Heart108

Thanks bawdy-nan for the detailed links. I am persuaded that reduction of accident death and injury is worth any extra pollution caused - if at all - by driving at 20mph. I still would like to be persuaded that I am just being paranoid when I suspect speed cameras will be used as a cynical inflexible tool for generating revenue rather than contributing to a safer driving culture. There has got to be open debate based on intelligent science behind choice of speed limits - whether urban roads or motorways. bawdy-nan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Here's a few links which collate the evidence: > > http://www.rospa.com/about/currentcampaigns/public > health/info/rs4-casestudy-20-mph-zones.pdf > > http://www.dannydorling.org/wp-content/files/danny > dorling_publication_id3924.pdf > > http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/res > earch-summary-no2-20mph-zones.pdf > > from the tfl report above: > Casualties > The impact on casualties due to the > introduction of 20 mph zones in London > can be summarised as follows; > > ● Allowing for background changes in > KSI casualty frequencies, the > installation of 20 mph zones has > reduced the frequency of road user > casualties within the zones by about > 45% and reduced the frequency of > fatal or serious (KSI) casualties by > about 57%. > > ● There were statistically significant > reductions in the KSI casualty > frequency for most classes of road > user within the 20 mph zones. > > ● The KSI casualty frequency for > children also fell significantly -- > by 60%. > > ● The severity ratio (the ratio of KSI > casualties to all casualties) fell from > 0.16 to 0.12 following zone > installation ? indicating a reduced > severity. > > ● The average annual reduction in fatal > and serious (KSI) casualties per 20 > mph zone suggests an annual saving > of about 66 KSI casualties across all > of London?s current 20 mph zones. > Using DfT figures this is equivalent to > a current annual saving of at least > ?8.8 million, at 2001 prices. > > Here's the 8 page thread where all of this was > discussed last month > http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5 > ,1459395,page=1

1. Could someone post a link to the traffic engineering argument behind the blanket 20mph? This is a huge decision for Southwark Council to have taken. Where and when was the debate/consultation/reasoning behind this decision? Who took it? 2. Could someone post a scientific link to back up the argument ( mentioned a couple of times on this forum) that driving at 20mph is more polluting/petrol consuming than 30mph? 3. Having written to to challenge elements of the recent Lordship Lane parking bays debate, I received an impressively detailed/reasoned email from Michael Herd - Network Development Officer answering specific points in my letter. ( I haven't had time to digest his email yet enough to agree/disagree with the points he made but in terms of reasoned accountability surely a 20MPH blanket borough policy deserves a similar statement from the Council and those behind the 20MPH Zone decision?) * * * I would like to read the science behind the 20MPH speed limit. I am amazed that I have never received anything through my front door ( SE22) nor been aware of any consultation. Has anyone else? * * * In the mean time, can someone answer this: how is it sensible to impose on a road as wide and free as Denmark Hill the same 20mph speed limit that you would impose on a highly populated residential side road with speed humps? I defy those who took the decision to implement the 20mph speed limit everywhere to state categorically that it is not a hidden policy decision to intend to introduce speed cameras as a way of generating revenue for the borough rather than 20MPH limit being strictly necessary for safety and reduction of pollution.

Long live the legendary Dulwich Hamlet FC!!! A rare and precious asset in the community. The team played great football yesterday - it was a thrill to watch. Spurs beat who?

Rye Cars are still the solution - friends with 2 small children need picking up from Eurostar and bringing to east dulwich. Rye quoted ?20.00 and can provide car seats. Keen quoted over ?30 , don't have car seats and wanted to charge substantially extra to pick up a car seat from us, and same charge would apply if we dropped seat off at their office. PS thanks Rodney for your input!

