James Barber

I've already asked whether these lollipop people can be on duty at times that match both local state and private schools. They are funded by the surplus between the costs of enforcing parking restrictions and fines paid. This is good news in that it means no driver for schools that become academies or private ones to pay for this public service aimed at kids 12 and under. I'll let you know how I get on.

You don't have to cycle so hard you get a sweat up. Also no rules of the road that demand top to toe lycra. I cycle in 'smart casual' and rarely work up a sweat and when in danger of this unzip jacket. This all accepts summer afternoons when I'm on the way home and going over the hill.

I've been asked if the Goose Green rounabout is being reduced in size. I'm assured it isn't. Some of the bricks have been dislodged and have not yet been fully rebuild into place as one of the roads entrances will be slightly realigned to reduce number of vehicles hitting the roundabout.

Hi DJ, Sudihe, I shall try and find out. We were doing well in reducing the number of children in care. Regards james.

Hi Siduhe, The response from Transport for London is that the lights have not been changed. But the chap who would have changed them if they had been changed has just left TfL. I'm sorry I don't know what to make of this information with this caveat. However, a lot of works are taking place in Peckham Rye area so it might be causing this I guess.

Hi MissDollyMixture, Holding a street party is a great way to get to know your neighbours. You even have an extra excuse this year.If you need any help with the paperwork let me know. Melbourne Grove where the two burglaries took place is part of the Vale Residents patch - that's another great way ot get to know your neighbours in the street and perhaps suggest a Neitghbourhood Watch scheme.

Hi DJ, For some parts of the UK 80% of the market rate might be reasonable. I can imagine middle of wales 20% of a very deflated housing rental market beign reicidulously cheap. Equally 80% of London is increidbly high. So hopefully the new localism ethos will allow local councils to make judgements for themselves of what's best for their community. james.

Hi DJ, I read the article I think it was in Saturdays Guardian. I checked out Southwark Council's website which isn't anywhere near as restrictive as you'd assume from the Guardian article which would appear to have taken lowest common UK denominators. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/160/adoption/1906/who_can_adopt Southwark Council states the following people CAN adopt: - Childless couples. - Couples with children. - Single people with or without children. - People over 40. - People who are gay or lesbian But it is a problem with not enough people coming forward to adopt. And I'm sure you're right in that infertility treatments must have reduced the pool of people wnating to adopt to have a family life that includes children. james.

The clock was removed to be repaired in the Autumn. The repairers are having problems as one of the parts they need t replace is apparently very unusual. But library staff have chased and will be chasing the repairers.

So after a breiefing from council officers. ALL Southwark's lollipop people (school crossing patrol's) are funded from a tiny part of the Parking (fine) revenue account (surplus of fines collected over expense of catching people). The remaining surplus is used to provide other transport related activities. Total of 52 lollipop people across Southwark at . The two at the junction of Lordship Lane and Townley Road are designated against Alleyns School but clearly used by kids going to other schools as well. Should I be making a case for these guys to work state school term times?

Hi Al&Em, I've had it confirmed that TfL has banned that U turn on safety grounds as other traffic while undertaking vehicles making that manuerve would mount the pavement.

Hi PeckhamRose, Usually parents have bought such machines for their kids and don't realise the danger they've placed their kids both the direct phyiscal danger and danger of gaining a criminal record. Same applies to the parents. My understandihg is Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been successful at resolving this type of blight. But it does take time to find who involved.

I'll ask the head of libraries.

Hi Al&Em, This U turn ban will have been placed on this Transport for London road for either or both of the following reasons - safety, capacity. U turns across such a busy road are more likely to cause a crash. Slowing for people U turing from both sides will slow other traffic and reduce the overall capacity. I'll contact Southwark's traffic department to ask if they know the full official reasoning from TfL.

Please keep the local East Dulwich Safer Neighbourhood Team posted - this is part of their remit and if on duty would respond immediately. They will also try and solve the root causes. Their number is 07920 233912.

I hadn't noticed this. Any idea when this happened?

