BARA

yes - the telephone exchange now occupies the former fire station site. The cinema - I cannot recall the grand entrance when I used to watch the children's Saturday Morning Shows in the 1960's. I lived in Ondine Road from 1971 - 75 and for much if that time the cinema was a venue for a Marhareshi Yogi or some such name - an eastern meditation guy. Crowds of people attended - for most part very peaceful, except when they got into arguements with locals over car parking Some things never change!

The A & E at Dulwich was still in existance in the early 1960's .I broke my finger playing netball at Friern school around 1963-1965 and was sent down to Dulwich A & E to have it x rayed and strapped. In 1954 I had my tonsils out in Dulwich - all I remember was a massive ward with loads of beds - big tables down the middle where you had your dinner and some with jig saws on. Remember this well as nurses were 'mean' to me telling me off because I did not have a dressing gown, and my mum explaining that she could not afford to buy me a dressing gown.I remember crying my eyes out when Mum left the ward- visiting times were very strict and limited to about an hour a day even for kids. My god sons were born in Dulwich Hospital (they are 30 and 28 now) filthy wards, I was gladI had my last daughter (now almost 22) in Kings. Tunnel was between the main Dulwich Hospital Site and St. Francis site - lovely and warm in the winter as the pipes went through there.

In reply to Snorky re guy at BARA meeting. This guy he was talking about is not a BARA member - we have never seen him at any of our events. He was talking a load of rot anyway! (the guy not snorky)

In reply to Ted Max question re needle exchange etc. Those of you who were at the BARA meeting would have seen on display a copy of the letter that PCT sent out to the Local Pharmacists etc - a copy of this was sent to BARA on request by Rose at PCT. The letter was also read out at the start of the BARA meeting - listing all the groups that PCT should have consulted.It was the PCT who informed us via this letter that in order to have a pharmacy in an area which does not have a need for pharmacies, that it has to agree to provide other services i.e. needle/possible methadone consumption (supervised) There are various local groups (PTAs/child care providers/tenants/residents associations/pharmacists) who are also involved in this action and have organised stalls in the shopping areas and petitions. Going back to another point, it is normal for BARA to invite the local safer neighbourhood police team to our general and social events.A verbal invite was made on Sunday 23rd Sept to a local beat officer, this was then followed several days later by an e mail to the East Dulwich SNO. The community centre building is owned by southwark council and has certain conditions relating to the number of people allowed on the premises and for what purpose. The Police Officer present on the night only had intentions of staying a short while, then leaving if all was satisfactory but became interested in the discussions, we later discovered that he should have gone off duty earlier that evening.Had a very large number of people turned up at the centre, we may have exceeded our permitted numbers and would have been in the difficult position of having to refuse people entry - the police presence would have helped in this aspect. The meeting was advertised within our catchment area and to our members as a General Meeting - it was publicised by the press as a Public Meeting.

