former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

Planners have recently allowed the former HSBC bank site to be split. The building being sold let for a Vets and the car parking kept back by the owner for presumably a new building.

when I challenged the planning officers explaining about parking stress and how terrible the loss of car park is they told me the area doesn't have a CPOZ so can;t be under parking stress!!!!

Of course when the Dulwich Community Council used to decide such planing applications - and we'd be shown all the lans - we'd have spotted this a mile away and stopped it. But council officers in SE1 making decisions about areas they don't truly know you get this rubbish under delegated powers.

first mate Wrote:

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> If anything this reads like preparing the ground

> for further applications.

[first mate]

James, my last comment was in regard to Dulwich Hamlet Football Ground and planning's response to developers request to remive section 106!

[RobMiller]

Hi James, thanks for keeping the pressure on re: the Old Police Station. They really are so frustrating!

I've sent the developer another stroppy note this evening (cc you - sent before I saw your update).

I appreciate your efforts on this.

Rob

[first mate]

It's pretty shoddy. It does seem developers are a law unto themselves and S'wark make weak protestations but otherwise turn a blind eye.

James, please let us know the next move. They must not be allowed to get away with this or we will get more and more of this type of behaviour.

[edhistory]

James Barber Wrote:

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> Hi first mate,

> Planners have recently allowed the former HSBC

> bank site to be split.

I don't think you can blame the tools of Tooley Street for this one.

This information was in the public domain on 5 January 2016.

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/file.php?5,file=204247

I posted the plan on 14 January 2016 and explained the conseque4nces in a subsequent post on the same day.

The splitting of a plot is a Land Registry matter and not within the gift of Southwark Council.

[first mate]

Just to be clear, I refer to the OLd Police Station site. ALl the hoardings and builders gear still very much in situ.

first mate Wrote:

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

> It's pretty shoddy. It does seem developers are a

> law unto themselves and S'wark make weak

> protestations but otherwise turn a blind eye.

>

> James, please let us know the next move. They must

> not be allowed to get away with this or we will

> get more and more of this type of behaviour.

[Siduhe]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> when I challenged the planning officers explaining

> about parking stress and how terrible the loss of

> car park is they told me the area doesn't have a

> CPOZ so can;t be under parking stress!!!!

James, thanks - we've seen the same approach taken by the case officer in respect of the East Dulwich Hotel planning application - no CPZ, no "parking stress". So I thought it would do a bit of looking around and there is an fairly recent Southwark commissioned, Conway report which has an interesting discussion of "parking stress" - a key factor of which is said to be occupation of spaces by "non-resident" vehicles. The bold/underlining is mine.

Many local authorities in the UK have set criteria which are used to determine whether an area would benefit from the introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone, or whether controlled parking measured would be an appropriate solution to a perceived parking problem. These criteria usually suggest that 85% of all available parking spaces are to be occupied by non-resident vehicles for 6 or more hours of the day on at least four days of the week. These criteria have been used by several London Boroughs, including Croydon and have been applied as part of the analysis of the survey data to indicate where parking stress levels may merit further consideration.

Parking stress (or % occupancy) is a measure of demand for parking and is defined by the number of vehicles

parked in relation to the on-street capacity. This is usually expressed as a percentage figure of the overall

capacity. For example, 75% parking stress indicates that three-quarters of all available parking spaces on a

road is taken up by parked vehicles.

If a road shows parking demand in excess of supply (occupancy >100%) this does not necessarily indicate that

all kerb side space is occupied as many streets have waiting restrictions. For example, a road may have double

yellow lines along its length which would be classified as having no parking capacity. However, a motorist with

a blue badge can legally park on double yellow lines for up to 3 hours. Greater than 100% occupancy may also

indicate the presence of small cars which need less space than 5.5 metres to park, meaning that additional

cars can be accommodated.

So this idea of no CPZ always = no parking stress doesn't make any sense (on Southwark's own report/criteria) as it's perfectly possible for an area to have parking stress (lots of cars parked) without being suitable for a CPZ (lots of non-resident cars parked).

[RobMiller]

Response from Cosmur (Old Police Station developers) to my latest moaning email.

----

*Their first reply*

Thank you for your email, we are doing our utmost to open the pavement as soon as possible.

The pavement works were inspected by the Local Authority on Friday and passed, so are now working to clean up, before we can re-open, which will be in due course.

*Their reply to my follow up email asking whether 'due course' will be within my lifetime*

Yes, I can confirm that we are definitely aiming to re-open the payment before 2017.

----

So, the pavement may well be back soon. Which would be good news, but obviously doesn't the issue of why the Planning folk let them occupy it for nearly two years in the first place........

[RobMiller]

Blimey, we appear to have a pavement again... The novelty of an unobstructed walk down to Lordship Lane for the first time in 20 months is a bit overwhelming.

(Thanks for helping to put the pressure on them James.)

[James Barber]

Hi RobMiller,

I think the suggestion matters might be taken into our own hands may have helped things.

