neilson99

It says in the press releases very clearly that services from Charing Cross will not call at LB from January 2015. I'll eat my hat if they ever reinstate them. This would be a great opportunity for Local councillors James Barber and Renata Hamvas to go after in local coalition for their constituents.

Another victory for the planning teams at Southwark Council/TFL - why didn't they do this when Thames Water annexed Rye Lane last year?

I've been going in the Herne for about 5 years now - which I know makes me a bit of a newbie by some standards - and while I want to love the place, it always just seems to miss something. Having said that, the Sunday night quiz has been electric on accassion and the staff always freindly and good in my experience so I hope they stick around, but to be honest living within a stones throw I'm looking forward to someone coming in with some imagination and a new approach.

Great to see this go through especially if this is an anchor/destination store for the shops on East Dulwich road, still don't see why East Dulwich retail can only exist on Lordship Lane in James Barber's view, seems very short sighted.

Modern English? My money is on Greggs then...

I want kids. I want to stay at home. I want to do more studying. Maybe even re train. I want all this now, I'm not prepared to prioritise and make choices and sacrficices, so I expect everyone else to pay for it.

In further news, Southwark Council to consult with local community on arrangements for a day trip to local micro brewery in attempt to organise piss up, pays through the nose for a consultant to "optioneer" and ends up deciding to demolish the "temporary" Herne Tavern replacing it with the a pallet and a few cans.

But spangly, that would enable allow two lanes of traffic to move forwards at the same time, thereby improving the flow of traffic and reducing journey times(by bike, car and bus) which one must assume is contra to Southwark/TFL transport policy spanglysteve Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Renata, > > Today when using this junction, I noticed that > while the north/south traffic goes at the same > time, the est/west traffic continues to be > separated. > > I thought the East/west phase was only split as > part of the "temporary" phasing. > > So it would appear that after all this disruption, > and who knows how much money we have been left > with essentially exactly the same as what we had > before. Yet more indication that the only point > of these works was to spend surplus budget before > the year end. > > This entire incident has been farce from start to > end with blame equally shared between the council > and the contractors. I look forward to not voting > for you in 2014.

Wooh! When is the grand offcial opening? I'm hoping for at least Boris, Mr Conway himself and the Green Cross code man. And hopefully some black armbands will be handed out to mark the passing of the dutiful but under performing and deadly old temporary beasts - how on earth did we ever manage with them, not to mention the shiny new Tarmac. Worth every penny I'm sure. Anyone take a bet on how long it'll be until the next FHR works?

Thanks Renata. It's a shame that FM Conway don't have the desire to come on to the forum of their own volition and explain this themselves rather than use you as a postbox for their empty explanations of their incompetence. It wouldnt have been difficult for them to do so. Anyway, it appears that they sent some people some information and some people no information. No one received all the information, so their confidence in them being sure the works will complete next week is a little bit hollow. It's beyond me how you can close off a road, dig it up, park your machinery outside people's houses through the night and have no thought that you might actually let the people who live there know. Even a simple door knocking exercise would've been good, and probably engendered some good will. Renata, perhaps you could explain whether Southwark Council/TFL require it's contractors to communicate with those it effects during the course of the works? And if so, how? What guidelines are in place? It would be useful to understand what the no doubt highly paid Communications team at the Council actually do all day if they can't even get these absolute basics right. I'd also echo spanglysteve's request for clarity on what penalties will be imposed on the contractor - and what will happen to the revenue that is received - perhaps allocated to the works at the actually quite dangerous top of FHR near Cabrini that TonyQuinn has highlighted. Thanks Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello all, > I have received the letter (see below) which in > summary says that unfortunately the works won't be > completed by tomorrow but by next Friday, 15th. > > Following my complaint, I believe that letters > were distributed to St Aidan's on Tuesday (Thanks > to the St Aidan's Rd Residents who contacted me). > The information on the planned distribution that I > now have, indicates that letters were due to go to > the part of St Aidan's Rd nearest to Forest Hill > Rd in the initial distribution (and sections > nearest to Forest Hill Road of all roads feeding > into Forest Hill Road). > > Renata > > > > Dear Cllrs, > > > > Ref: Update on Forest Hill Rd/Colyton Rd junction > Highways Improvement works > > > > We have noticed that there have been comments on > East Dulwich forum (EDF) relating to works at > Forest Hill/Colyton Rd junction > > > > I would like to update you on progress so far: > > > > ? Transport for London (TfL) signal > installation contractor (PEEK) is currently on > site installing the new traffic lights. > > ? TfL informs us that that new lights will > be ready for commissioning next week, hopefully by > Friday 15 March. > > ? We have noticed some concerns on EDF in > relation to delay to our work programme. The > letter sent to residents only showed programme for > FM Conway works and mistakenly did not include > duration of works for signal installation by TfL, > which normally follows after Conway civil works. > This lack of information on the notification > letter may have caused the misunderstanding and we > apologies for this. We are confident that the > works will be completed next week as mentioned > above.

