East Dulwich Needs You! Looking for proactive & talented people to join a community initiative

[rigbydan]

EAST DULWICH NEEDS YOU!

An alliance of East Dulwich businesses and residents are working together to capture and celebrate the creative and independent spirit and strong sense of community prevalent in our corner of London.

We have recently been awarded funds to create an East Dulwich brand and install a free-standing map, lamp-post banners and introduce community elements to North Cross Road Market. We are looking for community minded and proactive people with skills including, but not limited to, design, marketing and PR to get involved.

If you are interested, then please do email us at [email protected] and tell us how you can help.

We look forward to meeting you.

[nxjen]

Can you let us know where the funds came from? Also, can you advise the mix between businesses and residents and how the latter were recruited?

[rigbydan]

Hi

Thanks for your interest.

We made an application for fund's via Southwark's High Street Challenge. We were a small group that included a business owner, market trader and resident - we wanted to make sure we had community cross section. Now we have secured the funds we need to put the plan in to action so we are looking to increase the team and bring in people with various skills from all elements of the community - we have used the notice board in SE22 Magazine and the forum in order to recruit thus far.

Hope this helps.

[Borky]

How does this benefit the community rather than the shopkeepers?

[treehugger]

Great initiative, good luck!

[intexasatthe moment]

Personally I would plead for no more street clutter ,no lamp post banners .

No one notices them after a few months .( I can't remember whether the Rye Lane street banners are still there ,anyone else ? ) and they quickly look faded ,tatty ,sad .

[geobz]

Borky Wrote:

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> How does this benefit the community rather than

> the shopkeepers?

Let me explain to you, so Southwark is cutting down budgets here and there, and the outcome is, dirtier streets etc.

On the other hand they clearly have money to give out to initiatives like this one... Good job Southwark.

[Borky]

Can you clarify what this community initiative is about and how it will benefit the wider community outside of the traders on the NCR please ? I am still unclear as to the purpose of this call for volunteers from the OP.

[peterstorm1985]

I agree with intexas. Banners on lamp-post clutter the landscape horribly.

I thought the East Dulwich SNUB bags were a fabulous branding exercise as well as raising an important issue. I'd support something similar.

[nxjen]

I'm interested in how this benefits the community as well, it seems there is only one resident on the "panel" and I wonder if s/he has any connection with the businesses. Given the market is only open one day a week, banners on lamp-posts seem to be an overkill. What are the "community elements" referred to in the original post? I have no problem with businesses marketing themselves but to say it is for the benefit of the community is disingenuous.

[Nigello]

I agree that any "street furniture" ought to be well-made and well-maintained so they don't end up like monuments to misplaced, temporary enthusiasm in eighteen months' time. If you can, avoid lampposts etc and ask businesses to house a banner/placard etc.

Still unsure what it's all about: sounds a bit "committee speak" but I don't doubt your sincerity.

[uncleglen]

Having driven, or been on a bus, through Peckham regularly since 1987 the 'High Street Challenge' does not seem to improved that area- especially around the bus station....

Meanwhile Southwark are removing the dog-waste bins - what's the future hold? Sorry to be cynical but it is another example of taking money from the front line of the community and spreading it behind the scenes, then blaming the government for the drop in MY quality of life....

[Mark]

Maybe I've missed something but the original poster asked for "community minded ... people" to join them to "introduce community elements" to a "community initiative". So I assume the people who come forward could be residents with no connection to the evil corporate street-traders and make sure it's about the residents as well.

Like it or not the local businesses are part of the local community too.

[rigbydan]

Lots of comments so will try to answer as many as I can.

I?m biased yes but I would say that a strong and varied local economy is of benefit to the community. But anyway, the project is not just about shopkeepers ? of the 6 people present at our first meeting at least 3 were East Dulwich residents (2 with no business interest in the area). The projects not all about banners, one proposed element will give local organisations, charities, groups etc a platform to engage with the local community.

Subsequent to this post and a mention in a local magazine we?ve received lots of interest from varied members of the community that want to get involved, if others want to join then please do email me and I?ll do my best to get people together.

In response to concerns over council funding, I can only suggest that you speak to your councillor. I personally think that initiatives like this, that give all members of the wider community (business, residents, schools, charities etc) the opportunity to work together for the benefit of the area are a positive thing, but can appreciate that not all feel the same way.

