Islington Council are considering changes to the operation of Herbal Hill. It is a very narrow road of approximately 3m width carriageway which currently has bollards in the middle to create a closure.
The attached drawing shows a proposal to remove this closure and instigate one way working on the road as it is too narrow for vehicles to turn. Cyclists will also have to conform to the one way working due to the width of the carriageway.
John Ackers (ICAG) reports that Mike Fletcher told him:
- The existing TMO calls for 1 way operation.
- The existing temporary bollard is being continuously knocked over. They want to remove it.
- The issue arose because they are cleaning up the 20 MPH signage,
John says: “I suspect the change they are making requires the least effort on the council’s part.
He doesn’t feel comfortable allowing cyclists to have contraflow on 3m road which I understand,
I said we’d probably object on the grounds of loss of permeability (and unless I hear otherwise I will file a one line objection in 7 days time).
He said he wouldn’t expect anything else (which means our view has already been discounted). ”
CCC’s response
Members of Camden Cycling Campaign are unanimous that they want to retain this useful link. It is against current thinking to reduce permeability for cyclists.
There is a very easy alternative route for cars to get to both ends; there is no over-riding need for cars to get to the middle and nowhere for them to stop anyway.
It is also a quiet pedestrian walkway
Therefor we ask you to retain the bollard (replacing it with a stronger one if necessary) and to correct the traffic order to allow two-way cycling.
Result
The change was made.