James Barber

Hi Towbleygreen, Many thanks will look later in the week - I'm just back from a weeks holiday so lots of catching up. Hi LPrince, Markeddie, Burglary isn't out of control in the East Dulwich ward area. Weirdly The Gardens are in Peckham Rye ward. For East Dulwich ward and Village wards the Police team pinged over the attached stats. For East Dulwich ward during the last 12 months we've had 12 burglaries from 5,200 homes. So on average we should all expect ot be burgled every 41.6 years. But burglars are smarter than this suggests. They tend to repeat either of a home they've burgled or of a neighbouring home that is lilkely to have the same internal layout and goods. Henve why in East Dulwich we've purchased 2,500 property marking kits to be given out free by our local Police. The idea is to inncolate homes around those burgled as well as part of the support package of those who've sadly been burgled. Other neighoburing ward councillors have not chosen to support free crime prevention kit. The main trend is for burglars to gain access via ground floor sash windows from the rear of properties. So please do install really good sash window locks. The best are bolts that go through the two middle cross beams - one lock at each end. Even I've installed these types of window locks and all our local DIY shops stock them. They're also no expensive. Hope this helps put a little context on this.

The cabinet councillor for the environment cllr Barrie Hargrove has said that dog poo on pavements is reducing (21/1 scrutiny sub committee). Superficially dog poo reports were 3,732 in 2010 and reduced to 1,642 in 2011. More than halving. Do you think this is how it feels?

Hi JDR, Apologies for the delay. My first line oif enquiry didnt work out so had to try and different tack. GP performance is now managed through the NHS Commissioning Board. I've the contact name for complants and issues. If anyone with Dulwich Medical Centre complaints or comments emails me I'd propose I collate them and then persue the matter.

A Karate club also runs 11-12.30 Sunday for primary school aged children. http://dulwichkarate.com/How_to_Join.html

Boy they are those uplighters a saga. An original project 2002 put the original up lighters in. But they were never handed over to thE Southwark lighting department to be maintained. East Dulwich cllrs were told it would take ?10,000 to replace the pre existing ones with ones that could be maintained. ?10,000 allocated from our annual ?80,000 of Cleaner, Greener, Safer capital funding. We tried to get the South Camberwell ward councillors to go halves as the ward boundary is along the middle of the railway tracks but they never seem support projects involving the station - suspect they think most users come from East Dulwich ward. The shelter added last year was funded by East Dulwich ward funds for example. Southwark lighting organise new up lighters. This meant removing the old ones and very slightly diamnond drilling larger holes. Running new calbes. Lights fitted. They don't work. Philips then assures Southwark team it was a software version problem. Software up issued. Not working properly. Philips now in process of replacing the up lighters. This is expected to be resolved around 18 March. However, each side of the road has a couple of uplighters on the massive supporting walls next ot the road. The project it turns out didn't include these. Something for next year. So 18 March the large semi circle of uplighters will be replaced with fully working lights. As LED's we can have a colour light show.

Clearly Gove have a philisophy to push that it out there on the tory right wing fringes. He gets away with his daft views partly because he represents an extremely safe tory seat. Fortunately much of what he;s proposed has been blocked or watered down by the coalition. But an existing charity wouldn't find it easy to change from being a registered charity. Lord Harris the Ark founders, etc have never shown anything other than philanthropic inclinations towards education however much I diasgree with his politics.

Hi PAULLONDON, I'm really sorry to hear you've bene burgled. Horrible experience. Hi lane lover, Southwark residential burglaries 12 months to end of January'13 were 1,952 compared to the 12 months upto end Jan;'12 2,157. So down 9.5%. But for East Dulwich crime is markedly up and this is probably due to our Safer Neighbourhood Team being abstracted (told to work elsewhere) from our area. Boris has decided to remove the dedicated East Dulwich team to fight crime elsewhere. Effectively he's decided areas such as ours should have fewer Police resources even when that results in more crime so they can fight crime in other areas. As it was we get disproportionately less Police resources than other areas but he's determined to end Safer Neughbourhoold Teams. If you think this is outrageous tell him via:- http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/policing-and-crime/community-engagement

How grim. I'm really sorry to hear this. Sainasbury's may have CCTV covering where it happened. Please do report it to the Police - if nothing else it may help it not happening to another busy parent.

