Louisa

No offence, but who exactly is being manipulated here? The media released information which should have been in the public domain 20 years ago, so this isnt exactly some sort of revelation. The public opinion of MP's has always been quite low anyhow, so this particular story does in no way do the electorate justice in the long run because we have been turned over time and time again. Sean who are you to say the electorate votes like a prat? In a democracy we should be able to overhaul an exposed corrupt system by using the ballot box. The main political parties manipulate the electorate in the run up to any election through the use of ads and propaganda for their own ends, so why not put a little faith in the people and allow them to decide what they think now that this information is out in the open? Why is it a concern of yours who is elected in their place? Surely the whole point of a representative democracy is that we are able to elect whoever we want, whether that be seen as rational or not. I know the liberal elite including the media and main political parties would not be impressed, but this should in no way sway anyone from voting for WHOEVER they want. Louisa.

Politicians of all colours have taken advantage of a system which was kept under wraps from public scrutiny for many years to satisfy the 'old boys' routine which has dominated this place for years. An election should be called immediately and if we are to re-gain any trust in our public servants we need to be able to take it to the ballot box. The sad reality of this whole affair will be the dumbing down of democracy and sadly the potential rise of extremist parties, something handed to them on a plate by the liberal elite. No one should suggest that all MP's are crooks, I think most rational people would agree with this, but the sad consequence is that we are all now being re conditioned into believing that this is the case, and the lower house has in no way made any moves to change this perception. Things are moving now, but only a general election will satisfy the need for an overhaul of our democractic representatives. Louisa.

Updates: *Wilkinson's are not looking at this site at the moment *Rumours that Iceland have now dropped out of looking at this site *Lidl deny interest in this space *M&S deny interest in this space *Next have no interest in moving to Peckham area (email) *H&M have stopped responding to emails after they agreed to visit the site (still unclear if they did/did not do so) So it seems we are back to square one again, unless of course H&M are still interested or indeed an independent. I will post back if H&M get back to me. Louisa.

I've never understood the high rents of property in ED. The transport connections into town are pretty dire out of ED compared to other local areas such as Peckham, Camberwell, Brixton et al. I wouldnt pay the overly inflated prices just to have a dingey victorian apartment round here believe me. Louisa.

I actually think that the culprits are often human. I saw a middle aged man on the smaller end of the Rye pooing (I presume) into a patch of bushes near the former lido. I know that the vast majority of dog owners are very responsible, and let us remember that it is not the fault of the dog but the owner. I often approach serial dog pooers and spitters (again something not many people on here talk about) locally, and it often ends in some sort of slagging match. If I ever see this chap I will make sure to approach him. Louisa.

*Bob* I would quite happily provide a few of my spare bedrooms as temporary cells for some of these law breakers. (My preference would be for muscley males, I am eagerly awaiting that knock on the door asking for my help. Louisa.

I agree with most aspects of this new attempt for a 'planning application', however, I would have prefered to see the building passed on to English Heritage or a similar group so that the property can be fully restored and used for the local community to reflect upon the unique history of the surrounding area. It seems a shame to be that it will be yet another cluster of small residential properties. Louisa.

These drugged up individuals wander past my abode every evening, and I make a distinct difference between p*ss artists and druggies, these people are almost certainly delving into illegal substances and in full view of young children and innocent christians such as myself. I wander what the overly represented number of plastic coppers are doing about this locally? Nothing from what I have so far seen. It seems that certain clusters of the new ED community find it perfectly acceptable to fall around the streets in broad daylight babbling c*ap in some semi-etonian dialect. They make me sick. Well done snorky for raising this one again. Louisa.

James you have tickled me on a very horrible day for me, thankyou. Back on topic, it is nice that we can get these sorts of good will stories once in a while, I take my invisible hat off to this unknown man. Louisa.

I am not a fan of additional bits to the mural. In all honesty it would have been better left as it was. Thats my opinion. Louisa.

Shame the area cannot be tidied up straight after, it looks a right mess. Louisa.

What I find more offensive is the way in which people find it so difficult to form an orderly queue at a bus stop or indeed pretty much anywhere these days. A little common decency does not go far wrong every once in a while, and I people who find it so difficult to wait their turn should be shuffled into the back of a white van and taken to the nearest zoo to live. Louisa.

Oh Sue for christs sake come on, you must be living in cloud cuckoo land if you can honestly say that Peckham is not a blatant breeding ground for crime, even the statistics show this! My criteria for 'unsafe' in London tend to be firstly an area with huge housing estates, usually because they are unlit and contain many dark dingy alleyways. cate, I have and would walk around Peckham Rye very ocassionally, but it isnt something I would do on a regular basis. Anywhere in inner London can be dangerous after dark, but as I stated above certain places have become breeding ground for violent crime and if you bunch of people on here find it so damn difficult to appreciate that is it any wonder the police are left with their hands tied behind their back half the time. Too much 'over analysis', how about we just stick more patrols on the streets and see what happens. Not rocket science. And lenk, just shut up please. Louisa.

