I've been applying my architectural eye to my own neighbourhood, wondering quite what it is that makes parts of Lewisham so problematic. One of them really leapt out at me. Lewisham suffers badly from visual clutter.
The problem is particularly pronounced on Lee High Road, where the above pictures were taken. The combination of gaudy façades and multiples extrusions of signage into the space above the street make the whole place feel busy and, frankly, cheap. It's almost certainly counter-productive, too. That sort of visual clutter discourages people from exploring. There's a reason why the best shopping streets are cleanly and simply signed and some councils ruthlessly control the visual aspect of the retail areas.
While independent shops are arguably good, at least for making an area distinctive, the fast-food outlets that plague our end of Lee High Road are never going to care about their signs being anything other than gaudy. You might compare the similar frontages on Rushey Green, muted by the astonishing width of Lewisham's high street.
I have a dream about Lee High Road mimicking the lauded 'natural curve' of the High in Oxford, new views slowly emerging at pedestrian pace.
I'm told that there is a review of signage (or at least that bit which the Council puts up) underway at the moment. Anyone with points to make can make them through me and I'll pass them on to the appropriate officer.
Not sure that the review will be able to touch on the signs that businesses use - which is a matter for planners (so us again, but a different set of us - life is complicated). Personally I'm torn between understanding the desire of traders to advertise their shops and the sense of how ugly it all gets without some level of control.
The level of clutter reaches a point where it is counterproductive, and the sign simply disappears into the 'noise'. Trouble is no one is willing to take the first step and remove a sign - it seems that this only happens when you start going up market and the style of choice becomes minimalist.
I know one should be keeping eyes on the road whilst driving along the LHR but I've recently become interested in the irregular spellings often displayed on it's aforementioned signs. Must go down on foot with camera and finally find how many there are...
I just had cause to cycle down Lee High Road and couldn't find any bad spelling, must've been a dreem. Apologies!