Islington Council announce a sixth permanent low-traffic neighbourhood after trial

By Claudia Abbott, Sarah Kramer and Nicky Detain

Photos by Claudia Abbott

Islington Council has made Amwell, a neighbourhood in the borough, into a permanent low-traffic neighbourhood, bringing the total number of such areas in Islington to six.

The changes made to Amwell include the introduction of traffic filters on streets including Great Percy Street and Margery Street, as well as on Lloyd Square.

Originally, the changes were made in November 2020 as a trial for Islington Council’s “people-friendly streets” programme. The council says that it aims to improve air quality, make walking and cycling easier, and decrease road danger through the scheme.

The council adds that it will continue with its initiative in Amwell, saying that this includes ensuring the area’s footpaths are, “accessible for walking (sic), wheeling and using buggies,” as well as working with local people to “implement greening” into the area.

It seems that although this is the sixth neighbourhood in the low traffic implementation, many residents haven’t seen a change in the usual high-volume traffic through the city.

Do local residents think that the implementation of low-traffic neighbourhoods in the local area has affected their commute to work/ school, local road sweeper, Stephen O’Keeffe, 57, said: “I don’t notice it,” adding that he drives a scooter. “To get the bus here [Islington] because I come from Hackney would take me, on a good day, fifty-five minutes, but on a scooter only takes me 26 minutes,” he said.

There is a bigger incentive for residents and people who work in the local area to use bikes for their journeys as their travel time is significantly decreased. Many Londoners take public transport rather than drive due to the previously busy traffic.

Although living in an area where the low traffic act is being implemented, Amaru Narvas-Reyes, a 26-year-old actor, hasn’t seen a difference in the amount of traffic through Islington.

“None of us really drive, I cycle a lot, though. There’s just a lot of traffic, it doesn’t seem like anything’s changed at all,” he said.