Mikecg I am with you about the being on guard comment. As a single woman I have never felt comfortable walking the streets at night and I have to be honest here, certain parts of the area stick out like a sore thumb. Grove Vale is near the huge housing estate and it is one place I would never walk near alone after dark (i'm even dubious in daylight sometimes). Melbourne Grove may well be heading away from this area and many would expect it to be safer, dont be fooled. It is a dark side street which has few people walking down it after dark. I came very close to an incident down here many years ago, long before any apparant decrease in violent crime locally. I also have to say, and I know many of you disagree, Peckham is one of the fundamental reasons this area is so sensitive to violent crime. I would not walk north of Peckham Rye after dark even on a well lit road such as Rye Lane. It is an unsafe area and I think it is about time the police got down to the route of the problem by putting a very heavy police presence along the streets of Peckham after dark, and I mean late night foot patrols as well as marked vehicles. I guarantee that much of ED's problems can be directly attributed to the god awful state Peckham has been left in for so many years now, it sounds like scaremongering but it really is not, I find Peckham to be at times almost lawless. I also wish to send my best regards to the poor soul involved in this incident, and I hope she has a swift recovery. Louisa.

I only realised they had finished it when I went for an early morning stroll today. I have to say it is very impressive and I used all of the equiptment too. It maybe isnt quite as controlled as a 'proper' gym, but everything looks great and works fantastically well and best of all its all FREE!! I recommend it for anyone on a credit crunch busting diet. Louisa.

From West Dulwich station you can get out to Orpington and then catch a bus into some lovely little places like Crockenhill or Badgers Mount, with farmers market local produce some lovely pubs and garden centre and some decent bike rides/walks. Louisa.

By the roundabout and next to the old sweet shop soon to be dentist. Is this building also included in the new dentist which will be opening up, or will this be something else? I saw builders putting shelves up in the windows this afternoon. Louisa.

I was told by a friends friends dog that they may well be pulling the museum down and building a giant multistorey car park across that whole area soley for the use of people who want to take their kids to that new sand pit in the kids playground opposite. What a community spirited idea. Louisa.

My beef with Sainsbury's is the suspicious looks you get from the security staff when you've done nothing wrong, and yet i've seen people leaving the place with the security alarms going off and the security guys just sit there and dont even chase after people to double check. Shocking place. I have never been a fan of overpriced understaffed and trolley charging Sainsbo's and I find Tesco in Elmers End, Morrisons in Peckham and Asda on the Old Kent Road the best places to do the weekly shop and get a decent service. Louisa.

Brendan I am with you on this one. If we all just accept things as being a given there is nowhere to go from that point. I do not align myself with the Dail Mail scaremongering types who like to make a mountain out of a molehill, but I would like to think that people in our community were prepared to stand up and be counted if they believed for whatever reason crime rates had gone, whether that be as a result of fear of crime because a neighbour has been mugged or burlged recently, or because they themselves have been a victim of crime. I do not personally see any major increase in crime locally, in fact I would say that this area has never been safer, but nowhere is recession proof, and naturally crime rates do increase at a time of economic turmoil and high unemployment. I am no more fearful of crime after reading this thread, but I certainly keep an eye open and am always on my guard as anyone should be who lives in a major city. Louisa.

I have a feeling the units near the Plough will open up under the name of Co-Operative as opposed to Somerfield, and if this is the case i'm not knocking it. I am pleased to see Tesco starting work on the Rye Lane Tesco, it is a welcome addition and will hopefully attract passing trade from the station of an evening via the lane itself. Maybe if the increased footfall takes place, we will end up with a selfridges as well as H&M and all other shops. Anyone want rehash the simply food agenda? speak now or forever hold your peace! Louisa.

???? I quite agree, the predictable response of attempted sarcasm and simon cowell style judging was at best mediocre. Better luck next time I say! Louisa.

I used to love the old cafe at Dulwich Park, but the last time i went to the current incarnation at this lovely old building I was appauled at the prices and the sheer lack of customer service. Overpriced and generally 'not on the ball', although they are reasonably friendly. Not been to the Peckham Rye one because I was appauled that those old prisoner of war buildings were pulled down to make way for it, part of out national heritage gone forever so that a bunch of middle class people can sit around paying over the odds for tea and coffee whilst gleefully sneering at the rest of us. Anyway, rant over. Take a flask next time and a sandwich box, sorted! :-) Louisa.

Formerly the Edinburgh Castle and then something else that i'm sure a yuppy on here will remember the name of. On Nunhead lane near the traffic lights. Louisa.

I'm not being funny, but what kind of idiot waits for an hour to be served food? I would have waited 20 minutes tops and then walked out or if I was that desperate for a stuipid pizza gone home and made one myself! Some people! Louisa.