former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[susiq]

thank you for your reply re; private message, and I understand some of the difficulties in sourcing local produce, but not all, I am sure local shops, given the chance, could do more, you failed to address the situation regarding too many licensed premises and the control/policing of drunken people in and around the these places well after hours, I am all in favour of people having a good time but from friday night to monday morning the amount of noise, screaming, fighting, littering, damage, especially outside Panther Cars, is unacceptable, what about the law that states customers should not be outside licensed premises after 11, walk passed Liquorice, Palmerston, Bishop, East Dulwich Tavern and you'll find this law being flouted EVERY WEEKEND, what about the people who live here and their rights, as for you being new, I dont think that has anything to do with it, if you are representing this ward I assume know what goes on in it.

[edhistory]

Odd.

I live close to the East Dulwich Tavern and the Bishop.

They don't cause me any problems.

How close are you?

John K

[James Barber]

Hi edhistory,

I thin the point susiq is making is that the areas night time economy is causing problems for many residents.

Many people chose to live hear before the 2005 licensing laws which have led to the area having much more alcolhol related problems - London Ambulance Service have recorded a 500% increase in calls related to alcohol abuse.

Hi susiq,

We're working on this issue and hope to come back to you in April on this.

[worldwiser]

The only problem we've had with local pubs (in my case The Bishop) is the regular collection of noisy refuse in the early hours which is usually expressly forbidden by their licence. I tried taking it up with the pub directly which failed, but Southwark Licensing have been great. Look up the terms of your local pub's license on Southwark's website. Quote it chapter and verse to them with specific times and instances.. and they'll sort it out pronto.

[James Barber]

Hi worldwiser,

Useful feedback. Thank you.

I had some casework for this issue about 3 years ago. So hopefully not a repetition of that.

[Pickle]

Hi James,

I know it's been done to death, and there's probably nothing that can be done - but the dog poo situation on Upland Road (in particular between Underhill and Goodrich Roads, on the left hand side as you walk towards Goodrich School) is out of control. It's almost impossible to dodge on the way to and from school and would appear to be (from a brief comparison of size/colour) one or two repeat offenders. Really horrible.

Any chance the street cleaning team could be sent out?

[Earl Aelfheah]

Hi James,

The refuse collection from Heber School seems to be taking place at around 5am for some reason. It's pretty noisy. any chance that the council could maybe put it back an hour?

[Fuschia]

On the question of dog poo, I wonder if it's possible to clarify the arrangements now

At one time it was cleared within 24h I think it was, once reported

Then it went up to 5 days which is pretty ridiculous

However I was told that the regular street cleaning crews (who go round every other day?! should pick it up as they go

However later I was told that is untrue, street cleaners don't deal with it

I would love some clarity. Is it picked up routinely? Once reported, how long should it take?

Thanks

[keane]

Hi James - also on the subject of dog mess - Crystal Palace road on the left hand side as u walk down from lordship lane to Heber - so much dog mess - same as Pickle says - its in the same places each day - sometimes the pavements are so covered in areas that u have to cross over as cant get pram and 2 children past it without getting in it. I ring the council when I can to report it but then it's just back the next day!

[edhistory]

Mr Barber,

Have you been able to join the East Dulwich Society?

John K

[James Barber]

Hi edhistory,

I have been a member of the East Dulwich Society for several years but believe I've let my membership lapse - but not sure as I haven't knowingly received a letter for renewing my subscription or a newsletter.

[Pugwash]

Once the date and venue of the EDS AGM is organised, details of meeting and request for renewal membership subscription will go out to members.

[Worker]

Hi James,

I see the lights are now working at ED Station - thank you for your efforts there.

I've been thinking about how to improve the footpaths along LL. Am I right in assuming that the portion of the footpaths nearest the shops (and the portion in greatest need of improvement) are the shop's responsibility? Is there any way the shopkeepers can be motivated to improve these spaces? At a minimum, to make them safer for elderly and other pedestrians (the example of Londis refers)?

