We Asked, You Said, We Did

We asked

We wrote to you in July 2017 to let you know about an opportunity you have to benefit from Transport for London (TfL) funding to improve Forest Walk. With TfL’s “Healthy Streets” funding, we are investing in local improvements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier environment. We know that residents are keen to improve safety and accessibility along Forest Walk, particularly for school children and people walking and cycling, and any proposals will seek to deliver this.

We asked you to tell us how you feel about where you live, especially regarding your travel choices along Forest Walk.

You said

We received over 60 responses to the questionnaire carried out between June and July 2017, which was complemented by door-to-door knocking and meetings with local councillors, Hollickwood School, Muswell Hill Gold Club and Barnet Cyclists.

We found that:

· The majority of respondents use Forest Walk every day (55%) or weekly (31%).

· The majority of people think that improvements to Forest Walk will make access to local schools easier (53% a lot; 31% somewhat).

· The majority of respondents would like to see a new smooth path, making it easier for people to walk and cycle (63% a lot; 22% somewhat).

· The majority of people would like to see new gates with 1.5m gaps, making it easier for people to walk and cycle (60% a lot; 16% somewhat).

· The majority of respondents would like to see lighting installed to increase safety, without disturbing residents and wildlife (60% a lot; 13% somewhat)

The majority of people support measures to improve Forest Walk, provided final designs are sensitive to the rural character of the path.

We did

As a result of the feedback received, we are now developing proposals for Forest Walk which build on the comments you made in the survey. Throughout this process we are working closely with local stakeholders including the emergency services, schools and local councillors to assess the various options and develop proposals which meet the needs of the community.

The final proposal will aim to connect residents to the London-wide cycle network of Quietways. These are quiet routes which follow back streets, parks and waterways that will safely connect you to shops, stations, workplaces and other destinations, and any improvements made will also improve conditions for walking.

You will be invited to comment on proposals for Forest Walk in autumn this year as part of the public consultation for the entire Hornsey to North Finchley Quietway route.

For further information on the design options being considered and to read the full findings of the questionnaire, please download the report from the Document Library