Hello everyone, new to this forum! What do people think of this proposal for Brixton centre?
Brixton Playground – A new vision for Brixton
Full document:
Brixton Playground – A new vision for Brixton
Full document:
Brixton Playground scheme proposes permanent pedestrianisation of central Brixton
- Thread starter Sarah57
- Start date
editor
hiraethified
Hello to the forum!
My thoughts: 'Brixton Playground' sounds appalling as a name. What is it supposed to signify?
And what is the nature of Squire & Partners involvement in this scheme?
BakeRecords
Active Member
Agreed, terrible name. I'm also interested in Squire & Partners' role in this.
The full document is light to say the least. I don't necessarily disagree with the proposed pedestrianisation (particularly the stretch of Atlantic Rd between Brixton Rd and Coldharbour Lane), but if this scheme is to work, meaningful consultation will be required. If the scheme gets the go ahead in the short term, how will it be evaluated?
Some more info on all that would be useful.
editor
hiraethified
It is already beginning to feel like a nu-Brixton vested interests steamroller operation. Brixton BID does not represent the vast majority og residents of Brixton in any way at all, yet here they are proposing their 'playground' without talking to anyone outside their business bubble.
gaijingirl
Well-Known Member
urgh - Brixton playground. As someone who actually has to go to playgrounds for real this does not appeal at all.
sparkybird
ask the bird...
My first thought was, wow great news that there will be more provision for children's play in Brixton.
Then I clicked on the link and thought, i feel sorry for those who live in central Brixton on the roads that might be pedestrianised
: (
teuchter
je suis teuchter
As someone who's generally strongly in favour of pedestrianisation and restricting motor traffic:
This appears to have been put together by people who haven't been paying the slightest bit of attention to all the discussions about gentrification that have been going on in Brixton for the past few years.
The name 'brixton playground' is terrible. I'm baffled how someone with the slightest bit of awareness could have thought that was a good idea.
The proposals have zero detail on the difficult bits of how you do something like this, like what happens to bus routes.
The whole thing is amateurish, insensitive to concerns of local people and I'd worry that it will generate more opposition than support for the general principle of reducing traffic in central brixton.
Hope that answers your question.
Shippou-Sensei
4:1:2.5
In those pictures it looks like it takes over a large amount of traditional market space and rebrands it into villaaaaage style gentrified areas. Presumably now that the arches are ready to be upmarketed investors are hungry for more space to eat.
plus although I'm all for pedestrianisation isn't coldharbour lane a fairly important road for traffic? Most of the others I could see being pedestrianised.
Shippou-Sensei
4:1:2.5
I also hate the name. In fact I hate the idea it needs a marketable name. because that's what this feels like. it doesn't feel like a plan to improve an area it feels like a way to sell the space to people looking to 'invest'.
it feels like it's not a plan to make the space better for people it's a plan to sell the space to the highest bidder
it feels like it's not a plan to make the space better for people it's a plan to sell the space to the highest bidder
I'd be wary of reading too much into it at this stage.
My bet is that this was floated as an idea in a Brixton BID Board meeting and Squire (who have a Partner and their Head of PR on the Board) offered up a junior visualiser for half a day, on the condition that they got picture credits.
I'd imagine the aim is to make enough noise to win seed funding for a feasibility study.
My bet is that this was floated as an idea in a Brixton BID Board meeting and Squire (who have a Partner and their Head of PR on the Board) offered up a junior visualiser for half a day, on the condition that they got picture credits.
I'd imagine the aim is to make enough noise to win seed funding for a feasibility study.
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
I pretty much agree with all of the above. I'd also add that there is not a single mention of the residents on any of those streets apart from one sole quote in favour from someone who is a Brixton resident but also a business owner. As someone who lived in the very centre of Brixton for 10 years I know this will go down with residents (some of whom are long term and not recent incomers) like a bucket of sick.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
Yeah, but people will read into it. Anyone in PR should know this.
For example, it's already been commented that Brewdog get a load of street space. You and I know that this is probably just the bit of the street that the visualiser happened to have a photo of, and that it represents no specific plans as far as Brewdog is concerned, but that's not how it will be interpreted.
I dunno how anyone with any PR skills could have let the name "Brixton Playground" through.
Yup - provided it crossed the PR person's desk. The spelling mistakes alone suggest maybe not. Could be laziness as much as ignorance.
