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Everything posted by James Barber
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former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?
James Barber replied to James Barber's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Thanks to everyone who submitted their views to the council licensing process for the Adventure extension to 2am cloasing for Thursdays and bank hliday sunday. Special thanks though to Fred and Joe who joined me in formally objecting at the licensing sub-committee. The decision - No to Thursday 2am closing, yes to 2am closing on bank holiday Sundays. Several useful conditions about ensuring the front doors are kept closed, telephone number for complaints. I will also try to establish quarterly meetings with this enterprise for residents to have issues addressed. -
Goose Green Roundabout
James Barber replied to michael donovan's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
I fear that the amount of effort going into council officials getting the traffic management 'right', they didn't used to have such problems repairing it in the past, will mean the road closures they're proposing will cost a lot of money. The argument will then be if they're spending so much money they should permanently 'improve' the roundabout. The lead manager emailed me: "Details are yet to be finalised and officers are meeting with our contractor this week to agree the traffic management, any required temporary road closures, and the timings of the works. The likelihood is that we will be undertaking the works, probably on a Sunday, during the 2nd (and 3rd if required) weekends in April. This will avoid the Easter weekend and minimise the traffic disruption by Sunday working". -
Hi Callie, That lump is where the Puffin crossing will go. BT need to move their phone box. TfL need to connect up the lights. Anti skid surfacing needs to be placed on the road.
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Goose Green Roundabout
James Barber replied to michael donovan's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Poppycock. If the customers of EDT are able to use it as pub garden on occassions then a little more imagination by council officials. When we proposed the raised entry treatment at the junction of Lordship Lane/East Dulwich Grove council officials told us it was impossible due to traffic management issues - we then reminded them gas and water works had required exactly the same closure in the previous 12 months. -
former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?
James Barber replied to James Barber's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Bit cheeky of me but if anyone wants to sign the petition to save the London Fire Brigade please follow the link - PETITION. Hi Mazzystar, Of course. -
Goose Green Roundabout
James Barber replied to michael donovan's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Good. Annoying officers havent had the good grace to repond to my queries. Good to see common sense and my severe proding of the cabinet member not to allow anything stupid...?30,000-?50,000 capital spend to avoid ?1,500 of brick repairs a year. -
former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?
James Barber replied to James Barber's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Hi Fred, Licensing laws became a real pickle in 2005 and I suspect wont be fixed until the countries finances are fixed - changing them will limit business and no national politician wants to be seen to be doing that for now. I've asked if you can be one of my witnesses on Monday. Hope that works for you. Hi Kateford, I'll see if I can get a site meeting with officers to look at how this can be fixed permanently and thank you for your ideas. IF you'd like to attend that meeting if council officials can support it please email me your contact details. -
secondary school place announcements - how?
James Barber replied to Mrs TP's topic in The Family Room Discussion
The headlines of what will be released at 5pm online and sent earleir today by first class post: * All Southwark secondary school applicants have been offered a place for September 2012 * Total of 2,436 applications were received, 85 less applicants than last year * 1,362 (55.9%) received a first preference school a 3.4% increase on last year's figures 1,322 (52.5%) * 2,213 (90.8%) received one of their preferences - 2% increase on last year * 195 (8%) families without a preference and offered an alternative school fewer than last year - 243 (9.6%) * The number of online applications has remained at the same level as last year Two attachments - one SPA Leaflet details drop in session if you're not happy and need advice, other is QA info pack. Do contact your local councillor if you need further support. -
former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?
James Barber replied to James Barber's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Hi Fred, Please see attached decision 20 April 2009 showing 2.30am final close Fridays and Saturdays. It did make me laugh to see our MP Tessa Jowell highlighting opposition to the applied for extension - having been resonpsible for the law that has disempowered residents to stop such late hours. -
Impending shortage of primary school places
James Barber replied to Worker's topic in The Family Room Discussion
Hi Tracy551162, A 'free' school is free of Local Authority control and report directly to the Department of Education in Whitehall. Bonkers idea extending the Academy programme Blair started up all those years ago. For some reason national conservatives nad Labour party leaderships hate local authorities and don't trust them to run local education. Insulting where local councils run good education departments. A little more understandable when they don't. But people get to vote every four years on local authority leadership. Anyway, the idea is that freed up from local authorities such schools will fly from parental and expert leadership. Also idea of creating a bigger market for parents to choose the school that suits them. Clearly carried to an extreme it would create wild diseconomies which would reduce the amount per child to be spent on education. To facilitate them the normal rules about school design and space requirements are hugely relaxed and things like office blocks will be allowed. Recently confirmed that the DoE wont accept teaching of creationsm as a scientific theory. -
former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?
James Barber replied to James Barber's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Hi Fred, I've pinged a query in. Will you be present at the hearing on Monday morning? I plan to be with a reisdent from Shawbury Court across Lordship Lane from you. -
former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?
James Barber replied to James Barber's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Hi VHart, I'm sorry to hear this. You can either call 020 7525 2000 or email [email protected] or email me with your full address/contact details and I will get it sorted. Hope this helps. -
What happened to the possible extension of the 63 bus?
