Forum topic: PG Town Centre improvement plans - from the Triangle to Fox Lane and Broomfield Park

In this week’s Palmers Green Community Newsletter we are invited to share our ideas for the future of The Triangle.

Here’s my contribution:
• the designer(s) should see the space with an artist’s eye, combining function, buildings, surfaces and artefacts into a harmonious concept;
• the design should capitalize on the fact that the existing buildings are an asset;
• the design principles must reflect the needs of pedestrians rather than traffic;
• the brief for the design must recognise that footfall matters to local shops far more than parking space, and
• because footfall counts, the routes from home to the Triangle and the other key places in the town (high street, Aldermans Hill, schools) should encourage walking and cycling.


It follows that the highest speed around the town should be 20mph, and also that landlords and shop owners (who decide the shop fronts) will need to collaborate to maximise the visual appeal.

It was suggested to me earlier in the week that the platform changes at Finsbury Park to accommodate a new train route(s) will include one from Palmers Green to Brighton (and perhaps back again). If true, perhaps this affords an excellent opportunity for PG to “twin” with sunny, seaside Brighton. Days away to leave the killer air of London behind could only be good for the soul. Add that here are two centres with excellent Festivals with Brighton already showing us the way in local clock-pride – see photo attachment – and the links become ever more apparent. Clock to clock time could well be little more than an hour if this rumour proves to be true. All we then need to wonder about is the time differences between the respective centres.