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It was right to question one-way plan
• EX-Belsize councillor Jonny Bucknell writes from somewhere a long way south of Belsize that I have been ignoring my constituents over the College Crescent issue in favour of a “cabal of a few vociferous cyclists”. Not for the first time Mr Bucknell misses the point. Perhaps that’s why he’s no longer a councillor.
Before the 2006 local election a deal was struck between Camden Council and the Phoenix School in College Crescent to install safety measures at the top and bottom of what is a very unsafe road for children to cross.
Camden’s highway engineers told the school they could only have the safety measures if the road was made one way and if the school signed up to a tough green transport plan.
The highway engineers then suggested one way down as being the safest option because it would eliminate 80 per cent of the traffic on what has become a rat run from the Finchley Road into Belsize Park and Fitzjohn’s Avenue.
After the election the Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Mike Greene, overturned that signed off decision on the grounds that it hadn’t been consulted on widely enough.
A new consultation was then launched on the council’s proposal to make the road one way down. But at a meeting of his Executive Sub-Group (Environment) on 21 November a decision was taken to make the road one-way.
Lib Dem and Green councillors “called in” that decision because they believed the original plan was safest for children and residents and because the decision taken – one way UP – was never consulted on. The Environment Scrutiny Panel backed the call-in and sent a list of recommendations back to the Executive Sub-Group – safety measures at the top and bottom, one way down traffic flow, contra-flow cycle route up, and a green transport plan for the school. Those recommendations were ignored.
Everyone agrees that the safety measures are needed. It’s not just about the Phoenix School; it’s also about safety for pupils from South Hampstead School for Girls and other schools in the area. Everyone, even the Executive Sub-Group, eventually accepted that the consultation process was flawed. But the Executive Sub-Group refused to accept that in cases like this we should start to favour children, pedestrians and cyclists over motorists. This was, I believe, a missed opportunity. And I suspect most residents would agree.
Cllr ALEXIS ROWELL
Chair, Camden Sustainability Task Force
• A GREAT deal has been written over the plan to make College Crescent one way (or the other) only. Yet not once have I seen one word about how those wanting to go the other way will be able to find an alternative route.
Is it not blindingly obvious that every such proposal lacking so obvious a need should be thrown out as not worth a moment’s consideration until that need has been met?
JOHN DENGA
Redington Road, NW3
• PLEASE can I have my say about College Crescent?
As a parent and one of the many pedestrian users with children of this dangerous road with narrow pavements and nowhere to cross safely, I owe a lot to Alexis Rowell, Liberal Democrat, for his courage and good sense in properly balancing the issues and sticking up for the real local and needy residents.
Camden’s Exec Committee decided on Tuesday to stick with its plan to revoke the earlier approval to make College Crescent safe and one way down rejecting out of hand the rebuke and recommendations handed down by the clear majority of the Call-in Committee.. Instead College Crescent will be one way up. This may be great for the motorists zooming through (including the vans and taxis) 80% more traffic and may win a few more votes for the Conservatives, but it is a complete derogation of duty and common sense to fail to deal with safety and reduce traffic and rat runs in this way.
Thank you Alexis Rowell for sticking your neck out far further than anyone else and for doing much more than we could have expected you to do. You have shown integrity and dedication. You have seen clearly through the issues from the outset. You have been fair and open. I sincerely hope that people will appreciate the qualities you have shown. You have acted as a local representative should.
ANDREW TUGWELL
Lincoln’s Inn, WC2
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