James Barber

Hi Candp, How have I made a political point? When the suggestion of September opening came up I said I thought it was still August said as far as I was aware still August but that I would check. I checked with officers and found I was wrong and apologised and gave the reason for the one month delay. If I was spinning I would have said I was shocked at the extra months delay and not given the reason ro apologise for getting it wrong. To slur me in these circumstances is at best unkind.

Hi DJKillaQueen, No one won the election. Two parties have come together who between them command a majority. Together they're running the country. If one party had won the election they would have majority of MP's but not a mojirity of the votes cast. Since the 50's when two party state ended the proportion voting for 3 or other parties has steeply risen.Even within the old big parties they have wings vying for influence. Occassionally these wings split ie SLP occassionally they go to ground for periods Tory Europhiles under Michael Howard. Where you work do you alays get your way? Suspect not. Suspect you compromise on some things. Feel aggrieved on others. Coalitions, part of everyday life.

Hi Jeremy, I've checked the letter sent to be that I copied across and its clesarly states 1995. I suspect that is when the whole thing was orignally started. Orignal proposal was to sell the estate I seem to recall and when Lib Dems started leading the council in 2002 it was a big inherited issue with residents up in arms and they come up with the alternative of funding the estate renewal via some private building and converting washrooms to homes etc which was what the adminstration agreed to.

The pinched picture will be replaced next week. Photos of grand opening tomorrow at 7pm. Please do come along.

I owe an apology. The letter I received last Friday stated the reopening of Dulwich Leisure as delayed until September. I thought I'd read it but as it appeared identical repeat of letter sent earlier stating August I didn't notice small paragrah in the 4 page letter tucked away stating: "The dulwich Phase 1 construction site suffered a break-in in early June 2010. Although very little was stolen, siginificant damage was done to the internal wiring of the new entrance building. The work to repair this damage commenced immediately, however we now expect phase 1 area to open in spetember 2010."

I owe an apology. The letter I received last Friday stated the reopening as delayed until September. I thought I'd read it but as it appeared identical repeat of letter sent earlier stating August I didn't notice small paragrah in the 4 page letter tucked away stating: "The dulwich Phase 1 construction site suffered a break-in in early June 2010. Although very little was stolen, siginificant damage was done to the internal wiring of the new entrance building. The work to repair this damage commenced immediately, however we now expect phase 1 area to open in spetember 2010."

Hi Dulwichmum, Southwark Council has nearly 600 Looked After Children. This doesn't to me imply intertia. This is a slightly higher ratio than most other London boroughs. Southwark Council has a full compliment of social workers and all councillors take their Corporate Parenting responsibilies very seriously. If you EVER encounter such problems and are unhappy with the response you tell your local councillor. If you fail to get engagement from them you escalate to their party leader. Whinging on a forum after the fact with the implication kids have suffered is - well I'm incredulous.

Hi DJKillaQueen, I can't pretend the colaition will fix everything during its 5 years and I suspect we'll never agree anyway. But the first budget, considering the overal pickle, is positive and moves the country broadly along Lib Dem values. The UK enterred into recession much earlier than anyone else, much deeper than anyone else and is taking longer to come out. This must be structural with how the country has been run in the past.

No, it isn't illegal to ride on the pavement for the small wheel sizes involved and age of the kids. I really think any reference to the terrible McCann case is unhelpful in the extreme.

Alleyn's School has released the following statement: " Alleyn's Junior School would like to correct the misreporting of the travel-to-school story. First, the school has not reported the family to the local authority social services. Second, the school and the family named in the press are not in dispute. The school understands that the safety of children on their journey to school is the parents' responsibility. It is for the regulatory authorities, not a school, to determine when parental freedom compromises parental responsibility. However, legislation emphasises that all schools are legally obliged to safeguard their pupils. To this end, the school has taken into account the particular circumstances: the age of the younger sibling in Reception Year, and the age of the escorting, older sibling in Year 3, and has therefore raised its concern with the parents about the safety of their children's travel arrangements, for which the parents are responsible. Both children are below the 9 years-of-age threshold currently recommended by the local authority (Southwark Council) for crossing the road independently. Moreover, Bikeability, the government-approved, cycle-training organisation, itself does not recognise a child's ability to cycle unsupervised and independently until they are over eleven years of age. Legal advice confirms that we would be failing in our safeguarding duty not to raise this concern with the parents as the initial step towards exploring alternative travel arrangements. Ann Kenrick, founder of the Safe Routes to School initiative for the Dulwich schools and author of the nationally acclaimed book Let Me Out! How to Enjoy the School Run said yesterday, "Alleyn's School has been at the vanguard of work on promoting walking and cycling to school for over 10 years. Clearly the priority is the safety of the children, but developing fitness and independence is also incredibly important." The School does not intend to make any further press statement. "

Hi plimsoul, The response from council officers about 1-11 Pytchley Road land you asked about. "In 1995 Executive Committee approved the regeneration of East Dulwich Estate. The scheme consisted of the refurbishment of the existing units and the sale of land for the purpose of constructing new build housing for private and shared ownership in partnership with Hexagon Housing Association. 1-11 Pytchley Road is one of the sites approved for the New Build scheme for private sale and is being developed separately from the current refurbishment programme. The new build design development is currently underway. We hope to be in a position to submit a full planning application for the new build sites by the end of August 2010. We do not currently have a set timetable for the development of the site but we expect that a contract may be let in 2011/12. " Submitting a planning application in August should result in either the application being granted or refused within 12 weeks ie by end December. It then takes 12-24 months to build. So plan broadly in place and movement but I'm afraid not as quick as you'd like.

