Cycling campaigners this week welcomed the completed revamp of Archway square, but said transport chiefs should have gone much further in making it cycle-friendly.

The £12.6million transformation of the square adjacent to Archway tube station, which has seen new benches installed and trees planted, was completed last week after 18 months of work.

It involved removal of the hated gyratory system at Archway roundabout and introduced improved pedestrian crossings and cycle routes. The new square is closed to car traffic.

London Cycling Campaign trustee Tom Harrison said: “It’s obviously much better than it was but it still has some significant shortcomings.

“Between the station and the [Whittington] hospital is not connected for safe cycling. What’s needed is segregated and protected tracks.

“It’s a missed opportunity to do more. I would have liked them to have planned it in conjunction with other schemes. They should aim to have a cycle superhighway all the way down Holloway Road.”

Islington Council transport chief Councillor Claudia Webbe said: “The transformation of Archway was a historic and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn a traffic-dominated area into a better, more connected and pleasant environment for people.”

• Keywords
  ROAD PLANNING, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, CYCLING
• Geographical keyword
  ARCHWAY
• Persons keyword
  Claudia Webbe, London Cycling Campaign