James Barber

Hi Joskat, I don't think they're planning on using the Dulwich name in the title. Expanding the existing Bellenden School would be one option. It currently only has one form entry. Ofsted rate it as good. Perhaps hugely expanding a good school, i.e. tripling its size, while trying to improve it further wouldn't work. I would suggest it would be quite a feat. Dulwich Hamlet are an outstanding school. Replicating that should be relatively in comparison straight forward. Secondary school is the next big project.

Lib Dems have always condemned the views of EDL. This particular march was planned to start in Tooley Street going to Tower Hamlets and then back again. So as you say little to do with East Dulwich. As a liberal we believe people have a right to protest and counter protest. Personally I believe going to the counter protest feeds the media interest. So Lib Dem colleagues I;m told did attend - LAbour council leader perhaps wasn't omni present. The real issue of far right politics isn't EDL but UKIP. I and colleagues are on doorsteps this weekend taking about real politics and not EDL freak show. So I'm not sure what ramifications your talking about? Lib Dems in government are implementing policies the EDL are horrified by - gay marriage being a great example.

Hi Renanta, A number of times I've tried engaging you in private to work together on schools places. You've ignored those olive branches everytime. You seem only to want ot talk to me via the East Dulwich Forum - bizarre. Your comment about council officers and the proposed site is weird because I was speaking directly with Harris and they've not said this - either their project manager or director of projects during 121 conversations. The distance would be 400m as crow flies or 500m walking. It wouldnt encroach on any sports space but on land used previosuly for school buildings. Harris see no negative impact of doing this for existing or future pupils but do see synergies of sharing running costs - that leaves more money for teaching. We have a wider dulwich area shortfall of 215-235 reception places by September 2016. A second Harris Primary school there would be fully funded both building and running costs by the government and provide 60 places towards this shortfall. Harris have a significantly better track record of creating outstanding scholls and the speed at which they do this than Southwark or the other options suggested by you. So despite my huge anti free school angst when they were first proposed they appear a great solution for the actual children and families involved.

Yes, harharhar.

I agree and East Dulwich councillors are working on this at the moment and will announce something in 2-3 weeks time.

An application for a second East Dulwich Harris free primary school has just gone in. It would open September 2015. ** Update the application has been approved and just looking for a permanent site now. ** Most likely site would be spare space on Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich on Homestall Road filling a large black hole for primary school admissions. Our proposed target is that it will be outstanding as per Ofsted and in the top 10% of primary school for England & Wales both in terms of overall results and indivudual pupil progression. To meet these objectives it would be in the top 5%. Exactly the high aspirations we need locally on Eastern East Dulwich. IF you want to add your support and have children who need reception places September 2015 or 2016 please let me know. By September 2016 we'll have a shortage of 215-235 primary reception places in the Dulwich area. The already agreed first Harris Primary school for East Dulwich will provide 60 places, the Judith Kerr school just opened this week provides 25 based on distance, The new Dulwich Hamlet schools would relieve around 30 places from Goose Green School. The Bessemer Grange extra class will add 30 places. Expanding Ivydale will help slighly in our area. But this still leaves circa 60 extra required spaces. Hence the need for this second Harris primary school.

hi worldwise, But I doubt you drive to Lordship Lane?

The landlords in this case ar elocal and have been working really hard to find a good tenant for Lordship Lane. I hope this unit isnt proposed to become a non retail use. That owuld require a change of use and depart from the plans for the area.

Tragic. Local Police teams and local councillors are ging to meet to discuss road safety and agree a local action plan. WE all hope for it to be announced at the next Dulwich Community Council.

Hi jimmyraj, My interest is to ensure we have enough local school places. This proposed school will relieve pressure on East Dulwich schools - especially Goose Green School. The option Southwark Council is pushing I believe is not ideal for the area or the school. It risks Dulwich Hamlet not being the provider.

Hi rahrahrah, I agree with you generally. Classic in the mews along Underhill Road next to junction with Barry Road. They've all been designed with fake drives to pretend they have private parking. But allowing new homes to be built that will require parking, have no direct on street parking and no off street parking can only possibly lead to more parking stress. Hi BrandNewGuy, Great idea but take-up is never 100% and some will always own a car. So allowing this development will result in more parking stress. If the area had controlled parking then these homes could be formally declared car free and not allowed to have permits. But residents of East Dulwich have mad it clear they don't want to live in such an area. I think this planning application will be a really useful litmus test. If it is granted then it's clear we'll need a Neighbourhood Plan which brings extra powers to defend the areas suburban fabric and feel.

