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Campaign Update | 26 Nov No. 12 saved – but no. 3 still delayed TfL has decided not to axe the no. 12 bus route, which is good news for Dulwich locals. Other vital bus routes like the no. 3 are still delayed, however, by congestion on boundary roads caused by the LTNs. No local councillors at public meeting On 22 November, two days after the deadline for the Dulwich Village - Streets for people - Southwark Council “consultation” on the design of the Dulwich Village junction (both of Southwark’s proposals included the surprise closure of Turney Road), five residents’ associations held a public meeting to discuss local concerns. Topics raised were the damage being done to Village businesses, the displacement of traffic on to boundary roads, and the difficulties faced by vulnerable residents. Although invited, neither local councillors nor Dulwich’s MP attended. The organisers of the public meeting can be contacted via dulwichtownhall@gmail.com. A letter challenging the legality of the “consultation” on the design of the Dulwich Village junction, particularly the closure of Turney Road, has been drafted by a local resident who is also a solicitor. If you live on or near Turney Road and would like to support this with your signature, please contact your residents’ association for further details. The closing date for signatures is 28 November 2022. Dulwich LTN in The Times Janice Turner commented on the Dulwich Village LTN in The Times on 16 November. She notes the gigantic concrete planter at the junction and says, “I watch in awe at the money squandered and the self-righteous intransigence towards elderly residents or businesses.” Debate in the House of Commons On 12 November, One Dulwich sent an open letter to our local MP Helen Hayes asking her to support Warrington South MP Andy Carter in an adjournment debate about the way the LTN in his local area had been imposed despite strong local opposition. On 18 November, Helen replied to One Dulwich, saying she had been unable to attend on 14 November owing to a prior commitment. She went on to say that she had been closely monitoring the progress of any low traffic interventions locally and raising the diverse views of her constituents with the Council. We replied to Helen on 22 November saying that we are asking her to a) represent and champion her constituents’ needs, not just raise their concerns, and b) to do so at a national level, both in parliament and with Richard Holden MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state for roads and transport. You can read the full text of the adjournment debate here. As you can see, Robert Holden stressed that authorities should listen and make changes to schemes in the light of real-world experience and feedback from local people. He also recognised concerns about poorly designed LTNs leading to increased congestion on boundary roads.

Where does it end tough? Southwark labour council is damaging environment and making peoples' lives miserable - how can this be remedied, who do we ask for help?

What really worries me is that they want to close off an entire Dulwivh Village plus and push all traffic onto the LL and South Circular. The latter has never been as congested as it is now. Obviously the council will ignore the outcome of the consultation as they've done previously because they don't care. Not sure how you get your arguments through to someone who is blinded by ideology.

Last chance to object – deadline 20 November If you haven’t already done so, please object to Southwark’s plans for the Dulwich Village junction. Not only do the proposals block blue badge holders, NHS workers and carers, but Southwark’s surprise closure of Turney Road would displace traffic over a wide area. See Object to junction plans — One Dulwich and forward the link to friends, family and neighbours – there is just a week left to register your views. Our open letter to the Leader of the Council Southwark’s Labour manifesto promised that Labour would work with TfL to reduce traffic on main roads and make bus journeys quicker and more reliable. The Dulwich LTNs have had the opposite effect. In our open letter, we ask Cllr Kieron Williams – who is now on the board of TfL – to explain. Add your voice to ours by emailing kieron.williams@southwark.gov.uk. Our open letter to our MP Helen Hayes On Monday 14 November, Andy Carter, MP for Warrington South, is leading an urgent debate on LTNs in Parliament because 87% of residents affected by closures in his constituency want them scrapped. In our open letter, we are asking our MP Helen Hayes to join the debate and support Andy Carter’s call for LTNs to be taken out if local people don’t want them – reminding her that the majority has always been against the closures in Dulwich. Contact Helen by emailing helen.hayes.mp@parliament.uk.

Yeah but who cares? People who voted Southwark labour? - No. People living outside of LTN / off-main roads? No. Southwark labour Cllrs - Hell no. Not for many years to come (as long as they get their salaries). Have they ever cared ? I do not think so

I talked to someone from TW and they said the work is being carried out at 2-4am to minimise the impact on people as they often have to turn the water off - this apparently is why we don't see any activity there during the day. Who knows. I was on my way home around 2am on Fri and there was nobody. It should be completed tomorrow - we shall see. I asked them to update the website with the latest status. I agree r: the local councillours - has any of them been in contact with TW, tried to chase the repair?

The work is to finish on 8/11 apparently, just wondering what this 'work' actually is.

Everyone should try and complain. What a terrible waste of money, time and resources the TW is! They dig out a hole under an 'emergency' banner and dissppear!! Not a single person there to do any work and they will leave this mess for who knows how long!

