first mate

Or safety and cyclists are being used as a front for changes wanted by the council for some other reason. It is not so long ago that safety was offered as a spurious and unsubstantiated reason for changes around Northcross rd.

Fight this as hard as you can. It has to be first steps towards CPZ. As you all say parking in all these areas is NOT a problem it is already free. What planet is the council on?

James, yes but if the comparison is with what the hospital does now and space actively utilised now it is meaningless since the services that used to be offered ( like x-Ray, halfway housing for elderly rehabilitation) are no longer. So I'm not at all convinced by your future-proofing take. I don't know how long NHS property has had a role, not long I suspect as the organisation was set up under the coalition, was it not? What is more the sec of state has shareholder status in the company that is NHS Property - the architect of this company and its remit ( to make as much money as possible from NHS land) was this/your govt. The 22 year farce you refer to is arguably more a reflection on constant reorganisation of the structure of the NHS from govt to govt and the tendency of all administrations to play politics with public services and resources.

True, but a large increase in population has been on the cards for a very long time.

I just wonder if this population surge has been factored into what will be needed health wise? The NHS is in chaos and apparently unable to cope, meanwhile we have GP surgeries closing and/or also unable to cope, so I wonder how it can be said with any accuracy that the NHS have decided what land is needed and what facilities will be necessary at the hospital site. I just don't think there is enough joined up thinking for that assertion to be made, although it is made, on a regular basis, by councillors on this forum. ITATM I agree the latest move by Harris girls is rather odd. What is the motivation? If there is, as alleged, such a shortage of spaces for local children then why open up your doors to children way beyond the local area? Harris is accruing a lot of land- I still wonder how absolutely secure the long-term use of that land for education purposes only is?

Louisa, Yes, of course children need schools, but it is beginning to feel like short term thinking at its worst, especially when you consider that Harris girls is now trying to change its remit so that instead if taking children from the local area it will open its doors to children from all over London and beyond. It does feel like every scrap of land, if not being made into flats or a supermarket, will be earmarked for a school. Perhaps councillors have a vision for ED, as the school capital of London, replete with cycle routes in every direction and a handy supermarket on every corner.

I wonder will there be sufficient health facilities to serve this increase in the population? Where will those facilities go....?

Last two points- wholeheartedly agree. The trend for some to walk dogs offlead on the street also means they may be more unlikely to notice what their dog is doing (or control it).

Agreed poo should never be added to compost, but still unsure on point about bins.

You mean like bagging all your own litter wherever you are and taking it home to put it in your own bin? I just don't think that's very realistic. What do people do with used cat litter I wonder, does that get flushed down the loo? What about fox or bird shit you find in your garden or out on the street....what happens to that?

I was not suggesting that lack of bins is an excuse and yes there are some bins but perhaps not enough. On the other hand I doubt a bin on every corner would deter the serial offender, it's a similar attitude to those that knowingly ignore speed limits or drop litter- they do it because they can and sod everyone else.

Dulwich Fox, There is a paucity of dog poo bins. If the only available bin for some distance is a green bin ( not recycling, obviously) then better to use it. I would expect to carry a used poo bag for a short distance, but sometimes there are no public bins, let alone dig bins, for ages.

Must admit, I had wondered who actually owns the land on which free schools are built? For instance, is that land enshrined in law to only ever be used for education purposes in future- that is schools? In regard to NHS land and the hospital site, I guess much thought is needed when handing over public property to the private sector- though 20 years is a bit rich I grant you.

James, I don't think demonising NHS Property services is helpful, they are obliged to get the highest price fir the land, that is their remit. The Coalition have been largely responsible for turning the NHS inside out, I feel pretty sure that if they were so utterly scandalised by what NHS Property is doing the govt could have intervened. Instead it is much easier to play the blame game. Perhaps central govt would be wise to consider the needs and wishes of the local community before offering up jewels in the crown, in this case ED Hospital Land, to one if its favoured suppliers.

Otta, apologies, I realised after I posted. Explain more about what makes no sense re Old POlice Station site?

