Leaflet watch: Conservatives’ ‘absurd’ Seven Sisters Road one-way claim
Dodgy maths?: The offending Conservative Party leaflet stating that Seven Sisters Road is being narrowed to just one lane. The plan is actually to narrow the road from six carriageways to four – and Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson appears to have sign-off
Conservatives in north Hackney have been ridiculed for playing fast and loose with the truth over claims Labour-run Hackney Council wants to narrow Seven Sisters Road down to just one lane.
In fact Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson signs off planning decisions concerning Seven Sisters Road. Oh, and the plan is for the road to be narrowed to four lanes, not one.
Under the heading ‘Save Seven Sisters Road’ a Conservative Party leaflet delivered to voters in Woodberry Down ward states: “Labour want to narrow it down to one lane, causing more congestion, pollution and creating more health risks.”
But Jon Burke, who is standing as a Labour candidate in the newly created ward, called the Conservatives’ claim “absurd”, saying it suggested Seven Sisters Road – currently a six lane dual carriageway – was being turned into a single lane one-way street.
Ready for my close-up: the offending section of the leaflet
No evidence
Mr Burke said: “The Tories can provide no evidence whatsoever for this. Under no definition could you stretch the statement on this leaflet to describe the change that is being made.”
He sent the Hackney Citizen a copy of a planning application made by Berkley Homes on 15 January, which he said had been approved by Boris Johnson last week, adding: “It states clearly that the plan is to reduce the six lane carriageway by two lanes to four lanes. What they’re claiming simply has no basis in fact.”
Seven Sisters Road is a ‘red route’, meaning Hackney Council has no authority over it.
But a senior Conservative local politician stood by the seemingly dodgy leaflet, insisting that it referred to a narrowing of Seven Sisters Road to one lane in either direction.
Conservative London Assembly Member Andrew Boff called the scheme “harebrained’ and said: “Labour-run Hackney Council wants to narrow Seven Sisters Road so that there is one lane for cars and one lane for buses each way.
“Residents of the Woodberry Down area have told us they don’t want this as it will cause congestion, noise and pollution and be more dangerous for cyclists.
“I have been working with Hackney Conservatives to represent the people of Woodberry Down on this and I can assure you that this harebrained scheme has not been approved by the Mayor of London.
“If you elect Efrayim Goldstein and Chaya Odze as your Woodberry Down councillors next week, I will fight alongside them to ensure this doesn’t happen.”
The local elections take place on 22 May.
Choose who runs Hackney: vote on 22 May. Image: Hackney Citizen
Over the coming days the Hackney Citizen will be holding politicians from all parties to account by examining the accuracy of claims they make in their election literature.
If you receive a leaflet you would like to have fact-checked, please email a scan of it to office@hackneycitizen.co.uk
Related:
This is the same burk that tweeted. “I hope your fellow candidates are aware of election expenses rules. At least one appears to attempting to secure paid help.” when there is no restriction in electoral law preventing the distribution of election leaflets by paid people as opposed to paying for campaigning. It’s about time he got his facts straight. Three lanes each way including a 24/7 bus lane means two lanes each way for other vehicles, take away one lane each way means one lane each way for other vehicles, result CHAOS. At least that’s the maths I was taught in school. If this is the type of illiterate candidate Labour puts up no wonder the borough’s finances are in such a mess. Shades of Gordon Brown.
Mr Burke should acquaint himself with the facts. The Mayor is content that Hackney determine the application subject to TfL’s reservations about the scheme because of the narrowing.
Labour scam.
Dear Mr Odze (father of one of the candidates and local Tory Party Chair, I believe?), the claim on the Conservative Party leaflet clearly states “Seven Sisters Road…Labour want to narrow it down to one lane”. There is no basis in fact for this; whatever maths you apply.
What the leaflet clearly demonstrates is the fear-mongering and misinformation that Tory candidates will stoop to in Hackney.
As for the subject of my tweet; I’ve kept a screenshot of the offending item, so its legality will be a matter for the Electoral Commission to decide.
I also suspect you mean ‘innumerate’?
Andrew Boff – I’d like to see that in writing. The planning application was made by Berkley Homes and Fletcher Priest Architects (not LB Hackney) to the Mayor of London (not LB Hackney) and concerns a ‘Red Route’ operated by TfL (not LB Hackney).
This is like the thief who stole £5000 who claims the allegations against him are false because he only stole £2000.
The road currently has three lanes in each direction one of which is a bus lane by reducing the road to 2 lanes in each direction with one a bus lane, then yes, the road WILL end up being one lane in each direction for cars.
Why is that an absurd claim?
The fact of the matter is that Hackney wants to narrow a road that is already congested by one lane in each direction. The result of which will cause further congestion and increase pollution and cost drivers £1000’s every day in delays and fuel costs.