Islington News: Anna Woodward | Polynesian Restaurant | Island | Archway

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 6 June 2008

Town centre manager Anna Woodward at the traffic island

Island in a sea of traffic to mount its own festival

Hanging flower baskets brighten up roundabout plagued by congestion

ARCHWAY’S notorious traffic island could become the borough’s new “in-place” under plans produced by town centre manager Anna Woodward.
The island – one of the most congested traffic blackspots in north London – is to have its own Polynesian restaurant, due to open later this year at the newly refurbished Archway Tavern.
Now plans are being made to close the slip road next to the island to stage a one-day street festival and organic market in September.
Ms Woodward has been working with pressure group Better Archway Forum on the festival idea.
“There are plans to renovate Archway but no developers have stepped forward to date and we must do all we can to improve what we have,” she said.
“We’ve currently got some beautiful hanging baskets and planters around the perimeter of the island that really brighten it up. If the festival idea works, then it could become a regular event.”
The biggest problem with the roundabout is access. From Archway Tube pedestrians have to cross five lanes of traffic to reach it.
Transport for London is considering removing the roundabout and introducing two-way traffic.
Ms Woodward aims to raise the profile of the area.
“This is a very vibrant town,” she said. “We have a fantastic array of small specialist shops and firms.
“There’s an indoor pool and 12 bus routes, a Tube station and a mainline station at nearby Holloway Road.”
A problem with fly-tipping and litter is being tackled.
“We’ve reduced fly-tipping by removing a large dustbin area from behind the Mall,” Ms Woodward said.
“Litter is always a problem because we get strong gusts of wind from around the tower block and litter gets blown all over the place.” In one innovative idea, Ms Woodward is working with a horticultural centre which is offering to provide shops and businesses with flower planters to brighten up the environment.

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