James, aside from the back and forth on alleged need in ED for a second primary, notwithstanding how we define ED, the key point seems to be whether the hospital site has room for a decent secondary as well as a primary. It seems everyone, other than Harris themselves and a few supporters of this particular application, think not. So, as it stands, Harris'seeming intransigence may jeopardise the secondary school. BTW I do hope the trees in front of the Old Police Station are safe. It is rumoured his L'dship does not take kindly to trees on or near his property; the application has a number of references to trees which are suggestive of get out clauses should 'accidental' damage occur.

Otta, If I have it right, Harris, once given the go ahead by Southwark planning are definitely building on the Police station site to create Harris ED primary 1, however they also want to build a second primary school on the Dulwich Hospital site and have had their application okayed by the EFA (I think). I don't think the hospital site land has even been sold yet so we are some way off from planning details. The second Harris primary school is contentious because, according to most, it is not needed or wanted in ED and was actually submitted on the basis of need in Nunhead (this 'need' is now also disputed). Additionally, the application for ED Harris 2 may affect the viability of a much needed secondary school also being touted for the hospital site. Most argue that a good secondary school will need the space currently allocated for the unwanted Harris 2. The case is being fought by secondary school suppporters, disinterested residents in ED and a variety of MP's. A few councillors, however, continue to support Harris 2, for reasons that are not especially clear.

An odd move when you consider that forthcoming building work on the new Harris is likely to increase pressure on parking around that area. I too hope to hear what is going on.

I remember the way Northcross Rd suddenly got trendy. First the Arterie, then Mel at the Blue Mountain, and finally Rose At Grace and Favour, she opened virtually same day Blair became PM. Used to love G&F, she did really good cakes in the early days, when she was just a cafe with a few bits for sale.

Hi James, Interested to know which Park Friends organisation was offered a million pounds from the Council off the back of developers, if that is what you meant? What was the money being offered for and what was the quid pro quo? When was this offer made and was it accepted or rejected? Who was the developer? More info please.

The entrenched behaviour issue is a component of many types of anti-social behaviour. Perhaps other penalties should be considered for proven, unreformed serial offenders. The problem with this is policing and catching people doing wrong, and then it also becomes about best use of resources. The poo is a pain, we all hate it, but I just wanted to make the point again that just one bloody-minded and irresponsible individual can create the illusion that an area has an epidemic of bad dog owners.

This one comes around on a regular basis and might create the impression that ED is full of irresponsible dog owners. In fact it just takes just one bad owner in a population of 100's to have an impact. Dogs go twice a say, so within one week you can have a sizeable problem on the route frequented by one dog and bad owner. The solution is, in my view, twofold. Stiff fines for those caught red-handed followed by compulsory training in responsible ownership. Enforce compulsory use of leads. Dogs walking ahead or behind owners offlead are more likely to defecate without the owner 'noticing'. However, it is most likely that the problem us caused by a few and does not involve the majority of ED dog owners.

My point is more that there seems to be an overwhelming view that what ED needs is a good secondary school with adequate space. It is felt that inclusion of another, primary school will compromise the quality of the secondary. The arguments in favour of the Harris Primary seem to be that they were first out of the traps and built their case on the basis of need in Nunhead, not ED, but without access to a suitable site in the catchment area they used to make their case. Casting around for a suitable site they alighted on DCH land and with the apparent support of the EFA staked their claim. Therefore a school may be built on a prime site in East Dulwich to provide schooling for an alleged shortfall of primary places in Nunhead while compromising/jeopardising the future of a desperately needed secondary school in East Dulwich itself. This is madness surely?

So just to be clear, are you saying that a primary school needs to be built on DCH site to serve Nunhead and further afield?

A good letter and the last comment about Harris' lack of contact with Southwark re DHC site really does give a sense of the cosy relationship between Harris and the Coalition. I also wonder about their seeming intactability on the it's either the hospital site or MOL land. If the need is North of the borough then why not look in that direction?