appear if you go through them too quick!
Interestingly I was talking to a guy from Hermitage earlier and he suggested opening Hermitage would allow some of the traffic on GL to flow via Hermitage form St Anns to GL, taking some pressure off. He immediately spotted the problem though that HGVs would start using the road- the reason (I believe) Hermitage was closed in the first place. Something like the fixed posts on Woodlands Park on Hermitage would act as a limiter for larger vehicles but still allow car through, whilst moderating their pace.
Michael, if I can ask you to get your colouring pens out, can you do areas with proper (ie, not humps) calming measures a different colour. It might not be a closure, but it does affect traffic flows.
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Done. I've highlighted Woodlands Park Road only as it has road narrowing
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Permalink Reply by Paulie on
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Sorry Frederick, I disagree. I don't want to have to drive along St Ann's Road to get to (eg) Tottenham High Road. I would however support speed cameras enforcing the 20 mph limits on every small residential road in the borough.
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1. If you can get speed cameras installed. If not?
2. Even with speed cameras, would the road be safe enough for kids to cross alone? To cycle on?
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Justin
You are quite right and amazingly I have only just realised why it is that HGVs and vans zoom up our road - because they can't do that on the southern part of Woodlands!
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I love those width restrictors and hate them in equal measure. they work but they scare the wits out of me every time I go through them... What can I say?
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Look into the distance and use the force.
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