Agenda item

To consider a resolution of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee.

The Committee considered a resolution of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee regarding Finsbury Circus – Closure of Highway to Vehicle Access. The resolution stated that given the section of highway between Finsbury Circus and Moorgate had been closed for over six years due to Crossrail, and in light of the delay to the opening of Crossrail until 2020 at the earliest, it was the view of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee that the section of highway should remain closed to vehicles once Crossrail had vacated Finsbury Circus, to provide some pedestrian amenity.

The Director of the Built Environment advised the Committee that officers were content to begin the legal processes  to action this, subject to the legal  requirements, and that the matter would be brought back to Committee.

The Chairman advised that similar representations to this had been made in the past, and that this represented a good opportunity to consider creating public realm. A Member added that the proposal should be adequately scrutinised and that a report should also be submitted to the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Transportation Committee note the resolution from the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee and agree that the matter should be taken forward, with reports on the proposal to be brought back to Committee.