I was asked how come the car parking on Lordship Lane near Dulwich Library had been removed for road works without notice. I've been assured Southern Gas distrubuted a letter to all residents. Council Officers have promised to botain a copy. Apparently Southern Gas are in second year of five year programme to replace the worst pipes. Using an insertion process - dig a hole onto existing cast iron typically 18 inch pipe. Insert upto 200m of slightly smaller snub plastic pipping into the existing cast iron pipe. Clearly this dramatically reduces the road digging, cost and time taken. Then side trenches to make new and replacement connections for homes and businesses. Where valves etc hole dug to replace that section to allow the insertion to continue. Smallerbore replacement pipes means slightly higher pressure of gas. Fascinating and I've learnt something new so thanks to the orignal enquirier. The new pipes should be good for a 100years or so. Seperately Thames Water are running a Victorian water Mains replacement programme....

The Harris Boys Academy opened on a temporary site at Langbourne primary School. It moves into its permanent home this September opposite Peckham Rye Park.

Hi ian164SE22 & Weegee, That is weird. I've contacted the head officer responsible highlighting this conflicting information and await a reponse.

Several people have posted that what really bothers them is a 5 year old cycling to school. I've seen these kids cycling and the 5 year old has far superior cycling skills than my 8 year old. Cycling should'nt be part of any issue here. The kids are good cyclists. Equally these kids only have two more days this academic year to get themselves to school.

Hi buggie, your right that was OTT. Sorry.

Hi chantelle, The parents are reported to have a nanny. I believe they choose this start to the school day for their kids. They could equally have chosen to share school runs, employed a nanny with expectation of them taking kids to school.

I received letter from the new cabinet member on Friday and still states August.

Blimey Clare999, I see where you got your stats. London is one of the most collision free parts of the country. Northern Scotland one of the highest for KSI's. My stats come from the last published Southwark Road Safety Plan page 10: Southwark Road Safety Plan 2009 Seriously injured defined by Dept of Transport as staying in hospital more than 6 days. Many of these will make full recoveries. Page 13 shows where these collisions occured. Along the route these kids take those that occurred bar one are where the lollipop person helps kids cross the road. The other reported collision is junction they pass on the pavement. In fact where they cycle is about one of the most collision free parts/routes of Southwark. I stand corrected on vehicle occupants - apologies. 50% of Southwark road casualties pedestrians, 18% cyclists and presume remiander vehicle occupants.

ditto.

Hi Dulwichmum, I'm sorry my different views have incited a personal jibe. If the lollipop person said to cross at the wrong time then clearly the lollipop person would be at fault. If a car jumped red traffic lights when these kids are crossing on a green man phase then the car driver would be at fault. I'm sorry you think I'm trying to raise my profile. Unlike virtually every other person posting I do it in my own name. It's a really important issue in terms of encouraging people to walk and cycle to schools. Most of the anti people posting have suggested the roads are so dangerous kids should'nt be out alone. I suspect most of these drive their kids to school. Which is exactly what causes this perceived danger. My kids aren't yet ready to undertake school runs on their own - as much due to me as a parent not preparing them. But they have been asking and we've been creating smaller opportunities for them to stretch their confidence. I hope that all parents hearing of this case wont hold their kids even closer but reflect on how we can ensure we're not micromanaging every waking moment but find ways to give kids a bit more freedom and liberty to grow in confidence.

The Irish festival finished at 8pm last night. It was a condition of the licence and grant funding that site be cleared of litter by 1pm today. Not sure why it should take so long and why with light evening much could'nt have been achieved last night. I'll ask and this might inlfuence next years event. Previous years lots of noise complaints but no one mentioning litter. No noise complaints this year but litter. Litter better than noise as at least litter confined to the site.

At that age I supervised my younger sister going on errands to shops etc. Road collisions were absolutely higher but traffic was less. So it felt and looked safer but in fact was more dangerous than now. We were once accosted by a couple in town and it took ages to escape them and their calling to god. But we did. My kids aren't yet ready for this but if this family feel ready and looking at Telegraph route they take it looks sensible with lots of people about then I'm glad it has been working for them.

The new addition is as a result of a Cleaner, Greener, Safer bid from my previous ward colleague Richard Thomas that I submitted on his behalf. Original idea was this substation is dull and blank lets do something. A couple of primary colour themes were put together and had lots of feedback. Consultation event at the Palmerston and the old time pictures were the preferred option of those that attended. The first set of pictures were'nt ideal so I asked if another search could be made and council officers have come up trumps. Officially they'll be opened 7pm this Wednesday evening. Come along if your in the area. NB. London Museum has issued an iPhone app where it displays a historic picture at the location your standing at and tells you directino to look. So you can see now and then. Great concept. I've asked if they could spread this to Southwark and East Dulwich. I'll let you know how I get on.

Hi clare999, Where did you get your stats from? The last set of Southwark collision data I have to hand is for 2008, 8 kids seriously injured or killed. Nearly all of those seriously injured and the definition for this being very broad. Many of these were car occupants. I think its really important that we avoid hysteria and judging on incomplete information. I believe the kids concerned have been making this school run since the beginning of the school year in September 2009. The first rumblings I heard were around Christmas. Their school year ends this Thursday. For this to have blown up AFTER the school founders fete on Saturday with 4 school runs left before the end of the school year is excellent timing. Its not really a current issue - if this had been raised at Xmas or Easter it would be different with many more school journeys to be made. I suspect the parents with the glare of media interest will have made other arrangements for this week. NB I wish I'd been a better parent so my kids cycling skills were sufficient that this could even be an option.