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Closure will hit roads
• THE public consultation exercise over Highbury Corner, recently undertaken by Transport for London (TfL), and Islington Council is seriously flawed.
Following a Freedom of Information request I recently made to TfL, it is clear the closure of one arm of the roundabout will result in significant extra traffic flows on a number of local roads, including Fieldway Crescent, Highbury Crescent, Theberton Street, Islington Park Street and Furlong Road.
Yet these disbenefits were not mentioned in the brochure on which people were asked to vote, other than the remark that “any improvements could lead to changes in traffic flows on other roads in the area”.
There are benefits from closing one arm of Highbury Corner roundabout, but these will mainly be for people moving between buses and the Tube.
Although the use of the Arboretum is assumed to be a benefit for many people, its present undisturbed tranquillity is also a benefit.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that people will have access to the central green area.
Closing one arm of the roundabout will result in real disbenefits for the residential environment.
TfL and the council should come clean about these, undertake a proper cost-benefit analysis and consult again in an honest way.
Until this is done, people should vote for C, the “minimum option”, which will provide positive benefits for everyone by relocating the post office and providing a large public space at the access to the station.
ROBIN MABEY
Robinswood Mews
N5
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