The Anonymous Widower

How Not To Organise A Piss-Up In A Brewery

This afternoon, I wanted to get some lunch and buy my food for the weekend.

I live close to the junction of Southgate Road, Mildmay Park and the Balls Pond Road.

From the four bus stops there, I can get buses to the stopping centres of Angel, Dalston  Kingsland, Hackney Central and Moorgate.

But not today, as all the bus stops had been closed!

As my leg was playing up, there was no way, I could have walked to the next stop.

In the end I created a fuss and a kind driver let me on a 141 bus to get to Moorgate.

Coming back, I got another 141 bus, which got stuck in the traffic jam, that the part-closure of the junction was creating.

Note.

1. The 141 bus took five minutes to pass through the junction.
2. Luckily, the driver was sensible and he let a lot of us out.
3. As I live South of the Balls Pond Road, it was very convenient.

Obviously, the driver knew more about customer service, that the idiots who organised this megashambles.

I have a few thoughts.

Where Was The Publicity?

I use the 141 bus most days and I didn’t see anything at the bus stops and didn’t get any leaflets through the door.

The Traffic Lights At Southgate And Balls Pond Roads Are Unreliable

They were even worse, when I moved here and Transport for London replaced them a few years ago.

But they seem to have got more unreliable.

Where is John Cleese to give them a good thrashing?

The Silvertown Tunnel Effect

Consider.

• I asked a regular delivery driver, what is the gossip about the Silvertown Tunnel and he felt that it will gum up East London.
• This is my feeling, as before my stroke, I had driven all over the East End trying to save time and knew it well.
• I also feel, that a lot of heavy traffic will end up on the Balls Pond Road, trying to get to and from the M1 and A1, especially, when the Dartford Crossing is closed.

I am fairly certain, that at certain times the junction at Southgate Road, Mildmay Park and the Balls Pond Road is going to get very congested.

The Non-Availability Of Taxis

One of the reasons, I chose to live where I do, is that I am just off the route which taxis use to go back to Liverpool Street station.

But the number of taxis in the area has decreased substantially in the last few years.

• Islington’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are scaring taxis away.
• Many drivers are giving up.
• Taxis are expensive.

Consequently, I rarely use a taxi. I never saw one today, when it was needed.

The Junction Is Busy For Pedestrians

Crossing the junction is dangerous, as cyclists only consider the lights optional.

If I’d had a pound for every time, I’d nearly been hit by a cyclist or car on this junction, I could pay for a year’s electricity.

Mildmay Park Station

The area used to have its own station at Mildmay Park about 120 metres to the North of the junction.

This Google Map shows the site of the station.

Note.

1. The railway is the North London Line.
2. Highbury & Islington station is to the West.
3. Dalston Kingsland station is to the East.

Mildmay Park station is marked by the blue arrow on the bridge over the railway.

It would be a very handy Coming-Home station, as its downhill all the way, from the station to my house.

Conclusion

Reopening Mildmay Park station would be good for the price of my house, by I doubt that anything will be done.

 

 

 

 

 

February 16, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Balls Pond Road, Buses, Liverpool Street Station, London Bus 141, Mildmay Park Station, Moorgate, Silvertown Tunnel, Taxis, Transport for London