worldwiser Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How does one go from accusing an elected official > of 'deliberately avoiding questions' and > 'contempt' in a tone which badly reflects the > apparent 'respect' in which he is held, to > offering an emoticon to convey a change of mood > after receiving an undeservingly pleasant reply. > Sometimes (by which I mean often) the normal > protocols of human engagement are really > evanescent on this forum. Hi world wiser I'll explain how?;) Having been a bit over the top in expressing frustration at Councillor Barber not giving clear answers to what I felt were reasonable questions, I expressed appreciation of his level reply and offer to write via email via friendly public word and that wonderful 'modern protocol of human engagement' the smiley emoticon LOL BUT ACTUALLY THANKS TO YOUR GOOD SELF EXCELLENT QUESTION :) ( question to 'How Can I help?' 10th March 1.41pm) worldwiser Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > James, I wonder if you could illuminate us on how > our local roads are selected for resurfacing? It > seems utterly haphazard since pretty much all the > residential roads in the area are in an equally > distressed state. How come Silvester, Goodrich and > Pellatt are the lucky ones? Why not, say Lacon, > Crawthew and Archdale? Be interesting to see how > these things are assessed - is it a vote? my latest goodwill towards Councillor Barber is somewhat dampened because his answer shows he knows more than he is willing to express here this time round on the forum in response to my questions: 'Each ward has ?36000' to spend on roads - well that explains why everyone is rushing round using the money up before it gets taken back. What is the point of a contract that makes the council spend it anyway whether the road repair is needed or not?????!!!! What a mindless stupid wasteful system!!!!! .. which encourages spending for the sake of spending and not on the basis of need. No wonder Councillor Barber does not or cannot publicly answer the questions I originally put to him. Because also he appears to be party to that spending ' This year and last year WE allocated funds to ?' James Barber Wrote:10th March 1.41pm ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi worldwiser, > Two avenues. > Southwark Council employs consultants to produce > an annual road condition report. The majorityl of > ?4.2m is allocated on this basis. Slips and trips > also inform this. > Each ward also have ?36,000 devolved capital spend > to allocate to highways. This year and last we > allocated funds to fix Goodrich Road (Barry Road > to Friern Road), eastern end of Pellatt Road. > > The issue is a huge capital backlog. I know my > political group are committed that if we take > control of Southwark Council in the 22 May local > elections we will used some of the next 10 years > ?1bn capitla spend of Southwark Council to fully > catch-up all highway repairs. This would cost > circa ?18m. The forum is the place for these facts to come out: 1 - Who takes the decision to spend money on repairing roads at Southwark Council? 2 - Are the actual figures and records available to the public? On what website links? 3 - Is the money being spent for the sake of it because it will be 'lost' if it is not spent? 4 - What is the point of a budget for each ward not based on need? ( e.g. like a GP surgery having a 'budget' for every patient: if you are not sick your GP just spends it on you anyway - no matter if there are no funds left for someone else really sick because you have had a facial and a massage) It really makes no sense ? 'mendacious' .. ? - to suggest that 'the real problem is that there is a backlog' and the Lib Dems would solve this if they got into power. The problem of the backlog is completely secondary to the BIGGER PROBLEM that existing funds are clearly not being spent according to a priority of need.

Sure James, thanks for your reply - my apologies if I appear to be getting at you! Perhaps it is unfair to expect you to answer these questions/ or seek answers to an anonymous person on a forum. I will send an email :)

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi heart108, > Speed bumps cost around ?1,800 each. > > highway maintenance can either be undertaken just > before the top surface fails - its really cheap to > do at this point as you skim a tiny amount from > the top and relay it. OR you can wait until you > have potholes and cracks and then its much more > involved and significantly more expensive. > Clearly it's better to renew a road at the former > stage than at the latter state. Hence why people > wonder what on earth is going on when what appear > good roads get renewed and other that look a state > don't. Once they're a state they cost loads to fix > and waiting a little longer won't make much > difference to the cost of renewal. > > BUT ideally with a 10 year ?1bn. capital plan > southwark could afford to catch-up on all its > highway repairs. That's what my lot would do if we > take control of the council 22 May. Hi James, With the greatest respect, I find your answer absolutely frustrating in it's generalised unspecificity - a repetition of what you said earlier. This feels like you are deliberately avoiding the precise questions I put several times in this thread. It feels like contempt for the debate. If you have no wish to engage with them, or simply cannot, fair enough .. at least have the decency to say so. I am feeling my own good will towards the credibilty of you and your party drain rapidly away.

grace3 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Conways are glorified 'knackers' they are doing no > more than travellers offering dodgy tarmac that > will break up in the first frost. They have been > bankrolled to provide all the plant . Grace, my heart is absolutely with your sentiment! ... - but seriously, if we are going to get somewhere, the only 'smooth route' is via level questioning and the publication of facts (yours as well?). I sincerely hope that Councillor Barber perhaps along with other Southwark officials responsible for these spending decisions can produce evidence to satisfy any sceptics that contractors and council are actually doing a great job.

