Earl Aelfheah

Yes, I think in many places we could widen pavements (obviously not by 5 foot). They've just done exactly this on Bellenden road - removing some parking, widening pavements and putting in extra seating and some bike racks. It's made for a much nicer environment.

"Unless there's some reason to restrict it" There is a reason to restrict it. On-street parking reduces the space available for pedestrians and makes it difficult for vehicles to pass each other, causing congestion, increasing pollution and slowing buses. Acres and acres of public land are given over to private car storage. Don't see much difference to temporarily storing a skip on the street, which no one would suggest should be free. I note that on-street bike lockers also charge users.

We're one of very few areas in inner London which still gives over huge amounts of public land for car storage at the heavily subsidised rate of nothing. Even in the few areas where there is a charge, and even with an increase, 62p to store a 4.5 x 2m metal box on public land for 24 hours, seems pretty cheap. It costs significantly more if you want to park a skip on the street.

Quite good to have a burrito place on the Lane. At least its not another pizza restaurant.

Terrapins have a surprisingly long life span, so may not necessarily be breeding - could just be the same ones that have been there for years.

My money is on the turtle to win

This looks they're being pitted against each other in a fight promotion.

A Wagamama will be massively popular.

Interesting. Perhaps something will finally be done with the building.

Rye is lovely, but as you say, quite small. Hastings old town is very nice and St Leonards (though rough around the edges) is quite 'cool'/ arty. The whole area of East Sussex around '1066 country' is very nice imo.

Brexit is a death by a thousand cuts. We're currently on a path of slow, prolonged decline.

That's very sad. Love Hisars.

Seems like a strange priority to me. Will criminalise lots more people.

Re. Farmers - I just said that I hoped they wouldn't lose business to Poundland. You may be right about the latter competing more with the other chains.

If they that great they will have no problems This is quite a naïve / idealistic view of contemporary capitalism imo. Chains can afford to drop prices short term, put independents under, and then raise them again, or use loss leaders or BOGOFF offers to entice shoppers. All of these tactics may lead to success, without necessarily translating into better overall value or service. Big marketing budgets (and subsequent brand recognition) often means people will favour places like Poundland regardless of how 'good' they actually are.

Farmers is great. Really hope Poundland doesn't drive it out.

Which charity? I really miss Pearspring 😢 The Nunhead Gardener has a great shop within the new Elephant complex. I think it's larger than the Camberwell one. Ah, that's a shame. A lot of charity shops already. I also miss Pearspring. Sorry it closed.

Yes, fairly sure I remember that commitment too.

I don't really get it. There are bigger, better Poundland stores nearby (quite a few). Better than a massive Foxton's, but that's damning by faint praise. Also, they have a history of very shonky sourcing policies, involving child labour. Better bargains to be had on fruit and veg in Peckham, and more variety in Khan's Bargain. Ultimately, it's just another chain store, and not even one of the better ones.

Maybe we'll get our very own banksy in protest at some of their practices (ironically, the original one was sold for a lot of money) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_Labour_(mural)

I hope they've cleaned up their act when it comes to their suppliers https://metro.co.uk/2010/07/20/children-paid-7p-an-hour-to-make-poundland-gifts-453656/?ito=article.desktop.share.top.link

This is exactly what has happened. Independent consultants have been commissioned to do the monitoring, modelling and reporting. Researchers have studied the results across a number of schemes. The problem is that as long as the council commission the work, people determined to ignore any evidence that doesn't confirm to their prejudices, will dismiss it. So who is going to pay to assess the success of such schemes if not the council?

Would be really sad if the Picturehouse were to close. Hopefully not.

I agree. For example, you (a scientist) accept air monitoring data in this case, but you reject data which demonstrates a drop in particulate concentrations when it suggests the positive impacts of an LTN on pollution.

Irony is not dead eh Rockets.