Cosmur have been totally discreditable. And council officers naive taking promises repeatedly from such an omnishambolic organisation.

Many thanks for prodding things along as well. WE wont have to meet during night time to remove the fencing now...

[solar]

Hi James,

The intercom serving the top block of council flats in Friern Road nearest to Lordship Lane has been out of service for around 3 weeks. Residents have reported it to the council but it is still U/S. I don't live there myself but it's frustrating trying to gain access to the block. Maybe a gentle prod from your good self would speed things up.

Thanks in anticipation.

[JDR]

Hi

No idea if within your remit but general threads here show a significant number of pipe bursts and water disruption in the area over the past few weeks.

Do you have any dealings with Thames Water and any ideas if this is because of old pipes etc. Do we know if there is a plan to help prevent further leaks? I appreciate it's winter but winter happens every year and never known pipe bursts this frequently

[James Barber]

Hi JDR,

Yes and my home has had interrupted water suppliers for what must be two weeks tomorrow.

I've tried asking my usual Thames Water councillor liaison person what's going on with the area but they appear to have left TW.

But then I see the TW website is totally down. SO I'll try again tomorrow and report back.

[James Barber]

I gave a prod and have chased.

solar Wrote:

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

> Hi James,

> The intercom serving the top block of council

> flats in Friern Road nearest to Lordship Lane has

> been out of service for around 3 weeks. Residents

> have reported it to the council but it is still

> U/S. I don't live there myself but it's

> frustrating trying to gain access to the block.

> Maybe a gentle prod from your good self would

> speed things up.

> Thanks in anticipation.

[James Barber]

Just been told Barry Road will be closed between Underhill Road and no.206 both lanes 12-27 January.

Two weeks sounds OTT but I am trying to find out.

The proposed diversions are one route via Goodrich Road-Crystal Palace Road-Underhill Road and the other route and direction via Underhill Road-Upland Road-Goodrich Road.

[kiera]

Thank you for the information.I assume those diversions will not be suitable for buses, so do you know what will be happening with the 12s and the 197s?

[TheArtfulDogger]

Hi James

Thanks for the warning, I echo Kiera in asking about the buses

Also can you find out if the roads used for diversions will be temporarily made one way as they aren't wide enough to accommodate neavy volumes of diverted two way traffic ?

[James Barber]

Hi kiera, TheArtfulDogger,

The diversions proposed would apply to ALL traffic. Hence my alarm and why I'm trying to find out what on earth is happening.

As soon as I have an update will report back.

[James Barber]

Council officials confirmed that they don't need two weeks and agreed to defer this until a more suitable time.

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Just been told Barry Road will be closed between

> Underhill Road and no.206 both lanes 12-27

> January.

> Two weeks sounds OTT but I am trying to find out.

> The proposed diversions are one route via Goodrich

> Road-Crystal Palace Road-Underhill Road and the

> other route and direction via Underhill

> Road-Upland Road-Goodrich Road.

[lurkey]

Hi there, we hope you can help. We have been wondering about the Government's promise of 30 hours of free childcare each week. I've contacted the different nurseries in our area, none of which seem familiar with this policy. They did indicate if this was a new policy, it would have serious implications for their staffing levels, etc. Most of the nurseries indicated they would be unable to fulfil this...

Could you let us know whether the 30 hours of free childcare is going to be available and if so, from what date?

Many thanks...

[TheArtfulDogger]

Lurkey, this may help

http://www.madeformums.com/news-and-gossip/30-hours-of-free-childcare---will-my-child-get-it/38143.html

[lurkey]

Thanks for this information.... unfortunately it doesn't state whether this will be available in our area....

[KellyG22]

Hi James,do you have any update about Denmark Hill station? I know that with the ongoing problems with Southern it has been busier than usual but the station just doesn't seem to be able to cope with the number of people going through there each day. I saw some posts a few months ago about suggestions to add additional entraces and barriers but does that look like a possibility? Many thanks Kelly

[James Barber]

HI KellyG22,

Yes. GLA Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, after my request based on ED resident requests to me, met with train and TfL managers about Denmark Hill station and the appalling overcrowding. Unfortunately I was delayed by work and in the end couldn't attend. They're planning a new entrance and I've now seen very draft plans with two options - A with stairs to new ticket entrance/exit facing Windsor Walk and B ramp. My hunch will be completion in 2-3 years times - they have planning, awarding contrcts, construction.

[James Barber]

Hi lurkey,

30 hours of free childcare.

First thanks to TheArtfulDogger for link that summarised the policy.

The scheme will be 30 hours pw for 38 weeks pa which actually equals 21.92 hours pw compared to current 15 free hours pw.

That pilots are going on now and the rest of the country is planned for later this year. My hunch would be as the scheme is aligned to term weeks that it will start either in September.

I think you've also raised this query as a direct email to me as well which I'll respond to later today/tmorrow evening.

Hope this helps.