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Easter service changes

During the Easter period, some of our services will be operating slightly different hours. Our council’s bin collection schedule will change for one week starting on Friday 29 March to make sure everyone’s waste is picked up around the bank holiday.

See the full schedule and your amended rubbish and recycling collection dates and other service changes including parking and library opening times over the Easter period.

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Furlong Road and Digswell Street banned turns

People-friendly streets in Furlong Road and Digswell Street

We are making the banned turns from Furlong Road and Digswell Street onto Holloway Road permanent. The scheme was first introduced as an 18 month trial in August 2021 and positive outcomes from public trial feedback and traffic monitoring data have supported our decision to continue the scheme. The scheme will be permanent from 3 February 2023.

There will be no changes to the scheme, or its enforcement, once it is made permanent in February 2023 and there will be no further works required to make the scheme permanent. Enforcement of the banned turns scheme by traffic enforcement cameras will continue once the scheme is permanent. 

Why was the scheme introduced?

In August 2021 we introduced banned right turns from Furlong Road and Digswell Street onto Holloway Road. We introduced this scheme as an experimental trial for up to 18 months to address safety concerns following a large number of dangerous vehicle movements on Furlong Road, Orleston Road, Crane Grove and Digswell Street.

An increase in traffic using these streets to turn right onto Holloway Road had resulted in severe traffic congestion and queueing. This led to many vehicles making dangerous movements on these streets, which include junctions with restricted visibility. We banned these right turns onto Holloway Road to address this safety issue.

Public feedback and monitoring data has indicated that the banned turns are achieving the intended objectives of resolving these safety issues by preventing the majority of the traffic currently using Furlong Road, Orleston Road, Crane Grove and Digswell Street to travel eastbound and turn right onto Holloway Road. As a result of these findings, the scheme is being made permanent without any changes from 3 February 2023, at the end of the 18 month trial period. 

Map of the Furlong Road and Digswell Street scheme

Map of the Furlong Road scheme 

Frequently asked questions

What changes are happening on Furlong Road and Digswell Street?

In August 2021, the council introduced banned right turns from Furlong Road and Digswell Street onto Holloway Road. This means that motor vehicles are no longer able to turn right onto Holloway Road from Furlong Road or Digswell Street. The restrictions do not apply to cycles or emergency service vehicles.

The scheme was introduced as a trial under an 18 month Experimental Traffic Order (ETO). (See the FAQ “What is an Experimental Traffic Order?” for more details). From 3 February 2023, following the 18 month trial, the changes will be made permanent.

The banned turns will continue to be enforced by traffic enforcement cameras and subject to a penalty charge notice.

When are the changes happening?

The changes were introduced in August 2021. When the scheme is made permanent from 3 February 2023, there will be no additional changes to the affected roads as part of this scheme.

Will I get fined if I make the banned right turn movement?

Yes, vehicles are banned from turning right from Furlong Road and Digswell Street onto Holloway Road. The ban is camera-enforced and you will receive a penalty charge notice if you make these right turns.

Are any vehicles exempt from the banned turns?

Emergency services vehicles (including police, ambulance and fire brigade vehicles) and cycles are exempt from the banned turns.

Are local residents and blue badge holders exempt from the banned turns?

Residents and blue badge holders will not be able to legally make the banned turns in a vehicle, but all residents will still be able to drive to and from their homes, and people will still be able to access all amenities in the area by car.

The scheme was introduced to address road danger issues resulting from vehicles travelling eastbound along Furlong Road, Orleston Road and Digswell Street and queuing to turn right onto Holloway Road. Monitoring of traffic speeds and volumes on the immediate streets and in the surrounding area has shown that the scheme is achieving its intended objectives as a result of the banned turns. Therefore, we are continuing to prevent vehicles (except emergency vehicles) from making these movements.

Why were changes made on Furlong Road and Digswell Street but not made on other streets in the area?

These changes were introduced in 2021 to address urgent road danger issues which arose due to the combination of an increase in queuing traffic and the layout of the junction of Furlong Road, Orleston Road and Crane Grove.

Longer term, we aim to introduce further people-friendly streets measure in the wider area as part of the Barnsbury and Laycock Liveable Neighbourhood. Further information will be shared as it becomes available on our dedicated liveable neighbourhoods webpage.

 

How do drivers know they can’t use these streets to turn right anymore?

As of August 2021, advance warning signage was installed in the local area to warn drivers of the changes ahead so they can re-route their journey. The changes were also updated on satellite navigation systems (satnavs) so that drivers are not directed along routes that use the banned turns.

This signage will remain in place once the scheme has been made permanent on 3 February 2023. The banned turns will continue to be visible on satellite navigation systems. 

Will the scheme lead to more traffic on other streets as a result?

We monitored the scheme at regular intervals during the first six months of the trial and overall, the results show limited traffic impacts in the surrounding area. 

Traffic monitoring of the trial showed that traffic volumes increased for vehicles turning right from Liverpool Road to Holloway Road. It is expected that this will be resolved through changes introduced under Transport for London's Holloway Safer Junctions programme, expected to commence in 2023. The junction will be signalised with the right turn from Liverpool Road banned and right turns to Holloway Road will be permitted at the junction with Palmer Place.

Other locations monitored along Liverpool Road and in the wider area have shown decreases or insignificant increases in traffic volumes. 

More detailed information on the monitoring results can be found in Furlong Road and Digswell Street scheme traffic monitoring data analysis. 

We expect that people-friendly streets will encourage more people to choose to travel by walking, cycling and public transport for more of their journeys. This is in line with the aims of our strategies on Transport, Net Zero Carbon 2030 and Air Quality to reduce vehicle use, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in the borough.

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