As someone who has lived in the area for over 40 years - I take you back to the old days of the GLC and Ken. In the late 70s early 80s the GLC did some research to find that parts of East Dulwich had the highest rates of privately rented and owner occupied properties without indoor toilets, central heating,bathrooms etc. It also had a very high rate of elderly people living in sub standard property. The Area Improvement and Modernisation Scheme was launched by the GLC, who surveyed much of the property in the area to suggest improvements and financial assistance (means tested. Local people were invited to sit on the monthly board of AIM - each street (or section of street id like Barry Rd/Lordship Lane etc) had to have a council tenant, private tenant, housing association tenant and owner occupier to represent local opinions. We met in a house in Whateley Road and discussed proposals for the area. Many of the older people rented from private landlords who had refused to put in bathrooms, indoor toilets etc due to costs - a financial arrangement was made by the GLC to install these facilities. I got a grant to put up new guttering back and front - I could have had a new roof, but my income could not meet the increased contribution towards costs. Millions of ?s were poured in by the GLC over several years - people began to take pride in their homes, the run down houses were given a massive make over, and naturally property prices began to rise. This was the start of gentrification - from an area which was to the main at least 50% populated by people over 45 - many over 65, the younger people/families began to come into the area - house prices were still lower that that of the remainder of Dulwich and all the schools had vacancies. In 1974 we sold the family home in Landells Road (no 63) for a princely sum of ?10,500 by the time of the early 90s - house prices in Landells Road had risen to around ?150,000. Those same 2 bed house are now going for ?400,000 +. From the mid 1980's East Dulwich became home to many families - most popular schools were St. Johns and St. Clements, Goodrich and St. Anthony's as well as Dulwich Hamlet and Village. Heber had a poor reputation at that time and many parents refused to send their children there - but in those days - no school was over subscribed so you had a wide choice. I think in order to answer a question re gentrification - you need to know the social makeup of the area at a given time. When I was young (in the last century) Islington and Hackney were considered, for the most part, to be slum areas and that people who had money were living in Finchley, Richmond, Westminster. East Dulwich has improved vastly, Lordship lane with the on coming of Sainsburys was doomed (so it was predicted). Of course some businesses went bust - but increased wealth to the area has given a boost to the range of shops available to us. I must admit some of the prices charged are beyond my financial means even though I have a well paid professional job.

Some years ago my daughter who was top primary/early secondary age was playing in Dulwich park with friends when a boy who was around 10 or 11 attacked her with a piece of wood. She and her friends went to another section of the park, the boy returned with older boys and threatened them again, then turned their attention to another group of children -terrorising these much younger group. My daughter and her friends went to move again and the younger boy, who was still holding the piece of fencing hit her across the arm. I was informed of the incident and contacted her friends mum, who confirmed that her kids had reported the same storey. I phoned the Police and 2 officers came to the house and interviewed my daughter, they then went to her friends house and interviewed them. Friends mum rang me furious that I had contacted the police as her kids had known the boy, who was a pupil at their school and had given a name for him. She was worried about the retaliation. Turned out that when other kids and parents heard about the incident, they discovered that this gang of kids 10 -13 years of age had been bag snatching, stealing bikes, knocking over old people and causing general mayhem in the park. The kid was a known trouble maker in his primary school and had been involved in attacks on other children in the playground. The school refused to suspend him, as they were afraid that this would blemish their very good reputation. With great reluctance they gave details of the boys address and the police called to see his parents. Was given a caution and parents warned to provide additional supervision. There is a general reluctance by many parents to acknowledge that their child can be less than perfect, and when with a group of peers want to show how 'hard' they are by embracing anti social/ criminal behaviour. Having 3 daughters, one got into the wrong crowd and was easily led, gor herself involved in stealing a building society book from a family member and obtained cash - just to get street cred from her mates. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) she taken her younger sister to the BS with her, and she innocently told us that her big sister was using the name of a family member. Having confirmed the theft of the book and discovered the sum of money fraudently taken, I contacted the Police. Having received a formal caution and a general dressing down by the police, who had discovered that her 'friends' were involved in credit card thefts and drug dealing, my daughter was too frightened to continue with her 'life of crime'. She is now a married mum of three and keeps a tight rein on her children and checks out their friends, as she knows the temptations out there. My husband thought I was harsh and cruel to call in the Police, but in hindsight accepted that without this intervention, our daughter could have been caught up with more criminal activities. Whilst many kids are like my daughter, will not carry on with anti social/criminal behavior once 'caught', others will see police involvement as a badge of honor. I am afraid that unless the communinity in general take more responsibility for their young people, incidences of petty crime will continue to be present. As parents - we all have a duty to ensure that our kids have a strong grounding in moral ethics - that good things in life ( a car/nice clothes etc) require people to work or save. That people are not all sheep following the latest trend in fashion etc, but need to devope their own identity and individuality. Sorry - got a bit carried away here but I strongly believe that many young people, given the right kind of guidance and support can overcome disadvantages and become active citizens.

