first mate

Locals need to move fast and I hope the architect who made the last detailed set of objections might be prepared to do so again. Presumbaly councillors who have anything to do with the planning side of things would have been aware of this application some time back?

Wow, that was quick...First I've heard of this. Consuktation ends 3rd January?? That doesn't give much time for objections. Again, the level playing field argument. Those behind the applications have the money, time and muscle to work on the application 100% We locals do not have that luxury. Yes, it sounds like they are trying to sneak it through. This is going to upset people. Having had a quick look the footprint of this new application looks even larger than the last. They are suggesting removal of existing bollards at the entrance to increase room for the delivery vehicles- those bollards were pu in to protect private property from damage by delivery vehicles. It is really cynical to present this application in the run up to Christmas, the developers know that significant time and energy of locals is necessary to mount objections. I note that "pre-application discussions" were underway with the council for this second application back in the summer, so the council knew this proposal was on its way. Why have none of us heard of it until now?

I'd forgotten what a great voice 'Arty' has...really distinctive, that light tenor and fast vibrato.

Strawbs, Quite. Parents are an important part of the community but lets not forget all the other members that may also require Seldoc and similar services. I am in little doubt that a goodly part of the land should continue to be used by the NHS. What about the needs of the elderly and the disabled?

Annette, Perhaps the "Twent-aaaaaaaay" is the result of an American pretending to be British, a la Dick Van Dyke?

H, But they only blur faces and so on don't they...not the whole of your house? Don't you have to give them an email address in order to get them to do this too..no biggy, but all extra info for the google meisters. Feels a bit like being the little animal at the watering hole and knowing you are being watched by the great, big hunter..

I was alarmed by how close google maps can get to your window- they can't quite see through....yet. How marvellous for local crims to be able to study exteriors from the comfort of their 'puters. I hear other maps will be even more detailed, surely this can't be right? Who will be the first to invent some kind of gadget that shields you from these corporate spies.

Beware of first time posters asking what ED needs. Actually, one thought is how to turn dog poo into a useable household fuel.

On balance I think the most likely explanation is that it's a fox or even a cat. Generally cats bury their poo, but not always- some cats, especially tom cats are highly territorial and will leave deposits to mark territory. The same goes for foxes and we are approaching the mating season.

Huguenot, You are right and there are societies today that espouse and practise child sex. In terms of our western social conditioning and the last few hundred years paedophilia is viewed as immoral, and there is an argument to say that the damage done to victims is bound up with internal tensions, the result of being involved in something so very socially taboo. So I do think that you have to view these things in context. That said, I think it was Germaine Greer who once observed that paedophilia is so persistent in all societies (though how would she know) that perhaps it should be viewed as a natural part of the spectrum of human sexuality.

Fox poo can also be very dark and hard, it can also be tinged with green- depends what they have been eating. I would think it was fox poo or a stray dog or someone walking their dog offlead.

But it is alleged that an 8 year old girl was indecently assaulted... that was viewed as wrong in the 60/70's as it is now. I suppose part of the problem is that different categories of sex crime are being mixed together. A fifteen year old 'developed' groupie one might be able to explain in terms of the permissive society, but not an eight year old. I found the questioning under caution of the 80 year old from Berkshire even more shocking. If something comes of that I would feel truly disillusioned.

garnwba, Merry Christmas and enjoy your bright new future out in CPZ land.

Perhaps garnwba is a councillor/developer in disguise, or he hasn't moved and is making all this up. I too would like to know the name of the road he lives in now.

I remember when one section of Southwark Council moved fromn their rather down at heel but serviceable premises in the Elephant to the new, flashy building near the river..hmmm.

Garnbwa, clearly you are stoking the fire...or trying to, and there's James ready to jump in just in case. We've done CPZ to death, we don't wnat it. However, I fear for the fallout from the forthcoming Garden Centre development which has lots of new falts but no provision for parking.

Older pups, young dogs do go through a 'kevin' stage when they are likely to shoot off after the anything that looks/smells interesting...and gundogs are generally very food orientated. I'd really recommend a long line (14-20ft) this way you have a better chance of getting your dog back under control when recall fails and the dog can still free run.

I have and will continue to ask other dog owners to put their dog on a lead where there are signs requesting this is done- the Japanese Garden and so on. Some people do get grumpy and I have been accused of being interfering, but since I know my motivation is to avoid pressure for Dog Control Orders I feel justified. I have not yet had someone refuse to comply, especially when it is explained why I am asking them. I would urge all fellow dog owners to do the same, or we'll end up losing out big time. I would also ask professional dog walkers to keep dogs leashed on walkways and signed request areas and only let dogs off in the open field areas. I think that for concerned parents with toddlers and for those who are scared of dogs it is pretty terrifying to be confronted by 4-6 dogs all offlead....even if they are the best beahved dogs in the world. The lead gives the other person a sense of safety...this is all about perception. I do feel that dog owners have to wake up and smell the coffee a bit and see that if we don't try to change ourselves we may end up losing out in much bigger ways.

I feel a little concerned about a hospital site not being used for that purpose. One gets the feeling that NHS services are oversubscribed. We also need to think about protected/social housing for the elderly in the area. Clearly we need to look after the future of our children but a balance needs to be struck and it sometimes feels it tips more in the direction of catering for younger members of the community and less for the elderly and for the physically and mentally disabled.

I would ask this is not done. Dog Control orders can be pretty draconian and there are sections in the council that would probably be happy to see dogs barred from parks altogether unless on a lead at all times- this would be a step in that direction. Why not try asking dog owners to put their dogs on a lead in areaas where there is clear signage requesting this. If enough people do it I suspect social embarassment would make most comply.

There are specific areas where there are notices asking people to keep their dog on a lead, however some ignore this. Other areas may not carry a notice but surely it is a matterof common sense and judgement. The area around the cafe may not require dogs to be on lead but I imagine if there are lots of children milling around, it is probably sensible. As ever, the fear is that certain members of the community get really hacked off and stringent dog control orders are broguht in as they have been in other boroughs.

Perhaps Southwark could put some money into funding a few more parkies on bikes. On another note I do see a fair few parents pushing toddlers in buggies with a dog or puppy running around as they walk. Often the dog is off lead, especially around the cafe area.

Did the success of the Hackney scheme depend on residential streets being closed off? I don't think Southwark are advocating this are they?

But even if the whole borough is reduced to 20mph it won't stop those who routinely exceed 30mph- what precisely will be different? If they can get away with it now they will do so in future. There a are number of kids I see who race up and down roads, flying over the speed humps as they go...how will this affect them? They keep doing it so either never get caught or have bottomless pockets. I was driving in central London last night and it was a nightmare. There is a proliferation of street signs, road markings, cameras.... all utterly confusing and still drivers were speeding all over the place. As for the lunatic cyclists, all dressed in invisible black, weaving in and out of cars and their blind spots just as fast as they could. I saw one cyclist, clearly at fault, narrowly avoid getting hit.

I'm sure someone can come up with research to justify this but frankly I cannot see why further reducing the speed limit would impact on those who already drive well in excess of 30mph- surely the punishment will be exactly the same? I guess the rationale has to be that there is research to show that many people/children are being injured ot killed by cars operating within the current speed limit of 30mph.