first mate

How often does dog howl for and for how long, on average, each time?

Dogs can also howl if a bitch is in season within a couple of miles radius. Best thing would be first to identify where dog lives and speak to owner. The owner, if they work and leave the dog for any time they may be unaware. Dog daycare or a walker may help if it is separation anxiety. Key thing is try to speak to owner first. Also wanted to add that some dogs and some breeds enjoy howling.

p68, yes, you are quite right.

Does seem an awful lot of money. Where has the demand from these services come from? The football/ sports changing rooms are temporary so that makes sense but thought it would make sense for a toddler play group to be close to the cafe. The cynical side of me wonders if redevelopment of areas in the park enables the council to rewrite terms of use....sorry don't know the correct terminology? As others have said if it ain't broke. It would be good to know who has been lobbying for these changes, is there huge public support or is it something the council has concocted...if so, who and why?

p68, great idea. Tell you what why don't we just hand over policy making to the EDF- seem to get better ideas here in a few minutes than highly paid council officers take a year to make.

Duffy10, the same idea occurred to me but I let it go as I thought it was so obvious that there must be some good reason, like lack of clarity on bye laws, why this had not been done. If it is possible, it does beg the question why so much money was wasted on consultation etc...rather than this simple, cheap option. Wardens could direct people to the notices as well as keeping some handy to give out. You'll always get someone who wants a row but if written in the right way and explained this kind if park diagram could really help.

NXjen,yes, that deli was run by two guys from Singapore- Pacer and Philip. The Turkish store opposite used to be owned by A Greek family and that also functioned as a Greek deli. Old Lordship Lane also had loads of greengrocer stalls and a number of good butchers and bakeries. In my time here the indies have always outweighed chains. If we are going to get more and more chains in, it will change the character of the place- not least garish branding and signage that is favoured by some chains.

Kiera, for goodness sakes. Why should owners with their dog on a lead not also enjoy the ornamental gardens? To be frank and to echo other posters I have over the years seen far more damage at the hands of humans than any dogs - who can forget the arson attacks on trees or the bowling house, what about the regular graffitti episodes on the Japanese Summerhouse, what about the kids who like to tear branches off trees for games, and yes, I have actually seen that both in the Sexby Gardens and by the pond area in the Japanese Garden. Seriously Kiera objecting to a dog off lead in those areas is fair but on lead and under control...really?

Renata, When you say the 'future of the park' does this mean the whole of the park or just the areas that currently house the changing facilities, playground and one o'clock club. I have seen one poster and was left wondering what the term 'future of the park' meant....it feels a little vague and all encompassing.

Lord help us, if true.

Will that be alongside a community medical centre or is the medical side now to be scrapped? A site of this size has to offer something for all of the community not just one section. Fully appreciate we need more schools but we also need more healthcare especially for the elderly.

Thank you Milk for clarifying.

James, Funny I remember differently. I thought you had chosen to champion some residents on Derwent Grove who were pro CPZ. Zenoria did a u turn from being pro to against because they realized CPZ was unlikely to achieve what they had hoped. Seem to recall the consultation came out very much against CPZ overall- it wasn't just a feeling.

James, just for the record, were there actually whole streets that supported CPZ unanimously? I recall there being numbers of individuals on various streets in favour but overall the majority of consultees in ED were against. I also recall that many on one street were initially in favour but then did a rather spectacular u turn. If I have this wrong I stand corrected and please do say which street/s were unanimously in favour.

I'm sure that if Councillors were minded it would be possible to place conditions re car ownership/parking on new developments, however some are so rabidly in favour of CPZ that it is slotted in as a condition of this or that at every available opportunity.

Well for three years anyhow James, eh ;) Can't help but think you have a long game in mind with regard to CPZ. Pack em in tight and wait.

Penguin68, take your point, by Council I meant Southwark Council Planning Dept- but agree, would have helped if I had clarified. No smear of councillors intended, though would imagine they might be interested to know that residents who will be affected by this development have received no notification at all.

KK, Think consultation has been extended by a day- so last day tomorrow. It turns out that many residents in Chesterfield have not received a letter from the council and so were oblivious to the most recent application. Overall this does not look reflect well on the Council.

There is a path around the perimeter edge of Dulwich Park but not the track that goes through it. For many reasons the central track is popular with all park users, the wooded path area that runs parallel to it is also used by pedestrians and cyclists alike. In other parks, like PR, paths into the park are non existant, there is only track. Bawdy Nan,I believe that in Dulwich Park dogs should be kept on a lead on the track. My sympathies are with you in this case, you were showing awareness of your surroundings and the other park user should have done the same. I guess we have all had some near misses. That said I think most of us rub along well and the park is generally a happy place to be.

Mako, it is your assumption that dog owners will only ever need or want to walk on grass, there could be various reasons why the dog owner prefers to stay off grass and walk on a hard surface. I believe that it is reasonable for dog owners to keep dogs on a lead on the track area. I also think it is reasonable for cyclists to adhere to park speed limits and to slow down if other users of the track ( mums and buggies, elderly and disabled, children, joggers, roller skaters, dog walkers etc..) are in clear view. I think this shows consideration on both sides, I don't understand what it is about this that irks you so. Anyhow, I really will sit on my hands after this as we risk going on and on........

Mako, you are missing the point- according to the byelaws dog owners have as much right to use the track, provided their dog is on lead, as any other park user. The question of 'need'as you put it is subjective. I would imagine that children on roller skates and mums pushing buggies may also feel threatened by cyclists speeding excessively..I am sure that feeling is not unique to dog owners. Unless you are suggesting that cyclists give other park users a wider berth? Anyway, we will not agree on this point and I see little to be gained by continuing. Vanessa PMR- I think dog nappies are an utterly bizarre idea, but I feel sure your tongue is firmly in your cheek.

Mako, areas of the park to which dog owners can have access with dogs on lead would be inaccessible without some use of the track, so your point does not stand. Perhaps you are confusing areas of access off lead and areas of access on lead? Dog owners may use the track with dogs on lead,anywhere, any time, they have as much right to be there as any other park user. On a personal note, I have been startled a number of times on the track by cyclists approaching very close from behind, at speed and without any warning, when my dog has been on a short lead. It has felt as though I was missed by inches.

Mako, no dogs should not be allowed to run at strange people at top speed and in the same way, neither should cyclists, especially if they are approaching from behind. Quite apart from that there are speed limits in the park, cyclists could use bells to warn they are approaching and, finally, cyclists and joggers also like to use the perimeter path in the summer months (the area known as the dog walk) and some get annoyed when dogs are there too. I don't think that anyone has suggested that dogs should use the children's playgrounds or football pitches when games are being played or teams are warming up/training.....have they? So not sure what point you are trying to make.

BB I agree, good manners cut both ways. A fair number of cyclists like to power cycle through the parks and I have been startled a number of times walking my dog out of the park. On these occasions the cyclist bears down at top speed, approaching from behind and giving no warning. Many, many times I have stood aside to let parents and toddlers go through park entrances first, without a thank you or acknowledgement of any kind....they are not deliberately rude, they are simply oblivious, the same goes for the power cyclists and for those who walk their dogs without consideration for others. We all need to be more aware of others and that parks are shared spaces. Courtesy and consideration all round is the answer.

Rather odd that only comments in favour appear whereas those against, which we know to have been submitted, are not.