Excellent idea :)

Introducing the LTN, denying its negative impact on those living outside of the closed roads, data manipulation, ignoring results of the consultation, bulling TfL staff for telling the truth, pandering to cycling lobby, pursuing Dulwich village utopia - Southwark council has moved into a parallel universe, the La La Land, where everyone cycles everywhere, Ambulances, social care workers, NHS, blue badge holders, buses, fire brigades, pavements - none of these is needed because there is no illness, no old age, no fire, no pedestrians - everyone cycles and lives happily ever after in La La Land.

Well, just wait for labour to win general election - they will ban all vehicles and pedestrians full stop. No buses, no ambulances, no delivery lorries. It will only be cyclists and eScooters :)

If you are stuck in this traffic - or any traffic for that matter - please do not honk. It doesn't help the situation and you make it so much worst for people who happen to live there.

I've emailed them also, will be contacting TfL as well. It is urgent repair apparently and yet no one is there and nothing will happen over the weekend either, like on the College Rd.

JOIN THE PROTEST – AND PLEASE ENCOURAGE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS TO GET INVOLVED Southwark’s latest plans for the middle of Dulwich Village include • closing Turney Road, and • blocking the junction to Blue Badge holders, SEND vehicles, carers, and NHS workers like GPs and nurses. In the past our voices have been ignored. But there’s a growing body of evidence to show that LTNs aren’t working (see “LTNs DON’T CUT TRAFFIC”, below) and – thanks to your emails – Southwark’s new CEO is now aware of the strong local opposition to the Dulwich scheme. So, if you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to object – and nudge family, friends and neighbours to make their voices heard. HOW TO OBJECT 1. Fill in the survey Southwark has extended the deadline for the survey to 20 November. You will have your own views, but our thoughts are: • Question 2 We suggest you answer ‘Don’t support’, as no evidence has been provided to suggest that any of the core objectives could be delivered. • Question 3 Please ask the Council to allow access for Blue Badge holders, GPs, community nurses and midwives, SEND transport and social care workers so that the most vulnerable in the community are looked after. • Question 4 Please object to the closure of Turney Road because there is no information about the likely impact on access or traffic displacement on to surrounding roads. (“Frequently Asked Questions” doesn’t consider the wider area – Croxted Road, for example – but raises the possibility of yet more road closures in mitigation.) • Question 5 cannot be answered, because there is no way of rejecting both design proposals and Questions 6 and 7 are irrelevant. We suggest you leave all these blank. 2. Make a complaint – or escalate an existing complaint Email complaints@southwark.gov.uk to say (in your own words if possible) why you think the consultation process on the design of the Dulwich Village junction is deeply flawed. Your reasons could include any of the following: • we have been given insufficient information to show the likely impact of the closure to motorised vehicles of either a) Turney Road, or b) two out of the four arms of the junction, in terms of access or traffic displacement to the wider Dulwich area; • we were promised that engagement would take place with local people (residents, businesses, campaign groups) BEFORE concept designs were presented (Phase 1 interviewed only a ‘representative sample’ – and didn’t ask where people lived – so did not capture the views of the community); • the deadline of 20 November is too rushed – only a few local groups have been given meetings with the Council; • the online survey does not allow respondents to reject both design options; • no local councillor is willing to champion the needs of residents or businesses who object to the scheme; • no council officer is willing to act on legitimate concerns raised by local people about the lack of motorised access for those with protected characteristics, or for those who care for them. If you are not happy with the response you receive (and we have yet to hear of anyone who is, as specific questions and concerns are not addressed), please take your complaint to the next stage. See Southwark’s website for details. 3. Email Southwark’s new chief executive Email althea.loderick@southwark.gov.uk to explain (in your own words if possible) why the consultation process is flawed (use any of the reasons above). 4. Sign the epetition There’s an epetition on Southwark’s website (not ours but we support its aims) asking the Council to ensure access through the junction for the most vulnerable. Southwark assures us that all the long-running technical problems have now been fixed, but you may need to change your password before you can sign. 5. Contact One Dulwich if you’re a Blue Badge holder If you’re a Blue Badge holder or otherwise car-dependent, or know or care for someone who is, please contact us at onedulwich@gmail.com and tell us how the junction closure is affecting you. Southwark could easily have contacted all local Blue Badge holders to ask for their views but hasn’t done so, so we plan to help them out by passing on this vital information. LTNs DON’T CUT TRAFFIC More evidence is emerging that LTNs are not cutting traffic – one of the main reasons for imposing them. According to an investigation by the Times, Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that vehicle miles driven rose by an average of 11.4% in the ten inner London boroughs that introduced LTNs in 2020. By contrast, in the two inner London boroughs that didn’t introduce LTNs, vehicle miles driven rose by an average of only 8.9%. (In Southwark, which has ten LTNs, vehicle miles driven rose by 13% between 2020 and 2021.) The figures don’t prove a link between LTNs and more miles being driven, but they do bear out what people in Dulwich see every day – that traffic isn’t evaporating but is just being displaced, and that journeys are much longer because of the road closures. This investigation comes hot on the heels of revisions to DfT data, as we reported last month. The original data suggested that traffic had risen by almost 60% on minor roads in London between 2009 and 2019. Supporters of LTNs used this startling figure to justify road closures. But the revised DfT data shows that traffic on London’s minor roads has risen by a grand total of…zero. In their main editorial on 26 October, the Times described LTNs as “an expensive and infuriating failure” and called on councils to “listen to the complaints and rethink hastily imposed schemes”. We couldn’t agree more.

