Calls for pedestrianisation in Liverpool Road

• Copy of a letter to Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

Dear Cllr Webbe,

You will know that there has been some discussion about Liverpool Road in recent months.

In particular there has been a proposal to close off its bottom end near the Angel, linked especially to interest in the state of Chapel Market and the viability of present business activities, but also to promote pedestrianisation of the Angel area with the suggestion that it is difficult for shoppers to cross over to the supermarkets.

We are writing to express a number of concerns about these plans.

i) Liverpool Road has long benefited from removal of much of its heavy traffic. In the last century it was a principal route for traffic going north: hence the origins of the market itself. But local schemes have long operated to divert traffic, (starting with the former Barnsbury ban at night).

ii) As regards pedestrians there are already three designated crossing points, and we do not recognise difficulty in crossing at this point.

iii) We noticed in the Islington Tribune of July 19 the headline “Leave us alone”, that the market traders, mentioning Mr John Papworth, do not want such closure.

iv) In our clear view any such closure would simply divert more traffic to principal routes, including Upper Street, but in particular to affect further all the side roads which have experienced a significant increase in traffic linked to the changes at Highbury Corner – examples out of several include Islington Park Street, Canonbury Lane, Fieldway Crescent etc.

v) It is appreciated that a survey to test the results of the new format of Highbury Corner is to take place, perhaps 12 months after work has been completed.

We would be very concerned if further traffic schemes were proposed within this period.

FRANCES McRAE
Chair, The Upper Street Association

KATE POTHALINGAM
Chair, Highbury Fields Association

PHILIP WALKER
Chair, Canonbury Society