In recent years, and in particular since the re-design of Highbury Corner, traffic has significantly increased in Highbury, affecting residents' safety, health, well-being and sleep.

With the exception of the lockdown period, Highbury Hill, Martineau Road, Aubert Park, Gillespie Road, Fieldway Crescent, Highbury Crescent, Highbury Place and Baalbec Road are now being used as traffic corridors, with a steady stream of rat-running vehicles (many of them commercial, including trucks) driving through from early in the morning until late in the evening – and even at night. Most of them exceed the 20 MPH speed limit and in certain streets the slope is an incentive for drivers to accelerate, increasing both air and noise pollution exponentially. 

The Islington Council intends to act across the borough in the wake of the current coronavirus crisis, seizing the opportunity presented to make our streets more people-friendly. A number of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) will be set up in the coming weeks and months, starting mid-June, and we need to make our voices heard as soon as possible to ensure Highbury is one of them.

Implementing the Highbury Diamond concept would allow to take a holistic approach and cover a large area encompassing all the above streets - ensuring we truly promote cleaner, healthier and safer streets in the neighbourhood.

COVID19 has unfortunately highlighted once again the dangers of air pollution, which has shown to be directly correlated with the spread of the virus. However, the lockdown has also been an opportunity for residents here to experience what our vibrant and friendly neighbourhood would look like if the right traffic reduction measures were taken.

Please sign this petition to encourage the Council to take ambitious steps towards reducing traffic in Highbury, and make sure to also voice your concerns on the Islington People Friendly Streets platform that is being used by the Council to select the areas where to implement LTNs: https://islingtonpeoplefriendlystreets.commonplace.is/