former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[Ridgley]

Hi James

Is there anyway the council, can put more lighting on the streets especially the backstreets as there are not well lit due to the muggings that has been happening recently?

[James Barber]

Hi Ridgley,

Which backs streets are you thinking of?

The only East Dulwich wards without modern lighting are Dunstans, Crystal Palace and Friern Roads which the East Dulwich councillors have approved the final devolved lighting spend and should be fully completed by March.

Regards james.

[Ridgley]

Hi James

Oakhurst Grove, Kelmore Grove, although they have changed the lights I still don?t feel it is well lit as it could be?

[PeckhamRose]

Re my question about garage rents and Sean's useless reply.

Sean

I did not ask you.

And your comment is very unhelpful and unrealistic.

Mr Barber (and Sean): There are many empty garages in the council, because people can't afford the current price let alone a new one, which is why the council are advertising them on our rent statements at the CURRENT price (without telling them of the proposed 50% rise in April, the devious s0ds!).

2 years ago Liberals put the prices up 25% which we thought was bad enough, then last year did not put them up because of the elections.

I know it is not the most important concern on people's minds, but I just thought I would ask the councillor's opinion.

[Marmora Man]

Peckham Rose: Simple business theory may be behind the rise in garage rents. It seems counter intuitive but although the usual response to falling profits is to slash prices to attract custom it can make more sense to do the reverse.

Maths:

a. Take 1,000 garage spaces currently rented out at ?50.00 a month. = Max income of ?50,000. If current vacancy rate is 15% then actual income is ?42,500.

b. Increase rent by 50% to ?75.00 per month per garage = max income of ?75,000. If current vacancy rate doubles to 30% actual income is ?60,000 - an overall increase in revenue of ?17,500 or 41%.

Plus if you are conspiracy minded you have 300 vacant garages which, if consolidated in one area / space could potentially represent a land sale opportunity of several hundred thousands of pounds!!

[SeanMacGabhann]

"Re my question about garage rents and Sean's useless reply.

Sean

I did not ask you.

And your comment is very unhelpful and unrealistic. "

A bit OTT? - my answer might be wrong but it was intended to be helpful and I think it's realistic

[James Barber]

Hi PeckhamRose,

That was why differential pricing of garage rents was proposed - so those areas with more demand would see higher charges to reflect that demand and areas with lower demand would see lower charges to see all the garages used.

+50% without recognising different levels of demand across Southwark. Perhaps concern that some areas would have seen even steeper rises to raise the revenue the administration is looking for.

Your point about advertising garages at current rent levels - you make a good point but I suspect this might be due to when copy had to be submitted for publication rather than something more sinister. Also, until its gone through proper consultation process these new rates aren't final.

[James Barber]

Hi Ridgley,

I'm afraid Oakhurst Grove and Kelmore Grove are in Peckham Rye ward. I used to cycle along these a lot and didn't seem that dim but I'll try and make a point of taking a look this weekend.

Regards james.

[Loz]

James,

Is there any list of where these garages are? The website is a bit vague.

[Coccinelle]

Dickensman Wrote:

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> Hi James. Have contacted Southwark council several

> times about the condition of Barry Road and

> resulting vibrations from heavy traffic. This

> getting progressively worse and shakes my house!

> Have not yet a useful response from the Council.

> Any ideas? Thanks!

> Wrote headphonauts.

>

>

> Hi James,

>

> I have the same problem with the house being

> rattled and shaken mostly by the 12 bus but in

> fact any lorry such as the binmens truck has much

> the same effect it rattles and shakes the back of

> the house. I have contact the council on the state

> of the road surface several times over the last

> two years but to no avail.

> What would you suggest I do now?

Hi James,

I have also raised this issue before, as everytime buses and trucks go past my house the building vibrates quite a lot, actually causing cracks to appear on the wals and ceilings, but I had it from you that Barry Road was not on the priority list to be resurfaced and that the council had no money in the budget for this work to be done. Has this situation now changed, seen as you said that you can help? The whole road is in a really bad condition and I find that it does need to be a priority on the list to be resurfaced very soon.

Thank you.

[suzyc]

Hi James

I'm sure someone else has already posted on this (and I just mentioned it in a post on the Waitrose thread), but are there any plans for a pedestrian crossing on East Dulwich Grove? I'm sure something came round ages ago saying that it was planned...

Thanks

Suzy

[Dulwich chef]

Hi James,

I just wondered whether it might be in any way possible, when and if the nightmare gas works on East Dulwich Grove (on the stretch opposite the hospital)ever get finished, to create some more parking spaces along there? When getting home late at night from work it can be a nighmare finding a space remotely close to my flat and given the recent muggings I am very wary of walking home from the car on my own.

Many thanks.

[James Barber]

Hi Loz,

Southwark Councils website is rather vague to the exact locations but if contact them via 020 7525 5630 or

[email protected] tell them where you're looking they'll let you know what they have.

Any problems let me know.

Hi Coccinelle,

I've been trying to get a copy of the condition of all Southwark roads report (edited to add road). Officers are closely guarding its secrecy. Apaprently its too complicated to be made public. We can then all see where our roads fit in the priority for repairs and renewals. If I get no joy this week I'll FOI it. Risk I'll then get a paper copy to be awkward. Will let you know how I get on.

[James Barber]

Hi Loz,

Catching up with my reading came across "Housing Moves- Change Proposals to Landlord service at Southwark Council".

Page 71 has section on council garages. Apparently Southwark Council has 8,000 with 2,000 voides. The plan is to centralise them and then centrally market and manage them.

Regards james.

