Spartacus

Who are we to diss a brie ?

Is it the smell of council officers pooping themselves over the two recent court defeats at Lambeth and what it could mean for Southwark? 🤣

Its also on the bbc BBC News - Campaigner wins legal fight over park festivals https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20nkqd30dqo Lambeth's Lawers aren't doung well in the courts at the moment. Bet they won't be in post much longer 😅

Lordie Earl, you do sound like a council officer when you respond 😅

Simple question Earl What's the point in a consultation if the results are dismissed ? Something that so obviously happened in Lambeth and appears to have occurred in Southwark

But, the real decision makers, those who make the recommendations aren't elected are they ? That's where it all falls down

For most services: waste, housing, social care, and so on, the council isn't making sweeping changes so no need for referendums in local matters but when major changes are introduced , for exanple use of green spaces for commercial ventures, changes to how public realm is used (parks, CPZs, LTNs, Library services...) then yes a public referendum might be needed rather then a few council officers deciding what they want and then ignoring public opinion. Yes, there are local elections but they just change the councillors not the officers and we all can see where the real power on councils sit, it's not with the councillors. So therefore a referendum on how are roads are used is possibly needed as local people are the ones using them not council officers in their ivory towers who possibly only visit the area when they want to do a survey or have a meeting. Having data is not the same as physically observing the impact (lesson 101 in analytics)

So you're basically saying that a small group of people, who work for the council, and who may not live in the area should have more sway over what locals want ? Interesting, as only councillors are elected but council workers aren't so often it's not really representative democracy is it? Councillors have very little power when inserted into the council machine and they rely on council officers for most things. Bit like the old Yes Minister relationship

You make it sound like a conspiracy theory 😅 It doesn't surprise me he's in the picture, along with other people who objected to the LTN. Nothing unexpected in the photo, bit like any campaign group would have taken for any other subject

An interesting twist The campaigners are requesting that Lambeth pays back any fines generated by the LTN Estimated at over £1 million in 6 months https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/10/unlawful-ltn-takes-1m-from-motorists/

Should this thread have the words "Carry on" added to it ? That of course would lead to questions on who plays whom Sid James as Farage or is Kenneth Williams more appropriate 🤔 We could have a whole separate thread on this alone.

Sorry Mal, looks like you are going solo as Ted isn't sharing his fudge with you 😅

Nigello, would love to revisit this in 10 years and see if the lane is the same, better or worse. Will be an interesting thing to watch and sometimes a simple change is the catalyst for bigger improvements to occur. Guess we can't at this time predict the future

Bob Do you have property in Devon as well ? You sound like the busy body neighbour in this article 😅 https://www.devonlive.com/news/property/busybody-neighbour-upset-dont-use-10165200

Come on people, do you really enjoy the current dreary passages outside station or would you prefer a light airy entrance which, as one of the main ways in to Peckham, would welcome visitors rather than making them feel it's a grotty run down area ? The station building needs exposing after so many years of being hidden behind ugly facades and this will help change views of Peckham as a run down shopping area which may help bring more inward investment in the area, help reduce the perception of crime (open spaces are harder to grafitti for example) and help make it a destination again much like when it was called the golden mile (1960s) Personally, the removal of the ugly buildings in front of the station is a good thing.

Well This went off track quickly

The deal with America is currently being announced Is it a good one for us or have we been sold a pigs ear as a silk purse ? Personally as it involves Beef bring imported to the UK, I don't believe its in the public interest. Interested to see others reaction

I think Mal is propositioning Ted for a secret behind the bike shed liason 😅

These works are planned maintenance, not emergency work so coordination had to be made in advance with TfL and hopefully Southwark council which is why someone in either organisation should have said "hang on lads, this is bad timing" But who am I to spot the bleeding obvious ?

I think the concern is more to do with the sheer number of roadworks that are in the area at the moment. Gasworks are essential but anyone trying to get to Camberwell by public transport faces the choice of pavement widening by East Dulwich station or these gas works and road works at Camberwell Church Street. Top this off with the ones on the south circular plus the ones on crystal palace parade and it does feel like we are slowly getting cut off from going anywhere. Obviously some coordination isn't happening to get the timings right which is why people are discussing it.

Depends on budget and numbers So many great choices and options, for a fun evening there's Kix,for a special meal evening Franklin's, for a cheap evening Megan's Or Kokum for a lovely different Indian, Maria's for tapas or oru for vegan / vegetarian.

Think it was a tripe based dog food but i could be wrong

It still amuses me that the cycling community on here are still basically arguing that it's fine to break the law and that because they aren't nororised speed limits shouldn't apply. Madness argument as the law is the law six years in the iso-cubes for jumping a red light citizen

Think you've smoked one too many banana skins there 😅

Looks like your theory on voting reform is turning to reality Both main parties are getting a spanking which reflects on how they've treated the public recently (from party gate to pensions raids and employer NI increases) Labourbwant to go faster and further which may sink them further into the quagmire Torys possibly haven't a hope in hell in reforming before 4 years are up I dispare over UK politics at the moment, but then again looking at America, we're all doomed , doomed I say