Darren Johnson, Green Party Member of the London Assembly, has tabled a formal question to the Mayor of London urging him to work with the London Borough of Islington to make Highbury Corner safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
Darren’s formal question to the Mayor:
"Can you update me on any work is TfL undertaking with the London Borough of Islington to ensure Highbury Corner becomes safe for cyclists and pedestrians and the public realm is dramatically improved and can you let me know when residents and users may expect to see such works carried out?"
Darren met with pedestrians and cyclists at the junction - one of north London’s most dangerous – in July 2014 to highlight repeated delays to a long-promised safety overhaul there.
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In 2004, there was a public consultation on the draft planning framework for was adopted by the council as Supplementary Planning Guidance in July of that year (1).
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£327,309 of public money was spent on a public consultation in 2007 which was then not acted on (2).
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TfL stated last year that they were preparing the business case to secure approval and funding and that the gyratory would be overhauled after Highbury and Islington station had been improved (3). A consultation on the works was due to begin in Spring 2014 but has not yet happened (4)
TfL did not include Highbury Corner in its list of ten priority locations for junction improvements (5) even though 17 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on the roundabout between 1987 and 2012 (6).
Darren Johnson AM commented:
“Cyclists and pedestrians are forced into conflict with heavy traffic at this treacherous junction. TfL and LB Islington have long recognised how dangerous it is but instead of action we have seen a decade of unacceptable delays whilst cyclists continue to suffer serious injuries.”
“Highbury Corner does still feature on TfL’s downgraded junction review programme but a consultation which was promised by TfL for spring 2014 has still not happened.”
“Boris Johnson is in danger of leaving office having delivered pitifully few of the safer junctions he had promised. London’s cyclists and pedestrians deserve better.”
Notes to editors
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Highbury & Islington Station and Highbury Corner – Planning Framework, July 2004 - http://www.islington.gov.uk/publicrecords/library/Environmental-protection/Information/Guidance/2011-2012/(2012-03-03)-Highbury-Corner-Framework-2004.pdf
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Cost of ‘Improving Highbury Corner’ consultation – FOI response of 3rd July 2010 - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/cost_of_improving_highbury_corne
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Question from Jeanette Arnold AM to Mayor of London, 23rd October 2013 - http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/questions/question_271279
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TfL’s consultations web page - https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/consultation_finder?search_keys%3Alist=pc%3Apostcode&search_keys%3Alist=tx%3Atext&keyword=Highbury+Corner
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Question from Darren Johnson AM to Mayor of London, 10th September 2014: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/questions/question_277040
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STATS19 Mapping Tool of people killed and seriously injured whilst cycling - https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=1Q8uyFLTRPBlx9jeKtVeY2EBxRLgDAP8dOO-2ttI#map:id=3
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The Mayor’s response to Darren’s question will be available in late December.
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Darren is available for interview