Kings Cross Local Environment

KX kids & the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

This September, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) launched into its fourth consecutive year of King’s Cross Strings Club.  The weekly club with primary and secondary schools runs in four different schools local to the OAE office at Kings Place.  As well as the string club OAE works with six local primary schools and offers a programme that delivers teacher training, two OAE education concerts at Kings Place, workshops with OAE players and a visit to the Guardian Education Centre to create a newspaper page following a press conference with an OAE player.  

Introducing local children to Kings Place as an arts centre is a vital part of the OAE's Education remit.  The OAE Education programme stretches well beyond London but this flagship model of creating links within the KX community was developed locally and it is something we are now rolling out across areas in the UK with our most ambitious programme yet: Anthem for a Child.  

For more details visit our website  The OAE appears on the KX community map.

Plea for help with the trees

You may remember that local resident John Ashwell spearheaded two massive fundraising rounds a few years ago to pay for planting the vast majority of trees we now see in the north east quarter of King's Cross (from Euston/Pentonville Road right up to the canal). He needs our help again, this time to replace two damaged trees, so please be ready to put in your pennies!

Each individual tree we have in our area performs a vital role, not just in making the area look better. Believe it or not, the trees encourage drivers to slow down as they signal that this is a residental area; they help soak up nasty particulates that spew fromn the exhausts of heavy traffic; and they are important perching and feeding places for urban wildlife as part of the King's Cross green corridor.

John raised a considerable amount last time round which he persuaded LB Islington to match. He arranged for Islington council to maintain the trees and has kept a tree watch going to make sure damaged trees are replaced as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Islington council has no funding available for replacement trees in our area this winter. Two trees have been blown over outside Lighterman House - one last year, and one last week - they were both Sorbus, which have not been a successful species for Wharfdale Road - most of the original ones planted have since been replaced with Prunus Avium Plena (the double white flowering ornamental cherry). 

To replace the two trees with Prunus Avium Plena to tie in with the rest, and have guards installed, plus a 3 year watering contract for the trees, will cost £350 + VAT per tree.  So to replace two trees, we need to raise £840 from the local community. 

Can you help? 

Please, please pledge your cash donation, no matter how small, to John at  [email protected].

If you can offer practical help to water the new trees during their first couple of year so as to avoid that substantial cost, again email John. 

If there are other tree locations within the Kings Cross area where people have noticed an empty tree pit, or a dead tree, which they would like to see replaced, please email John. 

'Bad Gyrations' - tell us your story to help sort out deadly Kings Cross streets

The roads that make up TfL's Kings Cross gyratory system are a disgrace.  The vast high speed roundabout of one way roads is proven to be deadly.  Plainly unfit for a decade or more,  condemnded in TfL's own report three years ago radical changes are needed to break up the gyratory into safe roads on a local scale. TfL's current plans are derisory - a bit of paint on the road.  The recent outpouring of support and raw emotion from people who suffer these roads after another tragic death has been moving and remarkable.  The BBC, The Guardian and Camden New Journal have given the issue strong coverage.  Cycling blogs in particular are dissecting the appalling design of TfL's junctions.  This convinces me that we can mount an effective campaign for change in the run up to Mayoral elections next May.

We want to build a campaign on people's stories of your experience in the roads around Kings Cross.  In the comments below please share your personal statement and testimony about the craziness of using these roads. Send me an email to [email protected] if you are feeling shy.

We shall take these comments and stories and build a bundle of evidence then a manifesto for change to take to each Mayoral Candidate and seek their endorsement for a fundamental reform and dismantling of the Kings Cross gyratory.  People's real experiences backed up by evidence speak most powerfully in a campaign.

So tell us how you feel when cycling, walking or driving here, what emotions do you go through, tell us if you have been injured or had a near miss. Tell us how your experience affected your subsequent behaviour. Tell us a bit about yourself are you old or young, male, female, resident, tourist, worker, commuter, cyclist pedestrian?  What routes did you take? Tell us what you think should change.  

If you can, please use your real name or an abbreviated version in comments - there's nothing to be afraid of.  The testimony of Bob Jones (or B Jones) is more credible than Billybob85.

We are also keen to receive statistical and policy evidence to build a campaign.  If you have come across anything that helps build an evidence case (like this superb post) please send it in,

If you are new to this website please bear in mind that we believe that any issue, no matter how controversial or emotional can be discussed in a curteous, polite way normally without getting into party politics.

Cyclists in the City

Excellent article about TfL's shortcomings on road safety in King's Cross from the safe cycling blogger this morning.

