first mate

But now you are breaking your own 'rules' and guidance on post length. Do be consistent Mal and sorry if you are missing the love. I read your post and those sound like positive moves. Will check out the links.

The devil is in the detail, so Rocks please do continue to make your posts as long and detailed as you choose. I don't think any of us care much for the high- handed comments of our self-styled 'chief of post writing'. They would make their case so much better if they dropped the needling. I thought the Guardian article on Paris was interesting and definitely a wake up call. I guess this is what can happen when you force through change at too rapid a pace, there is too much unforeseen fallout and what seemed a good intervention in theory becomes the opposite in reality.

That's good. However, you must try to get the bad work identified and rectified at this builder's expense and don't let him near your wall. Take delivery of the door, since you paid for it but, again, make sure it is worth the money. If not, send this guy something in writing immediately. I agree with other posters, you need advice and fast on where you stand legally. Until then, don't pay him and don't let him do anything else.

Problems in Paris https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/23/pedestrian-jungle-the-row-in-paris-over-rented-e-scooters

Do not proceed with this guy. If electrics are falling off, the wiring itself may be faulty and that is potentially dangerous. Take photos of all the work and faults you can see. Hopefully you have not paid for the job in full, upfront? Do not pay any more money. Did you have a contract or schedule of works with the builder? If there are plans to knock through an external, supporting wall then I'd think a structural engineer would be involved to do calculations. The work will need to be signed off by Building Control. I'd drop this builder and look to get someone else in. If you have a schedule of works/ contract you may be able to take this guy to the small claims court, showing where he is in breach and costs to you of remedial work. Cupboards stuck to wall with glue. He sounds like a cowboy. Listen to your instincts.

Words fail. This is disgraceful. They really do not care about pollution or the truth. So, traffic count data that has been used to support the notion that car use has gone down since introduction of LTNs, is a massive lie. I hope those in the habit of posting 'your daily reminder' notes about data showing traffic evaporation, wake up and smell the coffee.

Heartblock, Did you ever find out more on this?

Careful, Mal or Claus the Forest Hill Cycle Campaigner (dunno) is easing things away from LTNs again.

Pretty shocking (or maybe not) they would lie so blatantly about reasons why building work was held up at Charter. I had to ask because it seemed so unlikely that the partly dismantled Chateau site would have been used as a Pandemic Vaccination and test site.

What I love about this conspiracy theory is that it simultaneously requires Southwark Council to be totally inept and a cabal of scheming geniuses. Scheming, yes; geniuses...err, no.

Well, it is being given as a major reason for the delay in building work through the Pandemic. I stand to be corrected; does anyone recall getting a vaccination at the Charter School/ Chateau site during lockdown?

EX Dulwicher said: "So for a CPZ, the purpose is to temporarily limit the parking supply to prevent the residential areas around schools and stations in particular from turning into Piccadilly Circus for 2hrs every morning and evening". But if that is the only reason why are they seeking to extend CPZs everywhere (that is geographically and on timings?). Back to LTNs, traffic on main roads is worst it has ever been. I have never known it as bad. We need some decent pollution monitoring, as fumes from idling traffic will travel, affecting air quality further afield.

Just reading. Was anyone aware of the Chateau being used in the Pandemic as a vaccination site? I thought that was done at TJ. Is the Chateau going to be retained? I hope so.

Heartblock, I feel for you, especially as part of the reason for making Melbourne Grove a blocked off LTN was because it has the school entrance. Mind you, I suppose they would argue that the 'market' they insisted on foisting on the street gets in the way now. The little chess moves on their board are so obvious.

Being disabled, I find your comment about disabled rights very nasty. I challenge you to take a few days in my situation and see how f@(/ing inconvenient lime bikes sprawled across the pavement really are ! You shouldn't have to even reveal that to make the case. Many of us, I am sure, have personal experience of disability. Hence the strength of feeling. And again, many on this thread also cycle, but they are not sanctimonious, myopic, campaigners.

You're Claus from the Forest HIll Society and I claim my £50. A proflic cycle campaigner who attempted to implement a mini LTN at Forest Hill station which was soon reversed when it was unworkable. Aaah. Now it makes sense. Claus the cycle campaigner.

Well, bike dumping is literally on the increase and there are certainly types of crime and violence increasingly associated with e-bikes and scooters.

There was never a major issue with parking until it was created. It is largely a manufactured problem.

Sorry if my objection to fireworks is inconvenient for you. But no, I can't just 'get over it'.

Fireworks tonight. Wonder what the occasion is?

Does anyone know how much this review will cost?

Perhaps not a good idea of public to be messing around clearing public drains? Rats are a thing and Weil's is dangerous. If this is a problem area both Council and water authority should be alerted and whichever most relevant sort it.

In summary, This is not just about carbon footprints. Animal welfare should also be considered and that includes wildlife. Nonetheless, that said, I do not begrudge a few organised events every year on specific dates, preferably with low noise fireworks now available. Again, if pet owners know then they can avoid. The poor wildlife just has to cope but, unlike pets, they can within reason escape and/or hide. It is the impromptu, without warning, back garden extravaganzas that are the real problem, invariably the most gratuitously noisy and 'bangy'.

Not sure where you think the misunderstanding is. Bikes and scooters are being left lying around in a way that hinders Active Travel and those less mobile/disabled. Thus far there seems no plan to deal with that. There seems to be a body of evidence in other countries that the bike/e-scooter-plonk-it-anywhere-when-you-are-done syndrome, gets worse not better without some form of intervention and regulation.

Perhaps we only need hire e-bikes and dump the e-scooters before the local area becomes a dumping ground for them.