bawdy-nan

I can see why you're annoyed, but I've found the people in there to thoroughly helpful and lovely (even to me in my raggedy rawny rubbish trainers, cheapo coat and no make-upped face...

I'm not sure that complaining about having a beer garden appear outside your window without planning permission is exactly being "pernickity". I like Black Cherry and would be sorry to see it close.

I just searched he getty site for "dulwich" and it threw up some fabulous images. In particular, and pertinent to the ongoing EDF great buggy debate (ie they're much bigger than they used to be), there is a fantastic picture of voters in the 1920's queuing up with their ENORMOUS prams. I also noticed Keith Richards' happy-new-baby snap outside King's College Hospital and a slightly odd shot of a group of naked Dulwich COllege boys being hosed down by a master ...

thanks for that - i'll pass the info on ...

There has since been a request for a surveyor to assist on a pro bono basis. The friends group is negotaiting with the council for the lease of the building and need help to assess the council's offers / proposals. If anyone can help or knows a firm that does community pro bono work please contact the friends via the google or facebook group (see contact details above)

I love italian for the opportunity it affords for easy eating. At its best its informal and tasty and relaxed. There's a fantastic place near Clapham Junction (Buena Sera) - family freindly during the day busy and bustling at night. Cheapish if you need it to be but splurgeable if you want, nice wine list, friendly staff. Great pasta, pizzas and salads and ice creams but good selction of fish and meat dishes if you're feeling a bit fancier. I'd love something like that round here and think it'd do brilliantly.

I've seen two instances of young teenage boys being attacked or mugged. The first was at Peckham Rye railway station - boy got on, very upset - he' just been mugged by other boys. The second time was at the intersection of goodrich road and crystal palace road. I was walking home from nursery with my son (then a baby) and daughter, then about 3. We came across a young teenage boy being attacked by 3 others. Noone was about but I couldn't just walk past - he was being punched and kicked and was cleraly in trouble. I didnt have my phone with me otherwise I would have called the police. As it was, I was a bit nervous, but kept back a little and just shouted and shouted at them to stop (hoping someone might come out of a house - they didn't). Eventually they backed off and I waited until they went away completely. I offered to walk home with the boy but he was very shaken and, I think, humiliated. I felt very bad for the boy - (I think thats the mum in me). He was at the age when they go all kind of gangly and uncorodinated - old and young at the same time. I can't imagine what it must be like to be that age and to have your freedom curtailed by fear of attack. I have to say that I am very concerned for my own children, not so much now, but as they approach their teens. I know that there are dangers and risks all over the place and all over the country but I do think that in London its much worse. One of the mst horrible outcomes of this instance was having to explain to my daughter what had been going on. I explained that the boys were bullies - but for a long time she thought all young black men were bullies (why are the bin men giving a lift to a bully, etc). Partly that's because we don't come across any teenagers at all really, which is a real shame. They get beaten up, blamed, mugged and misrepresented.

I'm sure any help would be appreciated. I think the campaigners are concentrating on trying to persuade the concil not to sell the building - it was donated to the people of Southwark by George Livesey. There seems to be plenty of interest from the museums community as well as other funders such that it seems perfectly possible to run the museum independently. Southwark say that they haven't factored any capital receipt into their budget planning but its unclear what they are planning. Whatever the arguments about closing the museum (council blame govt cuts to local authority funding) Southwark have always acknowledged its excellence. With a realistic prospect of creating an independent trust to run the museum or finding a bigger sibling museum to incorporate it, it would be spiteful of the council to refuse to enable this to happen You might get in touch with Bridget McKenzie via the facebook group orthere is now also a google groups as the email correspondence had got a bit out of control. If you go to google groups and then search for friends of the livesey you'll find it. You'll need to email one of teh group admins to join.

I'm sorry I haven't read the whole thread. Its bad luck about the cash, but you must be aware that littering isn't allowed. You seem to be adopting the same moany stance as motorists caught speeding. Just don't do it. I do love the idea of being made to clear up after yourself in a shiny tabard. On the bright sidefor you - you'll probably be pleased to hear that as well as shutting the Livesey the council are also cutting community wardens. Still larding it out on consultants however.

I just noticed this post on the facebook group from an independent evaluator of the Livesey "I had..the great pleasure and privilege of evaluating the Livesey's.. 'Myths and Legends' in 2006. The report..contributed to...'Telling tales- a guide to developing effective storytelling programmes for museums', thus proving that the Museum is at the forefront of its field...The Livesey attracts families and school visitors of diverse backgrounds and the Museum serves as a positive and vibrant, and very important meeting point... Building on the UN convention of the rights of the child, Children's museums are pioneers and essential in the field of... developing innovative and creative informal learning spaces...There are too few Children's museums in the UK, and by closing the Livesey..., this list will be even shorter... many young Londoners will be denied the opportunity to, in a dedicated and unique space with expert facilitators, develop their curiosity, imagination, teamwork and language skills." Emily Johnsson

Cllr Barber is probably finding it hard to change his mind. I imagine this is a difficult thing to do when you are in the public eye. He might take heart that his Lib Deb colleague former councillor for the Livesey ward, Jonathon Hunt says on the petition: " I do believe my colleagues have got it wrong in closing this wonderful resource for children in one of the most deprived parts of the borough. I shall do my utmost to persuade them to look elsewhere for their cuts. And to keep the building in public hands as our benefactor intended."

