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Fresh Start
Improving Health, Quality of Life and the Environment through a New Approach to
Traffic Management in Harringay
A Submission by Living Wightman and the Ladder Community Safety Partnership (Traffic sub group)
July 2016
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Contents
I.Introduction.....................................................................................................................................2II.WhoWeAre....................................................................................................................................3III.HarringayWard...............................................................................................................................4
Geography.........................................................................................................................................4Housing..............................................................................................................................................4Education...........................................................................................................................................5Population........................................................................................................................................5
IV.AHistoryofTrafficManagementinHarringayWard.......................................................................6V.TheProblem...................................................................................................................................8
Trafficvolumes..................................................................................................................................8Healthandwellbeing.........................................................................................................................8
VI.ResidentSupport.........................................................................................................................10Petition............................................................................................................................................10Survey..............................................................................................................................................10
1.SectionOne–Aims........................................................................................................................121.1ReductioninTrafficLevelsontheLadder..................................................................................122.GreaterEquityinTrafficManagementandTrafficDispersal......................................................141.3.ImprovedHealthOutcomes.....................................................................................................16
1.3.1HaringeyCouncilHealthandWellbeingStrategy...............................................................161.3.2NitrogenDioxide-lungdevelopment,cancer,asthma…...................................................161.3.3ChildhoodandAdultObesity.............................................................................................17Thecurrentroadfilteringhasofferedauniqueopportunityforchildrentoplayinourstreets,togetoutfrombehindscreens,andinteractwithotherchildren..................................................181.3.4NoiseandSleepDeprivation..............................................................................................19
1.4.ReconnectingaFracturedCommunity....................................................................................211.5.ImprovedUrbanRealmandLocalEnvironment......................................................................25
1.5.1PavementsforPedestrians................................................................................................251.5.2LitterandDumping............................................................................................................26
1.6.ImprovedRoadSafety..............................................................................................................271.6.1Collisions............................................................................................................................271.6.2Pedestrians........................................................................................................................271.6.3Cyclists...............................................................................................................................27
1.7.ProtectedorImprovedBusJourneyTimesandReliability.......................................................291.8.LevelsofWalkingandEnhancedPedestrianAccess.................................................................301.9.ImprovedCyclingAccess..........................................................................................................32
2.SectionTwo-PositiveOutcomesfortheBorough..........................................................................372.1.ReductioninNetTraffic............................................................................................................372.ReductioninNetAirPollution....................................................................................................40
1.2.1.Haringey’sContributiontotheMayor’sVisiononAirPollution.......................................403.SectionThree–Challenges............................................................................................................42Appendix1–GreenLanesTrafficStudyTrafficSurveyHeadlineResults(6–12January2016)...........46Appendix2-RelevantLegislationandPolicies...................................................................................56Appendix3-CommentsmadebyRespondentsintheLivingWightmanSurvey.................................58Appendix4-BusjourneytimesonGreenLanesPreandPostClosure................................................65Appendix5-CarOwnershipinHarringayWardComparedwithNeighbouringAreas.........................68
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I.Introduction
OverthepastfiftyyearstheresidentialareaoftheHarringayLadderhasgraduallyevolvedintobeingatrafficsafetyvalvefortherestofHaringeyandNorthLondon.Asaresultthehealth,safetyandqualityoflifeoflocalresidentshasbeenseverelyimpacted.Therecentfive-monthlongclosureofWightmanRoadtogetherwiththetrafficstudybeingconductedthroughouttheneighbourhoodofHarringaygiveresidentsandtheCouncilauniqueopportunitytostartaddressingtheseworryingissues.LivingWightmanandtheLadderCommunitySafetyPartnershipproposeanewpartnershipbetweenthepeopleofHarringayandHaringeyCounciltopioneeranewapproachtotrafficmanagementintheneighbourhoodtobringaboutasignificantimprovementinkeyhealth,safetyandqualityoflifeindicators.Thispaperaimstostartthisprocessbysettingoutourkeyareasofconcernandourgoals.Thefirstpartofthepapergivessomeshapetotheneighbourhoodforthosewhoarenotfamiliarwithit.SectionOnesetsourkeyconcernsandgoals.SectionTwooutlinesthepositiveborough-wideimpactsthatwouldresultfrommeetingouraimsandSectionThreehighlightssomeofthekeychallengestobedealtwithandhowtheymightbeaddressed.LivingWightmanandtheLadderCommunitySafetyPartnershipwelcomeHaringeyCouncil’sacknowledgementoftheseveretrafficproblemsexperiencedinHarringaywithitssignificantinvestmentinthe‘GreenLanesTransportStudy’.Webelievethattherelationshipsbeingforgedthroughthisstudyandtheunderstandingbeingdevelopedthroughitprovideanunprecedentedopportunityfortheboroughtobecomeapioneerinleadinganewapproachtoputtingthehealthandwellbeingofitsresidentsabovetheneedsoftraffic.
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II.WhoWeAre
TheLadderCommunitySafetyPartnership(LCSP)representstheinterestsandconcernsofitsmemberswholiveandworkinHarringayWard.MostoftheLCSP’smembersareindividualresidentswhohavejoinedtheLCSPbecausetheycareabout,andtakepridein,theirlocalareaandwanttokeepHarringayasafe,cleanandpleasantplaceinwhichtolive.TheLCSPworkscloselywithresidentsgroupsinneighbouringareasofHarringayincludingtheGardensandWoodlandsPark(GRA&WPRA).Overthepast15yearstheLCSPhasbuiltupstrongworkingrelationshipswithorganisationssuchasthepolice,HaringeyCouncil,VeoliaandtheGreenLanesTraders’Association,togiveresidentsastrongervoice.LivingWightmanisacoalitionoflocalresidentslaunchedin2016toopposethecontinueduseofHarringayWardasaprimarythroughroutefortrafficinnorthLondon.WhilstourprimaryfocusisWightmanRoad,ourgoalisforabetterqualityoflifeforallresidentsinHarringaywardthroughareductioninthelevelsoftrafficusingournarrowresidentialstreets.ThanksareduetoHarringayOnlineforthehelpprovidedinthepreparationofthissubmissionandwewelcometheirsupportforourbroadaimstoimprovetrafficconditionsandthequalityoflifeinHarringayWard.ThispaperisalsosupportedbyHaringeyCyclists,WoodGreenandTottenhamFriendsoftheEarthandHaringeyLivingStreets.
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III.HarringayWard
WightmanRoadprebridgeworks
Geography
HarringaywardmakesupthewesternpartoftheneighbourhoodofHarringayinthesouthoftheLondonboroughofHaringey.KnownlocallyastheHarringayLadder,thewardisboundedtothenorthbyTurnpikeLaneandtotheeastbyGreenLanes.ThewesternboundaryisformedbytheGreatNorthernRailwayandtotheSouthbyFinsburyParkandSevenSistersRoad.Itcontainstwomajorareasofopenspace,FinsburyParkandDuckettsCommon,andtwosmallerspaces,FairlandsParkandRailwayFields.Harringay’sHighStreet,GreenLanes,isamajorcommercialcentreandthewesternsideofthehighstreetiswithinHarringayWard.WiththeexceptionofGreenLanesandsomesmallclustersofcommercialactivityatthenorthandsouthendsofWightmanRoad,therestofthewardisalmostentirelyresidential.
Housing
HarringaywardismainlymadeupoflateVictorianterracedhouseswithmanysplitintotwoormoredwellings.Privaterentingissignificantinthewardwith44.5%ofdwellingsrentedfromaprivatelandlordorlettingagencywhichissubstantiallyabovetheproportioninHaringeyboroughasawhole(30.3%)1
1Census2011
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Education
Therearetwoprimaryschoolsintheward,NorthHarringayandSouthHarringay,withacombinedregisteredintakeof958pupils.
Population2
Thepopulationofthewardis13,273makingup5,471households.Itisadenselypopulatedareawith85peopleperhectarecomparedtotheLondonaverageof52.Thisislikelytoriseasaresultofthepressureonhousingandlargescaledevelopments,suchasatHampdenRoad.ThistrendisalsolikelytobeseenlocallyinneighbouringwardsasaresultofevenfurtherdevelopmentsuchastheHeartlandsdevelopment,theredevelopmentoftheCurtisandHawessite,redevelopmentofStAnn’s,potentialredevelopmentoftheArenasite,andslightlyfurtherawaytheongoingredevelopmentoftheWoodberryDownsestate.Harringaywardhasasignificantyoungworkingagepopulationwithover66%ofthetotalpopulationfallingwithinthe19-50agerangecomparedtoapproximately56%intheboroughasawhole.
2Census2011
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IV.AHistoryofTrafficManagementinHarringayWard
TheHarringayLadderisaset21parallelstreetsrunningwestwardsfromthelineofGreenLanes,whichalreadyexistedasanancientnorth-southroute.Whentheseeast-westroadsweresetoutinthelatenineteenthcentury,theWesternendsoftheLadderrungroadswereallconnectedbyanewlybuiltnorth-southstreetrunningparalleltotherailwayandconnectedtoEndymionRoadatthesouthernendandtoTurnpikeLaneattheNorthernend.ThisnewstreetisknownasWightmanRoad(thesouthern100metreswerenamedAlroyRoad).AlloftheLadderstreetsconformedtowhatinthelate19thcenturywasregardedasadesirabledesignforresidentialliving,i.e.privatebackgardensandpublicmixingspaceinfront.Beyondtwoorthreeexceptionsineachstreet,noprovisionwasmadeforresidencesthatmightownvehiclesofanykind.Thecarriagewayswerespacesinwhichanoccasionalhorsedrawndeliverycartortaximightappearbutwereotherwisegivenovertochildrenplayingandpeoplewalkingandsocialising.TheexistenceoftheancientrouteofGreenLanesalongwiththesubsequentconstructionoftheGreatNorthernRailwayLinemeantthatHarringaywascreatedwithinacorridorofmovement.Theeffectsofthisinitiallywereoverwhelminglypositive.However,largelyunconsidereddevelopmentsthroughthetwentiethcenturysawthingsturnedontheirhead.Inthe1930’sWightmanRoadwasclassifiedasa“BRoad”.Althoughatthetime,thismerelyindicatedthatitprovidedalinkbetweentheprincipal“ARoads’toitsnorthandsouth,thisdesignationprobablycontributedtothesituationwefacetoday.BythetimethatLondonemergedfromtheSecondWorldWar,plannersintheLondonCountyCouncilhadrecognisedtherolethatGreenLanesplayedinbringingtrafficinandoutofLondon.Inthe1943CountyofLondonPlan,GreenLaneswasdesignatedasthekeynorth-southarterialroadinandoutofNorthLondon.However,itwasthe1970sdevelopmentsinWoodGreen,includingtheconstructionofShoppingCity,thatcreatedtheproblemsfacedbytheareatoday.HaringeyCouncilunderstoodtheroleoftheGreenLanestrafficcorridorandoriginallymadeplanstomanagetrafficwiththeconstructionoftheWoodGreenbypass,startingatTurnpikeLaneandrunningtotheeastofWoodGreen.Theso-called‘A105diversion’or‘EasternBy-Pass’wasintendedtobethemainNorth-Southroutethroughtheborough.
