Cartoonist Marc Roberts beams his inquisitive aliens down to commentate on ‘a night of bone-crushing, planet-trashing, wrestling mayhem’. | December 2009 | New Internationalist

Cartoonist Marc Roberts beams his inquisitive aliens down to commentate on ‘a night of bone-crushing, planet-trashing, wrestling mayhem’. | December 2009 | New Internationalist

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Haringey Council - Leading by example?

Haringey Council has pledged to 'lead by example' in their Greenest Borough Strategy.
But are they?
Despite a promise to not use domestic flights for council business, 17,038 miles were travelled on flights within the UK in the past two years.

Improving Tottenham Hale

A response to Haringey Council Tottenham Hale gyratory proposals

From: Haringey Living Streets; Sustainable Haringey Network; Campaign for Better Transport London

Living Streets is the national charity which campaigns for better streets and public spaces for people on foot. The Sustainable Haringey Network is concerned with the need to reduce our carbon footprint and therefore campaigns for more opportunities for car free travel. The Campaign for Better Transport is the independent national body that seeks to put people and the environment first in transport decisions and to find sustainable transport solutions.

The proposal to eliminate the notorious one way system which turns a whole area of Tottenham into an island bounded by swirling traffic is very welcome. Also welcome is the proposal to enlarge the bus station at Tottenham Hale station so that it can be served by all the routes. The no-right turn from the High Road into Broad Lane is welcome as it deals with the potential problem of increasing the traffic in that road with its narrow section and tight corner. Wider pavements with opportunities for tree planting are also welcome. There are however some concerns:

· Most proposed pedestrian crossings are staggered. These cause considerable inconvenience to pedestrians. In most cases it would be possible to build them so that they are continuous from one side of the road to the other.

· There are no crossings for pedestrians over the High Road at the corner of Philip Lane.

· Although there are proposals to remove flower planters and some trees there is little concern paid to increasing the greening of the High Road apart from the possibility of some new trees. Planners need to do everything possible to increase to the maximum the amount of pavement area, greenery, social spaces/squares and facilities encouraging community usage (eg benches) along the route.

· No traffic calming measures appear to be proposed. This is particularly important in the High Road where there is an uninterrupted sweep from the Monument to Seven Sisters corner. The design should reflect the fact that alternatives to private car usage are certain to have an ever greater priority in the near future. This is not only due to the increasing recognition of the positive need for liveable urban environments, but also due to the overarching need to create a low/zero-carbon society as soon as humanly possible. For example we note that London Borough of Haringey's recently adopted carbon target is 40% reduction by 2020.

· It is not clear whether there are drop off points for cars within the Hale bus station nor where the entrance to the car park is to be.

· The elimination of the south-bound bus lane in the High Road would cause considerable delays to buses. If two lanes southbound are required for general traffic the right turn lane designated for traffic from the High Road to West Green Road could be used. A right turn prohibition at this point would inconvenience relatively few vehicles and these could be redirected around Monument Way and Broad Lane. At least this part of the High Road could then have a bus lane.

· Cycle lanes are not continuous and cyclists appear to have no priority over other traffic. There are particular problems with the cycle lane alongside the High Road. This appears to be set in the middle of the footpath creating conflicts with pedestrians. The cycle lane could instead be set near the kerb and a cycle crossing incorporated over West Green Road. Northbound the cycle lane appears to end at Town Hall Approach. It should continue up this road allowing cyclists to ride contrary to the one-way bus lane. Traffic lights should be set to allow cyclists to proceed without having to dismount.

If we want a modern urban environment that's fit for purpose in the near future, and value for money, we should be designing it to ensure the priorities are pedestrians, cycling and public transport.

PUBLIC MEETING: CLIMATE ACTION NOW!

Sustainable Haringey network

www.sustainableharingey.org.uk

HARINGEY AND ENFIELD

PUBLIC MEETING

Organised by the Sustainable Haringey network and the Campaign against Climate Change

CLIMATE ACTION NOW!

