Junction of Madras Place with Holloway Road where cyclist Lisa Pontecorvo died is to get safer layout
Changes greeted after long campaign
Published: 28th January, 2011
by PETER GRUNER
PLANS to improve an accident “blackspot” are revealed in the wake of last week’s tragic death of a cyclist on a Holloway street.
Campaigning cyclists and residents, still shocked by the death of leading child protection expert, Dr Colin Hawkes, in an accident at Carleton Road, have welcomed improvements to a notorious junction in another part of the borough.
The junction of Madras Place with Holloway Road, near Highbury Corner, where cyclist Lisa Pontecorvo died four years ago, is finally to have its layout radically changed. The move follows years of campaigning by Islington Living Streets, Islington Cyclists Action Group and residents.
Transport for London (TfL) has designed a new scheme which allows pedestrians to cross on a “safety line” alongside cyclists, and makes the junction safer and arrangements clearer to drivers.
Resident Robin Hull said: “We were delighted to get the news last week that the desperately needed improvements to the junction are going ahead in the spring. There are near-misses daily as northbound vehicles, oblivious to the green light for cyclists, move forward lethally across the cycle path.”
Caroline Russell, chairwoman of Islington Living Streets, said: “Moving the pedestrian crossings closer to the cycle crossing will make this junction more user-friendly, much safer and crucially more legible to drivers.
“It has been a struggle to convince TfL of the need for action, but persistence and collaborative work, including help from Islington Council, have paid off with a design solution that is better for everyone.”
Chris Ashby, of Islington Cyclists Action Group, said: “We believe this new scheme will save lives and remove the daily tensions between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists on one of the busiest roads in London.
“We look forward to celebrating the scheme’s completion in a few months’ time.”
Paul Standeven, a cyclist who survived a collision at the junction, welcomed the redesign. He is “looking forward to crossing on a green light without worrying about the risk of northbound queuing traffic running across my path”.
The latest victim of a cycling accident in the borough, Dr Hawkes, 64, was on the way to his office at the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children in Camden Town when he was in collision with a car.
The driver of the car, a 34-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has been bailed to return to a north London police station in May.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, who should contact the Road Death Investigation Unit on 0208 998 5319.