Urgent assurances from Peter Hendy, the London Commissioner for Transport, about the fate of Parkland Walk under the proposed new cycling funding scheme have been sought by Lynne Featherstone MP.

Speaking after last Thursday’s Area Assembly where the proposals were presented to local residents, Ms. Featherstone said:

“I am not satisfied from what I heard at the meeting that the improvements to Parkland Walk won’t mean cyclists belting through. I have written an urgent letter to Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London, to seek assurances as to exactly what improvements they expect Haringey to make with their funding. I am also contacting Haringey to get sight of their bid.

“Local users made it quite clear that they didn’t want improvements that would make the walk more attractive to cyclists who will then use it as a speed track, wrecking the tranquillity of this very special nature reserve in the heart of our over-stressed community.”

Text of letter to Peter Hendy:

Peter Hendy CBE
Commissioner of Transport
Transport for London
Windsor House
42-50 Victoria Street
LONDON
SW1H 0TL

Date: 08 May 2007

Dear Peter,

Re: Parkland Walk, Haringey.

I attended a local neighbourhood Assembly last night (Crouch End, Hornsey and Stroud Green) and it was clear from the presentation, questions and comments that there is deep uncertainty about exactly what will be delivered by Haringey as a result of the funding obtained by their bid to Transport for London as part of the Green Pathways initiative.

As I understand from the meeting the funding comes from TfL and is part of their Centre for Cycling Excellence push to improve cycling across London – which of course we support.

However, this is not about a cycle lane in our traffic laden street – this is about a beautiful linear park / nature reserve which is used by pedestrians, dog walkers and occasional considerate recreational cyclists. It is a wilderness – and the fear at the meeting was that as the money was coming from the cycle improvement program at TfL – you would be requiring certain cycling improvements to be forthcoming.

What I am seeking from you is reassurance as to what your understanding is as to what will be provided as part of this project with your funding. I will get sight of the bid from Haringey – but I would like to hear from TfL what they expect for their bucks on cycling out of this pot.

I look forward to hearing from you very soon.

Yours sincerely,

Lynne Featherstone MP
Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green