Safe cycle route through the Haringey heartlands secured by Lib Dem councillor

Dedicated cycle paths have been secured within the large Haringey Heartlands development - a site which will deliver over 1,000 new homes, following interventions by the Liberal Democrats.

A meeting of Haringey Council’s planning sub-committee on Monday October 7th, 2019 considered an application for part of the Haringey Heartlands development. During the debate, Luke Cawley-Harrison, Lib Dem councillor for Crouch End, objected to the fact that the only cycle routes on the development were shared pedestrian and cycling paths.

During a debate on how dedicated cycling infrastructure could be brought to the development, he persuaded the other committee members to unanimously support segregated cycle routes through the site before it was given planning permission. Under this pressure, the developer’s representative pledged these would be included in both the current and any future applications related to the Haringey Heartlands, saying in response "we have heard you loud and clear".

Councillor Cawley-Harrison further ensured that the council would "play it's part" by securing an instruction to the council that the Section 106 money from the development to be prioritised for cycle lanes on surrounding roads.

Cllr Cawley-Harrison commented that:

“Whilst shared spaces work in some scenarios, they are not right for a development such as this, where we are promoting cycling as an alternative to driving, not just as a leisure activity. I’m pleased that the committee and the developer saw sense and opted for something safer and more practical for pedestrians and cyclists.

“When it’s completed, the Haringey Heartlands development won’t just be important for people in Wood Green, but it will be a key route for anyone looking to cycle into the city from Enfield or beyond. We need to get it right now”.

Cllr Dawn Barnes, Haringey Lib Dem housing spokesperson and parliamentary candidate for Hornsey & Wood Green, added that:

“The cycle infrastructure in this area has been neglected for a long time, and some of the surrounding roads and junctions are amongst the most dangerous for cyclists in Haringey. So, it is important that Lib Dem councillors are speaking up for the needs of cyclists where the council is failing to. The Liberal Democrats will continue to demand that the Council make decent cycle routes mandatory in all large developments”.

Note (1): A video of the meeting can be found here. The relevant item begins from 07:30 mins in and discussion on the cycling infrastructure commences at 1:27 hrs in.

Note (2): Haringey Heartlands is a large mixed residential/commercial development in the area between Wood Green High Road and the East Coast Main Line.

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