James Barber replied to Evie's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Hi henryb, When we were asking about whether the no.42 could be extended to run along East dulwich Grove, lordship Lane , Sainsbury's - long story. Village ward councillors were told extra ?250,000 pa revenue for one extra bus in the timetable. Presume double decker would cost more but the earleir quoted figure of ?500,000 pa revenue would sound about right. OR zero change in costs if it terminates similar distance before Kings Cross. So, yes in favour of extending it to Honor Oak but how this is achieved is importatn. Hi Gavin, How would Ken/Val extend the no.63? -
Hi Alexthecamel, I can see where you're coming from but perhaps... The dark school jackets are cheaper and need less washing/care. My children only have ot look at a white anything for it to get dirty. Most school bags/rucsacs have reflective strips and patches. Most schools start & close in clear daylight. Making our children brightly clothed is not the apporoach other countries have needed to drastically reduce child injuries and deaths from road traffic crashes. But those countries do have different liability laws. The party in a collission with the least power/size/mass is assumed innocent until proven guilty. Changing to this form of liability causes outrage in the UK but it would allow UK to take part in real vehicle insurance competition with a Europe wide market. So overall probably costs neutral and would save a lot from lawyers fees proving everyone was innocent in every crash.
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What a blast back in time to see that video og Green Cross Man - thanks. I once read an interview with Keith Prowse aka Green Cross Man/Darth Vader. He said it was the best thing in his life - noticeable reduction in children being involved in such crashes during and long after the campaign and how proud he was to be involved. I can't wait until the crossings are both activated. The sky will not fall down. People will find Lordship Lane just a little more pleasant to go shoping, etc.
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What happened to the possible extension of the 63 bus?
James Barber replied to Evie's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Local Lib Dems have long said we think the no.63 should be extended to Honor Oak espeically with the East London Line phase 1 being such a resoundinbg success in passenger numbers. However real practicle problems. Could the no.63 still go all the way to Kings Cross without the service becoming more eratic? What would be cut to fund this? I really think a yes or no answer without answering these two questions is disingenuous. -
What happened to the possible extension of the 63 bus?
James Barber replied to Evie's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Hi henryb, I think Boris and Ken are different sides of the same coin. Ken promised the earth with projects such as Cross River Tram but allocated no funding - sham projects. Boris has a poverty of ambition and cancelled such projects stopping the pretence but not coming up with any of his own big ideas. The one thing he is remembered for the Boris bikes were being suggested by everyone cross party for years. Can we believe Ken will produce a magic wand to extend this bus route...clearly more likely than Boris but sadly I wouldn't bet on either of them. -
Free school in South London - Steiner
James Barber replied to dontpanic's topic in The Family Room Discussion
I'm really sorry for not making myself clear. I believe Local Authorities should be able to apply for government funding to build community schools and if they can prove a need get the required funding. But sadly the coalition govt has continued the Labour govts daft idea that local authorities should be the last possible option for a new school. Local Lib Dems are asking people what they think should be on the Dulwich Community Hopsital site when it is redeveloped and having checked on school role numbers we think a primary school as a minimum is required there. Hopefully people agree with us. As 'free' schools are the only show in town I am seeking a body to apply for one. Locally we have plenty of religious schools so hopefully not another religous one. It appears Steiner parents are interested in this option. I don't know enough about their ethos to be for or against them starting a school - I'll be finding out but I am VERY clear every school should have a clear anti bullying policy. I wouldn't personally be keen on the Harris federation opening another Academy as they seem to be running an awful lot of local schools - equally we must haver another school. Perhaps Kingsdale or Charter but neither have yet established federation mechanisms for running multiple schools. Hi Prickle, I agree but you and I don't/can't change the rules. I don't agree with the original Academy status but that was the only way of getting another secondary school in the area. So I and others swallowed our pride and we now have another 150 secondary places pa in the area. Hi Saffron, Thanks for that. I would man the baracades about children being taught creationism in science. Hi skyblue, The Steiner school people have't to my knowledge applied to the DfE. But they are seeking views via this thread which is excellent. -
1/4 mile and 7/10ths of a mile respectively. And yes meddling with Goose Green roundabout wouldnt make sense. I'm sure that wont proceed.
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Impending shortage of primary school places
James Barber replied to Worker's topic in The Family Room Discussion
I recently asked a formal council assembly question about reception class forecasts. The answer was that by 2015 the Dulwich area will need an extra permanent 60-75 place each year. The ideal school size has been stated to me as being 60 places per year. So this forecast is telling us we need an extra primary school locally. The only obvious site is Dulwich Community Hospital site. The current mechanisms are that such a school is likely to be a 'free' school. -
Free school in South London - Steiner
James Barber replied to dontpanic's topic in The Family Room Discussion
We need an extra 60-75 reception places every year in the Dulwich area from 2015 with rotating bulge classes until then - that's the latest forecast I received in response to my council assembly question about this. Labour's last education bill means local authorities have to publicly ask if anyone else would like to open a school and only as a last resort can they open a community school. Timescales are 5-7 years for such a new school which is certainly the experience of the ED Harris Boys Academy. The 'free' school thing is just a version of this existing ethos but speed things up to 2-4 years. clearly just allowing local Authorities to build new schools would easier but few local authorities have a spare ?20M capital. Hence a further impetus to rely on the national Dept for Education to provide this level of capital. So far the only people to express any interest in providing a new school locally are Steiner. So as a community either we encourage others to come up with a 'free' school to fulfil this forecast demand or we accept a Steiner school or we accept a school places crisis. Rebuffing a Steiner school while no suggesting an alternative - considering the only show in town is the 'free' school system - will see a school place crisis. -
Accident in East Dulwich Road ( February 23 2012)
James Barber replied to woodycheese's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
The lowest collission incidence is Netherlands - similar if higher densities of people to land areas.
East Dulwich Forum
Established in 2006, we are an online community discussion forum for people who live, work in and visit SE22.