former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[first mate]

James, are you aware that those double yellows are definitely going then? Goodness that almost seems a tacit admission that they were put there to facilitate the builders/developers.

What about the M&S build? Enormous trucks are now daily being parked up on Chesterfield for unloading, across the back entrance to the site and blocking the pavement at times. Does it ring alarm bells with you that the developer feels unable to get lorries through the entrance and actually onto the site to unload...? Having now seen the actual foundations for the build it is absolutely clear that the massive delivery juggernauts, as used by Iceland and to be used in future by M&S (unless we have a constant stream of smaller trucks instead), will not be able to turn inside the back entrance. Are you able to confirm if they will be, as was suggested to me, delivering at the front loading bay on Lordship?

[RenatoMattos]

Hey guys,

If you are having problems to get hold of the councillor, use Twitter https://twitter.com/lb_southwark. I now take photos and post on Twitter and they gat back to me as soon as they see it!

[Azalea]

Why is the disabled shower at Dulwich Leisure Centre in the Family /children's section? I was helping someone use it the other day and they were plagued by ill mannered children tryin to open the curtains. It happened more than 4 times. Really off behaviour.

[old_bloke]

James

Can anything be done about the dog walkers behind my house and the mess their dogs leave behind I didn't think this sort of thing would happen in East Dulwich I would attach a photo but it would be all too upsetting especially if you are about to sit down to sausage and mash

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

When the notice for the traffic management order for those double yellow lines was placed in Southwark News that was the first I heard about them. As the northern side and the cause for them was in Peckham Rye ward.

I was assured they were temporary to reflect the closed pavement.

I have been in contact with all three developers. I have co ordinated that they now work together and will meet every Friday noon-1pm to coordinate the following weeks activities. Things should be a but better.

If things don't improve I will need to review what legislation we can use to force issue.

Hi Azalea,

I don't know. A lockable door of some kind would seem more appropriate. Let me try and find out.

Hi Old_bloke,

If you email me telling me where your home is I can investigate and see what practical measures can be taken to solve this.

[dreamymummy]

This is a tricky one, while I completely understand that bikes on pavements is annoying, my 4 and 6 year olds are not safe on the roads when most cars are exceeding 20ph. We do use the road when less busy and the path on those busier roads, but always always give peds priority. The boys know to stop and wait, slow down, use their bell and/or say excuse me. They won't get ready for the road unless they have this experience or is there another way I haven't thought of?

[James Barber]

Adults on bikes on pavements, not shadowing their children, on pavements that don;t allow cycling on them is annoying. But otherwise for children fine by me and legal (from memory upto the age of 13). It isn't like when I was a child with much less traffic no roads making it easier to cycle as a child on them. I had such freedom on a bike then - late 70's.

[edhistory]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Adults on bikes on pavements, not shadowing their

> children, on pavements that don;t allow cycling on

> them is annoying. But otherwise fine by me. It

> isn't like when I was a child with much less

> traffic no roads making it easier to cycle as a

> child on them. I had such freedom on a bike then -

> late 70's.

Do you need to re-write that?

It reads as if you approve of law-breaking.

John K

[first mate]

It is difficult. While cycling on the pavement is safer for dreamymummy and her children, it is less safe for other vulnerable pedestrians and a real problem if adopted en masse by loads of cycling parents and children. No excuse for lone adults to cycle on pavements.

[intexasatthe moment]

I've cycled from 4 years of age and my feeling is that children shouldn't cycle on pavements .Which are ,in any case ,tricky for novices as they have many obstacles ,dropped curbs ,leaves ,tree roots ,wheelie bins and curbs at intersections.

Proficiency with bike control should be learnt off road ( and off pavement ) and cycling lessons on roads undertaken with trainers ,on quiet roads .

I also think joggers are a pain on pavements - they're for pedestrians ,walking .Even talking to someone they bump into !Even if they impede the progress of joggers. Shocking as that may seem . Not for dodging runners .

Go on shoot me .

[intexasatthe moment]

Though why this is being discussed on this thread beats me . Unless it's an attempt to get JB to organise ( more ? )cycling

training for children .

Which would be fantastic .

[James Barber]

Hi edhistory,

Yes, re reading that I have changed it.

The Thames River path on the south bank used millions of cycle budgets to create a quiet cycle route along the river Thames - creating subways under bridges swallowed lots of cash. But with Tate Modern it became so popular for people walking that cyclists driven away from using it. One of the more successful campaigns I've helped with but ultimately of no real use for cyclists.

Hi first mate,

The biggest danger for pedestrians on pavements isn't cyclists but cars mounting the pavement. But it still sin;t nice to be buzzed by someone cycling on the pavement.

Hi ITATM,

I disagree. Many children seem unable to cycle in a straight predictable line. Mixing them on roads with people riving even at 20mph doesn't seem wise to me.

But of course I'm assuming anyone cycling on a pavement doing ti with consideration and not in busy areas such as Lordship Lane pavements.

[James Barber]

Hi ITATM,

Indeed. I was a bit non plussed but reticent to ignore a post.

