Push for Traffic Improvements

21 Jul 2005

Diane Abbott said: “In May I met managing director for TfL, Peter Hendy, to alert him to the traffic chaos caused by bendy buses in Stoke Newington. After that meeting Mr Hendy promised that TfL officials would visit Stoke Newington to witness first hand the convoluted traffic in the area and to devise appropriate solutions for the future. Yesterday I finally had the chance to meet TfL officials including Peter Brown, Chief Operations Officer for TfL, and Patrick Troy, Head of Traffic Enforcement, in Stoke Newington and point out to them the transport problems that local residents are currently suffering.”

Abbott, who made Hackney transport central to her re-election campaign in 2005, said: “I have long realised that improving local transport is essential for the regeneration of East London. This includes making sure local businesses are able to thrive and this includes the ability to park within a reasonable distance in order to load and off-load vehicles. It is also essential that customers are able to park whilst doing their shopping”.

Abbott added: “I was not convinced that TfL officials really understood the everyday frustration felt by people in Hackney and Stoke Newington.  As a result I asked them to walk with me down Stoke Newington High Street and to speak directly to local restaurant and business owners about the problems they experience.”

Abbott continued: “The local business owners were very vocal and made clear that parking restrictions and traffic congestion is bad for business.  I think this brought the message home.”

Abbott concluded: “I was pleased that TfL officials kept their promise to visit Stoke Newington and see for themselves the havoc caused by recent transport policy. I hope this visit will lead to real improvements here in Hackney and Stoke Newington and that conditions for local residents and business owners will pick up.”



back ⇢