Traffic Calming Amendments on Agreed Lorry Route

Many residents are concerned about the impacts of frequent HGVs passing over the road humps in the area near the construction site of Highbury Square. The council has therefore undertaken a consultation to determine views on the possible temporary removal, or replacement, of existing road humps on an HGV route to and from the development. A map of the agreed routes is available by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.

This consultation will begin at the end of August 2006 and will involve all residents on the lorry route between Holloway Road and the site. It will seek their views on any amendments to traffic calming measures, which residents feel may be necessary in order to avoid noise and vibration impacts on their homes.

Key factors will be:

• the proximity of road humps to building frontages
• the possible detrimental effects of hump removal

While the immediate reaction may be for residents to suggest the removal of all existing humps completely for the duration of the construction period, this may have serious consequences for general traffic speeds and pedestrian safety in the area - as well as encouraging more through-traffic into the area. Therefore it may be more prudent to suggest the removal and replacement of some with other measures that slow traffic, such as speed cushions, (which lorries can pass over), or road narrowings. This will be explained more fully in the text of the consultation leaflet, which will also contain images illustrating possible replacement measures.

When Amendments will Take Place

It is anticipated that any identified amendments to the traffic-calming features identified from the consultation will be carried out before October 2006. Although demolition and other site preparation works (such as the assembly of the site huts and offices) begin in late August 2006, the main lorry activities associated with excavation and construction do not begin in full for two months. The 23.5-tonne tipper trucks that will be used in this phase are the vehicles with the potential to cause the most amenity disturbance. Residents should be reassured that amendments to the traffic calming measures will have been completed before this phase begins.

It should also be noted that, following completion of the Highbury Square development, a full consultation will begin on the 'Highbury Environmental Traffic Scheme'. Substantial funding (£300k) has been secured for this from Arsenal. It will not only involve the replacement of any measures removed or amended during the construction phase, but will also be a wider-ranging scheme covering the environs of the Highbury Square development. It will include proposals for other roads not currently on the HGV construction route. This will not commence until 2010, when the current Highbury Square development is complete.

The consultation and subsequent works will be undertaken by the Traffic and Engineering Service (Street Management) within the council.

If you have any questions about the consultation, contact Mehmet Mazhar in the Traffic and Engineering Service.

Email: mehmet.mazhar@islington.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7527 2825