Locals hold differing views on the finished overhaul of Hackney Central after new walkways and floral displays were added throughout the district.

The Amhurst Road and Pembury Circus improvement scheme commenced on 17 February 2025 and required a minimum of 18 months to finish.

The scheme formed part of the council’s strategy for a more environmentally friendly, secure and wholesome Hackney Central. The initiative, financed by national government, established a fresh linear park along Amhurst Road featuring areas for leisure, recreation and community interaction, alongside a full restructuring of the Pembury Circus junction to enhance safety for all travellers.

However, the revamped Hackney Central has attracted contrasting opinions as inhabitants shared their thoughts on whether the expenditure represented good value.

Julie Yardley, a 65-year-old retiree, expressed strong disapproval, questioning the allocation of funds toward additional flowers that would inevitably suffer damage and require council replacement. She highlighted that numerous residents face financial hardship in Hackney yet substantial sums had been directed toward roads. While acknowledging the space appeared more open and pristine, she raised concerns about whether regular cleaning would be maintained and stated she remained unimpressed.

Meloni Kurcler, a 52-year-old nature conservation volunteer, offered a contrasting perspective. As someone who cycles regularly, she found the area considerably more pleasant to traverse than before. She praised the roundabout modifications, describing them as excellent, and noted that navigating the location had previously caused considerable stress for cyclists.

Gemma, 44, who works in the digital sector, confirmed she appreciated the changes as a regular cyclist, recalling that the stretch had frequently posed dangers with vehicles emerging rapidly. She observed significant improvements for those on foot while suggesting the section near the Picture House Cinema still presented difficulties for drivers. Overall, she regarded the changes as substantially better and more favourable for cyclists, emphasising the objective of enhancing air quality and decreasing motor vehicle use.

Cllr Sarah Young, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, explained that Hackney Central was evolving through £19 million in central government funding aimed at making streets more sustainable and secure while decreasing traffic volumes to encourage greater visitation to the town centre and boost independent businesses. She noted plans to modernise popular cultural venues including Hackney Library and Hackney Museum, as well as refurbishing Hackney Town Hall Square to create a more inviting and practical community space. She described the Amhurst Road and Pembury Circus transformation as a rare opportunity to develop a more habitable town centre, converting an area previously associated with some of the borough’s poorest air quality and three of its most hazardous junctions into a location suited to pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists. She added that the works had been informed by consultations with thousands of local residents spanning several years with the ambition of establishing Hackney Central among the finest town centres nationally.