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Streets we must tame
• LAST week’s east area committee of Islington Council unanimously supported Councillor Katie Dawson’s proposal to bring in a 20mph speed limit for all residential roads in Islington – the first London borough to take such a step. This followed a public consultation which showed ringing endorsement for the idea, with nearly 3,500 responses received just from east area, and a clear majority recognising that 20mph makes our streets safer and more pleasant.
However, the council’s consultation on Highbury Barn, discussed at the same meeting, included some good ideas but failed to even look at the over-riding problem there: that heavy traffic on Highbury Park creates a sense of division and makes the Barn a stressful rather than enjoyable place to be, for shoppers, residents and the many bus passengers and pedestrians who just pass through on their way to work, school or Highbury Fields.
Islington Green Party believes streets like Highbury Park need to be tamed, if we want them to serve and support our “urban villages” rather than divide and destroy them; and if we want to make Highbury Barn, for example, the attractive local shopping centre it deserves to be.
We are therefore collecting signatures on a new petition, asking the council to extend the 20mph limit beyond the residential side roads, to include Blackstock Road, Highbury Park and Highbury Grove. The many people who live, shop, work and go to school there deserve a safer, calmer street environment brought about by slowing down the traffic.
If people in Highbury agree with us, I would urge them to let their councillors know how they feel.
And if other communities feel similarly about streets where the council is not currently allowing a 20mph limit, perhaps such as Junction Road, I would urge them to get petitions started too.
Andrew Myer
Islington Green Party
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