Laurie Eggleston

It's going to be a french-style caf?. With a community room for hire upstairs.

Mick's letter was kindly distributed for him by the local Conservatives - along with a glossy leaflet about Diana Atuona. An attempt to try and get one of their candidates some local credibility after zero actual campaigning on their part, and potentially win one of the three local seats for her. Of course, you wouldn't know that from Mick's letter which is written to imply he took a reasoned view after meeting all of the candidates. As one of the (defeated) candidates I can confirm Mick has never made any effort to speak to me. So, naturally was a bit peeved when reading how he'd dismissed me outright - so much for choosing an individual! Still, while it might have a small impact on the overall vote, I don't think it effected the result. Reckon Lab would've still won without it, alas, as most local people I spoke to about it just thought it was all a bit of a bizarre intervention.

@skidmarks but remember many bus users are elderly and aren't comfortable using the technology (my mum wouldn't have a clue!), and many on Southwark on low incomes and can't afford posh smart-phones. So while the new services will be great for those that want to use them, they can't totally replace the traditional displays. We need both!

@sophiesofa Beginning of next year TfL plan to launch a new system, where you can text TfL with your nearest bus stop's code and get the live countdown information sent to your phone (for about a 20p charge). Can't come soon enough. This eliminates long waits at bus stops, and makes it much safer - no more waiting alone late at night for that elusive night bus. They have a system like it in Sheffield, and from experience I can say it is a godsend on a cold rainy morning! They got this years ago in Sheffield so it's about time we got it in London (although logistically it must be an immense challenge to get working!)

@ jack bauer - plan is for it to continue on and terminate at Brockley Rise. @ dbboy - EmmaG is referring to the planned scapping on the South London Line (I'm assuming, unless she's uncovered some new secret TfL plot). While there will still be other routes into central London, with the removal of the SLL, they'll be less frequent. Network Rail seem determined to chip away at inner south London rail services to make them less convinient and less of a 'turn up and go' service.

Vikki - I've asked around our activists from Saturday - the only conversation you could be referring to is when someone asked one of our activists if Labour were supporting the campaign. To which they answered that they hadn't heard if you were or not. This is not therefore mispresentation by us but fact, as I can see no public commitment to this up until now. Regardless, I'm glad you are supporting it and can we please now stop the point scoring. I've seen the answer Val got from TfL at Mayor's Questions, the same unconsidered refusal we got when Caroline Pidgeon asked a similar question for us earlier last year. TfL eh? Gotta love 'em.

Glad you're supporting the campaign Vikki. But yes, bit surprised that you've never mentioned your support for this earlier. Please do sign the petition and let me know how Val gets on. As with the South London Line campaign, if all the parties pressure TfL then it's harder for them to ignore people. It has always been made clear with our discussions with TfL that service standards and frequencies be maintained. We're asking for extra resources, not trying to stretch out the current services further. The reason the P12 isn't used much as it's too unreliable to be useful - especially for going to work etc, so any 63 extension must remain reliable. Currently we are collecting signatures to lobby TfL with, to try and force a bus route consultation so that they examine the issues around this route (linking the network, schools, Rye Lane congestions, etc) and take action to address them. People can add their names here: http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/extendthe63 Several people have offered to take sheets and collect signatures in their own roads. Anyone interested in this please let me know. @dbboy - Southwark Rail Users Group, the Honor Oak Rise Residents Association and Forest Hill Society all support this proposal. thanks, Laurie www.laurieeggleston.org www.twitter.com/Laurie1984

Number is 0207 525 5777

Cazkid, All the info you could ever need about what action the council can take with regards to noisy neighbours can be found online here: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/environment/NoiseProblems/ Good luck! Regards, Laurie Eggleston

@VikkiM Going into coalition with the Tories was more for practical reasons rather than any great policy allegiance, as you know full well. Believe me, we're doing all we can so the coalition won't be necessary next year and we can have overall control :) (although speaking of policy, it's sad that will take the Tories to save us from your party's ID cards) Agree with you though that Zac Goldsmith is appalling and sums up the Tory attitude, for all their talk. Let's hope Lib Dem MP Susan Kramer can defeat him eh? While we're here, Vikki can Peckham Rye Labour please take down the google advert for themselves they've placed under my name. I'm flattered you want to be associated with me, but wouldn't want people to get confused. Think sometime after the election all us local activists from every party should get together one evening and talk shop. Would be interesting!

Since we've got ourselves a nice and interesting political debate going here, I may as well join in :) Marmora Man - I agree with you that much of the Labour vote will stay at home, but your belief that the Lib Dem vote will flatline will be proved incorrect. We've never been stronger in C&P. Our candidate Columba Blango knows the constituency better than anyone. He has links with many groups and communities who traditionally vote Labour, who are now offering to join and help with his campaign. People are fed up of Labour, but no one in C&P has any real appetite for the Tories. So in answer to your question of who is the better person and more attuned to representing an inner city constituency, there's no doubt it is Columba. I've met Andy a few times, and for a Tory he's OK, I don't think he's representative of the Tory party as a whole though. And the idea he will finish second is nonsense. Tell me, why do good candidates such as Andy never get near Tory seats they can win in? Still, I'm enjoying the fact that Harriet won't just be able to have it all her own way and we've got a decent contest on our hands now.

Yes but surely the gig would be listed all over London (and Thea's MySpace)? Would you not get it listed in Time Out, for example? The audience would consist of more than East Dulwich Forumites, numerous though they are.

Sounds good. Sure I can round up a few others to come along too. Good luck if you do decide to go ahead. It'd be good to have more things like this happening in the area.

Depends when it was, but yeah!

@dc Simply not true - people have signed without providing an email address. Name and postcode is all that's required. The email address function is so people can received news about this campaign. You only need to supply an email address if you want the updates (or general lib dem news). Even if you do give us an email address and request updates, you can ask us to remove your details from the list at any time, and we will. This really isn't a big lib dem conspiracy here, it is just us trying to do something which many many people have told us will make their lives easier. Laurie