Pugwash

Daughter living in West Sussex with children now 5 and 7 years. Found when eldest was reception age that there were only 2 primary schools in area. One within walking distance only catered for 4- 7 year old, the other school - 30 minutes walk away, no public transport but 10 minute car drive did 4- 11 years. Large outside area for play/sports. Class sizes under 30 children. Was able to secure a place for eldest which meant that the younger one automatically was accepted. Only disadvantage was that as my daughter is a teacher in a specialist unit for teenagers some 10 miles plus away, needed to have before and after school care and there were only 2 child minders serving this school. Her current childminder is ceasing in July as her own child will be going to secondary school. Daughter is hoping that she qualifies for a pre school and after school play scheme . Secondary schools - some areas operate a middle school system - 11- 14, and senior school 14-18 years, and could be on different sites.

Live in Barry Road and hear the children from St Anthony's - more noticeable in good weather when we have windows open. It does not worry us - we have lived here since 1975 and the school has expanded greatly during that time. i have a friend who lives near Kings College Hospital who clearly hears sirens and air ambulances 24 hours a day. Although it annoys her she is grateful to have a medical facility nearby. One of the original bids for the police station site was for blocks of flats, one scheme was to have shops underneath with flats above. There was full support for a school as many children were unable to gain places in the local area.

Our vet takes them for when they have cats/dogs in for treatment. Most vets will take.

Around Franklin's seem to be the worst area for pavement eating. At times, difficult to push a wheelchair between the seatings- bags/buggies/children's scooters reducing available space.

We are still under the Covid Rules - so the bigger/more public events are not being held.

Make sure our high streets are accessible Pavement furniture - such as tables and chairs - can block pavements and be hazardous for people with sight loss. Cafe, restaurant and pub owners will soon be applying for pavement licenses to increase the number of people they can serve outside, therefore increasing the amount of pavement furniture near their premises. The period that these rapid licenses can be awarded has been extended, and we are concerned that without reasonable consultation from local people on the impact that pavement furniture has on them, there will be a big increase in street clutter on already-crowded pavements. For more information please go to the Guide Dogs wbsite.

I used to go down the Lane regularly but no longer do so as unless I am going to Boots or HSBC. I wait for a 12 bus which takes me there. Would like to go to Iceland again but would struggle carrying shopping (even with a trolley) to the nearest bus stops. Bring back the buses. If I need to go to Iceland I now take the car to the Camberwell branch. Unfortunately adding to traffic pollution.

The usual adage - there is never a police officer around when you need them. Since bikes and e scooters do not have registration plates, unless a police officer actually witnesses incidents of poor/dangerous cycling they cannot chase up. The main complaint for Dawsons Heights were for the older teenagers and those in 20s who seem to congregate late evening and early hours of morning. Will pass on link re cycleconfident.

Poor online attendance for the meeting on Tuesday 4th. Some points raised. Thefts from Cars - increased, Concerns raised that Friern Road seems to have been targeted by would be thieves who have been trying to gain access to cars on people's drives and outside houses with some successes. Video were sent to police but are too poor a quality to recognize perpetrator . Unless residents report incidents police cannot build up a profile of incidents. Theft of cycles in Landells and Underhill Roads. Catalytic Converters still being stolen - Police have marking kits available which if converter is stolen and recovered they can track down owners. You can get cages fitted to some cars to prevent/reduce theft. Dawsons Hill - long discussions re anti social behaviour in this area, Mainly older teenagers and young people drinking etc late evening. Very noisy,bad language, leaving litter etc. Drugs found. Also younger teenagers meeting up. Very little violent behaviour in Dulwich Hill, with no robberies recorded. Burglaries recorded. Cyclists and E Scooters. Many incidents mentioned of pavement cycling and scooter users not visible in early evenings/nights, residents reporting scooters not taking account of pedestrians on pavements and crossing roads. Police have little powers but would be happy to talk with cyclists/scooter uses and give them basic road safety. A question was raised as whether Cycle Proficiency Classes could be arranged to take place in local schools but it is a question of funding as to how this could be raised. Next meeting likley to be mid August and hopefully be a face to face session.

Crossing from the Florist to the Plough side on the green man, was nearly mowed down by an adult with 2 children, the younger child passed me but the adult had to shout to an older child to stop before she crashed into me. I said to the adult that they had no right cycling through a green man but she just ignored me and carried on directing the children across Barry Road into Etherow Street. It was around 4 pm and traffic was building up in the area.