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > hi Heart108, > All the data is based on actual surveys of roads. > In fact several years surveys to see the rate of > highway breaking up. So partly forecasting when a > road will fail - it's cheaper to resurface before > structural failure. Once structural failure > involved its really expensive to fix. Partly > responding to structural failure. Hi James, the general principle you explain is indeed sound - and I have no quarrel with it. The facts I am asking for relate specifically to the decisions on individual bits of road. I think we all agree open government/freedom of information means/ accountability and transparency is important. That an individual long term resident of East Dulwich, council tax paying etc should be able to look up the facts and the costs of a stretch of road which he/she has known intimately for decades. I remember speaking once with a contractor who was doing the speed bumps in Friern Road round the corner from the stretch I am talking about. He said that each speed bump cost ?4000.00 and that was several years ago. Where can I look up the cost of the road resurfacing specifically for the Upland Rd/Piermont Green stretch? Where can I look up the report that says that this was necessary? Do you not agree with me that this information should be available? What is frustrating me about your response so far is that it is not specific to the example I raised. I am not against improving the area. I am in favour of residents having some knowledge of and influence over how money is spent directly on roads and pavements in their area. I hate the idea that this money is being spent ( presumably tens of thousands of pounds) on something for which the evidence is not available to the council tax payer & there is no consultation or notice. Why should someone living in a run down area of the Borough subsidise well to do streets of East Dulwich where houses are worth a fortune and the traffic is extremely light .. Unless there is a clearly accountable case for each piece of spending? > The problem isn't that resurfacing is occurring > but that not enough it taking place. We still have > lots and lots of crappy roads in East Dulwich and > across Southwark. If the problem is that we have lots of 'crappy roads' across Southwark and a backlog, and inadequate funds, all the more reason to make really sure that each individual piece of work is desirable and necessary. PS Can you supply some links for the information you gave earlier - " Inventory data was imported into horizons to develop the capital programme. 1) SCANNER survey data for A,B, and C roads for 2010/11, and 2011/12. Giving coverage of the complete classified road network as defined for the ROAD 2000 project. 2) DVI survey of 100% of the unclassified carriageway and footway using 2012/13 and 2013/14 surveys. 3) CVI survey data of the unclassified carriageway for 2008/9,2009/10,2010/11 and 2012/13. 4) GIS model for United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) survey network The overarching aim was to be able to allocate capital funding based on whole life costing. "

Thanks James, I appreciate your joining the discussion and offering some information. Surely there must be a balance struck between data being fed into a software package - and - a road expert coming to visit the actually site in order to determine whether it should be resurfaced? How does this work in Southwark - who are the decision makers? Did someone actually come and look at the surface of Upland road between Piermont Green and how much did this cost? I really can't believe that it was necessary doing this piece of work and it has led me to question whether other road resurfacing works are actually necessary @jaih1 - surely it is wasteful if it is not necessary? I am talking about specific decisions not the general principle of improving roads * * * A term I would love explored which James refers to is ' whole life costing' - this is the kind of mechanism which enables a private company to charge ?4000 for a grit bin that costs ?400 A recent BBC File on 4 did a brilliant investigation into the relationship between Birmingham Council's multimillion deal with a private accountant company - here is where the term 'whole life costing' came up: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/04_03_14_fo4_theaccountantkings.pdf I will bet you Upland Rd would have easily lasted another decade or more