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AcompanionschemeincludedareliefroadtothewestofWoodGreenbyaligningWightmanRoadandHornseyParkRoad.ThisWesternroutewasonlyeverintendedasasecondaryone.TheWoodGreenone-waygyratorysystemwouldhaveensuredthatmosttrafficwouldhavetakentheEasternroute.Thegreaterpartthegrandtrafficplansdidnotmaterialise;theEasternbypasswasneverbuilt.However,thecheaperwesternreliefroutewasconstructedbyaligningWightmanandHornseyParkRoadsattheirjunctionwithTurnpikeLane.IntheabsenceoftheEasternBypass,thiswesternroutebecamethedefaultWoodGreenBypass.Subsequentschemes,includingtheearly21stcenturyplantomakeWoodGreenHighRoadbusonly,confirmtheplacethisroutehasintheplansoftheCouncil.Bythe21stcentury,thefailuretoadequatelyprovidefortrafficthroughtheboroughmeantthattrafficincreasinglyusednarrowresidentialroadsasrat-runs.TwofavouredratrunsintheeastofHarringaycausedsuchupsetthatinfluentialresidentgroupswereabletosuccessfullygettheroutesclosedoff.TheclosuresofHermitageRoadandtheGardensaddedsignificantlevelsofeast-westtraffictothealreadyhighlevelofnorth-southtrafficusingtheLadder.However,unlikethemeasuresputinplacetotheeastofGreenLanes,thetrafficmanagementresponseinHarringayWardwastokeeptrafficflowing.Therungroadsweremadeone-wayandtraffichumpsadded.Thisineffectcreatedtraffichighwaysonsuitablylocatedroads.SomeyearslatertraffichumpswerealsoaddedtoWightmanRoad.Inothernearbyareasroadswerealsobeingclosedortrafficmanaged,forcingevermoretrafficontounrestrictedroadssuchasthoseontheLadder.
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V.TheProblem
Trafficvolumes
TheLadderRoadsarealmostexclusivelyresidentialandwerenotdesignedforhightrafficvolumes.Inordertoallowgreatervolumes,pavementparkingisallowedonWightmanRoadmeaningthatthoseinwheelchairs,usingmobilityaidsorwithpushchairsfinditverydifficulttonavigate.HaringeycarriedoutacountofvehiclesinandaroundtheHarringaywardinearlyJanuary2016[1]
• ExcludingWightmanRoad,Ladderroadshadbetween1,196vehiclemovements(AtterburyRoad)and18,362vehiclemovements(WilloughbyRoadnorthbound)aweekduringthesurveyperiod
• Ofthe21roadsthatmakeuptheLadder“rungs”,10had10,000ormorevehiclemovementsperweekduringthesurveyperiod
• 1in5vehiclesontheLadderrungroadsweretravelingabovethespeedlimit• WightmanRoad,atthejunctionwithBeresfordRoad,hadover120,000vehicle
movementsduringthesurveyperiod.Monitoringstationsweresetupat4pointsalongthelengthofthestreet.Asvehiclescouldenterorexitonmanypointsalongthelengthoftheroadandmissthetrafficcountingstations,itisestimatedthatthetotalvolumeoverthesurveyperiodwasnearer200,000vehicles.
• Around1in5vehiclesonWightmanRoadtravelledoverthespeedlimit,someinexcessof60mph
• About7%ofvehiclestravellingonWightmanRoadwereclass4orabove(largeorverylarge),equivalenttobetween10-14,000vehiclesaweek
• Therewerearound160,000vehiclemovementsonGreenLanesatitsbusiestpoint,thejunctionwithWilliamsonRoad.
• Traffictravellingthroughtheareaexceedsthevolumesonsomemajor,strategicallyimportantroutes,suchastheA1inHighgateandSevenSistersRoadbetweenSevenSistersandManorHousetubestations.
Healthandwellbeing
WightmanRoadisamainroutetothetwoschoolsonTheLadder.Datafromlocalschoolsonasthmaprevalenceisshownbelow:
• Haringeyborough:4.55%• SouthHarringayJuniorSchool:6.5%• SouthHarringayInfantSchool:3.54%• NorthHarringayPrimarySchool:7.4%
NoisepollutionisasignificantfactorforresidentsbutespeciallyforthoselivingonWightmanRoadastheyareaffectedatthefrontbyroadnoiseandatthebackbytherailway.
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ThetrafficvolumesandperceptionsofdangeronWightmanRoadhavediscourageditsuseasacyclingandwalkingroute.Thisisfurthercompoundedbythequalityoftrafficusingladderroads.TrafficusingtheLadderasaroutefromA-Bastheypassthroughtheboroughhaslittleregardfortheareaasaresidentialareaorcommunitywherepeoplelive,itissimplyaroutehome,andabarriertobenavigatedasquicklyaspossible.Duringpeaktimeswhencongestionishigheverywherethiscangiverisetoaggressive,unsafedrivingasvehiclesspeed,drivequicklyoverspeedhumps,oftenbackupstreetsastheyattempttoexitjunctionsintoGreenLanes(sometimeswithangryhornsblaring).Thereisgenerallylittleconsiderationforotherdrivers,andevenlessforpedestrians/cyclistsandresidents.
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VI.ResidentSupport
ThecommunityinHarringayareaskingHaringeyCounciltoputinplacealongtermsetofsolutionsontheHarringayLadderwhichresultin:
a) alowtrafficWightmanRoad,whichalsohasthebenefitofresolvingthehightrafficvolumesontheLadderrungroadsandprotectingtwoofHaringey’sSchools,
b) therestorationofWightmanRoadpavementstoappropriatewidthsforpedestrians,wheelchairusersandjoggers,
c) themitigationofanyunintendedconsequencesoftheabove.OurresearchstronglysuggeststhatasignificantmajorityofHarringayresidentssupporttheaboverequests.
Petition
Injustthesixweeksbetween3June2016and15July2016over915peoplesignedtheLivingWightmanpetition.Thepetitionwordingwasasfollows:
WetheundersignedresidentsofHarringay,calluponHaringeyCouncil
• ToextendthenothroughroadarrangementonWightmanRoadbeyondSeptember2016toallowtimetofindalong-termsolutionthatdrasticallyreducesthe120,000vehiclesaweekonWightmanRoad
• Toputinplacealong-termsolutionwhichallowsaccess,butstops
WightmanRoadbeingusedasaratrunthroughroute,togetherwitheffectivemeasureswhichimprovetrafficflowinthesurroundingarea.
Ourpetitionrecordsindicatethataclearmajorityofresidentsareinsupportofourobjectives.Thefollowingisarepresentativesampleofresultsbystreet.
Total
ResponsesFor Against Undecided %for
FairfaxRd 23 18 1 4 95%HewittRd 27 23 2 2 92%FrobisherRd 54 40 12 2 77%PembertonRd 22 21 1 0 95%WightmanRd 35 33 2 3 94%BeresfordRd 39 17 12 10 59%WarhamRd 30 29 0 1 97%Total 233 181 30 22 77%
SurveyDuringtheSpringandSummerof2016LivingWightmanconductedwide-rangingresearchusingbothquantitativeandqualitativeapproaches.RespondentstotheLivingWightman
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survey(n127)werealsooverwhelminglyinsupport,with79%positiveabouttheWightmanRoadclosure.
Veryposilve63%
Posilve17%
Neutral1%
Negalve5%
VeryNegalve15%
Overallfeelingsaboutclosure
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1.SectionOne–Aims
Thissectionsetsoutourkeysaimsandthereasoningthatunderpinsthem.
1.1ReductioninTrafficLevelsontheLadder
AIM:ToverysignificantlyreduceoveralltrafficlevelsandchangethecharacteroftrafficonWightmanRoadandallLadderroadsinparticularcommercialvehicles/HGVsandrat-runners.TheHarringaytrafficstudyhasshowndefinitivelyjusthowhigharethetrafficlevelsonLadderroads.
• Almosthalfofalltheroadsinthewardhavevolumesinexcessof10,000vehiclemovementseachweek.
• WightmanRoadhasalmost120,000,possiblymore.ThisisnotfaroffthelevelrecordedonGreenLanes.
ResidentslivinginHarringayWardarekeenlyawarethatitisnotonlythelevelsoftrafficthatimpacttheirlives.Themake-upand‘quality’ofthattrafficissignificanttoo.
• ThetrafficusingtheLadderincludesahighproportionofcommercialvehicles.Inadditiontomanyvansandsmallerlorries,italsoincludesverylargefoundation-shakingHGVsthatbreachthetonnagelimit.Thebridge-strengtheningworksgivethegreenlightforevenheaviervehicles.
• Ahighproportionofthetrafficisrat-runningthroughtraffic.Driversusingroutesasrat-runsbehavedifferentlytothosemakinglocaltrips.Typicallyrat-runningdrivers,behavemoreaggressively,maintaininghigherspeeds,slowingandrevvingastheycrossspeedhumpsandshowingsignificantlylessconsiderationforotherroadusers.
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Researchhasshownthatbehavioursofthissortproducesasignificantlyhigherstressreactioninthosesubjectedtoit,thanisthecaseforlessaggressivetraffic.
Toachieveanyofthepositivehealthandsocialbenefitscriticaltoanacceptablequalityoflifeitseemsevidenttousthatvolumesattheselevelsmustbetackledasamatterofurgency.
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2.GreaterEquityinTrafficManagementandTrafficDispersal
AIM:ToreviewtrafficmanagementinHarringayWardtointroducetrafficmanagementmeasurestooffersimilarprotectiontothatofferedinneighbouringareas.Wearecurrentlyanalysingtrafficmanagementmeasureswhichinvolveno-throughtrafficorseverelyrestrictthroughtrafficinareassurroundingHarringayWard.OurinitialoutputonthemapbelowillustratesaneightsquaremileareacentredonHarringayWard.Shadedareashaveno-throughtrafficormeasurestoalmosteliminatethroughtraffic.Unshadedareashaveunmanagedtraffic.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en_US&mid=1z9tl-fV6Pr-XS5oxHbwhXBflYns
AtpresentWightmanRoadandtheLadderrungroadsareapparentlyasacrificezoneamidstaseaoftraffic-managedorheavilytraffic-managedareas.Thiscontrastisallthemorestarkwhenthestatisticsofcarownershiparetakenintoconsideration.62%ofHouseholdsinHarringaywarddonotownacar.Inmanysurroundingareas,levelsofownershipareconsiderablyhigher.
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• inMuswellHillonly34%ofhouseholdsdon’townacar• inAlexandraPark,thefigureis27%,• inBarnetandEnfieldit’s20%• only6%ofhouseholdsinHertfordshireandEssexhavenocar.
TherecentnothorougharrangementsonWightmanRoadshowthatmuchofthetrafficusingtheLadderisout-of-boroughthroughtraffic.WhileHarringayresidentswalkandusepublictransport,livessufferduetocaruserswholiveelsewhere.Thisresidentialareaofapproximately15,000peopleshouldbenefitfromthesameprotectionofferedtosomanyotherareas,andsuffersfromaproblemwhichisnotoftheirmaking.Tobeclear.Wearenotaskingforareductionordiminutionoftheprotectionsofferedtofellowresidentsinneighbouringwards,simplythattheLadderisofferedasettlementthatimprovesthelotofLadderresidents.
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1.3.ImprovedHealthOutcomes
AIM:ToprotectthehealthofHarringayWardresidentsfromthesevereimpactsofthehightrafficlevels1.3.1HaringeyCouncilHealthandWellbeingStrategy
HaringeyCouncilareworkingtowardsthethreecurrentprioritiesoutlinedinHaringeyCouncilHealthandWellbeingStrategy2015-18:
• ReducingObesity–particularlyinchildren• MakeHaringeyahealthyplacetoliveandincreasehealthylifeexpectancy• Improvingmentalhealthandwellbeing
1.3.2NitrogenDioxide-lungdevelopment,cancer,asthma…..
