Earl Aelfheah

The citizens jury approach involves a representative sample of the community, who can call experts and consider a wide range of evidence. It's a facilitated discussion, which tries to get a proper view of what a broad range of residents want. The result is a set of recommendations which are used to inform policy. It's a better method (imo), of simply inviting feedback from those with the strongest views, (who usually vociferously oppose change). Inevitably the latter results in an unrepresentative view of local opinion, which then has to be balanced with data, expert opinion etc, and those who have self selected to the consultation get upset because it's not the referendum they imagined. https://www.southwark.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-10/Citizens' Jury Report Accessible.pdf

There used to be one where Gails is. I think a new indoor market would be great personally!

Personally, I would love to see changes to how these consultation processes are run. As I've said before, I don't think they're remotely constructive and tend to please no one. They're also skewed towards people with the strongest views (usually those who vociferously oppose change). A better way might involve some sort of representative sampling, focus groups and expert advice. The community stakeholder panels, and citizen jury approaches seem to have worked really well where they've been used.

Can anyone hear buzzing?

The idea that Reform are appealing primarily to working class voters in the north, is not born out in research undertaken by Legatum. It suggests that their voters are overwhelmingly older, more affluent (AB, C1/2), ex Conservative voters, from 'non-London South'. Primary concerns are immigration followed by opposition to green policies and social progress. They mainly seem to made up of the same angry old home county types who have ensured a rarely interrupted string of Tory governments for many decades. Don't know whether that research is to be believed or not, but interesting if true and very at odds with the narrative Reform are spinning.

Trump wants to make us the 51st state. Happy Friday ☀️ I pronounce it to rhyme with 'hunt'

So the judgment is in - they've rejected two of the three grounds for the claim, but upheld one. In summary, Lambeth's consultation was inadequate https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fh51LzWC7DQHArYoJrnnzoeKSWqp39Aj/view?pli=1 From my quick perusal of the judgment, it appears to have come down to the council's failure to take adequate account of a 53 page presentation submitted by the complainant (WDAG). Not sure what this actually means for the trial currently in place. Lambeth have said they'll continue with it whilst they seek further clarification / direction from the court I believe.

You think efforts should be made to ensure public spaces in Peckham are ugly because it's 'more in keeping with the area'?! Dare I say that this is pretty disparaging towards the people you seem to think you're standing up for. Basically, less affluent people can't be trusted with nice things. Personally think it's great that there is going to be investment in improving the public realm and making the station more accessible. Why should only the wealthier parts of Southwark get funding for this kind of stuff?

I think it's just you

The King's Cross changes involved the creation of lot's of high end / expensive, private residences. This is an improvement to a train station. It's not really a comparable project either in nature or scale.

For those who haven't clicked on the link: ...the improvements do include lift access to all platforms

Oh OK. I do use Peckham Rye station regularly, and couldn't picture any lifts, so that explains it. Are you sure that there is nothing in the new plans to reinstate lift access? The plans to open up the front of the station feels like a good news story. There does seem to be a general objection to any public realm improvements locally, which I just find weird.

Farage has done nothing but divide and diminish this country, all in the name of his ego and his bank balance. Brexit has made us poorer and has damaged our influence in the world. He supported Trump who is directly threatening our interests and he supported Liz Truss' disastrous budget. He has done his best to ensure our country's decline and now people too proud to admit their mistakes and the deleterious impact of UKIP / The Brexit party / Reform Ltd are again voting for him to finish the job / nail down the coffin lid. Yes, he is a plastic patriot.

I think it's a false dichotomy. Lift maintenance is a priority and I doubt the delays in fixing them is to do with lack of funding. Whether they go ahead with this scheme of not, will make zero difference to how lift maintenance is being managed. There seems to be general opposition to any form of change across this forum.

Fully appreciate your concerns rollflick, but (as you say) it's good news that contracts have finally been awarded. Feels like people want to bemoan its failure before work has even started, which seems a tad negative.

Who needs a continued safe and reliable gas supply anyway?

Massively inconvenient, but what exactly do you want the council to do about it? They're not council works and if they're essential, then they're essential. I for one don't want to put minimising short term inconvenience over a long term safe and reliable gas supply in the area.

In todays Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/06/debate-pedestrianising-oxford-street-banning-cars-sadiq-khan

Thanks for this. Useful to know. Glad they're doing this overnight, otherwise it would be a nightmare.

Yup, Malumbu's comment was in response to this: ...so related to people mounting the pavement and parking illegally. The 'war on motorists' comment was obviously a tongue in cheek response to CPR Dave

Looks like it will be a massive improvement.

Which is relevant to the pavement widening outside M&S / the station how exactly?

The thinking was: I assume that it's been designed to take the weight of a goods vehicle. It's only meant to be used intermittently, for loading, so previously was unutilised / wasted space for most of the time. Makes sense therefore to raise it, and make it useful pedestrian area. I hope that when it's finished, there will be a big crack down on antisocial people mounting the pavement in order to park their cars there.

@Han92-ED Great picture. Love the reflections

Sheriff fatman surely!