kford

All LL needs is some low-voltage white LED fairy lights in all the trees and the effect would be magical. That's what they do in France. Nothing try-hard and fancy, and they can stay there all year.

If it's a choice between Concorde and EastEnders, I know what I'd choose.

Always remember: 'consultation' in council terms, means 'we're-going-ahead-with-it-anyway-but-we-have-to-pretend-we're-being-democratic'.

There is a sign IIRC (if there isn't, and you are fined for using it, you will have it quashed on appeal as there MUST be a sign every 80 metres or so (I think). Motorbikes aren't (officially) allowed in the Dog Kennel Hill bus lane, as it's not a Red Route.

@lostcat: I wonder how the current crop of middle class east dulwich offspring will turn out. I suspect they'll be at uni, working and paying for your pension. If the biggest issue in your ED life is that the pavements are occasionally blocked by a 'designer buggie' or that a child makes a noise in cafe, then you should count yourself lucky.

Every day since it was installed, I've had to toot or brake for bemused pedestrians wandering across where the old crossing was. Maybe they're not used to it yet; it's easy to walk to and from work on auto-pilot, or as posts above suggest, the new location is counter intuitive. We like to take the path of least resistance. It probably doesn't help that pedestrians see the entire raised area as a crossing, when it's just traffic calming.

I find it quicker than when the normal 4-way light system is in operation.

It's just the ongoing gas main replacement

Good stats

Good sightlines cause speeding? Based on what evidence?! Good sightlines are a fundamental of safe road design. If your ambition is to slow the traffic on LL, then you should've prevented the repainting of the white centre lines last week - there is ample evidence to prove that no road markings slow traffic. It's one of the principles of the SharedSpace movemnent, of which I know you are a fan.

Well, it looks like poor sightlines again, caused by parked vehicles (see pic). Just extend the double-yellows up and down LL for 10 metres and road users will see vehicles sooner. The same problem remains at the Barry Road/Underhill Road, despite the improvements to the junction.

If the tax was in the post, it would not have been flagged by the van. The van has ANPR linked to the non-payers on the DVLA database.

I think they just crush the bangers, which have to be recycled by law (good parts salvaged; fluids drained; plastics removed and turned into insulation/soundproofing on new cars; metal sent for smelting). The decent cars are auctioned off. Untaxed cars are usually uninsured, un-MoTd or unregistered - these are the cars more likely than any other to be involved in accidents or crime. So it's draconian, but a Good Thing.

I think the usual practise is for the DVLA to send a fine to the Registered Keeper a couple of weeks after the tax disc runs out. If this isn't paid, the van pays a visit. If the fine still isn't paid, the car is taken away and sold or crushed.

It's a good ruse if they are burglars though - do your business 'in plain sight'. I know a photographer who shoots a lot of real-life stuff, on the street. He always wears a flouro green jacket because then no-one ever asks what you're up to.

Does your house back onto a house in Fellbrigg Road?

Mrs Kford recommends Giulio for personal training. She's seen results in only two months. Good with Mum's wanting their body back,great knowledge of changes in your body after childbirth, motivation, diet and all the other stuff that keeps you fit and healthy. http://www.scalapersonaltraining.com

"My comment in the form shall be along the lines of, that I hope the right turn filter light will not be a separate light; ie. that we will still be allowed to turn right on the onward green light when it is safe to do so." That would be the sensible approach.

Twitpic: http://yfrog.com/hsku9wzj

They'd be much more popular if they stocked Playboy games.

"Southwark Council is having to make savings of nearly ?400,000 in its library service over the next three years." Cost of the Grove Vale 'improvements': ?500,000. Just thought I'd mention it.

Not helped by honey-traps like this: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23955010-streets-baffling-traffic-signs-trap-41000-drivers-and-raise-pound-5m.do

Only for not having recyclable refuse. Previously had memorised a Lambeth address to get around the problem...

"The mobile units are often searching for untaxed, registered, and / or insured cars." Not these mobile units, unless James can correct me otherwise. That's done by the police mobile ANPR units and DVLA's mobile ANPR vans. You'll see them driving round the streets, plain white VW Transporters with a camera on each corner of the roof. These cameras are operated by contractors, such as NCP or the US-based APCOA. They are experts in collecting parking fines mostly.

Tarzan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The solution is even simpler than that - Don't > break the rules and you won't be punished - > everything else is just whining. But, as Jeremy says, when it's about targets rather than just about safety, you'll find motorists punished for the most minor of technicalities, like hanging a wheel just one inch out of a parking bay or into a box junction, or as motorists in Camden have found, being fined for turning across a bus lane into a shop car park.