NitrogenDioxideisapollutantthatinflamesthelungs,stuntsgrowthandincreasestheriskofrespiratorydiseasessuchasasthmaandlungcancer.BeforethetemporaryclosureofWightmanBridge,levelsofNitrogenDioxide(NO2)onWightmanRoadwereaboveEUlegallimits.Airpollutionfromvehiclesisahiddenkiller.Youcan’tsmellit,tasteitorseeitbutitwasresponsiblefor10,000deathslastyearandhasadevastatingimpactonthelungsoftheveryyoungandmeansthattheyhavesmallerlungsforlife.Evenmoderatelevelsofairpollutionincreasesthedangerofhavingastrokeformiddle-agedandolderpeople.Morerecentlyalinkhasbeenshownlinksbetweenpoorairandmentalhealthproblemsinchildren.ThetemporarytrafficarrangementsonWightmanRoadhaveimmediatelytakenthousandsofchildrenandadultsoutofdanger.Twoschoolswith900+Haringeychildrenarealsonowincreasinglyprotectedfromthe43,000vehicleswhichpassedtheschoolgateseachweek.TheprevalenceofchildhoodasthmainHarringayLadderprimaryschools(average:6.95%)issignificantlyhigherthantheHaringeyboroughaverage(4.55%),andshowssignificantincreasefromInfanttoJunioryears. Healthoutcomesforthe15,000peoplelivinginHarringayWardwillalreadyhaveimprovedintheshortterm.Inthelongerterm,ifthereductionintrafficlevelsismaintainedtheywillcontinuetoimprovefurther.Casesofasthmaandasthmaattackswilldecrease.Weexpectthatitthiswillultimatelyevenaffectratesofcancerandrespiratorydisease.Theseresultswillnotonlyimprovelives(oftenthosewhoarethemostvulnerableinourcommunity)butwillalsosaveNHSresourcesbyreducingattendancesatGPs,accidentandemergencydepartments,outpatientclinicsandexpensiveinpatientadmissions.ItiswhollyunacceptabletothepeopleofHarringaythatthecessationofthetemporarytrafficmeasuresmeansthereturntoillegalpollutionratesandtheassociatedpoorhealthoutcomes.Atemporaryextensionofthecurrentmeasuresandalongertermtrafficreductioncanpreventthis.
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1.3.3ChildhoodandAdultObesity
ChildhoodobesityishigherinHaringeycomparedtoEngland,particularlyin11-12yearoldchildren.Physicalinactivityisalsoamajorareaofconcernespeciallyinmoredeprivedpartsoftheboroughwherephysicalinactivitylevelsaresomeofthelowestinthecountry.
Haringey’sPublicHealthOutcomesFrameworkestimatesthat55.5%ofHaringeyadultsareoverweightorobese.ThecurrenttrafficmeasuresonWightmanRoadhaveresultedinaremarkablechangeinbehaviour:
• 73%arewalkingmore(35%ofthesesayingtheyarewalkingmuchmore)• 54%arecyclingmore(27%ofthesesaytheyarecyclingmuchmore).
WehavealsowitnessedthewelcomesightofchildrenenjoyingthechancetocyclesafelyalongWightmanRoadtoschool.Whilstthishasimmediatebenefits,italsolaysthefoundationforcyclingintoadulthood,byincreasingconfidenceontheroads,asonemotheronHarringayOnlinehaspreviouslysaid:
‘TheWightmanclosurehasgreatlyimprovedourcycleridetoschool.Mykidisdelightedatbeingabletorideontheroad,there’snowayIwouldallowhim/hertocycleonthisroadifitwasopentotraffic,evenwithmysupervision.’
Increasedexerciseimprovesawiderangeofhealthoutcomesincludingwellbeingandmentalhealth
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Thecurrentroadfilteringhasofferedauniqueopportunityforchildrentoplayinourstreets,togetoutfrombehindscreens,andinteractwithotherchildren.
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1.3.4NoiseandSleepDeprivation
AhighproportionofWightmanRoadresidentsreporttheyarefrequentlywokenupatnightduetonoisefromtraffic.Forsomethiswassignificantlyaffectingtheirmentalhealth.81%ofthosesurveyedbyLivingWightmanreportlowerlevelsofnoisesincethebridgeworks.75%reportsignificantlylowerlevels.
Muchless75%
Less6%
Nochange10%
More3%
Muchmore6%
NoisesinceclosureNote-thosereporlngmorenoisemaybeaffectedbyworkstothebridge
Mybedroomisonthemainroad.NotonlyisthereincessantnoisebutIcanactuallysmellthepollutioninmybedroom,whichIamsureisaffectingmyhealth.TheconstantnoisealsowasseriouslybeginningtoaffectmyhealthasIcouldnotgetenoughrestperiod.Iamnowabletosleep(withoutearplugs)andevenopenmywindows,whichIwouldneverhavedreamtofbefore.Thesearebasichumanrightsthatarenotaffordedtomewhentheroadre-opens
Thebiggestdifferenceissleepatnight!
Myqualityofsleephasimprovedhelpingmymentalandphysicalhealth
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75%ofrespondentstoourLivingWightmansurveysaidtheareawasmorepeacefulsincethebridgeclosure.
Muchless10%
Less5%
Nochange10%
More11%Muchmore
64%
PeacefulnessintheareasinceclosureNote-thosereporlngthattheareawaslesspeacefulmaybeaffectedbyworkstothebridge
Thepeacefulnessiswonderful,wedon'thavetohavethevolumeturneduponthetelevisionbecauseofoutsidetrafficnoise,nohugelorriesknockingmirrorsoffparkedcarsanddrivingaway,lessairpollution,lessdangeroushighspeeddriversnearschools,noonedroppinglitterfromtheircarwindows,justgenerallymorepleasurabletogoforwalksinthestreet.
Thekeydifferencesare:Wakingupwithnobittertasteinmymouthandeasierbreathing;nothavingtodustthegrimeoffsurfaceseveryday;safercrossingtheroads:happieratmosphereintheneighbourhood-Ihavegottoknowmoreneighbours;everythingisquieterandcalmer;theplantsinmywindowboxeshavesurvived;Inolongergetwakenupseveraltimesanightbysirensorloudcarsandlorries
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1.4.ReconnectingaFracturedCommunity
AIM:Toimprovethelevelsofneighbourliness,communitycohesionandsenseofbelonginginHarringayWardStudyafterstudyhasdocumentedtheeffectwherebycommunitystrengthandresilienceisweakenedbyhightrafficlevels.Wheretrafficlevelsarelowormoderate,neighbourstendtooccupythepublicspacemorefrequentlyanddevelopedahighernumberofstrongersocialbondswithboththeirimmediateandnearbyneighbours.Hightrafficlevelsresultinresidentstakingrefugewithintheirdwellings,evenpreferringthespacesattheback,furthestawayfromthesourceofnoiseandvibration.Whilstfacilitieslikeonlinecommunitiescanservetomitigatethiseffect,itnonethelessinevitablyresultsinamuchlowernumberandweakersocialties.Thisreductionmeansneighbourhoodswheretherearemarkedlylowerlevelsofsocialcohesionandcivicinvolvement.Localpeoplewilltendtoexpressthiswithwordssuchas‘community’,‘friendliness’,‘belonging’and‘neighbourliness’InHarringayWard,particularlyonthoseroadswiththehighesttrafficlevelsthis‘communityweakness’hasbeennotable.Manypartsofthewardwereafragmentedcommunity,withsomeresidentsfeelingtheywereimprisonedbythetraffic.Injustafewmonthssincethebridgeworks,residentsreportsignificantimprovements.
It'sbroughtacommunityfeeltotheareawhichweneverhad
Ifeelfreeastheheavytrafficfeelslikeitimprisonedmeinthehouse.NowIhavemetmanynewneighboursandsofeelmuchbetterabouttheneighbourhoodasitisamuchmorepositiveplacetobe.Youseehowstressedallthepeoplewholiveclosebygetwhentheyhavetocrosstheroad.NowthatIdon'tfeelstressedbythatmysenseofwellbeinghasrisenagreatdeal
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67%oflocalresidentssaytheareaisfriendlier
64%ofthosesurveyedfelttherehadalsobeenanincreasedsenseofacommunity.
ResidentsarenowexperiencingWightmanRoadasasafecommunityspacewherechildrencanplayinthestreet,whereneighboursstopforachat,familiescyclesafelythroughtoFinsburyParkandwhichjoggersandcommutersenjoyratherthanendure.
Muchless6% Less
1%
Nochange26%
More32%
Muchmore35%
Perceplonsoffriendinesssinceclosure
Muchless2%
Less3%
Nochange32%
More37%
Muchmore26%
Feelingofcommunityidenltysinceclosure
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ChildrenenjoyingthepublicspaceWightmanRoad
WindowsopenforthefirsttimeforWightmanRoadResidents
Theairisfresher,thebirdsaresinging,childrencycleontheroadandpeoplearesmiling.
I'vemetlotsmoreneighboursnowandtheroadfeelsmoreresidentialsoIfeelsaferwalkinghomeatnightandsodon'tneedtodrive.I'vemadenewfriendsalongthestreetandfeelthebeginningsofasenseofcommunity.
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ChildrenSellingLemonadeonWightmanRoad
AnimpromptugameoffootballonAlroyRoad
Thesituationtodayisinsharpcontrasttothenightmarescenariothatitsresidentshavelongsufferedasaresultofdecadesofplanningdecisionsthathaveseentheirneedscomesecondeverytimetothoseofdriversusingtheirhomeasaratrun.
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1.5.ImprovedUrbanRealmandLocalEnvironment
AIM:Toreprioritisetheurbanrealmsothatresidentsratherthanvehiclestakepriorityandtominimisethenegativeside-effectsontheurbanrealmthathightrafficlevelsbring1.5.1PavementsforPedestrians
Withon-pavementparkingandhightrafficlevels,thecurrentarrangementsforpedestriansonWightmanRoadcausesignificantproblems:
• pavementsinverypoorconditionduetoon-pavementparking• narrowedpavementsimpassabletowheelchairsandbuggies.Atmanypointsthere
iseveninsufficientroomforaparenttoholdtheirchild’shand.• trafficlevelsmakingroadcrossingverychallengingforlessableresidents
Frankisnowabletoenjoyhisneighbourhood
WightmanRoadpavementsareunsafe,potentiallyinbreachofequalitieslawsandprioritisetherightsofpeopleusingtheroadasaratrunoverthosewholivethere.AlowtrafficWightmanRoadisrequiredsocarscancomesafelyoffthepavements.
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1.5.2LitterandDumping
Theaccessibilityandanonymityofstreetswithhighlevelsofthrough-trafficmeansthattheyexperiencemuchhigherlevelsoflitteranddumping.Sincetheintroductionofthetrafficmanagementmeasures,litterlevelsappeartohavedecreased.Itwillbeinterestingtofindoutifdumpinghastoo.Veoliarespondedtoanemailedresidentqueryonaperceivedreductioninlitteringasfollows:OurLivingWightmanSurveyreveals46%oflocalresidentssaythereislesslittersincethebridgeworks.
Muchless24%
Less22%
Nochange44%
More10%
Muchmore0%
Perceplonsoflixeringsinceclosure
-"TheclosureofWightmanRoadhas...helpedastheeaseofcommutingtrafficpullingup,grabbingakebab/takeawayanddroppinglitteroutofthecarwindowisnowrestricted".
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1.6.ImprovedRoadSafety
AIM:Toimproveroadsafetyforallroadusers,inparticularforpedestriansandcyclists1.6.1Collisions
WightmanRoadisranked4thhighestoutof12collisionhotspotslistedintheexistingconditionsnoteproducedbytheconsultantscommissionedaspartoftheGreenLanesTransportStudy.BandedLocationsof4topCollisionsHotspots
SourceTransportforLondon
ItseemsreasonabletoassumealowtrafficWightmanRoadwoulddecreasecollisionsonWightmanRoadandtheLadderrungroads.
1.6.2Pedestrians
WehavereceivedfeedbackviatheLivingWightmanSurveythatpedestriansfeelsafer,sincethebridgeworks.AdditionallytworespondentscommentedonpreBridgeworksincidentsofcarsnotstoppingatWightmanRoadtrafficlightsnearthetopofBurgoyneandHampdenRoads.
1.6.3Cyclists
Reportedcollisiondatafromthestudyareafora36monthsperiodendingNovember2015,showsthatGreenLanesandWightmanRoadaredangerousforcyclists.LivesaredamagedandunnecessaryNHScostsensue.ItmustbeaprioritytomakeWightmanRoadasafecycleroute.SuchachangewouldhavetheaddedbenefitofprovidingasafealternativeroutetoGreenLanes.EvenintheshorttimesincetheclosureandmidJune2016,16%ofcyclistsusingWightmanRoadhadshiftedtheirjourneyfromGreenLanes,despitetheinconvenienceofhavingtowalkbikesforsomedistanceoverthebridge.
