jamesmcash

Hi all I hope everyone had as restful and pleasant a Christmas as was possible given the circumstances... Happy new year - let's hope this one ends more happily than it started. LTNs and pollution The ruling that air pollution was the cause of Ella Kissi-Debrah's tragic death is a reminder to all of us of the need to treat this issue with the gravity it deserves. When we evaluate the impact of the LTNs, this must be a key consideration. Those on both sides of the debate believe their position is better for tackling the issue. Those who oppose the measures point to the displaced traffic on main roads and claim that this creates significant increases in pollution. Those who support LTNs argue that by making car-use more difficult, and active travel safer and more pleasant, emissions drop overall. There is undoubtedly some truth in both - when we evaluate the schemes we will need to do so on the basis of evidence both ways. Postal service Thanks for flagging this up. I have had a number of emails about it too. You are absolutely right that covid is not a good excuse, and that this has been a problem since Sylvester Road closed. Such closures are, sadly, inevitably under a privatised model. Helen Hayes MP has been campaigning on this issue and I encourage you to support her in it. North Cross Road bins I raised this with the council's team and action is being taken. Surgeries We are not currently doing surgeries due to Covid. However, there are plans to relaunch them virtually very soon. Crossing with ED Grove and Lordship Lane I have submitted a funding application to install a pedestrian crossing here. I think it could aid with both traffic flow, and pedestrian safety. It's very expensive though! Vaccinations in Southwark Vaccinations will be available from the following - hospital sites - some GPs - Mass vaccination centre (location to be determined) - Some pharmacies - 'roving' services (but this will depend on storage) I am afraid I do not know precise details at the moment but anyone who is eligible for the vaccination will be sent the information they need to get it. I hope that's helpful Best wishes James

Hi Hoi Polloi, This junction is in Dulwich Hill, not Goose Green. I'm sure Cllrs Browning ([email protected]) and Hartley ([email protected]) would be happy to help you if you contact them. Best wishes James

Thanks for flagging up. Best wishes James

Hi Trinidad, Is the tenant you're supporting in Goose Green ward? If so, please message or email me details and I will look into it. Or if the tenant wants to contact me themselves they are welcome to call me. Details here: http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=50001002 If they're not a Goose Green resident then you can find their councillor's contact details here (http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx). I am sure whoever is their councillor would be happy to help. Best wishes James

Hi all Public meeting Yes the public meeting is focused on the East Dulwich scheme. The two schemes clearly interact with one another so I expect people will raise questions and points about how the two schemes intersect - that's fine of course. This meeting came about because we Goose Green councillors pushed for it. We felt that it was important that residents have opportunity to share their views about how it is going, and to ask questions. This doesn't mean there won't be a similar meeting for Dulwich Village later, or one that considers a wider area. We just felt it was important to get this one in the diary now. Support for local businesses I have a message from our cabinet member for local businesses, Cllr Cryan: We have today opened up the application process for the COVID Additional Restrictions Grants to support those businesses who are not eligible for the Local Restrictions Grants. This grant scheme is open to small and micro businesses who have been legally required to close during the current lockdown but who are not business rates payers and businesses who are not required to close but have been severely impacted by the current restrictions put in place. The deadline for all applications is 8th December and I am attaching full details https://www.southwark.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-advice/covid-19-support-and-information-for-businesses-and-employers?chapter=7 I hope that's useful for some of the small businesses in the area. Best wishes, James

Hi everyone, The council is hosting two community meetings this Friday to discuss the LTNs. Full details and registration here: https://eastdulwichstreetspace.commonplace.is/news/2020/11/16/east-dulwich-community-meetings-27th-november Best wishes James

