Tottenham Lane Improvements?

Community Infrastructure Levy, Town Centre, Transport 8 Comments Share

We recently looked at transport matters in Crouch End (Transport Policy ideas), not for the first time of course but with funds potentially available through the Community Infrastructure Levy this may be a useful moment to revisit some specific ideas.

People may remember the Liveable Crouch End initiative, a joint Haringey and TfL scheme abandoned during the pandemic. Our response, posted here, picked up on many of the ideas floating around and still represents a useful summary. You may have your own ideas.

Further proposals were outlined in our Crouch End Character Appraisal –

One proposal does appear to have legs: the widening of pavements along Tottenham Lane (i.e. along Topsfield and Broadway parades). The scheme is pointedly focussed upon the most dispiriting section of the town centre, and yet the one with its distinctive Victorian shopping parades, that defines Crouch End more than any other and has the potential to enhance the town centre more than any other.

A proposed ‘TOTTENHAM LANE PROJECT’ would take aim at –

  • Topsfield Parade and Broadway Parade are a mess
  • They represent key characterful heritage assets
  • The pedestrian / visitor / shopper experience is woeful, with dirty narrow pavements, poor movement, crowded bus stops
  • No greenery
  • Relentless heavy traffic
  • Frequent gridlock due to parking

We could create –

  • Wider pavements (the hatched areas on the map)
  • New crossing
  • Retained parking
  • Greenery – extensive trees planting
  • Street cafés

The hope? That improved environment = greater footfall.

 

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8 Comments

  1. John

    Hi, is it possible to add the files for the bottom two diagrams, like the top one. It is difficult to view the detail.

    thanks

    Reply
  2. Charles Kingsley

    Yes please! Love these ideas and if we could get this accomplished who knows what other momentum and inspirations may emerge for street improvements in our town centre.
    Is there any sense of what the process and time frame is for making decisions and actual implementation of, hopefully, the best ideas through this Community Infrastructure Levy?

    Reply
    1. Mark Afford

      We’re told the next CIL round is this year…

      Reply
  3. Joel Northcott

    I’ve looked up the “Tottenham Lane Project” but I can’t find any more information on it – nothing about cash available to plant trees, widen pavements – can someone link to it? Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Mark Afford

      Hi Joel. The project of Tottenham Lane improvements has had a chequered history dating back to a supplementary planning document in the 90s. More recently it was a section of the Liveable Crouch End scheme, and is one of the ideas floated for future CIL spending in the area. We’re currently awaiting Haringey’s next CIL exercise.

      Reply
  4. Conchita Navarro Sáez

    Only catching up now. Yes agree entirely re area bring a woeful experience, dirty, overcrowded pavements, etc.
    Absolutely in favour of TREES and in exasperation, have sponsored a single new tree for the Broadway myself. Due to be planted this winter. (Opposite Tesco) But one tree is nothing, we need many. I find streets barren compared with other areas I frequent. Wider pavements WD be a huge step fwd. As for crowded bus stops, I wrote to the council re bedding the shelter by Waitrose to be expanded. And for a few other bits stood to have shelters. But I need to raise this directly with TFL I believe. FYI I’ve been obsessivey reporting repeated dumped rubbish by bin nearest to Gail’s. And the truly filthy pavement around it. Finally I asked if the specific bin cd be removed as it was attracting filth and dumping almost daily. To my surpythey dud then remove it and it’s not a dumping spot anymore. But generally pavements are frequently very dirty which is grim, and I feel it’s wrong that it only gets PRESSURE washed if one keeps requesting it. Thanks for this really important update. Look fwd to hearing more on these issues. Apologies if there are typos but am visually impaired – Conchita

    Reply
  5. Joel Northcott

    Will there be a CENF AGM this year? I don’t recall one from 2024. Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Mark Afford

      Indeed so, hopefully March 29th. Announcement soon.

      Reply

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