Peaceful.PeoplewalkingalongWightmanroadstopandchatbecauseit'saquiet,safeplacetodoso.Groupsofkidsplayoutontheroadtogether;ithasbecomeacommunalplayspace.Carsspeedinglateatnightnolongerkeepmeawake.ItissaferformykidstocrossWightmanroadascarsfrequentlydidn'tusetostopatthepedestriancrossingatthetopofBurgoynedespitethelightsbeingred
28
Serioussafetyconcernsputpeopleoffcyclinginthelocalarea.SinceWightmanRoadhasbecomesafeseveralpeoplehavetoldustheyhavetakenupcyclingbecauseitisnowsafe.
Ihavenocar,soI'veonlybeenpositivelyaffectedbytheclosure.Ihadgivenupcyclingsevenyearsago,whenIwassweptofmybike(withmy2yearoldsononthebackseat)bythedoorofaparkedcaropeningwhencyclinghomeonWightmanRoad.Now,I'mgoingtotakeupcyclingtoworkagain.Mysonisnow9yearsold,andtheclosurehashadafantasticimpactonhimandhisfriends.Theymeetupspontaneouslytoplayoutandcyclearoundtheneighbourhood.WhenWightmanRoadwasopentonormaltraffic,mostparentsdidn'tevenlettheirchildrencrosstheroadbythemselves.WightmanRoadisn'tbuiltfortheamountofcartrafficithasbeenhaving,whichmeantthattheroad(andeventhepavements)haveinfactbeenmonopolizedbycars,marginalisingeverybodyelse.
29
1.7.ProtectedorImprovedBusJourneyTimesandReliability
AIM:Toensurethatbusjourneytimesareprotectedorimprovedasaresultofanylocaltrafficmanagementchanges.TransportforLondonwereaskedtosupplydataforbusjourneytimesonGreenLanesforbothJanuary2016(pre-closure)andMay2016(postclosure).DatawassuppliedforthethreebusroutesthatrunalongGreenLanes(29,141and341)goingsouthfromthePembertonRoadstop(outsideIceland)toManorHousetubeandgoingnorthfromManorHousetubetotheStAnn’sRoadstop(outsidethepostoffice).Overallfindingsshowbustimes,despitesomepeople’sperceptions,havenotdecreasedsignificantly.Wealsobelievethatafewsimplestepscanbetakentomaintainpreviousbustimesontheseroutesandevenimprovethem.Insummaryourfindingswere:
MondaytoFridaysouthbound.(IcelandtoManorHouse).Thereisvirtuallynodifferenceinthejourneytimesgoingsouth.Whenthebuslaneceasestobeinoperationthejourneytimerisesbyabout1minute.
MondaytoFridaynorthbound(ManorHousetothePostOffice).Aboutaminutelongeronaverageuntiltheparkingrestrictionceaseandthenaboutanextra4minutesonaverage
Saturdayssouthbound.Verylittledifferenceuntil10amthenanincreaseofaround2.5minutes.
Saturdaysnorthbound.Sameassouthboundbutaslightlylongerincreaseof3minutesontheaveragejourneytimefrom10am
Sundayssouthbound.Hardlyanydifferenceuntil10amthenanincreaseofabout2minutes
Sundaysnorthbound.Themorningsaremoreorlessthesamebutthenanincreaseofalmost6minutesbetween1-4pmandagainbetween7-10pm
ItseemsclearthatallowingparkingonGreenLaneshasarealimpactonjourneytimes.ThenorthboundtrafficsnarlsupbadlyonSundayswhentherestaurantsandotherbusinessesarethebusiestandwhentheArenatrafficisatitsheight.Asthereisnobuslanegoingnorth,busestravelwiththerestofthetrafficatalltimessoaveragejourneytimesforvehiclesareprobablyaboutthesameorless(ascarsdon'thavetostopatbusstops).Chartsshowingthedataisappendedtothisreport.WewillnowbeseekingtimesforbuseswhichtravelalongTurnpikeLaneandEndymionRoad.
30
1.8.LevelsofWalkingandEnhancedPedestrianAccess
AIM:toincreaselevelsofwalkingandpedestrianaccess.AkeyobjectiveoftheGreenLanesTransportStudyistoenhancepedestrianaccessibilityintoandwithinthestudyarea.SincetheintroductionofthetemporarytrafficmanagementmeasuresonWightmanRoad,oursurveyshowsthattherehasbeenanenormousincreaseinwalking.65%oflocalresidentssaytheyarewalkingmore,with29%walkingmuchmore.
Walkingintotheareahasbecomemorepleasantforthosewholiveoutsidethestudyareatoo.
Muchless4% Less
1%
Nochange30%
More36%
Muchmore29%
Walkingsinceclosure
IdropmychildatanurseryonCavendishRdandhavetocrossatHarringayStationtodoso.ItissomucheasiertosafelycrosstheroadwithmychildandIcanlethimwalkonthepavementinsteadofstrappinghimintothebuggy.Itfeelssafernowinsuchanarrowroadtohavenotraffic.Itwasscarywhentheroadwasopenanditfeltlikeahorriblethoroughfarewithnosenseofcommunity.ThingsfeeldifferentaroundtherenowandI’dliketoseeitstaythesame.
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Frombeinganunpleasantjourneytobeendured,awalkalongWightmanRoadoroneoftheLadderrungroadshasbecomeapleasure.WalkinginHarringayWardisnowapositivechoiceratherthansomethingavoidedatallcosts.
MuchmorepleasantwalktoandfromHornseyStationeveryday
MakesmyjourneytothetrainstationmucheasierItfeelslikearesidentialareathatisquiet,
calmandpeaceful.Itisarelaxingplacetocomehometoo,withoutcarsracingalongdrivingaggressivelyandnoisily.WightmanRoadisnowaniceplaceforastrollratherthanaroadtogetoffquicklytoavoidthenoiseandimpatience.
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1.9.ImprovedCyclingAccess
AIM:toincreaselevelsofcyclingandcyclingaccess.AkeyaimoftheGreenLanesTransportStudyistoimprovecycleaccesswithinthestudyarea.AchievingthisgoalwillsupporttheaimsoutlinedbytheMayorofLondontoworkwithallrelevantpartnerstobringaboutasignificantincreaseincyclinginLondon,sothatitaccountsforatleast5percentofmodalshareby2026.TheMayorhascommittedto:
1. identifying,promotingandimplementinganetworkofcycleroutesacrossLondonwhichwillincludeCycleSuperhighwaysandquietways
2. continuingtooperateandimprovethecyclehirescheme.AtpresentroadslikeWightmanRoadcannotgainasufficientTfLCLOS(cyclinglevelofservice)standardtobeconsidereda'quietway'cyclerouteunlessthroughtrafficisremovedbyfiltering.Maintainingitasalowtrafficroute,wouldallowittoserveasasafecyclingrouteandquietwayinsupportoftheMayor’saims.A4mile+safecycleroutecouldbecreatedthroughAlexandraPark,alongWightmanRoadandthroughFinsburypark,linkingMuswellHillandAlexandraParktoCentralLondon.Morepeoplelocallyandfurtherafieldwouldbeencouragedtogiveuptheircarcommute. Totestoutlocalsupportforsuchideas,LivingWightmanandHaringeyCyclists(theHaringeybranchoftheLondonCyclingCampaign)jointlyorganisedabikebreakfastonWightmanRoadinJune2016.Wellover300cyclistswereusingWightmanRoadbetween7:30am–9:30ameachdaytocommutetowork,showinghowpopularWightmanRoadhasbeenasacyclerouteduringthebridgeworks.Aspartoftheevent,wesurveyedallcyclistswhousedtherouteduringourevent.
‘Asafe,low-trafficWightmanRoadcouldprovideakeypartofastrategiccyclerouteconnectingHaringeywithBarnetandEnfieldtothenorth,HackneyandIslingtontothesouth,andbeyond.’
HaringeyCyclistsJune2016
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Atourbikebreakfastcycliststoldustheydidn’tfeelsafecyclingalongWightmanRoad
Oursurveyresultsprovideaninterestinginsightintopeople’scyclingjourneys.Here’swherepeoplebegantheircommute:
Area %
Hornsey/NorthLadder 42.6%
FinsburyPark/SouthLadder 23.4%
SouthTottenham&WoodGreen 13.7%
Enfield 8.5%
Barnet 4.3%
MuswellHill 2.1%
StokeNewington 2.1%
Islington 2.1%
Waterloo 2.1%
34
Equallyinterestingwastherangeoftheirdestinations:
Area %
City 34.0%
Islington 14.9%
EastLondon 12.8%
WestEnd 12.8%
CamdenTown 6.4%
SouthLondon 6.4%
Ladder 4.3%
Euston 4.3%
FinsburyPark 2.1%
WoodGreen 2.1%
Oursurveyfoundthat96%ofcyclistswouldpreferWightmanRoadtoremainaverylowtrafficroad,asitisnow.4%toldusthattheywereasyetundecidedwhatthebestsolutiongoingforwardis.Itwasinspirationaltohearstoriesfromcyclistsofhowremovingthroughmotortrafficfromthisroadhastransformedtheirlivesforthebetter.BeforethebridgeworkscyclistssaidtheyfoundWightmanRoaddangerousand72%saidthatthemainbenefitofthecurrentarrangementisincreasedsafety.Cyclistsalsomentionedthattheircyclejourneywasfarquieter,muchmorepleasant,quickerandlesspolluted.Theyalsoreportednoticingmorechildrenplayingandcyclingandthelocalcommunityenjoyingtheirstreet.
Hugedifference,everyday.DespitetravellingtoandfromcentralLondoneveryday,WightmanRoadwastheobviouslydangerousandthreateningpartofmyjourneyineachdirection.CarswouldonlypassdangerouslyclosetomeasIwouldcycleanddriveconcerninglyclosetomeiftheycouldnotpass. Tom
35
EvenintheshorttimebetweenthestartoftheclosureandmidJune2016,16%ofcyclistsshiftedtheirjourneyfromGreenLanesand4%hadshiftedfrompublictransportordrivingtocyclingtheircommutesincethebridgeworksbegan.
Finally,oursurveyrevealedthat46%oflocalresidentsarecyclingmore.
IcommutebybicycletocentralLondonfromWestGreen,previouslyviaGreenlanes,nowviaWightmanRoad.Muchsafer,healthier(lesspollution)justmuchnicer.Havereallyenjoyedit.
36
Muchless6% Less
2%
Nochange47%
More23%
Muchmore22%
CyclingsinceclosureNote-nochangeincludesthosewhowerenotalreadycycling
ItriedcyclingoncewhenIfirstmovedtotheLadderanditwassonervewrackingIputmybikeawayfornearly2years.NowthatIcanuseWightman...IcycleonceaweektoAngelandback,downtoArenaforshopping,andevenjustforfun/exercisedowntoFinsburyParksometimes!
Thedailycommutehasbecomeamuchmorepleasantexperience.IusedtodreadcomingbackonWightmanroadintheevening/atnight,asitseemedtobeenrichedforaggressivedrivers,butnowIlookforwardtotheridealongtheroad.
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2.SectionTwo-PositiveOutcomesfortheBorough
2.1.ReductioninNetTraffic
ReducingtrafficcapacityonWightmanRoadandtheLadderrungroadsprovidesHaringeyCouncilwithanopportunitytoreducenettrafficthroughouttheborough.Evidencefrommorethan100studiessuggeststhatimplementingeffectivemeasurestosignificantlyreducetrafficcapacityonWightmanandtheLadderrungroadswillresultinasignificantproportionoftrafficdisappearingratherthanbeingdisplaced.A14%mediantrafficevaporation(disappearance)isseenwhensimilarmeasuresareputinplaceincomparablecircumstances.Thetableonthefollowingpage(‘ChallengingAssumptions’)providesmoredetail.EvidencefromtheLivingWightmanSurveysupportsthis.58%oflocalresidentsreportthattheyaremakingfewercarjourneyssinceWightmanRoadbecameanothroughroadasaresultofthebridgeclosure.Ofthese29%saytheyaremakingmuchfewercarjourneys.
