Earl Aelfheah

Oh I see. We're not discussing the full content of the FOI objectively, or even pretending to have an honest debate? OK. here is an AI generated 'synopsis' of the FOI emails. @first mate which of these statements is untrue? (See how easy it is if you don't use an open or objective summary of the whole document as your premise?) 1. Clear Legal Basis and Strong Procedural Compliance The documentation explicitly grounds the scheme in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (Sections 6, 9, 94, 122, 124) and the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) Regulations 1996, demonstrating a high level of legal awareness and procedural structuring. The report details exactly how ETMOs can be made, their permissible scope, and their time‑limited nature (18 months + possible 6‑month extension), showing officers are working within statutory limits and ensuring transparency. Requirements for notices, deposited documents, inspection rights, consultation with statutory consultees, and publication in the London Gazette and Southwark News are all spelled out and planned for—the hallmarks of careful statutory compliance. 2. Transparent Documentation and Thorough Policy Alignment The reports clearly show alignment with the Streets for People Strategy 2023, including objectives on safety, public realm, active travel, and reduced dependence on car use. This demonstrates that the proposal is linked to democratically adopted policy frameworks. The scheme is also explicitly connected to the Climate Change Strategy, including carbon reduction and active travel encouragement—again showing that decisions are anchored to council wide strategic goals. All costs, funding sources, and resource implications are disclosed, including the £15k estimated implementation cost and confirmation that existing Highways budgets will cover it. This represents strong financial transparency. 3. Use of Evidence and Data to Inform Decision-Making The inclusion of Automated Traffic Count (ATC) data across multiple local roads (mean speeds, 85th percentiles, AADTs) demonstrates an empirical foundation for understanding traffic patterns and identifying pressures on Ryedale. Officers offer an analysis of how traffic behaves in relation to local junctions, indicating that the proposal is grounded in observed patterns rather than assumptions. Evidence from other Low‑Traffic Neighbourhoods (e.g., safety benefits, modal shift) is referenced to support assessment of likely outcomes, showing use of broader research context. 4. Comprehensive Equality Impact and Needs Analysis (EINA) The documents include a full Equality Impact and Needs Analysis, aligned with the Public Sector Equality Duty. This ensures decision‑makers are aware of impacts on protected groups and mitigations needed. The EINA explicitly considers socio‑economic aspects, added duties under council policy, and the need to ensure decision‑makers have sufficient information—an indicator of maturity in equality governance. Officers concluded that the measures advance equality of opportunity for vulnerable road users (children, elderly, disabled individuals) due to reduced traffic volumes—a positive, proactive equality consideration. 5. Cross‑Departmental Input and Multi‑Disciplinary Engagement Multiple teams provided comments or input—Highways, Waste, Legal, Climate, Governance & Assurance, Strategic Resources—showing collaborative governance rather than siloed delivery. The Waste department’s detailed operational feedback is explicitly recorded, demonstrating willingness to engage with operational realities and incorporate service impacts into decision‑making. The involvement of the Climate Change Director, Strategic Director of Resources, and Governance/Assurance teams demonstrates a high level of organisational oversight. 6. Built‑In Monitoring, Proportionality, and Adaptability The scheme is experimental, showing a proportionate, “test‑and‑learn” approach. Rather than implementing a permanent change, the council intends to monitor effects and adapt accordingly. Officers plan regular traffic counts in the first six months, ensuring continuous feedback to inform decisions on permanence. The ETMO framework enables modifications (within statutory limits), demonstrating institutional openness to refinement. Officers explicitly identify potential displacement impacts and propose monitoring adjacent streets—an important indicator of responsible, systemic thinking. 7. Structured Governance Pathway with Defined Sign-Offs The documents outline a clear pathway: IDM → Delivery Board → Strategic Board → LMB → Cabinet Member approval, showing transparency around internal governance stages. Responsibilities are clearly assigned: Cabinet Member decision‑making authority, officer report authorship, and legal/finance sign‑off all appear in the audit trail. Detailed timelines (ETMO drafting, publishing notices, implementation periods) are provided, supporting clarity, accountability, and predictability. 8. Strong Emphasis on Safety, Accessibility, and Public Health The scheme prioritises vulnerable road users and aligns with safety evidence from similar interventions—this is a core statutory consideration under highways and traffic management law. The health impact assessment links the proposal to improved air quality, increased physical activity, and reduced noise—consistent with public health obligations. Emergency vehicle and refuse access are retained or considered explicitly, demonstrating awareness of essential services. Summary Taken together, the Ryedale ETMO documentation demonstrates numerous governance strengths: a clear statutory basis, transparent documentation, cross‑departmental engagement, equality and health considerations, structured approval pathways, data‑driven analysis, and a proportionate experimental approach with built‑in monitoring and adaptability.

The statement that this is an objective summary of the information in the FOI is untrue. If we're not going to be straight forward about that, then it's very difficult to have a good faith discussion. Above is a genuine summary of the content of the emails. If you want to critique them, let's consider them in their entirety, with the full context, not starting from a dishonest premise.

It's not a summary. Let's be honest about the premise first.

