Kings Cross Environment

Matt, writing for The Londonist last week asked of our local stations, “Is this the longest taxi rank in central London?”. He estimated it as almost a kilometre in length. The biggest transport hub the the country, soon to be the best connected city centre in the world needs a constant flow of taxis. But sited slap bang in the middle of a densely populated residential and business district this flow needs careful planning. Will the current congestion catastophe improve as the area is redeveloped?

Taxi 1 and taxis turn from Goodsway and the north side of Pancras Road into the southern end of Pancras Road. Taxi 2 the queue of taxis seems endless running from the junction with Goodsway and Camley Street to the main St Pancras entrance. Taxi 3 the same taxi queue seen from St Pancras into the far distance at Camley Street/Goodsway. Taxi 4 and taxis from the first bit of the queue quickly cross the pedestrian crossing to get to the middle bit of the queue running from St Pancras up to the Great Northern Hotel. Taxi 5 and taxis finally reach the pick up point opposite the bus stop at King's Cross St Pancras on Pancras Road.

This vast taxi rank sits on the proposed main pedestrian and cyclist route for people moving to and from Maiden Lane Estate, York Way, the Bemerton Estate, Caledonian Road, the Barnsbury Estate and all points north east of the stations. Maiden Lane residents have already been informed that taxis are to be given priority over pedestrians and cyclists. This is borne out by the inadequate pedestrian crossing provided at the Goodway/Camley St/Pancras Road junction. Not only is this crossing designed for motor traffic with pedestrians herded by barriers into being able to cross ot one point only (just watch those kids enjoying themselves jumping over the barriers into fast moving traffic), but the time given for pedestrians to cross is all too short – a problem with just about every crossing in and around the King's Cross/St Pancras hub.

And no, this isn't a short term issue that we need to put up with whilst redevelopment goes on. This is it. This is the plan. Not only that, but once Argent's high rise office blocks in Zones A and B of King's Cross Central get the go ahead the journey for cyclists and pedestrians to their local stations will be rather like running the gauntlet past vast numbers of vehicles emitting toxic fumes into a massive cavern. And then there's Camley Street Natural Park right there on the junction. Thank heaven, at least it can help remove some of the fumes from the surrounding area, but then again it's got its work cut out hasn't it… 

Part of the problem here is the lack of a strategic overview. That the King's Cross St Pancras transport hub sits on a borough boundary means that planners only need gently nod towards the fact that large residential and business communities exist on the other side of the tracks, they don't actually have to do anything about it. And the Government is happy to let this mess continue, as Lord Adonis minister responsible for rail has informed the King's Cross Access campaign.

Adding to this, the boroughs are employing a number of consultants to work on these issues for them – Colin Buchanan being a key case in point. Buchanan's has enabled LB Camden to go ahead to the removal by Network Rail of the last vestiges of an east/west walking and cycling route across the rear of KIng's Cross Station by approving a dodgy feasibility study for the borough. At the same time Buchanan's have been employed by LB Islington to draft up a movement and open spaces strategy for King's Cross to go out to public consultation later this year. At a community event last month Buchanan's initial plans for our area were howled down unanimously by participants as woefully inadequate.

Yet, Living Streets – the national charity that stands up for pedestrians – produced a very thorough audit of walking routes surrounding King's Cross for Transport for London last year. The report has never been released, we only managed to get hold of it by putting in a Freedom of Information Act request. To date, none of the bodies involved in planning our streetscape (and the list is long) has commited to taking any of Living Streets recommendations on board. Living Streets has an active group in Islington and is hoping to restart its Camden group. If you would like to get involved, contact Living Streets.

And how does that other great means of moving people fare? Take a look at this photo of the Copenhagen Street bus stop at the other end of Goodsway. This bus stop serves people from the south end of the Bemerton Estate, York Way Court, Treaty Street Estate, York Way and visitors to King's Place. Looks good doesn't it? You wouldn't mind your kids getting the bus there would you? Especially as there is no safe place to cross the road nearby. Again, it's a bus stop serving people from one borough yet the planning authority responsible for it is a different borough. And the property developer responsible for the extra narrow pavement is the silver tongued Argent who really need to be judged by what they do rather than the silken promises they have made through the years.

So. The taxi is king. Pedestrians, cyclists, bus users, residents, the environment and urban wildlife are just not a priority in the King's Cross St Pancras transport hub. If this gets your blood boiling write to your local councillor, your MP, Transport for London, Network Rail, Argent and Lord Adonis at the Department for Transport and let them all know what you think.