Hi Huguenot, I needed some humour on this dreary Monday morning. Thanks. Hi buntytrumpet, I can honestly say I've never had any one raise casework about noisy cockerels. Whereever they are in Southwark I think I'd still give this answer - with the exception on those living in homes covered by the Dulwich Estate. Keep a noise diary. Talk to the neighbours. IF talknig to neighbours fails make noise complaints. I say complaints because I doubt much will happn with one complaint. The more neighbours that complan the better. it will be given a higher priority if affecting more households. You can make a noise complaint via 020 7525 2000 or 020 7525 5777. The latter is the anti social hotline. IF you get no joy after trying these approaches email me direct.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21365001 Shows 1/3rd increase in births.

Edited to add that the upgrade to five carriages from current four will complete December 2014. Apparently platforms need lengthening and this clearly wasnt considered when they were being constructed. So a long wait for any relief from the current peak times over crowding. In response to PM complaining about East London Line from Peckham Rye being crowded. Longer trains are on order. I'll try and find out when they're expected to enter service.

We have an outbreak of burglaries on Overhill Road and Barry Road. The Barry Road burglaries are usually ground floor rear sash windows being forced. This is relatively easy to block by installing sash window locks. Even I've installed these and I'm no Mr.DIY. Sash window lock kit usually come witha drill bit. Drill through the cross bars both sashes share. Screw the base in the out cross piece of wood and then screw the bolt through both cross pieces. Repeat twice for each window. Job done. You can further deter burglaries by using free property marking kit (if you live in East Dulwich ward). Email me and I'll ensure you get a kit ASAP. In East Dulwich the local Police have suggested night vision kit would help them look for burlars in gardens - so they're obtaining a quote we can then try and fund.

My one experience of centre parts was at long eat. We went expecting to cycle around all the time - but longleat centre parts is really surprisingly hilly. Definately choose a flat centre parts with young kids so they can cycle easily around.

Hi langlounge, I've been assured that the records have been corrected and you shouldnt receive any more calls. I have all my finders crossed! If you do get any more calls please take the name of the caller, subject, when, etc and ping me an emial striaght away. I'm hopeful this wont occur but just in case. Hi JDR, I'll try and find out. Clearly 1.5/5 is not acceptable. Espeically when they seem so focused and perhaps distracted by trying to open a pharmacy.

Yesterday planning permission was given (12-AP-3844) to convert the ground floor of the St.Thomas Moore Hall on Lordship Lane. I believe this would enable 40-70 children to be looked after depending on the ages. I've asked the proposers how long it will take before they open. Another planning permission 12-AP-1767 to conver the former local ohusing office 41-43 East Dulwich Road was refused by Southwark Council due to the loss of office employment (if the offices were re let) is near to its appeal being decided. They would look after up to 120 children. Tihs applicant is clear the conversion would be very quick. ED cllrs were in the unusual position of writing in support of the appeal against the council. 120 nursery places would do more to boost employment of parents than the keeping the ground floor as an office.

We had a Nihola trike - or bucket bike as the kids called it. Worked a treat. Very sad to see it go when out grown. I'm tall and the Christiana when I tested them were very easy to tip when cornering while th Nihola wasnt. We all enjoyed trying to get a wheel up going round (quiet) corners. But 5.5 years olds wont be long before they don't want to be sitting with a sibling in a bucket bike. Another cllr friend had a Bakfiets which worked really well. Other friends have a tandem with two smaller positions behind him and used this for the same age range you have and has lasted a number of years for his family. No on reflection the youngest wasa little older. I'd really recommend popping over to London Recumbents who hire bikes out at Dulwich Park who specialise in supporting family cycling. The owner Nigel Frost has tested every type of family bike you can imagine. Call him and arrange a consultation.

