I love Christmas lights and festive displays and the annual tree on the triangle. but whilst it's a shame that luxuries such as festive lights etc. have had to be cut from the budget, considering the much more damaging cuts to essential services, I really don't think there is cause to complain. I'm surprised there even is a tree this year.
We all know Central Government is reining in public spending to address the deficit, and as we can plainly see, local services are paying the price. (I know from the recent experience of trying to secure state support for a sibling with learning difficulties, just how tight the funding situation is). Anyone working in the public sector with no pay rises for the last 8 years know all to well. From what I can tell, there is no more restructuring, no more inefficiencies, no more jobs to cut that can substitute the budget. Our local Councils have to support more people on less funding with less staff.
Knowing this does not stop me wanting Palmers Green to be a better place - a more attractive environment, which requires investment and engagement from us all - shopkeepers, locals, Councillors, contributors to this forum. This is where we live. Why shouldn't it be beautiful?
But the question is where does the funding for change come from? The Cycle Enfield scheme was so encouraging because the investment is from a separate pot. It's not a choice for Enfield between installing new street furniture v installing a disabled ramp into someone's home. There has been conversation on another thread about stricter Council guidelines for retail unit signage. This is a fantastic idea, easy to put in place and has virtually no uplift in cost to the Council. A review of the refuse collection plan would be welcome - bags left on the street are ripe for tearing and the litter in the area is abundant. Some areas have Town Centre managers to drive the retail centres, I don't know if Enfield has these or whether Palmers Green would qualify, but a cohesive plan might work wonders. There are also Business Improvement Districts that can be set up by local businesses and retailers who contribute a small amount annually and decide how to spend those funds to improve the area to the benefit of their businesses (normally by enhancing the streetscape to attract more customers/clients). It becomes a self generating cycle. Once upon a time you would lock the car doors before you drove through Crouch End! so change is possible.
I agree the retailers need to take more responsibility for the visual appeal of their store fronts and general cleanliness. But also to note are the responsibilities of the freeholders of the buildings along the high street. The retailers will typically just be tenants and responsible for the ground floor retail units, not the building as a whole. Most of the buildings on the High Street and Aldermans Hill are attractive, but have been neglected. They need cleaning and repairing. But a freeholder is only going to do that if if will increase the rent they will receive as a result - either from the shops or the flats above - or if there is a tax break encouraging them to do the work. The Fox have clearly cottoned on to needing a face lift and to invest - and will use some of the profit from a residential planning permission to fund the investment. Im guessing the Council can little afford a reduction in business rates right now (or even have the discretion to set up a scheme that would allow facade improvements to key buildings to be offset against rates).
I agree with another commenter on this thread that we need to be petitioning the right people - the Enfield Councillor's details are easy enough to obtain. I've sent emails to the local ward Councillor's.
Looping back to the original point - yes, its a shame there is no star and no lights, but if we used less energy bashing the Council and thinking of positive ideas and ways to contribute, we may get results. they cant pay for what they can't afford. And if I don't have lights on my high street in exchange for a vulnerable person being supported this Christmas, fair trade.
The heart of Palmers Green was looking a bit less sad yesterday (until the rain started, at any rate). This year's Christmas Tree now adorns the these days Treeless Triangle and at 4.30 sharp (actually, a little bit early I thought) its lights were duly switched on.
