Camden Council proposes to widen footways within the parking spaces: on the plan this looks like a pair of footway build outs opposite one another close to Hawley Arms.
They propose relocating some parking bays in Hartland Road and Castlehaven Road and installing extra ones in Castlehaven Road and Leybourne Road.
At a mini-CRIM in summer 2006 (with Cliff Thomson and Dave Stewart) we suggested a cycle gap in the closure of Leybourne Street to enable two routes:
i) from Chalk Farm Road via Hawley Street to Castlehaven Road (avoiding the junction under the railway bridge);
ii) southbound on Castlehaven Road via the cycle track in Castlehaven Open Space to Camden Lock.
We reiterated the above points in our response to the consultation on Chalk Farm Town Centre in August 2006.
Click here to see the consultation leaflet
CCC’s response
We have no objection to the proposed re-allocation of parking spaces. However, we request that you take the opportunity to do the following:
- Open a cycle gap from Leybourne Street into Castlehaven Road as discussed in the mini-CRIM in summer 2006 (with Cliff Thomson and Dave Stewart). This would enable two routes for cyclists:
i) from Chalk Farm Road via Hawley Street to Castlehaven Road avoiding the narrow and congested junction of Chalk Farm Road and Castlehaven Road under the railway bridge;
ii) southbound from Castlehaven Road (on link 27 of LCN 6a) via the cycle track in Castlehaven Open Space to the proposed redevelopment of Camden Lock behind the Hawley Arms via Haven Street. - Implement a short stretch of contraflow cycle lane on Castlehaven Road from Leybourne Street to the build out at the junction with Chalk Farm Road; at this point the cyclist may park the bike on the stands or cross into Camden Lock Place to access the market and shopping area to the west of Chalk Farm Road/Camden High Street.
We reiterated the above points in our response to the consultation on Chalk Farm Town Centre in August 2006. We realise that they may result in a small loss of parking, but it seems that proposals provide a generous amount and there should be scope for some cycling improvements that have been discussed already.
John Chamberlain
Camden Cycling Campaign
March 2009
