James Barber

Hi spark67, You need to ask your College ward councillors to buy the local College ward Police Safer Neighbourhood Team some speed cameras/guns and active signs. We did this for the East Dulwich Police team and they can now have enforcement speed limits where residents report problems. Having these tools for the East Dulwich Police team meant we felt confident to seek this 20mph speed limit on roads bounded by Lordship Lane and including Whateley and Barry without speed humps and bumps. I'm hopeful the public consultation responses will agree.... If you have a view please do fill in the consultation form.

Hi SteveT, Speeding fines go to the treasury. They don't touch local council coffers. M25 has a 50mph speed limit to cope when high volumes. That seems to work. Dartford tunnel volumes keep going up and they're now talking about another bridge or tunnel. So I don't think speed limits would ultimately cope with this. Timing traffic lights to work consequetively if speed limit obeyed. great long overdue idea. Transport For london control traffic lights. Why don't they just do this?

I've been asked whether school free lunches could be universally provided to children in Southwark Schools. The total Southwark state school population is 33,849 with around 20,000 Primary school kids. This doesn't include children at Harris East Dulwich or Harris Bermondsey schools. So around another 1,600 pupils. 85% are Southwark residents. 7% from Lambeth 5% from Lewisham 3% from other boroughs. Something like 190 schools days a year. Around 25% receive free school lunches. So if schools did provide universal free lunches we'd have to find funding for circa extra 5 million school meal to provide total 6.7 million free school lunches. A number of Southwark children go to boroughs outside Southwark. So real problem of equity as they'd lose out on free school meals with their household paying for them. One way of paying for this would be to insist schools spent their money on this. So less money for teachers, books, etc. I think schools should choose how to spend their budgets. Another way would be cutting something else or to increase council tax to give schools more money. What do you think?

For this consultation all residents on Dusntans Road were sent letter by recorded delivery on 5 February. I've had assurance that Dunstans Grove access will be maintained throughout the Dunstans Road resurfacing - hence the reason they were'nt notified. I've pointed out that even though it wont greatly affect them being told that would have been better. This morning at 8.30am only two cars had to be moved and that the contractors re planned the day around no.71 being able to move. So all in all a good start to the works - except the signs stating the number to call with any problems did'nt have the telephone mnumber. The contractors Conways are correcting this. Any problems let Conways know, or let me know.

Hi Mitchk, Traffic calming measure like speed humps would be really disruptive to buses and the buses would soon flatten them out. Buses have very high axle weights which really pound bus stops - see Lordship Lane Psot office, Chener Books, Sea Cow, East Dulwich station. But I'd bee keen on 20mph speed limit along Lordship Lane and we have a completed public consultation and funding in place for a Pelican Crossing outside Somerfield on Lordship Lane. Goose GReen having zebra crossing seems to work really well. Pedestrians crossing seem to keep the roundabout calmer allowing all arms a fair chance to get round. Huguenot, fascinated to read about junction and link times.

I'll try and get a copy of the 20mph counsiltation. I have a draft but not the final published version. We've spent some months discussing with officers the areas covered.

Hi first mate, My point about the cold weather? I've checked and Southwark Council have the same operatives, supervisors, managers, equipment, etc. So Southwark Council doesn't appear to have changed in anyway. So the increase in dog poo is not due to less effort ro resources in keeping our streets clean. I'm guessing East Dulwich hasn't gone dog buying mad? So the only other factor I can think of is its been a lot colder. Does that influence dog or dog owner behaviour causing this dog poo outbreak?

Hi iamhere, Please accept my apoligies if I've failed to respond to your emails. I send around 60 email a day related to East Dulich issues and receive around 100 emails a day related to my councillor role and I also try and be active on EDF helping people. I also receive around 10 phone calls a day. I am behind responding to phone calls due to Blackberry phone problems. Please PM me and I'll call you today on whatever number you state at whateer time outside kids bedtime (6-7.30pm).

