Action to help pedestrians with social distancing at Nag’s Head in Islington

Pedestrian space will be expanded on busy streets on the TfL Road Network as part of the Mayor of London’s Streetspace for London plans to support social distancing as lockdown restrictions are gradually eased.

The changes will be implemented in an ‘L’ shape, along Seven Sisters Road between Holloway Road and Hornsey Road, and along Holloway Road between Tollington Road and Seven Sisters Road.

The urgent measures will see pedestrian space extended into parking bays, with the installation of barriers. This will help people keep a safe distance as they walk or make essential trips to shops such as supermarkets or the Post Office.  There will be no changes to disabled parking access for Blue Badge holders, and TfL will maintain loading bays for local business.

The changes follow the council’s own street schemes which were rolled out earlier this week in areas with heavy footfall, also to help people keep a safe distance from each other. The council widened pedestrian space in Liverpool Road at the junction with Richmond Avenue, and in Essex Road outside Tesco Express.  More council schemes will follow very soon.

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council's executive member for environment and transport, said: “We're committed to getting more people walking and cycling, encouraging sustainable forms of transport for short journeys, including trips to buy food and other essentials.

“We welcome the work TfL are doing on their road network to make more space for safely walking and cycling, which follow the introduction of our own schemes earlier this week in other parts of the borough.

“We are looking forward to continuing to work with TfL on more schemes in Islington soon, to ensure residents can travel safely and healthily around the borough.

“Together we can all help limit the spread of this virus and pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable transport environment that also achieves our vision for a net carbon zero borough by 2030.”

The council is planning more measures to improve safety and make essential travel around the borough easier as the lockdown measures are gradually relaxed.

Last year, the council outlined its bold vision for a healthy, fair and accessible transport network in its draft Transport Strategy for 2019-2041, setting the goal of achieving a net zero carbon borough by 2030 in response to the climate emergency.

The new measures outlined above will contribute towards these by making it easier, safer and more enjoyable to walk and cycle, and will see air quality improve by reducing polluting motor traffic.