Labour campaigners urge Barnet Council to support Stirling Corner campaign

12:50pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News By Anna Slater

The traffic lights currently operate from 3.30pm to 6.30pm The traffic lights currently operate from 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Campaigners are outraged that Barnet Council is refusing to support proposals for 24-hour traffic lights at Stirling Corner.

A statement from the Conservative-led London borough said it was “not pushing for any changes” at the roundabout, which links Barnet and Borehamwood.

But Labour councillors from Barnet have vowed to continue to back the new safety measures at the “dangerous” junction.

Councillor Anita Campbell (Labour, Barnet Underhill), said: “Are the council waiting for another disaster at the dangerous roundabout to make them change their minds?

“This is ridiculous. It is a dangerous racetrack and it is time for action to be taken.

“If they are going to stick to those views, I too will be standing my ground and I should hope that my fellow councillors do the same.”

Last week, London Labour Assembly Member Andrew Dismore launched a safety survey into the area, which was well received by campaigners in Hertsmere.

The traffic lights currently operate from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, but campaigners from Borehamwood believe round the clock lights would reduce help reduce accidents.

The area has seen countless car accidents over the past few years, including one fatality in February this year.

Leader of Barnet Labour group, Alison Moore, said: “It is outrageous that this situation has been allowed to drag on for so long.

“We have always said that this junction needs a change and I am glad we finally have an Assembly Member able and willing to assist in this”.

The group sent a letter to the leader of Barnet Council, Richard Cornelius, earlier this week in a bid to persuade him to look afresh at the problem and support Mr Dismore's campaign, and are awaiting a reply.

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Transport for London (TfL) told the Borehamwood Times last week it saw no “no need” to install round the clock traffic signals at the roundabout.

Barnet Council’s statement added: “Last year TfL carried out a trial suspension of these part-time traffic lights as part of a London-wide initiative to reduce the number of signals across their road network which did not particularly impact traffic on the Barnet controlled arm of the junction.

“Stirling corner is a major junction where changes in traffic movement would need careful consideration.

“The council would therefore expect any review to consider the impact on traffic flow as well as the safety of all road users.”

Comments(7)

Suzy-Sue says...
9:42pm Tue 2 Oct 12

If Five Ways Corner, Mill Hill Roundabout and Apex corner roundabout all have 24 hour traffic lights then that does blow TFL's argument out of the water regarding traffic flow being a top priority etc! IMHO it's safety first and traffic flow second! I have spoken to many people about Stirling Corner and even the local boy racers around me have agreed it needs traffic lights between 6am to 9pm (or even 24 hour traffic lights) .... putting more traffic lights in for longer periods of time isn't going to kill anyone, but by not doing anything ... sooner or later a person or family will get wiped out and i'm not having it on my conscience that i stood there and didn't take a stand on this matter!

Please get everyone to sign the survey below (freepost) (if the link doesn't work carefully check the link and delete any gaps between any characters):

http://www.andrewdis
more.org.uk/home/wp-
content/uploads/2012
/09/GLA-Stirling-Cor
ner-Survey-September
-2012.pdf

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Suzy-Sue says...
9:50pm Tue 2 Oct 12

I am also extremely disappointed (and even a little suspicious) that whilst we have started to have the Borehamwood Times delivered regularly to the Farriers Way estate over the last few months. That just when it was a fairly vital matter of local residents being made aware of this new survey about Stirling Corner and Andrew Dismore's interest in helping us, that lo and behold the paper wasn't delivered to many/any of us last week (apparently due to a 'distribution' problem!). So can we please ensure somehow that the Farriers Way estate and indeed any other areas that didn't get the paper delivered free last week are made aware of this survey and that the paper is delivered to everyone possible this week so that every resident knows about the survey! Also what about those not on the internet???? Can any local shops do a petition to send to Andrew Dismore? (if there are any volunteers please contact him first if you can, to see what wording etc is needed). Many thanks to everyone who has, is and will be participating in getting Stirling Corner made safer for every type of user!

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TFEB says...
9:41am Wed 3 Oct 12

The A1 is the major trunk route out of London and should not be held up by local traffic. There should be a flyover here to separate the trunk from the local.

However any competent driver should be able to cope with this roundabout. The rules of a roundabout really are quite simple and safe if understood and adhered to.

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wezils says...
12:36pm Wed 3 Oct 12

Dear TFEB yes you are right any decent driver should be able to cope. But what about cyclists and pedestrians I would consider myself to be a pretty quick cyclist but getting across with fast moving traffic coming from the right at one point and the left as you head for Barnet is pretty off putting. Ok the case for pedestrians is different they have a crossing from which it is difficult to judge where traffic is going, then on to the Barnet side and you are facing fast moving traffic coming from your left!! We don't need a flyover a simple footbridge would help a lot!!!!!

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mr.taxpayer says...
1:31pm Fri 5 Oct 12

I'm not sure if traffic lights helped or not because they caused a lot of traffic when they were on.
I do feel sorry for any cyclists and pedestrians that need to cross the A1 there though, it really is a case of run for your life and some sort of small bridge could be built if lights aren't an option.

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Neiltheboss says...
2:04pm Fri 5 Oct 12

The major problem here which has been an issue for years is the fact this junction forms the border between the London Borough of Barnet and the shire county of Herts - and therefore agreements on costs are never agreed upon - so other arguments come into play to excuse this. It's all about money

Something needs to be done. There are many many accidents on that roundabout that go unreported. Have you tried exiting from the service road by Morrisons onto the roundabout to travel towards Apex Corner or to Barnet. It's a death trap. We will soon be experiencing darker conditions and fog. Please act before there is a serious accident. And yes, mr taxpayer perhaps there was a lot of traffic queues when the lights were on, but what price does a life have to play??

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mr.taxpayer says...
6:58pm Sat 6 Oct 12

Neiltheboss wrote:
The major problem here which has been an issue for years is the fact this junction forms the border between the London Borough of Barnet and the shire county of Herts - and therefore agreements on costs are never agreed upon - so other arguments come into play to excuse this. It's all about money

Something needs to be done. There are many many accidents on that roundabout that go unreported. Have you tried exiting from the service road by Morrisons onto the roundabout to travel towards Apex Corner or to Barnet. It's a death trap. We will soon be experiencing darker conditions and fog. Please act before there is a serious accident. And yes, mr taxpayer perhaps there was a lot of traffic queues when the lights were on, but what price does a life have to play??
To be honest, I'd rather have to pull out quick,as compared to sitting in traffic for 10-15 minutes before getting to the roundabout. My commute already takes long enough!

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