That's not an AI 'summary' of the FOI is it? Let's try and be honest. I shared an objective summary of the entire content of the FOI. I was transparent about both the prompt and the LLM used, so you can see that I did not introduce bias, and you can replicated it yourself. What Lebanums has shared is a critique, which has been instructed to cherry pick information to make a directed argument.

My concern relates to the entire content of the FOI. For that reason, I summarised it in an objective and comprehensive manner, rather than selectively extracting a small number of statements out of context while disregarding the remainder. Your assessment of the material has been misleading. What has been presented as a “summary” does not accurately reflect the documents, and you’ve not been straight forward about the bias you appear to have intentionally introduced into its production. The email highlighted by Rockets (selected from the FOI materials), in which an individual raises questions about the potential impact on refuse vehicles, is illustrative - It’s a single message among many, and the corresponding response has not been included. Taken in isolation, it demonstrates only that potential impacts have been considered. Yet it’s presented as evidence of some sort of council impropriety / conspiracy? It’s just searching for anything that might validate a judgment already made. Rocket's has again smeared academics who have published expert, peer-reviewed research (including individuals previously cited favourably when their work aligned with his position), and repeated claims of increased pollution that are demonstrably false. This lack of objectivity, and clear dishonesty - it has nothing to do with good-faith enquiry or ethical concern.

A synopsis is a concise neutral summary. If you ask an LLM for a synopsis or a summary of material, it doesn’t critique the actions or motivations of the authors. Your so called synopsis is nothing of the sort. You’re clearly not being honest about the prompt you used. You want us to believe that you asked for a synopsis and the opening line in the response was: “1. Pre-determination and outcome-driven approach…”? Embarassing.

This is significant because it demonstrates that risks were known, documented, and accepted, not unforeseen. 4. Internal disagreement and warnings ignored At least one council officer: Withdrew from the process entirely Explicitly cited issues they had raised with the scheme Warned of reputational risk and governance concerns Others recommended informal consultation specifically to mitigate those risks — advice that appears to have been overridden or side-lined. This supports an argument that professional concerns were raised but not acted upon. 5. Consultation treated as tactical, not substantive Where consultation is mentioned, it is framed as: A reputational safeguard A way to potentially slow or derail the scheme politically Something to give councillors “cold feet” rather than to shape policy This undermines the credibility of any claim that consultation was intended to be meaningful or influential. 6. Weak evidential basis The documentation: Acknowledges risk that legal justification may not be met Does not demonstrate a clear causal link between the measures proposed and the outcomes claimed This matters for public law fairness, proportionality, and rationality. 7. Concentration of influence While the FOI does not prove misconduct, it does show: A small number of elected members driving urgency and direction Officers framing decisions around political priority Escalation being discouraged once senior backing was confirmed This creates a reasonable perception of undue influence, particularly when combined with: Lack of consultation Accelerated governance Acceptance of known risks The suggestion that you asked for a synopsis (a concise, neutral summary of the material) and it produced an exclusively negative critique of process, is laughable. Why not be honest about the prompt you used? Is it because you asked for AI to identify misconduct (as this response suggests: "While the FOI does not prove misconduct, it does show...")? Because again, that's not enquiry, it's confirmation bias.

Which general-purpose LLM? Because what you say it's provided is not a summary. It's not a synopsis. It's a critique (and sounds a lot like a directed critique). You do not ask for a synopsis (a concise, neutral summary) and get an response along the lines of "While the FOI does not prove misconduct, it does show....".

This makes no sense. What is provided is not a synopsis, it's a critique. Are you honestly suggesting that you asked for a neutral synopsis and it returned things like "While the FOI does not prove misconduct, it does show....". 🤔 What prompt did you use and what LLM are you using?

Using what prompt or prompts?

The summary I provided is the result of the following prompt: "Please give a brief summary of the contents of the attached file" (I uploaded the FOI file). It is an objective summary, with no agenda. Anyone can try it themselves if they doubt this. What prompt have you used to get that output @Lebanums? Because it was almost certainly leading in some way. And this is the problem with FOI as fishing expedition - if you set out to trawl hundreds of pages of documents and private emails looking for something to feed a prejudice (or ask AI to do it), then you will well feel 'vindicated' in your suspicions. But it's cherry picking and confirmation bias, not enquiry.