Hi Rockets Let me respond to your post. That junction (Lordship Lane and East Dulwich Grove) is even more dangerous now the LTNs have gone in - why do we have to wait until we know what is happening with the LTNs Simply because what happens on one road affects the others near it. Some currently argue that the LTNs have completely and permanently transformed the behaviour of traffic on East Dulwich Grove. That seems to be your view too. If this is the case then the question of whether or not the LTNs stay in their current form is paramount to working out what needs to happen at the junction. We need measures which are appropriate for the traffic on those roads and without knowing the future of the LTNs we cannot properly predict this. There is a staff capacity issue here too: council officers are currently very busy with the LTNs. When will we know what is happening with the LTNs I answered this yesterday: I've had a number of questions about when we will know the future of the LTNs, what process will decide it, and what data will be considered. These are all very reasonable questions but I am afraid I do not have the answer for them. On my blog (https://www.jamesmcash.com/blog/faqs-on-goose-green-ltn-measures) I explained what I would like to see but I do not get to call the shots unilaterally. I know that council officers and cabinet members are working hard to agree a framework but I do not yet know when this will be finished. This is not for want of trying - I pester the cabinet about it on a weekly basis at least Why don't you or the council know? I explained this in the previous post, quoted above. I agree that it's frustrating that I do not know - I wish I did too. It's not that I haven't bothered to find out the decision, or that I have not put forward my view. It is simply that the decision has not yet been made. The council received a lot of criticism that the last set of decisions were rushed. This time, everyone wants to make sure we get it right. I will continue to push for a decision to be made, and publicised, as soon as possible. why is the council now saying such NO2 readings are no longer reliable? I do not know what this refers to. It may relate to the poor quality of our baseline data for the current schemes. Why is it Dulwich Village got NO2 monitoring for OHS and yet the council can't provide the same for the residents of Lordship Lane or EDG who are living with the displacement from the closures in DV? 'Our Healthy Streets' ran for a much longer period of time and was not rushed in the way that the LTNs were. This is because the LTNs were emergency measures and there was a narrow window of funding availability. In normal circumstances the council would consult more widely, and have better monitoring in place - as it did with OHS. Parking on Melbourne Grove As I said yesterday, I am looking to bring residents and traders together to discuss the parking situation. In general, most people in both groups have been supportive of school streets but we'll be able to discuss the issue fully then. "Why would where I live in East Dulwich be of interest to you?" I suspect your suggestion that I am privately educated (untrue) and your bizarre comments about a "Marxist intervention team" are a distraction from the fact that you know perfectly well why I am interested. I represent the people of Goose Green, not all of East Dulwich. You've just clarified that this does not include you. Other councillors are responsible for representing you. As a general rule, councillors are only supposed to respond to queries from their constituents. There are some exceptions, for instance when the councillor is on the Cabinet or holds a committee role which is relevant to a particular issue, but that's the general rule. This makes sense. It means that everyone is equally represented. I can see that you have a keen interest in the work of the council and that this generates detailed questions and some strong opinions. This is all great, and it's important that the council listens to them. However, they should be addressed to the councillors who represents your ward, not to me. I want to do everything I can to represent my constituents but my time is limited. Your posts are frequent, lengthy and cover a range of topics. The time I spend responding to you is time that I cannot spend supporting the people whom I am elected to represent. This does not seem at all fair. As you can see, I've answered the questions in your last post. But from now on, if you have any comments or queries please would you direct them to your own councillors. It's nothing personal. You seem like a nice person and your comments are often quite witty. But it is right that I focus my limited time on my own constituents. Aside from anything else, it is council protocol. Best wishes, James