Hi Louisa, No I don't have any intel on this other than Waitrose have told me not them. The site would cause serious local problems: http://planningonline.southwark.gov.uk/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=9550159 The shop may or may not generate a lot of trips. For example a Magestic wine warehouse probably wouldnt be an issue as they never seem that busy. A popular supermarket chain could generate a lot of trips and over flow parking issues to the surrounding area atthe same time the leisure centre does - especially Saturdays. But this application is to add 6 x 1 bed flats and 6 x 2 bed flats with no on-site car parking, East Dulwihc Road has no parking for some way both sides. So clearly anyone with a car wanting to live in one of these homes will have to parking on side streets causing even more parking stress than already exisits. If you think this is a bad ideal please do email the case officer - [email protected] and cc me please. East Dulwich councillors have asked that this application be decided by a planning committee so all the issues can be fully aired in public.

Hi bcam, P68, Southwark Council try and present traffic/speed count data on its website: http://maps.southwark.gov.uk/connect/index.jsp?tooltip=yes I say try because I've often had to chase for counts to be added. Anyway, what I find curious is not traffic/speed counts for the section of road you've highlighted. We can see a cluster of injuries from people crossing Lordship Lane where it meets Heber Road and also Townley and Crystal Palace / Landells - www.crashmap.co.uk. I'm sure speed will play a part in these crashes. I'll ask if council officials have any or plan to collect any. Some vehicles do appear to be travelling well over 30mph but I'm a terrible judge of speed.

Another interesting idea is from Professor Dan Cable. Thinking about really positive experiences - Reflected Best Self Ever. Research so far solely at new starters and getting them to think about when they're at their best. Even just doing this 15minutes once during the induction phase at a new job has significant effects on productivity, retention and job satisfaction. It's likely that asking your child to think about when they're at their best will leave them in a positive frame of mind for starting school.

Hi unlurked, The current council administration led by Southwark Labour removed local planning committees and they all now meet in Tooley Street. So the planning inspectorate will have been told Tooley Street is where it will not cost any money to host and the planning officers are all there. I've yet to see a Planning appeal take place at any time other than the normal working day. They've all come from Bristol in the past with commensurate logistic issues.

This afternoon the junction will reopen. Hooray. Shortly afterwards the bus diversions should stop and everythnig back to normal.

Hi chauveau, It's with Father Gerry and the three interested cinema companies. I'll ask them all if their is anything they'd be happy to make public. Suspect they wont have though.

Cash is a useful emergency way of accessing buses. It makes buses more reliable for the user. I've helped pay for someone's cash bus journey late at night when their Oyster card didnt work rather than see them turned away. When my kids are a little older I'd expect them to idenepentaly travel by bus, but kids regularly lose things, having that emergency cash backup to access buses is reassuring. Not having it and I'd be tempted to drive and collect them for my own peace of mind. But most imporatnly do repsond to thep ublic consultaton. While it's nice to share views here they wont influence the final decision by TfL.

That's a bit disengenuous Renata. Southwark Labour led Council have to put a public request out for a provider to come forward to provide a new school at this site. It could be anybody - unusual religious group, anyone. Your administration is positively discouraging Dulwic Hamlet to take the free school approach where we could all guarantee Dulwich Hamlet would be the school provider. So the former Southwark Labour approach makes drumming up families lending their support unnecessary but risks an educational provider other than Dulwich Hamlet. On this basis are you really saying families should contact Labour ward councillors who are not proposing or supporting Dulwich Hamlet opening a free schoo? Equally are you suggesitng Dulwich Hamlet should rely on Labour ward councillors to drum up support for an apporahc they dont agree with?

Hi kittysailing, Yes, My understanding is September 2015 first admissions. Not clear if they'll 'only' start with reception or reception and Year 1. Hi Pugwash, Thanks for that bit of history. Hi Jack Kelly, No poster yet. But I'm sure it's on the way.

Hi JADED, 25 August I was told by council officers that they will review Plough Lane around all the issues you've highlighted. I'd be amazed if a council officer was directing Landells Road resident to use Plough Lane as suggested. Do you have a name you can email or PM of who it is alleged has suggested this?

DTZ, property agents for the Department of Education Educational Funding Agency, held site visits in East Dulwich last week to review the list of 10 possible sites to base a new local primary school at. The hospital site is still our preferred site. But all possible options have to considered.

So far 40 families have offered support for the Dulwich Hamlet to add a second school into the Bellenden School site. But ideally they'd have over 80. If you live within 800m of the proposed site please do contact them offering your support and hope to send your child there. They'll need you name, email address, home postcode, date of birth of the child/children who would expect to join reception Sept 2015 or 2016. Their email address is [email protected] and please do CC me to keep tracks of how they're doing so I can report back here.

Thanks Alex K, Good on them for publishing it. But I was especially annoyed that they printed something I knew to be wrong and they hadn't even had the nous to contact me before writing such rubbish.

Please beware a company that is causing me concern operationg locally - Utility Bill Saver. If you are approached by them please let me know. I dont;t think I can say more than that.