An objective summary of the email correspondence (created by Copilot), for those not interesting in wading through all of it, or just looking to cherry pick bits that may fit a prejudice [prompt was: "Please give a brief summary of the contents of the attached file" (I uploaded the FOI file)]: Summary of the Attached Files The document is a comprehensive technical and policy pack concerning a proposed Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) for Ryedale, in the London Borough of Southwark. It combines drawings, analysis, equality assessments, consultation notes, and a full cabinet‑member decision report. 1. Engineering Drawings and Design Information The file includes several AutoCAD‑generated plans, maps, and swept‑path analyses showing: Proposed modal filter on Ryedale. Associated planters, bollards, and traffic signs. Proposed one‑way systems on Balchier Road and Cornflower Terrace. Master plan and technical layout drawings. Swept path analysis for various vehicle types (cars, vans, refuse vehicles). These illustrate the physical layout and operational design of the scheme. 2. Experimental Traffic Measures Proposed The scheme intends to prohibit through‑traffic on Ryedale by installing: A modal filter between Underhill Road and Balchier Road. One‑way directions with right‑turn‑only restrictions on Balchier Road and Cornflower Terrace. Physical barriers (planters, bollards). Purpose: to reduce excessive traffic volumes and improve safety. 3. Data and Traffic Analysis The file contains Automated Traffic Count (ATC) results from April 2025 showing: Ryedale has significantly higher daily traffic volumes (~1000 vehicles each direction) than neighbouring roads. Traffic is believed to be using Ryedale as a rat‑run to avoid signals on Dunstans Road. No recent collision history; speeds not considered a primary issue. A pros/cons assessment is also included, highlighting potential displacement to neighbouring streets. 4. Equality Impact and Needs Analysis (EINA) The document includes a full EINA covering: Compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Expected impacts on protected groups (none deemed negative). Positive impacts for vulnerable road users (children, elderly, disabled people). Consideration of socio‑economic and health effects. 5. Cabinet Member Report (Decision Document) A 12‑page formal report summarises: Background to resident concerns reported since March 2025. Rationale for selecting an experimental approach. Policy alignment with Streets for People, Climate Action Plan, and safety objectives. Resource and legal implications (ETMO under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984). Timeline for implementation (ETMO drafting Dec 2025 → Implementation Jan/Mar 2026). 6. Waste Services Concerns The waste and recycling service provided detailed feedback, warning that: The changes could increase heavy vehicle movements, especially refuse trucks. The proposed design may significantly complicate collection routes. Alternative design suggestions (e.g., ANPR filter with exemptions) were proposed. 7. Risks and Consultation Requirements The report highlights: Risks of insufficient informal consultation. Potential resident objections. Risk of increased speeds (suggested mitigation: sinusoidal humps). Need for statutory consultation per the 1996 Regulations. 8. Appendices Appendix 1: Outline design drawings. Appendix 2: Full Equality Impact and Needs Analysis. Process map for the ETMO stages. In Summary The document brings together all technical, legal, policy, equality, and procedural evidence required to support an experimental road closure (modal filter) on Ryedale. It documents the justification, expected impacts, traffic data, formal decision process, and next steps toward implementation.

Have they?

A 5 year old road filter on calton avenue is not forcing traffic onto Ryedale over the other side of Dulwich. Neither has it led as you've claimed, to increases in crime, increases in pollution, or more road accidents (all have reduced). Just because you say things over and over, it doesn't make them true.

It's a difficult site to make work - being located quite far from the other pubs and eateries of Lordship Lane. I really hope they will be successful. Will be a welcome addition.

Agreed! Although they're spelt 'beigels' in Brick Lane 😉

Best bagels in London (Banook makes the list) https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-bagels-in-london#:~:text=The best bagels in London%3A,a tried and tested guide&text=1. Kuro Bagels&text=2. Cafe Columbia&text=3. B Bagel&text=4. Rinkoff Bakery&text=5. Panzer's%2C St John's Wood

This is great news!

Hope no one was seriously hurt.

What if - its' constant innuendo with you. You say that people aren't getting out of their cars, but then quote the fact that the number of people driving has decreased. At the same time there have been steady increases in cycling over more than a decade now, driven in no small part by the type of cycle infrastructure improvements that you oppose. The constant claims of widespread 'displacement' and increased pollution aren't backed up by the research evidence, or by local data, which shows that traffic overall fell after the introduction of the Calton road filter. Air monitoring data shows year on year declines in local No2 levels. You ignore the obvious fact that Waze directs people down Ryedale constantly, in order to avoid the lights and save maybe 30 seconds - and instead blame it on a 5 year old road filter on the other side of Dulwich - it's a classic example of confirmation bias. You're obsession with that filter is unhealthy - you've blamed it for imagined increases in crime and pollution, and now for the impact of a dynamic routing app in a completely different area. It's just nonsense.

I'm aware Rocks. Just not sure how that tallies with your claim that "despite all of the interventions to date, people are not getting out of their cars are they?"

EDG is an A road because it's a major route. Without getting too much into the history of the zonal system, the fact is that it always has been (and always will be) an important East West corridor (unlike Calton Avenue). There is also no evidence of displacement from Court Lane to EDG. There is some evidence that the East section of EDG has seen an increase in traffic as a result of traffic being diverted away from turning left onto Melbourne Grove north. Hmm...

So if they are why is congestion getting worse....you know the answer...;-) So are you agreeing that your claim that people aren't getting out of their cars is untrue? Would be good to establish that first. Then if we're agreed on the premise, I am happy to answer your question.

Also, it's not true that people aren't getting out of their cars. There is plenty of evidence that they are. And there are a lot more people cycling.

They're both B roads. Ryedale is the smaller, narrower street, and that's why there is a proposal to keep drivers on Underhill and discourage people from using Ryedale to bypass the lights - which impacts traffic flow on Forest Hill Road. I agree that there should be some action to reduce traffic on Underhill generally. East Dulwich Grove is an A road.