Dear all, I hope everyone is well and staying safe during the national lockdown. I have to say, it doesn't feel all that different to me but perhaps that's just because I'm a teacher! All the council's covid information is available here: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/coronavirus This covers public health, housing, financial support for business and residents, and lots else. And now to respond to the thread! Lordship Lane / East Dulwich Grove junction My view is that this junction plays a major role in creating congestion on EDG and LL, and there have been complaints regarding pedestrian safety which predate the pandemic by far. I want to see the junction addressed and I'm keen to investigate traffic lights. However, until we know what is happening with the LTNs we cannot make decisions on the junction. Data collection, monitoring and evaluation I've had a number of questions about when we will know the future of the LTNs, what process will decide it, and what data will be considered. These are all very reasonable questions but I am afraid I do not have the answer for them. On my blog (https://www.jamesmcash.com/blog/faqs-on-goose-green-ltn-measures) I explained what I would like to see but I do not get to call the shots unilaterally. I know that council officers and cabinet members are working hard to agree a framework but I do not yet know when this will be finished. This is not for want of trying - I pester the cabinet about it on a weekly basis at least Matham Grove and Zenoria/Oxonian Street My view is that the traffic on these streets has been a problem for a while and it merits attention, regardless of what happens on Melbourne Grove etc. However, it will clearly need to be considered alongside the discussion on the LTNs given how closely connected they are. New LTNs The only proposed LTNs coming up are the measures on Peckham Rye. As I said earlier in the thread, I have told the council that I do not believe these should go ahead until all their issues are ironed out. This is a view shared with other councillors too. The current position is that they are on hold. CGS application 1316166: Implement measures to reduce rat-running between East Dulwich Grove & Grove Vale (CGS or Highways) This application was indeed from the Vale Residents Association. It would have funded a scoping exercise to see what could be done to address the high speeds on Melbourne Grove and parallel roads. This was before we had any idea of covid. The LTN measures in place were not funded from this pot of money. Rather, they come from TfL funding to improve social distancing. Parking on Melbourne Grove It was always my view that businesses should not lose parking spaces in Melbourne Grove. The council is undertaking a parking assessment of the road to look at how the parking situation can be improved. I have suggested that we coordinate a small visit comprising me, a council officer, a local business and a resident to look at the parking spaces and see how we can improve the situation. I have spoken with residents and traders and both groups are keen. It is now just a case of getting the meeting arranged (providing it is possible with covid regulations) Incorrect sign on Peckham Rye Thanks Abe_froeman. I will look into this. Unanswered questions Rockets - I have done my best to answer your questions, or to explain why I cannot answer them if I cannot. I asked you a question too. It's very simple: do you live in Goose Green? "Thanks for all your hard work, James." Thanks Sue that's very kind of you to say! Stay safe everyone! Best wishes James

Hi all Thanks a lot for everyone's positive comments in response to my last post. I appreciate it. Free school meals during the holidays I'm sure that many of you are aware already but I'm really pleased to be able to share that Southwark Council has committed to funding free school meals for primary school children during this half term(https://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2020/oct/southwark-council-to-pay-for-free-school-meals-over-half-term). Marcus Rashford and others have done such a great job of raising the huge issue of 'holiday hunger' and child poverty. It made me sick to see Tory MPs refuse to feed hungry children. Of course, the council is cash-strapped too after ten years of austerity so I hope that the government will step in and do the right thing - but I am proud that Southwark is has stepping in for the time being. Support traders over Christmas Christmas is always a critical time for traders but this is even truer than normal in the context of the pandemic. The council is working with local businesses to come up with plans to support their trade. One of the options on the table is to increase available parking. I encourage everyone to do everything they can to support the traders of East Dulwich. Matham Grove and Zenoria/Oxonian Street There have been issues on these roads for a while, which have only been exacerbated in recent months. We will not rush into any decisions on them - and will make sure that the impact on nearby roads is properly considered - but in my view we should be looking at these streets regardless of what happens to the LTNs in general. Peckham Rye A few people have been in touch to raise concerns about the proposals for Peckham Rye (the road). We have taken these concerns forward and the proposals have been paused whilst officers consider solutions to the issues raised. Some of this involves negotiation with TfL so it may not be all that quick. Leaves, litter etc Sadly, cuts to the council finances has meant there has been an overall reduction in street cleaning. However, there is some flexibility to redirect the existing resources if there are places which we think are in particular need of more attention. Please let me know. Monitoring I am afraid I do not know the details to this. The process is still ongoing. As mentioned above I have requested that various streets be included in the monitoring process but I am not involved in its day-to-day implementation. Emails As far as I know, I have replied to all recent emails that needed a response (i.e. ones which ask a question or involve me doing something). If I have missed you then I am very sorry - please do send up a follow-up email. Please bear in mind that being a councillor is not a full time role - I juggle it alongside other commitments including my job as a primary school teacher. This means that responses may not be immediate. Code of Conduct Rockets - if you feel like me or any other councillor is performing 'badly' in relation to the Code of Conduct please use the complaints process outlined here: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-mps/your-councillors?chapter=2 Incidentally, am I your councillor? Do you live in Goose Green ward? Reduction in car use The hope is that car use will reduce on both the roads with filters and others in the local area. Hopefully this will be clear when we have the monitoring data. Thanks a lot everyone - best wishes James

