first mate

Unbelievable. The current building footprint at ground level is massive. A fourth storey would be overdevelopment. What is planning thinking? Where is James Barber, he has gone very quiet on this despite repeated requests to comment.

Bels, thanks for the heads up about this online survey. I had no idea of its existence. I wonder how many other locals know about it?

KK, TBH the whole thing is so convoluted and complicated that it is hard to know what is what, but no I did not get that letter. Are you any the wiser about the fourth storey?

James, good to see you are back answering questions. Any news on the 4th storey M&S?

Hi James, nearly a month gone by and still no news on the fourth storey atop the M&S build. Have there been any developments (no pun intended).

Lee, thank you for writing this very moving piece and letting us know.

rahrahrah, I have never excused it, quite the contrary. However, I also happen to find broken glass pretty obnoxious too and wonder about the mentality of someone that leaves either dog dumps or broken glass in public areas for others to walk into. Jamesb, well it'll be interesting to see how this works and how well it works. I'm in favour of the principle of owner registration in the hope it leads to more reaponsibe dog ownership, but my hunch is that those who do not give toss and are happy to leave their dog's dumps around the neighbourhood will be hard to pin down.

Oh crikey yes, forgot that one, and human variety plentiful at various points...poor you and poor toddler. Yuk.

It is a pain I agree. I am also fed up with having to dodge scattered broken glass, so dangerous for toddler feet as well as dogs paws, and don't get me started on the increasing scourge of chewing gum that is littering and disfiguring pavements, especially the area around Northcross Road. My other big beef is discarded chicken bones and cakes like chocolate brownies ( either, potentially life threatening, can land a dog in the vet with extremely expensive bills). What can be done about all these anti social, and in many cases health threatening, littering habits?

James, I had thought you were broadly in favour of the whole development bar the fourth storey? If this is not the case, and I am not aware of your many official objections, I apologise. That said, accurate and timely information on the fourth storey would be most welcome, not least if it is to go through, as the current structures seem to suggest. Is this also going to amount to a planning time out and also go through on a technicality? So we do, by your account, have a planning dept that is not fit for purpose. Unable to meet deadlines and insufficient staff to undertake enforcement. No wonder developers are getting carte blanche. I don't think it helps though to, again, make it a party political point. It may help you somewhere along the line, but it doesn't help local residents.

Anna D, It would probably be most constructive all round if you took this to the practice manager who is best placed to have a word with the relevant staff member/s and you can discuss your experience in confidence. Sometimes under pressure things like people skills can slide. I agree though, that aspect is vital in a job like GP reception. Perhaps some staff members need a bit more training or just a reminder about professionalism at all times.

James, the application by the developer to get their fourth storey penthouses is currently being looked at so it is a current concern for those living next to it, though I know you welcome the development. Again, is it not faintly shocking that the developer just goes ahead and puts in part of the structure before the decision is even in? The building itself is also as ugly as can be. I also gather that the proposed substation, to be sited outside, should legally be inside the new build. What a farce.

James, thanks and I look forward to hearing your feedback on the state of play re the M&S 4 storeys structure after the weekend. The hope is what is there will have to come down.

DaveR, oh dear.

DF,spot on, sure you're not in local politics?

LondonMix, I agree, it's a lazy, kneejerk term that becomes pretty redundant and meaningless when used in the context of discussion on developments that have local impact.

Yes, DF, that is why I asked DaveR if he thought those/any family who requested a hangar on their street should also give up their car, if they have one. He did not answer.

Fruityloops, bless you, bad news has always outweighed good, twas ever thus.

Keano77, exactly, this is a good example of a throwaway idea that sounds good on the surface but once you begin to unpick it there are fairly obvious shortcomings. I therefore cannot applaud those who are encouraging residents to get asking. This feels like someone creating a demand to fulfill yet another agenda that ticks some political or funding box. There is too much of this random meddling without proper planning or forethought going on...look at the whole Northcross Rd junction redesign at astronomical cost fiasco. The premise there was to make it safer and nicer!!!!! All I can say is that these hangars are a sort of cyclist CPZ and bring us one step closer to CPZ en masse..job done.

Floops, Inevitable on a local forum I'd gave thought.

The best thing would be to site them on existing yellow lines, so long as they do not cause issues with lines of sight or turning cars. I would be reluctant to see parking reduced further by just plonking them anywhere in the street.

DaveR, should those who seek or have one family member who seeks, a bike hangar outside their house, immediately relinquish any family car ownership or would the expectation be that you can have both? I'm thinking parents who might want a bike hangar so kids can cycle to school but might also want regular use of a car. In terms of comparisons with other cities, the fact that ED has rather large hills either end must surely be taken into account?

James, since the out of character over development of M&S and other local sites is well underway I cannot help but view your last assertion as anything but empty rhetoric. Edited to say but I really pray you prove me wrong.