Forum topic: Putting a plaza in place

My understanding is that the current set-up is an trial and could change depending on feedback. The current installation is a joint venture between the wonderful Palmers Green Action Team, a local community group and the Council. My assumption would be that anyone can sit on the chairs without obligation to buy from the juxtaposed cafes - but you'll get a definitive answer from the Council directly (or via your local Ward councillors).

The Council taking something into consideration (sensibly) is very different to the claim made that the reason the Parklet didn't happen where intended was because the cafe "refused" to allow it. That is pure smokescreening as the bulk of the objection actually came from the anti LTN community, of which Ann is a leading voice, mainly it seemed due to who happened to live on the street....

1. It isn't an "official explanation" as it is not in any Council published document. It is just a personal reply to you.
2. You have then chosen to misinterpret it and misrepresent it for your gain, it appears.

The £35k spent on the Parklet was centrally funded too, was it not, not Enfield Council coffers? Another classic false argument that emanates from those that simply object to anything all the time.

Great. Thank you. PG Action team are absolute champions. Positive minded local heroes trying to make a real difference.

Thank you to PGAG who do a great job in bringing improvements to Palmers Green. I want to be clear though what the Council will or will not allow us residents to do in the democratic space:

1. Can non-customers sit on the Council-funded chairs and tables outside the cafes? Can we for example buy some treats from the other local cafes (they need support too) or kids might want a MacDonalds and use these chairs? It appears from the answers so far that we cannot. If we can then please put up notices inviting us to sit there.

If our only option is to sit on the play equipment then the space is sadly lacking and I would hope that the Council would address it urgently to avoid it being seen as a Council funded scheme to support two local cafes only, and not a democratic space as such.

Better Streets for Enfield and the Council herald this Devonshire Place/Plaza/Square as a ‘win’ for the Fox Lane LTN and the Council is pouring in money, first the rejected £35,000 parklet and now another £100,000 at least for this. If this is to be a success it needs to be a welcoming public space for all to sit and enjoy.

Why are you so negative about everything all the time? You were no doubt quite happy about the cancelled parklet when rallying your anti LTN troops to protest it's placement. And you don't seem to care that it isn't always LBE money being poured into these things.

You could just relax. Let the "plaza" trial happen. Go an enjoy a coffee there and not get in a flap about whether the seating is particularly designated. I've seen nothing to suggest it is anyway. Just like the parklet would have worked.

Why not ask the Council?

Who is responsible for it at the Council? It’s strange that our community groups haven’t been given an answer to this fairly basic question. The Council should be more transparent for £100k+ of public money. They were sadly very quick to tell me that funding is unlikely in the short term when I asked about putting a pedestrian refuge on Bourne Hill as now often unsafe to cross. Isnt that a shame.