anotherpaul - an accurate account of the evenings 'performance' Those of you who attended - many thanks. We had invited the local police just in case we had a few extremists turn up to cause mayhem but everyone was remarkably 'restrained' in their behaviour! It was encouraging that the local pharmacists have proposed extended opening hours rota and we hope this will be possible to introduce. Many valid points were made from the floor - and I too felt that the female GP at DMC did try and convince us that it was consummer/patient choice that all these extra things were needed. In fact that many of the audience were sceptical of the real reason behind the Mediquick's application, added to the weight of arguement against the application for pharmacy/syringe exchange. For those of you who had an opportunity to look at the posters and papers on display - there was a copy of a study by Oxford University who had been commissioned by Camden Council to look at the effect that a needle exchange had on a local community. Hard hitting academic research - Camden had a 20,000 petition against a needle exchange. Although we may feel that PCT are likely to reject the Mediquick application - this is not a forgone conclusion. As Dr. Fryrer stated - the goverment request for the willingness to provide a 100 hrs per week needle exchange, and at this stage the DMC do not want to provide this service, but there is no guarantee that the DMC will, in both the long and short term, maintain this position. BARA have a long standing reputation in the area, and the fact that both PCT , Mediquick and DMC attended the meeting was an indication of how seriously they took our stance. Mediquick have a number of applications in for pharmacies in the Borough, and also in Lambeth, Lewisham, and Greenwich and in most locations, will be a threat to the many independent pharmacies. For those of you who participated in the tea and biscuits afterwards and had opportunities to talk to key individuals, you would have gained much more than can be talked about on a public forum site - and no doubt you will tell your friends and neighbours. I was glad that it was a long standing BARA member who gave the very elequent final speech of the evening which capitulated the mood of the local residents and what they thought of the DMC/Mediquick. petitions will continue to be presented - the battle is not yet won - we need to continue to extert the pressure on the PCT. Will keep you updated. (apologies for the spelling -it is the early hours of he morning and I am due up for work again at 7.30 am)

I thought it was the cemetary too. I have a vague memory of one episode being filmed in Dulwich Park by the lake - the field opposite the cafe.Or was that another Police thing. Mona Lisa was filmed in Dulwich. The crew hired the East Dulwich Community Centre for a few weeks as a base, and used Darrell and Crystal palace road as some of their location shots. A Tango advert was filmed by the old boat kiosk in Dulwich park - not in the same league as Sweeney

BARA had always had excellent responses from all three councillors - they do hold their surgeries twice a month at the East Dulwich Community Centre in Darrell Road. Second and Fourth Thursday of the month 7 - 8 pm. Alternately you could post a question on SoapBox at the Dulwich Community Council. I believe the next meeting will be held on Monday 15th October at Christ Church Barry Road (Southwark.gov.uk - community councils - will give you venue and agenda) You can also get the councillors on their phones - James Barber 07903 964 130. Jonathan Mitchell 07903 967 911 and Richard Thomas - as listed previously. You will probably have to leave a message but they will get back to you. Richard has now returned from paternity leave. He is now the father of 3 young children and probably not getting much sleep. James is very interested in 'educational issues' and having a young family himself is very hot on safety. Dulwich Community Council is a good sounding ground for all manner of things relating to Dulwich We had the same problem at St. Anthonys' School Etherow Street, when my daughter was there. In the end the police and traffic warden targetted the area and gave parking tickets out. One mum was so furious she attacked the police officer and was promptly arrested! All the schools have the same problem - they were even double parking the cars in Etherow street causing hold ups with the buses coming through. For the 6 years my daughter was at St.Anthonys - zig zag parking was the most talked about issue at the parents meetings. We got a week or so's compliance by the parents but nothing long term

In one of my previous messages i stated that SLP did not use our Press Release- however, my colleagues have pointed out that they are asking for people's views about the proposals, so are likely to be running with the story in future additions of SLP. For those of you who have e mailed us on [email protected] concerning petitions - there are several going around at the moment in shops, cafes and from groups meeting at the East Dulwich Community Centre. The closing date for these petitions is 2nd November. If you are running a petition please reply by PM and we will arrange to collect around 2/11/07 and deliver it to the PCT.