There is a story about this in the Times today

Of the East Dulwich cllrs - Richard Thomas replied to my email to him to say that he was in favour of the closure, James Barber hasn't replied to my email (though was cc'd in by RT). On his blog, in one of comments discussing the council cuts, James Barber says he is in faviur of the closure because it only has 7000 visitors a year and therefore represents poor value for money / large spend per head. Southwark Council offical figures (as supplied to the Audit Office) are 17830 per year. This has been pointed out to Cllr Barber but I'm not sure if he has adjusted his poinyt of view in light of the accurate figures. As his main argument for closure was the visitor numbers I would hope that he would do the decnet thing and revise his stance ... I don't know what the response of MP's are - according to the facebook group Harriet Harman is supporting the museum to stay open. I haven't had a reply from Tessa Jowell. Essentially the cllrs are split down the predictable party lines with the lib dem / con coalition supporting the closure and the Lab cllrs opposing it. There is much more detail on the facebook group but I don't have access to all of the comings and goings of the campaign so can't necessarily report accurately on the state of play.

There is a facebook group providing more information about the campaign, contact details for councillors as well as imformation about the planned protest meeting and room to discuss whats happening. The South London Press have picked up on the story about Southwark using inaccurate attendance figures to justify their decision to close the Livesey Museum.

The decision to close the museum has also been made on the basis of incorrect figures. James Barber is under the impresison that attendance is only 7000 a year. In fact official Southwark figures are closer to 18,000.

Interesting that you mention community vandalism - a bit rich and smacking rather loudly of hypocrisy. The Post Office closures are bad but at least the area is served by another two post offices within walking distance. What you and your councillers are doing to the Livesey Museum is much much worse. As you will be aware the museum serves the under 12's is regarded by DCMS as a shining example of good practice and has won national awards for the quality of its provision, including a shortlisting for best family friendly museum by the Guardian newspaper. The museum is very well attended and serves one of the most deprived and under-served areas in the borough of Southwark (if not the country). It encourages curiosity and welcomes children and their families with fantastically well thought through exhibitions. It is, beyond, doubt an oasis in an area with absolutely nothing else like it. As you will know the museum was opened by John Betjeman and building itself was donated by Geoarge Livesey to the people of Southwark as the very first library in Camberwell. You and your colleagues have stated that you intend to auction off the building. If this is not vandalism I can't say what is. You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.

Well, quite. Has the PCT begun looking for a suitable site for the needle-exchange? Or was it just a money spinner planned by the Dulwich Medical Centre? Have the vociferous pharmacists fulfilled their promise to get togetrhe and work out a proper rota or were they cynically whipping up an outrage for their own commercial ends?

Apparently not. The ocuncil said it had to decide between the livesey and leisure centres and libraries and given the borough's obesity and literacy problems they decided to close the Livesey - bizarre logic. They also confirmed that they intend to auction off the building. The building was built and donated to the "people of Southwark" by George Livesey a local businessman and benefactor. The museum offers terrific value for money already and has room to do more and is in a part of the borough with few facilities.

Cynical council auction off local heritage

The campaign to save the livesey appeared in the guardian yesterday

not a bad idea -

Now, I have been listening to an excess of Miss Marple audio books recently but .... On Saturday morning I saw a large anout of metal bits and pieces being loaded onto an anonymous van in the car park bit adjacent to the leisure centre (on the right as you look at the leisure centre). I took down the reg but am not sure whether there was in fact any crime taking place ... I know metal's being swiped from all over the place but anyone know if the council is lacking som ethis Monday morning?

I had a look at the latest accounts for Southwark which are available online at their website. I think they could easily solve their deficit by a better control of their agency staff for example. The spend is truly shocking. I think there is also some political hoo hah to do with southwark council trying to demonstrate that it is all the fault of the government. The fact is that with a little extra investment they could probably find a way for the museum to become independent (sustainable!). ?140,000 a year is relaly a very small amount of money to raise and whilst Southwrak should be investing in it - there are lots of possibilities for other ays of running it. As far as I can see it delivers very many of the objectives that the council itself says it wants to see realised: Nick Stanton (leader of the council) says he's extremely keen on: ?Making Southwark a world class quarter of our world city? stating that he will: - build on the achievements of our schools - continue to rebuild and transform Southwark - he is personally committed to continue this drive towards making Southwark a modern, creative and safe place to live and work. - make Southwark cleaner and greener - work with the police to tackle crime and the causes of crime the closure of local museums makes no sense at all. Incidentally it was at the livesey Museum where I first encountered some of Southwark's extraordinary colletcion of 20th century prints - as far as I know they aren;t display anywhere else.

Message from the Livesey group on facebook: Subject: Lobbying Southwark Welcome to all new supporters of the Livesey Museum for Children. Southwark have published their budget report now, confirming that Livesey is definitely intended for closure. They say that they have done a detailed appraisal, although they haven't consulted staff or users, and there is no information on how they reached their conclusion that the Livesey is not cost-effective, high performing and fit for purpose. It will be very unlikely that the Council will vote against the budget plan, because of the Lib Dem/Tory majority. The votes consist of the Executive decision on Tuesday 12th and the full Council on the 20th. However, it is important not to assume this is a done deal but to continue to express your views and ask questions, if only to highlight the value of the Livesey and the kind of community engagement and creative experiential learning it represents. So, what can you do? - Show up at Southwark Town Hall on Tuesday 12th to ask the Councillors questions as they arrive (children welcome, of course). - Continue to communicate with Councillors & MP's. If you have already sent an initial message to them, you could ask now for more information on how they reached their conclusion about why the Livesey is not cost-effective. - Continue to spread the word about this campaign - Share ideas for the campaign and your experiences of the Livesey on the group page.

I wonder why they can't get more children? It seems odd. Most nursery places around here are over subscribed and have huge waiting lists. I wonder if its because its not full time day care.