tedsmum

*bob*....maybe we could offer discounts for breakages made by anyone called Bob! *pagey....I'm glad the shop stands out- we like to be noticed! As you say, there are'nt many shops like it anymore and that's a shame, because personal attention and service means a lot to people, and that was always Barries intention when he bought it.

With regards to the "odd" hardware store on the corner of Dunstans road, do you mean odd in a good way?! I suppose the people who work there could be described as odd, with the exception of me of course! Actually, none of the outbuildings at the back belong to us,they're owned by various people,and are mostly unused.We objected to the lights at length when the idea was originally raised, and they certainly cause terrible jams, but as time goes on i suppose you get used to the sequences, and cross the road accordingly, green light or not.

I thinkit will be a brilliant addition to the parade. Another choice for lunch is always welcome, especially if cakes and pastries are on offer!

The shop was used as a location for a drama that the film crew are going to try and sell to the main TV companies. It involves a guy who desperately wants to get on the box, and in a last ditch attempt, tries to feature on the news by taking a shopowner hostage. Barrie kept out of the way, so will not appear on the small screen! Now THAT would have been interesting! We did have posters all over the windows for the last week, but as most people didn't notice them, sorry if you were taken unawares!

I work in the DIY shop on the corner of Forest Hill Rd and Dunstans Rd. We have objected to the traffic lights and double yellow lines since we found out that they were planned.What is not commonly known is that they have been paid for by Thames Water to aid their lorries which will be travelling up and down FH Rd and turning in and out of Colyton Rd, due to a 3 year project to install a new water mains pipe from here to Brixton. In addition, we believe that the lorries will be 'tagged' in order for the lights to change in their favour. These are not 'local' lights to ease traffic or help us cross the road safely, if anything, they have made both much worse!(and the lorries are few and far between so far, wait until there is one every 12 minutes which is whats expected!)Currently, the lights are set at approx.50 second intervals for cars on FH Rd, and approx. 10 seconds for cars out of Colyton and Dunstans, with just approx. 6 seconds for pedestrians to cross! We see many drivers overtaking others at the lights in a bid to beat the lights and this is an accident waiting to happen. I for one am frightened of the consequences of these lights, and am nervous of all the honking of horns and screeching of brakes that we hear during the day. The yellow lines that have also been put down because of the lights, are obviously bad for business, and bad for residents of Dunstans Rd because all parking has had to move up the road, and leaving your car anywhere near your own house is a luxury!We have had 4 or 5 meetings with the Southwark representative for the lights and lines,originally to object to the complete lack of direct consultation (one notice on a lamp post just doesn't cut it!) and have 'phoned several times since, to voice our concerns. Sorry to go on but this is a subject close to my heart, and I can't see why they chose this way to go about getting their lorries on site,at such disruption to so many of us. If you would like to ask why also, the man to contact is Mr.T Coppock on 0207 525 2173, he was in charge of the whole installation on behalf of Southwark.