A solution to the problem of severe congestion in and around the Alexandra ward area moved a step closer this week, following an agreement to set up a working group of local residents to formulate detailed plans of how the council would spend the £100,000 allocated by Transport for London (TfL) to sort out local traffic problems.

The meeting, at Rhodes Avenue School on Thursday, took place after calls from Alexandra Lib Dem Councillor Susan Oatway for more action to be taken by Haringey Council in sorting out the issue. The working group will be set up in March and is likely to comprise 6 to 12 local residents. Its job will be to plan and cost the spending of £100,000 from TfL on improvements to Dukes Avenue and Alexandra Park Road areas. They will also plan and cost the safer routes to school scheme.

Cllr. Oatway expressed her satisfaction at the progress that had been made at the meeting:

“I am very pleased that we have started to move forward on this issue and we are that bit closer to the money that TfL have had on the table for the past two years. The local residents have been very constructive throughout and I hope that this will make for a productive working group.

“I am further encouraged by the news that TfL have offered further money to the area after they have amended their proposals for the A406. I hope that the money will relieve the suffering of the residents of Alexandra and Bounds Green who have had to endure this problem for far too long.”

Background:

Liberal Democrats secured an agreement from TfL to provide up to £100,000 in November 2001 towards traffic calming in Alexandra, provided that Haringey Council produced sensible and detailed plans. However, despite the offer first being made in November 2001, the money is still unspent as Haringey Council has repeatedly failed to produce the necessary plans and information to free up the money.

Muswell Hill ward councillor and London Assembly Transport Policy Committee member Lynne Featherstone has recently met with Derek Turner of TfL to try to break the deadlock. Mr Turner confirmed that the money was still available if Haringey Council presented appropriate plans and supplied the technical details required by Transport for London, but he warned that if appropriate plans and detailed information were not presented the money might even be lost to Haringey: “it was an unlikely but potential risk.”