lbsmith73

If you can just park the VAT argument this is about a local club providing sporting/leisure opportunities for the local community. As a nation whether it is the private or public sector we should be encouraging and developing sports clubs, the benefits to the local community regards health and well-being are fundamental to a healthy society. Decisions like this have far reaching consequences and I hope they will consider the strong sense of community feeling and reverse this decision.

Here’s the email Hello everyone, Please see below for an update on the current status of the proposed weekend 2, for Gala Festival (Gala Presents). The decision has been made to not continue with the plans to deliver these events in 2023. Discussions with Southwark began in Summer 2022 about the possibility of hosting a second weekend of entertainment in Peckham Rye Park, billed as ‘Gala Presents’. The concept for this second weekend was never intended to be simply a second weekend of Gala Festival, but two evening concert-style events followed by an inclusive family-focused day. This second weekend would utilise the infrastructure already in situ for Gala. 'Approval in principle' to progress our pre-application proposal, to a full event licence application was given in December and planning for the second weekend began in earnest. However, the challenges of developing the concept, booking the performers, procuring the suppliers, producing the necessary documentation and satisfying ourselves that the events we would deliver would do the brand and location justice, were considerable. As the organisers of Gala, we are committed to putting on the best events possible, focusing on local suppliers and promoting local talent to deliver amazing experiences for our audience. The challenges listed above meant that we were not convinced that the second weekend would meet our own high expectations and as such we have made the decision to not go ahead with ‘Gala Presents’ this year. However, we do aim to produce these events in 2024 and beyond. As such, we will be continuing with the Premises Licence application process (that if granted, will give us permission to host 6 days of entertainment per year). The additional planning time will allow us to develop the concept of the second weekend (particularly the family day) in a much more inclusive manner. We’ll be organising several stakeholder and resident consultation sessions to take on board feedback and incorporate ideas into the content for this second weekend. Many thanks, The GALA Team

Just had an email, the second weekend is not going ahead! 😀 However they are still planning to put the application in for the following year. We need to keep the pressure up. Contact your local councillors, MP etc…

Just been on the meeting with the Gala representatives. Had to sit through a hard sell of all the noble and admirable benefits for the people who will attend the festival. No acknowledgement that they will take a public space away from local people for 25 days in the summer months. This is purely a money making scheme for both Gala and Southwark Council. Southwark have a responsibility to ensure council tax payers can access the council facilities that they pay for. The noise, impact on the environment and the removal of a much needed and loved facility will have a big impact on local residents. The Gala representative just apologised for all the failures of last year’s festival (poor waste management, failure to return the land back as agreed, having to send litter pickers back several times, failure to remove road signs) I have no issue with the festival being over one weekend. But we must take a stand over the proposed expansion. If agreed where will end? The park is a public space not a private enterprise. Please express your concerns through the council by objecting to the proposed licence

Most state secondary schools are using MS Teams for their live lessons. My daughters have their full timetable delivered live on MS Teams plus registration periods

I think you are on to something there... Really I am a car owner and to be honest all the traffic made me change my behaviours. I now cycle the 9 miles to work and it is quicker than driving and the train. It keeps me in shape, saves on gym fees, good for the environment and you only need a bit of wet weather gear from time to time. Not to mention it has saved me a fortune in fuel and rail fares. I know it?s difficult but change is hard and sometimes you have to look beyond your own needs.

