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Ken is ‘barmy’ over Angel junction plans
Top town planner lays into Mayor over revamp
ONE of Britain’s leading town planners accused London Mayor Ken Livingstone this week of “barmy” thinking over plans to improve a traffic-clogged area of Angel.
Eric Sorensen, chairman of the local pressure group Angel Association, said the scheme to calm traffic and spruce up the area at the top of Goswell and City Roads was full of missed opportunities.
The Tribune reported last week that a huge campaign is being launched by residents against the scheme to create a new traffic system and give buses priority for turning right into Upper Street.
Controversially, plans will involve removing a part of leafy Duncan Terrace Gardens in order to provide a new enlarged bus stop and waiting area.
Mr Sorensen, chief executive of the prestigious Thames Gateway Project, said Transport for London – Mr Livingstone’s traffic arm – has not thought the issue through.
He added: “Removing a part of a garden and taking away trees does not enhance an area, it disfigures it. Besides, it is completely unnecessary.”
Mr Sorensen called on planners to do something with the old, abandoned and boarded up Angel Tube station entrance in City Road. “It’s been a terrible eyesore for years, but they could clean it up and make it useful,” he said.
But he thought that the plan to turn a traffic island into a meeting place was “barmy.” He said: “The island is, after all, between two major traffic routes, and there’s no place to relax, let alone hear your self speak.
“The main meeting places at the Angel are at the Tube station and on Upper Street High Pavement. This won’t change.”
Transport for London is holding an exhibition on Thursday March 8, from 8am-3pm and Saturday, March 10, from 10 am to4pm at Basement Gallery, Candid Arts Trust, 3 Torrens Street, CC1.
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