former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[Alan Medic]

With whose permission is the question.

[pebs]

James - I know not strictly East Dulwich but I am an ED commuter. The Elephant & Castle roundabout redesign is an absolute joke. Impossible to commmute by bus!

[kiera]

Alan Medic - the permission of whoever owns or manages the land. For Sydenham Hill Woods, the London Wildlife Trust, but I doubt they would want a Christmas tree, as it's not a native species. It's a nice idea of yours to donate it, so I was thinking that it would be preferable to find a location where it would be appreciated. Southwark Council's Tree Officers would be the department to contact for parks, council flats,or any other council-owned land.

[edhistory]

There is a precedent.

You could plant it on Goose Green.

Nunhead residents could start a save Goose Green Woods action group if someone tries to remove it.

[henryb]

That wouldn't work because the council would then spend ?5m chopping them down so they could bury some bodies there.

[Loz]

henryb Wrote:

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

> That wouldn't work because the council would then spend ?5m chopping them down so they could bury

> some bodies there.

Yeah, you'd think they'd do that sort of thing in a cemetery.

Oh, hang on...

[James Barber]

Hi Alan Medic,

Sydenham Woods is nurtured by the London Wildlife Trust - http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/reserves/sydenham-hill-wood-and-coxs-walk

Best to ask them but I'd be surprised if they wanted a Christmas tree for 11/12 months of the year.

Hi pebs,

I agree the new ?25M E&C traffic island/non island is a nightmare. I responded to the consultation against these proposed changes - I suggested with others traffic lights that could have been constructed without causing 18months of mayhem. I suspect the new layout wont last and will be replaced by something that actually meets the objectives.

[pebs]

thanks for the response James. think it is crazy trying to have an open space in that place ... Quick question, am seeing a lot of cycling pods on ED roads. How do we get one on our road... many thanks.

[James Barber]

Hi pebs,

To get a CycleLockers/BikeHangars as per attached picture - send me an email. Sotuhwark is looking for locations to place these on streets and TfL have said if all 89 new BikeHnagers are used they'll probably fund more.

These are only placed as a result of resident demand. So please demand one for where you live!

[first mate]

Could these hangars be put onto areas of street that are yellow lined- that way they would not place further pressure on parking etc..?

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

When a request for BikeHangar is received officers assess where best to place it and I will ensure when they suggest locations in East Dulwich ward that I ask they have considered this. Thanks for the suggestion first mate.

NB. all council tax payers pay for our local roads. Of the 5,250 homes in the ward have collectively 3,276 cars. No roads in East Dulwich are paid for by anything other than Southwark Council. We have no controlled parking to support these maintenance costs. So if a resident wants to park a bicycle in a BikeHangar and that will encourage them to cycle more often then it seems only fair - as they contribute an equal amount via Council Tax for road maintenance as any neighbouring resident who parks a car - that we support them. But we clearly need to maximise how efficiently we do this.

Across London 1% of transport budgets support cycling facilities but they make up a much higher proportion of all journeys than this.

[keano77]

Hi James. On the one hand this is a good idea. On the other the picture of the bike hangar above could prove deceptive. It shows a hangar nicely tucked away between some young trees (and a cyclist who appears to be on the wrong side of the road).

The reality I suspect will be graffiti scrawled all over this street furniture. Also, although car users are used to parking streets away from where they live because of lack of spaces, dubious disabled bays and yellow lines etc, I'd question whether cycling residents who live three or four streets away from hangar will be bothered to use it. Hope you don't need a key to access the hangar as replacement keys will cost tax payers a fortune.

The jury is out for me I'm afraid.

[snowy]

Why? They've worked well in Lambeth already.

I've not seen one with graffiti; I have seen one damaged when a car drove into it.

The main concern is that the demand in Lambeth has outstripped supply. The key issue hasn't been an issue at all - you pay a deposit for the key.

[richard tudor]

What happens if you are not a cyclist, do not want one outside your house will the Cllr back you up or will he follow his usual route of the cyclist comes first.

Will one cyclist "I want" overrule all others?

You did not buy your house with a metal container outside why should cyclist decide where they go.

[rupert jones]

There seems to be 2 threads on this.

East Dulwich Cllr and the rest

[James Barber]

Hi Richard tudor,

Short answer yes.

Could be tricky if house divided into flats and some flat occupants want one and other don't. But lets cross that bridge when it occurs.

[first mate]

James, please see the info below taken from the agent blurb currently marketing the old HSBSC site. This A1 site is clearly bound for a future of the M&S variety and is clearly inviting another chain in. The site is only a road down from M&S and note desire to increase footfall.

