Canonbury West people-friendly streets neighbourhood to remain in place

People-friendly streets are part of the council’s mission to tackle the climate emergency, and make it easier for local people to walk, cycle, scoot, and use buggies and wheelchairs.   

The Canonbury West neighbourhood was introduced as an 18-month trial in November 2020. To give local people the opportunity to have their say on its impact, the council ran a public consultation from November 30 2021 to 18 January 2022.   

Responses from 751 people to the consultation showed the positive impact of the trial, with 28% of respondents who have cars saying they walk or cycle more for shorter trips instead of driving. Meanwhile, 31% said the trial has made it easier to walk and cycle to local shops and businesses (12% disagreed), while 37% said the scheme has made it easier to cross the street (25% disagreed).  

The council has also been monitoring the Canonbury West people-friendly streets neighbourhood trial and, in November 2021, a report was released on the trial’s impact. Comparing data from July 2020, prior to the trial’s introduction, with updated figures from October 2021, this showed that traffic on roads within the neighbourhood had fallen 74%, with speeding falling by 86% and cycling rising by 77% within the neighbourhood.   

Having reviewed the monitoring data and feedback from local people, the council will continue the Canonbury West people-friendly streets neighbourhood. To make it easier for disabled people to travel in the neighbourhood, an exemption for Blue Badge holders living in the neighbourhood to travel through camera-enforced filters in the Canonbury West neighbourhood will be introduced from Monday, 14 March. To help green the area, the council will also install three new planters in the neighbourhood.  

After the exemption scheme has been introduced, the council will monitor its impact and people's feedback, before taking a decision on making the neighbourhood permanent. The council is also aware that some motorists are cutting through the neighbourhood via Canonbury Park North and Compton Road, in order to avoid traffic on St Paul’s Road, and is exploring options to resolve this.        

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We know that action is needed to tackle the climate emergency and create a cleaner, greener, healthier future for our borough, and people-friendly streets are a key part of that.   

“By encouraging, enabling and empowering local people to take more trips on foot, bike, or wheel, the schemes help reduce air pollution and create more pleasant streets that everyone can enjoy.   

“The monitoring data and consultation feedback reflects the positive impact of the Canonbury West people-friendly streets neighbourhood. By introducing a Blue Badge holder exemption to the neighbourhood we can make it easier for everyone to travel, while ensuring that the scheme continues to deliver cleaner, greener, healthier streets.”  

The exemption scheme will mean that Blue Badge holders that live in the neighbourhood will be able to apply for a permit allowing a single motor vehicle registered to their address to travel through traffic filters in the Canonbury West people-friendly streets neighbourhood.  

The council is also developing an exceptional circumstances dispensation who do not meet the criteria for the Blue Badge exemption, and further information will follow in the coming weeks.     

Further information on the Canonbury West people-friendly streets neighbourhood trial, including the full monitoring and consultation results, can be found on the council’s people-friendly streets webpage.