[intexasatthe moment]

I don't think that you should intepret comments about a particular element ( say lamp post banners )

as meaning that the poster thinks that this is the sole focus of the iniative .

[Pugwash]

Many years ago a request was made by the general ED public who did not want to go into a pub or caf?, for a public loo in the LL/North Cross Road area. There are still a number of folk in ED who do not have the money to go in any of the cafes/restaurants/pubs to purchase a drink just to use their loos. This request was made to Southwark long before NX Rd market took off. There was a suggestion of a loo being installed near the electricity sub station in NX Rd (opp pub)

[rendelharris]

Pugwash Wrote:

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> Many years ago a request was made by the general

> ED public who did not want to go into a pub or

> caf?, for a public loo in the LL/North Cross Road

> area. There are still a number of folk in ED who

> do not have the money to go in any of the

> cafes/restaurants/pubs to purchase a drink just to

> use their loos. This request was made to Southwark

> long before NX Rd market took off. There was a

> suggestion of a loo being installed near the

> electricity sub station in NX Rd (opp pub)

I wish all councils would follow the example of Richmond: https://www.richmond.gov.uk/community_toilet_scheme

[Sue]

Pugwash Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Many years ago a request was made by the general

> ED public who did not want to go into a pub or

> caf?, for a public loo in the LL/North Cross Road

> area. There are still a number of folk in ED who

> do not have the money to go in any of the

> cafes/restaurants/pubs to purchase a drink just to

> use their loos. This request was made to Southwark

> long before NX Rd market took off. There was a

> suggestion of a loo being installed near the

> electricity sub station in NX Rd (opp pub)

I have never been refused the use of a loo if I've gone into a pub and asked politely at the bar, even if I wasn't buying a drink.

[rendelharris]

Sue Wrote:

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> I have never been refused the use of a loo if I've

> gone into a pub and asked politely at the bar,

> even if I wasn't buying a drink.

I agree Sue, I have the same experience (though it's a rare occasion I go into a pub without buying a drink!). But for people who maybe don't go in pubs generally the thought of asking and risking an embarrassing rejection is enough to put them off - that's why I like the Richmond scheme, a discreet sticker on the door lets people know they're not going to be embarrassed.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

They do this in Beckenham. Costa coffee, pubs, restaurants etc. display a sign on door to just come in and us the loo.

rendelharris Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Pugwash Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Many years ago a request was made by the

> general

> > ED public who did not want to go into a pub or

> > caf?, for a public loo in the LL/North Cross

> Road

> > area. There are still a number of folk in ED

> who

> > do not have the money to go in any of the

> > cafes/restaurants/pubs to purchase a drink just

> to

> > use their loos. This request was made to

> Southwark

> > long before NX Rd market took off. There was a

> > suggestion of a loo being installed near the

> > electricity sub station in NX Rd (opp pub)

>

> I wish all councils would follow the example of

> Richmond:

> https://www.richmond.gov.uk/community_toilet_schem

> e

[rendelharris]

That's cool. I might write to Southwark and ask if they've considered it.

[James Barber]

This has been done really well in Herne Hill. Great idea.

We tried doing this on Lordship Lane a few years back but the lampposts weren't structurally able to take the extra wind load factor. If the odd lamppost needs replacing we'll find some other funding to do that aspect to help.

IF you need any help please just ask either myself or Rosie.

[rigbydan]

Thanks James, sure we'll be in touch as things get moving.

James Barber Wrote:

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> This has been done really well in Herne Hill.

> Great idea.

> We tried doing this on Lordship Lane a few years

> back but the lampposts weren't structurally able

> to take the extra wind load factor. If the odd

> lamppost needs replacing we'll find some other

> funding to do that aspect to help.

>

> IF you need any help please just ask either myself

> or Rosie.

[steveo]

Are you saying there is money available to remove perfectly adequate street lights and replace them with new ones that can handle a flapping banner?

That's nuts.

How much is a new street light? How much to lift out the old and replace with a new? How much to throw away (a perfectly good) old light?

We are truly through the looking glass.

[Sue]

Please don't replace the lampposts with those hideous curvy things :(

I live just round the corner and I'd like to see something aesthetically pleasing (that is, of course, aesthetically pleasing to me :)) )