Moves by London Mayor Boris Johnson to rip out the traffic lights at three locations in Islington have been condemned by the Liberal Democrats.
As part of the Mayor’s plans to speed up traffic flows around the city, he has announced the removal of 145 sets of traffic lights across London with more set to follow. The plans are currently out for consultation. The locations in Islington are:
- Roman Way/Mackenzie Road (Holloway)
- Liverpool Road/Bewdley Street/Islington Park Street (Barnsbury)
- St.John Street/Owen Street/Chad Street (Finsbury)
Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats though show that over the past ten years there have been twenty-six accidents at the three locations with twenty-eight people injured. Because of the increased risk to pedestrians and cyclists at junctions where there have already been accidents, Liberal Democrats will be objecting to the plans.
Local Lib Dem councillor, Susan Buchanan said:
"Nobody likes sitting in a car or a bus waiting at a red light for too long. But are Islington’s pedestrians and cyclists going to be put in more danger just to increase traffic speeds?
“Local residents don’t want these traffic lights removed as they are rightly concerned that there will be more accidents as cars will be increasing their speed on these roads and there will be fewer places to cross safely. The Lib Dems will be fighting to stop the Mayor’s daft plans to remove the traffic lights."
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Deputy Chair of the London Assembly's Transport Committee said:
"The Mayor’s decision to remove traffic lights at these junctions will make crossing busy roads in Islington more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.
“Already across London there are far too many pedestrian crossings at junctions that still do not meet Department for Transport safety standards for granting the minimum time for pedestrians to cross. The Mayor should prioritise sorting these out so that people can cross busy roads in safety."
Local resident Chris Bulford, who lives near the junction of Liverpool Road/Islington Park Street/Bewdley Street said:
"Pensioners, those with disabilities and parents of young children might not shout as loud as car drivers but they're ones who stand to lose out under these plans.
“This was a major accident black spot before the green man crossing was installed and what with the Labour council’s plans to bring a bus down Liverpool Road things are set to get more dangerous.”
Photo (by Brent A. Martin): local resident Chris Bulford, local Lib Dem councillor Susan Buchanan and Lib Dem GLA Member Caroline Pidgeon at the Islington Park Street junction where one of the sets of traffic lights is due to be removed