Hi all, Thanks again for all your comments. It's useful to hear the wide range of perspectives. I am getting quite a few questions at the moment abot the low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) measures so I have put together a fairly lengthy set of FAQs here: https://www.jamesmcash.com/blog/faqs-on-goose-green-ltn-measures They cover the intentions behind the scheme, the process by which they have been implemented and what I think should be the next steps. It is also an attempt to honestly acknowledge the mistakes and shortcomings on the part of the council, and indeed on the part of us Goose Green councillors. It's worth reading in full to get the whole picture but I want to draw your attention to the final two sections: ----------- WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? In my view, we need to look at the effects across the whole area but also on individual streets. The two key criteria are air pollution and traffic volume. Put simply, if these two measures are not reduced across the whole area then the scheme has failed. It is not enough to displace the traffic - we want to reduce it overall. But even if air pollution and traffic volume decrease across the board, it matters how it is distributed. I want to see a social justice approach to the analysis. No matter what we do there will inevitably be some pollution and traffic. I want this to be shared equitably: protecting schools, nurseries and hospitals above all else; and not allowing the negative effects of air pollution to fall on those least able to bear them. We have a new Leader of the Council, Cllr Kieron Williams, and this approach is already reflected in his leadership team. Instead of creating a post for ?Low Traffic Neighbourhoods?, he appointed Cllr Radha Burgess as Deputy Cabinet Member for ?Low Traffic Southwark?. The shift in emphasis is important: we want to reduce traffic across all of Southwark, not segregate ?low traffic? and ?high traffic? neighbourhoods. (To be clear, this is not the intention of LTN measures, but if they do not work properly this can be the outcome). WHAT NEXT? I have spoken to Cllr Rose and Cllr Burgess (the Cabinet and Deputy Cabinet members with responsibility for this area) to request that these measures be evaluated as soon as we can. I have further requested that the evaluation considers the following factors: - Overall levels of pollution - Overall levels of traffic - The ?social justice? implications of how pollution and traffic are distributed (i.e. who lives on the more polluted streets?). We will learn more from this evaluation process but here are my initial thoughts: - Local businesses on Melbourne Grove, Grove Vale, Lordship Lane and elsewhere need support from the council: there should be a joined-up approach between councillors, the highways team and the local economy team. - Matham Grove and Zenoria/Oxonian Street are clearly experiencing problems which can and should be remedied, probably fairly cheaply. - The junction between East Dulwich Grove and Lordship Lane has long been a problem, and this has only got worse. - Nurseries, schools and hospitals should be considered ?vulnerable hubs? which we prioritise for protection from pollution. --------------- There are a few LTN-related questions on here which are not answered in the link above. I will come back to the forum to answer those as soon as I can. The only non-LTN question was from siousxiesue about the libraries. I understand that the larger libraries are will have fuller opening relatively soon, and that this will include Dulwich Library but not Grove Vale. This is due to the social distancing requirements. The cabinet member responsible is Stephanie Cryan, her email address is [email protected] Best wishes James

