James Barber

Hi GinaG3, You need a reason to appeal. So if you think a wrong address or status for your child - special requirements of somekind - then do appeal.

Hmm. This is part of the outcome of the ?108,000 report Southwark Council purchased. I was disappointed that the part-time cabinet councillor felt the need for such a report stating obvious if partial options. That they then rubbished publicy the partial options and are now consulting on them. Go figure. The options are incomplete and framed to an agenda that many disagree with. At the Dulwich Community Council last week most in the audience were very angry that they were being asked about these partial options and specifically ALMO's again for example (ALMO = Arms Length Mgmt Organisation a way of insulating the ruling political party from housing complaints). The PR cost for all this is probably higher than the original ?108,000. This is a real shame as the council already has existing avenues to ask it tenants and leaseholders for their views and instead of trying to bypass them because they don't like the responses should just listen and take on board that the housing options report is flawed and a monumental waste of money. You did ask uncleglen and I think I've been reserved in my feedback!

Hi Freddy1929, So I would suggest we have a massive campaign IF the promises made are broken or an unsuitable replacement is proposed. But protesting essentially against change because we don't like change is likely to make any future campaign much harder and more dissmissible as just a bunch of people from East Dulwich who don't like change complaining again. I'd counsel to keep our powder dry for when we really need to campaign on this issue.

My experience is that it's down to the doctor. I've had 2 months complained and then had 3 months and then occassionally it reverts to 2 months. Clearly for many conditions they should give out 6 month prescriptions but they must have some financial incentive to inconvenience patients, waste doctor and pharmacist time. I'd suggest you complain to your GP practice and if you don't get satisfaction complain to [email protected]

So people want a petition to keep a crown post office as is that isnt open when many want to use the service and is making a loss and isnt likely to be replaced until Spring 2015. Vs. a franchise post office with probably longer opening hours, providing the same services but connected to a related business so they get some customer crossover and make a profit. I must be missing something. This doesnt feel like a threat to the well being of East Dulwich businesses or its residents. Of the things going on in East Dulwich I'm spending my time serving residents casework, fighting to get new schools,trying to ensure we have Dulwich Police officers spending time in Dulwich, trying to resolve the nursery space crisis and helping local businesses.

Hi Renata, No, the number has been revised because of an error. They had 11 people not allocated to a ward. In resolving that the numbers changed. Hi Fuschia, Yes, those Ofsted verdicts arent inspiring. The "requires improvement" grade replaces the Satisfactory grade. But their Director of Primary Schools is Sir Robin Bosher who led the Fairlawn success but more importantly led the London Challenge programme for school improvement http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18459553 - that's what he got the Sir for. So they should be great once they've established themselves.

Hi UncleBen, IF publishing the story on my blog, updating my Facebook page and tweeting about it and ensuring the story is run in local newspapers is keeping quiet about this then I'm baffled what you'd expect me to do to make a big song and dance about it. I was expecting to also put a paragraph in SE22 but the Police retreating from Dulwich bounced it from the May issue. Hi maxxi, Yes their were big concerns about losing the Borough High Street 'crown' post office. The replacement on Southwark Bridge Road I personally found better. Shorter queues and more helpful and personable staff. Hi Lane lover, I agree. We have a chance to get an improved service. Hi edhistory. Possibly. Of the 370 Crown Post Offices they plan to franchise 70 of them to make them profitable. Two issues. One is will we have the same or better service - yes. Will the staff find equally good T&C's. That I'm not clear on. They must have excellent skills in processing cash and counter systems. So I'd be hopeful they'd either TUPE to the new provider or find bank or other such work. But we do need a workforce that flexes for the peaks and troughs if we 're to have much shorter queues. Regards james. UncleBen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What Louisa said too. Kept quiet on EDF about this > one huh JB. Sounds like you want it to happen? > Mind you, i don't think waitrose do PO counters. . > .

Southwakr Admissions have updated me on the numbers who didnt get one of the preferences - instead of 138 it's actually 145: Brunswick Park 3 Camberwell Green 4 Cathedrals 1 Chaucer 3 College 31 East Dulwich 7 East Walworth 1 Faraday 2 Grange 7 Livesey 8 Newington 6 Nunhead 7 Oval 2 Peckham 6 Peckham Rye 27 Riverside 6 Rotherhithe 4 South Bermondsey 5 South Camberwell 2 Surrey Docks 1 The Lane 5 Village 7 Total 145 For our East Dulwich area 72/145.

Hi GinaG3, Your short term home schooling idea does carry the risk that you might not find a suitable school place in the timescales you need or want. If I were you I'd ask the schools you're most interested if places typically come up much later than this September from people moving etc. And thewn base your decision on the probabilities. Not an easy decision. US friend who home school rate the experience for kids and parent highly but it is very demanding. I hope this helps.

That is terrible uncleglen. But more people are injured by a factor or two by motor vehicles mounting pavements than by cyclists riding on the pavements. But that's not much consilation if you've been so unlucky to be struck by a reckless cyclist.

