first mate

Cllr McAsh rounded off the last scrutiny session with his Land Commission Report where they are looking at use of MOL, Parks etc.. for "social good". His parting shot returned to his Streets for People initiative where he said he'd like to see table tennis played on the streets "we just have to get rid of the cars first". I was staggered to find out that there is a waiting list of 7500 for cycle hangars in the borough, at a projected cost of 6.5 million. There were some rather woolly ideas on how this demand could be reduced.

Just listening to presentation by Cllr McAsh in Sept Environment Community Engagement Scrutiny session. He indicates that aside from online consultation on CPZ (which, if I am correct is open to anyone travelling through Southwark, so not resident), the aim is to visit one in every ten households/ per street to "consult". He claims it will be the most extensive consultation exercise ever but does it not give the council the opportunity to cherry pick the household? We already know that they have considerable data on household views, car ownership etc.. For those of you who know much better how consultations work, or should work, is there potential inherent bias in this chosen method? McAsh flagged a moral and legal imperative to consult and mull over the results before taking action- a statement I also found interesting.

I do agree, although I don't want to pressure him to change his mind. I suspect he knows that parking pressure will kick in and residents fold, once everywhere else is CPZ...he's playing the long game.

Fascinating presentation in September Environment Scrutiny session by ENSO rep on developing sustainable tyres. He moves into car territory and says that reducing 30-20mph does not really make a difference to emissions and particulates, it is the acceleration speed and driver behaviour, which is harder to regulate. Hmmm. Cllr Newens looks a bit shifty at this point. Margy also later explains that what Southwark really want in the borough is no tires at all! I'd be interested in a pollutant comparison between a small petrol car with sustainable tyres and the heavier EV. Does such data exist? The other point I found interesting is that, according to the ENSO guy, road surface is also crucial. This adds another dimension. Car users are not directly responsible for road surfaces. Fully accept the correlation between lower speed and fewer deaths from RTAs.

Whatever the global situation, it is evident that Southwark Council will be gunning for you whatever kind of car you own. Listen to the last part of the Environment scrutiny session in July, where Cll Margy Newens monologues about how policy and penalties on tailpipe emissions will likely be superseded by scrutiny of EV emissions ( tires, brake, road dust particulates) " we got it wrong" she says. So think twice before investing in an EV because once the scales are tipped in favour of EV ownership, Southwark will be knocking on your door.

So TW have managed in just a few months to close Lordship Lane and now EDG? We probably need fewer side returns, second and third bathrooms, and more investment in pipe by TW.

I agree about the unplanned bit and alcohol etc may blur judgment of time as well as behaviour. However, I would still maintain that just because it feels good does not make it right or warranted. I agree, 12/1 am is the time audible partying should cease.

You have a point. I guess this is why pubs close at a certain time. It is unreasonable to think it is okay to keep people up late into the night. I cannot see a good reason why any party should be later than 1am, at the maximum.

I beg to differ. In an urban area 5am is totally unacceptable. If everyone took the view that it is only once then, given the size of the population, that could be all night parties every week. What if people are ill or babies trying to sleep? If you want to party so loudly it is keeping others awake then go to a night club.

On the contrary, Legal Alien makes a very balanced and convincing case for overreach of legal powers by this, and possibly other councils. They are moving forward on the assumption that they will get away with it. Let's see.

The issue with this line is the massive assumption that a society and infrastructure that has slowly developed over decades around car use can simply be changed overnight. It can work if you are very wealthy/privileged but for most it increases anxiety and stress at a time many are struggling.

LA and P68, spot on. This requires further examination.

Indeed and it is council indifference to majority opinion and experience that ought to be of concern to many of us. I agree with you LA that this/ our council is so desperate to increase revenue that it may have overstepped its legal powers in choosing punishment of car ownership as the mechanism by which to make up financial shortfall.

Interesting to see. However, also of note is that the council ( Aspire party) is also overriding resident opinion and removing LTNs against their wishes. I was impressed by a piece Legal Alien wrote on another thread suggesting our council is extending its scope to interfere in traffic measures in ways that may not be legal. That aspect deserves greater scrutiny.

The central issue is that many people do need to use a car. The social vice line is simplistic.

Sorry Ex, or should we just call you "Daddy" from now on? I cannot see where Cllr McAsh makes reference to CPZ in the manifesto in the article you link to? There was no mention of CPZ in the manifesto. Borough-wide CPZ was never a given. A 'no' option is perfectly reasonable in a consultation on the matter, in fact I believe that Nunhead residents were told by councillors that they would have the option to say 'no' to CPZ in another consultation, but that CPZ would happen anyway. So explain then why the about turn on including the, as you frame it, irrelevant and "stupid" option to say no to CPZ? Why would the councillors bother?

Spartacus' point stands though. We need a proper consultation where a complete range of options on CPZ are given, including no to CPZ. We also need a council that listens to all its residents. They are not doing either.

If it had wheels on it it would not need to be kept in the same place all the time, potentially freeing up that space for use by others, at times. As it is, it seems that car owners will be subsidising/ paying for these permanent structures to be on the street.

Inspired by Malumbu's Peter Skellern post on another thread, I wonder if we can fashion some Alanis Morrisette style lyrics in tribute to Chicken's latest and revelatory post "LTN Ironic"? An LTN was opened in 2021 Despite flawed data it's still going strong But the council are determined 'cos it's worth a few pence On the boundary it brings exhaust fumes to your white picket fence And isn't it ironic, don't you think? It's like acid rain on your wedding day It's free parking when you've already paid It's the weasel words that you just couldn't take And who would've thought, it figures

Actually that did make me laugh. But, I think you need to get a bit more with it, Mal. Of course, you may have had another career as a DJ of a certain type and vintage, where you only ever refer to women as laaaydeeez.

Bless you Sue. That is a brilliant question.

"man or lady" ? Interesting choice of words Mal. Most would say man or woman. Nothing is secure when parked on the street, many cars are stolen or vandalised, as you know. Storage which must be paid for may be a bit more secure. But seems clear that car owners will be required to subsidise that storage or, as you have suggested, pay for free, secure bike storage. Quite how you conclude that someone who is a self-professed cyclist is anti cycling is quite a leap.

Can you quote where anyone who is against local LTNs has said the "Council do a perfect job of implementing LTNs"? Sorry, cannot resist, is "implementing LTNs ironically" now Southwark Council policy? It's a fascinating idea and may well be true. Please tell us more about the aims and objectives of implementing traffic flow measures ironically?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-and-what-to-do/ The above was reviewed in March 2023 and next review 2026, so this is nearest official advice at moment, I reckon. Happy to be corrected though.

But if he is hiring vehicles out that must mean they are not there much of the time and others can use the spaces. Also, it sounds like there is not much parking pressure in your street at the moment? Currently, anyone can park ( or store as you call it) a bike on most streets for free.