Which week though Renata? What a joke that we are paying for this bungling bureaucracy for no discernable benefit. Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Chaveau, > the works should be completed by the end of the > week. > Renata

Looks like they are getting around to the road resurfacing. Colyton Road now closed off, hopefully just for the night. Not sure if they are resurfacing here or just using it as a staging post for the - quiet impressive - kit they have. 7 dumper trucks also parked along Peckham Rye. No notice still. Fingers crossed they won't be move my car and charge me for the privelage.

What does become a "destination" actually mean? As in we will get day trippers and tourists coming across London to visit our world famous 24/7 Co-Op? If there is an implication that this would be negative, could you elaborate please as to why? I can't see why parking would be an issue. There would be less traffic around than is typical during the day so wouldnt be any worse, surely? If people who live on or near Lordship Lane don't like the fact that there are shops and traffic nearby i.e. the downside of living near a busy main road/high street in a popolar suburb of one of the biggest and most vibrant city's in the world, they should consider moving to the country - or maybe Crystal Palace Road - personally I don't think that they can have the benefits of convenience without accepting everything that this brings.

Yes JohnK it is an FM Conway contract by the looks of it

Just popped down to the co-op. Not a traffic light in sight, though the holes on the south bound (ie up the hill) have been filled in and the pavement returned to the extent that I walked past wondering why the heck there are plastic fencing up the road when nothing is in fact being fenced off! I guess we have just seen completion of phase 1 which is to remove the (4 years standing) "temporary" danger to human life and property lights and now we'll get the gang who come along and dig it up again to put the new super permanent super deluxe super light traffic lights in place? What we actually have now is true temporary lights, which have replaced the old permanent ones, cost us god knows how much and have been a real pain the backside. Way to go Southwark Council. A*se/Elbow etc etc

I agree with Bigmacca, the works have been painfully slow, digging a hole that really should be done in hours seems to take days, re filling again seems to take an age. I saw them there saturday through the day as I was passing by a few times, but very little progress seemed to have been made. The Streetworks legislation which applies to utilities penalises them if their works over run the alloted time, they have to pay fines, I assume to either TFL or the local Council. It would be interesting to know if they apply the same legislation, or at least abide by the spirit of it to their own works. Still, given that we didn't even get a communication from Southwark Council regarding the commencment of these works, I doubt that asking the question would even receive any kind of a response.

Tom, Kudos for stepping up. The obvious question is do you in fact charge such large amounts for reserving properties? And if so, why? What's the typical amount that you charge for a tennat reserving a property in East Dulwich? Of course one wouldn't expect you to comment on specific customers arrangements but perhaps you could set out average charges say, for a 1, 2 or 3 bed property? You might also want to comment on the thread that is also discussing Ludlow Thompson's relationship and contractual arrangements with Spark energy, and tennants rights under these contracts to terminate the energy supply agreement and move to other suppliers. You'd do a great service to your company's and your own office's reputation by answering. Not sure why there should be concern if you were owned by an MP - many MPs have private business interests and are very successful business people in their own right outside of politics. Perhaps though, local MPs - and indeed media would be interested to get answers to their constituents concerns and questions regarding your service and charges. Thanks in advance for engaging on this.

