Dear Neighbours
We hope you're all keeping warm now that temperatures have decided to take a dive. Don't you love those days when the sky is a brilliant blue and the air almost crackles with your frosty breath? You don't get that on the Costa del Sol! So, as you wander down the lovely People Friendly Streets, and even those which are not yet Low-Trafficked, make sure you look up and admire the skyline. I snapped the beautifully neat Georgian chimneystacks (and lucky magpie) gracing the heading of this newsletter on my way to work down Shepherdess Walk in Hackney, and the marching clouds below walking through Theberton Street on the school run one morning. Magical.
We have had a number of emails from you asking when the Barnsbury & St Mary's Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) will be put in place. We originally understood that the Council was aiming for March 2021. We think that timeline may have slipped because of the challenges in implementing the Canonbury LTNs - including delays due to vandalism - although the Council remains committed and focused. Your active encouragement works wonders, so please please continue sending those positive and supportive emails to your Councillors. Tell them you love the work they're doing, LTNs are the way forward, and you can't wait to see them in our neighbourhood!
Kevin reported that Councillor Rowena Champion attended the Cloudesley Association meeting yesterday evening. She confirmed that the size of the Barnsbury & St Mary's area means that thoughtful analysis is required before LTN deployment locally.
Highbury East Ward meeting took place on Sunday 6 December on Zoom. Mr. Kaz attended for our group, and highlighted that Highbury LTNs are in progress now, with St. Mary's and Caledonian wards to follow. We assume that the Council means the St. Mary's triangle (more on that in due course) and the area west of the Cally Road. [As an aside, did you know that Cally Pool is up and running again (COVID-style)? Hooray!] The Council team also mentioned that, while not used at the moment, planters may be used in future schemes in Islington. Also of interest, Highbury East/Mildmay timeline is for implementation mid-2021. Support our neighbours there in spreading the positive message!
The next Barnsbury Ward meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 December 2020 at 6pm via Zoom. We'll be there. Will you? You know you want to...
For more local and national news, check out our latest news round-up.
Buoyed by our research into the Power of the Pedestrian Pound, we are reaching out to local businesses to highlight their service or product to our local supporters. Let us know if your friendly local coffee shop or grocer wants to join in, we would love to profile their business.
As ever, let us know what else you want to hear about. And if you want to get involved, the more the merrier; please email us on barnsburystmarys@gmail.com.
All our best
Barnsbury & St Mary's Neighbourhood Group
(aka Lucy, Simon, Rachael, Richenda, John, Kevin, Fran, Chris, Mariana)