The newly landscaped Dulwich Square

[Earl Aelfheah]

  On 13/03/2025 at 19:17, Bicknell said:

pls check parking for dv shops for those with disabilites.  eg if east of  junction none at end of court lane just bike racks  & escooter bay. nnot easy

seperate point but clash  pedestrins/cyhles (not c;;ear who jas right of way) makes it  feel unsafe if your walking

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There was never disabled parking on court lane (although agree it would be good to have some put in - perhaps write to the council?). There is disabled parking outside the shops. The only change is that you can't drive through the junction - which applies equally to everyone. There is a lot more room now if you're disabled or in a wheel chair to actually navigate around the shops. I do not get this point about there not being clarity about right of way between bikes and pedestrians. The is a road is now filtered to remove motor cars, is narrower (making it easier to cross) and has been curved round to slow the remaining vehicles; but there is still clear separation between the road and the pavement / pedestrian area.

Edited March 14 by Earl Aelfheah

[first mate]

The council knew that people were protesting about their needs from the outset. The council should have thought about all this and factored those needs in, before proceeding. It reflects really badly that DEI clearly has not been carefully considered and reasonable adjustments made to implementation.

[Earl Aelfheah]

  On 14/03/2025 at 08:40, first mate said:

The council knew that people were protesting about their needs from the outset. The council should have thought about all this and factored those needs in, before proceeding. It reflects really badly that DEI clearly has not been carefully considered and reasonable adjustments made to implementation.

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What's the issue you're objecting to? No disabled parking has been removed. To travel from the end of court lane to the disabled bay on calton avenue is 0.2 miles (less than one minute) via Dekker road. Previously one had to turn through the junction, which was roughly the same distance but also heavily congested. I would wager it's quicker now. Plus the pavements are considerably wider / there is more room in front of the shops and the number of pedestrians being injured in collisions with all vehicles has reduced. 

If you want additional disabled bays, ask for them. 

Edited March 14 by Earl Aelfheah

[first mate]

Those who are disabled should not have to ask,  not when millions of pounds have been spent reconfiguring a road junction into a public space with equal access and facility for all. 
 

Perception of safety is a valid issue. Those less able bodied may feel more at risk if pedestrian areas are regularly ridden through by cyclists. Being on edge affects wellbeing negatively. When the junction was a road, the clear demarcation between road and pavement reduced that sense of risk. That clear demarcation has completely gone.

Edited March 14 by first mate

[march46]

If you read the documents you'd know that the council did lots of work to ensure the square is inclusive and accessible for everyone. Transport for All and Wheels for Wellbeing did site visits and provided accessibility audit reports.

Worth noting, no comments were received about the need for blue badge holders to drive through the junction.

[first mate]

How do you know the detail of what comments were received on that consultation? 

[Bicknell]

  On 14/03/2025 at 10:03, Earl Aelfheah said:

What's the issue you're objecting to? No disabled parking has been removed. To travel from the end of court lane to the disabled bay on calton avenue is 0.2 miles (less than one minute) via Dekker road. Previously one had to turn through the junction, which was roughly the same distance but also heavily congested. I would wager it's quicker now. Plus the pavements are considerably wider / there is more room in front of the shops and the number of pedestrians being injured in collisions with all vehicles has reduced. 

If you want additional disabled bays, ask for them. 

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long way  from disabled parking  spaces to chemist  . not easy if walking is hard.

people have asked for disabled parking at end of court lane.  nothing happned.  makes no sense

 

[Earl Aelfheah]

  On 14/03/2025 at 15:01, Bicknell said:

long way  from disabled parking  spaces to chemist  . not easy if walking is hard.

 

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But this isn't anything to do with the square. It was the same distance before the filters were put in. I'm not saying it's not an issue, but what's the link with the LTN?

There is also parking directly outside the chemist, as there was before.

  On 14/03/2025 at 15:01, Bicknell said:

people have asked for disabled parking at end of court lane.  nothing happned.  makes no sense

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Do you know why the council has refused to put a disabled parking bay on court lane? Seems very odd.

Edited March 14 by Earl Aelfheah

[Bicknell]

  On 14/03/2025 at 15:12, Earl Aelfheah said:

But this isn't anything to do with the square. It was the same distance before the filters were put in. I'm not saying it's not an issue, but what's the link with the LTN?

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well less parking for every one   now   near chemist. before junction closed there were more  near shops  (eg in calton &court lane) .  and  if blue badge holder (cant drive through, dont want long  jouney round  in traffic )must choose disabled parking space 1 side or the other - and you likely want 1 near chemist . whcih theyre not

bad planning. 

  On 14/03/2025 at 15:12, Earl Aelfheah said:

But this isn't anything to do with the square. It was the same distance before the filters were put in. I'm not saying it's not an issue, but what's the link with the LTN?

There is also parking directly outside the chemist, as there was before.

Do you know why the council has refused to put a disabled parking bay on court lane? Seems very odd.

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no i dont know why. 

your right. its very odd. also unkind and uncaring

[Bicknell]

  On 14/03/2025 at 15:12, Earl Aelfheah said:

But this isn't anything to do with the square. It was the same distance before the filters were put in. I'm not saying it's not an issue, but what's the link with the LTN?

There is also parking directly outside the chemist, as there was before.

Do you know why the council has refused to put a disabled parking bay on court lane? Seems very odd.

