Dulwich Park Lake bridge

[Nigello]

It’s still “under essential repair”, if that translates to “no action whatsoever being taken and no update at all being given”. 
I wrote to my MP and CCd one of my councillors (the one who actually ever replies). 
Please do the same if you’re cheesed off at this lack of action. You can find your representatives via WriteToThem. 
Also try environmentalcustom@southwark.gov.uk 

Edited March 20 by Nigello

[EDmummy101]

Thanks for flagging, I will write to Ellie Reeves and James McAsh - as you say local councillors often slower to respond than MPs but I think they sometimes have 2 jobs?

[ed_pete]

Maybe contact the Friends of Dulwich Park ?

https://dulwichparkfriends.org.uk/

They have the below contact details for the Park 

General Parks Enquiries: Parks@southwark.gov.uk

Dulwich Parks Office : 020 8693 8635

[Rockets]

Does anyone know what is wrong with it - it's a shame that such a great feature of the park is out of action for so long.

[Nigello]

  On 19/03/2025 at 16:48, ed_pete said:

Maybe contact the Friends of Dulwich Park ?

https://dulwichparkfriends.org.uk/

They have the below contact details for the Park 

General Parks Enquiries: Parks@southwark.gov.uk

Dulwich Parks Office : 020 8693 8635

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I’ve emailed and left messages for the parks people, but no response. I hope my email to the elected officials will prove to be effective. 
 

[Angelina]

I'm sure they are just waiting until the weather improves. 

It is lovely to walk over the lake but it's perfectly possible to walk around it and admire it.

 

[Earl Aelfheah]

  On 19/03/2025 at 17:18, Rockets said:

Does anyone know what is wrong with it - it's a shame that such a great feature of the park is out of action for so long.

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I think the sign says that some of the wood is rotten and needs replacing.

[Sue]

  On 20/03/2025 at 11:39, Earl Aelfheah said:

I think the sign says that some of the wood is rotten and needs replacing.

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I wonder which part/s of the bridge are affected? Pathway or side barriers (don't know the proper terms, sorry). Or both?

I think there was a thread on here before (but I can't remember the subject) which included a discussion about using a "man" made material which looks more or less identical to wood but is much longer lasting.

I have seen it used on paths and bridges in places like  nature reserves. If I hadn't been told it wasn't wood, I would never have known.

I wonder why something like that wasn't used in the first place? The bridge hasn't been there that long, has it? Surely whatever wood was used shouldn't be rotting already? 

Happy memories with my grandkids when they were younger, on the bridge  feeding bird seed to the ducks (and other birds!)

[claresy]

I've also been wondering about this. I haven't seen anyone carrying out the 'essential repairs'. It seems a shame (and a waste of money) to create this nice feature and then let it fall into disrepair. I used to enjoy standing on it and looking at the ducks and so did many other people, including children. Walking around the lake isn't the same at all. 

[Nigello]

  On 20/03/2025 at 18:21, claresy said:

I've also been wondering about this. I haven't seen anyone carrying out the 'essential repairs'. It seems a shame (and a waste of money) to create this nice feature and then let it fall into disrepair. I used to enjoy standing on it and looking at the ducks and so did many other people, including children. Walking around the lake isn't the same at all. 

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Please email the address I posted above and write to your councillor and MP - you have to include your address and phone number in your email. It’ll only change if you and others apply pressure. 

[claresy]

I did 🙂

 

straight after posting the above I just got the following reply from the Park Officer:

 

Thank you for contacting the Park Service about the boardwalk over Dulwich Park lake.

Whilst remaining closed, the bridge has been thoroughly inspected and assessed for repair or rebuild options and as a result of this assessment it has been found to be uneconomical to repair and for health and safety it will need to be dismantled and removed. A replacement boardwalk has not been decided but is being investigated. Once we have new information it will be shared with the community of park users like yourself and local councillors but the bridge will remain closed.

I hope this helps,
 

[Angelina]

Quite a pity in some regard but will be nice for the wildlife to have some privacy away from thudding feet, kids and dogs,

 

 

[Sue]

  On 21/03/2025 at 13:14, claresy said:

I did 🙂

 

straight after posting the above I just got the following reply from the Park Officer:

 

Thank you for contacting the Park Service about the boardwalk over Dulwich Park lake.

