§ Lady GammansI beg to present a Petition from the inhabitants of Highgate and the surrounding area in which they state that the proposal of the Minister of Transport for a one-way lorry route up Highgate Hill would gravely disrupt and disorganise ways of life in the district, and would, in fact, defeat the avowed intention and object of my right hon. Friend, which is to speed the progress of lorries from the docks to the North, owing to the inevitable congestion on the hill due to breakdowns.
About one hundred years ago, the Archway Road was cut to relieve the burden of heavy traffic on Highgate Hill, which, owing to its steep gradient, was unsuitable for it. There is a true story of a tram Which ran away from the top of the hill to the bottom, and one dreads to think what may happen if one of these heavy articulated lorries were to do the same thing. What was true one hundred years ago is surely more true today, with all the types of heavy lorries which are involved.
By diverting traffic to Archway Road, not only has Highgate been developed, as an exceptionally attractive place, with many beautiful and indeed historic buildings in it, but it has also drawn to itself, because of its unique character, many large hospitals and schools for both girls and boys, besides an unusually large number of old people's homes. 512 Casualties to old people and school children will thus be gravely affected if Highgate Hill were used for this one-way lorry traffic.
The Petition ends with the Prayer:
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will ensure that the scheme be abandoned, and that a permanent solution of the problem, namely, the widening of Archway Road, supported by Hornsey Borough Council and other authorities, be proceeded with forthwith.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.