macroban Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I hope the local on-site 100-hour pharmacy service > which would benefit the elderly and infirm will > not get thrown out with the witch-pond water. We have suggested that it would be more appropriate if the existing pharmacists could agree amongst themselves to have a rota system of late night opening - there are allegedly 5 in east Dulwich - they could each take a night and rotate at weekends. Why not put a pharmacy in SELDOC - more logical - plenty of staff around in the surgery and you also have the out of hours social workers on same site- it would provide better security than a quiet residential street. The PCT have ruled that there is not a need for another pharmacy in this locality - but those who are determined to add another pharmacy must provide the 100 hours needle exchange. In reply to another readers 'rant' re representing the people it perports to. We represent council tenants,leaseholder, private and housing association tenants and owner occupiers from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Many of our members have english as a second language. On our committee, we have 3 people with disabilities, 3 Muslim. 1 Buddist, many of us are carers, some are working,some are on benefits (unemployment/sickness/retirement), we have tenants, leaseholders and owner occupiers. Many of our members have enduring mental health problems, long term sickness, or live in poor housing conditions. We represent a good cross section of the local population - we might have a few NIMBYs on our patch as well.

SimonM Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > >>I some how think there was also a cobblers near > there > Was that a bit further along Crawthew? When I > lived around there this shop was a BMW parts > place, but I think has now rverted to residential. > The Hyde Hyde Housing Association owned all/most > of nos 1-13 and had renovated most/all of the > houses into flats. I lived at number 16 (or waS IT NO 12)- upper flat, very cold and damp. We had to go through downstairs living room to back garden where loo was. No bath - strip washes boiling up kettles. Baths were taken at Dulwich baths once a week. heating was via coal fire or oil stoves. I used to hate bringing my friends back home as they were not used to outside loos. Vowed that when I started work I would save for a place of my own so that I would not embarAss any future friends or family

jonsuissy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "I did a historial and social research element for > my degree and chose to research the emergence of > the High Street and how it reflected the > population from the 1800 - around 1960s - I chose > LL as it was an example how the Industrial > Revolution affected Dulwich." > > Sounds very interesting - do you have copies > available? > I'd certainly be interested > > Thanks > > Jon I replied to your other message but meandered off the subject - Fantastic book you can get at Dulwich Library - A victorian Suburb by Dyos/Dyas. Also local studies library behind John Harvard Library - may now be called Southwark Archives.Pictures, press reports, census details - spent hours in there.

Somewhere in the depth of all those hidden places we have in our homes for things that may become useful some day! Tried to find it a few months ago whilst seeking another 'mislaid item' its there somewhere obvious which is not obvious at the moment, if you get what I mean. Why do kids when they leave home, leave you with their discarded clothes/books/trainers/thesis in boxes and umpteen suitcases under beds and in wardrobes, then complain when you chuck them out 8 years later - my husband is still trying to find his summer pyjamas we put in a safe storage place in 2006 - got annoyed having to fork out for new.

