Barnet Council have agreed to invest nearly £100,000 to improve pedestrian safety around Martin School in East Finchley. A package of measures, including expanding the 20 mph zone to Leslie Road, Leopold Road, Creighton Avenue and parts of the High Road, as well as a raised table at the traffic light crossing outside the school were proposed.

At the Finchley and Golders Green Area Committee (3 Feb), councillors discussed the package of measures which were brought after a petition by local schoolchildren in the aftermath of a serious accident involving a parent and child in February last year. There were additionally two fatal accidents and another serious collision in East Finchley in 2019. In addition to considering the proposals for Martin School, the committee agreed to hear a petition signed by 117 residents to make the County Roads a part of the 20 mph zone, and have asked officers to prioritise the scheme for funding in the future. 

East Finchley Councillor Arjun Mittra, a member of the committee said:

“I am pleased that the Council has agreed a small package of measures after a considerable local campaign. The children who led it deserve real credit for all their hard work and persistence. We can call this solid progress, but it still isn’t enough. I’ve called for a blanket 20 mph zone across East Finchley, because accidents are happening all over the ward. The basic problem of speeding caused by our location is consistent across the ward. We are in between busy main roads and borough-wide 20mph zones. My colleagues and I will keep campaigning to make our roads safer, even if it takes years to progress bit by bit.”

Notes:

Cllr Arjun Mittra is an East Finchley Labour Councillor

A copy of the agenda and detailed proposals for the Martin School road safety campaign can be found here, under item 10: https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=712&MId=9959

For more information contact:

Cllr Arjun Mittra: 07790 240 807

To contact the Barnet Labour Group: 020 8359 2568