Question 1. What do think is good about the area?
Great parks.
Community of different nationalities - enriches what is on offer in the shops and restaurants.
Lots of different restaurants and cafes.
Reasonable range of shops
Question 2. What do you think is less good about the area?
Often looks completely filthy – litter around, pavements stained – where grease has been dropped outside fast food etc no one from the shop scrubs it up.
And a lot of empty shops – although the window posters help a lot – this should be kept up. It’s abit dull-looking about it altho it is difficult to put a finger on exactly why this is – rather cluttered and so everything starts to look a random jumble.
Also traffic is dangerous at the Hedge Lane junction – a lot of jumping red lights.
Question 3. What would you like to see to improve the area?
Cleaner and brighter-looking. More interesting visually. There are some wide pavements so perhaps some variation in colours and textures with planters and at the same time rationalise what is there as part of the street scene.
Question 4a. Specific aspects – traffic
traffic is dangerous at the Hedge Lane junction – a lot of jumping red lights.
High street is often just a complete traffic queue but it is difficult to see what can be done about this
Question 4c. Specific aspects – clutter
This needs some analysis to see what might be removed.
Question 4d. Specific aspects – look of the shops/architecture
I do quite like the current trend to have ‘shop signs’ that hang out from the shops.
There is some interesting architecture above street level but some of the shops do not make the best of their windows, eg all the betting shops!
Important to have a means to temporarily ’ disguise’ the empty shops – the large window posters were a great idea
Question 4e. Specific aspacts – type and range of shops
Type and range are reasonable. Waitrose will help if it stays.
Question 4f. Specific aspects – amount and use of pavement space
Pavements - Wide enough on one side to try out the planter idea.
Question 4g. Specific aspects – the Triangle public space
It’s not really used as a public space is it – it is a traffic island. I was devastated at the loss of the tree and I don’t think this was ever explained. Can we have a new tree please?
Question 4h. Specific aspects – Greenery
Would be good.
Any other comments
Improvement in cleanliness and less litter are important to me.
It’s excellent that this consultation is happening and wish you all the best with implementing the lead suggestions.