‘Enough roads around here are already closed’
The corner of Northchurch and Southgate Road
RESIDENTS and shopkeepers say a proposed new traffic restriction will hurt their businesses and make deliveries difficult.
The Town Hall is working with neighbouring Hackney Council to line up a roadblock on the corner of Southgate Road and Northchurch Road in De Beauvoir as part of a larger project to make the street more cycle-friendly and greener. It is currently running an online consultation for people to have their say.
But Servert Kurt, who has managed his family’s shop, DeBeauvoir Wholefoods, for 10 years, said: “Most businesses were not happy. And, I’ll be honest with you, we see hundreds of customers a day, and the residents of Northchurch Road were not happy either with the road being blocked off.”
He added: “I’m most concerned about getting deliveries. I know they’re putting a loading bay on the opposite side of the road to us [in front of the houses], but we get deliveries from big lorries at 6am – imagine if you lived outside that loading bay with the noise of the unloading and the noise of the lorry. You’d be woken up, and I don’t think that’s going to be nice for the residents. It’s also going to be difficult for us to carry the goods and bring the trollies across the road.”
Kim Wojtus, a resident in Northchurch Road
Pinar Kurt, Mr Kurt’s sister, has worked in the shop for a few months and said the changes pose a problem for commuters.
“Most of us drive into work, so we’re pretty worried about what’s going to happen, especially as bus routes are limited, there’s a lot more people waiting at bus stops, and the buses are crowded,” she said.
Kim Wojtus, who lives in Northchurch Road and has submitted her views to the consultation, said traffic restrictions in the area have already made life difficult.
“I’m angry, it’s beyond belief. I know other people on my road don’t want this either,” she said.
“They’ve closed enough roads around here already, you can’t get out by Essex Road. We can’t get deliveries because they won’t come down the road. If they won’t come down now, it’s going to be so much worse.”
Servert Kurt, who runs DeBeauvoir Wholefoods
Islington’s lead councillor on the environment, Rowena Champion, said: “We want to maximise the potential of our main roads so that they’re more welcoming, safer, greener spaces. Our proposals for Southgate Road are a key part of that vision, and will help ensure that local people can walk, cycle, and wheel in the area with confidence.
“To further support local businesses, we’re proposing the creation of a new loading bay on Northchurch Road, which will provide an additional space for businesses to easily receive deliveries.
“Local people’s insight and ideas are key in transforming the borough’s streets, and we’re looking forward to hearing feedback in the consultation. We’ve made changes to similar transport schemes in the past based on feedback during consultations and will listen carefully to all views.”