lozzyloz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Consultation? Perhaps someone should email a link > to this thread to the bods at DMC and PCT. They > might even contribute but at least they couldn't > ignore. The SLP have ignored the press release which we prepared which points out the method of consultation by the PCT is flawed all the way through. That the person at the PCT manageing this application has stated that the regulations outlined by the 2005 Act are very complex. That BARA has seen a copy of letter which was sent out simply to 'All concerend' and does not list individuals or groups they have circulated to other than the obvious Medical/Health Bodies, Pharmacists etc. It does say Patients Forums should be consulted and groups/communities that have a health link. We have interpreted that people like a local Stroke Association which has a strong health link, organisations that are promoting health protection and prevention issues i.e. We have an older persons club at the centre which provides blood pressure checks, and people from the PCT come and talk about preventative health. In order to have a pharmacy in an area which has plenty of pharmacies, the applicant (DMC) HAS TO provide a needle exchange. Linked to the proviso re needle excchange is another proviso which states, in addition POSSIBLE SUPERVISED METHADONE CONSUMPTION which may be IMMEDIENTLY AVAILABLE or be PROVIDED AT A LATER DATE. I have also heard that they way future primary care services will be organised is via Super Surgeries - 4 I believe are planned for the Dulwich Locality - Melbourne Grove Surgery which will move to the Dulwich Hospital when it is ever built, the others are rumoured to be DMC, The Forest Hill Road Practice and Paxton Medical Centre. each of these super surgeries will have several GPs, Nurses, therapists, possibly social workers, etc and will provide essential services such as minor surgery, diabetic clinics and the like. These Super Sized Surgeries will be replacing the small GP practices as they will not become viable to operate as they are too small to provide the range of services. What is not clear as to whether the smaller GP practices will be absorbed into the larger surgeries or whether they will be like satelitte units and send in patients to the main health centre. Another question which cannot be answered at this stage is finances. Are all the GPs at a Super Surgery going to have equal shares in the practice ( Co Operative) or will they be employed directly by the practice. We strongly believe that there is a link between Mediquick Ltd and DMC (if any one has got ?18 to spare you can request details of the company) If Mediquick own DMC - there will be several millions of pounds of PCT contracts being set up to these surgeries in the future and some very large profits or salaries are going to be made. If the DMC are going to be one of these Super Surgeries - they will need more space to expand. We could end up with a mini hospital in CP Rd. Whilst I do not believe anyone will be against a mini hospital providing services to its local community it must not be seen as a good money making scheme to make a select group of people, even richer. Why are the PCT not fully involving the local community in this debate?. There is somewhere in a report etc, accessible by a few, all these details which translate Government policies into local realities. They are not secret as such, but published in sources that the general public would not normally think to seek out. I seemed to have meandered off the subject a bit - which was about public consultation.

SimonM Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > >> grew up in Spurling Road (which was designated > slum clearance twice) > I lived in Spurling Road for a number of years - > was it Hyde Housing taking over one side that > saved it from slum clearance? And can you throw > any light on the "Edenburg" (or however it was > spelt) on the corner? Do you recall the corner ? > shop at the junction with Crawthew that was run by > two old ladies (well they were old when I lived > there!) who were open 365 days a year, whether you > wanted a carton of milk on Christmas Day or an Ena > Sharples hairnet? :)) Cannot remember Hyde Housing at all. All I know was that we hoped to be rehoused by the council then we heard that they had changed their mind about 'regenerating' the area. Ours was a private landlord - White and Dent were the agents for most of the street. Was the Edenburg the off licence? - old ladies ran it. it was the first corner shop down Crawthew after the (now) Bishop.The other corner was a grocers shop - I some how think there was also a cobblers near there

talking about improved lighting - been advised that the street light outside DMC has been/is being replaced by a much brighter light. Have not been out to see it myself yet - so people cannot use that arguement.

I have a vague idea it was a sweet shop - is your house on the right hand side (if your back is facing LL and the Baptist Church) although it was likely to sold other bits and bobs. Goodrich Road at junction of Crystal palace road had a few shops - a bakers, opposite -next door to newsagents was a fish and chip shop - I think the corner shop was a hard ware store - I have recollections going down there with the oil can to get it topped up for the only supplementary heating in those days - a primus stove. The other corner was another grocers shop.Opposite the Castle Pub was a butchers. Corner of Landells and Goodrich was the off licence where you could get a penny back on the empty glass pop bottles ( a good source of income for us kids in those ancient days). There was a muffin man who caried a handbell and balanced his tray on his head which at Easter had hot cross buns covered with a white cloth. The rag and bone man with his horse with all the neighbours rushing out to get the manure for the garden. You must remember - most of LL and surrounding streets were built to accommodate the railway workers and their families with skilled labourers following later. Have you tried the Local Studies Library at John Harvard Library in Borough High Street ( although this may have been renamed Southwark Archives). I did a historial and social research element for my degree and chose to research the emergence of the High Street and how it reflected the population from the 1800 - around 1960s - I chose LL as it was an example how the Industrial Revolution affected Dulwich. Found it so absorbing, that vowed 'when I retire', I will do some more research. However, many years yet before I have the luxury of retirement - got to work to pay the mortgage. My aunt purchased her house in Landells Road for ?600 in the mid 1960's !!!!

