first mate

If they have interfered with the structure of the party wall without first informing you in writing then I think they are in breach of the law (party wall). I'd look on the planning portal for advice, I've a feeling you might need to enagage a party wall surveyor with a view to them having to pay for them. They are definitely in breach of the law, but you need to get the next step right and I think the planning portal will have the best advice.http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/responsibilities/beforeyoustart/otherpermissions/partywall

Loft conversions on old terraces can have a massive impact on your neighbour's light. Most people get a loft conversion for the extra room and the lovely light, airy feel. It seems slightly ironic that in gaining your light space you may be taking from your neighbours.

You need to slowly get your son to be comfortable around the pup and to go at his own pace. The best way of doing this is to actually keep them separated other than when you can totally control and supervise. This also helps protect the pup who will pick up on your son's anxiety. I would strongly recommend a puppy pen, which means your son and the puppy have the opportunity to slowly get used to each other. If you would prefer to have one room where only puppy goes then use a baby gate. When pup has some free play- which he obviously will need- then do this in a room spearate from your son. However, you can and should involve your son in any puppy training, like the early stages of lead training and so on, in that he can watch at a distance and the puppy will be focussed on yout the trainer and not your son. Don't let the pup jump on your son. If you take the pressure off your son will have the time and distance to acclimatise and with luck will get to the stage that he actively wants to be involved. I wouldn't make a big deal of it but let your son view access to the pup as a privilege not a given and try not to force a relationship. I can't help but think about the pup who is at a critical stage in his development and who also needs a lot of care and attention. He needs to be protected from any anxious outbursts your son might have as this could have a long lasting impact on his feelings about children and how 'safe' they are. This is another reason to keep them apart other than for very short, sweet interactions, preferably when something controlled is happening and where the pup will not try to engage with your son. Once your pup has had both vaccinations I would thoroughly recommend you sign up for a good training class that uses kind methods. It might be possible for your son to attend this. It would have to be explained to the class that your son is a bit dog phobic and to your son that since all the dogs are on a lead they cannot get close to him. This might work or might be a bridge too far- dependin on how anxious your son is. AS for your son's feelings, I wonder if he has been knocked by a friendly dog and got a fright or witnessed another child getting upset about a dog. I have to say that anxiety around dogs seems to be much more common amongst children than it was when I was a youngster. I am not sure why, but possibly if a child witnesses another child becomng very anxious around a dog it might have some kind of domino effect.

Disgusting behaviour and yes, cat poo is also a pain but these are the things we can see and recognise. Fox poo/urine, rat poo/urine, mouse poo/urine, squirrels, birds, snails, slugs...all carry potentially harmful, even lethal pathogens, and as for the things you can catch off other humans who touch stuff that is all around having failed to wash their hands, after urination/pooing/sneezing/coughing......

I think this is a difficult one as it is about a balance of freedoms. People who are severely dog-phobic will almost certainly encounter dogs in the park, but they might also encounter them on the streets too. It is not reasonable to ban dogs from parks and streets since this would impinge on the freedom of the dog owner and affect the wellbeing of the dogs. However, I think it is reasonable to have clearly marked areas of the park where dogs are kept on a lead and it should be mandatory to keep dogs on a lead on public streets etc.. Is it unreasonable to suggest a severely dog phobic person should therefore avoid areas of the park where dogs are allowed to free run offlead? I think overall the only realistic option for the severely dog phobic person is to seek treatment for their phobia and perhaps avoid areas where it is known dogs free run. I cannot see a practical alternative.

The only thing that bothers me about those sonic devices is the potential impact on other animals, both wild as well as pets.

Short of calling in pest control, I don't think there is. The noises can be disturbing when you are not quite sure what is going on and especially if you think it mght be a neighbour that is not monitoring/looking after a dog, but this is wildlife and they are just doing what foxes do. Now you know this you may find it easier to filter the noise out. I hope so. When I first heard these noises I thought something was being killed and eaten alive but now I know it's to do with mating, territory, looking after cubs, it doesn't bother me. In some ways it is nice to have some connection with the natural world in the city. Would good earplugs help?

If the noise sounds like any of these then its foxes.

I wish there was a section for truly valuable threads. I too salute those who have come on here with their personal stories. Enormous respect for you all. I imagine that PaulK is wishing the ground would open up and swallow him- a classic case of forum mouth before brainitis.

