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PRESSURE is mounting against British Waterways over construction of its ramp on the Regents Canal, featured in narrowboatworld, and its 'lack of accountability'
 Work has already been halted as correct permission was not obtained, but now residents of Danbury Street in Islington are concerned that the ramp could force mothers with buggies and disabled people into the path of speeding cyclists that use the towpath. (Photographs above of the site and below of the closed street by Del Brenner.)
The residents are 'appalled' that the scheme to build a ramp onto the towpath is being carried out without consultation or consideration.
 Work has been stopped as BW failed to get a party wall agreement with an owner, before starting the work, which caused more upset as Danbury Street was closed to traffic, causing massive hold-ups.
A further upset to local residents was the felling of two mature trees, for which Islington gave permission, believing there had been proper consultation—but there had not been any consultation.
Commuting cyclists
As readers of narrowboatworld readers will be well aware, though the Regents Canal towpath is a sanctuary from the bustle of the world above, is has become hazardous for pedestrians because of the increasing number of commuting cyclists.
But once again cyclists are being catered for at the expense of other users, as the new ramp will provide cyclists with access to the towpath while pedestrians will have new stone steps. However, mothers with buggies and people in wheelchairs who are unable to use the steps, will still have to share the ramp with cyclists, many of whom have been shown to be most inconsiderate.
Cheaper and simpler solution
Local Councillor Martin Klute believes a cheaper and far simpler solution would have been to provide wide 'kissing' gates at the entrance to the towpath, which would force cyclists to dismount and give easy access to buggies and people in wheelchairs, adding:
"British Waterways are meant to serve the public but they are doing pretty much what they like, and just not bothering to consult. If they had only bothered to ask the residents they could probably have got a much better scheme."
No consultation
The councillor told us that he contacted BW to ask why local councillors had not been consulted about the scheme, but the project manager admitted that consultation with the local council was not done in this instance.
Himself a cyclist, Councillor Klute, is urging the use of a parallel route for cyclists which has been identified heading east, running along roads close to the canal, many of which are closed to vehicle traffic, believing it would be more appropriate for cyclists in a hurry or commuting.
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