Dulwch labour councillors are a disgrace. Ideologs of the worst kind. This should be investigated. Can residents file an official complaint against the council?

I live in the area too and I like it except the traffic which is awful. True about the lack of shops; the few opposite the derelict pub I call the 70ties - nothing there except for a flower shop. Rather dodgy take-aways, always fly tipping at the pavements. It's always the very last part of LL to have the leaves cleared in autumn.

Update from One Dulwich below. Respond to the consultation – deadline 30 October. Southwark labour councillors are just like Mistrust and Quasi: pure ideologists with no real data to support their claims and yet they are set on their destructive path. Campaign Update | 26 Oct[/b] 1. Respond to the consultation – deadline 30 October: /posting.php?mode=reply&t=2254104 If you haven’t already done so, please give your views on the “Dulwich Village – streets for people” consultation as soon as possible. (You might want to consider some of the concerns raised in point 3, below.) 2. Sign the epetition: ePetition: https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?HPID=6018417&ID=50000032&RPID=6018417 Not our petition, but we support its aims. Recurring technical difficulties have made it very difficult for people to sign. Please keep trying. You may have to change your password multiple times before you’re allowed to proceed. 3. Escalate your complaint Many of you have got in touch to say that you emailed complaints@southwark.gov.uk[/b] and received a generic response from Head of Highways Dale Foden which you don’t feel answers any of the points you have made. If this is the case, please take your complaint to the next level. Go to Southwark’s website: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/complaints-comments-and-compliments/making-a-complaint and click on “Escalation to review stage form”. Your summary of the reasons why you are unhappy with the initial response could say that the concerns you raised have not been addressed because (include any of the following): The Council has not considered the effect of closing two arms of the junction on surrounding roads in terms of traffic displacement; The Council has not considered the needs of vulnerable road-users and those who care for them, especially Blue Badge holders, SEND transport, NHS workers like GPs, community nurses and midwives, and carers; The Council has not considered the connectivity of the road network (as we see from the tailbacks and congestion whenever there is a burst water main or roadworks), even though it has a statutory network management duty to do so; The Council has provided no evidence to show that its current proposals would improve safety for all road users; The Council has gone back on its promise that engagement would take place with local people (residents, businesses and campaign groups) BEFORE concept designs were presented – Phase 1 was limited to interviewing a “representative sample” of those using the junction, and didn’t ask where people lived, so did not capture the views of the local community; The online survey does not allow respondents to reject both design options. 4. Ask for a meeting The Council says it is providing an extensive consultation process, and welcomes input from all local groups. If your local group or association hasn’t yet done so, please email streetspace@southwark.gov.uk to ask for a meeting. Thank you for your support. Best wishes, The One Dulwich Team

Get rid of bike & scooter companies who only care about profit = less rubbish, more safe space for pedestrians and better for enviroment

Saw it on my way from Forest Hill station. And this crap has now entered Dulwich Park as well. It must be banned, its nothing else but producing and scattering even more rubbish around, as if there was not enough already!

Definitely not in supermarkets. Jones of Brockley has white sourdough bread and baguettes which keep well. Horniman market has a good choice on Sundays; bought a loaf in Beetroot & Beans in Forest Hiil the other day and it still good.

Or simply get rid of the trash altogether and return the space to pedestrians. Council need to find a different way of making money.

Not a driver myself but hearing from those who drive - this is a money making exercise and nothing else. High time for One Dulwich to perk up the 'Remove unjustified road closures' campaign.

These bikes are very heavy and not at all easy to move. They shouldn't be there in the first place full stop. It's nothing else but producing and scattering more rubbish around - and taking space from pedestrians. One was left in front of the Guy's hospital recently, right in the middle of a pavement; a patient tripped over, thankfully nothing happened.

LTN is a con perpetrated by people like leemings & co (= southwark lab concillors) - the sooner all are removed the better

I think only UCC at King's is run by a private company - Greenbrook Healthcare. It has become a complete disaster . I was there a couple of months ago - I waited for nine hours, after which I went to St Thomas' and got help straight away.