Hi NorthernPup, For clarity over 90% of roads in Southwark are maintained by Sotuhwark Council. 75% of Southwark's funding comes from central government and 25% from council tax and fees and charges. Of the 75% that comes from central government a tiny amonut comes from vehicle excise duty but majority from VAT, Income Tax, etc. So whether a cyclists has or doesn't have a car they still braodly pay the same amonut in taxation as some one who drives a car. Hope that puts a little context on road maintenance funding in Southwark. The junction this crash occurred at is in Peckham The Lane ward. The local councillors for The Lane are [email protected] or [email protected]. Normally 3 councillors representing every ward but cllr Susan Ellan-Jones resigned the after a by election would have been called if a cllr resigned (within 6 months of lcoal elections) so she can concentrate on fighting safe South Wales Labour parliamentary seat. Hope this helps.

When I get hear about particualr dog poo problems I ask council officers to aplly the yellow anti dog poo stencial on the pavements where this is happening. It often seems to help. As pointed out by others do report dog poo problems and council officers will remove it pretty quickly 020 7525 2000 Can any dog owners comment on whether the particularly cold weather is having an effect on the dogs?

Hi PeckhamRose, Did the Institute of Advanced Motoring say the whole sentence you appear to be quoting? Or have you added the last part? Clearly in ideal world no road would need traffic calming as all dirvers would drive at a reasonable speed. As a biker I'm surprised you don't find 20mph beneficial as bikers are much more likely to not be spotted if cars driving faster.

Last night attend the Dulwich Area Housing Forum - discussing issues around council tenancies and leaseholders. I was really chuffed that all the immediate issues we'd been working on for the last 6 months had beene resolved. That the 1.3% council housing rent increase finalised. BUT if you have any local council housing issues do get in touch.

Hi tulip, All Southwark orads get structurally assessed and officers advised this was the most needy road. The superficial look of roads apparently isn't a good indicator.

Council officer [email protected] is leading a counsultation about Goose Green. Fencing designed to resitrct the area used by dog walkers was removed some time ago and conusltation to see how people feel about how Goose Green feels now. The outcome will inform officers and councillors future decisions. Either tell council officers via their parks survey or request a hardcopy from Niki Efstratiou 020 7525 0707. or collect a harcopy from Dulwich Library, Goose Green Centre or Dulwich Leisure Centre.

Hi Smeltz, I've reported the Post Office bus stop road condition and the problems with roads where the bus stops outside Chener Books and Sea Cow are. I've not yet been given dats. I suspect the root cause for thee is the gas and water mains work undertaken last year and year before.

Hi themaninblack, Southwark's ?4M annual spend on road maintenace comes from Southwark's main budget. Traffic calming, road humps, etc normally come from Transport for London funding that Southwark bids for. Some limited works of this type come from Section 106 where a developer recompenses an area for the extra traffic their new development creates or Cleaner, Greener, Safer funding that each community council/ward has each year. In summary, different pots of money. Southwark Officers obtain condition reports and the road renewals are based on the condition reports. Worst obviously happening first. With time I'd hope we will catch up with the decades of under maintenance. It's a bit like a mortgage. You don't notice the principal going down for some years. Hope that makes sense. What wont have helped is this winter has had such cold freezing weather accelerating wear and tear.

Crystal Palace Road when its finally finished will have costs ?800,000. So ?4M doesn't go far but we've been spending ?4M every year for 8 years so gradually catching up with the previous decades of neglect.

Dunstans Road pavements have largely been replaced. The next step, starting on Monday, will be resurfacing the whole of Dunstans Road all the way from its junction with Upland Road to Forest Hill Road. The works will last upto two weeks and take place from 8am-5pm during daylight. These works form part of the annual ?4M road maintenance budget for Southwark Council. The work will be completed in three sections: 1. Forest Hill Road to Underhill Road 2. Underhill Road to Goodrich Road 3. Goodrich Road to Upland Road. I've been assured that letters have gone out to residents. But clearly this will have an impact beyond the immediate residents. If you know someone these works will affect please do tell them.

