JDR

I have a major concern with the people who have avoided the junction at peckham rye by going down Nigel Road. How do you get there? That would be off a well known major road onto a completely residential street that has more than enough traffic, speeders etc.... We have spped bumps, we just hear the cars bounce over them. I have three children under the age of 5 and the amount of traffic on our street has increased hugely since the peckham rye lights were out and even more now nigel road were out. Whatever shortcuts you take PLEASE stay below 20mph not 30! Its a residential area first, not your short cut (I more than appreciate the neccesity for short cuts, I drive with my job in a neighbouring borough so rely on the same solution). I only beg that we don't tranfers the problem from A/B roads to back roads and more unexpected than ever accidents

As an aside Southwark are being much proactive this year about non applicants that should be applying, is minimising the numbers that apply late and further skew the lists. they are contacting all parents that they have detials for to check (unfortunate that they are aso contacting some parents that have children that have already started school, but better too many than too few)

I'm also a keen follower so would love to come but also slightly anxious as not been along before and don't know anyone barring Pickle. Luck forward to hearing the date and if fits will brave it!

Just to say as devils advocate.... most people seem to delight in saying that parents these days are too protective of children and cause more problems ie children should be left to their own devises and not constantly supervised. In which case, they should be allowed to make their own mistakes and get told off for them surely??? All children, by nature will push their luck, thats their role in life and the grown ups is to winge and complain. I suspect thats not changed since forever. So whinge away, then go check with your own parents about how annoying a little s**t you were too. Fine , they are annoying but youth feel dissaffected because people complain at them for 'EVERYTHING' and I think they have a point!

Afraid that I'm going to completely disgree with most of the above. We are now part of the residents parking zone in Peckham. (Previously the first street with free parking to Peckham Rye station). With a small child I used to always have a buggy in the car and make sure that all refridgerated and freezer goods were seperate so that i could leave the rest of the shoppinjg till other half came home and moved it 2-5 streets depending on how far away I'd managed to park the car). The streets surrounding us declined residents parking and now parking on our street is really easy - never more than 10 motres from our home. So yes, easy money for the council(though most coucils make parking control revenue neutral despite what their critics claim!!!). We were warned previously but went along to consultation with our neighbours and were fully listened to and our own comments were completely listened to. generally really impressed. I think ?100 a year is good value (especially as a peckham resiident we also get to park near the pulse when their parking full with no risk of tickets!). Good luck though. Most people we know were massively sceptical/negative. Ones on our street changed their minds once it was in. Sorry to burst everyone elses bubble, but on our street - this is one the best things that has happened in terms of inconvenience and quality of life for us... For thoses sceptical about shoppers etc another suggestion would be put a two hour parking limit on ie 12-2, 11-1 etc. If residents have a permit they can park all day and those that use parking for trains/commuting won't be able to. Shoppers, once familiar with restrictions won't be affected as they will be able to aviod the times that restrictiosn apply. Thsi is used in Greenwich to prevent comuters for trains etc

We moved here 9 years ago, planned to move to East Dulwich after two and have never wanted to go over to the other side since!!(SE22 is the other side!). We're just about to send our daughter to Bellenden, which I've had reservations about but from what I've seen so far is getting better and better, though ask again in a few months and I'll actually have more experience of it...

Hope you had a fab holiday - don't use you frequently but knowing you weren't there made me nervous-didn't realise how deoendant I'd become on you. Hope not as long til your next one - though selfishly hope you never need one again???!!!??

I agree with peckham rose and labour folk. Questionairre ok, not great. There are loads of things I'd love addressing that feel more urgent than tetrapaks (though, this has annoyed me for years and can't believe southwark 10th worst). There are also issues regarding schools (primary but also, by means of timing increasingly secondary???), safety (policing based and road), public engagement (how many non middle class degree educated people are you really engaging with on the EDF???) and areas development, though I'm more concerned about Peckham than East Dulwich at that point. Am a labour supporter, will be voting for you, always laugh when you canvess for the first time on my street 2/3 days before election - I postal vote so invariabley post mine a good week before!!!!