The new M&S build is clearly hideous and dominating. The developers have very arrogantly already put in place structures for a fourth storey which they clearly expect to bulldoze/ sweeten planning and Councillors into permitting.

If that fourth storey goes up then we can expect five storeys soon, I feel sure. What do you propose James to halt the ED developer wrecking ball? What official news of the fourth storey penthouses?

I do hope you find time to comment, since you felt compelled recently to speak about street planning matters in Bellenden.

"East Dulwich continues to grow in popularity as a highly affluent and attractive location within south London. The property enjoys a corner position within a prime pitch on the sought after Lordship Lane high street. Retailers in the vicinity include Caff? Nero, Oliver Bonas, White Stuff, Jo Jo Maman B?b? and Franco Manca in addition to an excellent mix of independent shops, restaurants, pubs and bars. Marks & Spencer have recently completed a deal to occupy space within the next block which will further enhance footfall in the vicinity. East Dulwich Train Station (Zone 2) is within walking distance and provides regular services into Central London".

[richard tudor]

What happens if you are not a cyclist, do not want one outside your house will the Cllr back you up or will he follow his usual route of the cyclist comes first.

Will one cyclist "I want" overrule all others?

You did not buy your house with a metal container outside why should cyclist decide where they go.

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi Richard tudor,

> Short answer yes.

> Could be tricky if house divided into flats and

> some flat occupants want one and other don't. But

> lets cross that bridge when it occurs.

Is that yes cyclist will get what they want or yes the Cllr will back those that dont want it?

I suspect I already know the answer knowing past form.

[first mate]

Richard I am inlined to agree. There is going to be increasing pressure on parking and I note that JB raises the issue of lack of CPZ, something we know he and Labour really want as an income stream, therefore I do not think they would view further cluttering streets as a problem, more a solution.

Since I think, as with so many things that are not utterly transparent and serve a variety of agendas, these hangars will get pushed through, I have suggested yellow lines are removed to accommodate them. The only thing I am wary of is I think there are plans to insert more yellow lines soon, so we have to ensure these are not increased to accommodate more hangars.

BTW, I live the way James final line about crossing bridges suggests the whole hangar thing is akready anforegone conclusion. Note again, there will be an appearance of some sort of cod consultation, probably on a street by street basis ( that old chesnut) but hangars are probably being fashioned in China (a favourite supplier, it seems) as we wrute and read.

Richard tudor Wrote:

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

> What happens if you are not a cyclist, do not want

> one outside your house will the Cllr back you up

> or will he follow his usual route of the cyclist

> comes first.

> Will one cyclist "I want" overrule all others?

> You did not buy your house with a metal container

> outside why should cyclist decide where they go.

>

> James Barber Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Hi Richard tudor,

> > Short answer yes.

> > Could be tricky if house divided into flats and

> > some flat occupants want one and other don't.

> But

> > lets cross that bridge when it occurs.

>

> Is that yes cyclist will get what they want or yes

> the Cllr will back those that dont want it?

>

> I suspect I already know the answer knowing past

> form.

[edhistory]

first mate Wrote:

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

> James, please see the info below taken from the

> agent blurb currently marketing the old HSBSC

> site. This A1 site is clearly bound for a future

> of the M&S variety and is clearly inviting another

> chain in. The site is only a road down from M&S

> and note desire to increase footfall.

Did you spot the red line?

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

[first mate]

Sorry ED, you are being Delphic again. Please explain.

[edhistory]

Seems straightforward to me as explained in earlier thread.

The new lease excludes the rear yard.

The rear yard is not adjacent to 2 Ashbourne Grove.

The rear yard is adjacent to the Co-Op building.

Watch out for a future planning application for a domestic building with many small flats up to the height of the Co-Op roofline.

John K

[Abe_froeman]

"What do you propose James to halt the ED developer wrecking ball?"

I imagine very little, given that Southwark are also benefitting from selling land and buildings to property developers. Though the details of how many such properties and to which developers and for what share of the profit of the post development value are elusive. There are a number of FOI requests about these online but the information seems to be unavailable.

[first mate]

ed history,

Yes, and perhaps higher still if current, live, applications are anything to go by.

[James Barber]

Hi Abe-froeman,

The latest proposed SOuthwakr Plan by Southwark Labour does not restrict high rise towers to only the urban NW corner. My Lib Dem colleagues and I will fight to keep the current restrictions.

I have no interest in playing any part other than opposing anything that I think ruins the character of the area. So if an out of character building was proposed there I would oppose it.

Certainly the council has a commercial interest in maximising development - new council tax, new homes bonus, and in the future 100% of business rates.

But that doesn't mean I wont fight to stop over development.

Hi first mate,

I'll come back fully on all your requests this weekend.