Highgate Neighbourhood Forum response to co-design phase of Dartmouth Park Healthy Neighbourhood proposals by Camden Council

July/Aug 2024

Traffic congestion and pollution have always been key concerns for locals for decades and we welcome Camden’s work to start to address these issues across the borough generally. Also the broader ambition to mitigate the impact of climate change. The HNF welcome the opportunity to input on these proposals which have some good ambitions but also serious implications for the area beyond the scheme.

We believe this process provides an opportunity to develop an alternative series of more focussed, minor schemes to address specific problems initially but within a wider, integrated vision with later phases which will address concerns of the community more widely whilst producing visible benefits across the area for many.

GENERAL POINTS

• Clarity needed on spending implications and timelines with phasing for the scheme
• Information about how this phase of co-design will result in improved proposals and further iterations for consultation and input from the community
• Need for impact studies through computer modelling and acknowledgement of effects to other parts of our transport infrastructure and how this might be mitigated
• In particular, need for consideration of impacts on and therefore future improvements needed to Archway Road, Highgate High Street, Highgate West Hill and Highgate Hill
• Need for larger framing for ideas to show how this scheme links to existing or other future proposals around eg. cycling routes, public realm improvements
• Urgent need for collaboration and links to other councils proposals/plans in particular Haringey for Highgate High Street, Highgate Hill and Archway Road and cross roads affected – this can be a quick mapping exercise at the very least
• Need for Haringey-based businesses and residents to be informed and consulted
• Need for phasing and prioritisation information including impact measurements and mitigation once implemented so changes/iterations can be made

Generally welcome;

Focus on creating safer cycling and pedestrian routes with the aim of reducing short local car journeys increasing safety and reducing pollution.

Other ideas we support include;

• An east-west hoppa bus linking Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Highgate, Dartmouth Park and Hampstead is needed and much work has been done on this proposal by HNF
• Creation of new public realm around the Cemetery and wildlife corridor on Swains Lane (proposal by Growing Green) as part of HNF work on biodiversity corridors more widely
• Whilst constructing the bus lane on Highgate Hill also add rain garden islands to; slow traffic, provide havens for wildlife crossing, aid flood protection, ameliorate pollution
• Creating safer school routes to mitigate traffic problems particularly at school drop-off and pick-up on North Hill and Highgate Hill that will be impacted by the scheme (improvement proposals/work by Anke Boehme)

Key concerns;

• Evidence for proposals and targets for measuring impact/success?
• Possible impact on major routes and also smaller roads including Bisham Gardens, Cholmeley Park and The Grove
• Lack of collaboration with Haringey Council

You can read the full proposal here and have your say here.

Highgate Neighbourhood Forum Committee