Thuswhilstsometraffichasbeendisplacedtootherroadsandareas,webelievethatoveralltherehasbeenanetreductionintraffic.ThefullpotentialoftrafficevaporationresultingfromchangestoWightmanRoad,hasnotyetbeenrealised.
Muchless29%
Less29%
Nochange37%
More0%
Muchmore5%
CarusesinceclosureDangerouscyclingconditionsonWightmanRoadwereakeyreasonIgavemybikeawaywhenImovedtothisareaover20yearsago.SinceWightmanhasbeenclosedIhaveactuallyboughtabikeagainandstartedenjoyingexploringothersafecyclingroutesaroundLondon.
Schoolrunmadebycarformorethan50%ofjourneysnowabletomakebyfootandbike
38
Weareprobablyinbetweentheshortandmediumtermphasesoutlinedbelow.Someroadsarestillcrammedatrushhouranddriversaresearchingforalternativeroutesandtimestotravelbutoursurveyandanecdotalevidencealsoshowsthatmanylocalpeoplearemovingintothemediumphase,shiftingtopublictransport,combiningtripsandreviewingtheneedtotravel.BecausedrivershavebeentoldthebridgewillopeninSeptember2016,manywillhavedecidedto‘sititout’andputupwithaperiodofinconvenienceratherthanchangetheircommutinghabits.Ifeffectivemeasuresareputinplacewe’llseemorechangedeliveredbymediumtermchangesandalsobenefitfromthelongertermchangeswhereswitchingjobsandchangingthelocationofleisureactivitieswillkickin.InterestinglyweareincreasinglyseeingdayswhentrafficflowsonGreenLanesareasgood,ifnotbetter,atpeaktimesasbeforethebridgeclosure.Thismaybeevidenceofthislongertermtrendtakingeffectasdriversbegintomakeotherchoices.
Furtherevidencethatsignificanttrafficevaporationistakingplaceisthat27%ofrespondentstoourLivingWightmanSurveysaytheyareusingpublictransportmoreoftensincethebridgeworks.Ofthosewhosaidtheirtransportmodehadnotchanged,somewillhavealreadybeenexclusivelypublictransportusers.
39
Morepeoplearealsowalkingandcycling(seeprevioussectionsfordetails)
Muchless3%
Less9%
Nochange61%
More17%
Muchmore10%
PublictransportusesinceclosureNote-nochangeincludesthosewhowerealreadyusingpublictransport
40
2.ReductioninNetAirPollution
Reducingnettrafficshouldalsoreducenetairpollution.Italsoseemsreasonablefornetpollutiontobeaprimaryobjective.ApropermethodologyutilisingarangeofdatasourcesandevaluationtechniquesisrequiredtoassesswhethertherehasbeenanetreductioninairpollutionasaresultoftheWightmannothroughroad.Risinganddecreasingpollutionratesinhotspotsisofcoursealsoimportant.ItwillbeimportanttoreviewairpollutionmonitoringbeforeandafterWightmanRoadbecameanothroughroadatanumberofsites.Siteswhereareductionhasoccurredshouldbenoted.Ifpollutionratesatanysiteshaveincreasedtodangerouslevelsitwillthenbeimportanttoseewhatadditionalmeasurescouldbeputinplacetobringpollutiondownintheseareas,ratherthanconcludealowtrafficWightmanRoadshouldnotbeimplemented.AFreshStartwillalsocontributetotheachievementofHaringey40:20Haringey40:20HaringeyCouncilisrunninganinitiativetoreducecarbonemissionsby40%by2020.Haringeyneedseconomicgrowth,butwealsohavearesponsibilitytotackleclimatechangeandcutourcarbonemissions.Doingbothatthesametimeisambitious,ithasneverbeendonebefore,butitispossible.1.2.1.Haringey’sContributiontotheMayor’sVisiononAirPollution
OurhypothesisisthatprotectingblocksofresidentialroadsfromhighvolumesoftrafficacrossaboroughcouldplayasignificantpartintheMayorofLondon'sstrategytoreduceairpollution.Asoutlinedabove,theevidencestronglysuggeststheseinitiativesresultinasignificantreductioninnettraffic.AproportionofthosecommutingthroughkeyresidentialareassuchasWightmanRoadcomefromasfarawayasEssex,Hertfordshire,BarnetandEnfieldandtravelthroughHaringeyandthenoftenontoinnerLondonBoroughs.Aproportionofthesepeoplewillhaveshiftedtopublictransportormorefrequentworkingfromhomeasaresultreducedtrafficcapacity,thuscuttingpollutionnotonlyinHaringey,butinouterandinnerLondonboroughsaswell.WerecognisetheworkthatHaringeyhasdonetoprotectsomecommunitiesfromtraffic.LargeareasofHaringeyalreadybenefitfromthisapproachandconsequentlytheCouncilhasalreadyeliminatedasignificantamountoftraffic.ArguablytheintroductionofprotectedareashasbeentheresultofspecificlocalcommunitieslobbyingforchangeintheirareawiththesupportoftheirCouncillorsratherthananexplicitstrategybyHaringeyCouncil.NowisthetimeforHaringeytoconsider
41
adoptingthisasanexplicitstrategyandtobegintoextendthesemeasures,inathoughtfulmanneracrossHaringey.ExtendingthecurrenttrafficmanagementarrangementsonWightmanRoadprovideauniqueopportunitytofurthertestthisapproach.HaringeyCouncilcouldbeanexemplarandcouldbeusedasapilotsiteforLondonasawhole.
42
3.SectionThree–Challenges
Whilstthebenefitsoftheimplementingano-throughroadonWightmanRoadareclear,werecognisethattherehavealsobeenchallengesoverthelastfewmonths.Thereareanumberofpossibleshort-termmitigationsthatcouldbeputinplacetoalleviatethese.Wefullysupportanyfinalschemefortheareatakingintoaccountandaddressingthesechallengesinlongertermplanning.Challenges Possiblemitigations
LadderRoads(includingWightmanRoad)• Access• Pavementparking• ImpactonWightmanRoadbusinesses
Access–ThecurrentaccessarrangementforWightmanandtheotherLadderrungroadshaveprovedtobesuccessfulafteraninitialsettlinginperiod.Learningfromthisphaseneedstobeincorporatedintoanyrecommendationsforfuturetrafficschemes.Pavementparking–Thenarrowing,andinsomecasescompleteblocking,ofthepavementonWightmanRoadhasbeenhighlightedmanytimesinfeedbackfromresidents.Itisunacceptablethatpeoplewithdisabilitiesandthosewithpushchairscannotusethepavementsandsometimeshavetoresorttousingthecarriageway.Anyproposalmustaddresshowvehiclescanbetakenoffthepavement.Impactontraders–itisevidentthatsomeofthebusinessesonWightmanRoadhavebeennegativelyimpactedbythebridgeclosure.Workneedstocarriedoutwiththemtoidentifywhattheimpactsonthemhavebeen,wheretheirmaincustomerbasecomesfromandforthepromotionofWightmanRoadbusinesstobeincorporatedintothemoregeneralpromotionofthearea(seeGreenLanessectionbelow).
GreenLanes• Addedcongestion• Busjourneys• Parking• Impactontraders• Airquality• SalisburyRoad
AlthoughithasbeennotedthatbusjourneytimeshavenotbeenasseverelyaffectedasfirstthoughtandameasureoftrafficevaporationhashappenedthereisstilltheimmediateproblemwithtrafficflowsandcongestiononGreenLanes,possiblyresultinginincreasedairpollutionforlocalresidents.Tradershavealsoexpressedconcernovertheimpactontheirbusinesses,althoughanumberhavesaidtheyhavebeen
43
Challenges Possiblemitigations
unaffected.ShorttermGreenLaneshasanumberofpinchpointsthatcouldbealleviatedbyshortterm,lowcostactionsTrafficlighttimings–thisneedstobeexaminedalongthewholestretchofGreenLanesbutthereappeartobeproblemsspecificallyatthefollowingjunctionswheretrafficlighttimingcouldcontributetobetterflows
• SalisburyRoad• WilliamsonRoad/Arena
Busstopplacement–thenorthandsouthbusstopsbyHarringayGreenLanesstationeffectivelypinchtheWilliamsonRoad/Arenajunctionevenfurther.Movingtheseoneblocknorthwouldhelpconsiderablytorelievethisbottleneck.Changestoparkingrestrictions–periodsofparkingrestrictioncouldbeextendedtoallowforbettertrafficflows.Trafficdatashowsthatatweekendsthereareexceptionallyhightrafficcountsandbringinginweekendparkingrestrictionscouldcontributetobettertrafficflows.Busjourneys–datafromTfLshowsthatbusjourneytimeshavebeenlittleaffectedwhilethesouthboundbuslaneisinoperation.ExtendingbuslaneoperationalhourstothosecurrentlyinplaceonSevenSistersRoadwouldgoalongwaytoimprovingjourneytimesandalsoprovidealanegivingaccesstoemergencyvehiclesduringbusytimesandasafercyclingroute.Northboundthereiscurrentlynobuslane.ExtendingparkingrestrictionsonGreenLanestocovereveningcommutingandthebusyweekendperiodwouldhelptospeedupjourneys.Parking–parkingonGreenLaneshasbeenidentifiedasamajorcontributoryfactortocongestion.Considerationshouldbegiventolonger“noparking”timesandtheprovisionofpayanddisplayparkingattheendsoftheroadsleadingontoGreenLanes.Traders–studieshaveshownthattraders
44
Challenges Possiblemitigations
oftenoverestimateproportionoftradefromcustomersdrivingtotheirpremises.ShorttermworkshouldbecarriedouttoobtainfactualinformationabouttherealimpactsofthebridgeclosureontradersLongertermSalisburyRoadandStAnne’sRoadjunctions–SalisburyRoadisanalmostentirelyresidentialroadthathasalwayssufferedgreatlyfromcongestionandpollutionfromtraffic.ConsiderationneedstobegiventoclosingthisasanaccessroadtoGreenLanesandinsteadlookingathowtheStAnne’sjunctioncanberedesignedtoallowbothaccesstoandegressfromGreenLanes.Thiswouldalsodoawaywiththefoursetsoftrafficlightthatarecurrentlywithinmetersofeachother.WilliamsonRoad/Arena–thecentraltrafficislandatthisjunctionnarrowstheroadandcausesrealproblemsfornorthboundbuses.Considerationshouldbegiventoremovingthis,havingasinglepedestriancrossingandretimingtrafficlightstoallowabetterflowinandoutoftheArena.ThelongertermArenaredevelopmentshouldincludecarfreeagreementsandareductioninparkingonthesite.PromotionofGreenLanes–GreenLaneshasbecomebothalocalshoppingcentreandadestinationbecauseofthewidechoiceofrestaurants.AcampaignpromotingGreenLanesanditsexcellentpublictransportlinksshouldbelaunched.Airquality–levelsofpollutiononGreenLanesandWightmanRoadwereatunacceptablelevelsbeforethebridgeclosureandlevelsonGreenLaneshavecontinuedtobepoor.Studiesshowthatstop/starttrafficmovementsaremajorcontributorstopollution.GreenLanesalsosuffersfromincreasedexhaustemissionsfromvehiclesparkingandwaitingtopark.Bringingintheraftofimprovementoutlinedabovewillhelptoreducepollutionlevels
45
Challenges Possiblemitigations
Widerarea• Addedcongestion• Busjourneys
ThepartialclosureofWightmanRoadhashadanimpactonawiderarea,thoughprobablynottotheextentthatwaspredictedatthestartoftheproject.Theareabasedstudygivesauniquechancetolookattheseimpacts,theircumulativeeffectandhowmitigationscanbeputinplacebeforevehiclesevenenterthestudyarea.GivingvehiclestravellingthroughtheareawellplannedroutesasanalternativetoGreenLanesneedstobeinvestigatedandactionedurgently.
