Giving Edgeware the edge

During the mid 1990s the Edgeware community and City Council discussed proposals to revamp Cornwall Street and form a public square at the intersection of Cornwall Street and Edgeware Road.

Most people decided that the whole Edgeware shopping centre should be enhanced rather than focusing on one proposal. The business community was particularly interested in establishing a Mainstreet programme, which is essentially a self- help community- based initiative. It involves setting up a group comprised of local business people, residents, community groups and the City Council, which then focuses on physical enhancement, business development, marketing and promotions, community events, and heritage conservation.

Together, the community and Council agreed to gather information on the area using business and pedestrian surveys. This was followed by a public workshop in the Scottish Society Hall.

Following the workshop the Edgeware Village Working Group, made up of residents and business people, was formed to implement the ideas. The group adopted the Mainstreet concept. Ideas generated at the workshop were incorporated in one document, giving EDGEWARE the edge. This included a concept plan, a business development plan and an action plan. The concept plan was further developed into a staged development plan and a number of those stages have been, or are being, implemented by the Council:

• Stage 1 - Cornwall Street/ Edgeware Road intersection enhancement. Completed.
• Stage 2 - Caledonian Road, tree planting and angle parking. Underway.
• Stage 3 - Colombo Street undergrounding of telephone lines and tree planting. Completed
• Stages 4 - 7 involve gateway formation and tree planting. No current budget.
• Stage 8 is the treatment of the intersection of Edgeware Road and Colombo Street. Due to go ahead 2003/ 04.

Meanwhile, the Edgeware Business Association has been looking after the business development, marketing and promotions, and events side of the Mainstreet concept.

Earlier this year the Edgeware Village Working Group wound up after achieving many of its physical enhancement objectives. The Edgeware Business Association has now taken on the constitution and Mainstreet philosophy and is looking forward to continuing its central role in the shopping centre’s development.

Josie Schröder
Phone 941 8932