Caroline Pidgeon, the chair of the London Assembly transport committee, came to the launch of a Liberal Democrat campaign in Camden to introduce 20mph limits on streets across the wards of King’s Cross and Bloomsbury.
Caroline said: “Lib Dems London-wide are pushing for greater action on speeding than either the current or previous London mayors have been prepared to take.”
Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner for Holborn and St Pancras Jo Shaw, and King’s Cross Lib Dems, have welcomed the fact that money will be spent on improving the dangerous junction on Marchmont Street. But they said that pedestrians deserve to feel safe everywhere.
Jo Shaw commented: “Residents across the south of Camden have told that they feel unsafe and uncomfortable walking around the streets of their own neighbourhood.
“A 20mph limit for our streets would at a stroke make the traffic less intimidating, less noisy and, most importantly, unlikely to hurt anybody.”
King’s Cross and Bloomsbury are in particular need of lower limits, the Lib Dems said. The areas are getting a cycle hire scheme that will encourage many new cyclists, and as the Olympics ‘media village’ will receive more visitors unfamiliar on foot and in vehicles that are unfamiliar with local roads.
In Portsmouth, the Lib Dem council has introduced city-wide 20mph limits – except for A roads – reducing average speeds have been by 7mph on some streets without any humps, and for a cost of only £600,000 for an entire city.
King’s Cross Lib Dem campaigner and father Mobeen Tafader added: “Speeding through areas where there are lots of children is anti-social and unnecessary. Speeding up for short distances and then slamming on the brakes at junctions is not good for the motorist or their car, either.”
In just one afternoon, 180 people signed the Lib Dem petition at the Marchmont Festival. Those that signed in a personal capacity included Ricci de Freitas, the chair of the Marchmont Association; Christopher Cawrse, the parish priest of the Holy Cross Church; and Jo Baktis, the chair of the Friends of St George’s Gardens.
Photo: Jo Shaw, Caroline Pidgeon and Mobeen Tafader launching the "20’s plenty" campaign at the Marchmont Festival on Marchmont Street.