You need to apply, when you are the appropriate age, to claim both 60 plus Oyster and Freedom Pass. I have had my Freedom Pass for so long ( I initially qualified as a disabled person many years ago and had to produce my 'Green Card' confirming my disability). I cannot remember what I had to produce to get my Older Person's Pass but remember that Southwark Social Services initially dealt with Disabled and Older Person Passes before TFL.

Please see my reply to your post in another section.

Please see my reply to your post under Businesses etc

Dulwich Hamlet has always had a very good reputation and is a very sought after school. When my girls were young me tried to get a place their but Barry Road was out of their catchment area.

Cyclists riding on pavements can also cause injury. My elderly aunt was knocked down by a teenage cyclist outside what is now Salisbury's Local in LL. She suffered a fractured hip and other complications which reduced her quality of life as was afraid of going out alone.

My grandchildren aged 5 and 7 are allowed a maximum of 2 hours during holidays and weekends.

On another point, it is recognized in areas outside London, that their pensioners can get reduced or free travel by purchasing a pass for a set fee i.e ?10/?20 per year. I would happily pay ?10/?20 for a year's free travel and so would a great many ohers.

Between the age of 60 and 65 you can get an Oyster Card free which allows travel in London. However it does not allow free travel outside London. Freedom Pass - now issued to those age 65 plus regardless whether working/retired. This also allows free travel outside the London area. If used with an Older Person's Rail card - can greatly reduce cost of rail fares (We use ours with rail card to go from Croydon to Worthing to visit grandchildren).

Ended going to Peckham Library last week - pleasant to be able to browse around. Got 3 books. Returned 2 to Dulwich Library today who are still not allowing people to browse. Only accepting returns and people using click and collect.I complained as to why when library openings were announced by Southwark in their newspaper,that Dulwich being the main library not fully open. Was informed that they hope to be open soon - only 2 staff seen on the premises. Where are all the others?

Witnessed today whilst crossing LL by the Plough, 2 adults with 3 children (appearing to be primary age) on bikes coming from Eynella - all crossing road whilst green man light on and ignoring safety of pedestrians.

I have a vague memory from previous posts some time ago that in order for a cafe/shop to have tables/chairs outside for customers, they must have a licence and pay for the number of tables etc. This was a couple of years ago and related to a query concerning Franklins.

Dismount at pedestrian crossings/traffic lights and walk across. Do not do as many adults and kids do=- cycle across the lights etc getting in the way of pedestrians especially those wheeling prams and have young children in tow. Also not cutting up wheelchair users. Fed up with these antics at the LL Plough lights.

From long experience doing community work in Southwark - it is the officers who make the decisions and it is pot luck whether the Councillors are aware of why/when decisions made. Can give an example - years ago officers informed local Councillors that the East Dulwich Community Centre (previously called Alleyn Community Centre) was only used 2 hours each morning by a play group. When the management committee heard of this they contacted their councillors and discovered what the officers had broadcasted which was completely untrue as the premises were being used by several groups and local residents on a daily basis. Those of you who have lived in ED for at least 40 years will have known that misinformation by officers resulted in 2 very successful campaigns to retain the centre.

When I had my 2nd AZ jab. the nurse who did it asked about side effects (I had none) but mentioned that my daughters aged 35 and 45 both had 2 days of feeling unwell. Nurse was saying that of those who she had seen, was that the 'older' patients 65 plus seem to have a less reaction than younger folk.

From Dulwich Park Friends. We have our first volunteer litter picking session of 2021 on Monday 19th April from 8-9.30am. Last year's sessions were both a great success and rewarding too - the park staff really appreciate our help so that they can get on using their skills to keep the park looking so good. If you would like to join us, please meet from 7.45 am for a briefing so that we can start at 8 am. The meeting area will be in front of the Francis Peek Centre (Carpark side). Trevor from the Friends and Idverde Development Officer Natalie will be there to meet and greet the volunteers and run through a quick safety briefing. We will provide bin bags, litter grabbers and gloves. Please bring your own masks/face coverings and your own hand sanitiser. The litter pick will be finishing at 9:30 am when free coffee & tea will be served at the cafe provided by our friends at The Dulwich Clock Cafe (Colicci). We will be aiming to do this each Monday - so save the slot in your calendar and join us if you can. Best wishes, Dulwich Park Friends