former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[James Barber]

Further update on the old Police station. Their current hoard licence ends 8 November. If not squared away then council officials will decide whether to fine them and reinstate the pavement.

They've check the register of utility street works and no notices submitted - usually two weeks notices - so clearly no excuse of waiting for utilities to connect these new homes.

[RobMiller]

Thanks for the update James and for following up. Let's hope they force the developer to reopen the pavement in a few weeks then...!

[TheArtfulDogger]

James

Any views on the insane decision to reprint the yellow box in this thread ?

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1743489

[James Barber]

Hi TheArtfuldogger,

I thought Mynamehere gave a sensible suggestion of why the yellow box had been repainted there.

[James Barber]

Hi Chet,

This is the response I've received today - sorry it's taken so long;

"

Southwark Council - Member enquiry

Our reference - 704349

Subject - Peckham Rye Fitness Squad

________________________________________

Dear Councillor Barber

Thank you for your enquiry dated 8th October 2016, in which you requested information regarding the following:

1) The current dip bars have been installed poorly by the council and are way too wide for the true dip exercise to be completed. The distance between the bars does not match up to the industry standard - the workmen have installed this poorly.(See attached picture) The group themselves have already said they would be happy to pay for the rework needed to get this done right.

2) The group who have been going for a good few years really wish for further pull up bars / rigs to be installed into this area. This has been voiced previously to the council - however to the group's dismay a new cycle machine has been installed which 1) does not effectively work (the wheels are stiff) 2) nobody seems to use this machine at all

I can now provide you with a full response to your enquiry.

We arranged for the outdoor gym to be inspected by the company who originally supplied the equipment. They confirmed that the dip bars were installed in accordance with best practice at the time of the installation. This was the first outdoor gym in Southwark's parks and one of the first generation installed in the uk. There was no specific bristish standard for outdoor gmn equipment at that time.

Both the dip bars and recumbent bike were inspected by the manufacturer and no issues with the installation or operation have been identified.

The recumbent bike was also inspected by the manufacturer and no issues with the installation or operation were identified in either piece of equipment.

The new recumbent bike was installed to replace a cross trainer that had reached the end of its serviceable life. The Outdoor Gym Co. that manufactures the gym equipment no longer produce a cross trainer, the recumbent bike was identified to replace it to ensure that the gym provides a full range of exercise?s that are suitable for all abilities.

We have previously met with a member of the fitness group and advised them that we would support an application to the Cleaner Greener Safer Fund to extend the footprint of the gym and install the additional pieces of equipment requested by the group. The closing date for applications is the 31st October.

If you have any questions about this response please do not hesitate to contact me

"

pr5ined Wrote:

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

> Hi James

>

> I train regularly with the Peckham Rye Fitness

> Squad. This is a group of locals that meet up and

> run free park exercises daily at 10am for the

> public. It is worth noting that training/classes

> are completely free and encourages participation

> from any members of the public that wish to

> improve their fitness. On each day there are at

> least 10 people who attend and train using the

> outdoor gym, in particular the pull up bar as well

> as the dip bars. As I understand it some of the

> members have already attempted to contact the

> council to discuss/complain about two issues:

>

> 1) The current dip bars have been installed poorly

> by the council and are way too wide for the true

> dip exercise to be completed. The distance between

> the bars does not match up to the industry

> standard - the workmen have installed this

> poorly.(See attached picture) The group themselves

> have already said they would be happy to pay for

> the rework needed to get this done right.

>

> 2) The group who have been going for a good few

> years really wish for further pull up bars / rigs

> to be installed into this area. This has been

> voiced previously to the council - however to the

> group's dismay a new cycle machine has been

> installed which 1) does not effectively work (the

> wheels are stiff) 2) nobody seems to use this

> machine at all

>

> It would be great if you could make it down one

> day in the week or weekend to have a chat with

> some of the members if free and see first hand the

> good community work that is being achieved through

> fitness.

>

> If this is not possible could the newly installed

> machine be removed and be replaced with more pull

> up bars/rig equipment (similar to that in

> Kennington Park) and could the dip bars be moved

> closer together as per industry standard?

>

> I'e attached pictures so you can get a better idea

> of the issues at hand.

>

> PS here is the link to the instagram account of

> the group so you see how they train and what

> equipment is used

> https://www.instagram.com/peckhamryesquad/

>

> The group looks forward to hearing back from you.

