James Barber

As did I Fuschia but not enough people wanted it.

I visited St.Anthony's today and had an excellent tour led by the acting head Ian Croft. I've read all the reports, seen photos, seen the proposed plans and thought I understood all the schools building issues but actually visiting the school really opened my eyes. The school office have umbrellas to cope with leaks from rain ingress. Another class room has had a flat roof leak and the ceiling collapsed. The extension and remodelling of the school really needs to take place - so as a ward councillor I've submitted my support to the works to the relevant planning officer. The flip side was a music theory lunch club with kids studing for grade 1 to 5. Grade 5 is equivalent to a GCSE. Very imrepssive for Primary School - especially as it was taking place in a boiling glass room and the kids were brilliantly behaved and really hungry to learn.

Many good things are funded from the surplus of fines, parking permits, parking charges overthe cost of collecting and enforcing e.g. lollipop patrols. Council officers are telling me drivers are being more law obiding. So the surplus has been very gradually going down. This is partly why parking fees have now been doubled and parking permits are going up by an average of 26%. Also the enforcement contract cost has been negotiated/specified down. But every school in East Dulwich ward has parents and neighbours who've asked whether smart cars can enforce the law outside their neighbouring school. Mention has been made of red routes these are Transport for London and not Southwark Council.

Quite rightly if I go of the thread topic or am overtly political the administrator reprimands me. If you ever feel I have done this please do report me. If the administration does something wrong I will say so. Equally when they do something right such as the food waste pilot I say so. When the lib deems led Southwark council I said sorry several times when things went wrong. Equally I was proud when things went well.

Apologies Karter. A questionaire went to several thousand residents and users in the area of the centre. Brilliant number of responses. Several things I thought would have garnered more quests including soft play. Largely what people said they wanted and would use is what has been delivered - sorry more people didn't ask for sauna and steam room. Do you remember what you asked for? Burglars. Yes they have in the last few weeks made some arrests. They can't really comment in case it prejudices a case but I think my response avoids that.

Hi puzzled, Sticking to this thread - do you think Denmark Hill both ways being closed for 3 days and southbound 11 days is reasonable or not?

Hi Happyhelen, I'm not blaming the administration. This is Officer led. I think a more hands on approach wouldn't go amiss from cabinet member Barrie Hargrove but I also think that of when under Lib Dem leadership - we should have brought Southwark into lane rental control in the first batch and not the second one. But Southern Gas Networks have had 11 days and nights to reopen this major thoroughfare and they haven't. When they dug up Lordship Lane recently they were digging up the northbound lane but closeD one of the southbound as well. They were so rubbish that they didn't quibble with 5 figure fines. They've now asked Southwark council to close parking on Friern Road starting this July until end of April 2012 and that is what council officers have advertised.

With the threat of a Councillor Call for Action (CCfa) from fellow Lib Dem Cllr Robin Crookshank-Hilton and the planned demo this morning the administration last night announced they'd 'found' ?50,000 to save all the lollipop patrols for one year. The campaigning in the Dulwich area has led to all 10 patrols across Southwark being saved for now. Talking to the managers concerned they undertook a study of lollipop patrol useage on 4 & 5 April. However, some schools broke up noon 5 April and others 6 April with many kids collected that week in cars due to the volume of end of term course work to be taken home. It seems clear that the CCfA, which would have been the first in Southwark, would have shown the basis for the lollipop analysis was funadamentally flawed. Well done kids, parents, school staff and Robin for saving all Southwark lollipop patrols for now.

Hi karter, What fuschia has described traffic wardens is daft. Either as you point out they have targets to hit in which case hiding and giving tickets would be more successful in hitting targets OR visitng more than once. This is probabl a job for the smartcars :o)

Hi bea1, I beg to differ. Tragic that the incident happened at all and I hope the bus driver and other passengers make full recoveries. BUT Southern Gas Network have been very lax and lacking any sense of urgency. For such a major thoroughfare you'd expect people to be working from 8am-6pm at least. They don't start before 9am and end by 4pm. The incident happened 11 days ago and still the southbound lane is closed. For Southwark Council to allow this style of 'working' is beyond me.

I've located the attached high level budget - and have asked for tha copy of the detailed Library budget book. I asked about eBooks some time ago and Southwark Library officers were waiting and seeing how that developed - one of the earlier requests when I started properly on the forum.

You should have dialled 999 to report the assualt. You should still report it even now. The behaviour as you've report it is criminal. Sadly Southwar;'s noise team no longer operate after 2.30am which means realistically no more calls after 1.30/2am. If you find you don't get sufficient Police follow up please email so I can escalate it.

Hi Fuschia, What you've described seems daft. I'll ask about the smart cars and whether they can visit.

Can you please emial what happened and I'll invesitgate. Southwark should serve notice to ulitilies blocknig suck road works for two years.

Appalling. The ED Police have free attack alarms. Email me your contact details to arrange to get one

Hi Saveshambo, Yes, buses between Peckham Rye and Streatham means buses from ED. If you're travelling to London Bridge probably best to stroll over to Barry Road and catch no.12 to PR and catch train from there.

Hi georgegarrett, I'll PM you else this thread would not stick to local issues you'd like me to fix. Regards james.

My ward collegue Councillor Jonathan Mitchell is out of hospital but must reast for the next 4 weeks. So please, any case work direct it to me and avoid JM for the next month.

I've tried iPad2 and Kindle for reading and I found it a horrible unengaging experience. I and most people will stick with books thank you.

Lollipop patrols are paid for from a ring fenced account of parking tickets, parking fee, parking permits charges minus costs of enforcement. Parking fees have just been nearly doubled, parking permits are going up on average by 26% and the costs of enforcement is being cut with a new contract. So the council has more money for lollipop patrols but has decided to cut them. Savings ?50,000 per annum. One road death costs the country ?1.5M. All the crossings being cut are on roads greater than 20mph and adherence to the traffic lights very imperfect by drivers. Apart from the eventual tragic human cost of death and injury this is a daft financial cut - at the same time ?9M a year is beign added to the reserves from revenue and another ?6M a year from capital. The councils unallocated reserves were ?21.2M at the start of this year and will end at over ?35M and increase at that rate for some years to come.

Hi undisputed truth, I'd be amazes to obtain the break down of the ?1/2m but will ask.

Hi first mate, What an appalling memory you have. The council last formally consulted about this some time before 2006. Last year many residents raised this on the doorstep so local Councillors ran a questionaire about this and small majority from meory wanted controlled parking. Really don't see the car wash at the Lordship Lane end of Chesterfield causing Parkin stress on Melbourne Grove? The parking stress survey that was gently undertaken will make it clear if commuter parking is the issue or not.

I received an email earleir to say southboumnd Denmark HIll is now reopened under controlled traffic lights. not Southwark's finest hour.

Denmark Hill still closed sounthbound and no obvious work going on this mr ing or changes since yesterday morning. Truely bizarre.

Yes it is free. A public consultation that will include the part of Melbourne Grove between Grove Vale and East Dulwich Grove will take place late Autumn about whether residents want Controlled Parking. A parking stress survey has taken place and I'm trying to obtain the results.