PEDESTRIANS on Parkland Walk outnumber cyclists by nine to one, a Broadway survey has revealed. As controversy over plans to improve the walk rages on, a poll of people on the woodland route showed it was vastly more popular with

By Marijke Peters

PEDESTRIANS on Parkland Walk outnumber cyclists by nine to one, a Broadway survey has revealed.

As controversy over plans to improve the walk rages on, a poll of people on the woodland route showed it was vastly more popular with joggers than bikers.

The findings come as local Lib Dems obtained secret documents from Haringey Council revealing it intends to increase the number of bikes ridden on Parkland Walk, despite having promised that a £408,000 grant from Transport for London (TfL) would benefit everyone.

Pat Arrowsmith from Middle Lane in Hornsey said: "It sounds to me as if the council is going back on what it promised.

"It's deplorable to be giving more help to cyclists - there's a lot of dangerous cycling in places and Parkland Walk should be safe for pedestrians.

"I'm not opposed to special arrangements being made for bikes on urban roads, but it's quite different when we are talking about a park."

Broadway carried out the poll on the pathway between Crouch Hill and Crouch End Hill from 12pm to 2pm on Sunday afternoon.

Of 301 people who passed through, 79 per cent were walkers and 10 per cent were joggers, with only 11 per cent on bikes.

But although it is clear the park is more popular with walkers than cyclists, documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone show the council intends to spend the TfL cash to "increase the number of people cycling" and "decreasing journey time for cyclists".

Ms Featherstone said: "Hundreds of local residents were completely and deliberately misled at the recent area assembly as Labour council executives sat watching and saying nothing.

"Haringey Council clearly has been given this money to turn the Parkland Walk into a cycle track.

"It should have consulted residents before it entered into a Faustian pact with Transport for London. Labour must come clean and reassure us it will not prostitute the Parkland Walk in the bid for cash."

Environment boss Cllr Brian Haley carried out his own straw poll and said he found most residents were mainly concerned with safety issues, including improving lighting and cutting back overgrown weeds.

He said: "Of course we want to get more people cycling, but it doesn't necessarily mean all of them will be on Parkland Walk as some sort of speedy highway.

"There will be provision for cyclists and we will mend some of the potholes but we are not going to create a specific lane for them or turn it into a cycle path."

o How would you feel about a bid to improve Parkland Walk for cyclists? Write to us here at the Ham&High Broadway, 100A Avenue Road, London NW3 3HF or email letters@hamhigh.co.uk

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