Archway views to be sought – again

Published: 1st July, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

A NEW consultation – thought to be the fourth in 10 years – is being planned ahead of a  £2million overhaul of the neglected Archway town centre and roundabout.

The £250,000 study will look into the feasibility of finally removing the traffic-clogged gyratory system and re-connecting the island with the opposite pavement.

At the same time Islington’s Labour council says it will do all it can to improve the town centre, where up to 100 civil servants are being threatened with relocation from Archway tower to Birmingham.

A packed public meeting of more than 200 people last Thursday heard that plans for a “super crossing” from the tube pavement to the roundabout has been put on hold following disagreement with Transport for London (TfL). Currently pedestrians at Archway tube station wishing to reach the roundabout have to cross four lanes of traffic.

Chris Roche, an architect and former chairman of the Archway Traders Association, said: “I believe there have been at least three consultations and hundreds of thousands of pounds have already been spent. We need a cast-iron assurance that we will actually see improvements.”

Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn said that for many at the meeting there would be a sense of déjà vu. 

“We have a window of opportunity for the removal of the gyratory, a can-do council and TfL time-limited refurbishment works,” he added. “With goodwill from the London Mayor Boris Johnson we could succeed this time.”

Council leader Catherine West said that the council had not given up on the “super crossing” idea. 

The plan will include:

• £500,000 for public space improvements at Archway Close and Flowers Mews.
• a £250,000 feasibility study and consultation to help bring the removal of Archway gyratory a step closer
• £400,000 to replace and improve old shop fronts in Archway.
• £100,000 for initiatives to help boost local business, through the Archway Town Centre Management Group.
• £100,000 for business support in Archway and other Islington town centres
• £50,000 to help bring a derelict building back into use as a 200-seat Community Arts Theatre for the New Academy of the Science of Acting and Directing.
• £200,000 for arts initiatives in Archway as part of Creative Islington's Animating Communities initiative.

Cllr Paul Convery, Islington Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “More than anything we want to get rid of the gyratory, which is an appalling blight on Archway. We cannot do this without Transport for London’s support and funding.”

Hak Huseyin, chairman of the Archway Town Centre Management Group, said: “We are confident that the money will improve the look and feel of the Archway Town Centre and look forward to the changes."

The package of improvements for Archway is expected to be approved by Islington Council's executive when it meets on Tuesday.

• For more details visit www.islington.gov.uk/democracy/meetings/executivemeetingdetail.asp?meetingid=2830&intSectionID=2&intSubSectionID=102