former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[James Barber]

Hi Keane,

The council these days only sweeps our streets and pavements once per month. Tricky as dry leaves a cinch to collect but once wet - hic they all are now - are much harder to clear away.

My lot proposed different levels of street cleaning but we're in opposition.

We're about to hopefully approve extra local funds from some devolved budget for street cleaning which would double the frequency for East Dulwich ward - so if you live on Lordship lane odd numbers Goose Green to UPland Road or even numbers Goose Gree nto Melbourne Grove from the New Year - assuming both other ward councillors agree it will get a bit better.

[intexasatthe moment]

Scandalous that this lot have cut back on something like leaf clearing ,I wonder why they've done so ? Funding reduced by 40% in last 5 years ? So what ,wouldn't have affected James Barber's lot .

No doubt this tryanny of autumn leaf drop - leaves on the pavement ! treacherous tree roots hidden ( near trees ,who knew ? } from sight would be high on James Barber's lot's priority list .

Someone should start a petition .Clear our pavements ! Think of the children ! And the joggers .

[BrandNewGuy]

Calm down. I raised the issue because in the past the leaves were clearly regularly during the autumn. I merely wanted to know if that was still the case. So take your snarkiness elsewhere please.

[intexasatthe moment]

Sorry BrandNewGuy - not directed at you .It's JB's constant seizing on stuff in an effort to big up his "lot" . Red mist descends .

[Abe_froeman]

If people are slipping over and cracking their heads open because the leaves are only being cleared once a month, it sounds like it will only be a matter of time before there is a personal injury claim brought against the council.

[bobbsy]

Getting pretty treacherous in the wet when cycling in a lot of the bicycle lanes in the borough - heavy leaf-covering means its necessary to move further out into the "normal" road. Would be good if these could be cleared.

[James Barber]

Hi ITATM,

I suspect you know the process. Every February at council budget setting time. Opposition groups suggest savings and different priorities. Such alternative budgets have to be checked that they would work - in case one ever gets passed. So we have an accredited budget that would have had much more street sweeping. WE would have had different priorities.

Nothing snarky about this - legit differences of political priorities. Southwark Labour put lots more into reserves which are at record levels.

Hi bobbsy,

Claims against the council for trips and falls on the public highway are down. Largely through tougher claims handling.

[intexasatthe moment]

" Southwark Labour put lots more into reserves which are at record levels. " - well I agree that doesn't sound like a good move in these straitned times .I wonder what the rationale is .And how the figure compares to when there was a LibDem/Con coalition in control .

[Abe_froeman]

Good morning James

I wondered if there had been any developments in relation to the proposed Melbourne Grove traffic barrier at all? I can't find the resolutions from September's DCC meeting on the council website and so wondered what actions had been taken / decided on since then?

Many thanks

[James Barber]

Hi Abe_froeman,

We're expecting to hear the term of refrence for the study at next DCC meeting early December. I've yet to see a draft ToR. We have roughly three weeks unti lthat meeting and will prod for them again.

[ianr]

I see that the only CCs whose minutes are publicly available online are the two whose next meeting is next week. Is there any reason why they all take so long to appear?

[first mate]

James a number of us are wondering why one of the developers (MYN) currently blocking up swathes of path and street on Upland/Crystal Palace rd, states in its literature that Southwark Building Control is one of its partners?

One would think taxpayer funded Council Building Control should be independent and not so close to private development firms. Is this why the developers, in this case, are able to play fast and loose with public property, laying claim to whole sections of public path and highway for their own use, with not a peep from you, from Charlie Smith or anyone on the Council?

Additionally, how is it that Cosmur have been allowed to build right into the path, in a manner that is different from presented plans. What is going on?

Could you please comment?

[first mate]

James, I have another developer question, this time on the old Iceland/ M&S site. The footprint of the build looks to be much bigger than proposed. I honestly cannot see where there will be turning room for the many huge vehicles expected to deliver throughout the day. It looks to me like they will have to go in and then reverse out.

Could you please ask abouthis and confirm? If you swing by the site at the back entrance you can clearly see where foundations are being laid.

[first mate]

James,

Any comment/answer to the post above about the M&S site- extremely large footprint, where will delivery juggernauts turn?

[James Barber]

Hi First mate,

The developer being allowed to block lots of pavement - this is beyond my comprehension as well. I've complained several times but officers seem completely happy with the arrangement. They have the powers to stop this and curtail the developer being so anti social but choose not to.

If you and others email and complain to [email protected] about this and cc me we might collectively get this sorted.

Hi first mate,

M&S. The plans are what the developer should have but. Building control should ensure this.

Have you checked those approved plans and are you saying they're not sticking to them. It looks like they are building to those plans to me.

The same plans show juggernauts turning. I think wildly optimistic and requires land they don't own but the land owner is the person who needs to take action.

The electric sub station application has been completely replaced with new proposals.

Hi ianr,

The minutes of the last DCC have now been published. If you need me to point you to them let me know.

Night buses 176.

The 176 buses are old and noisy and are particularly noticeable at night. They're due to be replaced by quieter buses in 2017. So another 2 years and then we should see quite and improvement - hopefully not with noisy polluting Boris Buses.

In the mean time TfL have agreed with Arriva agreeing to whenever possible to put on their quietest buses in evenings and overnight.

