Renata Hamvas

Hi Spark67, I was made aware of this from another source and It's been reported. Thanks Ontherye and Traveller1 for reporting that the traffic flow North/South has improved. All your posts are very useful and I'm passing all cooments onto council officers involved in the scheme. Renata

Dear all, I have now had a response back from council officers. They agree that since the works started there has been major delays to traffic at the junction but this was not unexpected unfortunately. They say that choice was limited, given the need to undertake the works without any complete closures. They have written to local residents advising the potential delay and apologising to them for any inconvenience. They have discussed with the contractor ways to minimise further disruption and to try to put more site resources on this project to aim to get the works done quicker. This week they have already made improvements to the street layout for example changing the signal head location on Peckham Rye so it it allows 2 way operation taking place there. This was applied yesterday and it's their understanding is that traffic is now flowing much better than before. London Buses have acknowledged this improvement. Finaly, the current phase of works at the junction of Peckham Rye with East Dulwich Road is the most complicated and more complex than the other corners of the junction due to the presence of many utilities boxes and services underneath. This phase should be completed this week and hopefully the future phases will be less disruptive to pedestrians. With regard to temporary removing of some of the prohibition of traffic movement from side roads, this is not something they'd recommend. Without local consultation this would likely raise as many if not more objections and complaints than if this isn't done. If they were to undertake a consultation on affected roads this would take a few weeks and therefore be of negligible benefit by the time they could implement it. Also, this particular type of temporary diversion would need a large amount of signage and even then, it is likely that very few people would, in reality, use it. They will continue to discuss with the contracor ways to make traffic flow better bearing in mind the difficulty and the high traffic volume at this junction. On the new point raised today, this is correct. The contractors were using carriageway barriers for the footway. They are bigger and longer so taking more space from the footpaths leaving less space for buggies and wheelchairs. They are aware of this issue and have instructed the contractor to change the barriers as soon as possible. I also asked if there was a way of speeding up the works eg extending the working day to early evening from 4pm. The budget won't allow this as it would increase costs by 20%. The Northbound P12s, 78s and ?343s have been diverted onto the Nunhead side of the Rye in order to avoid the East Dulwich Road/Peckham Rye junction. DJ, I would hope that the junctions will be safer and better once the works are completed. Renata

Hi Fushia, you are right. Exactly what you say did happen with Southwark Free School. Parents living near Borough station signed their petition. Southwark Free School got the funding, they then set up a school in Rotherhithe, it's currently being run in a Tenants and Residents Hall. Free schools are part of the Academies umbrella ie self governing etc, however very different to the original batch of Academies set up under Labour, which were existing schools that were reinvented with new investment, leadership etc. Renata edited as missed words out!

Hi Tony, nothing is planned from the current pot of money and the current works for the top of the hill. But there are plans to do more works here in the future (more money needed though). Renata

Hi Gebbjane, Srisky applying early won't impact on your application. Unlike primary, nursery admissions criteria vary between local community schools. Some have sibling priority, some don't some go on distance while others go on age of applicant. Church ones may want a reference from a vicar/priest etc. It is now 15 hours a week, most nurseries do this as either 3 hours in the morning or 3 hours in the afternoon. Some (eg Ivydale) let you take this as 2.5 school days instead. There are also pre-schools that operate similar hours. These tend to charge a nominal fee for refreshments, but are much cheaper than private nursery and may take from age 2.5. Be aware that attending the nursery of a primary school has no impact on securing a place for reception at that primary school. Renata

Hi Londonmix, the council is still moving forward with its plans. There are plans for the area surrounding Dulwich as well, (eg Peckham and Nunhead) other permanent expansions and schools too. I can only go as far as basing everything on the pupil prediction for 2016 at the moment. There could be a shift upwards or downwards from this. That is the need of around 2.5 forms for the Duwich area for 2016, this could be met by the expansions and bulges and/or a new school if a site for one is found. The predictions for this area indicate that thre will be relatively stable demand over the next few years (around the 2.5 form level above current non-bulged non-expanded levels for local schools). Be aware that if Harris and/or Judith Kerr are successful in their bid, they may end up setting up their school elsewhere. Southwark Free School courted families living near Southwark station. They got support and wanted a site in the area. They didn't get it and yet did open the school in 2012, but it's in a tenants' hall in Rotherhithe, Kms to the east of the original proposed site. I wonder how many of the children of those original supporters actually are attending the school now it is open. I was really surprised by this, that a school can get approval and subsequent funding and then move the school location somewhere else! Renata

