Sue

Oh yes, you're right. So it could have been a Veolia lorry

Nothing for veggies, then? 😭

Crikey, that's bad. Yes, from the photo it looks like it skidded. A private operator apparently, so not Veolia. No information as to whether anybody was hurt, but unless there are mitigating circumstances (eg the driver suffered a sudden health incident or the brakes failed, though it shouldn't have been going fast enough to need the brakes at that point, surely) it looks like a prosecution for a driving offence is likely? Do vehicles like this have some kind of technology which retains the speed history etc?

Why is it a terrible place for teenagers?

Before I switched, if memory serves there was some sort of thing on Thames Water's website which you could use to determine whether or not you would be better off with a meter. No idea if it's still there. Also, I have a vague recollection that if you found you were worse off financially with the meter after a certain time period, you could switch back. Have I imagined that? Whatever, I don't actually recall hearing of anyone who thought they were worse off with a meter, though I'm sure there must be some.

I think probably the OP is still on the old non metered system if they haven't actually signed up to the meter which was installed? If so, the amount of water used won't affect their bill. As posted above, water bills in this area have gone up/will go up (not sure which) by more than 30%, so that would be a big increase regardless of a meter, if I've understood it correctly. I think we are paying for the privatisation of Thames Water and their greed and inefficiency, basically, but what would I know?

Sorry to be dim, and sorry if I've missed it, but how could widening the pavement in a place of heavy pedestrian use be part of a council anti car policy?

I think it's usually on a different weekend to the Goose Green fair, so maybe not part of the actual Dulwich Festival and not publicised with that?

No, but as I said, it is a matter of weighing up the advantages against the disadvantages, in this case to pedestrians. So do you think that the disadvantages in this case, as identified by Zak, outweigh the advantages to such a degree that the initiative should not be happening at all? I agree that appropriate action should be taken where possible to mitigate the effect of the disadvantages, but that is different to not proceeding at all?

Yes, it wasn't exactly Lewes, he lived in a tiny place near Ditchling Beacon while he was running Hoopers (maybe he moved to Lewes after Hoopers closed?) Near enough Lewes, though! I can't remember what the place was called, or even if it had a name, there were only a few houses. Which was very weird, because I lived in Ditchling for a time many many moons ago, and I drove up the tiny road which passed near those houses every day on my way to work in Stanmer Park (at that time the local college horticulture department was based there). It was a short cut to the park, and there was a locked gate halfway down the road, which I had a key to. No idea if things have changed now, it was a very long time ago. Very small world indeed. We only found out because at Jamie's request we put on music in Hoopers for a time (including Wizz Jones), so we got to know him. ETA: Very sorry Lulark (and Admin), this has no relevance at all to your post.

No, I completely agree, I was thinking of the guys in it.

At least it can't/shouldn't have been going very fast, if it was turning a corner?

It always amazes me how people choose to live near a pub which is already there, and then make life difficult for the pub because of noise! So it's great that Lulark is checking it out beforehand! Hoopers (R.I.P.) had the same problem. People moved in next to the pub and then complained about noise .... People have different thresholds for noise, so probably the best thing would be to go to the house at different times of the week/day/evening and see whether the noise level is acceptable to you inside (if possible) and outside the house (in the garden, if it has one?)? You could also ask the pub what events (if any) they hold during the week, and check out the size of their garden? Noise from the garden will obviously be more in the Summer and when the weather is fine. You could also ask them if they have had any complaints about noise from nearby residents? I imagine they would be happy to tell you, because they won't want anyone else moving in who is likely to cause them grief 😅 Also, they may have a time after which people have to be inside the pub rather than in the garden, so you could ask them about that. Gowlett Road is a nice area to live (and the pub is also a nice friendly pub!) . Good luck!

That really is an extremely negative view! So you think any initiatives to improve things for pedestrians should be banned? Do you think we should go back to horses and carts because motor vehicles cause accidents and pollution? It's a matter of weighing up the advantages against the disadvantages, surely?

😮😮😮 I hope nobody was hurt?