former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[XIX]

Hi James,

Grateful if you could also respond to a couple of questions I've posed on the M&S thread - many thanks indeed.

[Abe_froeman]

It's very clear from this submission that they are planning to proceed with the original 8 flats on the first two floors:

http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk:8190/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_9563213

[Goose]

James.

Thanks for the support (I think). It still begs the question as to why we are not being informed of all the different planning applications being put in for this site. I hadn't seen the one mentioned above by Abe_froeman - someone at a very high level in the planning department needs to get to grips with what is going on here and sort it out. Multiple applications ongoing - cynically maybe to overwhelm the system and so the developers get their way.

Could we also have a clear answer on what is happening with the Penthouse application ?? Is there a decision?; what is it?

[DaveR]

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

It must be nice to have your own personal councillor.

[first mate]

DaveR, okay perhaps I am being a bit harsh...pure frustration at how various things keep getting through and shoulders are shrugged because, apparently, there is nothing anyone can do.

[James Barber]

At the Dulwich Community Council meeting the local Police Inspector commented on crime levels.

Burglary - very slight rise in reported burglaries from an incredibly low reported burglary crime rate.

Violence- very occasional violence against the problem.

Please, please, please locks windows and doors as the few crimes occurring are opportunistic.

They will produce a simple guide as to what we should expect from the Police and how to engage them.

[Grok]

Does'nt seem like it, James, with all of what is being reported on EDF? Seems like East Dulwich residents are sitting ducks whilst scummy theives do their xmas shopping on our homes. Are the police not going to even bother to try and catch them?!

James Barber Wrote:

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

> At the Dulwich Community Council meeting the local

> Police Inspector commented on crime levels.

> Burglary - very slight rise in reported burglaries

> from an incredibly low reported burglary crime

> rate.

> Please, please, please locks windows and doors as

> the few crimes occurring are opportunistic.

> They will produce a simple guide as to what we

> should expect from the Police and how to engage

> them.

[James Barber]

Hi Grok,

They have extra uniform and plain clothes patrols taking place in response. But they're are clear we have very low level crime levels. My analysis is that East Dulwich ward crime rate per thousand population is average bottom quartile for Greater London. We'd be bottom decile were it not for Lordship Lane which has shop crimes.

This is no concilation to any victim of crime.

If anyone would like a free property marking kit please email me your address and contact number and we'll get you one from those bought using funds from the East Dulwich Crime Prevention Fund I established some years ago and still going strong.

[Penguin68]

The offer of marking kits is only open to those in ED ward, other wards did not seek this funding. East Dulwich and ED ward are not contiguous.

[James Barber]

P13

In response to a casework query about poor service.

"

We continuously monitor the bus network to ensure we are providing the appropriate level of service for passenger demand. I can confirm there are no immediate plans to increase the frequency of route P13. We consider the current frequency is sufficient to match demand provided the service runs reliably.

We have noted the concerns raised by Cllr Barber?s constituents and have investigated the reliability of the service. Route P13 has intermittently suffered from delays as a result of traffic congestion which we are aware has been more sporadic of late. Unfortunately, this has impacted afternoon journeys, and if a bus is delayed, there will be invariably more passengers waiting to get on the bus. This will give the impression of insufficient capacity.

To mitigate the impact of the delays, Abellio, the bus company which operates the service on our behalf, has been taking regulatory measures to return the service to timetable. Route controllers intervene to ensure there is a good separation of buses to ensure continuity of services. For instance, if a bus is severely delayed the route controller may ask a driver to stop the bus short of its usual destination. While operators are encouraged to use other ways of recovering lost time this can be the most advantageous way to ensure customers travelling in the opposite direction do not have a lengthy wait.

We of course ideally want services to operate without resorting to these measures. Rest assured we will continue to closely monitor the route?s performance to ensure it is operating as intended. This will also help us to identify any opportunities to initiate a scheme to improve the operation of the service.

"

[Penguin68]

A lot of buses serving ED inter alia also 'stop the bus short of ..(their).. usual destination(s)' - the 176 heading towards Tottenham Court Road and the 63 for Honor Oak (ish) - I would say 2 out of 9 have their initial destination changed en route. I am sure those using other buses regularly have similar experiences.

Is this just an example of the disdain which TfL treats South East London - or do other areas suffer as poor a service I wonder?

[James Barber]

Hi P68,

Let me try and get the facts on this.

Bues stripping short is often the result of road works which we seem to be particularly suffering recently - E&C, VHX.

