malumbu

If this is an error has anyone actually complained to the Council? You can do it on line. Rather than talk about ambulance chasing lawyers (a curse on society in any case) perhaps a local community minded citizen could take it up - one for you Rocks? https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/complaints-comments-and-compliments/making-a-complaint I once got obsessed with a parking ticket issued by Croydon, took it to appeal, spent many hours, but to no avail (although the appeals lot were reasonable). I'm more philosophical nowadays. My most amusing transgression was getting caught in the congestion charge many years ago on a Christmas Eve - duh, it's not a public holiday......

Not talking sides on this but it did amuse me that Friends of Greendale had to explain where it was.....

Yes very helpful (not). I'd get this shifted to the ED issues part of this site as it is a local matter. Dawson heights, and some of the views around Dawson heights would be good, Dawson Heights is very much a marmite issue, innovative social housing or a carbuncle - I'm the former but wouldn't like to be living in one of the roads parallel to this as it obstructs your view. Some of the street murals are cool, and the topiary on Beauval Road A must do is the house of dreams http://www.stephenwrightartist.com/houseofdreams.php Camberwell Old Cemetery on the boundary another good place

Do remind me of where things stand, I though this had gone through quite detailed challenge already and as such a petition will not do a lot of good, and you will need to challenge through judicial review which costs £££££. Whatever the case for and against it doesn't help if you turn to sweeping statements. All local authorities get things wrong from time to time, they also get a lot of things right. Obviously subjective!

In memory of Simon Emmerson who departed this week

Simon Emmerson aka Simon Booth, Afro Celt /Afro Celt Sound System, the Imagined Village, Working Week and Weekend (the only group I didn't see). Had a chance encounter with him on a long cross channel ferry sailing, and subsequently said hello at festivals. Only 67 so much more to give Some nice words from Peter Gabriel https://petergabriel.com/news/simon-emmerson/ And a fuller obituary https://www.songlines.co.uk/news/obituary-simon-emmerson-1956-2023

And the other supermarkets don't sell unhealthy food? Post could come across as pompous or worse still elitist. Perhaps write to Poundland and ask them about their healthy food policy and then report back (and whatever the Tory/Tory coalition are doing/have done - knowing that they don't like advising/nannying the general population).

Not sure if their is a legal compulsion for the council to take green waste, but it is a nice to have. There are other priorities such as social care and public amenities. You can also compost much of your green waste, as well as the compost heap I'm going to try green manure by leaving weeds to rot in water. I'm not used a shredder but they are under a ton https://www.toolstation.com/hawksmoor-shredder/p90496?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=_dc&pcrid=&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn9CgBhDjARIsAD15h0BnenhO2GPHG6Q4ped7-SwM7ZoKQusxph_dFvJ8vLKpDOxccR_G9BEaAmoHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I know shed loads about all of this and in the past enjoyed these wider conversations on the Lounge when that was much more active. I'm less bothered/knowledgeable about local schemes - they affect me in good and less good ways but I support the need to intervene to reduce car use. The difficulty is getting people to change their habits. I'd venture that it took twice the time to get the don't drink and drive message embedded, look back the late 60's and the older gent returning from the country pub "well of course I drive far more sensible when I've had a skinfull" Personally I noticed a step change in the naughties and not before. But other campaigns have had quicker results - eg seat belt wearing being. The Think campaign was also a good one even if we only think motorbike rather than push bike as well. If you are talking about clunk click etc that is very much an over 50's generation, if not older, and sadly the most popular voice over artists of the 70s and 80s were Savile and Harris. Although the only a fool breaks the two second rule is back. And Petunia and the coast guard. Bless. Particularly since the coalition there has been less public information, one reason is there are no longer ten million people watching the 6 o'clock news and there is also resistance as this is being seen to nanny. Although after it was put on hold government went ahead with the guidance on reducing domestic energy and you will see other campaigns eg pay your self assessment both on the bill board and YouTube. I like the proposal by IAM road smart that there should be continued training for drivers and riders (motorbikes but they could say the same for pushbikes) but this got no traction. Happy to give anyone a driving, motorbiking or cycling lesson. Most obvious thing is anticipation and use the throttle as a brake as well as an accelerator. My favourite game on my occasional car journey is to see how long I can not brake for, often comparing to the driver in front - accelerate/brake, accelerate/brake, adding to air pollutant and carbon emissions, wear and tear and fuel wastage. Oh dear I appear to be vexed like a wet hen. But I can look back to myself as a youth where I have the speeding points to show that I was one of these entitled motorists that I go on about. nothing like a born again Christian/ex smoker to evangelise!