54
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97
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17.3
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25.02%
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.74%
17
.91%
2.43
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0.36
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0.11
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0.05
%
0.02
%
0.01
%
0.00
%
0.02
%
55
Veh
icleSizebyClassification
G
reen
Lan
esju
nction
s 1
2 3
4 5
6 7
8 9
10
Totalall
vehicles
Total
large
vehicles
%large
vehicles
WilliamsonRo
ad
northb
ound
33
28
6781
3 46
6 37
94
439
344
91
151
71
198
7669
5 51
1 0.67
%
WilliamsonRo
ad
southb
ound
42
69
7092
0 42
8 34
52
680
623
81
162
68
217
8090
0 52
8 0.65
%
DuckettRoa
dno
rthb
ound
40
23
6115
3 57
8 41
22
419
592
115
115
54
99
7127
0 38
3 0.54
%
DuckettRoa
dsouthb
ound
42
17
6339
6 30
1 57
17
545
312
88
132
53
94
7485
5 36
7 0.49
%
FairfaxRoa
dno
rthb
ound
40
64
6433
7 56
7 41
29
379
558
110
114
52
121
7443
1 39
7 0.53
%
FairfaxRoa
dsouthb
ound
41
21
6648
8 31
3 52
91
517
273
83
102
41
91
7732
0 31
7 0.41
%
Wightman
Roa
d Co
untsatea
chju
nction
s •
Due
toth
elim
itationsofthe
trafficcou
nters,m
otorcyclesproba
blyalsoinclud
ebicyclesasitsim
plypicksup
twowhe
elpassingoverthepressuresen
sors.
• Veh
iclesClass7an
dab
oveareverylargean
dprob
ablyovertheproh
ibited
weightinanu
mbe
rofcases.
• Tw
ojunction
sseem
tosufferpa
rticularlyfrom
verylargevehicles,B
eresfordnorthbo
undan
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rthb
ound
Green
Lan
es
Coun
tsatea
chju
nction
s Th
eWilliamsonRo
adjunction
(forThe
Arena
)getsthemosto
fthe
verylargevehicles
56
Appendix2-RelevantLegislationandPolicies
EuropeanAmbientAirQuality
• Directive2008/50/EConambientairqualityandcleanerairforEurope.NewairqualityobjectivesforPM2.5(fineparticles)includingthelimitvalueandexposurerelatedobjectives–exposureconcentrationobligationandexposurereductiontarget.• CouncilDirective1999/30/ECrelatingtolimitvaluesforsulphurdioxide,nitrogendioxideandoxidesofnitrogen,particulatematterandleadinambientair(FirstDaughterDirective).• CouncilDirective80/779/EECof15July1980onairqualitylimitvaluesandguidevaluesforsulphurdioxideandsuspendedparticulates,aslastamendedbyDirective89/427/EEC• CouncilDirective85/203/EECof7March1985onairqualitystandardsfornitrogendioxide,aslastamendedbyCouncilDirective85/580/EEC
RenewedEUsustainabledevelopmentstrategy
Safeguardtheearth'scapacitytosupportlifeinallitsdiversity,respectthelimitsoftheplanet'snaturalresourcesandensureahighlevelofprotectionandimprovementofthequalityoftheenvironment.Preventandreduceenvironmentalpollutionandpromotesustainableconsumptionandproductiontobreakthelinkbetweeneconomicgrowthandenvironmentaldegradation.
LondonTheLondonPlan.Policy6.7Betterstreetsandsurfacetransport
DPDsshouldpromotebus,bustransitandtramnetworks,including:
a. allocatingroadspaceandprovidinghighlevelofpriorityonexistingorproposedroutesb. ensuringgoodaccesstoandwithinareasservedbynetworks,nowandinfuturec. ensuringdirect,secure,accessibleandpleasantwalkingroutestostops
Policy6.9Cycling
ATheMayorwillworkwithallrelevantpartnerstobringaboutasignificantincreaseincyclinginLondon,sothatitaccountsforatleast5percentofmodalshareby2026.Hewill:
a. identify,promoteandimplementanetworkofcycleroutesacrossLondonwhichwillincludeCycleSuperhighwaysandQuietwaysb. continuetooperateandimprovethecyclehirescheme
Policy6.10Walking
a. maintainandpromotetherelevantsectionsoftheWalkLondonNetworkshownonMap6.3,aswellasboroughroutesb. identifyandimplementaccessible,safeandconvenientdirectroutestotowncentres,transportnodesandotherkeyuses
57
c. promotethe‘LegibleLondon’programmetoimprovepedestrianwayfindingprovidefortheundertakingofauditstoensurethattheexistingpedestrianinfrastructureissuitableforitsproposeduseandthatnewdevelopmentimprovespedestrianamenity
d. encourageahigherqualitypedestrianandstreetenvironment,includingtheuseofsharedspaceprinciples,suchassimplifiedstreetscape,decluttering,andaccessforall.
Policy7.14Improvingairquality
TheMayorrecognisestheimportanceoftacklingairpollutionandimprovingairqualitytoLondon’sdevelopmentandthehealthandwell-beingofitspeople.Hewillworkwithstrategicpartnerstoensurethatthespatial,climatechange,transportanddesignpoliciesofthisplansupportimplementationofhisAirQualityandTransportstrategiestoachievereductionsinpollutantemissionsandminimizepublicexposuretopollution.ImprovingairqualitystrategyTheoverarchingaimofthisStrategyistoreduceairpollutioninLondonsothatthehealthofLondonersisimproved.ThemosteffectivemeanstodothisistoachievetheEuropeanUnion(EU)airqualitylimitvaluesassoonaspossible.Thiswillalsoachievecompliancewithnationallyprescribedairqualitystandardsandobjectives,asrequiredbytheGLAAct
HaringeyLocalImplementationPlan[TransportStrategy]2011-2031• Facilitateanincreaseinwalkingandcycling• ImproveairqualitywithintheBoroughthroughinitiativestomitigatetheeffectsofpollutant
emissionsfromroadanddieseloperatedrailtransport• ReduceHaringey’sCO2emissionsfromtransportthroughsmartermeasurestoreducecaruse
andencouragelowcarbonalternatives• Reducecrime• Improvetheconditionandlegibilityoftheprincipalroads• Ensurethattransportprotects....historicenvironment.....townscape...
58
Appendix3-CommentsmadebyRespondentsintheLivingWightmanSurvey
1. SaferoutetocyclefromturnpikelanetoFinsburyPark.2. IthinkWightmanrd.shouldbeopenduringthetime-notimeandasaresultofthiswillbeless
peoplewhowedonotknowaroundourpropertyandnomoredealingwithselling-buyingdrugsbetweenpeopleonfoot-cycledandfromcarsparkingonemptyWightmanrd.
3. Increasedjourneytimes,hadtogiveupapmjobastrafficmeantIcouldnotgetthereontime;poorairqualityonGreenLanesandGardens,healthproblems,
4. Itismuchquieterinmyflatwithoutcarsdrivingatspeedpastit.Theairpollutionhasimprovedgreatly.Itusedtobeahorrible,pollutedwalktoHarringaystationbutitnowfeelsmuchhealthier.MyflatmateandImuchprefertheroadnotbeingusedasathroughroad.
5. MybedroomfacesontoWightmanroadsoIsleepmuchbetternowandIcanopenmywindowonwarmnightsratherthanputtheelectricfanon.MygardenfacestheroadsoIcanenjoythespacewithoutconstantcarnoisepeepinghornsetc.IfeelsafetocyclefrommyhomesoIdon'tneedtousemycarsomuch.I'vemetlotsmoreneighboursnowandtheroadfeelsmoreresidentialsoIfeelsaferwalkinghomeatnightandsodon'tneedtodrive.I'venowmadesomefriendsalongthestreetandfeelthebeginningsofasenseofcommunity.Iwonderifallthecrumblingwallsalongtheroadarefromvibrationfromheavytrucks.
6. Ienjoynothavingtrafficbuild-upofcarscomingfromEastgoingWestwhocan'tgetintoWightmanRoad-itcutsdownonthenoiseofidlemotors,soundsystems,hootingandlitterbeingthrownoutofthecars.Ihaveseenashtraysbeingemptied.Wealsoseemtohavelessdumpingandfewer"boyracers"incarsbutmaybeafewmoreonmopeds,motorbikesandbikesbutIcanlivewiththat.ThereducedpollutionisthemainbenefitandnotjumpingforyourlifefromdriversjumpingtheredlightsatthetopofHampdenRoad.Wedon'thaveacarandrarelyusebuses.
7. Ithasbeenanightmaretodrive-assomeonesufferingfromMSthishasbeendifficultresultinginworkingfromhomemoreoften.OntheotherhandIalsotrytocycleasmuchasIcan,andIamcyclingmoreasIcannowcycledownWightmantoCamdenratherthanhavingtoavoiditandcarrymybikeoverHornseyBridge.Soamixedbag-greatforcyclingandpeacefulness-terribleondaysIcannotcycleandterribleformypartnerwhoisabuilderandneedstodriveavanforwork-heishomesomuchlater-thereneedstobeastrategyforthetrafficdrivingEastifWightmanwastoremainclosed,andastrategyforWilloughbyroad-onaSundayitisimpossibletoturnrightoutofthebottomofourroadintoWilloughbyduetothetrafficjam,whichmakesmefeelveryworriedasIfeeltrapped.Willoughbyshouldalsobeclosedtothroughtraffic
8. Theroad-beingfreeofcarandlorrytraffic-isajoytowalkalong.ConsequentlyIamnowusingittoaccesstheArenashoppingparkbyfoot,ratherthandriving
9. Theamountofrubbishandmissedcollectionsisdisgusting10. Ithasmadeahugedifferencetothequalityoflifehere.Theairisnoticeablycleaner,itismuch
morepeacefulandcalm.Wedon'tmindusingthecarlessandgenerallytrytoavoidpeaktimeswhenweknowGreenLanesandthesurroundingroadswillbetoobusy.Thereareminorproblemswithsomedeliveryservicesandbincollections,andsomecarjourneysmighttakehalfanhourlonger,butthisisasmallpricetopayforavastlyimprovedhomeenvironment.Also,thewildlifearoundhereismuchmorenoticeableandseemstothrivemore.Ihope,perhapsnaively,thatitstaysthisway!
11. Thekeydifferencesare:Wakingupwithnobittertasteinmymouthandeasierbreathing;nothavingtodustthegrimeoffsurfaceseveryday;safercrossingtheroads:happieratmosphereintheneighbourhood-Ihavegottoknowmoreneighbours;everythingisquieterandcalmer;theplantsinmywindowboxeshavesurvived;Inolongergetwakenupseveraltimesanightbysirensorloudcarsandlorries.
59
12. IthasreducedhowoftenIgotocrouchend(orMuswellHillinparticular)forshoppingasitistoocongestedcomingbackunderthebridge.Thisisthecasewhetheronthebusorinthecar.Alsoaccesstothedump/recyclingcentreisdifficult/slow.Iamdoingmy'laddercircuit'joglessoftenasthereissomuchworkgoingoninWightmanthepavementsaren'tsoaccessibleandtherearestillcars.
