Property News: Better Archway Forum campaign group call for overhaul of one-way traffic system

Published: 21 April 2011
BY DAN CARRIER

IT is being billed as the first chance in a generation to put right a mistake made by 1960s town planners – and kickstart a revamp of the entire Archway area.

This week marked the end of an Islington Council survey that gauged residents’ views on how to spend a £2million pot from long-standing government grants to improve the area.

More than 400 people have called for the one-way gyratory system that brings Junction Road, Highgate Hill, Archway Road and Holloway Road together to be scrapped. 

Campaign group Better Archway Forum argues that the roundabout is unnecessary. They have pointed out that it was designed in the 1960s to serve a giant urban motorway which was scrapped. Road builders had hoped to send northbound traffic out of London on the A1 through Highgate village, and those coming into town along the Archway Road. 

Better Archway Forum chairwoman Kate Calvert said: “This patently absurd plan was shelved, but the three roundabouts to serve it went ahead – one in Highgate village, now removed, one at the top of Archway Road, with the Esso petrol station, and one in the middle of Archway.

“Tackling the roundabout is the single most important step change that will reinstate it as a genuine centre. 

“While these might have worked with 1960s traffic levels, the increase in road use means that they are now only useable when controlled by traffic lights, converting them to no more than a sequence of traffic junctions, which clog the flow of traffic.

“Now the Highgate system has gone, it is clear that two-way traffic both improves safety, and makes traffic circulation easier. The same would apply in Archway.” 

Better Archway Forum claims that research into road layouts by celebrated planner Sir Terry Farrell proves that one-way systems make an area less friendly to pedestrians and lead to civic centres feeling run down.  

Ms Calvert said: “Pedestrians have to pick their way across first one flow, then another, then another. The result is that although Archway is regenerating, it can’t function properly as a centre. A centre needs to be in the middle. But cut off on two sides, Archway is left on the edge of traffic which, like a powerful river, has caused serious erosion all round it. 

“Meanwhile, the layout is difficult for vehicles too. Multiple traffic lights interrupt the flow. 

“In spite of these controls, there are frequent collisions where St John’s Way and Junction Road meet, and rush-hour gridlock on St John’s Way southbound.”

Now the group have to persuade Islington Council to listen. Better Archway Forum fears that smaller more piecemeal uses for the cash will be found – and will in the long term solve none of the area’s problems.

Ms Calvert added: “Islington is saying that they want to spend money on little projects, like widening pavements or installing planters. That would cost £0.5m. And they might put in a new pedestrian crossing, which would cost another £0.5m. 

“This is like choosing the style of windows and front door before you’ve agreed the shape of the house. 

“It’s very unlikely either would work once the road layout is changed, so yet more money would have to be spent sorting that out. If we spend money on those decorative changes, it will be wasted – and we don’t want to waste £1m of public money when that could be used to tackle the real problem – the road layout.”