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
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.
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?
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.
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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