The fact that a needle exchange proposal is highly contraversal - I refer to the Heaton Road/Rye Lane proposed needle exchange under the newly built flats (as reported in Southwark News early September) and the Badsworth Street SE5 proposals. Both got good press coverage and plenty of divided opinions. The EDF site is a good example how many people are more tolerant of those who have 'different lifestyles and how many consider drug addicts to be 'scum'

I thought I was ancient and reading all this confirms that I am, have lived in East Dulwich since 1950 - grew up in Spurling Road (which was designated slum clearance twice) moved to Forest Hill in 1969 - to escape the damp rot and fungi in our lounge. Extended family lived in Landells road, I returned to ED -1971 and live within a mileof my childhood haunts.

The handy store in Goodrich Road was a lifesaver for all us girls attending Friern Upper School,it was still there (just) when my daughter went to Goodrich primary in the late 1970s. I must be ancient as I remember shopping in Woolworths (the site that Foxtons has taken over) David Griegs- those marble shop tops, the drapers (around Sema Thai location) and the Welsh Couple who ran the dairy by the zebra crossing at Goose Green opposite EDT- Jones? their son did the local milk round. What about the Co Op between Cry.Pal. rd and landells where Big M was. Cullins at the corner of Landells and LL- what was the Plough Homecraft before?

BARA- catching up on all the debate that our petition has raised. Ko and BawdyNan are both correct - 1 too have seen the letter from the PCT who should have consulted with a wider audience than they did. I have been told that one of the DMC patients went and discussed with a DMC staff member re pharmacy and needle exchange etc. Either the staff are defending their employers (or protecting their job- but who would blame them) or that they are genuinely being kept in the dark - that they only spoke of the pharmacy, nothing was mentioned of the drug rehabilitation services. Regardless of very diverse opinions as to whether a needle exchange etc should or should not be provided, one of the key issues that has emerged is the role of the PCT and its responsibility towards local communities when seeking to provide a service which is highly contraversal. BARA have been co working with another organisation and have produced a press release which details the history of this application - hopefully after the interest shown by the media, that this is reproduced in full in the local press. You should be able to see the inadequencies of the 2005 Act and the seemingly little regard given to public opinion. I met my local beat bobby on Sunday afternoon, and having known him for a number of years, I mentioned the DMC's proposals and asked what was the Police's response. His first words were ' next to a nursery!' He was unaware of this proposal and thought his colleagues in the Safer Neighbourhood Team would be equally in the dark - one wonders who the PCT does actually communicate with! The Police are usually contacted in planning issues, and as the SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE - the bobbies on the beat - footslogging the streets of East Dulwich, surely they know the area and its problems better than anyone.

In reply to Ko's message. It is believed that the owners of the DMC are also the Directors of Mediquick. I did a little iternet search last night and found a Mediquick whose company address is Croydon was set up early in 2007, I have requested information on its trading. The DMC has also in the distance past dealt in the luxury car trade - having posh/very expensive cars shipped over to England for sale. How do we know this ? the car trailer was seen so frequently parked overnight in nearby streets with the drivers sleeping in the cabs that several of our members raised objections of a heavy good vehicle going down narrow street like Landells Road, and challenged the drivers who informed all members that their contact was in the DMC. At least Tessa has got us an extension for objections - we can at least have time to formulate a measured response.

