‘Proposals will make it close to impossible to travel within Barnsbury or across it by car or van’

• IN common, I imagine, with most of your readers, I am appalled at the recently announced LV, liveable neighbourhood, council proposals for Barnsbury / Laycock.

Contrary to what we were promised during the “engagement and consultation” charade of the past few months, this is the most oppressive LTN, low traffic neighbourhood, to date, with no less than 15 road closures or “filters”.

If implemented these proposals will make it close to impossible to travel within Barnsbury or across it by car or van. Traffic will be diverted on to surrounding main roads causing more congestion hot spots. Journey times will be increased significantly.

As a result there will be more pollution, not less, and serious hardship for those who rely for whatever reason on motorised transport – the old, the ill, the disabled, anyone who values deliveries or visits from tradespeople, carers, friends or family – the list goes on.

In particular we know from previous LTNs in Islington that these proposals will be disastrous for local trade and small businesses, and their customers. The local economy will be permanently damaged.

What to do about it? I suggest that all Barnsbury residents study the proposals carefully on the Islington Council website at https://www.letstalk.islington.gov.uk/barnsbury-laycock-liveable-neighbourhood, then use the various means described to have your say via email, surveys, and “workshops”.

Then, if you agree that this represents a catastrophic failure of urban planning, join us at Keep Barnsbury Moving and Keep Islington Moving (website address below) to demand that Islington Council halts all plans to extend their LTN programme into Barnsbury and reverses the failed LTN schemes already imposed elsewhere in the borough.

NICK COLLIN, N1
www.keepbarnsburymoving.com