kiera

I agree with edcam. When buying a newspaper, or anything else for that matter, I wouldn't ask personal questions of the person who is selling it. I don't know why you, TopTree, think it's o.k. to be rude to a Big Issue vendor, before buying a paper from him. In any case, I don't see the point of your questions - if he/she says they are getting housing benefit, will you think you've caught them out - that they're not really homeless? Not so,they may well be living in a hostel for the homeless, paying rent. Or did you just want to point out to them that they are being subsidised by taxpayers? Or are you vetting them to confirm they are genuine Big Issue vendors, in which case, what would be the "right" answers? "Yes, while I'm standing here, I'm also looking for work?" So what exactly is your point,TopTree?

Yes please - will send you a private message.

It was a drop-in session and I was surprised to find no-one else there at the time that I went in(about 6pm). There were 2 men, from a company contracted to Thames Water, to answer questions. They will map the sewer system using cameras. They will need access to some properties with manhole covers in the garden, in order to be able to put the camera down the sewer pipes, as they can't access them from the road. They will cut away tree roots which are blocking the pipes as they go. They will report the condition of the pipe network to Thames Water, who will instruct them if they require them to carry out any urgent repairs - they are not expecting to be asked to repair all cracked pipes. Any new pipes will be made of plastic, so will not crack and allow tree roots to enter in future. They start on Monday and expect to take about 2 months to map this area.

I think the general section - East Dulwich issues. I live in the part of East Dulwich included in this plan, so I'm grateful that you've raised this issue and appreciate your explanations - I'll come along tomorrow to your stall at Peckham Rye to find out more.

The rescued baby birds were indeed wood pigeons - a bird of the countryside, which nests in trees (and doesn't scavenge in bins).However, MM has raised the issue of feral pigeons, which, as everyone knows (I thought) nest in buildings, as do many other birds, including the endangered sparrow. Perhaps this opportunity could be taken to establish the council's policy for their contractors who discover nests during building work. Robin, could you ask the question?

I also apologise for being pedantic, but benefits to people who are out of work are administered by the Dept of Work & Pensions (DWP) & do not include housing benefits. Housing benefits are a separate benefit,administered by the Local Authority.

Good advice but wrong ward and therefore wrong councillor.

Out of interest, I made a point of finding out the hours of the pharmacy in Sainsburys, East Dulwich. It's open until 11pm each weekday evening, until 10pm on Saturdays and. 11-5 on Sundays - 100 hours or more. It also offers a needle exchange service.

Looking on the internet, it seems there are already 11 needle exchanges in Southwark, as well as ones in neighbouring boroughs. A couple of the needle exchanges are local -there is one in East Dulwich, Fosters,in Forest Hill Road and one in Rye Lane, Peckham.

I've seen a photo taken of the aftermath - the body of the car's in the road, facing the wrong way, and the engine's on the pavement. The battery's somewhere else. I was told that the driver survived the crash and was taken to hospital.

I believe there is a recycling container for energy-saving lightbulbs in the car park of Dog Kennel Sainsbury.

James Barber - I could not open the pdf you posted yesterday - could you possibly try posting it again please.

The cemetery is in Southwark's Peckham Rye Community Council Ward, which is not James Barber's ward. Renata Hamvas is one of the councillors.

My mother says that Lockharts had two shops in Lordship Lane - Mr Lockhart ran the one higher up, on the side of the odd numbers, but the one nearest to the Barclays and (then) Midland Bank, was Mrs Lockhart's shop, which was on the same side of the road as the banks and just a few doors away from them -roughly opposite Northcross Road. HSBC is 66 Lordship Lane and Barclays is on the other corner of Ashbourne Grove now.

Re. IngridB's original post & rch's photo of Stik's creation, I can't imagine which old master in Dulwich Picture Gallery was the inspiration:- Diana,Apollo & Nymphs by Tiepolo? Mrs Elizabeth Moody with her sons Samuel and Thomas by Gainsborough?