I wish!

I dont think any one is suggesting we get rid of the lights and have a zebra crossing, its more a question of are we gold plating here by rep;acing what appear to be perfectly functioning and well used lights with something that has a few fancy bells and whistles that won't really help anyone. Personally, I think we should also be investing in more of the highly used bike paths that border either side of the pelican crossing near (the now closed off to traffic) Frein Road. I wonder what visionary dreamt up this fantasticly effective addition to the local transport infrastructure.

I'd vote for a fatwah on the subject of threads complaining about the subject of other threads.

Very good, but no road works? And not a queue outside a deli/butcher/baker/candlestick - maker either!

Indeed dbboy - see my question 4 above, unanswered. And still no notice recieved either from contractor or appropriate sponsoring authority.

If we got some cycle lanes out of this then great. It would make my occassional fair weather commute by bike a little less stressful. What I am wondering is why we are spending our money on the removal of "temporary" iron, steel and glass that have been cast in concrete and tarmac and sat there for a number of years, with what I imagine won't be dissimilar to what we currently have now. Perhaps I just need to open up my dictionary and confirm my understanding of "temporary" - my bad. Still, at least then I won't have to exercise my free will and decide whether as a grown adult I walk 10 yards further down the M25 like Forest Hill Road and cross at the actual crossing rather than dodge through the traffic. I might not agree with it but what a tremendous contribution this will make to the quality of life of the poor citizens of the area who regularly travel through our very own spaghetti junction. Democracy is great, innit?

Thanks for the posting and responses Renata, your efforts are appreciated. No notice received here on Colyton as far as I am aware - I would be interested to understand why this is and 2. What the notice period standard that Southwark Council/TFL Highways works to in these situations (if any). 3. What mitigation is planned for deliveries to local shops on Forest Hill Road, including the Co-Op store which seems to have large trucks outside a number of times per week and would likely create further disruption during day time traffic periods, especially at peak times. 4. Whether the current bus stops either side of FHR outside the Herne Tavern and the medical centre will be closed during the period of these works? 5. What consideration has been given to safety aspects and potential impact on increased traffic congestion given the two local schools very nearby, and childrens nursery in the white house on the corner of FHR and Peckham Rye. 6. What parking suspensions will be put in place around the most proximate roads to these works? 7. Why these works weren't co-ordinated with the very recent works undertaken by UK Power Networks at this junction, which would have been in line with TFL's own guidnace on Streetworks/NRSWA. The broader point that these works are completely spurios, not required, inconvenient, materially disruptive to the local community, a waste of time and ridiculous use of tax payers money should raise further questions as to whether they would pass any test of a reasonable thinking person. The only reasons I can think of is that the someone at the council is very keen indeed to ensure that their contractors have "plenty of work" to keep them occupied. Oh and that the two nearby cafe's will be doing a roaring trade from the workmen, I expect.

I still don't understand how these are classed as temporary. They've been installed so long, how exactly will new "permanent" lights be any diffrent to the ones we have now? "Moreover the above works need to be completed within the 2012/13 financial year" sounds like Southwark Council/TFL wanting to spend its budget before the end of the financial year so it doesn't get it reduced next year. The note you posted Renata also states that local residents will be notified - is your posting here our official notice, or will that be delivered through a different channel? If so, do you know when? It would also be good to undnrstand why Southwark/ TFL don't apply the same notice periods to its residents that they require and expect from 3rd party utilities. Under TFLs own guidance, I understand that works of more than 10 days of disruption would require any utility to give TFL 3 months notice, so could we understand why they don't live upto the same standard with its own works? Given the complete nightmare that Southwark/TFL brought at down the road and the fall out from that, would it be poissible for them to trial their 4 way way traffic management proposal before they started to dig anything up, so that they could re-think if this did create similar levels of delay and disruption and create some diversions around local roads that would ease congestion?