Perhaps you could recommend a Jewish w(h)ine? “I’m stuck on the North Circular!”
Anyone who has at least a passing familiarity with Jewish London will have done their time on the North Circ. It’s always there, thrumming in the background, like that drudgy bit through Edmonton and Enfield — a thoroughfare always on its way to somewhere else.
But last week the North Circular made headlines of its own.
The anti-pollution Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) was expanded up to the North Circular Road, meaning that middle-aged diesel cars and older petrol ones would be subject to a £12.50 charge. This will apparently affect 100,00 cars, 35,000 vans, and 3,000 lorries every day.
Views from the public were mixed: varying between those who were pleased at a long-needed move to improve air quality, to those felt the charge on their vehicles was unfair. “The community is divided on the subject,” said the London Jewish Forum. “The issue should be considered for its equalities’ impacts on communities who may have larger families and fewer transport options available.”
For Jews the news was particularly relevant because of the way the A406 bisects certain suburbs. It seems the charge will be especially problematic for those crossing from Hendon and Brent Cross (outside the zone) to Finchley and Golders Green (inside it). It’s a tricky one.
Earlier this week, I was sitting in the traffic at that annoying right turn at the Bounds Green Interchange. I started to think about the A406, a road on which I spend an inordinate amount of time — probably an average of three hours a week.
Luckily the ULEZ charge doesn’t affect me negatively in my hybrid Fiat 500. But the way the North Circ connects NE and North-by-North-West is particularly relevant to my situation. As far as I’m concerned, anything that leads to a drop in traffic will be positive.
For the past five years, life circumstances have meant I’ve been temporarily living with my father in Essex — but most of my friends are ‘Up North’. I’ve also regularly been making the journey from Chigwell to the Bounds Green health clinic, where I volunteer for the Covid vaccination programme.
When I move back to Muswell Hill in January (Baruch Hashem, Gods of Conveyancing), I’ll still be journeying back to see Dad, visit my botox doctor, and buy my clothes from the excellent Space boutique on the ‘Parade’. Hence, I will still have a passing acquaintance with the Crooked Billet, and the Palmers Green exit.
The A406 is a dirty old road. Research shows it has been steeped in environmental problems with noise and pollution since its completion in 1930. The 25.7 mile-long road: is that all? — took 20 years to build, and was originally expanded as a job creation scheme following the First World War. Uncertainty about development lead to urban decay and property blight.
In the 60s, there were plans to turn the North Circ into a motorway, but widespread protests led to cancellation of the plans in 1972.
Despite all this, 20 years ago, the A406 was rated at Britain’s Noisiest Road by the UK Noise Association, and in 2013, it was named in a BBC report as being the most polluted in London, with the highest surveyed levels of benzene and nitrogen dioxide.
So, yes, it’s a dirty old road, but it’s our dirty old road, with its highlights, despite its blackspots. The smooth hop-on at Charlie Brown’s, the gymnastics when switching between the A406 and the A1 at Henley’s Corner, waving goodbye to fellow drivers leaving for the A10.
If you really want to feel nostalgic for the N/ Eastern part of the road, I dare you to venture up to the Hanger Lane Gyratory System, on that single-laned hell towards Ealing. You’ll soon be begging to be allowed to return to the Clockhouse Junction.
Few would disagree that the North Circ is noisy, suffocating and teeth gnashingly-infuriating. I, for one, would never want to try to cross it. But, somehow, it feels like home. It’s the life-blood of Jewish London, and our artery needs to stay unclogged.
What would we do without it? Sit motionless on the M25?