What can we do to stop climate change, and to make the transition to a fair and sustainable society?

Tuesday November 24th

8pm - Wood Green Library

High Road, N22 - Just south of Wood Green tube

Film: 'Countdown To Copenhagen' (newly made by Haringey documentary team, Reel News)

Speakers: including a windturbine factory worker from Vestas who was recently involved in occupying the plant to prevent its closure

+ Discussion

This public meeting has been organised jointly by the Sustainable Haringey network and the Campaign against Climate Change to mark the historic United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from December 7th -18th. The meeting will launch the local publicity for a national 'Climate Action Now' demonstration in Central London on December 5th, and the Haringey Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Fortnight of green events from Dec 5th-18th.

The Copenhagen conference is being described as the most important international event in the history of humanity. Thousands of delegates there will be discussing what needs to be done in the light of the threat of catastrophic climate change and the need to create a sustainable world for future generations. Hundreds of thousands will be protesting on Copenhagen’s streets. They will be demanding a global agreement to reduce fossil fuel emissions and to immediately start building a zero carbon economy. Whilst the politicians and lobbyists debate and prevaricate, what can we - the people around the world - do ourselves during that fortnight and beyond to step up the pressure for the urgent action needed?

As well as backing the national demonstration on Dec 5th (details below), from December 5th-18th the Sustainable Haringey network is promoting a Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Fortnight - two weeks of green events throughout Haringey. Sustainable Haringey are calling on all residents and local groups to organise green activities, meetings, leafleting, tree planting, protests, teach-ins, bike rides, film shows and skills-sharing etc. This will serve to raise the local profile of what is being discussed in Copenhagen, and stimulate debate about we can and must do locally to make a real difference ourselves.

" A fortnight of action will kick off on Dec 5th with a mass demonstration in Central London. We call on all residents to demand the right local and global policies and effective action now. All public institutions and private companies should cut their own carbon footprint over the coming year, and our society should adopt sustainable lifestyles and practices. Local residents can join with us in trying to develop community-led solutions and create a sustainable world for future generations." - SH spokeperson

Leafletting for the Climate Change Meeting

Members of Muswell Hill Sustainability Group have been leafleting for the past three weeks to publicise the meeting at Wood Green Library on the 24th of November.

Scientists for Global Responsibility Debate

CLIMATE EMERGENCY COPENHAGAN
London Public Forum
Saturday 7th November 12-6pm

South Camden Community School, Charrington Street NW1 1RG
(nearest tube Kings Cross)

This debate on the Climate Emergency and what we can be do to tackle it is open to everyone and free to attend.

This event sees a great variety of speakers including Aubrey Meyer (Global Commons Institute), Oliver Tickell (author Kyoto 2), Andrew Simms (new economics foundation), John Stewart (HACAN), Johann Hari (journalist), Jean Lambert MEP (Green Party), Damian Carrington (Head of Environment, the Guardian), Alexis Rowell (Camden Council), Chris Baugh (Public and Commercial Services Union) and Dr Stuart Parkinson (Scientists for Global Responsibility) as well as workshops with Biofuelwatch and the Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group.

– this is one of our last chance’s to get together before we hit the streets demonstrating in December.

Programme
11:45 Doors Open

12:15-13:15 Session 1 "10% Cuts by end 2010: the case for emergency action"

13:15-13:45 Break and Workshops including:
Introduction to campaigning against Agrofuels, hosted by Biofuelwatch and Food Not Fuel

13:45-14:45 Session 2 "Green Jobs Now - a million climate jobs by end 2010"

14:45-15:15 Break and Workshops including:
Discussion of the role of Trade Unionists in building the Climate movement before and after Copenhagen, hosted by Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group

15:15-16:15 Session 3 "Decarbonising our transport fast - the way ahead"

16:15-16:30 Break with music entertainment

16:30-17:30 Session 4 "Copenhagen - the deal we need and the deal we're likely to get"

17:30-17:45 Climate Emergency CALL TO ACTION