Echo articles

Articles about Exploring EC1 and Clerkenwell Commons

The EC1 Echo has featured articles about several aspects of Exploring EC1. There's a couple below, and more on the Connections blog

More articles posted to the Connections blog

The idea of Clerkenwell Commons

"Two EC1 residents are enlisting people interested in developing the idea of a Clerkenwell Commons – an environment for conversation, collaboration, and action. David Wilcox and Mike Franks first developed the idea in the mid1970s, and almost 50 years on, their vision was revived by The Peel’s initiative called Connecting Clerkenwell. The first result of their renewed collaboration is a set of online maps and photos, based on Mike’s 1977 Historic Trail, which will develop into a framework for the Commons. Mike first met David in 1970 when he was an architect planner on the GLC Covent Garden team and David was planning correspondent for the Evening Standard". Read the article in full.

Mapping the past, present and future

"Help join Clerkenwell and Smithfield’s historical dots with local writer David Wilcox. A group of local residents has started a deeper “timeline” exploration into the past, present and future of the Smithfield and south Clerkenwell areas, following our story by Peter Bill.Market buildings will be turned into a venue for exhibitions and events, the Museum of London will move to the long-empty western end of the market, and a new Centre for Music (impression of the proposed centre, pictured) is planned on the former Museum site". Read the article in full.

In December 2021 the Echo is due to publish the article below.

From Ringways to Footways - a transport system for today

Article by David Wilcox for EC1 Echo December 2021

Fifty years ago the official solution to London’s transport problems was Ringways - four motorway circuits that would speed up journeys for some, but destroy thousands of homes along the way.

Those plans were dropped, after a Homes before Roads campaign by amenity societies, supported by the Evening Standard, where I was writing as planning correspondent.

Today the focus has shifted to cutting car use, and supporting cyclists. We have a growing network of Cycleways.

We now need one more step - to support walking. It is time for Footways.

London Living Streets has mapped a Footways network of quiet and enjoyable routes through our busy streets, with links to interesting places along the way.

The aim is to encourage more people to walk from station to office, home to shop, cafe, theatre, or museum. Liverpool street to Barbican is 15 minutes, Euston to British Museum is 20 minutes.

There’s a great paper map, with routes on one side, and places on the other.

The challenge now is to get those routes - and interesting places - on to the map and journey apps that we can use on our phones.

EC1 is going to be one of the first places to experiment with using technology to help people navigate, enjoy their walk, and also engage with people and places along the way.

For the past couple of years I’ve been experimenting, with my son Dan and friends, in using various online mapping tools in Clerkenwell and City ... Google Mymaps, Humap, Maphub, Esri Storymaps. Link below.

I got in touch with Emma Griffin, co-founder of Footways, after seeing on their web site a request for help in putting Footways online. After several calls and emails, and (of course) a walk through Clerkenwell with Emma and co-founder David Harrison, we agreed to collaborate on experimenting with what’s possible along two Footways routes - one from the Angel to St Paul’s and one through the City from Smithfield to Liverpool Street.

I also want to develop a route along the City of London’s Culture Mile from Holborn to Moorgate, exploring the past, present and future of. the area. The opening of Crossrail next year will make Farringdon the most accessible place in London, so shops, bars, venues and heritage sites could benefit from the additional footfall that Footway routes could bring.

Footways could also support the City’s “Square Smile” campaign to encourage people back into the Square Mile.

Footways isn’t just about mapping routes - it is also a campaign for improving the routes, for example reducing motor traffic and parking, developing wider, accessible pavements and greening.

David Harrison says: “Footways has a vision of a city where walking is not only the primary, but also the most attractive form of transport in UK towns and cities; the city is designed from a pedestrian perspective with all key destinations connected with low-traffic or car-free streets. We want to point people to intriguing routes and make them a focus for improvements”.

I think that developing Footways could be a great way to explore what sort of streets and public spaces we need for the future, and how we can achieve improvements together. Mike Franks’s idea for a C21 Coffee House of the Streets proposes that we both talk about the streets and public realm we want - and that we do that in many places, including our streets.

If you are interested, get in touch with me or Mike - links below - and we’ll organise a get-together in the New Year to start the conversation.

Website https://www.commons.london/ec1

Email david@socialreporter.com