Goose Green councillors - how can we help?

[heartblock]

Southwark has ambition.... building on green spaces and children?s playgrounds on high rise estates, while providing villagers with squares.

[malumbu]

If you are quoting other local authorities for their environmental credentials then it would be good if you could summarise why.

I think Oxford is great, I was living up that way at the time and saw the uproar when they essentially pedestrianised the City Centre. And expecting drivers to use park and ride. This also brought them into conflict with the County Council as traffic was pushed out to the ring road. Oxford City's protection of land also meant building new homes was pushed out the the boundaries, again adding congestion outside of the city. So all the arguments that Southwark have screwed things up by taking draconian action and displacing traffic, was seen 35 years ago in Oxford.

But as said it is so much nicer in Oxford now.

[first mate]

legal, look forward to hearing how you get on with all that and agree with all you say.

legalalien Wrote:

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> Laura, I'm with you.

>

> I emailed to ask who was on last year's climate

> emergency steering group. No answer. Submitted

> FoI. No answer. Escalated FoI in accordance with

> Southwark policy. Twice. No answer, no answer.

>

> So I've complained to the ICO. If the council

> won't even answer a simple question about who they

> have been speaking to, the chance of getting more

> detailed info is, I suspect, zero.

>

> I agree that the council shouldn't have made the

> declaration / set the target if they don't believe

> they have sufficient powers to do the things

> required to achieve it. If they do believe they

> have sufficient powers, then there should be a

> plan.

[LauraHW]

Agreed. Sorry - that's a lazy approach just to put links in. I was just trying to highlight the range of measures / actions that other LAs are taking across the country.

- Hackney have formed their own company - Hackney Light and Power - to (amongst other things) roll out a retrofit energy efficiency programme in the housing stock; develop PV assets on its buildings and develop renewable heat networks.

- Plymouth City Council are massively proactive and 3 years ago developed a city wide district energy strategy. In addition, they have formed Plymouth Net Zero partners with a range of organisations across the city including police, university, NHS etc to collaborate and share good practice as well as consult on city wide measures.

- Oxford - OK maybe not the best example 35 years ago but now is showing vision and leadership and was the first council to develop a citizen's assembly and has now appointed a scientific advisor from Oxford University to scrutinize its plans and strategies.

- Barnsley - help set up and facilitate Energise Barnsley which works in partnership with the council to develop community owned energy assets on its buildings.

My point was that there is so much councils can do and Southwark just doesn't seem to be doing it. But more worrying is the stonewalling and lack of communication and genuine engagement on the issue. As shown clearly through the LTN you have to bring people along with you in this and if you're not even going to respond to polite emails time after time it's not going to work.

I'd love Councillor McAsh to share his views and totally realise that it's not just up to one pro-active Councillor to speak for the elected officials and the Council itself - which are two separate things. But to get some sort of response would be a start.

[tiddles]

Seeing James? posts on Twitter it?s pretty obviously that he is still blindly insisting that ltns are great - lots of links about how closing roads reduces traffic - he is paying lip service to those of us who live or have businesses here regarding our genuine concerns - we are irrelevant

[ab29]

How utterly detached from a real world he and other Dulwich labour councillors are. Thousands of residents have to live with consequences of the road closures 24/7 and yet these people don't give a damn.

[Abe_froeman]

The only way to get rid of Labour's LTNs now is to hold your nose and vote for Shaun Bailey as Mayor in the upcoming elections.

[heartblock]

mmmmh well Bailey saying he will remove 'unpopular' LTNs isn't going to help remove Southwark LTNs, he will not have any authority. I think it will take the 2022 local elections and independent candidates or a legal case to get these things removed.

[Spartacus]

Whilst you are right heart block, by not voting labour for mayor or gla membership it may well send a message to local councillors that they might need to rethink their stance.

Count binface is as good as any for a protest vote (or second preference protest vote) IMHO

[snowy]

Count Binfaces last election manifesto proposed giving everyone a free bicycle so you might be barking up the wrong tree there.