BBC London features Kings Cross road safety campaign

Resident Sophie Talbot braved the Kings Cross gyratory on her bike for a BBC London news piece today on London's deadly road junctions with some hair raising bike cam footage.  Tom Edwards the transport correspondent does a good job summing up the hazards at Kings Cross and Blackfriars with the customary BBC gravitas.  To pick up the campaign see our original post and subsequent work.

Almost unbeleivably a TfL official Garrett Emmerson, 'Chief Operating Officer of Streets' says to camera:

'for the nature of the type of work we are doing three years is a typical time'  

When you look at the tissue thin plans TfL has proposed it's almost inconceivable that these could have taken three years.  The clue to the most likely explanation is in the joint presentation of these plans with the Olympic Delivery Agency.  ie TfL has been given a kick up the backside by the Olympics who are keen to avoid pedestrian fatalities when large numbers descend on Kings Cross to get the Javelin to Stratford.  

So TfL sketched out the simplest, quickest, palliative method possible

Caledonian Road drugs dealer 'Blood' jailed and banned from Islington

This just in from the police:

A 33 year old man has been jailed for three years for eleven counts of supplying Class A drugs, namely Crack Cocaine and Heroin.

Keno Forbes, of York Road, Stevenage, Herts, SG1, was jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court on 13 October 2011 after pleading guilty to all charges. He was also given a ten-year ASBO to start from the time of sentence.

As part of the ASBO he is not allowed to enter any part of London Borough of Islington .

On 19 April 2011, officers from the Crime Squad in Islington Police Station launched Operation Amargosa, tackling the supply of class-A drugs in the Caledonian Road area. Forbes, who operated under the street-name “Blood”, was seen on a number of occasions supplying Class A drugs.

After a lengthy investigation, Forbes was arrested in Caledonian Road, N1 on 14 July 2011. He was initially charged with 14 offences, 12 offences of Supply of controlled Class A drugs and two offences of being concerned in the Supply of Class A drugs which was lessened to 11 charges of supplying Class A drugs.

A search of an address he was known to frequent in Rufford Street was carried out by officers who discovered a set of scales, a chopping board both of which had white powder of them. A razor blade, cling film and black plastic – all drugs supply paraphernalia.

Investigating officer, Police Constable Claire Millward, from the Crime Squad in Islington said: This was a protracted investigation to tackle illegal drugs supply in the borough. Forbes came into Islington solely to sell drugs. His sentence and subsequent ASBO means that he will no longer be able to saturate the streets with his illegal drugs or indeed make a profit from his criminal activities.

Police Constable Rowena Dark from Caledonian Safer Neighbourhoods team who applied for the anti social behaviour order said: “Forbes was seen on a daily basis around the Bemerton Estate and surrounding streets dealing class A drugs even though he lives in Hertfordshire. I applied for a ten-year ASBO to ensure that he was banned from Caledonian ward and Islington borough as a whole.  I’m pleased that the judge saw fit to grant this ASBO.

Kings Cross dangerous roads - letter to police investigating fatality

The police road traffic unit based in Wembley are investigating the fatal accident at the junction of York Way and the Euston Road that I wrote about on Friday.  In yesterday's update I said I would find and write to the police investigating the fatality.  Thank you for this morning's wave of offers of help.  Here is the text of my letter, sent today which draws out issues around TfL's duty of care when designing junctions and acting upon reports of danger.

 

Colin Ponsford
Traffic Management Officer
Alperton Traffic Garage
Athlon Road
Wembley HA0 1EW

Dear Colin

Min Joo Lee - cyclist killed 3 October 2011 road traffic accident Kings Cross – TfL duty of care in junction design and corporate manslaughter

Extracts from Transport for London's (TfL's) own documents below suggest that TfL has a prima facie duty of care in junction design.  TfL designed and control the junction where this death occurred as part of the Kings Cross gyratory.  The junction was condemned in the strongest possible terms in a report commissioned by TfL in 2008 (enclosed).    A factor likely to be relevant in the circumstances of this death was TfL's failure to make this junction safe as recommended in the report.  

TfL commissioned a report on the street environment in Kings Cross in 2008.  The report was carried out by TRL Limited and Living Streets.  Residents, including, then, me were involved in the process via a walkabout with the auditors.  I obtained the completed report (enclosed) using Freedom of Information Act request in late 2008. 

