apmuso

But this is a proposed 11-noon metering system - some way removed from the schemes you describe elsewhere. Everyone is free to park for a limited period at all other times. I absolutely understand about the horrors of exclusive residents' parking as in Fulham and Chelsea etc - but this is a scheme fundamentally to stop commuter parking near the station. It has little to no impact on anyone else.

Penguin68 - just as long as you're alright then. Until you've experienced it, not sure you can appreciate how frustrating it can be for almost everyone I speak with locally. Fair point on the train issue though.

So hang on - let me get this straight. What you're saying is that it could also be lazy fellow East Dulwichians who might be forced to take the bus or walk to get to the station, making it more more possible for the residents of Melbourne, Derwent and Elsie etc to park in 'our streets', thus reclaiming 'our streets for ourselves'. Not sure I've 'fundamentally misunderstood' anything. IMHO you understand.

I agree - the consultation needs to be inclusive of all those streets affected - either directly by the cpz or indirectly by any 'creep'. Although as Councillor Barber intimated: 'Herne Hill area did see some scope creep but their (sic) is a limit to how far people will park and walk and instead use a more local station to where they live.' That's surely the point isn't it? If I'm forced to park outside someone else's house on Ashbourne or Chesterfield, where are they parking? If the proposed 11-noon enforcement is introduced, with one fell swoop those commuters who drive, park in our neck of the woods and then take the train from here, will be forced to take the train from further out. I think it could really benefit us all. Platforms and trains will be less congested and the roads and parking will be slightly more pleasant. What's not to love.....?!!

Bobby P - I can guarantee you there is a majority of residents on the station side of Melbourne Grove who would back CPZs - I speak to my neighbours. It's not small-mindedness to want to try to change the commuting habits of people from outside ED. Why should we not want to keep our streets for ourselves? People who drive in from miles around and park outside my house for ten hours a day are the problem. It's not a compromise of urban living to want to park somewhere within 300/400 yards of one's house. That's a nonsense if you think so. And why wouldn't you want to try to make your urban existence better? I'm guessing you haven't tried unloading a car full of toddlers and shopping on a street where there's nowhere to even stop let alone park. I find the notion that CPZs are the thin end of the wedge and we're on a slippery slope if we have them risible. I want a better life for everyone in East Dulwich. I wouldn't be at all happy if the problem was just shifted a few streets away. It's shifting the mindset of lazy commuters that's the issue. If we make parking more problematic for them, then our roads are less congested for us all.

Clutching at straws mate. Really. Unless you've lived at this end of MG as long as we have and experienced first hand the nightmare that is parking outside or anywhere near your own house, you've got no right to have a go. Why should local residents be denied that right because of the actions of non-locals? Pretty much guarantee there would be a majority more than happy to pay for that very basic right.

BrandNewGuy - at the weekend the problem goes away. Simple as. And a 12-2 controlled parking system doesn't disadvantage anyone other than those who leave their cars at 8am and don't collect them until 6pm. I for one will actively help promote such a scheme. I'm so bored of the hassle.

Have lived on the north side (station end) of Melbourne Grove for 14 years and over that time, the parking situation has definitely got worse. Trying to unload a car full of shopping or small people or sometimes both can be a nightmare. Would have no hesitation in paying to park outside my house - bring it on. Agree with other posters that perhaps any controlled parking 12 - 2pm etc might be better located on our road we well as Derwent and Elsie. Then see how the posh end of Melbourne react when all their spaces start disappearing.....!!

HI James Further to various posts regarding residents' parking on the north side of Melbourne Grove, can you let me know whatever happened to the visit/information you promised? Still an absolute nightmare to get a space anywhere near the house and with two small children and/or a Sainsburys shop to unload, it can sometimes be particularly problematic. Is East Dulwich the only station locally where there aren't any parking restrictions to try and protect residents' rights to park near their homes? Hope to hear from you soon.

Re: East Dulwich councillor - can we help? Posted by: James Barber October 01, 09:02P Hi apmuso, Watch your letter box in the next 2-3 weeks on Thursday evenings. Regards james Hi James - any news re the above? I've been watching the letter box and, almost 8 weeks on, still nothing. Parking every bit as bad as ever.

Found this in another thread about the hospital. Like me, wondering what the state of play is? James Barber In mid June you stated your intention of meeting with the head of the local NHS to find out what is happening to the hospital. Can you please update us as to any progress? I was there this morning and came back wondering why we have to put up with facilities such as these in the UK which are in such a desperate need of rebuilding, even after a long-term and high-spending Labour government! Thanks gh

Hi James You've been very helpful in the past keeping us informed and keeping the pressure on the relevant people with regard to pavement and carriageway improvements on Melbourne Grove in East Dulwich, which have broadly-speaking been successful in reducing the flow and speed of traffic on the road. I wonder if you can be as helpful and influential again? What is becoming increasingly frustrating is the situation with regard parking. On a number of occasions in the past few weeks, I have spent anything up to 20 mins trying to find a parking space within a mile of our house. If anything, the problem - which has always been bad, is getting worse. Neighbours are now resorting to putting bins in front of their houses to reserve a spot and stop railway station users clogging the road. Is there anything we can do? Whatever happened to the survey with regard residents' parking? We've just redone our front garden and don't feel it's fair to sacrifice that space to off=street parking just so we can have the car in front of the house - given that it's non-residents using the road for all day parking for the station. There was talk of implementing a 12-2pm meter system, which, with one fell swoop, would immediately solve the problem. There is metered parking at Denmark Hill, so why not East Dulwich? Thanks in advance for any advice you may give. Andy

Can anyone throw any light on this? The old admin blocks for Dulwich Hospital on ED Grove were pulled down almost 4 years ago and still nothing in their place. Not that local residents are complaining - more sky, privacy etc. Would just be good to know what was going on. Did speak to the project manager months ago and he said there would be some progress made by the end of last year, but as far as I know there are no immediate plans in place to commence building. I'm guessing there's a funding/planning issue?

Hi James We live at the station end of Melbourne Grove and are looking forward to our all new-improved road with bumps et al. A couple of posters here have voiced their concerns about traffic causing damage to parked cars. It seems we can't win - we spend months trying to get rid of the pavement parking signs to create wider, safer pavements but the result is the same amount of traffic has less room to manoeuvre, hence the scrapes and damaged wing mirrors! Can you let me know what happened to the idea of making MG one-way, sending the other direction up/down Elsie? Thanks James. Appreciate your assistance as ever. Andy

Hi TarahC - did you not get a letter from the council in the last two weeks outlining the work still to be done and the timetable for it? We certainly did and like you live at the station end of MG. Understand your frustration re damage to parked cars. Thought the removal of the pavement parking signs would reduce the flow of traffic down the road, but it just seems to be the same but with more wing mirrors being wrecked! It seems you can't change the mindset of drivers who have used MG as a ratrun since time began. What really hacks me off is that no-one stops to fess up to damaging your car. They must surely know they've scraped along the side of it? The only solution to the problem once the resurfacing is finished and the bumps are in, is to make the road one-way and send the other direction down Elsie. Don't know why this plan seems to have been shelved?