Dear all, I hope that you are all well. I have written an article for SE22 magazine about the low traffic neighbourhoods. Many of you will have had it posted through your door but if you have not then you can read it online here: https://semagazines.co.uk/ (Page 38 of SE22). This follows from the explainer I wrote in our September newsletter, which you can read here: https://www.jamesmcash.com/blog/goose-green-newsletter-september-2020 A fair few of the questions in this thread are answered in one of those two articles. I will try to answer a few more here. LTNs - positive feedback I really hope the council stay the course, and make these changes as well, as restrictions on Townley Road, permanent. I don't have high hopes though - the reopening of Camberwell Grove to traffic proves that ultimately the petrol heads always win the day over at Southwark HQ. It is clear that there have beeen major benefits to the schemes and we would not want to lose them. However, this needs to be balanced against the negative effects. I think we need further time to assess this. I am keen to hear the views of all types of road user - not just those who drive. LTNs - negative feedback Are you concerned by the negative impact this is having on your constituents? Yes. It is clear that the measures have so far had mixed results. Some people like them and have benefited a lot. Others have not, and have had a more negative experience. As I said before, I expect the negative effects to diminish in the medium term and I am committed to evaluating the schemes fully. LTNs - monitoring Please can you tell us where the council is monitoring car numbers and pollution levels on streets other than those that have been closed? In addition to the roads which have been closed, I have requested that there be monitoring on East Dulwich Grove, Lordship Lane, Grove Vale, Matham Grove and Zenoria/Oxonian Street. They are at various stages of monitoring. There are some data from pre-implementation but it is not comprehensive and it is difficult to identify the extent to which changes were caused by the LTN measures relative to city-wide traffic increases resulting from the evolving covid situation. The monitoring will therefore need to look at comparable roads as well as comparing figures before and after implementation. LTNS - public virtual meeting I think this is a good idea. I would like to see sucha meeting be incorporated into the evaluation process. LTNS - consultation, Southwark Cyclists It was not possible to run a proper consultation for the LTNs (for reasons outlined above). Southwark Cyclists, like local residents, were not consulted regarding whether the measures should be put in place. However, the coucil sometimes asks them for technical advice regarding how best to implement cycling infrastructure. LTNS - Car targets Is it correct that the council is targeting a 50% reduction in car usage in the area I?ve not come across this statistic before. LTNS - Local businesses I totally accept that we did not do enough to communicate with local businesses in advance of implementing the measures. For that, I apologise. We are trying to rectify this now by organising regular meetings with the businesses in the affected area. Cycling paths The suggestions on here sound great. I would love to see a road network which allows cyclists to totally avoid the main roads. It's just a case of finding the funding, and designing measures which balance the needs of all road users (at the moment the balance is clearly against cyclists!) Cycle hire TfL are reluctant to bring cycle hires this far south. There have been discussions about bringing them closer - e.g. Peckham or Camberwell - but Dulwich seems to far for them. I agree that this would be positive though, and it's something I raise at every opportunity I have Noisy drain heartblock - would you mind emailing me with further details? Happy to look into this. But if it is indeed a historic stream then I may struggle! EDG speed bump I'm in conversations about this speed bump and whether it should be removed. Replacing it with a camera is trickier though, as these have running costs that most other road measures do not. Response to emails Completely ignored an email I sent to him and all other Cllrs also regarding the road closures. - dougiefreeman Many apologies - I try to always respond promptly to emails from constituents. In this instance, I expected one of the other recipients to respond, given that the email contained a number of technical questions which I was not well-placed to answer. I have since responded and hope that you will get a further response from officers in good time. Yes it seems as if all councillors have a LTN filter on their inboxes that sends any email from anyone daring to question what they are doing to their trash! - Rockets I don't think this is fair. With the exception of the email mentioned above, I think I have answered all the emails sent to me. I sometimes receive emails addressed to a long list of recipients and do not always respond to those, but if someone emails to ask me a question they can be 99% sure they will receive a response. General comments We all miss him and the back and forth we all used to have - he gave as good as he received. - Rockets Thank you Rockets. I missed you too. One day I will retire and then I'll be able to spend the entire day engaging in banter with you. Until then, sadly I have to fit my time on this Forum alongside my other commitments. In defence of James, he has been doing some behind the scenes chasing for me which has resulted in a very satisfactory outcome. - peckhamgatecrasher Pleased I was able to help! (Not sure what this is in reference to!) Best wishes James