[Bic Basher]

Re: Night buses, Arriva already use some quieter Enviro 400 buses overnight. It's the daytime buses, which are Alexander VLA buses which are the vehicles with the noisy engines. They were given a two year extension until 2017 to use those buses before the contract is up for renewal.

[first mate]

James, You seem to be saying there is nothing you can do sbout either development. I find that really hard to believe. It just feels like mild murmurs of disapproval are being made by you, while you actually keep a careful distance.

Have you visited the back of the M&S site in the last week? If juggernauts are unable to turn what then? Won't the developer have lied in submitted plans? Surely you can see what havoc this would create and what a massive imposition it would be on the street if you have juggernauts reversing out of the back entrance by the hour? It is bad enough if they come out head first. But reversing would double the time necessary to move the vehicles. The street would be blocked to cars, and the path to pedestrians. Seriously, I cannot believe you are being so laissez faire about this.

Assuming you have emailed the Council officers about Upland/CP development, could you kindly post their reply, where they say they are "happy" with the current setup?

Thanks for the heads up about the substation.

[Nigello]

The 176 night buses are more modern than the day versions and are used at night because they have CCTV on them, I read.

[James Barber]

Hi Nigello,

All TfL buses have had CCTV since 2005.

TfL have been very clear that they have agreed with Arriva that buses used in evening and nights be the quietest buses they have until 2017 when all buses replaced.

Hi first mate,

M&S - as long as the developer builds to the approved plans little we can do. The approved plans were agreed with the council transport expert about swept paths for vehicles. I can't imagine M&S would want a building shop they can't deliver produce to. Why would they do that? I thought I had already posted a reply from council officials.

Upland Road. I have had numerous contacts with council officials and made a formal complaint. This is not as you suggest me keeping a careful distance. Short of leading a demo blocking the road to the builders - which would get moved on by the Police we're limited in what we can do. What would you suggest?

[Caesi01]

Possible to get CCTV cameras? There have been quite a few thefts and break-ins (cars, motorbikes, houses) in ED.

It might be a good deterrent.

[James Barber]

Hi Caesi01,

It is possible to get CCTV cameras. Southwark has a great CCTV control centre based in Southwark Police station.

Adding more cameras needs to be based on need - else they're just for seeing crimes after the event. In East Dulwich we don't have high crime locations making cameras a worth while investment. This might change as camera technology prices go down and some automation of viewing the cameras - but this isn't the case at the moment. Sorry.

Saying that a past Safer Neighbourhood Team Sgt. did suggest 14 locations in and our of the ward where CCTV cameras there would help give evidence generally about movements of suspects after crimes. Real issue about whether this would be proportionate or not. Would take a number of cooperative residents. Would need to be Police led so we know the images would be used. If anyone is interesting in talking about this some more please let me know.

[first mate]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi Nigello,

> All TfL buses have had CCTV since 2005.

> TfL have been very clear that they have agreed

> with Arriva that buses used in evening and nights

> be the quietest buses they have until 2017 when

> all buses replaced.

>

> Hi first mate,

> M&S - as long as the developer builds to the

> approved plans little we can do. The approved

> plans were agreed with the council transport

> expert about swept paths for vehicles. I can't

> imagine M&S would want a building shop they can't

> deliver produce to. Why would they do that? I

> thought I had already posted a reply from council

> officials.

>

> Upland Road. I have had numerous contacts with

> council officials and made a formal complaint.

> This is not as you suggest me keeping a careful

> distance. Short of leading a demo blocking the

> road to the builders - which would get moved on by

> the Police we're limited in what we can do. What

> would you suggest?

James you may not be aware that the development at the old Iceland site is now regularly blocking the road in order to deliver building materials. The blocking goes on for some time, and despite having a large building site. I would suggest this is happening because the latest planning configuration does not keave enough room for large vehicles to move in and out of the entrance. Can we expect in future that M&S vehicles will also choose to block the road?

I ask again, how are these developers( Chesterfield and Upland Crystal Palace) being allowed to behave this way? Where us the oversight. As our local Councillor can you please get these developers to stop blocking and abusing public highways and footpaths.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

Last Wednesday the building works continued through the night - I've asked council noise team to investigate.

The site gates aren't secure from children - contrary to H&S law. I've raised with council officers to urgently be resolved.

Have you complained about the construction?

I would encourage people to contact the council immediately when such problems occur - 0800 138 9081. Photos pf bad parking of deliveries are also useful. Email them t [email protected] and please copy me so I can escalate if really really bad.

I will also contact the had of parking to ask if extra enforcement there can occur.

[first mate]

James, thanks. Again this morning Upland site chock full of large lorries parked up on double yellows( perhaps the Council's unseemly haste to splash out on double yellows everywhere was to give soaces that developers can use and abuse at their leisure, whike the rest of us suffer. It looks like the same crew park their own vehicles all along one side. No cycling or public transport for them then? How odd that builders and developers can just do as they please...who is this benefitting, I wonder? Where are all the buzzy little parking wardens on their mopeds, usually so keen to screw iver as many drivers as possible, or the dinky little camera car. Odd that.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

When those double yellow lines are removed they'll be five new houses with families and 4 new flats on one side and new homes on the southern side. So parking will still be an issue - but at least the pavements will be fully accessible again and road closures from builders no longer happening.