The London Borough of Islington has announced that it will continue to implement people-friendly streets measures in Highbury following positive monitoring data and resident feedback on two trial schemes.
Designed to reduce air pollution, and make it easier to walk, cycle, scoot and use buggies and wheelchairs, the Highbury West and Highbury Fields people-friendly streets neighbourhoods were introduced in January 2021 as 18-month trials.
The two trials will now merge into a single neighbourhood – known as the ‘Highbury people-friendly streets neighbourhood trial’ – to make it easier for residents with disabilities to travel through the borough.
As a result, Blue Badge holders living in the neighbourhood with an exemption permit will be able to travel through people-friendly streets traffic filters across Highbury.
The decision to continue people-friendly streets measures in Highbury follows positive monitoring data and resident feedback on the previous Highbury West and Highbury Fields neighbourhoods.
Monitoring data shows that, between November 2020 and December 2021, traffic fell within these neighbourhoods by 72% – including a 95% fall on Benwell Road – while speeding on local roads dropped by 83%.
Furthermore, a public consultation held between 07 February and 14 March 2022 received 1,973 responses regarding Highbury West and 1,938 responses regarding Highbury Fields, and revealed the following:
- 38% of respondents to the Highbury West consultation said that streets looked nicer since the introduction of the trial (23% disagreed), while 34% of respondents to the Highbury Fields consultation also agreed (25% disagreed)
- 34% of respondents to the Highbury West consultation felt they walked or cycled more to local businesses (10% disagreed), while 30% of respondents to the Highbury Fields consultation agreed (14% disagreed)
- 42% of respondents to the Highbury West consultation said they felt there was less traffic on their street (25% felt there was more traffic on their street), while 31% of respondents to the Highbury Fields consultation said there was less traffic on their street (29% felt there was more)
Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s executive member for environment, air quality and transport, said: “The monitoring and data feedback on our people-friendly streets neighbourhood trials so far reflects their positive impact in creating more pleasant streets, where it’s easier to walk, cycle and use buggies and wheelchairs, and where the toxic effects of air pollution are lowered.
“We’re delighted to see the positive impacts that people-friendly streets have brought to Highbury.”
In light of the feedback, the council is to make two further changes to the new trial neighbourhood. It will remove three parking spaces at the Fieldway Crescent-Highbury Crescent junction, to improve sight lines for people walking or cycling in Highbury Fields, and to make large vehicle turns safer.
The council said it will monitor the impact of the changes before taking a final decision on making the Highbury people-friendly streets neighbourhood permanent.