Whilst remaining closed, the bridge has been thoroughly inspected and assessed for repair or rebuild options and as a result of this assessment it has been found to be uneconomical to repair and for health and safety it will need to be dismantled and removed. A replacement boardwalk has not been decided but is being investigated. Once we have new information it will be shared with the community of park users like yourself and local councillors but the bridge will remain closed.

I hope this helps,
 

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Oh that's really sad.

It can't have been properly installed with the correct materials  in the first place, surely?

A friend of mine works on similar projects, but he's abroad at the moment. When he comes back I'll see if he knows anything about this one.

I wonder why they haven't put a notice at both ends of the bridge so people know why it's closed?

Thanks for the update, claresy.

[claresy]

Yes I'm really disappointed. It's not even been there that long so can't have been well built/maintained. 

[Rockets]

That is such a shame. I do hope the council finds the money to replace it.

[Sue]

  On 21/03/2025 at 13:22, Angelina said:

Quite a pity in some regard but will be nice for the wildlife to have some privacy away from thudding feet, kids and dogs,

 

 

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It's quite a large area of water, reeds etc!

I'm sure they had sufficient places to find privacy when the bridge was open, should they not be hungry and after bird seed! 

 

[Dulwichway]

  On 21/03/2025 at 13:22, Angelina said:

Quite a pity in some regard but will be nice for the wildlife to have some privacy away from thudding feet, kids and dogs,

 

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It's humans that created this "wildlife space" ,they are quite happy and very aware of us as mostly friends. Other wildlife is their main threat!  behave yourself! lol!

[ab29]

It's been blocked for ages and no movement so far.  Whatever needed fixing initially, most likely it's a much bigger problem now.

Surely Southwark Council cannot say this is because of lack money if millions can be wasted on never ending refurbishment of closed Dulwich Village junction...?

[alice]

Whoever authorised the building and the spending of all that money is clearly not capable of doing their job. 

[Sue]

  On 21/03/2025 at 19:11, ab29 said:

It's been blocked for ages and no movement so far.  Whatever needed fixing initially, most likely it's a much bigger problem now.

Surely Southwark Council cannot say this is because of lack money if millions can be wasted on never ending refurbishment of closed Dulwich Village junction...?

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They haven't said it's because of "lack of money", they have said it's "uneconomical to repair", which is quite different!

If they had spent a lot of money repairing it, some people would be complaining about that! 

I assume (and it's just an assumption, as obviously I am not privy to their thought processes) that they have decided that  the amount of money necessary to repair it would be better put towards a completely new bridge.

The money spent on the  refurbishment of the Dulwich Village junction is irrelevant, surely? 

I don't know how council budgets are worked out, but surely these two budgets must be completely separate pots of money, and they  can't take money from one pot and put it in the other pot ? (sorry, I don't mean to sound as if I'm explaining this to a three year old).

  On 21/03/2025 at 19:47, alice said:

Whoever authorised the building and the spending of all that money is clearly not capable of doing their job. 

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Well, we don't know that without knowing all the details, do we?

That's a very big assumption/accusation.

Though I agree that on the face of it, it doesn't look good if the bridge has become unfit for purpose in such a short time.

Edited March 21 by Sue

[Rockets]

The council can use money from PCNs on this type of thing, there is a category called Projects in Parks that they have spent revenue raised from PCNs etc on previously.

I very much hope they find the money from somewhere.

Edited March 21 by Rockets

[ab29]

"uneconomical to repair" - what does this mean?

I can  adk a friend to repair it for a fraction of the council cost - why is this not  an option?

Money wasted on closed  Dulwich Village junction absolutely relevant - where does it come from?

Why there is money to spend on closed DV and yet nothing left for the bridge in Dulwich Park - if this is a reason for the repair delays?

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

It's shoehorn night on the East Dulwich Forum, I see!

It's pointless writing to an MP about a council matter. Councillors are the right people to write to.

[Rockets]

Yes we need to take this up with Margy and Richard to understand what the plans are. They may have plans in place to move forward but if they did have a surplus this is the time of year those types of works would have been done - is it not?

[ab29]

You mean Margy Nevens and Richard Leemings the Southwark Labour councillors also known as " screw everyone except those who like us i.e. our rich friends"