Sometimes EDF does feel a bit like a virtual House of Commons with its own little set of self-styled big beasts (or even BSD's). All good old testosterone loaded 'banter' and the inevitable riposte that if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. I do think that most see it for what it is. Just yawn and close your eyes if it gets too much- its only big boys playground stuff after all. Sometimes it can also be quite amusing. Other times it's well.... awfully predictable.

The issue is not M&S, it is the size and ambition of the application and how well it fits with the available space/location.

*Bob* Well said.

Try getting a photo if you can. If these guys are openly flouting H&E my guess its they'll lie about it anyway and it is your word against theirs.

bonaome, Yes, you're are right on that.

Well you on the one hand you accuse those wishing to lodge concerns as being dilettantes and on the other criticise them for asking for a little more time to gather information from more knowledgable sources. Councillors or planners do not always know everything about an application. There are good planning decisions and there are not so good and I imagine that the devil is often in the detail. So this is not a judgement of councillors or planners, it is simply being realistic in trying to make the very most of the consultation opportunity. Actually it won't take that long to get across this, but it is my understanding (I may be wrong) that most planning applications take about 8-13 weeks to be considered, less than seems to be the case here.

Huguenot, In your view. Though I think it is slightly absurd to portray the reasonable concerns of neighbours as malicious interference in process, delaying tactics and attempts to drive the freeholder to bankruptcy and ruin. That sounds much more conspiratorial. It will take some time to get through the application, to compare it with the last, as well as research some areas that appear to be problematic. A degree of planning savvy and know how is required to do that properly. A little more time, beyond 3rd January, would be helpful. We are talking days not months. However, James Barber indicates that this is not an absolute deadline, so we'll see. Have you read either application by the way?

Ho hum.

Huguenot, an opinion can be vague and ill-informed or it can be based on facts. The fact is that the last proposal was rejected, possibly in part because of pertinent objections raised by locals. On that basis there will be those who want to compare this new application to the last one, to see what the differences, if any, there are and to comment. These are not delaying tactics. It is also the case that planners occasionally miss details which are in breach of planning guidelines, but which are picked up by members of the public- I believe this was the case with the last application.

Marmora Man, Agreed. As you imply, licensing of cars and speed fines do not stop boy racers. However, existing legislation could do with tweaking (DDA etc.) The good dog owner would more than likely muzzle a seriously aggressive dog right now. The type of person that deliberately breeds and /or owns seriously aggressive dogs is probably going to break a number of laws as well. The inherent problem is in policing/monitoring/enforcement. I do think councils might implement byelaws where a dog should be kept on a lead ( and therefore under a degree of control)on the street, though the ne'er do wells would probably ignore that too.

I'm sorry but momentary showing of teeth to other dogs can be a perfectly normal part of canine beahviour and does not mean that the dog is 'aggressive'. After all, it is how some mothers teach their pups to back off the teat at weaning. Some dogs may become more aggressive when muzzled- I have certainly seen this for myself. With respect, I think finding a clear definition for aggression is difficult and once you begin to examine what we mean by 'aggression' the problem is clear.

It may have been a lurcher.

I'd worry slightly about what is meant by 'aggression'. Many dogs will show degrees of aggression in certain circumstances, especially to each other, but also as the result of poor ownership or handling. I'd also worry about handing the aggression assessment over to vets. On another note, it is a shame that councils are not more proactive in working with canine trainers and behaviourists who have a real service to offer the community. Finding community centres or parks that will allow space for any dog training is almost impossible, I wish the councils would drop the blinkers on this.

Seems like Bellenden may be the new ED/Northcross rd, with a number of new little indie shops. The Xmas street event was great. Think if M&S lands it probably will make the way for more chains to open in ED. Do we know if a chain store is also involved in the garden shop development by the station? I've heard it rumoured that some streets where old cracked pavement has been dug up and replaced with tarmac will be paved properly, but only if certain chains move in, so presumably the shops would in some way be funding this work?

Marmora Man, Thanks and it is good to know that those comments will be "taken into account in deciding the application". So immediate neighbours need a little more time to digest and consider the application properly, perhaps seeking advice about bits they do not understand so they can make informed comments.

Soutnwarks own guidelines on planning consultations: What can I comment on? The following checklist gives examples of the type of thing you can comment on that will be taken into account in deciding the application: Design and size of the development Use proposed Traffic generation and parking Will it be a nuisance because of noise etc Will it fit in with the surrounding area Will it affect my amenity in terms of daylight, privacy etc. How it complies with planning policies and guidance Possible Section 106 planning contributions or benefits for the community that could be secured from the proposal Any other relevant material planning or environmental issues.