Sadiq Khan backs Walthamstow, Kingston and Enfield Mini Holland cycle schemes after driver backlash

"Bold plans": Enfield council’s designs for the bike lanes being built in Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill
Ross Lydall @RossLydall23 February 2017

Sadiq Khan has given his backing to London’s “Mini Holland” cycle schemes in the face of demands from motorists to reopen residential roads to through traffic.

City Hall aides made clear the Mayor’s support for the pro-cycling and walking initiatives in Walthamstow, Enfield and Kingston after a backlash from drivers.

A petition signed by more than 6,000 people was presented to him two weeks ago claiming that congestion and pollution had “increased massively” on roads in Walthamstow not closed under the scheme.

Mr Khan, who inherited the three Transport for London-funded schemes from Boris Johnson, has also been contacted by campaigners in Enfield who claim 38 out of 50 businesses surveyed in Winchmore Hill had reported a fall in takings, which they claim is due to the disruption caused by the building of bike lanes in Green Lanes.

At the same time, the Mayor has been urged by pro-cycling groups, including Better Streets for Enfield and Enfield Cycling Campaign, to do more to increase the amount of safer cycle routes after three cyclists were killed in a week.

The victims included Anita Szucs, 30, who was killed by an apparent hit-and-run car driver as she rode home in Bounces Road, a residential street in Edmonton, early in the morning. Her husband Tamas Mezo has called for more cycle lanes and safer roads.

Row: A protest against pro-cycling and pro-walking initiatives in Walthamstow
Nigel Howard

Asked how Mr Khan planned to respond to the protests, a spokesman said: “The Mayor fully supports the roll-out of Mini Holland schemes in Enfield, Kingston and Waltham Forest as part of his bold plans to make London a safer and easier city for cycling and walking.

"Alongside more segregated cycle lanes, and banning the most dangerous lorries from London’s roads, Mini Hollands and Quietway routes play an important role encouraging more people to walk and cycle in their local neighbourhoods, improving quality of life for everyone.”

Each of the three boroughs was awarded about £30 million to introduce measures to deter “rat-running” and encourage cycling and walking.

Christine Greig, an anti mini-Holland campaigner in Walthamstow, said the Mayor’s response was “very disheartening but unsurprising”.

She added: “He was taken on a guided tour by the council… He was shown the one quite pretty street that is always trotted out as a model for blissful closed roads.

"Probably steered away from the gridlocked and polluted main roads. I doubt if he’s even bothered to read the rather heartrending comments left on the petition.”

A spokeswoman for the opponents of the Enfield cycle scheme said she believed mayoral aides were downplaying Mr Khan’s concerns.

She said: “We are having massive congestion and pollution. Our businesses are haemorrhaging trade because people are avoiding the area because they can’t park.”

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