“Save our streets from rat-runners”- a campaign that has remained in continuity for several years.

Warwick road is one of the highest polluted zones in London. With families and even a Primary school settled on the road; the children have been viewed as prime victims to these high levels of toxicity.

During the November of 2016 WRAG, the Warwick Road Action Group began their inquest to plaster the road with banners and posters. Today, if you walk down the road you are bombarded with this neon-green glow. Adapted from posters on a window or door to a banner to stick in their front garden- these residents have clearly had enough.

‘Rat-runner’ is a term used to describe cars using the road as a shortcut- the extent of this is a consequence of the quaint road being bordered both sides by the highly functioning North-circular. Mark Hawkins-Dady, Coordinator of Warwick Road Action Group, states ‘The results are increased pollution and related health risks, noise, litter thrown out of car windows, stress for residents and dangers for local schoolchildren trying to cross the road.’ Although the community has made several attempts to contact the London Mayor Sadiq Khan, there are three separate authorities that govern the area: Transport for London, Enfield council and Haringey council- of which have proposed or stated the following: “Warwick Road is a borough road with the London Borough of Enfield as the highway authority; they ultimately are responsible for delivering the correct scheme for the area”

-Transport for London “We are continuing to gather data on traffic flow in the area. Once this data has been gathered and analysed, we will make a decision on the best way to proceed.”

-Enfield Council Spokesperson “Both Enfield and Haringey are implementing schemes that will encourage and facilitate walking and cycling and thus reduce car dependency. However, as you will appreciate achieving a significant modal shift in transport will require concentrated work from a number of partners over a number of years.”

-Senior Engineer, Haringey Council With the possible cooperation of these authorities and the community, for the residents of Warwick road, there is a hope for a cleaner future in the air.