I know this is dreadful, I'm a local resident myself, so I have been experiencing it first hand too. I have contacted council officers with your comments and suggestions and I'm awaiting a reply. Renata

Nimby- you made me LOL! In terms of the top of the hill. I know it's a nightmare. Erratic parking ( enforcement officers do go up there) and a crossing point that doesn't work. I did point out to council officers this was not a functional crossing point (the assumption is that cars will stop to allow people to cross-they don't!). This was decided before I was a councillor. I did asked why it was not more joined up with Lewisham, Lewisham had no money at the time for crossing points/traffic calming/road layout improvements. I was told that that another bid for money to sort the top of the hill would be submitted after the Olympics. I'll chase up on this. Renata

Remember tomorrow is the closing date for applications! Please put down 6 schools and in your order of preference. Schools don't know the order you put them down in, so if your preferred school is further than your closest one, it doesn't reduce your chances to be offered to be offered the closest school f you don't get a place at your preferred one. Good luck! Renata edited to put in tomorrow!

The facts point to the need for 2-3 extra forms in 2016 for the Dulwich CC area not 7-8 (7-8 amounts to the southern half of the Borough's demand). There are not just bulge classes being set up but permanent expansions plus some sites that were previous school sites will be used to open new primaries. I haven't had any complaints or local residents not wishing to send their children to the currently available local schools. I'm would like to point out again that there is comprehensive pupil planning going on and that is being done in zones and not just in the borough as a single entity . The last time there was chaos over primary school places was in 2009 (Actually when the council was being run by the Lib Dems in conjunction with the Conservatives). I could go on, however, I think it is unhelpful for local residents for this thread to disintergrate into a political slanging match. Renata

Hi TonyQuinn, unfortunately the bus routes are not under the control of the council but the bus companies and TFL. Therefore even if Southwark/Lewisham Council Officer or Councillors come up with very sensible plans and present them to TFL, it is actually outside our controls if they happen. In the discussions I have had over the last few months, TFL rather cut bus services rather than expand them. I can propose an additional 'p' type bus route as suggested above (shall I, what do residents think?), but I suspect it would be highly unlikely to happen, so don't get your hopes up. I have already complained about the P13 service along its current route but with little impact. Renata

Hi all, I know eight week is a long time. It is scheduled for such an extended period of works as the two junctions are so busy and therefore can't be closed for any period of time to do the works. Also with the introduction of the SCOOT system, this adds to the complexity ands to the time schedule. I am aware that there have been some delays to traffic (as a local resident I also travel through these junctions myself on a frequent basis). The temporary traffic signals are on fixed timings and I was told that these can't be manipulated for situations at the junctions. There was no option but to close the bus stops as this would otherwise have caused even greater delays at the PR/East Dulwich Rd junction. Renata

Sorry Londonmix, I think I was writing mine when you posted your! The outcome of the current round of funding for additional school places will be known at the end of this month (it's an annual thing). I'll be able to update you on the specifics of time scales then. Renata

Hi James, you keep implying that there has been no pupil planning specific to the Dulwich area, this is why I raised the November Dulwich CC meeting, the plans were presented to local residents then. The 235 figure I guess is therefore for the two central and southern Community Councils pooled together? This is the entire Southern half of Southwark. There are other plans for the Peckham and Nunhead CC area and for the Camberwell CC area (eg expansion of Bessemer Grange). I don't think any Hallujah's are in order as I'm not a supporter of the concept of free schools in general. Anyone can set up a free school, curriculum controls? Self-administered admissions criteria? even more minor things like they don't need to follow guidelines on school dinners. Funding implications on existing schools etc. What will Harris do if they get approval and the hospital site isn't an option? Will it go on the Harris Girl's site (as happened with the Harris Academy at Peckham/Harris Free School). Renata

The closing date for Primary school applications is next Tuesday. I will be having a surgery tomorrow (Saturday) at East Dulwich Community Centre on Darrell Rd SE22 from 10am-11am. If you have any questions or need help with the application process come and pop along. I shall be in the room on the right. Renata