But how do we get everyone to follow the rules? Employ zillions of enforcement officers? Alienate road users? Surely a job for government with a mix of carrot and stick. None of the major parties have reducing road injuries and deaths in their manifesto. A simpler example is delivery riders. These are some of the most dangerous road users. Government could actually do something to stop illegal twist and ride bikes being on the road. The riders could have compulsory training and have automatic lights welded onto their machines. With registrations they'd be out of a job for misbehaving, But "oh no" it would put the price of deliveries up, and would no doubt be unpopular. Rocks, you can only join in our playground/Oxford University debate if you promise not to keep going off on one about cyclists. Seems to be the only main player with any sense is what was the Institute of Advanced Drivers - rebranded as IAM Roadsmart to try and get rid of the image of male pale and stale older drivers https://www.iamroadsmart.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/iam-roadsmart-manifesto-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=6b4a15a6_0

So what would you prioritise, reducing ksi's from collisions between cars and pedestrians or cyclists and pedestrians? Or more importantly what is government doing? Or are the figures acceptable in the modern world? Genuine questions. Worth checking manifesto commitments

Ianr - cheers, yes it is an interesting paper and worth a longer read. It doesn't break down whether those on crossings were on green or red, but all road users should be watching out for pedestrians at crossing points. Rocks, it is difficult to respond to your tirade. You clearly are vexed as a wet hen both about LTNs and cyclists

Stats don't have that level of granularity. I expect most collisions between cyclists and pedestrians are because the latter walk out in the road not looking as they don't hear cyclists. My first experience was when I worked off Fleet Street and I'd get a shopper or two doing this a week - funnily didn't happen when I used to work on streets with more office workers. Fast forward twenty years and it is pretty common due to texting, calling, headphones etc etc. So personally near misses on road, dozens, collision one (all due to pedestrians not looking). Near misses/collisions when cycling on pavement zero, helped by rarely having my bike on the pavement beyond shared use where we ride very differently*. The latter was funny in that I the bike went 90 degrees in the air, and I fell on the pedestrian, Obviously no injuries to either party or else I wouldn't be laughing. Ultimately it is the absolute numbers rather than relative that matter, and therefore the focus needs to remain on motorised vehicles and reducing collisions with motorists. So police would be better directed to stopping cars speeding in 20mph roads. But not considered to be a policing matter nowadays. * not my experience of powered two wheelers (scooters and e bikes) on Rye Lane shared pavement

OMG what have I started? I thought I'd put this in for a bit of balance, I'm more vexed as a wet hen about the government kowtowing to motorists yet again by not returning fuel duty to it's previous level, let alone keeping it up with inflation. Government can continue to cap fuel bills as the cost is so much lower than initially thought, yet with fuel coming down by 35 a litre from it's peak cannot meet the commitment to end the temporary reduction in April. As for cyclists, as a pedestrian I'm 100 times more likely to be killed by a two tonne metal box and certainly do not subscribe to the one size fits all expressed above. Government puts out red meat from time to time with talk about tougher penalties, and nonsense legislation that is never going to happen. It would be much better to inform and persuade in the same way that most dog owners pick up and bag mess, and the vast majority of us segregate our recycling. Rather than looking to the Mail and Torygraph. Obviously totally off topic but some reading on the subject to better inform you This one quotes Aldred so that will get you excited (not directly relevant to the subject matter) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140522000123 It's a proper peer reviewed paper in a scientific journal "Of the 3414 pedestrian casualties from collisions with one or more pedal cycles, 763 (22.4%) had fatal or serious injuries. Of the 258,593 pedestrian casualties from collisions with one or more motor vehicles, 57,594 (22.3%) had fatal or serious injuries." https://www.nationalworld.com/news/politics/pedestrians-killed-dangerous-cyclists-road-deaths-3812845 There is not data on whether collisions are on pavement or on road. I expect most are on road. And to put things into perspective you are more likely to be killed as a pedestrian by a vehicle mounting the pavement than by a bike. But that doesn't seem to get people all vexed like a wet hen.

sizemore post I have to admit that when the original thread on this subject was closed “as it was getting too personal, too vindictive, too "wrong"” I did worry that the new thread would peter out, but here we are, 70 pages later, and everyone on both sides is still as vexed as a wet hen. With no end in sight, well done to all involved! What stamina. Good luck and carry on the good fight! What a wonderful term Sizemore - vexed as a wet hen. Never heard of it but a Google suggest it is an Americanism for angry. I'm not angry and I expect many of us who try to point out alternative views are similar. There is some very entrenched views but I doubt whether the argument has progressed much in the 70 odd pages. You'll note some hard core, and some who have posted 100s of times. Personally I doubt if this thread will make a jot of difference. Here's a list of things that I am vexed as a wet hen about Lack of enforcement of 20mph zones. Lack of central government action with regards to urban motoring, reducing carbon and air pollutant emissions through driver/owner behaviour, lack of training for drivers (pass your test at 17 and then drive like an rrrrrs for the next 60 years), sorting out the whole mess of (currently illegal) electric scooters and twist and go electric bikes, including for example the PCSOs who just ignored the scooter coming down Rye Lane at 15 mph in the pedestrianised section, cycling standards - the minority who do things that endanger themselves and others (again a big role for central government) - complex as there are those who just couldn't give a flip and those who should know better including the Dulwich mummies and daddy's cycling their kids on the pavement when the Village is one of the best places to cycle. And Nextdoor.com which is so reactionary. No, I will not sign your petition opposing CPZs. Can't be bothered to check my post, and it will come over as a rant. Good! But wont get a lot of traction on much of the above here so tend to write to my MP from time to time.

