North Circular work to begin after 45 year wait

8:20am Thursday 25th September 2008

PLANS to improve a long-neglected two-mile stretch of the North Circular Road have been given the go-ahead by the government.

Transport for London will finally begin its multi-million pound scheme next year, which will create a dual carriageway between Pinkham Way/Bounds Green Road and Conaught Gardens, after 45 years of delays.

Junctions will also be widened at several points along the route.

The plans were approved last year by Enfield Council but were referred to Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, because of the scale of the scheme.

The area comprises a single carriageway of road between two dual carriageway sections of the A406 and is notorious for accidents.

Many of the residential side roads become jammed with industrial traffic, while the area is notorious for "rat-running" by parents on the school run.

Apart from traffic, air pollution and noise, the area also has a high death toll, with four people killed and nine people seriously injured on Bowes Road, Telford Road and Bounds Green Road between April 2006 and September 2007.

Ernie Chinnick, a campaigner who has tried for 45 years to get the road improved, said: "The road plan was started over 45 years ago and it has been like bashing your head against a brick wall.

"Since then it has been left to be neglected with a number of plans over the years dropped - like the flyover and motorway.

"Accidents are notorious, last year there were two motorcyclists killed and last week there were two accidents in the same day.

"When motorists come round the corner from Bowes Road to Telford Road, they are trying to get five lanes in two and all fighting to get in."

A spokesman for the council said that they had hoped more than one extra lane would be provided to cope with the traffic.

Cllr Terry Neville said: "I very much welcome this decision although we in Enfield continue to argue that this scheme is not the long-term answer to traffic problems in this area."

He added: "That said it is vital that something is done. I am sure that residents will heave a sigh of relief that finally something is at long last about to happen."

Details of the scheme, including those on the public consultation exercise, are available now at the Bowes Road Library.