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Lisa Pontecorvo, captured on a CCTV camera moments before the tragedy |
TRANSPORT CHIEFS FAILED TRAGIC LISA
Road where campaigner was killed identified as danger four years ago
BORIS Johnson’s transport department knew the dangers of the fatal junction where campaigner Lisa Pontecorvo lost her life at least four years ago but took no action, it emerged this week.
The Tribune can reveal that an internal document produced in 2004 set out a list of urgent recommendations for improving the Holloway Road danger spot but Transport for London (TfL) failed to act on it.
Questioned by the Tribune last week, TfL said they had received no complaints about the junction. But they have now revealed they are unable to tell from their logging system just how many complaints there have been.
Islington MPs Emily Thornberry and Jeremy Corbyn have teamed up to write a joint letter to TfL demanding the junction is looked at as soon as possible.
Lisa Pontecorvo, 64, died under the wheels of a cement truck last Monday as she wheeled her bike across Holloway Road close to the junction with Fieldway Crescent and Madras Way.
Shortly before her death, TfL’s pedestrian department placed the junction on its priority list to be assessed next year, after 11 out of 15 accidents at the spot involved people on foot.
The news has infuriated campaigners who have been fighting for improvements for many years to benefit both cyclists and pedestrians.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, who lives close to the black-spot junction, is being urged to instigate a full inquiry.
When asked why TfL didn’t improve the junction following the 2004 recommendations, a TfL spokeswoman said: “At the time, none of the options presented were progressed because they were either physically unfeasible, did not offer the benefit sought or had substantial dis-benefit to other road users.”
However, this latest accident has now led to a change of heart, with TfL promising to “review the options presented in 2004 to determine if any may now be workable and/or beneficial”.
Explaining why TfL could not provide the Tribune with a list of complaints, a spokeswoman said: “It would take a substantial period of time to go through five years of correspondence to manually pull out the ones that may relate to this particular junction.”
She added: “We are now revisiting all correspondence that may have been received in respect of this location as well as undertaking a review of previous studies of the junction.”
Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, who uses the junction at least three times a week on his way to Parliament, said: “I think there should be a review now and any changes necessary should be made straight away.
“I’d be happy to take part in any review as someone who uses this junction regularly.”
Islington South MP Emily Thornberry has also successfully campaigned for heavy goods vehicles to be fitted with extra mirrors to eliminate blind spots, but these will not be mandatory until next year and will not include older lorries and trucks.
Ms Thornberry said: “I don’t think there should be trucks on the road if they can’t see because they are dangerous. I feel very strongly about this. I’ve met too many mothers who have lost their daughters with lorries running them down.”
Stephen Taylor, a member of Islington Cyclists Action Group (ICAG), said: “This was a needless tragic loss of life because of the conditions on Holloway Road. There was a report into the whole junction and recommendations were made but none was implemented. We’d like changes to be made at the earliest opportunity.”
Cyclist Paul Standeven said: “I had an accident here in 2000. I had a bad head injury and it was because of the bad design of this junction.”
Adrian Williams, a member of ICAG, said: “The pedestrian crossing was put in to reflect pedestrian behaviour when the main entrance to the library was on Holloway Road. The entrance has since been moved to Fieldway Crescent but the crossing has not been moved.”
Julia Williams, who is also a cyclist, added: “We know this is horrible for cyclists. There should be signs saying it’s a cycle crossing. Traffic on both sides of the road should be made to stop at the same time. The yellow box should be made longer. It’s just so dangerous” |
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