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi esme, > I also share your concerns. > > Cllr Lewis Robinson as then chair of the Dulwich > Community Council agreed to my request to ask a > formal question about primary and secondary places > for the Dulwich area at 29 November 2011 counrcil > assembly - > http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/mgConvert2PDF. > aspx?ID=25822&ISATT=1#search=%22secondary%20school > %20admissions%22 > > The Question and answer are on page 14 Question > 10. The then forecasts of primary places have > since been revised upwards. > > But the response around secondary school places > was "The planning for secondary school places is > carried out on a borough wide basis and therefore > there is not a forecast for the Dulwich planning > area". This is despite a question from the > Rotherhither Community Council is May 2011 where > an answere for Ritherhithe secondary school > admissions was given referring to forecast to that > area alone. > > So once we've got January and the new East Dulwich > Harris Primary school application submitted ED > ccouncillors will be looking at secondary school > places. With the latest primary school forecasts > for the larger area stating we need 235 extra > reception places a year and a normal secondary > school takes 150 pupils per year - then despite > the recent opening of the ED Harris Boys schools - > it FEELS clear to me we need another local state > secondary school. James, it would have been helpful if you attended the last Dulwich Community Council, then you would have heard what your Ward Colleagues, other local Councillors and members of the public in the audience heard in the presentation by council officer Sam Fowler about projections and plans for primary school places in the Dulwich area. The Borough is split into five areas (the Community Council areas) and pupil number predictions are done around these five zones. Central East zone (Peckham and Nunhead area, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, the Lane, Peckham and Liversey Wards) 2013, 1.5 to 2.5 FE 2014,1 to 2.5 FE 2015, 2 to 3.5 FE 2016, 3 to 4.5 FE South of the Borough Zone (Dulwich area, College, Village, East Dulwich Wards) 2013,2 to 2.5 FE 2014, 1.5 to 2.5 FE 2015, 2 to 2.5 FE 2016, 2.5 to 3 FE Notes: FE is an abbreviation of Forms of Entry. One form of entry is equivalent to 30 additional places in a year group. This is from the formal report and therefore I'm not sure where the 285 extra places required for the Dulwich area has been plucked from! The figures are actually 75 to 90 places for the Dulwich zone in 2016. London Mix, I had a meeting with a Council officer today. The amount of funding secured from the D of E will be available at the end of January. The expansion for example of Langbourne will cost 4-5million, but this will have a significant proportion of the funding going towards a major renovation of the whole school premises ie not just expansion. It is cheaper on the whole to expand existing schools rather than build from scratch due to the additional facilities needed for a new school (new halls, kitchens etc) and extra staffing costs (Head and senior staff). Free schools IMP will form part of the solution for Southwark's school place shortage, but I am still concerned about the Harris/Judith Kerr plans as there is no site to put a school currently available (Hospital site is NHS owned). Renata There is on-going planning for Secondary schools as from 2016 onwards the demand for secondary places will increase. Parents of current year 3s I'm sure will remember the primary school fiasco of 2009 (I wasn't a councillor then and it was under aprevious council administration, but I was aware of it as a local resident, plans are being made for when this cohort hits secondary. All secondary schools in the Borough have been contacted and some are now in discussion about expansion. This has involved eg architects visiting sites. There is a also a new school in the Walworth area and another possible new Secondary Free school in the planning stage. All of the Secondary schools are Academies and therefore set their own admissions criteria. I have discussed this with officers and they say that the extra secondary places would be provided for local people. Renata

Hi Penguin and Simone, the P12 doesn't run past Peckham Rye either in snow, so I think the hill is an issue. We only get snow very occasionally, so I don't think it would be a big problem in general. Renata