13. Putsatleast40minutesonmydailycommutetoandfromwork14. It'sgreatformanypeoplewholiveontheLadderandhavenocars,buthorrendousforthose
wholiveoutsidethearea!IliveontheWestsideofHornseyandhavestoppedtryingtogoEastintheafternoon(orearlyevening)bycarorbybus,asitmeansmiserablylengthyqueuesintraffic.Icouldwalkthereorcycle(weatherpermitting)butoftenI'dneedtogomuchfurtherandoptionsthenare:queueupintrafficforages,redirectviaFinsburyPark(notmyroutebutslightlylesscongested),abandonplan(usuallymychoice).It'slikeano-gozone.It'salteredmylifestyleand,upmyroad,HornseyHighStreetwhichwasalreadycongestedduringtraffichourshasbecomeanightmareofvehiclesatstandstillandongoingpollution.Hundreds(thousands!)ofpeoplewillsoonbelivingintheareaduetonewhousingdevelopments(PembrokeWorks,StJames’sSquare,Heartlands),meanwhiletheLadderresidentsaremakingplanstocloseWightmanRoadfortheirownprivatebenefit.
15. IcycledailytoWestminster,beforetheclosurethemostdangerouspartofmyjourneyfeltlikeWightmanRoad.Alsoasaresidentofaladderroadthereductionincarsandlorriesusingourroadasashortcuthasmadeahugeimprovementinourqualityoflife.
16. IhaveoccasionallyusedWightmanasacyclingroutetogettoCrouchEnd,aroadIwouldnevernormallycyclealongduetothenumerouspinchpoints.
17. Idon’tliveontheladderbutmychildrengotonurseryonWilloughbyrd.andwehavetodriveasthewalkistoofarfromwhereweliveinn15todoasmeandmyhusbandwork.ThepermanentclosuretotrafficofWightmanroadwouldbeadisasterforusasthetrafficongreenlaneshasbecometerribleasaconsequenceandmyonce10minutecarjourneyasnowbecomeatleast25minutessomemornings.That’snearlyanhourtodoareturnjourneythatshouldtakeme20mins.IrealisethattheairqualityisnowbetteronWightmanroad,butcomeanddoatrafficsurveynowonStAnne'sroadwhereeverymorningI'msatinidlingtraffic!Thecarshavetogosomewhere,andallitsdoneisfilteredthemallouttouseStAnne’srd.andCornwallroad.Itsadisaster!
18. Whilstit’sniceforresidentslivingontheladder,thetrafficeffectonGreenlanes/goingto/fromCrouchendisunbearable!!ICANNOTwaitfortheroadtore-open,asitsMCUHneededfortrafficflows.Sorry,Iknowyoualllovethepeace,butbiggerpicture,youliveinzone3London,notthecountryside.Dealwithitormove.
19. Myroadismuch,muchquieterandlesspolluted.IandmyfamilyareabletocyclealongtoFinsburyPark.Wedoownacaranddrivemainlyattheweekends.TheroadclosurehasobviouslymadeallcarjourneysmoredifficultbutonbalanceI'dprefertoliveinaquieter,cleanerareaandmaybeeventuallyditchthecar!
20. Icanhearthebirdssinging.Farlessairpollution.Wedriveless.IrunalongWightmanrdtoFinsburyPark.
21. Quiet,Nice,Safe22. Idon'tusemycarunlessIneedto(drivetowork,driveoutoftown,gotodoabigshop)
howeverontheoccasionsIhavehishasoftenadd30+plustomyjourneyduetothetrafficcongestionitcancausedaroundDuckettscommontogetontoGreenLanes/TurnpikeLane-asitisallonewayandroadsarecloses,onceyouhavedecidedtodoajourneyIamcommittedtoitasIcan'teasilygetbacktomystreet.InadditionattheTurnpikeLane/WightmanRoadjunctionwhereinitiallyIcoulddrivestraightoverandcontinuemynormalrouteandcompleteinthesametimethiswasadjustedandInowneedtoturnrightontoTurnpikeLaneandheadontoGreenLanes,roundDuckettsCommonandfinallytomystreet.WhilsttheairqualityandWightmanRoadisquieter-it'sjustbeenshiftedtotheothermainroadsaroundandDuckettsCommon-a'GreenSpace'forpeopletoenjoy.
60
23. Icannotpossiblygetsomewhereontime.24. IliveattheothersideofthebridgebutoftencrossWightmanRoadtogodowntoGreenLanes
andalsouseitasacycleroutetoTurnpikeLane.Imoreorlesshadstoppedcyclingbecauseitissounpleasantandalsoquitefrighteningtouseasacyclist.Thealternativeistravellingonestopbytrain,whichisOKbutnotsoconvenient.IrecentlycycledallthewaythereandbackfromHarringayStationtoTurnpikeLaneanditwaswonderful.
25. HigherpollutioninGreenLanesbecauseofstandingtraffic.Asthmamuchworse.26. Ittakesalotlongertogethome,nothappywiththeroadbeingclosed!!!27. Beingabletofeelmorepositiveaboutmylocalarea/agreatersenseofcommunity/relieffrom
thepollutionandnoisecreatedbytraffic/abettersenseofwellbeingbyincreasedwalking28. TheairiscleanerandvehiclesnolongerspeedupUmfrevilleusingitasaratrun.It'slovelyto
seekidsplayingfootballonsightanintheevenings29. Althoughtheopenroadshavebecomemorecongested,thereisnowasaferouteformeand
mychildrentocyclewhichhasmeantwecan.Ithasbeenlovely.Idon'tthinkthecouncilwillsittheroadpermanentlybutIdohopetheywilltakethecarsoffthepavementsandputinproperpedestriancrossingandeffectivetrafficcalmingwhichwillreducethespeedofthecarseffectively.Iwouldloveittostayclosedthough!
30. Ifeelfreeastheheavytrafficfeelslikeitimprisonedmeinthehouse.NowIhavemetmanynewneighboursandsofeelmuchbetterabouttheneighbourhoodasitisamuchmorepositiveplacetobe.Youseehowstressedallthepeoplewholiveclosebygetwhentheyhavetocrosstheroad.NowthatIdon'tfeelstressedbythatmysenseofwellbeinghasrisenagreatdeal
31. Youliterallycouldn'tcrosstheroadbefore.Thespeedpeopletraveldownit(thespeedbumpsareuseless)wassodangerousforaresidentialroad.Alsotheairqualityhaschangedunbelievably!
32. Theroadhasbeensomuchmorepleasantsinceit'sbeenclosed.Ididn'trealisehowmuchnoisetrafficmadeuntiltheclosure-nowIcanwalkdownthestreetandhearthebeesbuzzing!Italsofeelsmuchsaferasitwasoftenverydifficulttocrosstheroadduetoaconstantstreamoffastcars.ExistingtrafficcalmingmeasuresdonotseemtomakeanydifferenceascarsregularlyhitthespeedbumpoutsidemyhousesofastthatIcanfeelthebuildingshakewhilelyinginbedattheverybackofthehouse.Itwouldmakeahugepositivedifferencetomeandmyfamilyiftheroadremainedaccessonly.
33. Added40minutestomyjourneytakinganddroppingchildtoschool34. Muchquieter,cleanerandmorepleasanttowalkdown.However,thesurroundingroundsare
sufferingfrommoretraffic.IfinditinconvenientwhenIwanttogowest,IhavetodosoviaGreenLanesandTurnpikeLanes.Overall,therearealotofpositivestotheclosure,butanytrafficreducingmeasuresonWightmanmustenableresidentaccess,andfindsolutionstotheknockoneffectsinthesurroundingarea.
35. LivingonLothairRdSouthhasbecomefarmorepeaceful.Youcanliterallyhearthepeace!Birdssinging,peopleplayinginthestreet,lesstrafficandnomoreillegalrightsturnsontoWightmanRd.Theareafeelssafer.
36. DangerouscyclingconditionsonWightmanRoadwereakeyreasonIgavemybikeawaywhenImovedtothisareaover20yearsago.SinceWightmanhasbeenclosedIhaveactuallyboughtabikeagainandstartedenjoyingexploringothersafecyclingroutesaroundLondon.
37. Ithasmeantlongerjourneystravellingtowork,muchtomyannoyance.38. Itcantakemealmostanhourtogethomefromworkwhenit'sonlya10minutejourney.39. Quiet,saferresidentialroads.Safercyclecommutetocity.40. TrafficpollutioninGreenLanes,difficultytryingtogettoSainsburysorArenaPark,Rdrageon
theup41. Madeaccesstomyelderlyparentsfarmoredifficult42. Whileithasbeenveryquietwehavehadproblemswithourrubbishcollections.Theyhavenot
collectedasregularlyastheyshould.Thoughthishasimprovedinlasttwoweeks.Ihavealwayshadconcernsnotaboutthevolumeoftrafficbutthespeed.Theseridiculousspeed
61
bumpstheyhaveputareuselessandcarsdonotneedtoslowdown.Idofeelthatthemainproblemiswithheavygoodsvehicles.Weareunabletousethebedroomsatthefrontofthehouseduetovibrationstheselorriescause,theymakethehouseshake.IamnotinfavourofmakingWightmanroadcarless.IfIwantedtoliveonaquietroadIwouldmove.Therearealotofresidentsherewhorelyoncarsforvariousreasons,disabledchildrendisabledadults,theelderly.
43. IcommutebybicycletocentralLondonfromWestGreen,previouslyviaGreenLanes,nowviaWightmanRoad.Muchsafer,healthier(lesspollution),justmuchnicer.Havereallyenjoyedit.
44. Schoolrunmadebycarformorethan50%ofjourneysnowabletomakebyfootandbike45. Itfeelslikearesidentialareathatisquiet,calmandpeaceful.Itisarelaxingplacetocome
hometoo,withoutcarsracingalongdrivingaggressivelyandnoisily.WightmanRoadisnowaniceplaceforastrollratherthanaroadtogetoffquicklytoavoidthenoiseandimpatience.
46. Thepeacefulnessiswonderful,wedon'thavetohavethevolumeturneduponthetelevisionbecauseofoutsidetrafficnoise,nohugelorriesknockingmirrorsoffparkedcarsanddrivingaway,lessairpollution,lessdangeroushighspeeddriversnearschools,noonedroppinglitterfromtheircarwindows,justgenerallymorepleasurabletogoforwalksinthestreet.
47. Ithasmadealessdangerousandpeacefulplacewithlesspollutionandnoise48. AccesstoFinsburyParkviabikewithkidsismuchbetter.Allroundeverythingismuch
improvedandtheroadnowhasabettersenseofcommunity49. AmjustworriedaboutthetrafficonEndymionRoadandGreenLaneswhenIdohavetodrive50. DifficulttotraveldownGreenLanes.NiceronWightmanwhenwalkingwithkids51. Betterforwalkingwithababy52. Myqualityofsleephasimprovedhelpingmymentalandphysicalhealth53. Makesmyjourneytothetrainstationmucheasier54. Lessstressfulpeoplearefriendlier55. It'sbeenlovelyhavinglesstrafficbutabitmoreinconvenient!56. Muchniceratmosphereandlessnoise57. Lesscarsandnoisepollution58. MuchmorepleasantwalktoandfromHornseyStationeveryday59. It'smuchbetter,andit'saresidentialroadsoshouldbeclosed60. Easiertobreathe.Lowerpollution61. Muchnicertowalkthrough62. Thebiggestdifferenceissleepatnight!63. It'sbroughtacommunityfeeltotheareawhichweneverhad64. It’sgenerallyamorepeacefulenvironment.Wecansleepbetteratnightaslesstrafficgoing
downourroad!65. IhavegrewuponEndymionRoad,andhavelivedtheresince1980.Theroadhasalwaysbeen
busy,butitisnowmuchworse,astherearenowonlytworoutesfromHarringaynorthward.BothEndymionRoadandGreenLanes(nottomentionthejunctionwithWilliamsonRoadleadingtoSainsbury's,whichisterriblyplannedalready)arefrequentlybadlyjammed,andnodoubtthepollutionisproportionallyworse.Asmyfamilyrequireourcarforanumberofthings,ithasmadethingsveryinconvenientandmuchslower.WeareeffectivelyshoulderingthetrafficburdenforWightmanRoad.