It's a well-trodden path though, to put up an outrageous aunt sally in order to drive engagement. See - oh - pretty much any public design consultation since the beginning of time...
BIDs are not about residents though. They're groups of traders seeking to increase dwell and footfall out of self-interest, as more punters staying longer means more income.
Not making excuses for them, by the way, just acknowledging that they're a pressure group, rather than an organisation with a community focus or a holistic worldview. My expectations of them are very low.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
What's interesting about this though, is to see businesses proactively pushing for pedestrianisation. Because often businesses are fearful about it - see all the objections to the congestion charge from businesses who worried it would stop people coming to their shops and so on. A positive sign of changing times perhaps.
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
I don't disagree. But if they had any sense they'd engage with residents early on to discuss and get them on board. But they never do.
DietCokeGirl
Fishing in the rivers of life
Awful name. More infantilisation of grown adults. I'm 100% for more pedestrian spaces and cycle infrastructure but this just looks like a space people can buy into if they can afford expensive food and drink (in the dispersal zone that targets the 'wrong' type of drinkers who prefer a tin from the offfie).
editor
hiraethified
I'd suggest that this scheme would be another driver of divisive gentrification in the area, continuing the promotion of Brixton as a 'destination.'
editor
hiraethified
They can't even be bothered to send urban75/Brixton Buzz press releases but maybe that's because they're looking for a hassle-free 'shoe-in' from the council and don't want any critical comment or discussion on their schemes.
While closing some of the smaller side roads sounds like a great idea, coldharbour lane is a major thoroughfare. Closing it to traffic would have a massive negative impact on nearby residential streets by pushing traffic into these areas. Road closures are not normally targeted at main through roads for good reason. There also appears to be no consideration of how this closure would affect bus routes or disabled people who rely on motorised transport.
There's also a risk that street furniture will only be used for a few months/weeks in the year due to poor weather conditions. Soho is proposing closures for only certain times of day/year. This seems to be a better approach.
There's also a risk that street furniture will only be used for a few months/weeks in the year due to poor weather conditions. Soho is proposing closures for only certain times of day/year. This seems to be a better approach.
editor
hiraethified
You can almost guarantee that there would be plastic cops on hand to keep the al fresco Brixton Playground experience free from non-product-purchasing undesirables. It's fine to drink in the street but only if you've bought the booze from the 'right' places.
I was chatting about that with my brother as I am conflicted. I am all for less traffic and pollution and safer space for pedestrians and cyclists but cannot support this project if it means (even more) gentrification. He made a good point about the fact that it wouldn't be much of an issue if there was rent control (commercial and private)and the scheme was including support for existing local businesses, I thought.
newbie
undisambiguated
Why? because there's suspicion around these parts about blow-ins with agendas, especially students expecting other people to do their research for them.
If you look top right you'll find a search button. Try Coldharbour or Atlantic as search terms, although tbf a properly constructed google site: search is often more productive. You'll find conversations going back 20 years or so.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
There's no reason to rule out closing the bit of coldharbour lane in central brixton to at least some traffic. It could be argued that Gresham Rd is more appropriate, in terms of road design, to carry east-west traffic. As per many discussions on here recently there is always the worry about displaced traffic, and that shouldn't be ignored as Gresham Road does have residential use along it.
I'd be interested in options that looked at only buses travelling on Atlantic Rd/Coldharbour Lane, including the possibiity of shifting the bus routes that currently use Gresham Rd to run through the centre. That may or may not provide some recompense for additional private motor traffic being routed that way, and maybe it would be a way of speeding up those bus routes. I don't know. That would be something for TfL to look at properly.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
I'd say (contrary to the views of some on here) that pedestrianisation and traffic calming does not need to equal gentrification.
But the way this particular proposal is presented, certainly gives that impression.
Rushy
basically a scrotum
What's rent control got to do with it? It reads like you are trying to sound out whether there is scope to ease this idea through with locals.I'd say that if businesses want to encroach onto our public spaces they should be charged very heavily for the privilege. None of this £100 licence nonsense. Discounts for single venue, unchained small businesses meeting a multitude of requirements. Triple rent for any businesses whose directors are on or have been on the BID
Are you involved with this proposal, or any business or group or individual involved with this proposal, in any way?
Apologies if I sound suspicious but it is usually the way with first time posts like yours.
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