Poor old Church Street…

If you are wondering why Church Street is being dug up yet again, causing untold traffic and transport problems, it isn’t to replace the Victorian waterpipes or the gas mains… this time it is all in the name of regeneration.

Church Street has long been seen as a focal point of Stokey, attracting locals and visitors alike to its shops, restaurants and pubs, and Hackney Council have decided to give it a multi-million pound facelift.

There will be new pavements from Albion Road to the High Street, the road will be resurfaced between Albion Road and Wilmer Place and the amount of street clutter such as signs and bollards will be reduced.

But it isn’t all about pedestrians and cars, the Council are planning to provide eleven bicycle parking stands and while we are lucky to have Clissold Park and Abney Park Cemetery on the doorstep, we will soon have eight new trees on Church Street.

Work started this week and is expected to go on until December making Church Street a one-way zone so if you are a regular on the 73, 476 or the 393 you will find your journey home will take a little longer for the next four months as traffic is being diverted along Green Lanes, Lordship Park and Manor Road.

I think we should lobby for cherry trees. What do you think?