Islington Council invites local people to have their say on Canonbury East people-friendly streets neighbourhood

The neighbourhood was introduced in August 2020 as part of the council’s efforts to create streets that are better suited to walking, cycling and using buggies and wheelchairs, and where toxic air pollution is reduced.     

It is one of seven people-friendly streets neighbourhoods to have been introduced by the council as 18-month trials.     

The council is inviting local people to have their say on the impact of the Canonbury East trial. To help inform their feedback, the council has published an updated monitoring report.     

Comparing data from July 2020 – prior to the scheme’s introduction – with new data from July 2021, the report shows that traffic within the neighbourhood dropped by 80%, as a result of the scheme preventing through-traffic.     

Data also shows that local people have been utilising these quieter, safer, more people-friendly streets, with cycling rising within the neighbourhood by 48%.     

The public consultation on the Canonbury East neighbourhood – which will help decide if it is made permanent, changed, or removed – will remain open until Tuesday, 30 November. Local people can find out more about the consultation, and engagement events that the council will be running in Canonbury East, on the council’s website.    

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’re working hard to create streets that all local people can enjoy, where it’s easier to walk, cycle and use buggies and wheelchairs, and where toxic air pollution can be a thing of the past.     

“We have been monitoring the impact of the Canonbury East people-friendly streets neighbourhood carefully, and the data shows that the trial has helped deliver cleaner, greener, healthier streets for local people. By reducing traffic within the neighbourhood, the scheme has created a safer, more welcoming environment for walking and cycling, whilst creating quieter streets for those that need to travel by car.     

“We’re implementing the schemes to make Islington streets better places for local people and we look forward to hearing feedback on the scheme.”    

The monitoring report that the council has published follows a report released earlier this year, which reflected the impact of the scheme during its first six months. The updated report, which has been published on the council’s website, also reveals:     

• On Englefield Road, a local road within the neighbourhood, the weekly number of vehicles fell from 5,888 to 598, a 90% fall.   
• The volume of vehicles speeding on streets within the neighbourhood has decreased by 89%.   
• Overall, the changes in levels of nitrogen dioxide reflect those in the borough more widely  
• Traffic and vehicle speeds on boundary roads have changed negligibly (see notes to editors), as have rates of cycling on boundary roads.     
• London Fire Brigade response times have not been significantly affected, and the London Ambulance Service has not reported any details as a result of the neighbourhood.     
• Rates of anti-social behaviour and crime have not been affected by the neighbourhood.     

During the Canonbury East consultation, local people will also be invited to give their views on proposed changes to traffic filters at Elmore Street and Halliford Street to help improve access for local businesses.    

Canonbury East is the second people-friendly streets neighbourhood consultation, following the St Peter’s neighbourhood consultation. Consultations on the remaining five people-friendly streets neighbouhoods will be announced in due course.