James Barber

Hi Nero, Public highway weed killing. I've contacted the head of highways in Sotuhwark asking about the general program and specifics for Goodrich Road. As soon as I have a reponse I'll post it here.

Hi DJKillaQueen, Council housing estate roads. I'm afraid I don't know the policy on pot holes on such estates and will find out. I've emailed the Dulwich Area Housing Manager and as soon as I have a response will post it here.

Hi Mr P, As per email I will seek collision datafor area around Goodrich School and when we have this perhaps we could meet up on site to discuss. If clear issue then with an officer.

Hi Plimsoul, Can you tell me who you've been in touch with about the derelict property at the junction of Ivanhoe and Bromar? Presume this land is part of the East Dulwich Estate which you'll be amazed to hear is in South Camberwell ward. Anyway, if you tell me who you contacted presumably in the council I can chase them up for an update for you.

Hi Fuschia, The free school meals idea will cost around ?5M extra per year and require capital to build kitchens at some schools. I think the money would be better spent avoiding cuts to other services - or even giving tuition to kids that are struggling. Addtionally, huge proportion - I had once heard half our school kids - are kids who live in other boroughs. Suspect this was for all school kids rather than just infant and primary school kids. Equally, many Southwark kids attend schools in Lambeth and Lewisham. So many families will be paying via council tax for free schools for others but their kids not receiving the benefit. Many households of low income are finding it really hard to feed themselves will be paying for free school meals for kids regardless of how wealthy the families those kids come from. The election promise didn't limit the free school meals to state schools. From an attainment perspective breakfasts are probably more important than lunch. The argument that poor families are embarassed to avail themselves of free school meals seems spurious as many schools organise free school meals so not clear who gets them for free. You did have to go and ask me. Other food related Labour election pledge was to half the charges for Southwark meals on wheels. Southwark charges the London average. So the new charges will be half the London average. Great election sound bite but no obvious sensible policy basis.

I spent Friday evening reporting every pot hols on Melbourne, Derwent, Elsie, Tintagel, Oxanian, Zenoria, Matham, East Dulwich Grove, Ashbourne, Chesterfield, Blackwater, Bassano. Bloody annoying that this isn't happening automatically following the regular monthly patrols by council highways contractors. This week I'll cover area bounded by East Dulwich Road, Crystal Palace, Whateley and Lordship. If you've seen any pothole please do report it via 020 7525 2000 - if deeper than 40mm it has to be made safe within 24hours.

Might be worth you contacting the CTC helpline 01483 238 337 CTC are the national cycle campaigning group so if anyone knows I suspect its them. Hope it works out and you have a great holiday.

:)) This has truely made my week. Well done everyone. Kids, parents, teachers, governors and council officers. What great team work.

Hi agathoise, I'd be surprised if they do base admissions around distance from the school. This would be contrary to its formally stated admissions: http://www.stanthonys.southwark.sch.uk/page8.html But agree I've often seen kids being walked and scooted to school. Did try giving them a bicycle shed but council officers faield to elicit a response so all other primary schools in East Dulwich received one but St.Anthony's didn't. Sure we'll be more successful another time.

Some time ago the Sustainability Communities Act was passed. Idea is to help local communities, who know what is best for them, become more empowered and take more of the decision making into local hands. It was reconfirmed just before the elections. One outcome is the presentation of data for all local public bodies to be publicly available. Follow this URL for how this is currently presented http://www.localspending.communities.gov.uk/ It?s a start.

Hi SteveT, Not really a fair comparison. New school a demolition and rebuild - on site taking around 18months. Renovated Dulwich Pool - listed building - on site for 15 months for pool + another 7 months for other parts - while keeping half the site working at any time. I probably added a month by insisting the pool roof be insulated. A worrying evening formally objecting to the planning application on these grounds. Fortunately resolved with a condition and last moment agreement.

For 13 years it was proposed by the Labour government to knock down the existing hospital in stages and originally build a new community hospital. The financial mechanism for this was the LIFT co. Selling the site and getting the community hopsital as part of a scheme building lots of homes on around 2/3rds of the site. The plans then morphed into a proposed polyclinic. It is easy to say its so near Kings College Hospital is Dulwich Hospital really needed. Kings has often been so full it has had to open wards at Lewisham Hospital to cope with the overflow of patients needing beds. Kings is an acute hospital but Dulwich Hospital provies intermediate beds. People who don't need high intesity medecine but can't yet cope going back home. So the costs per night per bed is very different. Providing intermediate beds at Kings has often caused problems - the care levels are reportedly not as high as Dulwich. Anyway, during the election Tessa Jowell dragged the then health minister down for a photo shoot and both promised a new community hospital. During all this time normal maintenace appears to have stopped such that the lifts failed and still no date when they'll be repaired which was the given reason for closing the intermediate hopsital beds. However, the war memorial has recently been reinstated. Some roof maintenance appears to have happened and new sloped pedestrian entrance constructed. I've asked to meet the head of the local NHS to talk about Dulwich Hospital and await a confirmed date. We really can't go on for another decade.

