Frisco

"I agree." With what exactly? I was simply asking a (hopefully humorous) question. Anyway, my view for what it's worth (I can't use gyms anymore), is that ED leisure centre should only have limited free weights, because otherwise it will almost certainly turn into a grunt gym of the type that excludes most of the wider population, particularly those people it is supposed to be tasked to attract and cater for.

"It's quite funny though ... they are like the guys who turn up with their surfboards after the tide has gone out ... the market has nosedived, prices are topping out, he he he ..." When the last house price recession started LL was arguably oversubscribed with estate agents, but nothing like it is now. When the recession ended only a few remained. Unfortunately, Foxtons probably has the resources and staying-power to outstay the competition.

"I had better weights in HMP" How much was their membership?

"I'm not generally a fan of permits, but I quite like schemes where permits are only needed between, say, 11am and 11.30am, which locals can work around while commuter tourists are completely stuffed." That wouldn't really prevent the growing nuisance of estate agents' cars though.

"The only thing that is making me doubt my guess is that they seem to have forgotten to leave space for windows in their brick work!" Oh and I think they be concentrating the windows on the opposite side to the main road, which would be quite sensible in terms of overlooking the garden and cutting out road noise, etc.

"conclusion: Alan Dale is building a watchtower to keep EDers out of Camberwell" :-D. From looking at that development from car level, I've assumed that it's either going to be a house, or perhaps two flats. Not for the first time I've noticed the two boarded up semi-detached houses across the road, going down the hill towards Sainsburys (next to the lock up garages), and I wonder what's happening to them. Does anyone know?

Very sorry to hear that.

"Perhaps a longer term concern would be a saturation of watering holes with LL becoming a destination binge drinking zone from surrounding areas and turning ugly on a Friday and Saturday night. Then as the competition starts to bite prices will drop and business will have to rely on bigger volumes because of the lower margins. We'll just become another Tooting High St." I'm afraid I don't agree with this. For years ED (not just, but including LL) was oversubscribed with retail premises, particularly just after Sainsburys opened, and that did very little for the quality of shops. It maybe swinging in completely the opposite direction in terms of the price and type of goods etc, but I'd far rather that previously tatty and empty retail premises are used to make the place lively and interesting, and not just replicate the (lack of) style in surrounding areas. However, I do acknowledge that there has to be a careful balance, but there's no reason at all why LL should ever become like Old Kent Road or Tooting High Street (although THS does have some excellent Asian food places), both of which have been pretty rowdy places for a long time.

"The flats on Grove vale opposite texaco aren't flats really, but rooms for Kings and Maudsley staff to rent, with shared kitchens in the main. They're like uni halls (i had the pleasure of living there for 10 months!) Good for what they are there for but not open to all." Yes, that's what I thought. Almost what they uses to previously refer to as 'Nurses Homes'. The things that were nearly all disposed of in the 1980s and 90s. Isn't there a planning condition there too that none of the residents should have cars?

"again?" I'm still a bit too young. ;-P

There's also Dulwich Gallery: http://www.uniquevenuesoflondon.co.uk/dulwich_picture_gallery/ What a wide choice we have - it almost makes me want to get married!

"Just up the hill towards Forest Hill, the Horniman Museum do weddings in their conservatory. They have great gardens" That's a very good idea, I always forget the Horniman.

"Sorry but Crystal Palace is absolutely something to with a council ! - Mayor of London, London assembly, the new GLC whatever you what like to call it. And as it serves the need of a community that is very close by I would think that local council, would take some interest ?" But your point related to borough council's rather than the Mayor or the London Assembly, and local council's taking an interest in developments is not the same as having a responsibility for which they should be put under close public scrutiny, except where a project (such as CP) is could be, or is, part of the council's culture/sport/leisure strategy. "As for the scrutiny commitee and the minutes it's not exactly direct engagement, and does not cover what has been decided outside of meetings and behind closed doors." You said there was no scrutiny provision and I showed you that there was. Whether you are satisifed with it is a different issue, but you are free make your views known here through Community Councils and elected councillors (you could even stand yourself), unlike in places under the political control of people such as General Musharaf.

"Not in East Dulwich I know, but Eltham Palace is pretty grand." Beautiful, if perhaps a touch on the expensive side: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/hospitality/eltham_palace/prices.html

_Franklins should forget the green grocers, and have one site for their food, and the other just as a pub. I think that would be pretty cool, as I don't like drinking there because I feel like I'm drinking in the waiting area of a food place, without buying any food._ That sounds like a very good idea. I haven't been in there for a long time but this is precisely the reason why. Anyone recall the original Franklin's, and the woman (I presume Ms Franklin) who ran it?

"I stand corrected, they are key worker housing" Well, there is quite a significant difference.

"Maybe if the councillors were subject to some exposure or scrutiny commitee, you know like the one's you see on your telly box, we could find out why Peckham Pulse was closed for 2 years, why the Nunhead regeneration Zone has been stalled, then watered down, and stalled again and why our olympic swimmers are travelling to Paris to swim because Crystal palace is closed till next August !" http://southwark.gov.uk/YourCouncil/AgendasMinutes/scrutinysubcommittees/ See the link above. The public can attend the meetings too. Crystal Palace is nothing to do with Southwark Council, or any other council but here you go: http://www.sportengland.org/print/news/press_releases/sport_england_statement_on_swimming_and_diving_facilities_in_london_07.htm

"The flats opposite the Texaco garage, where the cinema used to be, are "affordable housing"." I believe they are key worker housing, rather than being just straightforwardly affordable.

"I could not understand how someone who didn't own the property was permitted to make a planning application to change its use." It could be that the dentist is exploring whether of change of use would be agreed before they purchase a lease. It would be a bit of a disaster if they bought the lease first and then found they couldn't get it and therefore couldn't set up their business.

"Wasn't it the 'London Clock Company' for a while. I never knew it was a cinema before but thinking back the build did have that look." Yes, that was it.

"oh cripes, makes you want to weep doesn;t it? and the cinema was demolished fairly recently (5 yrs or so?)" Maybe less than that, but I seem to remember that the front portion of the building had gone sometime before that.

"Why they never adapted the shop front I have no idea!" Business Rate/Council Tax reasons?

"ah well - guess it was always likely to struggle in that location." Well it managed to survive, seemingly without too much of a struggle, in that location for 20+ years, so I don't think 'always' is the right term to use. There is a huge footfall to and from the station past the restaurant everyday, which is what most food places yearn for. I never thought their marketing was up to much and I think there's more to it than just the location, and it could be that they turned their attention to projects elsewhere. I also don't believe the business changed hands a few years ago, and consequently isn't owned and run by the same people who started the ED restaurant. They managed through the times when ED wasn't so trendy, and a recession, so I wonder why they've given up at a time when things should have become easier in terms of trade.

"Can anyone point out major points of interest/famous residents past or present?" I think the last person of any real note and public prominence was Joseph Chamberlain.

"Dulwich DIY" I've never felt comfortable in this shop; especially since the woman who I assume to be the owner was rude to me when telling me that they didn't stock something I was looking for. Give me Terry's DIY for service any day.