>

> Best regards

> Chet

[TheArtfulDogger]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi TheArtfuldogger,

> I thought Mynamehere gave a sensible suggestion of

> why the yellow box had been repainted there.

Actually James, I was looking for an official reason / response why a yellow box has been repainted where there is no longer s Junction. can you as my Local councillor chase this up with the necessary department and post their reply here please

Many thanks

[James Barber]

Hi TheArtDogger,

I'll find out - after visiting the cycle reason doesnt seem that plausible.

[RobMiller]

Hi James, just checking in re: the Old Police Station. Are the Council officers lined up to enforce the expiry of the licence on Tuesday? I'm looking forward to the pavement being back in public use next week... Long overdue.

Rob

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Further update on the old Police station. Their

> current hoard licence ends 8 November. If not

> squared away then council officials will decide

> whether to fine them and reinstate the pavement.

> They've check the register of utility street works

> and no notices submitted - usually two weeks

> notices - so clearly no excuse of waiting for

> utilities to connect these new homes.

[pipsky2008]

RobMiller Wrote:

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

> Hi James, just checking in re: the Old Police

> Station. Are the Council officers lined up to

> enforce the expiry of the licence on Tuesday? I'm

> looking forward to the pavement being back in

> public use next week... Long overdue.

>

> Rob

>

> James Barber Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Further update on the old Police station. Their

> > current hoard licence ends 8 November. If not

> > squared away then council officials will decide

> > whether to fine them and reinstate the pavement.

>

> > They've check the register of utility street

> works

> > and no notices submitted - usually two weeks

> > notices - so clearly no excuse of waiting for

> > utilities to connect these new homes.

Cllr Barber

Is this property/issue a part of your ward as I am unsure if the ward boundary which apparently runs along Crystal Palace Rd separates East Dulwich Ward and Peckham Rye Ward puts responsibility to you or your neighbouring councillors?

Also in who's ward is the Dulwich Sports Centre in?

Please would you clarify

[RobMiller]

Hi Pipsky, re: the Old Police Station, James flagged that the actual development is in Peckham Rye ward (http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,336529,1741692#msg-1741692). But as we live in East Dulwich ward he's our Councillor so I'm glad he's put the case to the developer and Council officers.

The joy of ward boundaries...

Rob

[James Barber]

Hi RobMiller,

Apparently yes. I'll prod.

Hi pispky,

The current East Dulwich ward boundary runs - Grove Vale, East Dulwich Road, Crystal Palace Road, Upland Road, Friern Road, Underhill Road, Dunstans Road, Upland Road, Lordship Lane, Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich Grove, round the hospital site, railway line to Grove Vale.

Peckham Rye ward for the former old East Dulwich Police station. But the PKR ward councillors have taken no interest in this development - they should have called it in. I have been interested once te pavement and highway were closed for too long.

Dulwich Leisure Centre - East Dulwich ward. We ensured it had a ?6.1M complete renovation - still needs some more work getting the aircon to work sufficiently well enough.

[Abe_froeman]

The obtsructions have meant many pedestrians have been forced to cross a dangerous junciton and enter East Dulwich Ward making it an ED issue I think.

[pipsky2008]

pipsky2008 Wrote:

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

> RobMiller Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Hi James, just checking in re: the Old Police

> > Station. Are the Council officers lined up to

> > enforce the expiry of the licence on Tuesday?

> I'm

> > looking forward to the pavement being back in

> > public use next week... Long overdue.

> >

> > Rob

> >

> > James Barber Wrote:

> >

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

>

> > -----

> > > Further update on the old Police station.

> Their

> > > current hoard licence ends 8 November. If not

> > > squared away then council officials will

> decide

> > > whether to fine them and reinstate the

> pavement.

> >

> > > They've check the register of utility street

> > works

> > > and no notices submitted - usually two weeks

> > > notices - so clearly no excuse of waiting for

> > > utilities to connect these new homes.

>

> Cllr Barber

>

> Is this property/issue a part of your ward as I am

> unsure if the ward boundary which apparently runs

> along Crystal Palace Rd separates East Dulwich

> Ward and Peckham Rye Ward puts responsibility to

> you or your neighbouring councillors?

>

> Also in who's ward is the Dulwich Sports Centre

> in?

