James Barber

Hi Vik, We had a fair selection process and the parents Steering Group scored both Haberdashers' and Charter School against the same criteria. This resulted in a unanimous decision to go with Haberdashers'. We invested a lot of time meeting and considering the Charter School. Hence my view that Haberdasher's are the best partner for our new school. So yes I am disappointed that they have decided to try and replace our decision with their own decision. They clearly don't want increased competition. It will be hugely distracting from them in a year they should expect an Ofsted inspection. It will complicate the whole process for everyone.

Hi bornagain, I'm sorry this came across in this way. A lot of time has been spent meeting with the Charter School, Haberdashers' Aske's and other school providers. The final decision was a scoring exercise to compare those first two and their ability to provide a new secondary free school in East Dulwich opening 2016. Habderdasher's came a very clear first. I had hoped Charter would accept this gracefully. Part of the risk of The Charter School applying for a new school is the Department for Education saying why not dramatically expand your current school. Go up rather than adding another site. I'm really not sure existing Charter school parents would want this risk. Equally The Charter School last had an Ofsted inspection five years ago. So they are due another one. These are major undertakings. Hatcham College has just had one. All these factors and more were taken into account when we decided to go with Haberdashers' Aske's.

Thanks rahrahrah.

Today I can announce that the secondary school provider we've decide to go with is Haberdashers' Aske's Federation and to model our new East Dulwich secondary school on their Hatcham College (minus the primary school part). Great news for our area. Sadly The Charter School who we didn't choose to go with have launched what appears a spoiling campaign.

Hi Vik, But having another Charter won't give people more choice but more quantity. They also didn't come out as well when we compared them to another provider. They don't have experience of the free school process. They originally thought they could bang out an application in a few weeks. So we took advice from the Free School Network. It's all rather sad. This isn't a strategy for the school but a reaction to not being chosen to provide our school.

No, its not The Charter School. We did a scoring exercise with between The Charter School and the provider we unanimously chose to go with - they'll be announced later today. TCS scored significantly less points than the provider we've chosen. This is really unfortunate and can inly distract Charter coming into an Ofsted visit. This appears a spoiling exercise. Until this campaign was ignited Charter hadn't been thinking of this. Creating another Charter is a great idea. Just not on the doorstep of the existing one!

Hi TE44, The provider has asked that the Steering Group helps further until the free school application in made in November. Planning a public meeting when they have more capacity when exams start which fortuitously is post the local elections. The Steering Group will help with that and delivering lots of leaflets.

Hi KK, I've Pm'd for more details. Hi Worldwiser, A ticket office should be able to provide much more bespoke service. So keen to keep it open and staff keeping an eye locally on our station. For run of the mill tickets I would suggest topping up Oyster cards over the internet wherever possible to avoid queues. But both machines should be reliable. The cover on one looks very Heath Robinson and tacky. Let me ask the train operating company.

I have to disagree with you SteveUK1978. In the planning application NetworkRail stated their design could only ever cope with 15mins train delays. WE've all experienced longer delays than 15 mins. When it happens the station will be unsafe so they will close it. they've replaced total coverage of terminating platforms with partial coverage. Windy rain the passengers get wet. This isn't the civic public building to represent a great London in the 21st century. It's mean spirited dross designed to create shopping malls rather than great public transport interchange that lifts the spirits.

What depressing news. Both council and external educational improvement managers have told me that the ideal size of a primary school is two or three forms of entry per year. On this advice expanding Ivydale to four forms of entry is at best a poor decision that will affect the live chances of 120 children in each year group. Clearly a better decision would be a new school. A new school would also have the merit of attracting 100% new capital funds to the area - so we're losing out by at least ?4.5M.

London Bridge used to have 19 platforms. They closed 3 to make room for the signalling box and staff car parking in the 1970's. They closed 3 more at the start of all these works (which also killed amongst other services the SLL). So clearly if they needed 16 platforms before and are trying to run services with 3 less platforms and at the end of all this will only have 15 platforms then they obviously create a near impossible operational conundrum. Have you noticed how British Transport Police are now hanging around to discourage passengers anger. The cattle pens. The narrow platforms. Not welcoming.

I've been supporting a leaseholder in Walworth doing this. Please email me and let me see if I can help.

Hi Sue, No problem. It was a useful reminder. I get so many emails that sometimes I read it and don't get a chance to reply if more complicated and they can get lost in the deluge. Hi Zenoria, I had an email from the developer last week telling me how misguided my objections would be to a restaurant/bar on your street. They even had the cheek to tell me the ED Warehouse failed rather than the owner made a huge rent hike!

Initial timetable for making our school happen has been agreed with our chosen school provider. They have one final internal governance hurdle to go. Steering Group has agreed its own Terms of Reference.

Hi Sue, Apologies for not responding sooner. I took some time of off work this morning to try chatching up with my councillor emails. I gt around 100 a day from my role as a councillor. I also have a regular day job, and extremely understanding family.

Hi Arthur Facksake, Yes and no. I've spoken to five cinema chains over the last 4 years. Blanked by one - Bermondsey Shortwave. Other 4 initially very keen. Picturehouse have taken it forward and come up with this site. But I've discussed several other sites.

Hi BNG, HAve asked. IT makes me think these types of works should come with a warranty period of 5 or 10years. but then some have done this effectively via PFI which I'd find hard to stomach. Either way have report it AGAIN!

As long as the front fence doesnt go above waist height you can change it as you wish.

We had expected to announce our agreed school provider by 31 March. We're all bursting to tell you. Our preferred provider has been chosen but we're awaiting final confirmation from them which is delayed until Tuesday 8 April. Unavoidable delay. Please be patient.

" Wednesday 16 April 2014 Offer letters will be posted by first class to all parents/carers who have applied on time. You will also be able to view your offer details in the evening on the eAdmissions website Wednesday 30 April 2014 Should you wish to reject the offer of a school place allocated to your child, you must complete and return the notification slip attached to your offer letter by this date. No action is required if you want to accept the school offered to your child. "

Forest hill councillors havent been told anyting yet. But they observe that Horniman is a one form entry school curreently. That its had a number of bulge classes and it may be about how hard it owuld be to digest another year of bulge clasess on such a small site with harming all the other childrens experiences.

I've pinged an email to the local councillors in case they've been told.

Hi Heart108, Please email me your specific questions and I'll get specific answers from council officials. I'm an opposition councillor so don't have all the information and don't get to make the decisions around this. OI find the policies just an infuriating but officers aren't mendacious in how they decide things.

Not submitted yet but can;t be long as they plan to open in time for Christmas.

Hi heart108, Speed bumps cost around ?1,800 each. highway maintenance can either be undertaken just before the top surface fails - its really cheap to do at this point as you skim a tiny amount from the top and relay it. OR you can wait until you have potholes and cracks and then its much more involved and significantly more expensive. Clearly it's better to renew a road at the former stage than at the latter state. Hence why people wonder what on earth is going on when what appear good roads get renewed and other that look a state don't. Once they're a state they cost loads to fix and waiting a little longer won't make much difference to the cost of renewal. BUT ideally with a 10 year ?1bn. capital plan southwark could afford to catch-up on all its highway repairs. That's what my lot would do if we take control of the council 22 May.