Islington Tribune - News: Architect backs scrapping of gyratory traffic system

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Islington Tribune - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 18 May 2007

Architect backs scrapping of gyratory traffic system

CAMPAIGNERS have called for the road lay-out at Archway to be radically altered.
They want to see the traffic island, home to landmark pub the Archway Tavern, scrapped along with the gyratory traffic system. At a day-long conference hosted by the Better Archway Forum (BAF) on Friday, architect Sir Terry Farrell urged planners to get rid of the gyratory system and hand Archway over to pedestrians.
Sir Terry, whose works include redesigning a huge swathe of Euston Road from King’s Cross to Paddington, said that for too long cars had been given priority over the needs of people.
He said: “This is both illogical and unfair. Pedestrians make up 90 per cent of the users but are given just 10 per cent of the space.”
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has earmarked 12 gyratory systems, including Archway’s, which he wants to see scrapped.
BAF chairwoman Kate Calvert said gyratory systems were ineffective in easing traffic flow.
She added: “Archway is an area blighted by road planning.
“Dealing with that would be the biggest single change which could be effected to improve quality of life here.”