Rockets Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I definitely consider myself a normal person and > not a petrol head and what annoys me more than > anything is the attitude of the lobbyists we hear > from time and time again on here and elsewhere > that whatever people do it is never enough. > > The council closes DV and we hear, during the > celebratory proclamations, that this is not > enough...we want more, more, more. They are like > addled drug addicts who need the next fix to > satiate their urges. > > It is also their blinkered belief that because all > is great on the streets that they are dancing jigs > of delight on that everything is good in the world > and all those cars that used the junction have now > gone to scrap dealers. They haven't - they're are > clogging up other roads, spending ages trying to > negotiate the blockade of DV and creating even > more pollution. In fact, I am very surprised the > council don't place sandpits in the roads closed > so the supporters can stick their heads in it! > > Here's a very real example of the impact on local > residents I experienced yesterday. My son was > having a friend around yesterday afternoon. His > friend was at a club on Gallery Road and I offered > that I would pick him up at 3pm. To get to Gallery > Road I would normally have gone via the DV > junction and been there in 10 minutes. Now, before > the activists start baying that I should have > walked or cycled I will get my defence in early - > I was trying to fit picking him up between > conference calls, it was tipping down with rain > and my son's friend didn't have a bike with him - > some very real world issues that are typical of > why people chose cars over bikes. > > So, instead of a 15 minute round-trip it was 45 > minutes. It took 20 minutes to get there (since > the closure the right turn at the Grove Tavern > from Lordship Lane is awful all times of the day) > and 25 minutes to get back. The traffic back round > the A205 towards Lordship Lane was backed up all > the way to college - very unusual for 3pm and one > can only presume because cars cannot get through > the DV junction to the eastern side of Dulwich. > > This is the reality of what these closures do - > they have created traffic problems all around > Dulwich and will be leading to a huge increase in > pollution. East Dulwich Grove is a nightmare as > well. Dulwich is now ringfenced by permanently > blocked roads that used to run pretty freely until > these moves. > > Of course, we will no doubt hear that the closure > has been a great success as the pollution on > Calton Avenue has dropped but a few hundred yards > away pollution will be a lot worse but, of course, > the council won't be monitoring there (until such > time as they want to justify closing those > roads). > > The council representatives have taken to their > bunkers and are trying to ride out the storm - it > is so telling that after posting the surveys on > every thread here to try and help justify the > closures Cllr McAsh has been been pretyy much MIA. You could always take an umbrella?

This is about changing behaviours that for some are too ingrained. I?m a car owner and like to use it for my and my family?s convenience however I understand that I need to change my behaviour to make the environment that I live in a better place to be. I work 9 miles from where I live in East Dulwich and used to use a moped to get to work but careless car drivers which nearly cost me my life stop me using that mode of transport. I tried the train but the reliability is so poor that was a non-starter. Eventually got a push bike and now cycle the 18 miles there and back it takes about 35-40mins each way which is way faster than the car and train (by the time I have walked to and from the station). It?s a free 80mins exercise so I don?t have to join an expensive gym or find time to exercise. I?m not particularly fit or young and I was surprised how quickly I adapted. It?s quite nice to go past all the stationary traffic it feels like you are making a difference. I know it can be dangerous but I suppose there is risk in anything we do. There is always an alternative to using the car but people find it hard to change when they are used to doing something. Hopefully getting frustrated in traffic might persuade more people out of their cars. The big issue around Dulwich is the traffic created by the Independent schools. I never really understood why they bus students in surely they could use public transport to get there.

There was a generator just off Barry Road, near Barry?s Store when Thames Water were diffing up the road. Don?t know if it is still there but that was producing a very low hum 24/7.

Otford in Kent has amazing woods. Went and did a lovely walk there this https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/otford_ndw_nov_18.pdf

3 Fire trucks outside Tandoori Nights!

I'll tell why Peckham Rye is nicer. The parking! I live at the top of PR park, easy parking, great little parade of shops on Forest Hill Rd plus the park. No contest!

I have spoken to the owner of the dog, she has given me her name and address which I will forward to relevant authorities. She still maintains that she is only trying to look after a dog that she found. I expressed my concerns about the danger her dog poses, she still ties it up outside the shops on Forest Hill Rd with no muzzle so be careful! smith73 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lollipop Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Hello - I saw her going into the chemists near > > Potager this evening and realised I had seen > her > > before in the same place. Today she was wearing > > the jacket in your photo, which is why I > > recognised her (and she had the dog with her) > > > > The dog is actually a brindle staffie. I was > > walking my dogs and she warned me to keep away > as > > her dog was not good with other dogs.... > > > > She obviously lives somewhere close by so you > > might get some more information from either the > > off licence (about to become a Costcutter) or > the > > chemist. I have seen her going into both - and > > leaving the dog tied up outside. > > > > Hope that helps > Thanks, I will keep a look out.

Lollipop Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello - I saw her going into the chemists near > Potager this evening and realised I had seen her > before in the same place. Today she was wearing > the jacket in your photo, which is why I > recognised her (and she had the dog with her) > > The dog is actually a brindle staffie. I was > walking my dogs and she warned me to keep away as > her dog was not good with other dogs.... > > She obviously lives somewhere close by so you > might get some more information from either the > off licence (about to become a Costcutter) or the > chemist. I have seen her going into both - and > leaving the dog tied up outside. > > Hope that helps Thanks, I will keep a look out.

This a photo of the owner with the dog after the incident. I would like to get an address so I can pass the details to the Police.