Glemham

Such a sweet scene in Dovercourt Road this morning - a small child cycling down the pavement towards Alleyn?s. .........except moments before, he and his bike had been lifted out of a large Range Rover which his Dad had driven from who knows where and parked in this narrow residential road, no doubt to boost the idea that lots of children are travelling to school in a sustainable manner! Remind me again on what basis, during lockdown, the Council agreed to the extension to Alleyn?s Junior School.

Why does the management of the Crown and Greyhound allow their customers to ignore regulations designed to protect everyone? After all it?s the pubs that will be closed or subjected to a curfew if the regulations are tightened again this week.

Yes it is and they support it. But now the application has been removed from the agenda and will not be considered. A new date is to be fixed.

We had a similar problem in our road two years ago. A woman in her forties was obviously sleeping in her car. It was a very hot summer and some of us were concerned for her health, and her vulnerability. A neighbour with experience in working with the homeless talked to her and found she was having family problems and was too scared to live with her family. Some people felt she should be left to get on with her life but others thought about how they would feel if their sister, mother of friend was living in similar circumstances. In the end she accepted a referral to adult social services, was found to be known to a mental health team and was rehoused.

If the Council agree to this application then they will be driving a coach and horses through their Our Healthy Streets proposals which are still subject to consultation. Unless Alleyn?s commits to only accepting children from the local area who will be able get to school without being driven, this expansion will add more cars to an area already at saturation point during term time. In the current COVID 19 situation it is likely that when the older children return to school their parents will, understandably, be reluctant for them to use public transport. As so many come from some distance this will no doubt lead to a rise in the numbers coming by car. At the very least the Council should consider adjourning this application until such time as it will be possible to know for certain just how pupils of all ages will be travelling to Alleyn?s (and other schools in the area)in future.

A month on from this message and there is still litter on the field much of it left behind by the groups who gather on the field after it has closed to meet and drink the night away disturbing residents who are mostly still observing the distancing rules. But litter is not all they and people who congregate during the day to play football in large groups or meet friends for a picnic leave behind. Residents have had to contend with visitors urinating against their fences, and have been clearing up excrement. Despite a notice asking people not to bring their dogs or ride their bikes as this is a playing field - the clue being in the title - it seems as with Dominic Cummings, there?s one rule for most of us and another for those who firmly believe it doesn?t apply to them.

There is a reason that the notice on the gate says no bikes and that is that Alleyn?s does not want people to cycle on this field, not even cute toddlers. The children living next to the field have been asked not to cycle at the weekends and have complied, so why not respect the request. Alleyn?s opened this field at the request of Southwark Council, and could easily close it again if it is misused, and then everybody would lose out especially those using it for exercise that they cannot otherwise get because they aren?t able to go out or don?t feel safe elsewhere. If thinking about NHS and care home staff working in dire conditions whilst others sun themselves all day is ?pretty hysterical? and ?relentlessly negative? then I?m guilty as charged.

Looking out on Alleyn?s field during the week was like watching a promotional video for a holiday camp. Children cycling, teenagers skateboarding on the tennis courts, people sunbathing......meanwhile in hospitals and care homes not very far away.......

As a resident living next to the field and in contact with the Bursar?s office at Alleyn?s there seems to be no reason why the field has been locked this weekend.The school is looking into what happened as I write. Unless they are residents the people in the field have no doubt climbed over the railings. I think that Alleyn?s wouldn?t want that to become a habit!

Alleyn's have just announced that their field will be open until 8 pm in the evening to allow people to exercise (not sunbathe) after work. A new notice will be going up which will make it clear that no cycling is allowed on the field. People are still sitting in groups and when approached have the ready reply that they are "in the same household".If you do use the field for exercise please respect the privacy of residents whose houses back on to the field some of whom are recovering from having had the virus, and others who have been deemed vulnerable. As I write this the police have arrived to remind people of the government guidelines. When they were here on Friday I overheard a WPO telling a sunbather who was arguing with her -"I don't have a garden". A reminder that the police also have a difficult job to do and live with the same restrictions as the rest of us.

