Finsbury Park Station/City North Development

Arkady

Our Twitter correspondents inform us that MrTastetheMango will be moving to a new pitch near bus stop A (which I think is the 210 bus stop?) so should get the passing trade.<div><br></div><div>There is a degree of upset, though, from the individual who ploughed their life savings into the new 'N4Street' bar opening on Wells Terrace after receiving assurances from TfL staff that station entrance closure was as silly rumour. </div>

krappyrubsnif

Well won't there still be hordes of people walking through Wells Terrace - eventually?

Arkady

Small comfort!<div><br></div><div>We're in the Evening Standard now: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/commuters-warn-of-nightmare-at-finsbury-park-amid-plan-to-close-station-entrance-for-two-years-10043818.html</div>;

NorthNineteen

The other thing is there is no way Finsbury Park can be used as the emergency terminus for Kings Cross while this is happening.<br><br>Remember the issues over Christmas during the closure at Kings Cross - well that was only half the engineering work.  They are doing the same thing Christmas 2015!<br><br>N4Street will be fine I'd have thought, lots of people will still be getting off the bus and walking that way.  The theatre alone generates decent footfall.  I think he should still push for compensation though.<br>

liz_g

<p>Does anyone know what the plans are for the buses?  Will they still terminate in Wells Terrace and everyone will have to walk round under the bridge?  Thanks in advance if you do know!</p>

Sutent

@liz_g. Yes you guessed right. The busses can't go under the bridge.

NorthNineteen

No plans for any changes. I suggested they should reverse the routing (or at least consider) but they appear to have decuded otherwise

liz_g

Thanks @Sutent and @NorthNineteen

kreuzkav

This whole development stinks to high heaven.  Already we've had disruption walking to the station for six months.  Now we could have no access from Stroud Green (well's terrace) for a year or more.  For who is the this development for?  <div><br></div><div>It might create jobs but I can think of other ways.  Leave out employment, it will just create some sterile posh shops and cafe/restaurants. </div><div><br></div><div>The only positive might be better access to Finsbury Park (not well's terrace tunnel) but will this happen. Edit: But this could be done bit by bit without shutting the entrance for that long but I'm sure the developers want the easiest job and don't mind the commuters having to walk an extra five minutes around to the other entrances.  </div><div><br></div><div>The housing is for the rich bar a few social housing units through poor doors.  This is a horror against what is and was a great area. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

Ossie

For what it's worth it does seem that Picturehouse are on board with the Cinema plans although that could be a long way off. That's something Finsbury Park hasn't had in a few decades.

Arkady

<font face="Arial, Verdana"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal;">More forum-recycled-as-news:</span></font><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana"><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: normal;">http://www.london24.com/news/transport/anger_over_plans_to_close_finsbury_park_station_entrance_for_more_than_two_years_1_3954506</span></font><br></div>;

Arkady

It begins. Fare-well, hideous mural. <div><br><div><br></div><div><img src="http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae221/Redarkady/IMAG06091.jpg"><br></div><div><img src="http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae221/Redarkady/IMAG06081.jpg"><br></div></div>

Arkady

Rightly scathing, though arguably rather unfair on John Jones whose land is already sold off: <div><br></div><div>http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2015/feb/snub-talks-new-look-finsbury-park-developers-tfl-and-art-framers-miss-conference-area’&lt;/div&gt;

Mirandola

Are there plans to demolish the block with Morefit in? 

Arkady

It's also owned by City North. I was once told that they would put something in for planning once the main development was under way.

Awesome_Wells

Posters have finally gone up at the station ... Wells Terrace closing on 20th April.

https://twitter.com/david_c_lewis/status/577903934238511105

checkski

I like your moniker, Awesome. It's nearly as good as that fireplace shop in East Finchley - Amazing Grates

Arkady

So it seems that there well be no entrance on that side for three years now, not 2.5.

Sutent

What does a station need to have increased ambience.

Arkady

That's a very zen question Sutent.<div><br></div><div>Official details of the station carnage <a href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/march/finsbury-park-station---new-entrance-and-step-free-access">here</a></div>

Sutent

@ Arkady- they don't define how they will improve the ambience. They just state that they will improve it. I have to say there is nothing wrong with the ambience of the station. Its a rugged old fashioned station with lots of character. I know its falling apart and needs better disabled access but ambience is something the station isn't lacking. I just hope they don't put romantic lighting in as it will encourage people to hold hands more in the station

Arkady

We may have slightly different tastes here. Heritage I like (something FP station sadly lacks now, save for the Seven Sisters entrance and the platform tiling). Crumbling walls and leaking roofs? Not so much. It's hard to see how they can fix that though, not without a complete rebuild. I tend to wonder how much of the fluid making its way through from the platforms above is actually effluent from the train toilets.

gardener-joe

...

Arkady

Scented candles, fairy lights, and a rug to really tie it all together.

Sutent

Add to that Phil Collins on repeat and its my idea of hell....

Sutent

@Arkady - have you seen any underground turd?

Arkady

I once saw a drunk girl curl one out on the platform at Clapham Junction. The thing that sticks with me most is the lycanthropic noise that she emitted when she did it.  It haunts me still.

Sutent

Shame Vanilla don't do sound uploads....

NorthNineteen

I'm glad I've already eaten this evening...

kreuzkav

Don't forget this is all for our greater good.  In time we will appreciate a blander station ambience after three years walking five minutes extra and  a bigger crush on station place entrance.  The area around the station will be full of more supermarket locals and chain coffee shops.  Glass and steel everywhere.  Welcome to Brave New World Finsbury Park.  I'd prefer a trudge down the tunnel instead of  all that.  But it's done and dusted.  The developers have got their way here too.  I'll be cycling hail, rain or snow now.  I just hope they leave upper Stroud Green alone.  Greedy .........ahhhh. Haven't they enough jeeps and people on zero hours.