Question 1. What do think is good about the area?
Having lived in Palmers Green for 40 years, it has lost a lot of charm over time but is still a nice area with lots of potential!! People are nice and there are good schools, nice parks and generally a good feel but the High Street is lacking in having any positive charms.
Question 2. What do you think is less good about the area?
The amount of cheap shops, charity shops and the awful shop fronts of many make the area look slightly run-down and struggling.
Question 3. What would you like to see to improve the area?
Nice niche shops, Baskervilles is a great example of a good idea with a tasteful shop front and welcoming staff. More niche, boutique type shops would be an asset to Palmers Green. Get rid of the kebab shops, pound shops and give us more small specialist shops like Cheese shops, gift shops, pretty tea/coffee shops. Give Palmers Green more of a village feel like Winchmore Hill Green.
Trios is a great space for a party but actually looks pretty ugly and un-inviting. This could certainly make more of an effort for the residents of Palmers Green that are not Greek!! There are so few venues where you can hold parties or gatherings and this could be one but has never felt very welcoming.
Question 4a. Specific aspects – traffic
Parking could be easier – with less constrictions but traffic is OK.
Question 4b. Specific aspects – parking
Parking costs are high at £1.20 per hour along the main street.
Question 4c. Specific aspects – clutter
Haven’t really noticed.
Question 4d. Specific aspects – look of the shops/architecture
: Bring back good old fashioned shop fronts which entice you in rather than horrible modern shop-fronts which are an eye-sore to the area. All shops should be made to look similar and have village feel characteristics.
Question 4e. Specific aspacts – type and range of shops
Shops that you can browse around or specifically visit Palmers Green to buy things from. Why did the lovely book shop ever go, Grouts (used to be fantastic for haberdashery etc)? We need specialist book shops, cheese shops, gift shops, art supplies, craft shops (like Bodwins – Southgate), more select coffee shops like Baskervilles not High Street chains. More varied restaurants. More child-friendly establishments. Clown Town (although cleaned up) is still pretty depressing and could have a great, cheap restaurant and coffee shop in there – it could do with a complete make-over and staff that actually like their job!! It could also offer other alternative for children’s parties like plate painting, craft workshops. Parking in the Car Park is expensive when going to a childs party and Clown Town should offer some sort of discount to its customers when parking there.
Question 4f. Specific aspects – amount and use of pavement space
The amount and use of pavement space: There could be more use made of the pavements for having coffees and the Farmers Market could be extended on a Sunday morning to the Triangle and outside the job-centre, Top Electrical and the Photography shop. The pavements are wide enough there and people could then actually see the market rather than it be hidden away in the station car park. Passing trade would then increase and put the Farmers Market on the map as a place to visit on a Sunday morning. Open the Farmers Market up to entice local craft makers to display their goods. The current Farmers Market is depressing, has no atmosphere and not enough stalls with variations to make me want to visit.
Question 4g. Specific aspects – the Triangle public space
More flowers and planting. This is the focal point of Palmers Green and it looks miserable.
Question 4h. Specific aspects – Greenery
The baskets hanging in the Summer are lovely but we could do with some more.
Any other comments
I oppose the building of flats at Broomfield House in Broomfield Park. This beautiful building could be refurbished and become a focal point in the area for weddings, christenings, parties, conferences – there could be a fantastic restaurant here with facilities for childrens parties, celebrations.
The Fox could be refurbished and made similar to the Kings Head in Winchmore Hill. It looks grubby and again is a focal point in Palmers Green. The food is good in there but having discussed with lots of local people it looks like it needs a complete make-over and stops people going in there.
Westlakes is a brilliant shop but looks out of date and is not very enticing – a lost opportunity I would say to really get this business off the ground. The opening hours could be extended and they could offer a refund on parking if people use the store and spend over £10.00. They have a prime spot in Palmers Green and do not appear to be utilising it to its best. They could open on Sundays for people that just need some DIY but don’t want to have to go to B&Q, Homebase etc.
Baskervilles has definitely got the right idea and if more businesses followed on the back of them Palmers Green would be on the map as a lovely place to park up and walk around