Hi DJ, Writing of the Southwark housing debt - or at least a good slab and no longer sending council rent to the treasury and getting around 80% of Southwark housing debt interest paid for centrally is a good thing in principle. The precise negotiation on what this will finally result in terms of debt reductino have yet to be negotiated and of equal importance will be the ability to refinance the remaining debt to market rates. Currently LA's have to go via a treasury quango that often sets artifially high interest rates. Today's Oberserver carries an interesting peice by Peter PReston about right wing press boosting circulation when Labour in power and vice versa. He suggests that all the papers see the coalition as great opportunity to protect thier market shares.

From memory the latest crime stats showed in December 13 burglaries for East Dulwich ward. This is a little up on trend but not an epidemic. Almost universally every crime incident is trauma for those involved. So it doesn't have be an epidemic to be awful experience when just 1 crime happens. My kids always have to think before going down stair about is the alarm on and still talk about burglars coming to get them/us - and that's after two years where the chased the b***ers away and they didn't get to take anything.

Someone has asked why have I raised this question now. I think I've spotted some properties that could be stitched together very easilly to create a plot of similar size to the Coop. I don't believe anyone else has spotted this. So if I don't tell anyone it probably wont happen. Hence why I posed this question but framed the question with concerns about car parking, etc. And yes I have contacted the Coop but been blanked now three times. I'll have to try calling their PR dept next. Indian restaurants. I do think the place is saturated and I've met one chap who said he owned 5 of them. Our own geographically limited curry chain with the feature the ones in the chain superfically look different to each other. Don't ask me which ones. I was told by him a year ago and have forgotten. Estate agents. Amazed in the internet age they thrive and seem to multiply so well on Lordship Lane.

I organised today with Cllr Rosie Shimell and Cllr Jonathan Mitchell out today knocking on doors, etc. The timetable I put together was wrong. Sorry. Rosie and Jonathan found people far more chatty than usual and got as far as NCR market stallholders, North Cross Road and Archdale Road homes. So we'll return. Next Saturday is Jonathan's birthday so he's excused and it should be Rosie and I contining where they left of. They're going to right up what they broadly heard but for now the stallholders are very sympathetic to local nearby residents and agree with much that residents have told us. BUT I'll expand on this later once Rosie and Jonathan and I have had a chance to synch up with what we've all heard. MichaelNx, sorry I don't why this didn't work out. If you email me or PM me your phone number I'll call you OR arrange a specific time one of us can call on you at home. AND yes, HennyPenny and DulwichFox we will go further but we have to start somewhere and I should have made it clear this was first outings on this specific subject.

Thanks, Siduhe. Indeed marcos. If you need anymore info please do contact me - it is ridiculous that Thames Water didn't digup Dunstans Road before it was completely rebuild. They have promised to resurface whole sides of the road to counteract the damage they're doing.

Tomorrow the East Dulwich councillor will be calling on residents, shop keepers and traders around North Cross Road market at roughly the following times: - North Cross Road residents and market traders 9-11am - Nutfield Road 11-12am - Fellbrigg Road no's 1-13 & 2-10 12-1pm. - Archdale Road 1-2pm - Lacon Road 1.30-2.30pm OR contact me as per below.

Hi narnia, ?700k is outlandish. Partly this came from sacking all the market officers for dodgy practices. Market management company had to be employed as an emergency. Partly bEast Street has lots of empty pitches and shrunk to 4 main days a week so not raising as much revenue - do you know anyone in East Dulwich who travels to East street for the market - it isn't exactly a destination market any more. hi Peterstorm1985, I could'nt agree more.

Earlier this week I was amazed and delighted to be told I've been short listed for an award of online councillor of the year. I'm sure it wasn't for my scintillating blogging or tweeting. I suspect its for all the work with East Dulwich residents via this forum. Thank you.

24 November I highlighted broken street lights on crebor, Frierns, etc. I've just heard that the Crebor one's will have EDF energy working next week to connect and fix them. I'm sorry its taken quite so long for this happen - certainly not from wanting by me or the relevant council officers.