PRESS RELEASE 24th Feb 2012
On behalf of Better Archway Forum, Islington Living Streets and Islington Cyclists Action Group
MAKE ARCHWAY LIVEABLE – DITCH THE ROUNDABOUT!
Better Archway Forum and Archway residents, along with Islington Living Streets and Islington Cyclists Action Group are calling on all mayoral candidates to commit to ditch the Archway roundabout if elected in May.
Campaigners are gathering for a slow walk/cycle round the roundabout on Thursday 1st March at 6.15pm. We are calling for the return of the roads to traditional two-way flow, with 20 mph limits where people live, work and shop, making the area safe for journeys on foot and by bike not just by car.
Kate Calvert of Better Archway Forum said, “Despite the traffic dominated street-scape at Archway, with eight lanes of traffic, there is a thriving community of residents and businesses who have suffered the noise, pollution and danger for years and deserve better. Existing funding allocated for routine maintenance of signals and road surfaces would cover much of the cost of removing the roundabout. All that is needed is the political will to make it happen.
Caroline Russell of Islington Living Streets said, ” Archway is a place where people live, work and shop, but the road system prioritises vehicles over people. Re-designing the junction as a place rather than a trunk road would improve safety, reduce air pollution and make the area more liveable.”
Alison Dines of Islington Cyclists Action Group said, “Given the current focus on cycle safety following the parliamentary debate on 22nd February, this nightmare junction must be re-designed for the benefit of all and particularly before the cycle super-highway route 12 brings more cyclists through this traffic hotspot.
All mayoral candidates, GLA Assembly candidates, our MP Jeremy Corbyn and all Islington Councillors have been invited. All responses so far have been supportive.
Contact:
Kate Calvert 020 7272 1286
Caroline Russell 07876 260491
John Ackers (for Alison Dines/ICAG) 020 7690 7263 or mob 07940 887952