I'll be signing this petition as I've signed other with the same stated aims over the years. It wont come into East Dulwich but a station at Peckham Rye Common - which I suspect would be used as a huge construction site for any such tube - would be 5-10 mins walk for many ED residents. But I think Southwark Council could take a real leadership role on this beyond the odd petition. Where proposed stations are planned could southwark could agree planinng policies allowing tall building with no S106 except to fund a tube extension. Developing over the current London Road Bakerloo line depot could raise large sums - similar to Empire Square. I also suspect any successful business case would include reducing or removing some of the bus routes that duplicate any new tube route. The average bus route is subsidised by ?4m pa. Borrowing will never be this cheap so ideal time for Southwark to really try and make this happen.

Hi Edanna, School expansion looks so easy. But should we expand successful schools causing them disruption and risking their success. We certainly shouldnt expand less successful schools delaying any improvements. How many of our schools has extensibe grounds to add new blocks onto. I can;t think of any state schools in Southwark with extensive grounds. What's the optimum size for a secondary school in terms of pupil numbers? When the Harris ED boys school was proposed we were told the minimum number was 150 pupils per year. I'll find out the maximum that educationalists recommend. Real dilemma whether to build new single sex schools or co-ed or southwark as a whole borough. The co-ed schools we have arn't all balanced. With more girls schools than boys schools that leaves co-ed schools boy focused. But for our area the balance should now be ok with a boys school, a girls school and several co-ed schools in the area. So if we need a new secondary school, which it looks like we do, for our area it should be co-ed.

Hi Langlounge, I've reported this today and hope to se it fixed. Bit tricky reporting an issue where the reporter whishes to remain anonymous and I can;t tel lthem the phone number that's wrong but let me at least try. Hi P68, Good. Thanks for confirming.

Some weeks ago I was asked about Secondary School admissions and how the number of places will pan out. These are the questions we've been asking. Two colleagues had more joy than me and obtained some numbers of the shortages being predcited. Really worrying that the forecast shortage rose by so much from one meeting to the next ie. in one month. Council Assembly 17 October members questions no.5 from colleague Cllr Wilma Nelson: http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/documents/s33586/Members%20Question%20Time%20-%20Appendix%204.pdf States that by 2015, 60 secondary places shortage getting worse in subsequent years. Two new secondary schools being talked about in the very north of Southwark 28 November Council Assembly ? members question no.9 from colleague CllrCathy Bowman: http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/documents/s34785/Appendix%203%20Members%20Question%20Time.pdf Stated ?Secondary school place planning is carried out on a borough wide basis. We are anticipating there would be a secondary shortfall of 10 forms of entry by 2016 and if the Compass proposals to establish a 4 FE free school on the Bermondsey site of Southwark and Lewisham College proceeds then we would still anticipate a shortfall of 6 FE over the same period.? Southwark has a total households 119,050. Primary school pupils 23,314 Secondary school pupils 13,506 Private school pupils 5,355 So that big gap is worrying. If more people choose to use Southwark secondary schools - which we'd hope they had the cofidence to do - we could have a massive shortage.

Hi Langlounge, I'm really sorry that this has been happening. Can you please email me at [email protected] your name, address, phone number involved and how long this has been going on for and I will endeavour to get this fixes once and for all. Hi Penguin68, This is daft. I will ask what on earth is going on and when the highway will be returned to normality. Hi Pugwash, That really helpful. Thank you.

Leaseholders having to seek the permission of their freeholders to conform to the specifics of your lease is pretty standard property practice - whether private freeholders or council freeholders. Check your lease and if you need the freeholder to approve I would encourage you to do so. If you get stuck or find council officials not responding I would encourage you to engage one of your local councillors.

Hi david_carnell, The planning applications are to enable the Dulwich Medical Centre to use the pharmacy licence theyve already obtained. My understnading is that the pharmacy licence includes the needle exchange. In planning terms planning applications dont have to be that specific. But the outcome of obtaining planning permission would result in this. On that basis I don't think your suggestion is necessary. But thank you for asking.

Hi LadyDeliah, If you support the application tell the councils planning officials. Hi Chillaxed, If you think the pharmacy should proceed tell the councils planning officials. Plannin officials don't read forums. Even if they did they could use any of the comments.

Hi Michael, Social good? The lead pharmacist for SE London area said needled exchanges should be in hospitals. East Dulwich area has numerous pharmacies already. Preserving residential areas peace and tranquility, considering the above, maximises the social good in these circumstances.