[heartblock]

Would love another bike. Yes I was actually impressed by Count Binface's manifesto, far more Socialist than the 'new' Labour Party.

[alice]

Haven?t the north Southwark been removed/ changed because of resident voiced unhappiness

[Earl Aelfheah]

ab29 Wrote:

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

> How utterly detached from a real world he and

> other Dulwich labour councillors are. Thousands of

> residents have to live with consequences of the

> road closures 24/7 and yet these people don't give

> a damn.

A lot of people like having the option of a few lower traffic routes around the local area.

[LauraHW]

Dear Cllr McAsh

I'm just bumping my original post from last week. I'm sure you're busy and haven't had a chance to look at this yet but just in case it's been missed. I'd really appreciate your thoughts on the below.

Many thanks

Dear Cllr McAsh

I'll hold my hands up now and say that you're not my ward councillor: I live in Peckham Rye ward but despite repeated attempts to contact my local councillors on this issue I haven't had a single response or an acknowledgement of my emails so am unclear how to get a answer for my questions. I have also tried signing up to the Council's climate emergency newsletter twice and haven't had a single newsletter. Also apologies for highjacking the thread but I'm just picking up on a something you raised in your post:

"Transport is not the sole source of carbon emissions."

Indeed it is not, I imagine transport contributes less than 15% of Southwark's emissions. The elephant in the room that I've not heard a single mention of from Southwark is about how we are going to tackle the largest source of carbon emissions in the borough which is domestic emissions in the private housing sector in particular heat. A massive, ambitious plan is needed at a local level to address this and I'm not sure I've seen anything from Southwark that acknowledges the scale of what is needed.

Two years since Southwark declared a climate emergency and there's no firm, costed, targeted plan. A draft plan was quietly consulted on last July and now its April. What's been happening since then? Your target is achieving carbon neutrality in eight years? It's not going to happen while the council focuses all its efforts on transport and LTNs. The announcement about a ?101m budget to support carbon reduction was thin on detail and mentioned measures to reduce the emissions from the operational estate but what does this actually contribute to the overall reduction in borough emissions? 2% perhaps? Other councils across the UK are forging ahead and have really got this. Southwark is left behind and its lack of ambition and failure to get to grips with what is needed is shocking and negligent. A few laudable actions have happened like the creation of a DHN using waste heat from SELCHP, but again this covers a tiny proportion of households. And talking about creating planters at the end of closed streets whilst A Good Thing, is window dressing.

Regardless of the inaction and obfuscation, the constant stonewalling of any communications is most frustrating. Especially when achieving net zero will only happen when you actively engage and consult. I know there was a climate change conference last year but how many people actually attended and how was this publicised? What has been done since then to genuinely engage the whole Southwark community?

This isn't going to go away and the consequences for inaction are unthinkable. It's a real cliche but all the effort going into LTN is fiddling while Southwark burns.

Again apologies for highjacking this thread but I literally can't get a response from anyone (officer and Cllr alike) and would really appreciate your thoughts.

Many thanks

[tiddles]

He will not respond - well not give straight answers to your questions - if you check out his Twitter feed it would appears nothing is going to make him or his fellow councillors listen to any criticism of this ridiculous situation what we find ourselves in.

[LauraHW]

Elected Labour politicians not listening. Now where have we heard that today? Councillors please listen and respond.

[Nigello]

Good on the council and the councillors who?ve helped clean up some grot spots in SE22. Maybe it will help retail bounce back, at least a bit, after the lockdowns.

[jamesmcash]

Hi all,

First, a quick reminder that our community meeting to support our local high streets is happening tonight at 6pm. Please do join us. You can register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpd-2rrTguH9eHKxmW_zvfCfZ0hv4brgxj

Climate emergency

The climate emergency plans have been delayed as a result of covid but the full strategy is due to be released soon.

LauraHW - you've raised some really good points about the climate emergency. And good guess on the 15% stat - my understanding is that transport makes up 16% of carbon emissions in Southwark (although this is a few years out of date). The council is look to reduce these emissions through promotion of active travel, improving accessibility and sustainability of public transport (with TfL) and working to end freight and commercial delivery through polluting vehicles.

