Pedestrian safety on Regent's Canal towpath - British Waterways under attack for plan that ‘puts mothers with buggies at risk’
Published: 14 May 2010
by PETER GRUNER
BRITISH Waterways (BW) are under attack for “lack of accountability” over a canal towpath access which could, it is feared, force mothers with buggies and disabled people into the path of speeding cyclists.
Residents at Danbury Street are “appalled” that the scheme to rebuild a ramp onto the towpath is being carried out without consultation or consideration for everyone’s needs.
Furthermore, work on the scheme has had to stop after five weeks – closing Danbury Bridge to traffic – because it was revealed BW did not have a party wall agreement with a neighbour.
The scheme has so far meant the removal of two much-loved trees, which Islington Council gave permission for on the understanding that there had been proper consultation.
The ramp is meant to resolve conflicts between walkers and cyclists, but residents fear it could make the situation worse.
The towpath to the Regent’s Canal, one of the few picturesque open spaces in the borough, has become hazardous for pedestrians because of the increasing number of commuting cyclists.
The new ramp will provide cyclists with access to the towpath while pedestrians will have new stone steps. However, mothers with buggies and people in wheelchairs who are unable to use the steps, will still have to use the ramp.
Labour Councillor Martin Klute said that a cheaper and far simpler solution would have been to provide wide “kissing” gates at the entrance to the towpath, which would force cyclists to dismount and give easy access to mums and people in wheelchairs.
He added: “British Waterways are meant to serve the public but they are doing pretty much what they like, and just not bothering to consult. If they had only bothered to ask the residents they could probably have got a much better scheme.”
Cllr Klute said he contacted BW to ask why local councillors had not been consulted about the scheme. He said: “The project manager admitted to me that consultation with the local council was not done in this instance.”
Cllr Klute, himself a cyclist, is urging promotion of a “parallel route” for cyclists which has been identified heading east, running along roads close to the canal, many of which are closed to car traffic.
He added: “This route would be more appropriate for cyclists in a hurry or commuting.”
Jon Guest, British Waterways’ waterway manager for London, said the organisation have instructed its contractor, May Gurney, to carry out upgrade works to the ramp.
He said there has been consultation among pedestrians, cyclists, boaters, local user groups and residents, as well as a display of design options at an event at City Road Lock in June last year.
He said: “The new design reflects the feedback given, and it was decided that rather than a full-scale rebuild, a separated pedestrian access and some minor improvements to the surrounding area was the preferred solution.
He added that the works have been stopped due to the concerns of a local resident and an environmental health officer regarding the noise and vibrations caused by the works.
“We are looking to recommence works in the next two weeks and will then look to complete the works as quickly as possible, the current forecast completion date is the end of June 2010.
“In the meantime, whilst the ramp remains closed, I offer my apologies to those who have been inconvenienced by the works.”