Earl Aelfheah

I don't agree (I heard Galloway making that jibe - he really is an egotist / self serving imo); Starmer on the other hand strikes me as a decent man, with solid values and a real sense of public service. I agree that we need systemic changes, but that can only happen by working in the system to bring about reform, or through outright revolution (which I don't favour personally). I think you are much more likely to get reform with a Labour government. 100% agree with this. Boris should never have been allowed anywhere near government.

The post Dulwich LTN school survey reported levels of walking and cycling up by 26% and a drop of 26% of use of car to travel to school. We know the answers - kids will walk and cycle to school (and their parents will let them) if they feel it is safe - i.e. if there are quieter routes, segregated bike routes and places to safely cross the road. We should also have more school streets, completely closed to traffic imo. More generally, there needs to be more done to tackle car bloat - the ever increasing size of high bonnet SUVs is incredibly dangerous (8X more likely to kill or seriously injure a child in a collision than a 'standard' car), as well as their adding to congestion and pollution.

The report describes how the effects of the new road layouts were monitored and changes / modifications made to keep traffic moving. It's so disingenuous to portray this as 'failure' of a scheme, when in fact it shows the opposite - how the implementation was undertaken carefully and changes made as needed. Indeed all the monitoring shows that overall the Dulwich LTN has reduced traffic, improved safety, and increased active travel. The one area where there has been an increase in traffic is along a 300 metre stretch of East Dulwich Grove, as a result of east bound traffic turning later - having been routed away from Melbourne Grove south (which has the entrance to ED Charter School on it and is full of kids in the morning and evening rush hours). As for the consultation on the design of the junction - One Dulwich has encouraged people to treat it as a referendum on the LTN. It is not. This is obvious to anyone paying attention, as is their mischief making. The council want views on the design, they are not asking people if they want to reopen Calton Avenue to rat runners.

The Labour leadership believe in a bigger role for the state. But the reality is that to raise money to invest, you have to be able to reassure the markets from which you're looking to borrow. I think you will see them ramp up investment over time. They are not the same as the Tories, either in terms of their values, or the practical, policy decisions that they will make - imo. There is always however, an element of 'realpolitik' that any grown up / serious party cannot entirely ignore (at least if they want to get in to power and then actually land real change).

I would like to see the Mayor given control of all suburban rail lines in London. Personally, I think Khan has done a good job despite a central government hostile to his administration. With Labour in power at Westminster, my hope is that he will get given more powers and a better funding settlement. According to TFLs most recent stats cycle mode share increased to 4.5 per cent in 2022, up from 3.6 per cent in 2016. Don't know what evidence you have that cycling has 'a negative impact to public transport' (absolutely none I suspect). This is a thread about Sadiq Khan's mayoralty though. Maybe pick up your anti bike infrastructure hobby horse over on the transport section.

I think Starmer is a decent man, with the right values. Labour (assuming they do win) will inherit a pretty bad situation and so will be limited in how quickly they can turn round our current decline. But they will be infinitely better than this disastrous Tory mess, just as long as they can resist the urge to tear themselves apart with self indulgent internal battles. As for Reform (brexit party) ltd, I find it unbelievable that there are people who would consider voting for that bunch of grifters in 2024. Tice and Farage have done nothing but divide and diminish this country. With Anderson on board too, it really is the ultimate clown show. Unfortunately, in the current attention economy / media landscape, they will get a disproportionate amount of free airtime (as will Galloway), and there are still those supporting them, presumably as a form of Stockholm Syndrome. Most people are more sensible though imo. I just cannot wait for the current bunch to be cleared out. As someone once said, things can only get better

Is ULEZ unpopular? Not what polls show. There is (as with LTNs) a vociferous minority who's apocalyptic rhetoric provides good copy for certain news outlets. Most Londoners get the need for measures that slightly reduce the almost total dominance of cars and seek to tackle air pollution https://www.onlondon.co.uk/poll-more-londoners-support-ulez-expansion-than-oppose-it/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2023/07/13/latest-polling-shows-overwhelming-public-support-for-ltns/

Southwark News is a ridiculous, sensationalist rag.

Reading the Daily Mail online will generally leave you 'outraged'. It's literally their stock in trade.

Yes, the big pub at the bottom of Gipsy Hill. I was also wondering about it tbh. It's a lovely old building and was at one point, quite popular.

Summary: "5.1 The cedar tree is aged and fully mature. It has, in times past, split along the axis of the main union between the two leading stems. This in itself, has caused the tree to become hazardous. 5.2 Fungal colonisation by the brown-rotting Dyer’s Mazegill has weakened the root-plate so that it can no longer safely anchor and support the tree. Secondary colonisation has significantly degraded the inner trunk wood and continues to do so. 5.3 I conclude, with regret, that the tree is now unsafe and in the first stages of structural failure. Due to its location in an area of high vehicular and pedestrian use it cannot be safety retained."

What / where is Glassfuls?

I agree with you about saying 'thanks' / acknowledging others. Mine was more a general point - a lot of vitriol gets directed at parents of young kids blocking the pavement, or being in their own bubble, and it automatically being attributed to entitlement when often they're just trying to get through the day. I had two kids who barely slept and although they're grown up now, there were times when I probably walked around in a daze. I don't know about that. We had a lot of very similar post on here complaining about the 'buggy brigade' going back a long time I'm not defending the behaviour described in the OP by the way, just don't think it should be generalised to parents of young children in general, who imo have a pretty tough job.

Wow, that's pretty low.

Looking after young kids isn't always a breeze. Often you can feel quite stressed, tired, and distracted. Give people a bit of a break, they're often feeling a bit harassed, rather than entitled. That said, it would be good to widen the pavements on Lordship Lane. There are lot's of pinch points and it does get very busy at weekends. It was a shame that the temporary widening that was put in place during Covid was reversed. I would like to see more space for pedestrians rather than prioritising space for a handful of parked cars.

Mistakes happen, fair enough, but a slightly more apologetic tone (considering the disruption it caused) might not be entirely out of place. Sometimes, it's OK to hold your hands up and admit you may have messed up. Or perhaps there is more to it and circumstances were out of your control, in which case why not take the opportunity to shed a little light and correct the 'ill-informed commentary' rather than just attack those who may be concerned about what happened? Presumably the dog was off the lead, out of control, and on the island (which is meant to be a safe area for wild birds)? ... I get a bit tired of the attitude that some dog owners have to the park and to other park users. Anyway, I'm glad the dog was unharmed.

Good luck!

I just had one of the flatbreads from Kanella (the pastrami one). Delicious. Recommended

It's not that noisy at night imo, but all very subjective.

Oops, sorry - Half Moon Lane (next to / near Ken's fish bar). https://www.west16th.co.uk/

ED borders, but West 16th Cafe, towards Herne Hill looks really good.

One of the first 'proper' concerts I ever went to was Pixies, and Ride (and some other support acts), at the bowl back in 1991.

Primal Scream at Crystal Palace Bowl were good too. It's a great, local summer venue.

Happy new year to all on the forum! Hopefully 2024 will be a good one.

Seems to have been a bit of bother in Camberwell yesterday https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/camberwell-road-protest-riot-police-southwark-b1129635.html