Jenny1

I love the fact that East Dulwich has all the virtues of small town living - a sense of relaxed, down to earth friendliness, a tremendous variety of people and a slightly idiosyncratic mix of small shops and businesses - and yet it's strategically placed for all the attractions of central London. I would argue in fact that East Dulwich is more 'properly' what a small town should be than most small towns .....this makes me very cheerful!

Thanks for drawing our attention to this Renata. I've just signed up. A page pops up after you've signed inviting you to make a donation to the organisation managing the petition. I think it's important to point out that while many people may wish to make such a donation you can sign the petition without doing so.

Hi Pugwash I just wanted to pick up on this point the original > suggestion of the (East Dulwich Hospital) porters lodge is probably not > ideal as it is very small. Yes - that's what I thought initially too. But then I learnt that actually it was the local police 'Safer Neighbourhood Team' who'd identified the lodge as a good interim measure for them - until something else can be built. The point I came away from the Dulwich Community Council meeting with is that none of this will happen (ie a continued police presence in the short or long term in the area) unless people speak up now. Police budgets are being cut by 20 per cent so nothing is guaranteed. So if it is something people feel strongly about it's worth emailing Caroline Pidgeon and Valerie Shawcross (London Assembly Members) before the end of the month to let them know that you want some kind of police office presence in the area once the Lordship Lane station closes.

For me there was one clear urgent action point out of the meeting. The Police Borough Commander for Southwark came along to the meeting and said that Lordship Lane police station is due to close. He said that if anyone is interested in lobbying for some kind of continued police regular office hours presence in East Dulwich once the station goes then it's a good time to speak up now. The London Assembly is due to challenge Deputy Mayor Stephen Grennhalgh on his plans for police reorganisation (which include the closing of stations) at a meeting in October. Caroline Pidgeon and Valerie Shawcross are the Assembly Members to contact about that. caroline.pidgeon@london.gov.uk and valerie.shawcross@london.gov.uk. There is some point to doing this (if it's an issue that concerns you) because there could be a way of getting an interim police office on the East Dulwich hospital site and then - when the site is redeveloped - something more permament there.

Bigalgray - why the need for unkindness?

I left early - 21.30 - but the meeting went on for a bit longer. Yes - I think it would be a good idea to get minutes or a summary. Robin (who chaired the meeting) is probably best equipped to do that. Though I'm happy to come up with an amateur effort if needed.

I agree. It was an interesting meeting. Some good speakers talking about a variety of issues that matter. ie how to lobby to keep some kind of regular police office presence locally once the Lordship Lane station closes, and a report from the NHS on their (nascent) plans for the East Dulwich Hospital site. I'd recommend these meetings if you're interested in getting a full briefing on key local issues.

I would echo those who fear that the arrival of a chain like M and S could damage the valuable mix of shops we currently have on Lordship Lane and might help turn East Dulwich into a rather generic, less pleasant place to live. M and S is fine as it goes - but it really cannot offer anything we don't already have....and risks therefore damaging existing retailers and perhaps creating parking problems. The last thing we want is parking restrictions having to be introduced - it would spell death for much of what we like about Lordship Lane I think. One of the good things about the area is that it feels more like a proper town than an anonymous suburb. This is - I believe - because there seems to be a genuinely broad mix of people of various types and ages living here. This sense of a more 'real life' environment - not one dominated by one particular type or age of person - is fostered by the character and quality of the independent retailers we have and also the fact that there are shops - like Iceland - which cater for people who have to budget carefully. I haven't read the whole thread - so I don't know if this is an option - but I would have thought the continuation of Iceland would be a very good thing. It offers something that other shops on Lordship Lane don't. And that's what we need - as much diversity as possible. For those who want ready meals there's Sainsbury's - also some of the indy retailers do lovely ones if you have the cash - and of course if you're commuting there's M and S at London Bridge. It's the character of Lordship Lane that makes East Dulwich such a wonderful place to live. I've been here for 15 years - long enough to really value the retailers who kept the place going when the area was less fashionable - and also those who have arrived more recently and made it possible to buy any food you could possibly want without having to venture into a supermarket. We have to be quite thoughtful and careful if we want to retain the things that make East Dulwich special.