This particular piece of string is a maximum of 18 months.

Dear Dougie, I hope you're well. This was a government initiative to get measures in place quickly. They are all 'experimental' traffic orders. This essentially means the consultation is back to front - they are tried out for a limited amount of time and then, following consultation, we decide whether to keep, amend, or remove them. More info here: https://www.jamesmcash.com/blog/goose-green-newsletter-september-2020 Best wishes James

Brilliant thread, thanks a lot everyone.

If you're in Goose Green ward then feel free to drop me an email if you need any support with this. Best wishes James

Hi all, Sorry for radio silence over the summer break. A combination of things (a family emergency, a holiday, preparation for schools reopening under covid) meant that I had very little time. Please bear in mind that I always prioritise my council emails over this forum (as this is where most casework comes in) so please do contact me there is you need a quick response. [email protected] To respond to the issues raised here: Zebra crossing - Conway made an error when working on this and therefore had to come back to rectify it (at their expense). Low traffic neighbourhoods (LTN)s I have received very mixed responses to the LTNs. Some residents have been in touch to express their support for the scheme while others have complained about the clear, and sometimes unmanageable, increase in various on nearby roads - like Grove Vale, East Dulwich Grove and Lordship Lane. The goal of the LTN is not to displace traffic but to reduce it overall, thus making the neighbourhood safer and more pleasant for walking and cycling. The increase in traffic on nearby roads will be down to a combination of the following factors - a general increase in traffic across London post-lockdown due to reduced availability of public transport (this applies to both bikes and cars) - a temporary increase in traffic due to road users being unaccustomed to the new road layout - a permanent increase in traffic on some roads due to displacement from closed roads. When the dust settles it will be possible to tell how much of the increased traffic is caused by each factor. I am hopeful that most of the problems will prove to be temporary. However, if it transpires that the LTNs have not reduced traffic but just created chaos on roads nearby, then I will make sure that they are amended or removed outright. CCTV - I am in conversations with local businesses to identify hotspots for where CCTV should be installed. If you have any suggestions, then please email me! Events off Calton Avenue Sorry I missed this. This in Dulwich Village ward. You're right that the councillors there, Cllr Margy Newens and Cllr Richard Leeming, do not use this forum much but they are very easily accessible by email. I appreciate it's probably too late for this now, but in future I'd recommend emailing them directly because it's not really appropriate for me to get involved in such matters in neighbouring wards. School Streets at Heber Heber School did indeed submit an application for School Streets but then decided not to pursue it for the time being. I've told Ms Rosenberg that I will support the school with this if they decide to pick it up again. CPZ As noted already, the CPZ is going live on the 14th September. Noise If you are having continuing problems with noise and the Noise and Nusiance Team are not able to help then please let me know by email so I can look into it. The team was understandably restricted due to covid but we've nonetheless been able to deal with most issues submitted to the councillors. Libraries The council has begun a phased reopening of libraries. Details here: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/libraries/gradual-re-opening-of-library-and-heritage-services I hope everyone is in good health and that you have had an enjoyable summer. Best wishes, James

Hi all, Let me look into the zebra crossing issue - agree that it's very odd. As for Heber School, I'd be happy to get school streets put in place on Heber Road if the school wants this. I know there are currently plans to adjust the road layout on the street to make it safer, but school streets would be good too. Best wishes James