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no i dont know why. 

your right. its very odd. also unkind and uncaring

@Earl Aelfheah just a thought but council seems  to listen to some not others. might you ask for this? no idea if that wd work but worth a try . pls help if you  can

[malumbu]

There are things people moan about, and at the same time things people should campaign for. I've said so many times it is a shame with so much energy going into anti this, anti that, and anti the other time could be better spent.  You've identified a good cause.  Go for it, I will happily support if I am permitted.

[Bicknell]

  On 14/03/2025 at 19:45, malumbu said:

There are things people moan about, and at the same time things people should campaign for. I've said so many times it is a shame with so much energy going into anti this, anti that, and anti the other time could be better spent.  You've identified a good cause.  Go for it, I will happily support if I am permitted.

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pls help if you can too. 

[march46]

Presumably you're aware that people with blue badges aren't limited to only parking in blue badge bays? See below from Southwark Council's website.

The new CPZ in Dulwich Village has provided many shared use bays and pay-by-phone bays that are free to use with a valid blue badge.

[Bicknell]

  On 14/03/2025 at 21:00, march46 said:

Presumably you're aware that people with blue badges aren't limited to only parking in blue badge bays? See below from Southwark Council's website.

The new CPZ in Dulwich Village has provided many shared use bays and pay-by-phone bays that are free to use with a valid blue badge.

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thanks @march46     doesnt give  parking in dv near to chemist   if you  find walking difficult

[march46]

There's car parking outside the chemist and the chemist offers a prescription delivery service - helpful for anyone having difficulty walking.

There's also now cycle parking for people with disabilities outside the chemist - a great addition as for some people their cycle is their mobility aid. 

Edited March 14 by march46
correct grammar

[first mate]

The inference that those who have difficulty walking can just 'give-up' and go for home prescription deliveries instead does not feel very inclusive. Perhaps, along with the disabled cycle parking, there needs to be more than one car parking space outside the chemist or very close by.

[ArchieCarlos]

There is a disabled parking bay in front of Meghan's on DV as well as one on Gilkes Place on the side of Meghan's. There is also one round the corner on Gilkes Crescent where it meets Calton avenue. 

The overall number of parking bays (paid ones with 30min free) is the same as before. This was achieved by creating new parking bays on Gilkes Place. They're not obvious to spot for those used to parking on the parade but they're there. I'm also glad the council has retained the free 30min as they'd initially proposed getting rid of it. 

[Bicknell]

  On 14/03/2025 at 23:01, march46 said:

There's car parking outside the chemist and the chemist offers a prescription delivery service - helpful for anyone having difficulty walking.

There's also now cycle parking for people with disabilities outside the chemist - a great addition as for some people their cycle is their mobility aid. 

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pls check. no parking right outside chemist . nearest disabled spaces outisde megans (chemist stopped delivering to evceryone after  junction clsoed - have tehy started again?) & gilkes/calton - if hard for you to wlak (likely if have blue badge), these spaces long way from chemist.  not kind. not fair

[ArchieCarlos]

  On 15/03/2025 at 10:05, Bicknell said:

pls check. no parking right outside chemist . nearest disabled spaces outisde megans (chemist stopped delivering to evceryone after  junction clsoed - have tehy started again?) & gilkes/calton - if hard for you to wlak (likely if have blue badge), these spaces long way from chemist.  not kind. not fair

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So disabled parking 20m away from the chemist is not okay, but parking right outside, i.e. 5m would be okay? 

I think a disabled bay 20m and another one 25m away seems fair enough. If it's really too far to walk, then I really think home deliveries should be the way to go. Plenty of pharmacies provide this service if the one in the village doesn't. 

[march46]

There are two disabled bays outside Megan’s and the council have amended the previous kerb so it now slopes, improving accessibility for anyone parking a car there who has a wheelchair. 

[Bicknell]

  On 15/03/2025 at 10:24, ArchieCarlos said:

So disabled parking 20m away from the chemist is not okay, but parking right outside, i.e. 5m would be okay? 

I think a disabled bay 20m and another one 25m away seems fair enough. If it's really too far to walk, then I really think home deliveries should be the way to go. Plenty of pharmacies provide this service if the one in the village doesn't. 

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design should focus on needs of all.  

anwser is not, well stay at home then

[march46]

The latest design is arguably an improvement on the previous design in terms of disabled parking outside the parade of shops -

now: two disabled bays outside Megan’s, with sloped kerb with wheelchair accessibility

before: one disabled bay outside Megan’s 

If you go back even further there was no disabled parking bay outside the shops until local campaigners, Clean Air Dulwich, highlighted the need for one. 

https://x.com/cleanairdulwich/status/1435918240828559367?s=46&t=cUvwfh8eXSgRnyQIZ_cO2w

[Bicknell]

thanks @march46

before junction  closed, more parking  generally (eg on calton, court lane, etc) .  with new design, & because junction  closed to blue badge holders, v important that disabled parking in right place so ppl with disabilties do not have  to walk far.  

all that money on redesign 

[Spartacus]

Love the way everyone (who are, i suspect, able bodied) speaks for the disabled and tells us how great or easy access to Dulwich village is. 

Let me be frank, it's not easy to get there for a large group of people unless they drive and that is the nub of the problem with the current layout. 

[malumbu]

I'm not, but just making the point that driving on a blue badge is not the only way those who have walking issues can maintain their mobility.  As March points out there are adapted bikes and wheels for wellbeing do a wonderful job in giving an experience of the different options.  And mobility scooters.  I have no idea which is the most suitable option for an individual.  Maybe more than one.  

Edited March 15 by malumbu