Notes of ICAG meeting on 10th October 2012 with Cllr James Murray Present: Alison Dines, Jono Kenyon, Adrian Betham (BAF), David Lincoln, Adrian Williams, Mary-Ann Tarver, Chris Ashby, Stephen Taylor, Rebecca Cresswell, Keith Macfarlane, James Gleadow, Christian Wolmar, Deborah Maby, Jon Parker, Paul Standeven, John Ackers, Robert Harston & briefly Cllr Martin Klute. 20mph in Islington . Paper to Council Executive on 18th October to extend 20mph speed limit on Islington's principal roads i.e. Caledonian Road, Essex Road etc. 20mph represents an important culture shift in the borough. . Funding from Section 106 money (from new developments in areas near principal roads). Ward councilors will not have to apply for funding as was initially thought. . TfL are not supportive as it is concerned that buses will be delayed & more may be needed. TfL has the power to revoke the scheme. . Police object to the scheme as the average speed on many of these roads is higher than that in Dept for Transport's guidelines for 20mph implementation. Without physical measures speeds will not drop to 20mph & therefore the scheme could be seen to be a failure; it won't be self-enforcing & the police will not enforce it. . Comments from ICAG members on police objection included disappointment & that it was not acceptable for the police not to enforce a criminal offence. JM wants to work with the police & not be combative towards them but said ICAG could approach them with concerns. It was suggested that speed cameras could be used to enforce 20mph but these are under police & not council control. Police could do enforcement 'blitzes' & safer neighbourhood forums should be urged to consider speeding as antisocial behaviour. AW suggested police should be asked to agree that their non-emergency car trips round Islington will be done at 20mph as far as possible. JM advised reading police comments in his report for the Executive see http://democracy.islington.gov.uk/reports/be90ee74592b477d9d9e98b3e247be4f/report.aspx . JM said the scheme will be advertised in the council magazine, word of mouth & possibly with signs on the side of council vehicles. It was suggested that any new signs have Cyclehoops on the supporting poles. Canal towpath . JM had not been approached by the Canal & River Trust (ex British Waterways) about the towpath but was aware that a consultation had taken place earlier this year & the results from that are being introduced now. . JM asked for ICAG's view on the towpath & was told that the group believed all users should act considerately & welcomed the development of a safe, alternative route on nearby streets. JG said that any attempts to prevent cyclists from using the towpath before such a route was in place should not be allowed. Gyratories . JM said it was not a good time to be a gyratory in Islington! . At Archway, as TfL had been busy with the Olympics over the summer, Islington had used consultants to model traffic flow if the roundabout became two way. There would be space for buses, cyclists & pedestrians with northbound vehicles going right and shared space near Archway Tower. . At Old Street there was a proposal to close the north west corner near Moorfields Hospital. As Old Street is the gateway to 'Tech City' not only was the mayor interested but also Number 10 but Islington has said any development must provide employment for local people & improve local streets & transport. . At Kings Cross ICAG should receive an invitation from Aceon on behalf of TfL to be involved in the consultation. . At Highbury Corner there is less momentum, probably due to the stalling of plans to relocate the post office there. . At Nag's Head there are currently no plans but the group pointed out that Islington could make simple improvements such as removing the crash barriers along Isledon Road to stop the impression it is a race track. TfL cycle hire scheme . TfL have not said it won't be extended into Islington but meeting asked why the scheme had been extended into others boroughs. JA was concerned that TfL thought that local councilors would not want car parking spaces to be lost to docking stations & asked JM if he could find out what percentage of the cost of the extension the borough had to fund. The concern that the cycle scheme would use money that could be used for other cycling measures was also raised. Cycling parking . £33k had been put aside for cycle parking for the next financial year & JM encourage ICAG to put forward suggestions for spending this & other funding. Towards the end of JM's session Cllr Martin Klute from St Peter's Ward came in & raised the issue of the towpath & stressed the need to develop an alternative route. The Canal & River Trust is currently recruiting to a post that will concentrate on this. Once JM left at about 9pm a general discussion took place about what had been said which included the following suggestions: . ICAG should produce a list of 'quick wins' i.e. straightforward interventions around the borough that would improve things for cyclists as well as longer term schemes. AD to e-mail everyone at the meeting to ask them for suggestions. A list is then available should any funding become available for cycle schemes, especially at the end of the financial year. It was pointed out that the 'issues' map on the website already showed many examples. . ICAG should identify at a few key 'hotspots' around the borough, especially junctions, to get improved. We should see if these coincide with areas that Living Streets & other local organisations are also concerned about so we can work together. . ICAG should invite JM to attend future meetings, possibly in Jan & April. . ICAG should contact the police about their objection to 20mph in Islington. AOB LCC had asked ICAG if it would forego its annual grant from them (approx £400) but after a vote it was agreed that ICAG would apply for the grant as usual.