Residents are trying to monitor the use of the field as Alleyn's have not provided any security. Police say it is private land so they can't act although we did have a police presence on Friday moving people on who were sunbathing and kids skateboarding on tennis courts with a radio playing. Why do some people think the govt crisis regulations don't apply to them. If Alleyn's decide to close the field because of problems then everyone will lose out.

Alleyn's have now put a notice on the gate into the field giving the opening hours of 7 am to 5 pm and asking that people keep to the social distancing rules of 2 metres apart and not allowing dogs as small children use this field. It has been really shocking to see in recent days that some people think it'd OK to let their dogs run free on a playing field!

I am fortunate to live next to Alleyn's playing field and whilst residents support the opening of the field to the public we would ask users to respect the regulations which the Bursar sent to residents last week: I would wish to emphasise some specifics related to this period of unencumbered use of our grounds. 1. The tarmac hard courts. We are hardly using these tennis/netball courts at the moment, because they have deteriorated in a number of ways. The fencing around them is in poor repair and some of the uprights are no longer safe. The retaining wall at the bottom end is in an unsafe condition. We would advise casual users to avoid these areas, and we cannot accept responsibility for any injury or damage caused to those that ignore this advice. 2. Please do not allow pets onto the site. These are playing fields and a forest school area, used by children aged from 4 to 18 years old. Their health could be severely damaged through accidental contact with, for example, dog faeces. 3. Please do not abuse the facilities, cause damage, allow graffiti or leave litter. If we find casual users involved in any of these, we will have no choice but remove the benefit of access to the space.

I had a similar experience a few months ago when on the pretence of looking at my gutters two guys removed a tile from my side roof - impossible to see from below - and then told me they could fix the hole they had 'discovered' for ?1500! I didn't take them up on their kind offer and later found a reputable builder/roofer to look at the damage. He discovered that they had removed a tile, but on inspecting this part of my roof said that there were in fact a lot of problems, which then took four men several days to put right. So in the end the scammers did me a favour!

Have just emailed my local councillors with this very question. Why can?t Southwark see that if they provide explanations for their policy changes it might go some way to reducing the criticisms.

Thank you James for posting this. It would be helpful to get this information from current councillors for the areas affected. I agree that there is likely to be a knock-on effect on parking in residential roads close to the parks particularly at weekends which CPZs don?t cover.

You could send an email saying exactly this to Alleyn's and JAGS, Contact details are on the Schools' websites.

edhistory Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is it being suggested that Foundation Schools' > Coach Service Manager, Leslie Okyne, is not > capable of doing the job? Absolutely not by me edhistory! We were grateful that he found time to explain his role and the constraints he faces to residents. He manages the day to day running of the coach service covering all three Foundation Schools, taking the flak of complaints from drivers, parents living as far afield as Kensington and Canary Wharf and local residents. The responsibility for sorting out the chaos and congestion lies far above his pay grade, and should be acknowledged by Southwark Council, senior management at the coach service, and the Foundation Schools, particularly Alleyn's, getting together to come up with a long term solution.

Yes we did discuss engine-running which Leslie knows is a problem. All drivers are aware of the policy but enforcing it is difficult for the Coaches' small team of three as they cannot regularly be on site outside Alleyn's. He has to rely on people asking the drivers to turn off their engines, and asks that he is made aware of persistent problems: OkyneLG@dulwich.org.uk. Parents also wait with engines running, so it would help if the Council's banners about polluting the air outside schools could be displayed on Alleyn's railings, as would regular visits by traffic wardens.

A few local residents met with the Foundation Schools' Coach Service Manager, Leslie Okyne. He has only been in post since the summer and is based at Dulwich College. He is very aware of the problems in Townley Road.In the short term he is hoping to stagger the arrival of the coaches for picking up outside Alleyn's. Although the 'coach base' is for 7 coaches, currently 13 are in use. However drivers who arrive later are finding parking spaces already taken by parents and visitors, including other coaches bringing teams for sport. The situation is further exacerbated because when the road was resurfaced in the summer some of the double yellow lines were not replaced so there is more parking space for cars. It's obvious to residents that there needs to be a concerted effort by Southwark Council, Alleyn's,and the Coach Service to find a long term solution for Townley Road. In particular we would ask that 1. the suggestions from last year's Coach Services Study https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment-leisure/quietway for shuttle buses to and from a coach park on the South Circular be given more serious consideration; 2. that Southwark more rigorously enforces traffic and parking violations, puts back double yellow lines, and considers having parking restrictions in the afternoons on weekdays outside Alleyn's say between 3 and 4 pm; 3. Alleyn's does more to control the congestion outside the school for the safety of all who use Townley Road at the end of the school day.