What a quaint term senior citizen. What is your definition? 60, 65 or state pension age (67)

This part of the site died mate, perhaps you may wish to come back or at least comment on Aussie politics, I did like your politician that dressed like Tina Turner who was raising money for a charity. You've missed a cold and wet week, but weather is bizarre after a Xmas heatwave. In other news I saw an repeat of a 2021 episode of Pointless today that must have had the most stupidest contestants on ever, you always expect a couple but this was all eight. What's your news? (PS Brexit is still pants and we are now moving into a manufactured culture war in advance of next year's elections. There's also lots of reactionary stuff on car restrictions (talking about Nextdoor.com wouldn't possible comment on EDF)). Edited, oh I thought this was a personal message/DM

I'm simply suggesting that you complain to DfT - what's troll like about that? Sounds like good advice to me. You can post similar arguments until the cows come home here but why not use your rights as a citizen to challenge the government? I do this sort of thing all the time, my current campaign is that Gary Lineker should be our next prime minister, Obviously that is a facetious thought, but out national broadcaster does need to be challenged, this is the same national broadcaster that had no problems with Clarkson posting some quite rabid stuff whilst still employed by them. Obviously a different issue but just giving an indication of what I do when I am all het up about something. I posted a FOI I got from Southwark once about parking enforcement in Peckham.

Cheers Rocks, if you had read my post properly you would see it was about DfT and Aldred. I've reworded it to make it even easier to comprehend. You are now speculating that DfT is biased by appointing a (your words) non-independent academic. Government goes through high levels of scrutiny, select committees, the National Audit Office, the Public Accounts Committee as well as MPs as a whole. You may wish to write to the Transport Secretary or lobby your MP to do similar. I'd be interested in the DfT response but I expect that it would be along the lines of they are very rigorous in awarding contracts and this goes through a comprehensive assessment process in terms of value for money, the competence of the favoured contractor and the political implications. As such I expect your argument may be fairly spurious.

Have any of you complained to DfT? Or if you are unhappy with any response the National Audit Office or the Public Accounts Committee. You could also lobby your MP and look into any work by select committees - here's a recent one although this focuses on public transport rather than more interventionist measures to drag people out of their cars. https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/pandemic-air-quality-EFRA-report/index.html Government goes through high levels of scrutiny. You are now saying that DfT is biased by appointing a (your words) non-independent academic. The argument all looks a bit silly to me.

True to form I appear to be talking to myself. Listening to Suella today perhaps it is the will of the people to have Gary Linekar as PM - I expect his politics chime with most of us, unlike the other peoples' fave Jezza Clarkson, and his personal life is already well known and such scandal didn't do Johnson any harm.

Why not speak directly to Sainsbury's either in store or on line. I'm sure that they will get back to you, and if not you could consider suing them as the product is either faulty or not as described https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/report-problem. That may be taking things a bit too far. As for Ribena don't get me started..... I was one of the kids of the generation that were led to believe that Ribena was a healthy drink and would take it to school to have at dinner time. Whilst it slowly rotted my teeth, coupled with no flouride in our water, NHS dentistry focusing on intervention rather than prevention and too many sweets has led to a mouth of mercury coupled with the odd piece of gold and ceramics. https://www.historyworld.co.uk/advert.php?id=800&offset=0&sort=0&l1=Food&l2=Soft+Drinks

Thought I'd start a conversation with myself now that Cat has probably gone back to Australia and Steppenwolf and she/he have stopped arguing/discussing Brexit. So most are probably in agreement that the current Government has been a shambles. But it doesn't seem to get any better. Sunak has not stopped the rot. Thinking about the Kuenssberg programme on Sunday. Could Heaton Harris done a worse job? He got drawn into the follow up to the interim report on Johnson misleading parliament. And continues to back Johnson up. If there was ever a time to throw a colleague under the bus this was it. Not sure whether this would have done the current PM any damage, as most of the Tory members and much of the country think that Johnson is a 'good egg'. For the sake of balance Jonathan Ashworth is not an inspiring speaker, and could have simply given a proper answer to questions on Covid - here are the things that the Labour party leaned - and Sue Grey - I fully believe that proper process was followed, this is a non-story. But he did not fumble to the same extent as H-H when put on the spot. PS Cat, what happened to the leaving party?

Oh come on Rocks, surely you must acknowledge that there are some pretty unsavoury characters attaching themselves to your campaign. Rather than label all of us who want firmer action to reduce car use as loony lefties, please understand that some of the libertarians who think the authorities are trying to control us have found another cause.

Drat Spartacus stole my line. I visited three schools on my way to a job near Grove Park. Well I dinged my bicycle bell and the small band of jolly teachers on the line waved and at one school cheered. The only Flying Picket was in my mind, taking me back to an 80s gig before the lefty a capplla group had brief fame. It was hardly Wapping or Grunwick. Many will be opposed to this strike or strikes more generally. That is understandable. But Vladi your reactionary views are rather saddening. I met my MP a few years ago to discuss an staffing dispute. He told me that even Thatch, whatever she may say in public, looked for negotiated settlements. (She also saw the sense in negotiating with 'terror' groups). Her disciples appear to be ideologically opposed to this.