To add to this debate, I have been reading all the comments on here and taking on board (I do want to hear all opinions on the subject). Many Peckham Rye Ward residents have said to myself and my fellow Councillors Vikki and Gavin that they would find an extension to the 63 very useful. Prior to Christmas an East Dulwich resident told me that she had asked a 63 driver if he could drop her at the top of the hill where the 63 turns round (Wood Vale junction). He said that he couldn't as the buses weren't insured to carry passengers up the hill. Following this conversation, I went and spent a few minutes watching traffic movement where the 63 U-turns. The Peckham Rye Councillors initially approached Boris and TFL about looking into this route in 2010. Both parties said they wouldn't extend as it would be too costly. I recently contacted our GLA representative, Valerie Shawcross to ask her what she thought about the 63 starting and terminating in the bus designated lane at the top of the Hill (ie extending the route by one bus stop). The buses drive up there empty anyway and it is a reasonable level and short walk round the corner to pick up the P12 from Brenchley Gardens. The first and last bus stop of the route would be in the same place, at the end of Brenchley Gardens. This kind of system is currently in place at the first/last stop of the 343 bus on Jerningham Road. I don't know, however, if it is feasible due to the slope. The 363 would be affected in that they would need to go in the right lane at the Wood Vale junction with other traffic. The advantages that I see if this is possible, is that residents with mobility problems, heavy shopping or buggies would be able to take the bus one stop further up a steep hill and then change to the P12 if they are going over the hill. If there were a significant number of passengers using the 63 for the extra stop, this would give an indication that it would be viable to extend the route over the hill (taking into account the issues mentioned by Posters above too). It had negligible cost implications as empty buses are already going up and down this stretch of Forest Hill Road. I know that the 363 stops on Wood Vale, however to get to the P12 from there involves crossing the double crossing at Forest Hill Road. This has now been submitted to TFL for them to consider it. Thoughts everybody? Renata

Hi cdaywilson, congratulations! it's very hard to judge what will be the last place distance offered for any primary school 5 years in advance. My advice would be that when the time comes; you apply to your closest schools and in your order of preference. Renata

HOP is in zone 3 and has direct links to the Croydon Area on the London Overground. Peckham Rye is in zone 2 and has links to Clapham junction and going north on the London Overground.For people who need to travel south, the connection from HOP would be the preferred on in terms of route and travelcard zone. To get on the Southbound London Overground from Peckham Rye, you would need to go PR to Surry Quays and then change trains. From my discussions with local residents, it is a route extension that is wanted and would be used by local people. Renata

Below is the leter that has been circulated to Councillors about the schedule of works Renata Dear Cllrs, Peckham Rye / East Dulwich Road / Nunhead Lane Signals Modifications Works Happy New Year. As you will be aware we have been preparing some proposals aiming at improving the above mentioned 2 junctions. Copies of these proposals are attached for your information. We have programmed the works to commence at the first junction being Peckham Rye with East Dulwich Road, next week Monday commencing 7 January 2013, weather permitting. We hope the works will be completed by 29 February 2013. There will be a 4 way traffic lights with pedestrian phase operating there during the works period. We anticipate that the 4-way traffic lights are likely to cause some degree of traffic disruption at this junction and its environs but we will try to minimize this and expediting works where possible. Apologies for the inconvenient. Please refer to attachment for scheme details. The main features of the proposal: ? Introduce a new right turn filter for eastbound traffic on East Dulwich Road ? Improve the operation and safety of both junctions by linking them together on SCOOT ? New Advance stop lines on all arms of the junction to improve safety for cyclists ? Reducing crossing distance for pedestrians at Peckham Rye / East Dulwich Road junction ? New audible feature for visually impaired at Peckham Rye / East Dulwich Road junction ? Re-mark box junction at Peckham Rye/East Dulwich road to make it enforceable We are in the process of sending a notification letter to all residents affected by this works, and who live close to the junctions; please see attached a copy of the letter and the proposed circulation list. Regarding the works programme we propose the works to be done as follow: 1- Peckham Rye /East Dulwich Road junction - Week 1 ? Remove central refuge island ? Remove existing traffic signals Week 2-4 ? Footway buildout works ? Ducting ? Building pit boxes Week 5-6 ? Reinstate new signals 2- Nunhead Lane/Peckham Rye Junction Week 7 ?Ducting work on footway Week 8 - Commissioning new controller, road marking works at Peckham Rye /Eat Dulwich Road junction

Thanks Howdood, I'll report this. Renata

Hi Mrs TP, Following the issue that the 2012/13 nursery was filled by siblings, current parents were surveyed by the school. There are many families with children in the older classes with the youngest sibling due to start in reception in 2013. There are also a few sets of multiple births (usually it's only one or two per year of sixty). It seems to be totally unrelated to the 2012 bulge, ie it's not lots of siblings of current reception children. There were families who lived a stones throw from the school who were unable to secure one of the around 50 places in the Nursery. Renata

OK, Chillaxed, I just wanted to assure residents that some sensible forward planning for primary places has gone on. Londonmix, I'll have answers for you early in the new year. Over and out Renata

James, what you and I have posted is the confirmed list that will certainly bulge. Yes, that is what is in the email. Yes that is what will definitely happen! Don't you think it is sensible to have space for maneuver???? Renata