Hi Good luck with this. We tried legal beagles approach for approx 6 weeks with our eldest, who just kept coming out. Just before we abandoned the technique she peaked at 108 times out of bed in one night... On advice of a friend we said she could come out if she wanted but shut the doors in the hallway so there was nothing to do. Didn't have a massive effect until autumn, when evening light lessened and sitting in the dark was no fun. Since then, model child. Our second daughter has also spent most of this summer doing something similar though way less extreme. We've justed resigned ourselves to inconvenient evenings for the next year (we also have a 17 month old who no doubt will also do this!). It does got better, just persevere and try to share the load with a partner

We used to get it until about 3-4 months ago. No sign recently Anstey Road, Peckham

I am also an NHS worker. I'm a physiotherapist with 11 years experience and used to have lots of time off due to chest infections, in retrospect due to smoking, which I have now stopped and had no infections since. In the team I work with the main reasons for abscence are either manual handling related ie either low back pain or shoulder problems, both directly contributable to lifting and handling. The only other significant abscences I know of are cancer related, two caes of breast cancer and one of non hodgkins lymphoma. They all attributed significant time off, though at least one had limited time off because despite the idea that we all get loads of time off, my colleage wasn't eligible for full sick leave and therfore had to minimise time off...we all had to avoid the office for when she was likely to pick up infections - really she shouldn't have been at work but we managed her sickness because our wages don't allow much leeway for planning around such major illness. The other two accrued virtelly no leave as they all felt such a lvel of obligation to thier colleagues and patients they came back within weeks. There are people that take the piss, but please DO NOT tar all staff with the same brush. Its unfair. We're not perfect, but we're not well paid for the skills we hold. I agreed to that when I signed up but don't expect abuse, do expect a fair days pay for a fair days work. Howver, higher risks of infectious disieses (including temporory ones such as swine flu plus permanent ones of hepaptitis/ non treatable TB ). These jobs are NOT comparable to the private sector either health or business. I've regretted my choice of career many times and think I should have prioritised my earnings and own family first, rather than the greater good. I keep trying to remind myself that this was the right decision anad that being a selfinsh banker type that has screwed everyone was way worse - tell me genuinly that you think we're worse, with lower pay and personnal injury rather than personnal gain and srcewing the economy. If you don't - you risk that many less people from this generation will bother with the vocatioanl choice and many more will go for the selfish one...

Thank you very much to the two women with buggies with babies that helped me retrieve my errant 4 year old who went to the toilet on her own in Peckham Rye Park! After near heart attack (not having been told that was what she was doing) and asked half of the park I was delighted to get her back - appreciate I probably just started shouting at her and in my panic probably forgot to thank you... So many thanks. My errant ginger child is now on a (hopefully) shorter leash

None of you know our tale, and I won't bore you with it. However, Fusion run most of Southwarks facilities. Southwark council are doing refurbs to try and improve accessability etc. They however, until this week were little aware of poor service... I have now started correcting this knowledge gap (may have got a bit excited - note to self, no complaint writing via email with red wine). I got excited and complained to several levels of managemnt, local councillors and to Tessa Jowell (my local MP). I've had good responses from the bosses, none from the middle managers. The people I've spoken to were appalled at the standards and are trying to engage people (bearing inmind she phoned me after 6pm on a fri and was on the phone for 45 mins, I'm feeling genuine good will). Can only suggest that others feed either to local councillors or Southwarks leisure managers. I suggested that they try a station manager corner for leisure facilities. Don't know if they will take it up though

Hi Just wondering if anyone else having problems with the swim school follwoing transfer over to Peckham. One childs class cancelled ie taken off timetable and others fully booked even though we had priority booking... P***sed off ++ Am about to tear a strip of various levels of staff by email and wondered if ours is an isolated case or if more folk out there? JDR

Did anyone lose pink croc on tuesday at ballet? We've managed to apck them in our bag.... Please contact me if they're yours 07905 086477 Jools x

I think the opinion that the street is trying to find its identity is a little misplaced. A great DIY shop, dog grooming, two cafes on the street (one middle class, one greasy sppon but nice), independant bookshop, fireplace/antiquities shop, locksmiths, chemists, Clothes shop (Fenton Walsh), chocolate shop, hairdressers, bakery and from my opinion the best local cafe ever Petitou! Most of them have been there for at least a year and in several cases lots more. Doesn't sound so bad does it?... And I'm aware I've missed some but please feel free to add..