Hi steveo, I've checked and the latest Southwark Life magazine has been printed and is in the process of being distributed. If you'd like to see it via internet: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200109/council_news/1386/southwark_life/1 It interviews the new council leader who talks about all primary school kids getting free school meals and lots of other stuff.

hidc, I have'nt blamed anyone. I'm expressing frustration that until the local elections I was being told July. I checked this with officers several times and was told July - this after a lnog string of delays and assurance all this year that contractor was working weekends to catch-up. After elections we're told August. The only thing to have changed, as no new reasons for the delays, is which party leads the council. The result will potentially be the pool not being open for the summer holidays. And as a result one less thing to keep local kids busy. regards james.

Hi TonyQuinn, What a black and white simple world you must live in. Nationally Liberal Democrats are in coalition with the Tories. That means we've compromised on some things, had our way on others and conceded on others. My private, professional and political parts of my life are a series of such meetings of minds. Within every political party great debates and compromises. So, have we sold out by forming a coalition. Clearly not.

Hi Smiler, Agreed. I posted the official FAQ's from the new Labour cabinet member for Leisure. Very frustrating that opening delayed another month with no new reason given.

Hi apmuso, As per earleir eamil. The current resurfacing and changes to Melbourne Grove - full entry treatmemt at its junction with grove Vale and sinusoidal humps should make your road much less attractive as a cut through. I had anticipated that this would have all occurred much closer to when pavement parking ended. Eitherway, lets see if this resolves the problems highlgihted. One-way streets generally result in much higher vehicles speeds as no risk of oncoming traffic. Not sure we want Melbourne Grove and Elsie Road to have faster traffic and would be amazed if Elsie Road residents didn't protest in very strong terms if this was being seriously suggested.

Hi silverfox, People travel far further for work than decades ago. I'm fortunate I can cycle, train or bus to work in central London after school run but for many that isn't possible - they'd have to move for the bus to be practical or change jobs. Saying all that I often have seen many parents walking kids to local schools including St.Anthony's. Regards james

Hi intexasatthemoment, The national policy of allowing primary and secondary schools that Ofsted have declared as outstanding to be fast tracked into Academies will have very different impacts in different local authorities. Many tory controlled LEA's provide fewer centralised school support services. So little to stay for and I suspect the numbers of schools wishing to become academies are much higher in such areas. Whereas, many LEA's still do provide many centralised useful services that even outstanding schools will find useful and hard to replicate. My hunch is that such authorities are more likely to be Lib Dem and labour controlled. Also, issues of school governors not wanting the additional responsibilities. We'll know soon enough.

Zig zags outside schools are useful for kids crossing the road but also intended as place for fire engines to park if they're called to a fire at a school. Presumably some ghastly incident once occurred where fire engines could'nt with dire or near dire consequences. I suspect school run exacerbated for St.Anthony's as its admissions policy isn't based on nearest school. So more likely parents will need to drive. One merit of the 1/2 form entry bulge class this year at St.Anthony's, assuming the prefab classes get planning permission, will be a fewer RC kids having to traipse over to Lewisham. Another big driver for parents driving kids to school is then driving onto work. In the past fewer families with two bread winners as well as fewer families with a car. Regards james.

Just received letter from the new Labout Cabinet member for Leisure stating pool will reopen in August. Seems to have slipped by a month since the May elections. Releived that project so far progressed that this flagship Lib Dem project will be finished. August not ideal but at least it will be in place for the new school year. Shame the summer holidays wont see kids beign kept busy swimming.

Dulwich Leisure Centre. New letter from the new labour Cabinet member in charge of Leisure. It will cost circa ?5,000 to post out. Thankful the project so far progressed that Labour have'nt canned this flagship Lib Dem strategy. Attached FAQ's state reopening of the pool in August. Slipped another month since the election. But at least it will be open for the new school year.

Hi Nero, I don't know but will find out.

I'm sure the main point was it happened in 2002 when Heber was a different school and the Local Education Authority was a very different LEA. The LEA had been privatised by Labour gov't as the council were so truly hopeless then. After the LEA beign handed back to a different council leadership it had 7 years of record improvements in schools results which I'd suggest would'nt be possible in ill disciplined schools. I guess something like this could happen again but much much less likely.

Hi Ant, That is strange. I cna only presume it is but if nmo signs or letters it must be delayed. I've received an emergency traffic order notification of road resurfacing on Hindmans Road between Upland Road and Tyrell's Road starting 15 minutes ago (this morning at 8am). Perhaps the resources have had to be diverted. Eitherway, I contacted the officer in charge to ask. As soon as I have any information I'll let you know.