TJMP

Statement just issued by Southwark: Dear Ms Jowell, Ms Harman, Cllrs Thomas and Nardell, In response to recent enquiries in respect of the above, Southwark Council wishes to issue the following statement. The mural 'Vision of Angels' was created by artist Stan Peskett in 1993, and was commissioned as part of the Dulwich festival, and painted with the help of local adults with learning disabilities and children from 10 local primary schools. Over recent years the mural has been subjected to tagging which caused irreparable damage and had covered much of the original artwork in the lower half of the mural. The Council was approached by individuals who were involved in the original work and it was suggested to us that blanking the lower half of the mural was better than the leaving the wall as it was. This was necessary as it was impossible to remove the tagging without affecting the paintwork underneath. Doing this without a wider consultation with both residents and the Council's own arts team was clearly wrong and the Council apologises for this. However , the Council would like to reassure you that the affected area has been painted over as a temporary measure while we look at what can be done with the mural so the community can continue to enjoy it. If possible we will look at working with the community and Stan Peskett to restore the mural back to its former glory, with an appropriate anti-graffiti covering. We will also be putting in place processes whereby similar vulnerable pieces of public art are properly assessed before cleaning or removal takes place. Jon Sheaff Parks and Open Spaces Manager London Borough of Southwark posted by Tessa Jowell's Office

The new building is due to open in September 2010. The school will be for 750 boys aged 11-16 and a mixed sixth form of 200. The planning permission granted was: Demolition of the former London Board school on Peckham Rye, buildings on Friern Road and associated structures and the erection of a four storey building (maximum height 18.5m with plant rising to 19.5m) including sports hall for a 950 pupil (including sixth form) academy (Class D1), provision of 30 car parking spaces and 107 cycle parking spaces, alterations to and erection of boundary walls and fences, alterations to existing highway and the creation of new vehicle and pedestrian accesses including provision of servicing and parking access off Peckham Rye, and emergency fire access off Friern Road, and other incidental and enabling works.

The application was passed unanimously after more than three and a half hours deliberation. Tessa Jowell (Office)

Some more local statistics for comparative purposes are available here: East Dulwich Crime Stats Comparisons are given with the rest of Southwark and the rest of the Met. Tessa Jowell (Office)

The budget that Ken sets and which is raised as a precept via Council Tax for Londoners is divided as follows: 82% on the police service 13% on the fire service 5% on transport and the GLA 0% on the London Development Agency The remainder (0%) is obviously 'profligate spending' !! Tessa Jowell MP

My point was simply that the fact my reply ended up on this forum had nothing to do with me or the current election. Nero, as he is aware, is free to share any emails that I have sent him. My reply was meant to be helpful to him and if he thinks others might find it useful too, that's up to him. Tessa Jowell

Lpool, the problem - as Southern pointed out in their reply to me - is that they cannot gain access to the area behind the fencing so it is necessary for Network Rail to attend periodically to clear away the build up of rubbish. This is a ridiculous situation and one which, I hope, can be rectified as part of the renewal of the South Central area franchise. Michael P, Sue and KalamityKel - my original email was sent privately to Nero in response to an enquiry from him several months ago. He chose to post part of my reply then and has reproduced it again at greater length above because, I assume, he felt that it was relevant to what was being discussed. Tessa Jowell

There?s some helpful general advice on dealing with these issues here: http://www.parkingandtrafficappeals.gov.uk/ Details about obtaining a statutory declaration can be found here: http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/files/OOTApplicationPack.pdf These do need to be witnessed by a Court Officer, or a JP or a Commissioner of Oaths (many solicitors perform this role and a small charge of around ?5 is payable, as my colleague Austin Mitchell has indicated). Whilst it may be possible to do this at the court for free, London PCNs are handled at the Traffic Enforcement Bulk Centre at Northampton County Court so it is unlikely it would prove to be cheaper doing it that way. This, from the Department for Transport, may also be of interest: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=363767&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False It includes the welcome information that: "The new parking framework [which started in April] makes it clear that councils should not use parking enforcement as a tool for raising revenue or set targets for the number of tickets issued. Furthermore, councils are strongly advised to only use wheel-clamping against those who persistently evade their penalty charges. "The framework encourages councils to tackle the parking behaviour that causes most disruption or danger to other road users - such as unauthorised parking in spaces for disabled people, at pedestrian crossings, or on yellow lines. Councils must issue lower penalties for other, less serious, parking offences. Details of how to appeal must be included on parking tickets. Independent parking adjudicators will also get more power, including the right to ask local authorities to reconsider penalty charges where motorists have mitigating circumstances". Tessa Jowell MP (Office)