We're currently ina rut so this thread is great inspiration Hi Pickle. My three currently like this stuff, we should meet up now your home. Will text soon x Lunches here are frittata. Several versions incl potato, cougette, pepper or sweet potato with goats cheese (leave cheese off kids section). Pitta with taramasalata/houmous/cherry toms and peppers. Teas pesto pasta for speed. Pasta, pesto, brocolli, peas and sometimes mozzerella. Chicken fajitas are current favourite for messy tea. Chicken peppers onions without spices for kids. They like making it with tortillas, sour cream and cheese and then putting it all together (then it falling apart mid meal). Baby just gets the constituent parts which she throws on the floor when shes had enough....

Can recommend the green grocers - gorgeous soft fruit. Had to drag my four year old out as she was costing me a fortune... Cherries to die for and three children with a new fruit habit. Happy days ;-)

The service with both has been good by me, my biggest gripe is that another big company bought out a small guy (and I totoally condone him, who wouldn't?) and the things that made it a successful small shop have been removed. The range of goods before was fantastic and now, not so much. Used to go every couple of weeks, since it changed, twice. Not really feeling loyalty to any of the east dulwich pharmacies, though the one at Goose Green does seem nice. The guy at fourways in Herne Hill gets my vote

Bellingham is the area just after Catford if you were travelling towards Bromley from Lewisham

Everyone will be glad to hear that Dr Cranes memorial service happened yesterday and was touching and heartfelt by everyone there. Lots of people went to show their feeling of loss for such a generous and kind man whose home was always open to those in need. Plenty of England players showed up and alledgedly even Arsene Wenger made an appearance. It just goes to show what a truely wonderful gentleman he was that so many people wanted to show their affections. I know the family felt very appreciative of the huge warmth and depth of feeling that was expressed

I hate to say this but as a girl who only really shops in Primark, the accursed baby shop sells items much more practical than its (overpriced) clothes. There are very few shops that you can buy all of this stuff in one place (though I have used them only through mail order before). It may not be what everyone wants, but its mainly popular as they sell boring practical baby related items. Dull, unglamourous, but rare and therefore will be popular

I'll assume its Peckham Rye Park you're talking about. For the size of the park the area is poor, quite isolated, poorly lit and has a poor range of activities/toys. Goose Green is much better though does need work - I have two children and the youngest is poorly catered for at Goose Green as there are often firemans pole directly across from the steps they climb up to get to the slides! Good design?!? It does seem ashame that Peckham Rye wasn't given a bigger and better makeover though as the park is lovely and once there is a cafe available could become more popular but the play area could be a limiting factor to its success. Shame

Mmm, interesting debate. Maybe the main point of which seems to have gotton lost! We won't be making the decision and my understanding is that BARA and bawdy nan were trying to inform those people interested about this so that they would be able to put forward their comments (though probably objections from what I've seen on here) to the appropriate people. I live in Peckham so its no-where near me, though my daughter is on the waiting list for nursery and it is my GP. We should all be able to represent our views once we know in more detail what is being proposed and how they propose to minimise risks to other residents. Personally one of my main concerns would be the loss of revenue to other local pharmacies such as Maceys and co-op which are both well established and offer a good range of services which I would genuinely miss if they were lost due to becoming financially unviable. As an area we should consider all of these things as its what makes it a nice area to live in. Again as a Peckham resident though I rather seriously resent that my children are potentially less 'worthy' for being protected from danger/menace (whatever peoples perception of the danger), particularly as one of the main reasons I can't afford to live in east dulwich is because I'm one the people who decided to accept lower wages by working for the NHS to help provide these services. Appologies in advance of my being shot down by any number of people but sometimes ED needs to remember its a part of south london and not a posh ghetto without the gates!

Thanks SeanMacGabhann, with no bopkshop I'll have to do with the bookshop instead! Thanks for the welcome x