easyman

Sadly, I had the same experience and thought it was my bad luck. However, it seems this is a more common problem. I too had to wait several weeks and recieved my mixer back missing a knob and a button, dust covers and still not repaired. He took my money without telling me about the missing parts and I then had to go back to the shop and he promised he would find/get replacement parts. It took several more weeks before he admitted he could not get the parts and I had to demnand my mixer back and a refund of the money I had already paid in good faith. He seems to make promises he cannot keep and is not good at managing you as a customer. I would say if it's anything of value or that you value then take it elsewhere.

The bus company will not release the footage to you or me because of data protection laws. They will release it to the police, but the police will not request the footage because they do not have the resources to follow up such incidents - unless there is a collision. Simply running the red light - although a crime, is not deemed 'important' enough to deploy resources to get the footage. Sad but true. That's what the police helpline basically told me. I could report the incident and the footage may have all the details needed to bring a charge, but it probably would not get followed-up - so no point. Catch-22 favours the criminals in this instance.

So the final update from me on this incident is that the police are not interested in following up on getting this information. Basically, if this happens you should contact them on 999 or 101 immediately to report the incident so they can attempt to identify and track down the driver at the time. However, I was not aware that the police operate on a 'only follow-up crimes happening now' policy. I was told I could report the incident, but that really nothing would happen with regard obtaining footage because it's simply not a priority for them given police resources available etc. If I had a reg number they would be able to do something, but without it they won't look into it. The bus company won?t give me the details because of the data protection act - they will only give footage to the police. However, the police wont follow-up on the incident if I do report it, because they are too busy. Bottom line - ring 999 or the non-emergency number 101 at the time of the incident. The world we live in folks - it does make you wonder...

Thanks tjf - yes I was thinking of coming over to speak to you but was a bit shocked at what happened at the time - with hindsight that would have been best! I was unsure of the car make so it's great to get those details from you about the driver too. I am in touch with the bus company looking for footage so that really helps.

Must have been a 484 - will try to see if I can get anything from the bus company...

Monday 20 Jan 2014. This morning at around 8:27 I was starting to cross at the pedestrian crossing at East Dulwich station when a silver hatchback car came racing through the red light (around a bus that has stopped for the crossing), travelling from East Dulwich toward Dog Kennel Hill. Luckily I looked to my left to see the car and stopped in time not be knocked down. Anyone crossing from the other side would likely have been killed. However, I did not get to see the reg as the car was moving so fast it was out of range before I could try to get a fix on it. If anyone has any details on the reg/driver, or if there are any cameras that might be in operation covering the lights and crossing then please let me know. I would like the person responsible for this dangerous driving to understand the problem they have. Hopefully a fine and a chat from the police might make them more aware and cause them to think about the impact of their actions, and the injuries and loss of life that can occur from such a stupid maneuver. I dread to think what would have happened if they had hit me or anyone else crossing from the other 'blind' side in front of the bus. Remember to always look both ways!

The drivers could of course drive more considerately (pull away slowly woudl make a difference I would think), and drive as though they were taking care of the people who pay for them - the passengers of which many are residents on the routes...

Quite simply - regardless of priority - not enough is being done by the teams that are supposed to deal with this to get out there gritting. Cold and damp weather has been forecast for days - all roads should have been gritted in readiness and re-gritted when and where necessary. The idea of a local stash of grit that residents could use in need seems pretty basic good sense - especially where they are not going to come and grit at all. After all this time is this really still too much to ask?