WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE HIGH STREET?

[reality Czech]

Sydenham High Street is probably the worst looking run down "urban" high street in the whole area.
Gentrification has crept from Lordship to Honoar Oak,Forest Hill,Crystal Palace and Gypsy Hill but stops at SE26.
Let's be honest, the Christmas lights are chavtastic, the street furniture & rubbish are grim and the shops "interesting" ( if you like chips ,market "clothes" and fried chicken ).
What would you like to see done to the High Street area to make Sydenham more appealing that does not involve a bulldozer?

[user100]

ooooh controversial!!

(yawn)

This has been done to death on other threads, why start a new one?

[The Eagle]

Topless Traffic Wardens

[poppy]

I don't think you really know our high street very well or have any idea what plans are afoot for the area. That is all I can say.

[kennyb2]

Best thing that could be done for any high st is to provide a society that removes the need for shops that are shuttered or meshed all night and half the day,
Not a pleasent experience to walk down a high st late at night thats a wall of steel shutters covered in graffiti

[Jules]

How about a naked cowboy!
No more threads about this it's boring now

[davegr]

Trouble is Reality Czech is right. It's a bit of a toilet.

[wendywu]

It used to be great, lots of nice shops and a village feel. Now its a dump. We don't need anymore cheap household stores ( pound plus is great, and enough), no more rubbish clothes shops, no more nail bars, no more hairdressers. Bring back the greyhound as it used to be, and the old butchers and it might improve. Glad the curtain shop is still going though! Change is not always good

[leenewham]

Best thing that could be done for any high st is to provide a society that removes the need for shops that are shuttered or meshed all night and half the day,
Not a pleasent experience to walk down a high st late at night thats a wall of steel shutters covered in graffiti

Totally agree. Lewisham council are supposed to have a policy for shops that stops any shuttering that totally covers the front of a shop that you cant see through.

Unfortunatly they don't enforce it, even if you complain about it.

[sophie]

Where exactly is the gentrification in Forest Hill?

[leenewham]

Why do we use this work 'gentrification' when in reality what we need is for the high street to be smartened up as it really does look shabby and lets the area down, and a better range of shops for all income types.

[poppy]

I also feel compelled to add that I have lived in Honor Oak and yes it has acquired a couple of decent bars/restaurants and shops in the past eight years but as a mother I found it grey and dirty and not at all family friendly. Blythe Hill park was really nice but Honor Oak rec is in a really isolated location and one Friday afternoon whilst the only one there with my daughter I witnessed a dog fight in the adjoining playing field - not a very nice place to hang around on your own even if the play equipment is really good. There are no decent everyday shops there either. A deli yes, but had a limited selection. And many former shops have been converted into shabby residential units. It may continue to improve but Sydenham is by far a nicer place to live in my opinon.