Goose Green councillors - how can we help?

[goldilocks]

we used an old garden bag last week and put it out with the brown bin (next to it as surplus garden waste rather than inside the bin) and it was taken away.

[Penguin68]

During this transition period (albeit very extended) I have found the bin men from Veolia very reasonable - they take away rubbish which generally fits the (old) requirements without being sticklers for the new way of doing this (and as all garden and kitchen waste currently gets mixed together in the same lorry, quite sensibly). They don't care, really, how it's presented. They see their job as clearing the streets of domestic rubbish put out for them, and do a good job of it.

If you don't like what the council is doing (I certainly don't) don't take it out on Veolia staff, who have nothing to do with council policy or the way the council implements that policy.

[beansprout]

My food caddy arrived - did it all on line.

I have a couple of brown bags with turf, leaves etc so as I am not sure, plan to leave them out and see what happens.

Know that Lambeth have teceived their stuckets for bins 10 days ago - looking in ED, haven't seen any on bins so assume they are in the post...

[Penguin68]

No, (some) bin stickers were certainly delivered two weeks ago - I had the full kit (stickered large bin, kerb-side caddy) in place for the Tuesday collection this week.

[jamesmcash]

Hi all

You can continue to use old bags but once the new system is fully in place you will need to arrange a collection.

Best wishes

James

[first mate]

Hi James,

Do we know when large, brown garden bins will be delivered? I now have a sticker but no bin to put it on. I have tried on multiple occasions to speak to a decision maker at Southwark Council and they are either in meetings or about to go into one and never return calls or make any attempt to communicate, despite Southwark holding my address, my email and my phone number.

Customer services personnel are incredibly vague about it all and repeat a mantra along the lines " you should get a bin soon". However, I get the impression they have no idea themselves and can offer no explanation as to the delay. Whoever is overseeing this mess really should be publicly accountable instead of hiding behind Council phone operatives. Can you advise us who is in charge of this James?

[nxjen]

This is an extract from an email I received a couple of days ago from Southwark Council:

?We have had some delays in issuing garden waste bins due to shortage of stock, but expect to have any remaining orders completed in the next week or so ? we would continue to collect the brown bags normally while you are waiting for this.?

You?re lucky to have the sticker - mine got lost in the post!

I think there are many here who are over-reacting, possibly politically motivated, about the delay. Things don?t always go according to plan, such is life. Food and garden waste are still being collected.

[first mate]

Absolutely no political motivation on my part. Just irritation at time spent trying to sort it out. Glad you at least got a reply to your query. It does help to have a response, together with a written reassurance your bags will continue to be collected in the interim. Despite asking for the same, a written response was not forthcoming when I asked for it.

[singalto]

Surely the unwanted brown bins should be issued to those needing them so there should not be a shortage!

[jamesmcash]

Dear all

Most people should have received their garden waste bin and sticker by now but I understand that some are still to be delivered. This should not affect your collections. But if you are having any trouble then please email me.

In other news, my fellow councillors and I have written to Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, asking her to reverse the cut to the number 12 bus. Full letter here: https://www.jamesmcash.com/blog/open-letter-to-heidi-alexander-on-the-number-12-bus

Best wishes

James

[Abe_froeman]

James do you know when old unwanted brown bins will be removed please?

[cella]

Hi James

I've a massive exchange of emails with various Southwark staff about susscribing and then not getting a food waste bin to no avail. Each time someone different picks up the message, gives it a different job number and then nothing happens. Recently they've actually managed to remove both my blue recycling boxes despite me stating each time I did not want this to happen. We now only have one blue bin for both our flats. I've included Richard Livingston in several of my messages and he doesn't respond. Ive written to Caroline Bruce at the beginning of the week, copied to Peter John - nothing, not even an acknowledgement. Apart from the basic request which was checking on why the food waste bin hadn't been provided despite paying up, I think it's absolutely cynical and unprofessional for these people not to account to residents. Is there any way this can be resolved - the bin I mean, as I guess the accountability is a lost cause?

[TheArtfulDogger]

Hi James

With the waste strategy document from Defra "our waste, our resources: A strategy for England" https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765914/resources-waste-strategy-dec-2018.pdf published in 2018, page 72 talks about making garden waste recycling free for all households.

This clearly shows that Southwark Council are not taking this vital strategy into consideration.

Can you seek a response from the council assembly on what their rational is to now start charging for garden waste in light of the defra strategy and what the overall cost will be to local tax payers should they need to reverse their decision to charge including the wasted implementation costs?

Thank you

[jamesmcash]

Dear all

Abe_froeman

I am not sure. But if it is inconveniencing you then I would be happy to look into getting yours removed asap. Email me with your address etc.

Cella

I?m really sorry to hear you?ve had a negative experience with this. Can you forward the email you sent to me and I will then chase it up and make sure you get an adequate response.