The thing that drives me nuts is changing bus drivers. Why do they do that mid way through a route. Bizarre. And why does it take so very long.

[Penguin68]

Bues stripping short is often the result of road works which we seem to be particularly suffering recently - E&C, VHX.

Road works clearly are c*cking up schedules, but the 176 stops (unexpectedly) either just before the Strand or Trafalgar Square, going into town; the 63 often in Peckham going out of town, both have already passed through the roadworks. And this has been going on for longer even than the cycleway works.

Driver changes are almost inevitable for the 176 going into town at Camberwell. I often wonder whether the different drivers only know part of the route, but I am guessing it's a scheduled rest-stop - which of course drivers, as any workers, should have. The 176 is a long route.

[snooks]

Morning, I'm sure its been mentioned before BUT, hows about a zebra crossing on Dulwich Common going from the Lordship Lane flats to the other side of the road. It would save us going up to the lights at the Grove Tavern and down the other side to the bus stop

[intexasatthe moment]

Sounds too simple and good an idea to be feasible .

[James Barber]

Hi P68,

Those early bus termination are a result 'regulating the timetable' and turning buses around to get them back on timetable. Of course bus drivers should have breaks. But why in the middle of bus routes and not the end.

Hi snooks,

Can you email me or PM exactly where so I can ask you questions please.

[Bic Basher]

The 12, 63, 176 (especially) and 363 are all being affected by the new road layout at the former Elephant & Castle roundabout.

[KidHardy]

The late afternoon/evening 176 has been terrible this week. Whoever agreed this new E&C road layout is a complete moron. It wont be long before it just ends before Penge permanently at this rate.

[Siduhe]

I left my office (nr Blackfriars) at 4am this morning (don't ask!) and walked down towards Elephant and Castle. Even at that time Blackfriars road was absolutely full of barely moving traffic including several stationary N63 buses, and E&C was totally backed up. If the traffic is that bad in the dead of night then something is seriously wrong with the layout or phasing of lights.

During normal travel hours, the 363 and the 63 are regularly being terminated short now. I got on a 63 bus at FHT one morning this week which was terminated at Bricklayers Arms. Not a problem except the next four 63 buses to arrive were also terminated there, so there was a crowd of about 70 people trying to get beyond Bricklayers Arms towards the City. I walked from there to Blackfriars. I did put in a complaint to TFL and the answer was that it was "necessary to regulate the service for those travelling into town".

[bawdy-nan]

Except that guidance was issued to police officers by Paul Boaetang about fixed penalties not being issued always:

?The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other pavement users.

?Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.?

This guidance was first issued in 1999 (when the fixed penalty was introduced) but the guidance was reiterated in 2014 by the roads minister http://stopkillingcyclists.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Robert-Goodwill-Minister-for-Cycling-Letter.pdf

and confirmed and reissued by ACPO.

The guidance was also offered to CSOs in 2004.

CSOs and accredited persons will be accountable in the same way as police officers. They will be under the direction and control of the chief officer, supervised on a daily basis by the local community beat officer and will be subject to the same police complaints system. The Government have included provision in the Anti Social Behaviour Bill to enable CSOs and accredited persons to stop those cycling irresponsibly on the pavement in order to issue a fixed penalty notice.

I should stress that the issue is about inconsiderate cycling on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16. (Letter to Mr H. Peel from John Crozier of The Home Office, reference T5080/4, 23 February 2004)

Loz Wrote:

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

> 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.

[uncleglen]

I doubt whether the most considerate of cyclists could have pre-empted my sister exiting her place of work onto the pavement and receiving a life-changing injury in the collision with the cyclist- who didn't even stop!

[James Barber]

Uncleglen,

How awful for your sister - especially at being the victim of such a freak avoidable crash.

This morning am dash to work spotted a cyclist on the pavement cycling at speed either side of Oval tube station. Never a Police officer when you need one. I think we all want reckless cyclists, whether on the pavement or highway, stopped by the Police and deterred. Much as we have driver education courses we need the same for bad cycling.

[first mate]

Well said James. I think that the very same mindset that motivates high speed reckless driving is the same for the speeder cyclist, ultimately just very selfish.

Cyclists that weave in and out of traffic are also a menace( including motorbikes). When driving it is simply impossible to monitor both sides of the car simultaneously.

[gsweet87]

Hi,

I noticed some racist grafitti has been scrawled on goose green bus stop (the one outside Cafe Nero). Who can I report this to to get it covered up?

Thanks

[Nigello]

Think the best bet would be TfL, quoting the location.