Question 1. What do think is good about the area?
Compact, lending itself to a walking society. Many streets of pleasant housing. Three parks in the community area, another in walking distance. ‘ High street’ & Alderman’s Hill are of pleasant buildings with enough potential space for social living. The Triangle (potentially). A central railway station. Reasonable bus routes. A community which seems reasonably at ease with itself; not high crime (by London’s standards). A library.
Question 2. What do you think is less good about the area?
Trees apart, nothing done in residential streets to bring out their potential as communities. Key shops have been lost - touchstone: the book shop. In the evening the town centre feels more like Fort Knox than a social space. Divided into two communities, one each side of Green Lanes. The North and South wings along Green Lanes are in a curious limbo where frontages are just concrete and cars – an ugly scandal. Lack of pride or care about small spaces which disfigure, e.g. the Fox car park and the street space alongside is just a muddled mess.
Question 3. What would you like to see to improve the area?
More thought about visual amenity. Measures to integrate east and west communities. A more democratic relationship between pedestrians, cyclists and drivers so that pedestrians and cyclists (particularly kids in these modes) enjoy equal freedom and priority on the streets – traffic speed must be a factor.
Air quality – this is a forgotten national scandal. Removing impediments to smooth traffic flow like pedestrian crossing or traffic lights would help. Making it easier and more pleasant to walk/cycle ditto.
Question 4a. Specific aspects – traffic
In the town and purely residential streets every road user should have an equal right to choose their own route without deviating, for example, to use pedestrian crossings and to avoid pavement railings. Traffic speed must not intimidate nor kill, which is an issue of speed and road rules. At 20mph pedestrians suffer little damage.
Unnecessarily large delivery vehicles are an issue.
Question 4b. Specific aspects – parking
Short of demolishing attractive buildings or building ugly, congestion forming, multi-storey parking extra space is not possible. Therefore it’s pointless complaining or trying to compete on parking with out-of-town supermarkets. Charging is inevitable as part of traffic management and legitimate because drivers not council tax payers create the need. Palmers Green is a compact area with a relatively dense population which could walk – concentrate on the town’s strength not its limitations.
Activists, shopkeepers, the council, should lobby for the Mary Portas’ recommendation that out-of-town shopping should be required to charge for parking to create a level playing field.
In a town of pleasant buildings and small spaces cars detract. Work on what the town has – such, as visual amenity - rather than on what can’t be changed.
Maximising passing trade is probably not a good ploy if the aim is to create a pleasant town, but if it must be done make very short stay parking free and rapidly escalate price for longer stays. Consider using echelon parking to maximise space, and as a traffic calming measure( unless extra pavement space would do more for business).
Question 4c. Specific aspects – clutter
Anything which instructs drivers needs to be removed except direction signs (though perhaps Satnav is removing that need). Pavement railings must go. If signs are necessary they should be of consistent design.
Question 4d. Specific aspects – look of the shops/architecture
Apart from the odd horror, Palmers Green is blessed with its buildings which are broadly of a similar brick and compatible style. There is much to work with if the Council, businesses and property owners work together to foster a Palmers Green experience.
By contrast the current jumble of fascias, often further despoiled by ugly security, can’t be attracting footfall – shop owners should agree an overall plan. Estate agents and property management companies need to avoid pinning boards to buildings spoiling the visual ambience and convincing prospective buyers/tenants that the town is in decline.
Question 4e. Specific aspacts – type and range of shops
Beyond me, except to say that in some shops staff expertise and helpfulness is key. I’ve not always found it so.
Question 4f. Specific aspects – amount and use of pavement space
- Town centres thrive on footfall so pavements must be as wide and convenient as possible - wide pavements create a boulevard effect. By contrast through roads need only to be wide enough for one lane of traffic each way, plus loading space if rear of premises loading isn’t feasible. Wood Green got this right whilst improving pedestrian comfort with a 20mph limit.
Some parking probably has to be sacrificed, but as national statistics show that driving-to-shop is becoming less popular, and hinterland streets can be made more pedestrian friendly, this loss can be mitigated.
Question 4g. Specific aspects – the Triangle public space
The famous horse chestnut made this an iconic space, a reputation which shouldn’t be squandered but can’t be preserved in aspic. Replacing the tree, especially as the replacement cannot be a horse chestnut, won’t on its own cut the mustard.
Essentials: remove railings and traffic lights and, as far as possible limit traffic space, to reinforce the idea of a pedestrian space; a 20mph speed limit; evaluation of routes around the town to see whether traffic can be encouraged to avoid using Alderman’s Hill; using surfaces to enhance the idea of a public space; reducing traffic speed to 20mph well back on Alderman’s Hill to ‘bring the park into the town, to include businesses on the ‘Hill’, to improve pedestrian access into the park from the Lakes Estate and beyond.
I worry about creating a cohesive community from the east & west housing, and wonder whether changes could be made at the top of Hazlewood Lane and Lodge Drive (where there is a triangular space), and the street space between Hazlewood Lane and Alderman’s Hill to make a more integrated whole.
Question 4h. Specific aspects – Greenery
Palmers Green is a red brick town formed by buildings with strong lines. What it needs most is its complementary colour of dark green – details subject to design.
Flowers, as distinct from shrubs, in pots are expensive, need good care, and against a strong background like Palmers Green buildings, are apt to be a disappointment. Not the best bet except perhaps in cameo roles.
Apparently local traders don’t favour street trees, presumably because they find the daily chore of sweeping away bud cases, dead flowers, and leaves irksome. What they forget is that people like & are attracted by trees. Also trees have significant air conditioning and shade effects which in hot summers – more and more likely as climate change grips – make streets more comfortable. Trees will encourage people to stay in the streets in good weather and attract visitors to: “That pleasant town.” Note the proximity of parks. Green streets, green parks, pleasant buildings – an opportunity waiting to happen. But debris from trees does need sweeping away every day.
Any other comments
Pedestrians and public transport are key to a thriving Palmers Green – there isn’t space for a car culture.
If parking is limited free local delivery of heavy items would encourage local purchases.
Recently released statistics confirm that out-of-town shopping is becoming less popular, possibly due to traffic congestion and/or high fuel prices. The trend for fuel prices and parking charges will be up.
North and south entry points to Palmers Green at Hedge Lane and Broomfield Lane will need emphasizing in some way, perhaps by doing something with the junctions. Can the library play a part?
It has always seemed to me that a besetting problem with Palmers Green and elsewhere is random decisions made without an end in sight – put a sign up here because an accident happened, plant a tree there, a new light here or there, erect a clock tower because someone thought of it, replant a tree before plans for the space have been made. It’s important to work towards a whole.
