Insuflo

Ah, so it’s not the Lib Dems’ fault for enabling the vicious austerity policies of Cameron and Osborne by getting into bed with the tories? The state we are in is entirely traceable to the coalition years and the Lib Dems should be damned for all time for what you did in 2010-15.

If it’s Brains Rev. James, absolutely. Good luck to them, I hope this venture works well.

Well, shrove Tuesday is Mardi Gras in many countries, an occasion marked with fireworks etc., so could be. Today is also the start of Ramadan: I’m familiar with fireworks marking end of Ramadan but the beginning?

Yes, you’re right, that must be where I was thinking of.

North Cross Road, behind the Palmerston, there’s a carpentry workshop? Not sure what they’re called.

Capita (always spelt in Private Eye as Crapita) has a record of failure in its management of public contracts that goes back decades. Yet they continue to get more government business and have our money lavished on them. Private profit trumps public service every time.

Perhaps the robbers pulled over for a Magnum? A 25-year old Ferrari is probably worth a lot less than many newer cars on the streets locally (£40k-ish, I’m guessing?). I notice the tax is up in a fortnight.

Well, I hope she can help, although it seems the Government needs to get its act together. I’ve been following this story in the news and it must be pretty awful for you. When she was my MP (before the boundary changes), her office responded quickly on the couple of occasions I raised issues with her.

Well done. That’s conclusive. Case closed.

Charming post. Consider getting a life.

Very grown up response. You seem to have trouble with adverbs. I think you mean where people care more.

Take it up with your councillors. And if you are not happy with their response, vote against them in May. I support anti car use measures, despite that some of the measures are a rather blunt instrument. It is only by making car use more difficult for those making unnecessary car journeys that we can reduce air pollution, road deaths, climate changing emissions etc. Ten years from now these arguments will seem as pointless as the arguments over drink driving or compulsory seatbelt wearing in the 70s and 80s. Unnecessary car use is a luxury for the minority that has a negative impact on the majority. But if you disagree, vote accordingly in May. Either way, vote. Use our democracy, as flawed as it may be, because democracy as we know it is under attack the world over. Use it or lose it.

Well, we will find out because it’s a trial. Not a conspiracy, not a sinister plot by dark forces. A trial of a change in road layout. Implemented by traffic engineers who work for the council which we elected four years ago and can kick out on their arses in May, should we wish to do so.

You’ve just blown any credibility you ever had right there.

I agree with you about the debate. However, I really support the trial going ahead. I walked down Ryedale today, from Underhill to FHR at approximately 15:00 and, as I’ve often found, the number of cars and vans using it as a cut through was significant. For a side road, it’s quite difficult to cross for a pedestrian. If I lived on Ryedale and had kids, there’s no way I’d let them out of the house unaccompanied. So, if someone on Ryedale has instigated this change, bloody good on them.

No. You are wrong. The democratic starting point is electing councillors. If you don’t like what they do, you have an opportunity to oust them, periodically. But the idea that everyone in the ward should be consulted on any change is ridiculous. There are people in Lewisham borough who live closer to Ryedale than you do. Should they have oversight and veto also? “The end justifies the means “- J.V.Stalin.

So, everything that happens in the ward has to be approved by you? Handy to know given that I live in the ward. Councillors are delegates; we elect them to make decisions on our behalf. If you don’t like the decisions they make, you can cast your vote against them in May. The dialogue on this thread is infantile.

Good luck with your campaign, Tori. I am a Dulwich Hill voter and a Labour voter for decades. However, for the first time my vote may go to the Greens. I will be looking for a clear commitment to action to reduce car use and prioritise pedestrians, from whichever candidate I support. Southwark Labour’s laudable efforts in this regard have been the main reason for Labour keeping my vote in the recent past. I support the trial closure of Ryedale, which I use frequently as a pedestrian. There are no cogent arguments against the trial save for the usual yap from a martyrdom seeking motoring minority.

From Modern Toss via Bluesky:

I take it they’re not connected to Fika or any other business? Just looking for a busy area to preach?

I haven’t walked down Bellenden on a weekend for ages, is this a regular thing?

When they were on Just Eat, I always used Tse’s on London Rd FH for a takeaway; I really rated them. But they dropped off the app, are they still going? The best Chinese food I’ve had in London is at the Joy King Lau, Leicester Street, W1. First went there on a recommendation 30 years ago.

Brockley Beckham or whatever his name is. Can there be another valid reason he’s all over the BBC?

M&S outlets in railway stations and airports are not usually operated by M&S directly but are a franchised operation, run under licence from M&S. So, there could be some leeway to vary prices.