Question 1. What do think is good about the area?
It’s open, not too crowded and still retains character unlike many of the new shopping developments which are more or less all the same. Some of the shops are very unique like the arty and antique shops.
Question 2. What do you think is less good about the area?
There are very few special events taking place there, a lot of the food shops are greek/Turkish so there isn’t much diversity and the streets/pavements ect are fairly dull and boring, the place lacks culture and doesn’t feel as unique as some of the shops suggest it could be.
Question 3. What would you like to see to improve the area?
More community events would bring people into the place and liven it up a bit ! there are 2 large churches and a big pub near by which could be used to help with these. The place feels like it could be special but at the moment nothing makes it special. More decoration on the streets, eg flowers/sculptures/fountains that sort of thing to make the area welcoming and feel special to come to. Bigger diversity in shops, and more unique shops. Also get some of the businesses with the large front gardens to tidy them up as this makes the area feel tacky.
Question 4a. Specific aspects – traffic
): I imagine car noise cant be reduced, and although cobbled streets are nice they may not be suitable so havnt really got any suggestions.
Question 4b. Specific aspects – parking
The pavements could be widened and made nicer. Parking along the main street could be slightly restricted.
Question 4c. Specific aspects – clutter
Too much clutter on the pavements and its not nice to look at, if it is necessary perhaps it could have hanging baskets on it and be painted. Also all illegal posters hung on streetlights ext need to be removed as soon as they go up as they bring the whole area down.
Question 4d. Specific aspects – look of the shops/architecture
: The original architecture makes the area look nice and could be like another Muswell hill if some of the shops didn’t try to “fake modernise” and ruin the character of the street, the pubs and churches in my opinion are the nicest looking buildings, and it would be nice if the rest followed suit, giving the area that local, communal feel, welcoming to new shoppers.
Question 4e. Specific aspacts – type and range of shops
Well as iv mentioned most of the restaurants are of Greek/Turkish origin and the food is great, but I wouldn’t go there for any other type of food, some of the restaurants are excellent quality, and some are cheap and dirty looking. I think we need more diversity, and also more unique shops, while keeping. We also need to keep our large gathring points like the churches and pubs as they are very important for the area in so many ways.
Question 4f. Specific aspects – amount and use of pavement space
Maybe more benches and flowers would be good.
Question 4g. Specific aspects – the Triangle public space
I like the triangle, and its tree, some more benches perhaps would be nice, but its already a nice space.
Question 4h. Specific aspects – Greenery
I feel we need much more flowers and planters (that are maintained every year) and some small trees planted is certain parts of the street, but not to many as a plus point of the street is its brightness. Maybe just in the areas where the pavement is lacking anything but signage.
Any other comments
This is a lovely area but could be of MUCH better use – but please don’t ruin it trying to modernise like so many other areas because it will just look a mess, in my opinion you should enhance what you have