Question 1. What do think is good about the area?
Think this is a good multi cultural spot... like the mix. There are a few good shops... generally a good mix catering to the diverse economic mix.. alderman’s hill and the park are more aesthetically pleasing than high st.
Question 2. What do you think is less good about the area?
Green Lanes Palmers Green unfortunately gives the impression of being very ugly and downmarket when driving through. £1 shops with goods on the street etc.. some ugly buildings and shop fronts.
Question 3. What would you like to see to improve the area?
Can anything be done to smarten shop fronts, preserve good/old buildings, make more of a feature of them... where pavement is wide can priority be given to good quality coffee shops to rent them so we can see some cafe culture on the street (thinking about where Oxfam is). Retailers should have some guidelines to how to keep their shop fronts looking clean/attractive (less clutter and noise in the windows). Alderman’s Hill looks pretty good now..
Broomfield park needs a cafe... ideally with outside seating, and with a vista.... pull down the house if necessary... unless the restoration project is privatised there will never be funding to do it up. I wonder what happened to the last proposal for flats/community space/cafe? The park looks okay, the restored wall looks great... more of that please.
Shopping area needs to be made attractive. Keep the more wealthy spenders here rather than making their shopping trips to Muswell Hill etc
Question 4a. Specific aspects – traffic
Half the reason the traffic is bad is people cruising up and down looking for a cheaper road parking spot. Parking issues will help alleviate the traffic flow. Should probably take out the two parking spots outside Waitrose too to help with traffic flow.
Question 4b. Specific aspects – parking
parking is very limited... the car park behind McDonald’s is prohibitively expensive... can something not be done about this? Reduce the cost of this parking and/or car parking refunds from your shop spend (eg Starbucks – coffee shops – if people come for a leisurely coffee they are more likely to think about doing their shopping here).
Question 4c. Specific aspects – clutter
- if any new railings/posts are being put in, keep in period (Edwardian).
Question 4d. Specific aspects – look of the shops/architecture
There are some lovely buildings... please can we ensure that they are preserves (and conserved), make them features.... where possible get rid of ugly newer ones.. The houses on left past shops heading towards intersection with Hedge lane need some uniform policy on what can/can’t be done to them. Make business signs more attractive. Limit the parking on the drives, perhaps have policy to create screening from road (hedges) so the impression is of greenery and attractive period properties, instead of lots of badly parked cars/double glazed windows and business signs...
Question 4e. Specific aspacts – type and range of shops
- Shops introducing loyalty cards/doing better marketing eg health food shop near triangle.. good idea
Question 4f. Specific aspects – amount and use of pavement space
Cafe culture... that great wide pavement area near Oxfam. Prioritise shops on this section for rental to coffee shops with permission to use part of this pavement area for tables/chairs... it’s what helps make an area look attractive and inviting.
Question 4g. Specific aspects – the Triangle public space
Terrible shame that tree had to come down. Can’t another be planted instead (don’t like the strange structure that’s been put in)? Plenty of well thought out planting using lots of ever-green.
Question 4h. Specific aspects – Greenery
Triangle needs beautiful tree (even if it takes a few years to mature one could be put in that will be green for the summer.
The corner next to Natwest bank and that stretch of shops look very dark/uninviting... some foliage/flowers/even lighting might help.
Morrisons front entrance is an eye sore... better planting... perhaps outside Morrisons cafe?
