Kings Cross Local Environment

Another one bites the dust on the KX gyratory

Just 20 minutes ago witnesses on the scene standing at the very end of York Way facing this collision in the middle of the orange box between Gray's Inn Rd, York Way and Pentonville Road, including a long-time resident from Argyle St said, "The silver car was coming from Euston Road going east. They didn't know what hit them, the guy is still in there, probably shocked. The police car came from nowhere going too fast, he didn't have a blue light on or nothing."

 Difficult to tell from the pictures, but whatever happened, it's yet another incident on the gyratory - a road system that needs to be scrapped right now. A hangover from the 70s that TfL won't let go. How many more incidents like this do we have face, witness or to come home to?

Calling all graphic designers!

The tube map is a world famous design icon, pleasing in itself yet incredibly easy to use. So, here's your mission graphic designers out there should you choose to accept: design an equally pleasing and easy to use map of King's Cross St Pancras tube station with its myriad entrances and exits and unsigned shortcuts.

Take one 3D map, combine with detailed information about entrances/exits and how best to board a train together with your own research into hidden shortcuts and produce an iconic and indispensable alternative map giving the shortest possible routes to the KX/StP tube nightmare! Here's an early attempt prior to the opening of the Northern Ticket Hall (perhaps overly ambitious, it attempts to cover all overland lines too), can you do better?

Your prize will be fame and sainthood conferred by the KX community and all KX StP tube users the world over... any takers out there???? Email us here.

They shoot pedestrians don't they?

King's Cross has a long standing and fast growing reputation for being possibly the worst pedestrian danger spot in the entire capital. At "over a kilometer including three escalators, five pelican crossings, two uncontrolled road crossings, two sets of steps", the Transport for London (TfL) recommended route from Thameslink platform A to the Victoria line joins a host of badly designed pedestrian routes at the UK's busiest transport interchange see Ian Buckland's excellent blog for more.

Residents, workers and those passing through are blighted by the strong desire to control where and when we walk held by Network Rail, TfL, and Argent King's Cross. With their heads firmly in the sand, these property developers insist on making us walk around, on herding us into sheep pens and on forcing us to walk passed their shops when all we want is to get from A to B in the shortest and most desirable route possible - that's why the routes we want to take are called 'desire lines' in planning jargon.

 But pedestrian, and for that matter cyclist, desire lines are just an annoyance to our property developers: 

• They refuse to bridge the tracks at the back of the station to reinstall the old Battlebridge Road/Wharfdale Road link; 
• They are making us wait forever to see promised improvements to York Way;
• They tantalise us with hints that the sheep pens at the notorious Gray's Inn Rd/Euston Rd/Pentonville Rd/York Way junction might one day be removed; 
• They force us to avoid the sheep pens on Pancras Road by crossing from Argyle St to King's Cross station by walking out into the middle of traffic on Euston Road;
• They seem to have forgotten we exist at all if we want to walk from Camley St, Goodsway or Midland Rd into the rear of St Pancras or King's Cross Stations; and 
• TfL have joined in the fun by closing off or not sign posting quick access routes to tube lines.

Commuters, workers and residents look on the wondrous crossing at Oxford Circus which for us it seems will always be a pipe dream.

 

KX Station zero hour

Unveiled just an hour ago by newly appointed Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond, Platform Zero is a key milestone in the transformation of our local station, but its impact may not be so positive for the local area unless Network Rail is persuaded to take the needs of the community into account. (Pictured left Ian Fry Network Rail's (NR) Project Director, Robin Gisby Director of Operations & Customer Services at NR, Transport Minister Philip Hammond and representatives of East Coast Mainline. Photo by Tobias Newland)

As the longest platform at KX Station, Platform Zero increases capacity preparing it for a future where rail is to be a crucial strand in sustainable transport policy. Alastair Metcalfe, responsible for community liaison at the Station praised the teamwork that went into preparing the platform for today's successful launch.

Also present were our local representatives Jennette Arnold - newly elected Deputy Chair of the Greater London Assembly - and Cllr Paul Convery responsible for regeneration, planning and leisure at Islington Council. Both have been highly supportive of community calls for a more accessible environment in and around the station.

Interestingly local groups including this website were not invited to the event, apparently because there would not have been enough room for us. Strange given that today is likely to be the emptiest the platform will be for a long time. Two community activists did manage to attend and congratulated Ian Fry personally on achieving what is a major step forward for our vital strategic transport hub. Ian hopes to unveil the first section of the refurbished station roof in August, fans of KX Station are particularly looking forward to seeing light stream through turning our rather dark station interior into a warm and welcoming place.

There was something missing this morning. I wonder what it could have been? I walked from Wharfdale Road to Platform Zero - a mere couple of metres away, yet I had to walk down what is now an uninterrupted brick wall running the entire length of the station along York Way, the boundary between Camden and Islington boroughs, and double back on myself to walk the entire length of the station again to get to the end of the platform. The loss of the York Way entrance to the rear eastern side of the station is a price worth paying to ensure the future best management of what has always been an overcrowded amenity. This would have been totally balanced by replacement of the old Battlebridge Road, the call for a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge at the back of the station is still being ignored by those with the power and funds to build it. The picture on the right shows where the bridge used to join York Way; a bridge whose feasibility has been proven time and again: a simple way of holding our community together, improving permeability across the station, encouraging use of local walking routes and completing a cycle route from the Angel to Marylebone completely avoiding the infamous A501 ring road.

An engineering project waiting to happen and a new London destination attraction - just think what this bridge could look like and how it could be a hugely positive addition to both the station and its local community.

 

 

Wharfdale Road not 20mph

The following was submitted by local resident Andrew Long regarding a current Council Consultation about speed limits in the area.

As this was of special interest to the folks who live along Wharfdale Road, I felt it would be worth posting it here.

Please add your comments below as I'm sure our Councillors will be interested in what local people have to say as compared to just "ticking" the boxes of the questionnaire.

Islington Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit in the west Islington area, which includes many of the streets around King's Cross.  They are seeking public feedback through a questionnaire recently distributed to residents as well as through an online survey (link below).  They have also deployed a team to travel door to door asking residents for their opinion.
 
It should be noted several roads are not included in the 20mph zone including Wharfdale Road and Caledonian Road as an aim of this proposal is to drive more traffic on to these roads which will result in an even more unpleasant roading system for cyclists, pedestrians and residents.  The questions posed by Islington in their questionnaire does not reflect this and does not give an option for the speed on all roads to be reduced.  This has been typical of recent Islington questionnaires with simple yes/no responses (see http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/2009/04/do-you-or-do-you-not-want-more-tall-buildings-in-the-borough.html)
 
Local resident John Ashwell has identified a number of options to making these busy roads safer - pinch points in the road to force the traffic to slow down, a proper hard edge to cycle lanes instead just painted areas that have all but worn away, and cameras to capture speeding drivers. 
 
If you would like a blanket 20mph zone throughout the area, please make note of this when you respond to the survey.
http://www.islington.gov.uk/Council/CouncilNews/Consultation/feedbackfinder2/consultations/2009/boroughwest_20mph2.asp
 
Best regards,
Andrew

Please comment below...

Islington consults on travel

LB Islington is currently consulting on a section of its core strategy called 'Direction of Travel'. You can read and comment on the strategy online until 3 August.

Rough Luxe Hotel

The Bulletin Board just had a report of a fablous new boutique hotel opening in King's Cross, just accross the Euston Road on Birkenhead Street, WC1H 8BA.

We don't have too many details, but going by their website it does look fantastic...(although out of my price range!). Check out their website for the details - Rough Luxe Hotel.