>

> Please would you clarify

Hi Cllr Barber

Thanks for your reply

I appreciate you have already described the East Dulwich ward boundary but would you please post the most recent and most detailed ward boundary map that you know of, for future reference sake.

Thank you.

I have asked the same question of Cllr Dr. Hamvas of Peckham Rye ward on her profile thread

[ianr]

pipsky2008> I appreciate you have already described the East Dulwich ward boundary but would you please post

pipsky2008> the most recent and most detailed ward boundary map that you know of, for future reference sake.

Polling districts, and wards (as in the attached), are among the overlays available at http://maps.southwark.gov.uk/.

[James Barber]

Thanks ianr.

[James Barber]

Hopefully not long before both Upland footpaths open...

Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2016 03:28 PM

To: Barber, James

Cc: O'Toole, Helen; Law, Ian

Subject: RE: 97 Crystal Palace Road / Upland Road

Dear Councillor Barber,

Following the email below I can now provide an update on this issue.

The developer seem to be failing to open the footway by tomorrow and enforcement action will proceed, they have been informed of this. Unfortunately this does not mean that the footway will be open, as they have not made it safe for people to use as of today. The developer is under significant pressure to re-open it as soon as possible. I will send an update when we have some positive progress.

Yours Sincerely

[RobMiller]

Thanks for continuing to follow that up James. Much appreciated.

Rob

[Nigello]

Speaking of footpaths - how about an update on the cracked and ponding pavements along LL?

There are plenty of them, especially on stretch opposite the cinema, and not al of it is due to the reticence of business owners to fix the bits that belong to them: most of the ponding is in the public areas, where the flagstones have broken and/or been poorly installed.

[mynamehere]

FYI the building site at Goose Green end of Crystal Palace: the builders power hose the leaves from the site into the gutter further on. Strikes me as not only lazy but also passing the work and cost to Southwark. With the condition of the water sewers I wonder how many more leaves will end up clogging the public purse in so so many ways. This is not considerate building imho

[mynamehere]

Me again with the attached photos of pavement work done 17 Nov. Is this the lowest quality work you have ever seen done in any country anywhere? They dumped tar. They buried 19th century paving stone and cut curbs. Hideous. How much did this vulgar mess cost?

[mynamehere]

more photos if needed about "repair" to pavement

[Zebedee Tring]

Today I nearly tripped over a paving stone in Lordship Lane near the Library. A year ago I tripped over another one en route to see the Kray film at the Picturehouse and looked like a victim of a Kray beating. And, worst of all, a badly constructed/maintained pavement in Eynella Road is the reason that I'm currently wearing a sling on my arm six weeks after the accident, which necessitated an operation on my arm..

[mynamehere]

Zebedee Tring I've also sent my complaint to the council

https://forms.southwark.gov.uk/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=276

[rch]

Bear in mind that the repair process is usually done in two stages if the hole is deemed to be a genuine Health & Safety risk (I can't remember if it's 4 inches or 6 inches deep, but the council can be sued if the depth of the hole meets H&S criteria and someone trips and is injured).

So, firstly, they just dump the tarmac in to fill the hole so that no one will trip and then the location is put on a repairs list to go back and repair properly with other locations in the area, which is more cost effective.

But, by filling in the hole immediately, they are legally addressing the trip hazard. They do the same tarmac dumping thing with pot holes.

Keep your eye on the location and see how many months it will take for them to come back and do it properly. I'm a real highways repair geek, I used to love getting the annual repair lists when I was a councillor, but I don't think they are published online.

[rch]

Also, FYI... I put in a CGS funding bid for ?20,000 to allocate towards getting another section of the Lordship pavement Lane properly resurfaced. I don't know if it will get approved, but it seems to be the only way to get sections of it repaired properly as it doesn't seem to be on any lists for the whole pavement to be resurfaced anytime soon.

I think James got some funding to do specific trip hazards repaired a couple of years ago, but the whole lot really needs taken up and back-filled and re-levelled properly and set with high quality paving slabs, like the section between Londis and Sogem was done last year.

The big problem with Lordship Lane is that it wasn't resurfaced properly when it was done over ten years ago... the council only replaced the paving stones, they didn't back fill and re-level, so everything just caves in and ponds.

The ?20K CGS bid won't be enough to do the whole road, but it will be enough to do another section at the standard that the Londis-Sogem section was done, which is now working perfectly. I don't care which section is chosen next, we'll just work our way systematically through the whole road with CGS if we have to...