The UK’s strongest man gave Cllr Bridget Fox a helping hand to begin the improvement works at Islington’s Highbury Place.
Terry Holland, 26, who won the title of UK's strongest man last year, worked up a sweat with Islington Council’s lead member for sustainability removing the barrier railings around Highbury Place.
Cllr Fox, champion of the A1 Borough Project which aims to transform the borough’s main thoroughfare, said: ‘The exciting changes at Highbury Place will show local people what we’re hoping to do all along the A1 to make it safer, cleaner, greener and more accessible. We will be clearing out the clutter, including the concrete bollards and guard railings, so we can open up the view of Highbury Fields which lies just beyond.’
Work begins today (MON20FEB) and includes repaving the area with natural stone and levelling out the difference between the footpath and the road.
Cllr Fox added: ‘By removing the guard railings, levelling the space and putting down new paving, we’re giving priority to pedestrians, introducing safe two-way travel for cyclists and reminding motorists that they are sharing this space and need to take care.’
At the moment the area is cluttered with guard railings, controller cabinets and other equipment for traffic signals and CCTV cameras, all of which will be removed. The Council's I-Plus information kiosk, grit bin and newspaper recycling bins will be moved elsewhere.
And in place of the unsightly traffic signal boxes, grey cabinets and bins, we will be planting a line of trees to create a more fitting entrance to Highbury Fields.
Cars will still be able to drive into Highbury Corner from Highbury Place. Local cyclists are happy that a legal northbound cycle route will be introduced so cyclists will be able to get from Highbury Corner to cycle routes in Highbury Fields.
The work is a partnership project between the Council and Transport for London and is part of Islington’s A1 Borough Project which is Islington’s ambitious plan to transform the environment on and around the A1 street making it a better place to live, study and work in.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008