Questions for Southwark Councillors: 1 - Why is there so much road re-surfacing going on in East Dulwich in areas which are already prosperous and well maintained compared to other parts of the borough? 2 - Who decides why it is necessary and where are their decisions published on the Southwark website? ( Freedom of Info) 3 - What does does the resurfacing cost? 4 - Is it related to spending excesses in budget for the sake of it as we near the end of the financial year? * * * Example: recent resurfacing of the stretch of Upland Road between Piermont Green and Underhill Rd with 3 speed humps The road resurfacing seems pointless and wasteful because: a) The road surface and humps were in pretty good condition ( the surface was so smooth that kids used to skateboard regularly) b) The road is in a crescent loop ( with Friern blocked off) etc and it has ZERO through traffic and is used only by residents or deliveries. PROVE THIS CONCLUSION IS WRONG: the real reason for all this road resurfacing is to do with wasteful contracts which have clauses that need the money spent.. and in fact this is scandalous waste when lots of services that affect people are in dire need of funding and there are other areas of the borough which could do with the money spent.

I applaud 100% seh and James Barber's practical advice - this is clearly the way to go ( rather than throw in the towel and look at other premises for Pretty's). We are lucky to have in East Dulwich such a precious and priceless asset as Pretty's - a fruit and vegetable business run by a wonderful family who have the guts, commitment and stamina to have kept it going for so many years - always utterly professional and yet always delivered with honest genuine caring about the customer. If local bye law does not provide for protecting an asset such as this, then there is something fundamentally missing from the values of local government. Southwark Councillors other than James, where are you? We need to pick our battles in an age where sole trader businesses are becoming unable to compete with global chain establishments on the high street. This is surely one worth fighting if there is a hope of galvanising support ( like the successful campaign not to place a mobile phone mast on Dawson's Heights a few years back). I am sure masses of Pretty's customers would sign a petition if it was made clear and easy. Someone please: 1) Clarify exactly the legal position if a substantial petition was presented. 2) Does the law provide protection of a trader's right to continue trading on particular premises in the same way that a sitting tenant of many years has rights? seh Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Has legal advice been sought? I have on pretty > good authority that a section 25 notice (if this > is a 54 act business tenancy)needs to be 6-12 > months long and this sounds like it wasn't. So a > solicitor should be found to check ASAP or the > landlord will be getting the property wrongly.

I am no apologist for Virgin ( see http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,691135,801705#msg-801705) but am always in search of what exactly might be going wrong. For the record I have had very consistent service/reliability from the package ( phone/tv/large broadband) for over a year. And over all the periods referred to in this thread, have not had a problem. All this by way of suggesting that diagnosing a problem may be much more local ( i.e. house or street issue) rather than an area issue. I agree about the call centre - it is pot luck whether the person at the other end is able to have a real conversation as opposed to reading a script

Bit late now for the 'Glorious 12th' of August but it's good to know that ' The open season in the UK is 1 October ? 1 February, under the Game Act 1831. Generally [pheasants] are shot by hunters employing gun dog to help find, flush, and retrieve shot birds. Retrievers, spaniels, and pointing breeds are used to hunt pheasants'. Please PM me if you are local with suitable dog. H

An actual pheasant actually photographed a day ago in a garden near Piermont Green! Is this as extraordinary and exciting as I feel? Or could it be a normal visit from a bird stationed near the lake sanctuary in Peckham Rye Park? H

Anyone done a comparison on Virgin vs BT - apparently BT fibre optic is in the area? Also for the record - i) am on Virgin Broadband and not had a problem for months ( SE22 area) though many previously ( see my other threads here) ii) BT landline went on the blink ( white noise no signal) - and within a few hours BT engineer had arrived, installed new master junction and totally sorted it. I was seriously impressed

DJKillaQueen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There are several church and community halls within spitting > distance of the Ivy house that already provide > cheap (and free) rehearsal and group space. Most interesting - which ones did you have in mind? It would be useful to know.