I've just seen two planning applications for dropped kerbs. So call 020 7525 5000 and ask to speak to the duty plannnig officer.

Hi schoolswap, Personal swapping would be out of the question. It could lead to a market with payments.

Gina, Just to reiterate lightweight - please do call Southwark School Admissions ASAP 020 7525 5337.

Sadly the Met have sold the old East Dulwoch Police station - junction Crystal Palace Road/UPland Road. I've had a number of queries to the Met asking how a developer could buy the current Police station so we can encourage a more community minded developer to buy it and provide a new Police base. If anyone can work out who to talk to at the Met about property.

The school place crisis is partly around local authorities not encouraging free school providers to build new schools where they are needed and partly about closes schools in the past. The latter doesn't apply to Southwark recent (last 15 year) history. We need 2-3 new local schools. ED cllrs have encouraged Judith Kerr to site locally and have persuaded Harris Federation to apply for two new local primary schools. These together would solve our primary school place crisis. Harris Primary schools located away from East Dulwich - two in Peckham and one in Haringey- might well have spare places. But I'm really not sure the relevence to East Dulwich. Or is someone suggesting ED kids should be forced to take up places over the statutory 2miles in Peckham? Zamboo, Couldnt agree more we don't yet have universally good or outstanding schools which would really help.

Some months ago i was asked about a rumour post office staff were telling some customers about their 'crown post office" closing. A resident told me via a PM and it only took a few weeks to ascertain that. I blogged about this in late March - http://jamesbarber.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/03/28/lordship-lane-post-office-replacement/ Yes the post office will close IF a new franchise post office can be created on Lordship Lane. We've been promised in writing that the replacement will offer exactly the same services. The rationale. Currently for every ?1 of comission and revenue towards their operating costs they spend ?1.48. Clearly this isn't sustainable. My personal experiences are such francises can work well. Until last autumn my day job was near borough tube. The crown post office was closed and the replacement franchise I found gave me a better more personal service. Timescales. The want to find a business partner and have a franchise in place by Spring 2015.

Hi Jessie, edhistory, It's annoying when that happens. Trouble is bicycles ar ehuman powered and stopping and starting takes energy so sometimes cyclists don't stop. But clearly motor vehicle drivers don't have that excuse but also don't always stop. Hi CylceMonkey, Have picked up you PM and will deal withit this am.

Hi UncleBen, They're traffic count cameras. Usually record number plates (but not stored permanently) at several locations and then work out the routres traffic is flowing and the numbers involved. You'll also see a number of plain traffic counts with just a pair of rubber tubes across the roads e.g. Lordsihp Lane close to goose Green. Regards james. UncleBen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Dear JB. I was wondering what the purpose of the 2 > cameras outsite Upton Ct on East Dulwich Grove > were for? They're facing towards what is left ot > the hospital.

Hi Cyclemonkey, How very odd. I'm really sorry you've been given the run around and such poor service. This isnt right. If you PM me or better email me ([email protected]) your home address and any ticket references I will try and get things resolved for you ASAP.

Hi Loz, Isn't that an over reaction. More unsinsured cars are being driven around, with many crashing, than all the cyclsits cycling around. The former cause far more damage. 13% of cars believed to be unisured - http://www.standard.co.uk/news/capital-tops-league-of-uninsured-drivers-6778723.html Hi susiq, 95% of roads in Southwark are provided and maintained by Southwark Council from Council Tax. So non car drivers who don't cycle pay as much as cars drivers or cyclists to maintain our roads. If you argue for cyclsits to pay a road tax then perhaps you should also be seeking a refund for those that don't drive or cycle.

46% of all the families 63/138 in Southwark who didn't get a one of their 6 preferences come from our area. This probably helps explain many of the posts here. The detail by political ward - I've added a star for wards partl of whooly in the East Dulwich area: Brunswick Park 4 out of borough 11 Nunhead 5 Peckham 5 College 25 * Camberwell Green 3 Rotherhithe 4 Faraday 2 East Walworth 1 Riverside 4 Village 7 * Chaucer 2 East Dulwich 7 * Surrey Docks 1 Grange 7 Livesey 6 The Lane 6 Newington 5 Cathedrals 1 Peckham Rye 24 * South Camberwell 3 South Bermondsey 5 total 138

Hi puzzled, I thought I had. I understand Crawthew is to enable a cycle contraflow.

Hi Bkk, If you're sure it has an odd taste and you think its your home with this and not shared with lots of others - ask for a glass of tap water at a cafe perhaps to test or neighbours or friends in the area. IF you stil lthink you have a problem them I would contact Thames Water so its quality can be test and confirmed.

Thanks the-e-dealer. Yes, tomk, the site now has three states. Office, retail or nursery.

Hi UncleBen, Hmm.I 've not spotted those. I'll take a look tonight on the way home.