Central Street and Golden Lane: Islington Council asks for feedback on improvements plan

Islington Council has unveiled an initial vision for improvements to a key street in the south of the borough – and is asking for further input from the people who live, work and use the area.

The council has drafted proposals for Central Street and Golden Lane in Bunhill ward, between the City Road Basin and Fortune Street Park, to make it a better place for spending time, walking and cycling.

This includes making the area greener and providing stronger connections to its open spaces and leisure facilities.

The initial ideas have been drawn up based on conversations with the community, including a survey carried out by campaign group Living Streets, who asked pedestrians and cyclists how the area could be improved for them.

Now the council has launched a public consultation on the draft masterplan to gather feedback and further suggestions.

Ideas include changes to junctions to slow traffic and improve pedestrian crossings and cycle routes, widening pavements, installing higher-quality benches and planting new trees and greenery.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport, said: “We have drawn up these initial plans based on what the community have told us so far – but we want to hear the views of many more people who live, work, use or even just travel through the area about how they think it could be improved. I look forward to hearing your ideas.

“All of this work will be externally funded, so it will not increase the pressure on Islington’s budget, which has been heavily cut by central government in recent years.”

The council will discuss the masterplan at the next Finsbury Ward Partnership meeting on Wednesday, 23 September (7pm-9pm, St Luke's Community Centre, 90 Central St), and is holding four on-street consultation events starting on Saturday, September 19, where council officers will be able to answer your questions.

The consultation will run until October 5. The full draft masterplan can be found at www.islington.gov.uk/centralstreet, where you can also find details of the on-street consultation events and give your views on the plans so far.

The feedback from this consultation will inform a final masterplan which will be published by the end of the year, after which detailed design work will begin for further consultation.