Forum topic: Clock in the Triangle time still not corrected, Town Centre turning into a Ghost Town

I was wondering when will Costas Georgiou famous clock in the triangle ever be corrected to the right time as it has been this way for many years now, it would be nice to see a sign of care for the area since its appearance has declined over the years.

It saddens me to see how much Palmers Green high street and the shops have declined and so many closures occurring, it has lost that lovely traditional feel to the place, it has not got the buzzing ambience like it used to have onced, it feels like a ghost town.

Hello Joe O'Connor.

Don't know whose responsibility setting the Triangle clock is, but the decline of high streets shops is a national issue, and probably also an international issue. Various changes have contributed to that, but ordering via computer is significant together with the rise and rise of Supermarkets. On the other hand when the Mini-Holland/cycle lanes project came along the Council also developed policies to maintain/improve high streets. It's clearly too early to know how that will work out for Palmers Green, but we can all have a hand in making sure that the Council's promises are met so far as conditions permit. The effect of computer-based purchases is still to some extent an unknown factor, although the signs are not good.

My personal view is that we all have an affect on the number of shops by buying locally when possible, and, for example, the amount of litter. Less traffic would be a help, which is another way in which all of us could make a difference - walking and cycling, rather than driving, also helps in creating a better atmosphere.

Agreeing with David Hughes - as someone only very recently said to me, high street retail is in a very difficult place: the UK economy has current and future challenges that do and will affect all businesses. There is increasing competition from mega-retail centres and other specialised outlets which are drawing custom away from the high streets and online retail has changed the shopping habits of many buyers.
We’ve a big high street – ballpark 200 outlets – with a range of specific markets and customer needs from the huge catchment areas and specialisms of the likes of Venture and Stanze to the more local and broadscale of eg several newsagents and MyTime cafe. But get it right and everyone benefits, eg people actually moved to PG, bringing their spend and investing here, because of the attractiveness of Baskervilles - getting local retail right can make that much difference to so much locally.
In the present hugely challenging environment all high streets, and PG for us, need to maximise all their advantages and look to create fresh ones. Getting your “house in order” – an environment that is shop-tidy and overall litter free is the most basic start point.

Agree. PG's high street woes reflect a largely macro situation however there are micro solutions available - clean, tidy, low traffic streets. Make using the high street a pleasant experience.

And get building more housing to get more affluent young into the area spending money - with high street businesses to serve that interest.

Baskerville has absolutely nailed it's offer and doing really well as a result. If Starfish were more commercially run it could too (haphazard opening hours stifle it). Proper PG main concern right now is replacing Starbucks and MultiYork, two huge voids.

Yes, and to those big (possible) voids add Store 21 and the new Fox retail unit. Selling, when one weekend commentator says there is 30 % (thirty) too much retail space in the UK; supermalls are increasingly dominating (Westfield is really accessible from PG while Wood Green, our nearby metropolitan centre, is slated to get a multi-billion pound reinvestment programme); and punters are on the back of a decade long austerity driven no-pay-rise topped off by Brexit driven inflation / rising import prices, can’t be easy.
So what for PG’s future? Too much focus on bike lanes for too many years has probably taken eyes off the monsters sitting looking in. Should it retail-specialise, or switch more to leisure such as eats and the arts, or shrink retail and give more over to housing, or …. ? Residents are going to have a shout in that future, because change it will and if customers are not always right, they do at least bring along the money.

Didn't think the Fox unit was that big, and a long way a long to compete with and drag down the street ambience of the main retail thoroughfare.

I'd also like to think PG, as a neighbourhood retail area, could complete with Wood Green if done well given what a horrible dump WG is, even after the expensive tart up, it will still be WG full of filth. PG has the ability to cater to a notch above that.

No idea what the answer is but quality should be at the heart of it. Retail will struggle more if trying to compete on budget offer, where big boxes and online do it better/cheaper, as this customer base is the one hit by austerity. Aim for those who are continue to make good money and have solid and rising disposable incomes - that means quality. Some of the offer in PG is pretty grotty, thinking George's Fish Bar for one (chalk and cheese with Cannons), plus most of the nail/hair bars and all the multitude of bookies.

A lot of the newer entrants are an improvement. That's what's needed. New blood, fresh ideas, higher standards - try drag up the tone of the area.

Brilliant news reading that Newcastle has topped competition from the likes of Russia (all of it), Chile, Tunisia, Cuba, South Africa, New Orleans and loads more to be named 2018’s top place to visit. “A hub of culture, excellent food and architectural feats”, and believe me it was never always thus. But about three decades since, with a very, very minor bag carrying role on the extreme edge of things – mainly as an interpreter – I was absolutely 4 square behind the CBI task force’s plan to start looking to a different future with a flagship site, in this case development and entertainment facilities right on the Tyne dock side itself, opposite where you now see The Sage.
So what would be the flagship site and its purpose to kick-start a revitalised Palmers Green?

I think we should expect the area of Green Lanes dedicated to retail to contract- to be replaced by leisure, catering, personal services and housing.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/dec/20/retail-christmas-retailers-financial-distress-snow-consumer-spending-squeeze?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_LinkedIn