Hi all, I have asked the council to do an investigation of the pavements on Lordship Lane to ascertain which sections need further measures. Using previous suggestions we looked at the following areas four times last Saturday - Post Office area - M & S - Stretch of shop @ Moxon?s - William Rose Butchers With the social distancing measures in place around Moxon's, all four areas showed no issues. Do others have different experiences? Or are there other places we should look at insteaD? Best wishes James

Hi Abe, I'm afraid there's no contradiction to what I said. I identified (fairly unambiguous) strengths and weaknesses to the scheme. I did not take a position for or against the application as a whole. Best wishes James

I don't think it's fair to describe the open land as 'unused'. I think if the application is passed then this will be a real loss. That said, there are a number of strengths to the application. Chief amongst these are the need to keep the club in Dulwich, and to provide some desperately-needed social housing. These things are a tricky balance to strike, particularly in a planning system which is tragically rigged in favour of big developers - prioritising profit over community need. I've looked into the question about cars. There is an estimated increase of 50 or so journeys per day as part of the general residential and leisure activity. On match days there is predicted to be a 33 more. Best wishes, James

Also worth stating that as a reserve member of the Planning Committee I am unable to take a position for or against the decision in case I am called on to sit on the committee for the decision. Best wishes James

Hi all, Just a note to say that the Planning Committee will hear the application to redevelop Dulwich Hamlet Football Club on 27th July at 6.30pm. The meeting will be online. Details are not public yet but when they are you will be able to find them here: http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=119&MId=6676&Ver=4 Dulwich Hamlet is in Champion Hill ward so we Goose Green councillors do not have the right to attend as ward councillors. But it is very close and will clearly affect some Goose Green residents, hence me sharing here. Best wishes, James

Hi all, Lordship Lane pavements have been widened. This is something we pushed for right at the beginning of the lockdown. Not sure why it took so long but better late than never! The permeable filter on Melbourne Grove South is up and running too. Let us know if there are other measures you think we should consider. Best wishes James

Hi all Yes - great news about the pavement widening. This is something we pushed for right at the beginning of the lockdown. Not sure why it took so long but better late than never! I'm afraid surgeries are not going ahead at the moment but one of us could give you a call if that would suit you? Thanks for the useful feedback on the works in Dulwich Village. As KidKruger says, photos are very useful! Best wishes James

Hi all, Rockets - keen to hear creative and practical suggestions, with wide support from the local community! first_mate - not sure of details re emergency services, but as I said before these things do have to be agreed with them Jakido - there will be another tranche of measures soon but currently unsure what will be included in these. abe_froeman - hope the tomatoes were tasty! Send me the address (and ideally a photo) of the street and I will get it followed up. Lynne - yes, soon! Here is an update from the council on libraries Libraries and Museums in England have been included for re-opening in July as part of the government?s phase 3 re-opening plans. The government have advised that libraries cannot open before this point. Re-opening plans for Southwark libraries are being informed by Southwark?s corporate Covid 19 guidelines and advice and guidance from the government's Libraries Taskforce. In current plans we are hoping to re-open six of our libraries in the week beginning 13th July using a phased approach in order to ensure a safe environment for staff and library users (Canada Water, Dulwich, Camberwell, Nunhead, Brandon, and Blue Anchor). It must be stressed that the plans depend upon the Covid 19 situation and government advice- if the infection rate increases or government advice changes then plans will need to be adapted in response to this. In the current plan the libraries will re-open on a limited basis offering an order and collect service where books are pre-ordered and collected in the entrance/foyer area. Books can be returned and there will be a 'grab and go' service of pre-selected stock. There will be no general public access to the library beyond this. If the Covd 19 situation continues to stablilise then during August the service will be extended to reinstate limited public access to libraries, with potential full opening currently scheduled for September/October. All of this will be subject to social distancing guidelines and any other measures that the government advise. Best wishes James