Hi mrsw, Roadworks will always have some periods of absent workers. Concrete and tarmac has to be left to set. Concrete ideally for over a week. The period of setting is affected by temperatures. So colder weather means longer periods where no visible work taking place. The key is knowing this. Equally, I wish fewer works were concentrated on and completed more quickly at a time. I'll ask the councillor scrutiny chairs to consider investigating this issue.

Primary school admissions. Southwark Council received more primary school applications than at this time last year by the end of January deadline. It's hoped this will reflect a lower number of late or amended applications over the next few months. Helpfully the number of online applications has risen from 300 to 1200 so the admissions teams are ahead of where they were last year with getting all the applications into the system.

I can assure you the 'boys in blue' are concerned. I've spoken to them about this. A surprising proportion are bikers themselves so they understand how expensive, annoying and inconvenient this crime is for the victims even if the value of the petrol stolen is minor. Please do report such crime so that they can get a picture of what is happening and try resolving it.

With respect to the collission site and temporary lights not having pedestrian phasing. Southwark Council officers have told me that at present no temporary traffic signals with integrated pedestrian phasing have been approved by Department of Transport for use. That this is an industry wide concern and discussions are taking place with the Department of Transport, London Council's (representing all councils in London) and Transport for London with an expectation that approval will be given. No time scales yet on this. Clearly this means that when permanent lights are replaced with temporary lights existing pedestrian phasing is lost. To deter pedestrians from chancing this ridiculous situation barriers are placed but clearly some will try dodging traffic to cross a road. This is clearly a national issue. I've asked Southwark officers what timescales they understand for type approval of such phasing by the Dept of Transport. I've asked GLA member Caroline Pidgeon if she can ask Transprot for London what they understand the timescale to be. I've also asked simon Hughes whether he could ask a Parliamentary Members Questions to the Dept of Transport when they anticipate type approval. WHen I hear something I'll feedback on my councillor thread. In the mean time I've asked officers that generally for SOuthwark where pedestrian crossing near a school will be temporary out of operation that such works take place during school holidays. Clearly many utilities undertake emergency works but where not an emergecny this would a difference.

I've been told by Southwark Council officers that at present no temporary traffic signals with integrated pedestrian phasing have been approved by Department of Transport for use. That this is an industry wide concerns and discussions are taking place with the Department of Transport, London Council's (representing all councils in London) and Transport for London with an expectation that approval will be given. No time scales yet on this. Clearly this means that when permanent lights are replaced with temporary lights existing pedestrian phasing is lost. To deter pedestrians from chancing this ridiculous situation barriers are placed but clearly some will try dodging traffic. For the specifics of the recent Forest Hill Raod work. Thames Water have made a temporary fix of a 300mm mains bringing back water supplies for 578 properties. Tonight from 8pm a permanent repair will be made. This is at a time with less traffic, most dinners have been made (needing water pressure) etc. So overall minimising inconvenience but importantly fewer pedestrians around. When I find out the timescales for this type approval for temporary lights that include pedestrian phases I'll let you know.

Hi mrsw, I've been told by Southwark Council officers that at present no temporary traffic signals with integrated pedestrian phasing have been approved by Department of Transport for use. That this is an industry wide concerns and discussions are taking place with the Department of Transport, London Council's (representing all councils in London) and Transport for London with an expectation that approval will be given. No time scales yet on this. Clearly this means that when permanent lights are replaced with temporary lights existing pedestrian phasing is lost. To deter pedestrians from chancing this ridiculous situation barriers are placed but clearly some will try dodging traffic. For the specifics of the recent Forest Hill Raod work. Thames Water have made a temporary fix of a 300mm mains bringing back water supplies for 578 properties. Tonight from 8pm a permanent repair will be made. This is at a time with less traffic, most dinners have been made etc. So overall minimising inconvenience but importantly fewer pedestrians around. When I find out the timescales for this type approval for temporary lights that include pedestrian phases I'll let you know.

More heavy snow forecast by UK MEt Office for tomorrow and Wednesday. Funny old winter.