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Question 1.  What do think is good about the area?

There is a relaxed feel to the area.  I feel safe and have never felt threatened.  What could be a very pleasant area is ruined because traffic is allowed to dominate the area.

Question 2.  What do you think is less good about the area?

Traffic takes priority over people throughout the whole area. The appearance of the area is shabby and the council seem to neglect the area.  The so-called flower beds are poorly kept and in the wrong places.

The pavements are filthy and very poorly maintained which is very off-putting to anyone visiting the area.

Litter is allowed to accumulate.  Crossing any of the roads is a dangerous and time consuming process.

Navigating the triangle on foot is very difficult.

Question 3. What would you like to see to improve the area?

The whole area needs to become more pedestrian friendly.  It should be a place for people not cars.

There need to be more crossing points.  There definitely should be a crossing opposite the first entrance to the park.  The flashing speed sign that has been put in on Alderman’s Hill is a total waste of time and the money could have been better spent.  The railings around the triangle should be removed and the flower beds on the corners moved to free up space.  You should be able to go straight across Green Lanes.  The flower beds are used to fence people in rather than improve the area.  It is impossible to cross between the Triangle and the Town Hall.  Does the road there need to be so wide?  There should be trees in this section which is very desolate.  It is also impossible to cross between Fox Lane and Hedge Lane.  The council has put in one token traffic island

Question 4a. Specific aspects – traffic

Traffic is poorly managed.  It is both speeding and a danger to pedestrians or crawling and causing pollution.  As said above crossing anywhere in the area is very difficult.  Priority should be given to pedestrians – it is a place not just corridors from West to East or North to South.  There need to be more crossing points.

The side roads should be built up to give pedestrian priority.  Lodge drive should be reduced in width.

The area of the triangle should be reduced with Green Lanes North being reduced to one lane.

Question 4b. Specific aspects – parking

I always walk (I live about 10 minutes away).  I never try and park in Palmers Green. I don’t use the car park so can’t comment.  I think you can park for two hours for free in Morrison’s.  I suppose the fact that there is on street parking is good for traders.

I think more people could probably walk.

Question 4c. Specific aspects – clutter

There is too much clutter.  Signs seem to pop up all over the place.  The cctv masts take up a lot of space.  The hanging baskets could be attached to them or lampposts rather than having their own poles, example corner of Lodge Drive.  A lot of the signs are ambiguous, for example no-entry sign at the triangle next to keep left sign.  The railings around the triangle should be removed.  The old finger post should be made a feature.

Question 4d. Specific aspects – look of the shops/architecture

There is some beautiful architecture if you look up – I don’t usually because tripping on broken paving is too risky.  This is ruined by tatty shop fronts, garish signage with no thought to being in keeping with the area.

The shop fronts are generally very dirty.  The Fox Pub which should be a beautiful building is dirty and shabby.  I wish someone could encourage the shopkeepers to keep their shop fronts clean and take some pride. There are a few good examples such as Waitrose on Green Lanes.  Baskervilles on Aldermans Hill is a shining example of what can be achieved.  The sight of Grouts slowly decaying behind the hoardings is very depressing.

Question 4e. Specific aspacts – type and range of shops

There is some beautiful architecture if you look up – I don’t usually because tripping on broken paving is too risky.  This is ruined by tatty shop fronts, garish signage with no thought to being in keeping with the area.

The shop fronts are generally very dirty.  The Fox Pub which should be a beautiful building is dirty and shabby.  I wish someone could encourage the shopkeepers to keep their shop fronts clean and take some pride. There are a few good examples such as Waitrose on Green Lanes.  Baskervilles on Aldermans Hill is a shining example of what can be achieved.  The sight of Grouts slowly decaying behind the hoardings is very depressing.

Question 4f. Specific aspects – amount and use of pavement space

We are lucky that the pavements on Green Lanes are wide. It would be better if they were less cluttered, well maintained and cleaner.  The pavement space around the triangle needs to be improved.

The pavement needs to be built up at the side roads and extended at Lodge Drive.

Question 4g. Specific aspects – the Triangle public space

The triangle is a collection of signs and a poorly kept flower bed.  The toilets which have been closed for years take up a lot of space and if they are not going to be used should be filled in.  The area need to be increased in size.  The railings need to go.  Crossing is a nightmare through the narrow gap someone cleverly lined a utility box up with the crossing to add to the fun!  The zebra crossing on the other side is a lottery.  The triangle should be a feature that could be used by the public.

Question 4h. Specific aspects – Greenery

The flower beds are a disgrace full of cheap shrubs, weeds and litter.  The council is wasting our money on a contract to maintain these raised beds.  They are in the wrong place and being used to hem people in rather than as a positive feature.  There should be beds on the extended corner of Lodge Drive.

There is generally a lack of greenery.  There is plenty of room for trees between the triangle and the library to improve this desolate area.  The flower beds should be full of seasonal colour. 

Any other comments

The general standard of the pavements is very poor.  The slabs are poorly laid in the first place.  Many are broken and uneven.  There are huge lakes every time it rains which the council can’t seem to see.

They are all filthy – we were promised a deep clean last year but of course it never materialised.

There is generally too much litter.  Cigarette butts and bank receipts don’t seem to count as litter in many people’s minds.  The pavement cleaning is very basic.  The bins are inadequate and should include recycling.  I wish, however, that people would take more responsibility for keeping the area tidy as even where there are bins you still see litter on the ground.  There is generally a lot of street clutter which has a negative effect on the area.  Lack of safe crossing places also has a negative effect on the area.

The flower beds need to be properly maintained to give a lift to the spirits at present they depress and detract from the area.  May be local businesses could be encouraged to sponsor the flower beds.

The one outside Starbucks is a disgrace – it is at best an ashtray.  The company should be held to account.

The areas to the north and south of the main shopping section are very unattractive with poorly maintained frontages and a general lack of greenery.  There is plenty of room for trees on the pavements but it would be good if local businesses could be encouraged to think greenery.

In conclusion, I feel the council has neglected this corner of the borough and for very little money there could be some improvements. Obviously, a complete overhaul of the area would cost money.

However, I also feel that local people have a large part to play.  The local businesses need to develop a pride in the area and up their game if they are to attract more people to the area.  The public need to respect the environment.  They should walk when possible, if driving be courteous, put their litter in the bin,

Take responsibility for reporting problems to the council.  They should support local shops, otherwise they only have themselves to blame when they close down.

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