Is Harris becoming a monopoly school provider in Southwark? And is this a 'bad thing'? The answers are far from simple. By all accounts they have made a success of transforming the old Waverley Girls school in Colyton Rd and building and opening the new Harris Boys opposite Peckham Rye park. But this was part of the Blair driven change of culture removing control of education from Local Education Authorities in favour of Academies and it appears there is no going back to this ideal many of us would have preferred. And as the years go by, does Southwark have the stomach and the skills to take on that responsibility? I would like someone from Southwark Education to comment on this. The Harris phenomenon is part of a culture that also sees individual private traders in Lordship Lane increasingly under threat from Caf? Neros and private international and national mega businesses with huge clout and expertise let it be said. Whether this is ideologically what we want is another question. Harris now have so much experience of building running and administering schools from start to finish, is there a viable alternative in Southwark for the proposed new primary school? Although Harris Boys East Dulwich has had a glowing OFSTED, we have yet to see what the school is like when it is completely full in ( I think) 2015 and whether they were right to claim at the time of planning permission back in 2008, that it was not a problem to house the same number of pupils ( including a sixth form) on the Lower Site which is a third of the size of the Girls site in Colyton Rd. Consultations with local people at the time were pretty much a question of ticking boxes, ignoring the fact that most parents consulted wanted a the Girls and Boys school to be linked with a Mixed Sixth Form on the ( larger) Upper Site. My own view is to wish Harris well and continue to give them the benefit of the doubt, may they prove pessimists wrong. But it is essential that a huge organisation who now control so much power in terms of money and land resources.. and influence over our children - continue to be held to account in an open positive debate. This forum is a critical part of that debate.

This thread may be of interest: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,691135,page=1

Virgin Broadband update: Dear All, There has been a massive improvement in my Virgin broadband reception since I did the following this afternoon. Here's the story: You will recall from the start of this thread that I was very dissatisfied with slow broad band despite paying the high rate 50mg tarif. Reception was particularly bad in the loft (where I work). Our home pretty standard size victorian semi detached). I have since last October 2010 been trying to sort it out - and put up with fluctuating performance. The Virgin technicians are really really good if you can actually persuade the helpline to send you one over for a home visit. The technicians on the phone line are of 'variable' knowledge and efficiency. The most recent home visit technician I had a few months ago from from Virgin was brilliant - he suggested that the separate router and modem I was using ( supplied by Virgin) were poor and said the best thing was one of their 'Superhub' modem and router in one. But he warned that even that signal was was not going to reach up powerfully to the top of the house and that reception would not be very good. He suggested that I take the old router and locate it at the top of the house, and run a CAT 5 cable from the Superhub in the living room up the wall and into a window - and then put a junction box there into which I plug the old router. Thus the Superhub would serve downstairs and the old Router would serve upstairs. * * * It took ages for me to get a friend to come round and actually run the cable ( drilling through the wall etc) up to the top. But that was finally done recently and then had an electrician connect the correct CAT cable converter to the cable. ( It looks like an ethernet lead). Then I spent the best part of 2 bours this afternoon on the phone to a technician in a Virgin Call centre near Mumbai trying to get the whole damn thing to work. * * * What he did not realise immediately .. amazing that he did not realise this considering his job... was that in effect you have to create a second completely independent wireless network for each router. This despite me downloading an application from Virgin called "Rescue" which gives the Technician at the other end COMPLETE CONTROL of your screen.. !!! But this was instructive because I was able to watch him exploring (surprisingly tentatively - perhaps because it was like having someone watch over your shoulder as you go through their closet) all the familiar Airport and Network and Apple System menus that are as familiar to me as the shops on Lordship Lane which I have tramped up and down for decadeses ... And I suggested several times that the answer was not to be found on the computers - either downstairs or upstairs as to why we failed to get an airport connection. But working co-operatively into the second hour, we stumbled on the totally obvious fact that the router part of Superhub router needs to be enabled ( as opposed to the modem part) - and that we needed to set up 2 separate networks if we were going to use 2 routers. I literarlly was on the phone and walking up and down stairs with the laptop trying connections with and without the direct cable for the best part of 2 hours... In the end it was worth it - we set up a second network and the whole house is +ZINGING with efficient snappy broadband connection. But they clearly arent used to this kind of setup or assisting people to set it up so he did very well to hang in their and between the two of us we worked it out. * * * But folks here is my tried and tested recipe for good broadband connection if you need a really fast connection work etc throughtout the whole house. 1 - Think in terms of having 2 networks. This means you have 2 separate local domains - one for each router - where you need to log in and set the name of each network and the password separately for each. Virgin technicians used to instruct one how to do this over the phone but they now have this program which enables them to control your screen. I think that it is perfectly ok and safe.. though its your choice.And of course once they are logged out no one can touch your computer ( I think) and you can watch what they are doing while you are on the phone to them... If you have a router/modem all in one set up, that could go near the point where the cable comes in the home on the ground floor. Or else have the router close to the modem. Log In and call this Network 1 or whatever, with password. 2 - From that router/modem set up, run a CAT cable to the further point in your home away from that and install a small junction box. Then in the second Location create a new Network 2 with its password. 3 - In your Airport or Internet preferences you now have a choice of logging into 2 different networks in the same household - both networks will show up in your system obviously. Hope this is of help Best H NB Apart from the expense of getting someone to sort the cables out to a different part of the house, it does not cost anything extra to set up a new network - the most you will have to do is buy a 2nd router and understand with (if need be but not necessarily) the assistance of your ISP how to login and create a local network