66. ThecarsarebackedupalongWilloughbyroadandeverytimeIcomeoutofmyroadIhittraffic.Greenlanesisanightmaretodrivealongorgetthebusandeventhepostboxnearmehasbeenclosed.Thetrafficisappallingandgoesrightalongprioryroad.Peoplearemuchangrierwhendrivingandthecongestionhasaverynegativeeffect.
67. Wehaveenjoyedtheroadoutsidebeingsaferandquieter,howeverwedoalsoneedtoaddresstheextraburdenonGreenLanesasaresultoftheWightmanclosure.Ourbusescannotmoveinpeaktraffic.Permanentbuslanesareneeded.
68. ItisfarmorepleasanttotakeawalkdownWightmanroadnowasitismuchmorepeaceful,lesspollutionandmuchsafer.
62
69. GreatforcyclingintoworkanduptoWoodGreenwithkidsandonown.Terribleforpublictransportespeciallyfordisabledneighbours.TrafficpollutiononGreenLanes,TurnpikeLaneandEndymionisawful.
70. Ithascertainlyreducedthetrafficonmyroadwithanoticeabledifferenceinnoiseandsafetybutmysenseisthatthishassofarjustincreasedstressandproblemselsewherewithresentmentfrompeoplewhohavenochoiceaboutcaruseandthosewhousethebusregularly.
71. Icansleepatnightwithoutcarsspeedingoverthespeedhumps,hearthebirds,crosstheroadwithoutfear,mybreathingisbetterandIfeeltranquilandcalmwithoutthetraffic24/7/36.Wehavegivenupourcarandaresellingit.Wenowwalkandtakepublictransport.Idon'twanttogobacktowaythingswere!Thanks,Roger.
72. Thelackoftrafficisnice,buttheimpactithasontheW5busservicemakeslifeabitmiserable.Thisissuewouldabsolutelyhavetobesortedout.
73. Enormous.Totalchangeoffeelinginroad-lessstress,lessnoiseanddirt,peoplemorerelaxed.NoroadragethemomentyouTRYtogetinyourcar.Canparkwithoutbeingabusedbypassingdrivers.
74. Mybedroomisonthemainroad.NotonlyisthereincessantnoisebutIcanactuallysmallthepollutioninmybedroom,whichIamsureisaffectingmyhealth.TheconstantnoisealsowasseriouslybeginningtoaffectmyhealthasIcouldnotgetenoughrestperiod.Iamnowabletosleep(withoutearplugs)andevenopenmywindows,whichIwouldneverhavedreamtofbefore.Thesearebasichumanrightsthatarenotaffordedtomewhentheroadre-opens.
75. Theroadfeelsmuchsaferandabetterplacetolive76. Theabsenceofthecontinualbuzzoftraffichasgiventheareaagreatsenseofcalm.Ourkids
playontheroadsnowwhichtheyneverdidbefore.77. Peaceful.PeoplewalkingalongWightmanroadstopandchatbecauseit'saquiet,safeplaceto
doso.Groupsofkidsplayoutontheroadtogether;ithasbecomeacommunalplayspace.Carsspeedinglateatnightnolongerkeepmeawake.ItissaferformykidstocrossWightmanroadascarsfrequentlydidn'tusedtostopatthepedestriancrossingatthetopofBurgoynedespitethelightsbeingred
78. SinceWightmanroadhasbeenclosed,thetrafficinotherareashasincreasedtounsustainablelevels.
79. Ithasmadegettinganywhereintheboroughverydifficult,busandcarjourneysareanightmare,incidentsofroadragearemorecommon,emergencyvehiclesstruggletogetthroughtraffic,airqualityinareasimmediatelysurroundingtheladderhavebecomemuchworse.IcannotwaitforWightmanRoadtoopenagaininSeptember.
80. Iloveit.Smilingfaces,kidssellinglemonadeandsomuchquieter-nosirensandjustfeelssaferandcleaner
81. Canhavewindowsopenwithoutconstantnoiseandsoot.Literallythebestthingthatthecouncilcouldeverhavedoneforlivingstandards
82. Ihavelivedherefornearly30years.Withtheroadclosurewehavenoratrunning,nobackedupcars,muchlesspollution(Isufferwithallergiestodustanddieselfumes),arenewedsenseofcommunity,nohouseshakingwhencarsandenormouslorriesgooverthehumps!Oh,nearlyforgotthebirdsong,beautiful!
83. ThepartialclosureofWightmanRoadhasenabledchildrentoplayinthestreet,hasenabledmydaughter(whois4)tocycletoFinsburyparkforthefirsttimeanditappearsthatmanypeoplewhowouldhaveotherwisebeentoointimidatedtocycle,totravelbybikesafely.
84. Everydaylifeisvastlyimprovedbythequietroadandimprovedairquality.FormethoughwhenI'mlookingaftermy2yearoldgrandchildwholivesnearbyIamlessfearfulwhenputtinghimthecarorcrossingtheroad.
85. Ithasbroughtalotmorepeace&quietforthechildrenofNorthHarringayPrimary&lessairpollution
63
86. Thedailycommutehasbecomeamuchmorepleasantexperience.IusedtodreadcomingbackonWightmanroadintheevening/atnight,asitseemedtobeenrichedforaggressivedrivers,butnowIlookforwardtotheridealongtheroad.
87. It'schangedthetoneofeverything.Ithinkitshouldbecomeapark.Andheraldthewayformanysuchparksacrossthecountry.Thusalsoreducingcarusagewhichweneedtodoifwewanttostopglobalwarminggoingtodestructivelevels
88. Higherlevelsofwell-being,hearingbird-song,walkingtoschoolinthemorningsonaquickerroute(weusethepassagenormallytoavoidairpollution),cleanerair.
89. ItriedcyclingoncewhenIfirstmovedtotheladderanditwassonervewrackingIputmybikeawayfornearly2years.NowthatIcanuseWightman...IcycleonceaweektoAngelandback,downtoArenaforshopping,andevenjustforfun/exercisedowntoFinsburyParksometimes!
90. Ithasmademyjourneytouniversity(Angel)muchsafer,theWightmanRoadsegmentwasbyfarthemostdangerouspart.Itismuchlessnoisyinmyflat,buttheflipsideisIfeltsaferwalkingalongWightmanRoadatnightwhentherewasmoretrafficonit(Idon'tfeelunsafenow,butabitmorewary).Itwouldbehelpfulifthesurveyhadn/aasanoptione.g.forcarjourneys-Idon'thaveacar.Alsoother/prefernottosayoptionforgender.Sorrytobepicky!Thanksforsendingthesurvey.
91. Icanfinallycyclesafelywithmytwochildrentoschoolandtothelocalparks.OurroadismuchquieterwithahugereductioninthenumberofcarsracingdownthehillfromWightmanrdtoGreenlanes.
92. IdropmychildatanurseryonCavendishRdandhavetocrossatHarringayStationtodoso.ItissomucheasiertosafelycrosstheroadwithmychildandIcanlethimwalkonthepavementinsteadofstrappinghimintothebuggy.Itfeelssafernowinsuchanarrowroadtohavenotraffic.Itwasscarywhentheroadwasopenanditfeltlikeahorriblethoroughfarewithnosenseofcommunity.Thingsfeeldifferentaroundtherenowandifliketoseeitstaythesame.
93. It'samuchnicerroadtoliveon.Iunderstanditmaynotbepracticaltoclosebutthissurelyhighlightstheneedtoconsidersomeserioustragiccalmingmeasures.
94. Lessnoise.Lesspollution.Friendlier.Lesslitter.Lesshouseshakingfrompassinglorries.Saferforschoolchildren.Cleanerair.Likearesidentialroad.Qualityoflifedemonstrablybetter.
95. Theairisfresher,thebirdsaresinging,childrencycleontheroadandpeoplearesmiling.96. Theroadseemsalotmorepeaceful,lessstressfulinthemorningandonmywayhomefrom
work.Crossingiseasier.97. Ihavenocar,soI'veonlybeenpositivelyaffectedbytheclosure.Ihadgivenupcyclingseven
yearsago,whenIwassweptofmybike(withmy2yearoldsononthebackseat)bythedoorofaparkedcaropeningwhencyclinghomeonWightmanRoad.Now,I'mgoingtotakeupcyclingtoworkagain.Mysonisnow9yearsold,andtheclosurehashadafantasticimpactonhimandhisfriends.Theymeetupspontaneouslytoplayoutandcyclearoundtheneighbourhood.WhenWightmanRoadwasopentonormaltraffic,mostparentsdidn'tevenlettheirchildrencrosstheroadbythemselves.WightmanRoadisn'tbuiltfortheamountofcartrafficithasbeenhaving,whichmeantthattheroad(andeventhenpavements)haveinfactbeenmonopolisedbycars,marginalisingeverybodyelse.
98. Lesstrafficandnoiseonladderroads.Fewerpeopleusingtheircarsforpointlesslocaljourneys.99. Nottomepersonally,butitmustbelovelyforWightmanRoadresidentswiththeroadnow
beinganon-throughroad100. WelivenearthetopofSeymourroadanduseWightmanroadalot.Sincebeingclosedithas
createdatangiblyrelaxedcommunityfriendlyfeelingintheareathatspansasfarasthepassageandtheairqualityisdramaticallylesspolluted.NothavingthetrafficnoiseconstantlyinthebackgroundenablesyoutoswitchofffromtherigoursofLondonliving.IalsouseGreenlanestodrivetoworkasIhavetotransportmorethanIcouldcarryonthetube.GLisnoticeablymorecongestedbuttheyellowmarkingsatthebottomoftheladderroadshashelpedalot.CoulditbeaREDROUTE?IwouldratherputupwithlongertraveltimeintoworkandkeepWightmanasanothroughroadbutasaresidentIwouldliketobeabletotraveleast
64
withouthavingtogouptoTurnpikeLaneandsittinginsmellytrafficthereforhours.Ithasalsomadeuscyclemoreifgoingeastandlocalinsteadofdrivinge.g.toCrouchEndorStationersPark.
101. CyclingdownWightmanroadisnowsafeandpleasant,andmywifenowalsocyclesalongitwhereasthereisnowaythatwouldhavehappenedbefore!
102. Giveusabreak,Idon’tliketrafficonmyroadeither103. Saferformeandmyfamily.Cleanerair.Abletoridebikemuchmore.Moreenjoyableliveable
place.
65
Appendix4-BusjourneytimesonGreenLanesPreandPostClosure
Averagejourneytimesinminutesonthe29bus–January2016andMay2016compared(blue=averageforJanuary2016red=averageforMay2016)MondaytoFriday
3.6
5.7 5.7 6.1 6.4
4.8
3.73.8
5.4
6.77.4 7.4
5.5
3.9
0.01.02.03.04.05.06.07.08.0
29Busroute-southboundIcelandtoManorHouseMondaytoFriday
Jan-16 May-16
3.95.4
6.5
9.311.0
6.44.63.9
6.4
11.0
13.3 14.0
8.5
4.9
0.02.04.06.08.010.012.014.016.0
29Busroute-northboundManorHousetoPostOfficeMondaytoFriday
Jan-16 May-16
66
Saturdays
3.24.0
5.9
7.9 7.6
5.4
3.93.3
4.5
7.9
10.3
8.8
6.1
4.6
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
29Busroute-southboundIcelandtoManorHouseSaturdays
Series1 Series2
3.44.5
9.3
12.413.5
8.3
4.83.6
4.9
12.0
15.5 14.8
9.9
6.2
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
29Busroute-northboundManorHousetoPostOfficeSaturdays
Jan-16 May-16
67
Sundays
3.1 3.6
5.7
8.5
6.9
4.53.63.5 3.9
7.6
9.9
7.4
5.8
4.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
29Busroute-southboundIcelandtoManorHouseSundays
Series1 Series2
3.3 4.0
6.9
12.111.0
6.44.6
3.6 4.0
9.8
17.8
14.112.2
5.4
0.02.04.06.08.0
10.012.014.016.018.020.0
29Busroute-northboundManorHousetoPostOfficeSundays
Jan-16 May-16
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