TheArtfulDogger

When you say that the document ?talks about? making garden waste collections free do you mean this line?

?We will consult on the provision of free garden waste collections for households with gardens and seek views on the impacts and costs for local authorities so these can be taken into account in assessment of new burdens.?

It seems to suggest that following consultation with local authorities they might consider providing additional funding to cover the cost of providing the service for free. Were this to happen I am sure that the council would change its policy. The introduction of the charge is a result of the terrible cuts to local authorities from central government.

Best wishes

James

[TheArtfulDogger]

jamesmcash Wrote:

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

>

> TheArtfulDogger

> When you say that the document ?talks about?

> making garden waste collections free do you mean

> this line?

> ?We will consult on the provision of free garden

> waste collections for households with gardens and

> seek views on the impacts and costs for local

> authorities so these can be taken into account in

> assessment of new burdens.?

> It seems to suggest that following consultation

> with local authorities they might consider

> providing additional funding to cover the cost of

> providing the service for free. Were this to

> happen I am sure that the council would change its

> policy. The introduction of the charge is a result

> of the terrible cuts to local authorities from

> central government.

>

> Best wishes

> James

Hi James

Cynical me feels that the new charge was introduced after the consultation closed, but before results were announced, and that the charge has been introduced just in time to claim additional funding from defra should they push through with the free garden waste collections, whereas if Southwark wasn't charging (as before June) there would be no additional funding.

Just a thought

As for the claim that it's a result of terrible cuts to local funding, I'm fed up of that cry especially as I have dealings with councils all over and see how terribly inefficient they are internally.

[Mrs D]

James, I received a letter a few days ago regarding work to the junction of Crystal Palace Road / Whately and Underhill Road. Does this mean that we will finally be getting a proper crossing at this junction?

[jamesmcash]

Hi Mrs D

The work is initially to build out the corners to reduce the crossing width for pedestrians, and then later on to add a raised table to further slow down vehicles.

Best wishes

James

[Renatus]

Hello Goose Green Councillors,

It will help if you place big bins in the park in the summer. This morning the park was full of rubbish. The summer after with family and friends in the park has started and people are leaving their rubbish behind and in most case on the ground!

[Mrs D]

Thanks James for the update. I think it is a wasted opportunity. There really should be a zebra crossing. Raised platforms won?t make it safe for kids to cross. Can the lollipop man at least help kids cross the other direction too?

jamesmcash Wrote:

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

> Hi Mrs D

>

> The work is initially to build out the corners to

> reduce the crossing width for pedestrians, and

> then later on to add a raised table to further

> slow down vehicles.

>

> Best wishes

> James

[73jem]

the refuse collectors are prone to miss my small brown bin, so I am in danger of getting stuck with kitchen rubbish for two weeks in this heat.

As the garden and kitchen rubbish are currently placed together in the lorry, it seems best to me that while that this happens, I can put everything in the large brown bin which does get emptied every week.

Do you know when these two kinds of rubbish will be collected and dealt with separately? I will then try again with the kitchen bin. Thanks

[AylwardS]

Flood alleviation and environmental improvement works in Peckham Rye Common

I have seen a notice regarding proposed flood alleviation and environmental improvement works in Peckham Rye Common stating representations are to be made to the Planning Inspectorate by 16 September. I have been unable to find reference to this on the Southwark website and am unlikely to be able to attend one of the libraries the notice states further documents can be inspected during office hours.

Can these be made available on the Council website? There is a page about flood risk for the common but it has not been updated since 2017.

[jamesmcash]

Dear all

Sorry for delayed response, I have been away.

Mrs D - I am looking into seeing if the scheme can be amended to become a controlled crossing. I will keep you posted.

73jem - if you have not already (it is not always obvious from people?s EDF usernames!) please email me about this. Include your name and address so that I can properly follow up on it and make sure this problem does not occur.

AylwardS - Is this the information you were looking for? https://www.southwark.gov.uk/environment/flood-risk-management/notice-of-proposed-flood-alleviation-works-on-peckham-rye-common It may have been put there since your post on here.

Best wishes

James

[TheArtfulDogger]

Hi James

With reference to the floods work, I received a letter from Thames water recently stating that Barry road will be involved in major works to alleviate potential floods with bus stop closures and traffic management

I've not received or seen any other details

Do you know what is happening, when and what much effect will it have on the area ?

[singalto]

I cannot believe how many times Lordship Lane has been dug up since it was resurfaced!

[TheArtfulDogger]

Hi James

Can the council put any weight on TfL in regards to the 12 terminating early at Westminster bridge causing travel issues for people who need to get further into central London.

Seems madness as they can easily go on diversion via the Waterloo bridge to get back on route avoiding Westminster bridge