As another member of BARA Committe I think there is some confusion in some people's minds as to what we are trying to achieve. Out of hours Pharmacy - I think we all agree that such a facility would be advantageous to the community - if DMC felt this way - why did they not band up with their GP colleagues and Pharmacists to propose a rota of late openings for the East Dulwich Area? My sceptical answer would be where is the money in this for them! So in order to get some money -the only way they can get a pharmacy on DMC grounds ( or are they proposing to build a shop on site?) - but PCT rules and regs say there is no need for another pharmacy only if you are willing to offer a minimum of 100 hours a week needle exchange/supervisedmethadone consumption - what difference does it make that we have a nursery next door and a community centre/after school club/youth club next door. As we all know, people are fearful of the unknown - surely the way to have good relationships with your neighbours (yes BARA meets at the Community Centre) is to be honest with them about your future plans. We are not opposed completely to a needle exchange (although some members may agree to differ)- it is now an unfortunate fact of life that many people are dependent on drugs to get them through life's daily grind. We feel the venue proposed and the hours 7 am - 11 pm 7 days a week are not appropriate. From experiences in the Barry Road/Etherow Street/Friern Road area with drug users - it is not the users themselves that are the problem,but once it is known by the various drug dealers that a certain group 'meets' outside or nearby certain premises, the area is targeted by those selling their wares. One particular drug user used to get his methodone from the local pharmacist and was offered money by dealers and other addicts to 'share' his NHS methodone with them, it got to a point that my daughters were frightened to go out around 11 ish one morning as 'our drug user' had parked his car in my garden and was dealing from it. My eldest daughter being in her late 20s at the time asked 'M' to move as she wanted to get her car in but was threatened and verbally abused by his 'mates'. To meet 'M' out without the hangers on, he was usually approachable but in the comapny of others an entirely different person. CP rd is a rat run, people are around mainly during the day but apart from motorists,not so at night. It is a poorly lit area which deters people from walking alone at night. Lordship Lane is a more appropriate place for a needle exchange - busy at all times of day and night, frequent police cars, plenty of traffic and a needle exchange would merge in with the other shops. 6 Lordship lane would be an ideal site as it was formerly a community mental health facility. Forest Hill Road has a needle exchange in the pharcmacy, we learnt of this yesterday but it is available during shop opening times. Someone mentioned diabetics and 'legitimate medical' use of needles - yellow needle boxes are supplied via the district nursing service and collected by the clinical waste section of the council. DMC* also have surgeries in Chadwick Road, Bermondsey, Woolwich and the Old kent Road. A colleague informed me that for each additional clinic/service a medical centre provides, the NHS pays ?25.000 a year A needle exchange between the hours of 7 am - 11 pm on premises used by pensioners, pregnant women etc, and flanked by a day nursery, with a community centre serving children from 5 years old upwards on a daily basis,a senior citizen health and social group, homework and cultural clubs etc. In total around 550 people use this centre each week, This is an inappropriate venue. THe PCT cannot go unscathed regarding this matter - they should ber open and transparent in their dealings with local people, This is a highly contraversal subject which will divide people. BARA Committee members are not NIMBYs- we are all busy people who have a desire to improve the living conditions of local people regardless of tenure, culture and ethnicity. Many of us work in a paid or voluntary capacity with young people with disruptive behaviour, with the mentally ill, homeless, substence misusers and other vulnerable groups. Within 2 days of hearing about this proposal - we have managed via Tessa Jowell's office to extend the consultation period until November which gives everyone a chance to find out information as to how other communities cope with a needle exchange in their area - and to weigh up the pros and cons. (*Removed "is part of Mediquick who" which was typed by mistake. We were meaning to refer to Assura Group)

Back online now... Tessa Jowell's office have contacted BARA... "Further to our meeting this morning I have been in touch with Southwark Health and Social Care. They have undertaken to address the queries you raised and I should have more information next week. In the meantime they have agreed to extend the consultation procedure and you will be able to make representations etc until 8 November 2007."