The report is brutally frank in its critique of the quality and safety of the road crossings including junction complex in which Min Joo Lee died, see: 

‘road markings are faded and the crossing space is no longer clear’ (p32)‘it is notable just how aggressive vehicles are at this point’ ‘auditors felt that casualties were inevitable...auditors felt that vehicle speeds should be reduced..the carriageway surface was uneven’ ‘the key crossing location at the southern end of York way should be redesigned’ (p100)The report called for ‘proper traffic calming measures’ and ‘enforcing/revising speed limits’ (pages 65-66)..reduce traffic speeds around the junction by installing traffic calming measures (p72)

In the three years since the report was written little action has been taken on the ground.  I understand that this is not the first fatality at that crossing in that period.  The enclosed TfL report is germane to assessing any liability TfL might have for negligence and I wish to ensure that it was available to you for your inquiries.

Anyone who uses these junctions will know how dangerous they are.  TfL should have acted swiftly when in receipt of a strongly worded expert report, but did not. 

Duty of care

TfL managers are clear that TfL has a duty of care to all its customers.  And in it’s cycling revolution plan that it has a duty of care towards cyclists and road users in general.  In describing its ‘Cycling Revolution’ strategy Tfl says that the strategy will:

‘create streets and spaces where everyone respects each other's right to use the road, where they stick to the rules of the road, and where everyone recognises their duty of care to other road users’ http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/transport/cycling-revolution

This unites junction design and TfL’s duty of care.

The Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said in his introduction to the TfL Board Health Safety and Environment Report 2010-2011:‘With record numbers of people using our services, their health and safety remains our priority...We are committed to delivering better, cleaner, greener and safer transport service’ 21 September 2011

The report goes on to say:

‘TfL remains responsible for collating and reporting on RTAs and instigating, where appropriate, action to improve road safety.’ ‘TfL is responsible for operating and improving  conditions for all users of the TLR. In 2010/11, TfL set up a road safety engineering programme with 120 schemes at locations on the TLRN with high collision levels’

The report also notes that TfL set themselves targets for reducing the number of pedal cyclist fatalities – Note - they have missed the target of a 50% reduction only achieving an 18% reduction.

This establishes a prima facie case that TfL has a duty of care at the very least towards pedal cyclists using roads that TfL has itself designed and is responsible.  TfL is responsible for the road layout and design of the Kings Cross junctions including the spot where this fatal accident occurred.

Your investigation of Min Joo Lee’s death I assume will cover junction design and maintenance that brought a lorry and a cyclist so close together.  Despite three years passing, TfL has not implemented the recommendations of a damning report it commissioned.  The changes to the junction TfL belatedly suggests in its Kings Cross Junction Improvement plan are trivial and could have been implemented in a few months.  I suggest that TfL managers are grossly negligent in their duty of care and general approach to pedal cyclists using the Kings Cross junctions and should be investigated for corporate manslaughter. 

Residents have been campaigning to get this junction improved for some years.  I run with others a citizen-led local website that helps local people find a voice online and wrote an article on this recently.http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/10/kings-cross-cyclist-deaths-and-injuries-tfl-corporate-manslaughter.html

I am a strong supporter of the police in your work to make communities safer.  I was a founder member of the Safer Neighbourhood Panel and use the website to support local police and community action – including hosting a web chat with a local Chief Inspector.  I do hope you can help us on this occasion.

I have written to the St Pancras Coroner and in the public interest will publish this letter on the Kings Cross Environment website. 

Yours

[signed]

WIlliam Perrin

UPDATE - 17 October

Colin Ponsonby has got back to me - he has passed the letter and report to  'Pc Ralph Luker who is the Central Traffic Management Officer dealing with this incident.'

Kings Cross Square public art - Network Rail and Camden agree to community 'fifth plinth' proposal

This website suggested a 'fifth plinth' for a rotating display of public art in the new Kings Cross Square.  the proposal attracted widespread support amongst commentors.  I was delighted to receive today an email from Hannah Staunton at Network Rail to say that NR and Camden have agreed to such a facility:

'Thank you for your email in response to the King’s Cross square consultation. We had over 150 responses to the consultation, and have explored each suggestion to see whether our architects and engineers should make changes to the design. We’re writing to you now, to give you some information about the point you raised, regarding a “fourth-plinth” style art-area in the square.

The design team had been looking for ways to accommodate public art in the square since the design process began. The consultation process demonstrated a desire for public art, and about 10% of the comments we received related to the topic, and consequently we undertook a review of the options available to us.

As with all aspects of this design, we have worked within unavoidable constraints. Most of the square will be just over a foot above the original London Underground ticket hall: a structure which would not be able to support the weight of a bronze or stone statue, which can weigh several tonnes. Ensuring safe and swift pedestrian flow make the placement difficult.

However, following the review, I’m delighted to let you know that a suitable area has been identified and designated as a public art exhibition area. Enhanced foundations will be laid under the paving in this area, away from the busiest pedestrian flows. Network Rail and the London Borough of Camden have informally agreed to work together in the future to identify suitable privately-funded public art that may be exhibited here, along the lines of the “fourth plinth” as you suggested.'

