Enfield's "Mini-Holland" funding has been successful. The Borough is one of four that have been awarded up to £30 million from the Mayor of London to implement a comprehensive scheme to improve conditions for cyclists, with consequential benefits for everyone in terms of a reduction in traffic-related air pollution. In addition to the cycling improvements, some of the money will be available for enhancement of the "public realm" along the cycle routes - for example, smartening up the appearance of streets and pavements and improving conditions for pedestrians. However, an unpublicised consequence of the scheme's implementation may be the removal of the Triangle traffic island at the heart of Palmers Green.
The Enfield Mini-Holland Scheme - click on the map to enlargeOutline details of Enfield's ambitious scheme were described in a document which was published on the Council website late last year and included the map reproduced here. While this main document is readily available, the various appendixes which provide greater detail are less easy to access.
Palmers Green Triangle prior to the felling of the horse chestnut. The Mini-Holland scheme may require removal of the traffic islandAppendix E will be of particular interest to our readers, as it describes proposed changes to the A105 between Enfield Town and the North Circular Road junction in Palmers Green - one of the main north-south cycle routes. With regard to Palmers Green Triangle the key wording is: "At the junction of Aldermans Hill it is proposed to realign the junction by removing the triangle splitter island and to reduce the approach lanes on north / south arm from two lanes to one as well as introduce toucan crossing facilities on all arms of the junction, linked with shared footways."
Other details of Appendix E which relate to Palmers Green include reducing carriageway widths at the junction between Green Lanes and Hedge Lane/Bourne Hill, improvements to the pedestrian environment at Palmers Green shopping centre, replacement of the Fox Lane mini-roundabout by traffic lights, and changes to the crossroads adjacent to the former Southgate Town Hall.
The following tables have been extracted from the parts of Appendix E which relate to Palmers Green (we have added the emboldening).
5. From Station Road to Bourne Hill
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Junctions |
At the Bourne Hill / Green Lanes junction it is proposed to reduce the number of approach lanes on the north/south arm as well on Hedge Lane from two lanes to one. It is also proposed to remove the left turn slip road at this junction and widen the footway and provide a left turn slip for southbound cyclists to continue their journey westbound along Hedge Lane. |
6. From Bourne Hill to Aldermans Hill
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Cycle routes |
East-west link created by introduction of Toucan crossing and a raised table at Green Lanes / Aldermans Hill junction, which links to the Quietway route along Broomfield Avenue. There is light segregation in sections with no bus stops, access to side road or access roads. |
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Cyclists at bus stops |
For the majority of the route, the cycle route will end at the start of the bus cage and begin immediately after, encouraging cyclists to go through the stop when there are no buses. When buses are serving the stop, cyclists will have to cycle on the outside of the cage and cycle logos will be provided. |
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Public realm |
Improved pedestrian environment at Palmers Green shopping centre created by resurfacing, planting and new street furniture including cycle parking |
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Parking |
Parking is to be removed from the western side of the carriageway with limited parking provided on the eastern side, between Bourne Hill and Fox Lane. Limited parking will be proved on both sides of the carriageway between Hazel Wood Lane and Aldermans Hill. |
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Junctions |
At the Fox Lane / Green Lanes junction it is proposed to remove the mini roundabout and replace it with a signalised junction with pedestrian facilities on each arm. At the junction of Aldermans Hill it is proposed to realign the junction by removing the triangle splitter island and to reduce the approach lanes on north / south arm from two lanes to one as well as introduce toucan crossing facilities on all arms of the junction, linked with shared footways. |
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Kerb alignments |
There will be minor kerb alignments at the junction of Fox Lane to accommodate the proposed signalised junction. In addition, the footway width on the eastern side of the carriageway will be reduced to 4m and the western side to 2.8m to accommodate some parking and maintain 2m cycle lanes. |
7. Aldermans Hill to Broomfield Lane
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Public realm |
None proposed |
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Parking |
Parking is to be removed from both sides of the carriageway, due to most frontages along route having dropped kerb access. |
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Junctions |
At the junction with Broomfield Road it is proposed to reduce the two lane approaches to one lane on the north / south arm and the western arm and introduce ASLs on all approaches. |
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Bus lanes |
The southbound bus lane is to be removed. An alternative options is to widen the bus lane and allow cyclists to use it. |
Enfield Council have given assurances that all proposals in the Mini-Holland bid will be subject to public consultation. The proposals amount to an extremely large package of changes to roads, pavements, bus stops and road intersections and the A105 scheme is by no means the biggest element. Consultation, planning and execution will clearly take several years. There is no indication yet of when consultation will occur about the Green Lanes changes. However, the Palmers Green Public Realm consultation, due to be held between 21st and 23rd March, will now have to take account of the future cycle route running along Green Lanes - indeed, it seems likely that the prospect of Mini-Holland money was one of the factors that prompted Enfield Council to turn its attention to the Palmers Green public realm (another factor has been pressure from residents' groups, such as FLDRA and LCASG). It will be interesting to see whether the Triangle island is present on the 3D model that will be used for consultation and if not, what the reaction of the people who are surveyed will be.
The public will have an opportunity to raise these issues directly with councillors at the Area Forum on 20th March. However, if Mini-Holland is not on the formal agenda, there may not be a great deal of information forthcoming - though it will still present an opportunity to let councillors know that the future of the Triangle is of great interest to local people.
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