Thanks,

Worker

[James Barber]

Hi Worker,

Thank you.

Yes, the portion of footpath nearest the road is Southwarks full responsibility.

The section nearer shops is usually owned by the shop. The shop want to avoid spending money but equaly look attractive and not incur personal injury cliams.

If you want to make a list of those that you think particualryl pose a risk that owuld be useful and we can ask the owners how they plan to emeloriate the risk.

[Worker]

Tempted to say 'all of 'em' but will make a list asap.

[first mate]

James,

I am only posting here in order to get your attention as soon as possible. But please reply on the relevant thread.

You recently stated on this forum that the most recent M&S application had been turned down, or gave that impression anyhow.

I see today that a revised application has appeared dated 21/2/2013. I haven't been able to get into the document. I also see that according to the website, no decision has yet been made and is pending. Can you please calrify the status of both the existing and the revised application.

[James Barber]

Hi first Mae,

Thanks for this. While I was on holiday officers contacted me to say they were planning to refuse the application.

The website states it expects a decision to be taken 11/3 at planning sub committee. But I know that meeting has been cancelled a sit has no decisions to take.

I can't see any documents with recent dates submitted by the applicant.

[James Barber]

The Experimental Traffic Order to close Friern Road at its northern end is coming up for a decision.

Attached is the officer thoughts.

If anyone has anything they'd like to say good or bad about the experiment before I meet with other local councillors and officers to recommend whether to make the experiment permanent or not please email me at [email protected]

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

I believe the road closure has been good. Please can you make the signs a little larger or more of them to let vehicles know the road is closed ahead. I am always cycling into cars that have to stop and turn around.

many thanks

[James Barber]

Hi Rhinestone Cowboy,

Many thanks for the feedback.

If it was made permanent the permanent signs would be larger and clearer.

Regards james.

[Alan Medic]

James, on the co-op thread, will you confirm if there is a 2nd application for a 24 alcohol licence as you stated in one post, but not in your opening post?

[shareofhouse]

Please could you say if you know why Southwark Council has been banned from accessing the records of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)? This was reported in the local press a few months ago, but I can't find any specific information on the web to what abuses were going on. Were any staff disciplined or sacked as a result?

Could you say also if Southwark has been banned temporarily or permanently?

I discovered that a driving licence was issued to a fraudster using my address and am very concerned about this, especially as I have now read more about what these forged licences/identities have been used for in London.

Thanks.

[James Barber]

Hi Alan Medic,

I've just gone in detail through the applications.

840448 - http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/LicPremisesAppliedDetails.asp?systemkey=840448 is applying to vary the existing hours from 07:00-23:00 to become 06:00-23:00 serving "Late night refreshments - indoors".

Going through my emails I've had three emails with oblique titles weird codees or something each with an attachment detailing the application. These attachments appear to state two applications but one is a correction to state one was an error.

So it now appears one application. That overall The Coop will operate close to 24/7 as a shop but not selling alocohol.

I'll correct the other thread and PM each poster correcting the impression I wrongly gave.

[James Barber]

Hi shareofhouse,

I've not heard that.

I've pinged a query in asking. Worst case I'm seeing the head of community safety next week 20 March.

[shareofhouse]

Hi James

I wasn't aware of it either until, after receiving the letter from the DVLA that alerted me to a fraudster using my address for a driving licence, I did a bit of googling (see below). I would have hoped that all Southwark Councillors would have been told by someone about this though!

Here's a BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-206424290

and this - DVLA bans councils from database over abuses - on http://www.democraticunderground.com/10882853

and there's WIkipedia: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Southwark - which says that the ban on Southwark accessing the DVLA database is permanent, indicating that the abuses were so serious the DVLA doesn't think that Southwark can ever be entrusted with access again. There were other Councils subject to the same penalty.

I do think the public, and especially people who've had their addresses stolen for use by criminals, are really entitled to know what's been going on, so thank you for offering to find out and let us know.