I don't know if i missed this in the Network Rail document Kings Cross Square: results of public consultation now on their website. One of the reasons i set this site up was to help keep track of the myriad of documents produced by local engagement processes (extract):

Public art on the square

There was a strong desire to have some public art included in the design for the square. This issue was raised in 10 comments, representing 10% of the total.The design team has been looking for ways to accommodate public art in the square since the design process began. As with all aspects of this design, we have worked within unavoidable constraints. Most of the square will be just over a foot above the original London Underground ticket hall: a structure which would not be able to support the weight of a bronze or stone statue, which can weigh several tonnes, and ensuring safe and swift pedestrian flow make the placement difficult.

However, after a review of the options a suitable area has been identified and designated as a public art exhibition area. Enhanced foundations will be laid under the paving in this area, away from the busiest pedestrian flows to support potential art installations. Network Rail and the London Borough of Camden have informally agreed to work together in the future to identify suitable privately‐funded public art that may be exhibited in this area.

Now we need candidates for the first occupant.....

Kings Cross dangerous roads - update

The huge support for my post suggesting TfL should answer corporate manslaughter charges was moving.  Our case is that TfL did not act promptly on a report it commissioned condeming the Kings Cross road junctions - the junctions are still overwhelmingly the same now as three years ago when the report was written.  TfL bureacrats have failed, someone is now dead.

We have used this website to help organise a number of campaigns over the years. My campaigning method is to share thinking as it emerges rather than plot secretly.  That way you get a stronger basis for action.  Whilst i understand that people want to protest, demonstrate etc that hasn't been my emphasis, my own interest is in the hard yards of getting the broken bureacracies held to account to change.  If someone does wish to organise a protest then this site would be happy to help co-ordinate.

Over the weekend I have begin piecing together how the systems work.  The death should be investigated by the Met's Road Death Investigation Unit.  Their report will go to the St Pancras Coroner Andrew Scott Ried in a hearing likely to be in May 2012.  

I spoke with the Coroners Officer who is the case officer. And have written to the Coroner enclosing a copy of the TfL-commissioned report, making the basic case.  I asked him to consider raising the issue of corporate manslaugher with the CPS by making a statment or writing following his inquest.  

I have left a voicemail with the police on the number they advertised asking for witnesses to say that i have new information.  I shall find the correct officer on Monday and write to the senior officer there enclosing a copy of the TfL-commissioned report.

Corporate Manslaughter is prosecuted by the CPS, with the head of the CPS making the decision.  There is avery good guide to prosecuting corporate manslaughter online When i have spoken to the police I shall also write to the Director of Public Prosecutions.  There's also a handy HSE guide.

TfL is a politically controlled body with the Mayor in ultimate charge.   The Mayor's Transport Commissioner is before the GLA for his regular question time in early November.  I need to find a GLA member to raise the issue with him.  By complete coincidence last week Jenny Jones AM challenged the Mayor to ride Kings Cross with her.  So i shall see if she will raise the wider issue in former questions (I have to say that riding around Kings Cross on an inspection tour is frankly lethal without a police escort).

I've also been looking at the excellent, if harrowing RoadPeace resources on road safety.

Questions on my mind:  

Who was consulted locally by TfL on their undelivered 'Kings Cross Junction Improvement Scheme'?   Did we all miss it?  Download Kings Cross junction improvement scheme  The Camden Cycling Campaign was consulted but who else saw this locally?  The changes proposed seem very poor, and fiddle at the margins.  If TfL propose something this trivial they could have implemented it within a few months of the initial report they commissioned that set out the dangers.  This TfL document makes a far stronger case for negligence by TfL mangers.  

The changes proposed to the York Way bottle neck seem to throw cyclists and vehicles even closer together.  Wide vehicles will sterilise the space for cyclists altogether.

Kings Cross is not the only deadly junction in London with a TfL report on it's danger to users - why has TfL not been prosecuted before?  

Why has the police Road Death Investigation Unit not in fact investigated TfL?

Why did Camden Council press ahead with S106 funded works on York Way that don't appear to synch with TfL's work?

Suggestions and views welcome in the comments.

Kings Cross Social Media Surgery - free, friendly help with your website, twitter, Facebook, email list etc

There's free help for you on Wednesday evening with any questions you might have about social media. There's a 'social media surgery' up at the Art Club TileYard Studios (map).  These are small friendly volunteer run events  with a focus on heping the local voluntary sector.  Well worth a visit if you are trying to support a local cause on the web somehow.