Great point - I appreciate you bringing this up. The bags without handles have been driving me nuts - you get less in them, more difficult to tie up and easier to split when you try and lever them out of the container when they are full. Please revert to the previous bags with handles - they dont need to be stronger... PS On the subject of Blue Box collection, yes they need to be collected more often... even with crushing ours get too full ( family of 4)

thanks Browncoffee.. most useful Diavolo is indeed the ring main adapter I got from Maplins in Stanstead Rd. It didnt work that well when I tried but perhaps I will have another go - now that the VM technician recommends it. They are generally good independent thinkers, the ones that I have met on visits here...

Browncoffee Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks Heart108.I'll go through the questions with > them and post responses. Was just wondering if you the VM technician came round, and if you had any light to add to the current debate?

For everyone's information this is my latest VM bill: DATE/PERIOD 3July - 2nd August Telephone Line Rental - ?12.99 .... [i use this line for incoming fax calls only] Phone, Broadband XL & TV discount -?17.00 ..... [ This is a 'discount' I negotiated months ago by asking for a 'deal' ] Permanent Number Conceal (1470) ?00.00 ......[ No idea why this included here zero pence] M+ (Starter) ?6.50 ...... [ This is the TV package which includes Catch Up.Seems good value] XXL 50 Mb Broadband ?45.00 ...... [ Ridiculously overpriced even if it delivered. Never has since Oct 10) Paper Bill Charge ? 1.50.......... TOTAL .................................?48.99 PS When I negotiated the 'discount', they said they could do it by effectively giving me the phone and tv for free. Actually I did not want the phone or tv that much as I could do without the phone and the standard TV freeview is enough But their bottom line was the ?45 for the Broadband was not negotiable

Browncoffee Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Have had VM technicians [snip] we're once again expecting an > engineer to come round on Monday. It would be really interesting to post back here after asking the technician the following questions: 1 - What is the make and model of your current modem? Is it the 'best and latest' that VM have to offer? ( I actually have 3 useless modems which they sent at different stages to fob me off as a 'stock response' to fix the broad band and the last time the technician came he said he could offer me a better one but have not heard back) 2 - Ask him to measure the signal from the street into your home and make a note of it. ( Compare it to what you are supposed to be getting for the bandwidth you are paying for) 3 - Ask him how far the VM box is from your home. The further you are the weaker the signal. They have the capacity to boost the signal at the box. It seems to me that one of the tactics is to keep back the signal until someone complains about it. Then they can give you a little boost and you feel better :) 4 - Ask him what he thinks about the previously discussed 'ring main' adapter that connect the router via ethernet to your electricity circuit. What make system does he recommend off the record? 5 - Do a speed test (google broadband speed test)while he is there - compare whether it is consistent with the price band you are paying