I don't have contact details for the Manager but this link might help: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/parking/report-a-parking-enforcement-issue

Thanks for the prompt intexasatthemoment. The Transport Manager for the coach service has agreed to meet with a group of residents after a meeting he is due to have with Alleyn's. I'm waiting for suggested dates. Please contact me directly if you'd like to be involved in this meeting. I'll post the result on the forum. I have also heard from Helen Hayes MP: "I have contacted both the Council and the Metropolitan Police about the parking taking place on Townley Road. I am sorry to hear that this situation remains on-going, and am concerned by reports that residents have felt they treated inappropriately by the coach drivers." It appears that, surprisingly, the situation isn't a matter for the police. Helen has had this reply from the Parking Services Manager at Southwark Council: "I have organised for additional parking enforcement officers to be deployed to Townley Road at the school end times. There are dedicated police resources in Southwark paid for 90% by TfL who work around school safety. Parking services are engaged with these officers around parking at schools." I hope this information is useful. I and my neighbours will continue to monitor coach and other parking, and will keep in contact with Helen Hayes.

Local residents are only too well aware of this ongoing and completely unacceptable situation with coaches and school parking in Townley Road. We frequently monitor the dangerous parking, ask drivers to turn off their engines, take photos and send them to local councillors and Helen Hayes MP. Last year saw the publication of the Foundation Schools Coach survey: https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment-leisure/quietway which promised much but delivered nothing. Please support us by sending your concerns to local councillors, Helen Hayes MP and the Transport Manager for the Foundation School coaches who is based at Dulwich College: okynelg@dulwich.org.uk.

For more detailed information about the campaign to change the proposals for the Quietway 7 scheme please go to dulwichvillageforum.co.uk. The funding for this and other Quietways comes from TfL and is a legacy of Boris Johnson's 'vision'for London.

DadOf4 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi James > Do you know what Southwarks position is in repsect > to providing residents (with no off street > parking) the facility to charge an electric > vehicle close to their home ? > > I need a new car and REALLY want to go electric. > Without a convenient charging point, that's going > to be difficult > > I see a few years ago Southwark proudly claimed it > was "leading the way" with charging points [1], > but since then has managed a total of 8 places to > charge an electric vehicle across the entire > borough [2] > Hardly leading the way > > I also understand that there is a government grant > scheme, aimed specifically at dealing with this > [3], funded by the office for low emission > vehicles - have Southwark signed up to that ? if > not, why ? > > Apprecite that you cant speak for the whole > council, but as transport seems to be a big issue > for you, I thought you may be interested in this > situation. > > > > [1]http://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/887/so > uthwark_council_leads_the_way_on_electric_car_char > ging_points > > [2] > http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/100011/transport_ > and_streets/2055/electric_cars > > [3] > https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governm > ent-funding-for-residential-on-street-charging-for > -plug-in-vehicles-a-guide-for-members-of-the-publi > c I too would like to buy an electric or hybrid car but I have no off street parking, and as I live on the Dulwich Estate have very little chance of getting permission - although I do like my front garden. I assume running a lead over the pavement is a health and safety issue but would welcome clarification on this from someone with specialist knowledge. I would willingly pay towards a charging point outside my house but such is the parking situation that I can rarely park outside my own home. If Southwark is really serious about leading the way on electric cars why don't they allow those residents who own them to have a dedicated parking space - as for disabled drivers - outside the house? In reality neither Southwark nor the Dulwich Estate show any interest in promoting a 'green' agenda for the area, so I fear my hope for an electric car will not be realised.