[malleymoo]

With respect to the collission site and temporary lights not having pedestrian phasing. Southwark Council officers have told me that at present no temporary traffic signals with integrated pedestrian phasing have been approved by Department of Transport for use. That this is an industry wide concern and discussions are taking place with the Department of Transport, London Council's (representing all councils in London) and Transport for London with an expectation that approval will be given. No time scales yet on this.

Clearly this means that when permanent lights are replaced with temporary lights existing pedestrian phasing is lost. To deter pedestrians from chancing this ridiculous situation barriers are placed but clearly some will try dodging traffic to cross a road.

This is clearly a national issue.

I've asked Southwark officers what timescales they understand for type approval of such phasing by the Dept of Transport.

I've asked GLA member Caroline Pidgeon if she can ask Transprot for London what they understand the timescale to be.

I've also asked simon Hughes whether he could ask a Parliamentary Members Questions to the Dept of Transport when they anticipate type approval.

WHen I hear something I'll feedback on my councillor thread.

In the mean time I've asked officers that generally for SOuthwark where pedestrian crossing near a school will be temporary out of operation that such works take place during school holidays. Clearly many utilities undertake emergency works but where not an emergecny this would a difference.

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

Regards [email protected]

07903 964130

Liberal Democrat Councillor for East Dulwich Ward

Chairperson of Dulwich Community Council, Lib Dem Environment & Transport spokesperson

[www.jamesbarber.org.uk]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi James as it is now a year sinc the tragic death of an 11 year old girl on the junction, I thought I would ask if you are able to update us on events since the accident. More specifically are you able to let us know if the council road safety team were able to draw up any recommendations to try to prevent further accidents on this stretch of road. Also I am not sure if the inquest would have been held yet, but if so were there any findings from this or the police investigation about the role the temporary lights may have played in this incident. Also are you able to establish are we any closer to the department of transport approving integrated pedestrian crossing facilities.

As you will recall the loss of this young girls life was distressing to many people within the community and passing the site on a daily basis and seeing the fresh flowers to mark the anniversary it would be good to know if lessons have been learnt from this tragedy.

[James Barber]

Hi Malleymoo,

The first temporary lights, currently in action at the junction of Denmark Hill and Champion Grove, with a pedestrian phase currently in place and working. I was chuffed to see this in place despite the long tailbacks. Even better if the road works were being persued a pace. But good to see pedestrians finally being catered for.

[mikese22]

Hi - I know this is probably outside your patch, but can you find out what on earth is happening with the serial roadworks by Denmark Hill station, as soon as one set ends another starts - invariably requiring the bus stop to be closed. Today the northbound and two southbound bus tops are all out of order meaning that I (and everyone else leaving the station to go south) had to walk almost to the Dog Kennel Hill junction to get a bus

None of the works have the usual signs telling you what they are for, so no idea if they are gas, water, electric, phone, tv, council .......

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi Malleymoo,

> The first temporary lights, currently in action at

> the junction of Denmark Hill and Champion Grove,

> with a pedestrian phase currently in place and

> working. I was chuffed to see this in place

> despite the long tailbacks. Even better if the

> road works were being persued a pace. But good to

> see pedestrians finally being catered for.

[James Barber]

Hi mikese22,

I'll formally find out as I'm also curious but as a general rule - if yellow pipes it's gas works and if blue pipes water works.

Both gas and water pipes are being renewed across London as most are over 100 years old. To complicate things many of the works around and patches of the second world war as a result of bombing means the records are not perfect.

The good news is gas and water comapnies are trying now to work more closely together the bad news is fewer streets works but each a little longer lasting. Hope that makes sense and will come back to you.

[peckhamboy]

James

Can anything be done about the phasing of the temporary lights on the corner of Champion Park and Grove Lane? Every morning there's a huge tailback northbound because the north/south phasing seems to be equal despite the volume of traffic being about ten times greater towards the city. This means that a huge queue of traffic builds up waiting for the lights to change whilst the southbound light is green for ages with no traffic coming through. Maybe if the lights can't be phased better, whichever company is digging up the road should have to manage the traffic flows manually?

[James Barber]

Hi peckhamboy,

I'll ask and if it changes it will be down to your suggestion.

Presume we'd want the opposite at the end of the working day when traffic generally going south.

[peckhamboy]

Thanks James - I assume that would be the case but by the time I come back through in the evening there's not enough traffic to know if there's an issue or not!

[mikese22]

It is bad at night - on Sunday it was completely gridlocked and the south band bus was stationary for about 20 mins

Wrote:

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

> Thanks James - I assume that would be the case but

> by the time I come back through in the evening

> there's not enough traffic to know if there's an

> issue or not!

[louisiana]

Hi James, we have roadworks yet again on this stretch of LL ( maybe 7th time in a year?) with yet again consequent closure of bus stops.

One upon a time there used to be this thing called temporary bus stops. They'd put a temp bus stop, on a post, resembling a lollipop, further along the road. Now we just seem to get whole strings of bus stops closed without any replacement (and they are often not opened again for weeks after the roadworks end). I wonder if this is a TfL thing...

[James Barber]

Hi louisiana,

Bus stops are largely a TfL. Road works exepting the south circular are a Southwark Council responsibility to ensure they're sensibly managed.

I've a cold and chesty thing with antibiotics. So have'nt been out today and probably wont be tomorrow.

Where on Lordship Lane?

[louisiana]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi louisiana,

> Bus stops are largely a TfL. Road works exepting

> the south circular are a Southwark Council

> responsibility to ensure they're sensibly

> managed.

>

> I've a cold and chesty thing with antibiotics. So

> have'nt been out today and probably wont be

> tomorrow.

> Where on Lordship Lane?

Thans for your response despite illness!

LL at Uplands junction. We've had so many this last year (some lasting for weeks) BUT it is not your patch. So it's really a more general question: what's happened to the old-style temporary bus stops? I mean, they used to be, and now they are not.