As for buildings, the council has already moved to renewable energy for its offices and will do the same for council housing soon. Private sector housing is more complicated because the council has no direct power over these properties once they are built. The New Southwark Plan is being strengthened and amended to ensure that new buildings are net zero. In terms of existing buildings, the council has committed to supporting them to be retrofitted. The council is also working to increase local sustainable energy production. I hadn't come across Hackney Light and Power. That sounds like a good model for doing so. I will raise it.

In terms of engagement, the council is creating an expert advisory panel to provide challenge to its work. It is also creating Citizen Juries to assess the action plan and make recommendations. These will be drawn up to represent the diversity of the borough. There will also be an annual climate emergency progress report put to an annual climate conference.

Election results

Thanks everyone who voted in the elections, whoever you voted for. I am, of course, delighted with the huge majority won by Marina Ahmad, our Labour candidate for Lambeth and Southwark, and proud too that Sadiq Kan won his second highest vote in the city from us.

LTNs

Just to be clear, I believe that LTNs can play an important role in reducing traffic and improving air quality. But that does not mean that I am 100% committed to the existing Dulwich LTNs staying as they are. The consultation process leaves open the option for them to be retained, removed, or amended. I am keen to hear everyone's feedback in this process - and see the full dataset - but my working assumption at the moment is that some changes will need to be made. I don't think that they're working perfectly by any stretch of the imagination.

Best wishes

James

[Nigello]

Re helping local business and retail - great to see improvements in appearance of streets, but please link up with BT to clean or remove phoneboxes, Openreach and Virgin to check on and clean/repair street cabinets, and local businesses who benefit from trade but who leave the area on close of business and leave behind unkempt/vandalised street-facing shutters, etc. Many are aware of their responsibilities and benefits of looking inviting but a small minority are not.

[CPR Dave]

Hi JAmes

Would be grateful to know how to apply for a LTN in my road too please? Also there's too many cars parking here now and a permit scheme would be goo too thanks

[Lynne]

When is Dulwich library going to fully open?

[jamesmcash]

Dear all,

First, a big thanks to everyone who voted Labour in the recent elections. We have the ward breakdown and Goose Green residents voted overwhelmingly for the Labour Party with all three of their votes. We councillors will continue to listen to residents who raise concerns but it is reassuring to hear that we're broadly on the right track.

LTNs on your road

Until the Dulwich Review is concluded it's hard to know the prospects of future LTNs. If the review concludes that the existing ones are working then we may well implement more in other parts of the ward. I suggest that you suggest your own road for one when you fill in the consultation.

Dulwich Library

The layout of Dulwich Library means its full opening is not yet possible. I do not have a date for when it will be but I understand that the council is working hard to make it happen as soon as possible.

More info here: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/libraries/find-a-library?chapter=6

Cheers

James

[Pugwash]

Whilst I can understand the reluctance of opening up the reference library and study area upstairs at Dulwich Library, I see no reason for not opening up downstairs adult library. There is plenty of room, OK the computer screens are close together but they can be moved around to give more space. Given that Grove Vale a much smaller library is able to operate, there is no excuse why Dulwich cannot open. Last time I was there, there were 2 men sitting watching people return books and a librarian sitting behind screen. Nothing appears to have been reorganized in the adult section. Given the fact that the library has been closed for best part of a year there is no reason why work/reorganization could not have been undertaken during that time.

[alice]

James don?t take my labour vote as a sign you are on the right track. The current LTNs reward privilege - the wealthy get healthier. The result of this consultation will determine whether a lifetime of labour voting will change. I cannot be alone.

[first mate]

Ditto!

alice Wrote:

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

> James don?t take my labour vote as a sign you are

> on the right track. The current LTNs reward

> privilege - the wealthy get healthier. The result

> of this consultation will determine whether a

> lifetime of labour voting will change. I cannot be

> alone.