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From left: Paul Evans, daughter Charlotte, Gilly McIver and Councillor Wally Burgess |
Sorry, we took your rat-run barrier down
Official apologises over failure to ask street’s opinion on
cycle route plans
A LEADING Town Hall official has had to apologise to angry residents after ordering the removal of a traffic barrier gate in Tufnell Park without consultation.
Cyclists’ groups were informed of the plan to give them better access to Dalmeny Road, but people living nearby were not told.
Principal engineer Chris Bowers has offered his “sincere apologies” for the “lack of communication” and told contractors to stop work and reinstate the barrier gate immediately.
He added that he would be “reviewing the scheme in detail to identify where and why the normal processes and procedures have not been duly followed”.
The row centres on Islington Council plans to introduce cycle- friendly routes.
Residents in Dalmeny Road, who are fighting to protect their “safe street” from through traffic, argue that removal of the barrier was unnecessary. They point out that cyclists were always able to get around gaps on either side of the barrier, which went up 20 years ago to stop vehicles using the street as a rat-run.
The council plans to replace the barrier with bollards but residents fear motorcyclists and small vehicles, as well as speeding cyclists, will use their street.
Meanwhile, the barrier gate lies flat on the access road surrounded by temporary builders’ bollards while the council decides what to do next.
Writer Gilly McIver, who lives locally, said the council had removed the barrier over Easter when many residents were away. “We were appalled,” she added. “We sent out furious emails which were passed from one officer to another. Then finally the buck seemed to stop with the principal engineer, who stopped the work.
“We’ve been told we will now be consulted. But we don’t know when. We’ve been treated like infants.”
Ms McIver’s husband, architect Paul Evans, said the barrier was installed to stop 600 vehicles an hour using the street as a short cut.
“It was put in following a traffic accident with a school child,” he added. “This is a conservation area and our street is safe for children. There is a lock on the barrier in case of emergencies but otherwise it is kept closed. Cyclists have to slow down but have been able to get access around the barrier and do so without incident.”
Labour councillor Wally Burgess, who is supporting the residents, described the situation as “chaos”. He added: “The council need to respect the people who live in Dalmeny Road. They should have been consulted first, not last.”
Cllr Burgess said that, if the barrier was removed, speeding cyclists would be a hazard for residents and children from a nearby school. “From the top of a hill there will be nothing to slow them down,” he added.
Lib Dem councillor Andrew Cornwell, himself a cyclist, explained that the work was part of the London Cycle Network, funded by Transport for London.
He said: “Obviously, consultation with residents has not been what it should have been and I have made this point to council officers.”
However, he supported a scheme that will “improve conditions for cyclists from the current inadequate and unsafe arrangement, and will help meet modern engineering standards for safety and access.” |
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