[intexasatthe moment]

" Many children seem unable to cycle in a straight predictable line." well the sensible thing to do surely would be ,as I've suggested , learn how to do this ,and how to brake and signal ,off road . Dulwich Park has wide tarmaced roads with virtually no vehicles .

If a cyclist can't cycle in a straight line they shouldn't be on a pavement .What will happen if they wobble into a road and into traffic ? Or hit an elderly person on the pavement ?

[BrandNewGuy]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> The Thames River path on the south bank used

> millions of cycle budgets to create a quiet cycle

> route along the river Thames - creating subways

> under bridges swallowed lots of cash. But with

> Tate Modern it became so popular for people

> walking that cyclists driven away from using it.

> One of the more successful campaigns I've helped

> with but ultimately of no real use for cyclists.

Although much of that route is the Jubilee Walkway project from years before, so probably never intended for cycling.

[James Barber]

Hi BNG,

If you look at all those subways under bridges you'll see 'corduroy' tactile paving. Half parallel to cycling direction and half against. They cost huge amounts - the subways - to have constructed and the river was cycling budgets.

Eitherway, this thread is about ED issues I can try helping people with.

[Abe_froeman]

London is truly blessed with white elephant projects for cyclists!

[Otta]

Hi James,

Are you able to tell us what Southwark spent on the fireworks display at Southwark Park this year? I'd also be interested to know whether not having a display was ever considered?

[Loz]

first mate Wrote:

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

> It is difficult. While cycling on the pavement is safer for dreamymummy and her children, it is less

> safe for other vulnerable pedestrians and a real problem if adopted en masse by loads of cycling

> parents and children. No excuse for lone adults to cycle on pavements.

The 'exception' to the law that allows children to ride on pavements is simply that children under 16 cannot be issued with fixed penalty notices. So it is still against the law, it's just that no fine can be issued. That would not apply to any adult, whether cycling with or without children.

[James Barber]

Thanks Loz.

Hi Otta,

I don't know.

Are you asking why can't we have such a display in Dulwich?

[Otta]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi Otta,

> I don't know.

> Are you asking why can't we have such a display in

> Dulwich?

No, I am wondering how much money went up in smoke whilst Southwark are having to cut other services.

[Goose]

James.

I note your comment above on Nov 18th about the M+S Power substation. The current application I have found is here:

http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk:8190/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_9563354

How is it possible that yet another planning application about this site has failed to be notified to the neighbouring properties. My property borders the site and the substation would be directly behind my fence. This has been a recurring theme with all applications for this site. This failure has to now be more than just incompetence from the council.

Thanks anyway for the indirect link that led me to find this. Can I assume you will be supporting neighbours objections for this application?

[first mate]

James, on that note can we revisit the issue of how the huge delivery vehicles are to access the M&S site when a whole range of builder vehicles have been unable to?

The footprint of tbe actual build is massive, much larger than it appears on the plans. Have you physically visited the site in the last few days to see for yourself? Can you say how often Council planning visit the site, and when the last visit was made?

You should know that workers on the site also say that cannot see where delivery vehicles will be able to turn...it will, quite simply, not be possible.

You are our Councillor, you have been involved in this development from the get go, yet you seem no more than a helpless observer in terms of actually getting results for residents.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

The planning decision has been taken including how deliveries will be made. In some respects it may be useful if they can;t deliver into their yard as we could use that to stop lorries arriving via Chesterfield Grove.

Southwark Planning officers rarely visit the site but BuildinG Control would visit checking plans versus build.

I'm sorry you feel that.

Hi Goose,

Yes of course.

[first mate]

James, you sound so defeatist, as though there is absolutely nothing you can do, and I find that hard to believe.

What planning decision has been taken re the penthouses?

In the last hour a structure has been erected that looks as though a fourth storey is to go up. Where is the permission for this? If permission has been given locals have been kept entirely in the dark about it. If you knew why have you not said? The substation has been moved, as has the lift. Where is the permission for this?

When was permission for the substation give, when was the consultation?

This is decisions behind closed doors and you seem to know about them.

The whole premise on which the build went ahead was if deliveries could be made into the yard. Yet, it looks as though the only way this could happen is if lorries slowly move in (blocking pavements and road as they go), and then reversing out, even more slowly beeping away and, again, blocking road and pavement as they go. Given that M&S want deliveries stepped up that means the road and pavment are going to be blocked, a lot.

I very much doubt that the fact deliveries are so difficult would stop Chesterfield being used. Imagine the chaos on Lordship Lane if traffic is constantly stopped so deliveries can be made at the front? It might seem a win win for the cycling lobby but I doubt it will work. The only way is if deliveries had to be made at night, but that would also disturb a lot of people. Is this what you are asking for James?

Why is planning not monitoring such a large development-they should be?

This development should never have been allowed at its current scale. You knew that and yet have seemingly not done anything to halt it or, indeed, to check progress. You make the right noises but seem utterly laissez faire in reality. Residents around here feel really let down by you.

Edited because I misread a comment by James.