There was a consultation last year: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Uploads/FILE_26962.pdf Apparently a Chilean Wine Palm http://images.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&rls=GGLJ%2CGGLJ%3A2006-41%2CGGLJ%3Aen-GB&q=chilean+wine+palm is due to be planted by the end of May that has to be imported from... Chile. Its installation will require a road closure apparently due to its size. According to Southwark there are no current plans to look at the size of the roundabout although this was consulted on several years ago when the bus priority network was being introduced and the idea was rejected. Tessa Jowell (Office)

We've checked on this and think that the Residents' Association you are referring to covers Tintagel Crescent, Jarvis Road, Derwent Grove, Elsie Road and 1-46 Melbourne Grove - ie the area bounded by East Dulwich Grove, Melbourne Grove (low numbers), and Derwent Grove/Tintagel Crescent. They relaunched around February of this year. Tessa will contact the people who were behind it at the time and bring this thread to their attention. Tessa Jowell MP (Office)

The expiry date for consultation in Lambeth actually appears to be 12 November: Lambeth Planning All the documents associated with the application are on the link above. The application reference is: 07/03341/RG3 Tessa Jowell MP

There's rather more about it here: Herne Hill Society There has also been much discussion about it here: Herne Hill Forum This matter has been under discussion for a long time in the Herne Hill area. The plans are supported by each of the four political parties that are represented on Lambeth and Southwark Councils. Tessa Jowell MP

The statement from the PCT reads: [quote name=Mediquick have now withdrawn their application to open a 100-hours pharmacy on the Dulwich Medical Centre site in Crystal Palace Road' date=' East Dulwich. This decision has been taken in conjunction with Dulwich Medical Centre in response to feedback from the local community. Dr Jane Fryer, Medical Director, Southwark Primary Care Trust said: "We are delighted that other established community pharmacies in the area have indicated their willingness to open longer hours to meet the needs of the local community." Ends] Tessa Jowell MP

Latest update from Southwark PCT: DMC have WITHDRAWN their application completely - in response to local concerns. Congratulations to everyone who helped contribute to this. Tessa Jowell MP

That is the information I have from the PCT. The PCT has said categorically that it does not intend to commission any drug related services as there is no need for an extension of these services in the area. The PCT will consider the application at its November vacancy panel along with feedback from local pharmacies and any other submissions received.

The text of the letter referred to by Quaywe above is on my website: East Dulwich Pharmacy Application Update It was distributed to the BARA area yesterday. Tessa Jowell MP

Not true actually (EdOldie and Lucius Rex). The old Dulwich seat was always marginal but I won it in 1992 with a majority of 2056. The 'notional' result in the new constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood in 1992 was a Labour majority of 1803. So I would have had a smaller majority in my current constituency which has an electorate which is some 20,000 higher - ie the new constituency was much more marginal. By the way, my previous reports are available at Reports. There are thirteen of them from the past year or so, including the one Amelie describes above. Tessa Jowell

This issue is now up on my website along with links to previous representations I made when a similar threat emerged last year: Tessa Jowell - South London Link Under Threat! I would welcome contributions that would help me argue the case with Network Rail. My earlier reps are, I think, a good starting point in relation to concerns of users from East Dulwich and beyond but I am sure that regular users will be able to help with further specific concerns. Please do email me directly if you prefer. The deadline, as you will be aware from earlier postings, is 26 October. Tessa Jowell