• YOU may recall from earlier correspondence that Camden failed to make any mention of the removal of traffic islands in the two consultations that have taken place on the Prince of Wales Road westbound segregated cycle route scheme.

I have now received the reply to a Freedom of Information request and can now state which islands will go and which will stay.

It won’t concern most people who responded to the first consultation since they live outside the area but for those who use the road regularly, especially the parents with toddlers and pushchairs, the older and disabled and especially after dark, this is of great consequence.

So, starting from Haverstock Hill and going east along Prince of Wales Road, these nine are to be removed:

1. Northern arm on Haverstock Hill at junction. Shown as staying on the drawings. The present double lane down the hill is to be reduced to one lane so this looks like the start of an unannounced scheme for segregated cycle lanes on both sides of Haverstock Hill which will certainly mean the removal of all islands on Haverstock Hill. Vital islands for pedestrians.

2. Western arm at the above junction at the end of Prince of Wales Road.

3. 4. and 5. On Prince of Wales Road near junctions with Queen’s Crescent, Craddock Street and Truro Street.

6. Northern arm at the Malden Road junction, so actually on Malden Road.

7. Eastern arm at the above junction so on Prince of Wales Road.

8. Island near end of Talacre Road by Prince of Wales Road.

9. Island between main entrance to Talacre and Costcutters.

There will be just two islands left. These are on the other two arms at the Malden road/Crescent crossing. It’s a sad day when the only way for pedestrians to know the facts even after two consultations is to find them in the Letters pages of your paper.

NICK HARDING
NW5