Campaigners celebrate victory in fight for Highgate ‘North Hill Nightmare’ crossing
Campaigners are celebrating victory in an 18-month battle for a safer crossing near a Highgate primary school.
Parents of children at Highgate primary school had claimed a dangerous crossroads, dubbed the “North Hill Nightmare”, would claim a pupil’s life if safety measures were not put in place.
Pedestrian “green man” crossings at the junction with Church Road and View Road have now been given the green light by Transport for London (Tfl) after more than a year of campaigning and a 3,000-strong petition.
The approved plans form part of a range of proposed measures to improve the safety of Haringey’s roads, including another dangerous junction in Muswell Hill.
Currently, pedestrians have to take their chances with the traffic when crossing North Hill as there is just a single island in the middle of the road and no time for crossing built into the traffic light phases. But the council has to get TfL’s blessing before starting to consult on amendments.
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Campaign leader Charley Allan, a parent governor at Highgate primary school, said: “We’re so relieved Haringey Council have listened to local opinion and see the urgent need for a green man crossing – we will hold them to their promise to build it within a year.
“Children will finally be able to walk to school safely having learned a great lesson on citizenship and community campaigning.”
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TfL has also agreed to a set of new crossings in Muswell Hill, at the junction of Alexandra Park Road and Colney Hatch Lane following a campaign by Cross Safe N10 residents’ group.
One of the crossings over Colney Hatch Lane will remain, while a new set of light-controlled crossings will be installed, the traffic island at Alexandra Park Road will be removed or relocated to give more space for large vehicles turning in, and the traffic lights in Pages Lane will be replaced by a new zebra crossing.
Cross Safe N10’s Katie Forkan said the plans were already “looking to be a very viable solution”, adding: “We are hugely grateful to all our supporters – over 650 who signed our petition and over 140 who took part in our road safety survey – and are pleased that our concerns have been taken seriously.”
Michael McKenzie, headteacher of Alexandra Park School, also welcomed the plans “as an important step in ensuring the safety of our students as they make their way to and from our school”.
Haringey Council cabinet member for environment Cllr Stuart McNamara said: “We are committed to listening to local people and working in partnership with them to find solutions.”
Haringey Council will now draw up detailed proposals for both sites before consulting residents, probably in May.
