James Barber

Hi Eileen, I was left a garbled message which sounded like TfL and as I described. I then received an email that was very different and I immedaitely edited my post to explain SOuthern Gas. They still have gas leaking into electricity ducts and have to find the leak and although it was all meant to finish today will still require further holes to be dug.

I have met Southern and Network Rail at East Dulwich station in the past to ask about the steps. To remove the steps extending the ramp, the whole ramp I was told would need to become DDA (Disabilities Discrimination Act) compliant. That means 1 in 20 slope with flat areas every 20m. In reality this means a doubling in slope length. That would mean buying land from the building centre or creating switch backs. If we wanted to put steps directly upto the platforms. Again a DDA option would have to be created. Lifts have been costed at around ?100,000 IF a new retaining wall on the south side was built. This retaining wall has been calculated at around ?1M. Buidling anything next to the working railway is horrendously expensive. BUT when I asked Barry what could Southwark Council help with to support all his good efforts he immediately told me an extra waiting area. so waiting area is what I have applied for funding for. I suspect next years recommended addition will be an additional covered waiting area on platform 2.

I believe the tailback was due to Southern Gas works. They were due to finish today but have found gas is still leaking into the electricity ducts. Clearly electricity and gas are not a good mix so they'll keep digging holes until they fix the leaks.

I've attached an article on how the Spanish extend tubes lines in Madrid - cut and cover ?35M/km deep tunnelling ?55M/km including station, signalling, etc. They can build from conception to trains running within 4 years - whole tube lines 20km long. TfL talks about 20 year planning. They nearly did a five year project extending the Docklands Light Railway into Woolwich Arsenal 2.5km ?180M. Wierdly the same distance to extend the Bakerloo line to Denmark Hill as started in 1950.

No those would be the toilets at the Leisure centre.

Hi timster, Its not my ward and I've been trying to get a sensible answer. The southern Gas works were due to finish today. BUT gas is still leaking into the elxtricity ducts and they keep working until this is fixed. So today they should end......but reality they'll need to dig at least another hole. :'(

With Southwark's delivery of 500 tonnes of salt by its supplier to blocked by central government and the weather forecast of up to another week of freezing weather Southwark has to reduce its daily consumption of salt from 150 tonnes to 100 tonnes per day. Attached is plan for revised pavement clearing in addition to all major roads being kept clear. This is a new document that I've 'feedback' on already.

I was with transport officers today and no mention of a fatal collission and they are always informed immediately by the Police. Fingers crossed not an oversight and collission not fatal or serious injury.

Hi legalbeagle, Well Southwark would normally BUT. Southwarks salt/grit stocks is now down to 750 tonnes. It started at 1150 tonnes and has been regularly topped up. Normally each day 150 tonnes would be spread. Another 500 tonnes were due to be collected from Cheshire and delivered to us. Many councils have already run out of salt/grit. The government has announced today they've taken control of all salt/grit supplies - effectively Southwark's delivery of 500 tonnes have been nationalised. As a result of this effective nationalisation the current Southwark stock of salt/grit will need to be conserved and instead of spreading 150 tonnes per day reduced to 100 tonnes per day. So, I'd hope so, but taking this change of circumstances into account doubt it.

Hi intexasatthe moment, I'm disappointed that after so much gritting that roads have still frozen up. I can assure you Barry Road and lordship Lane as main roads have been gritting repeatedly. But with temperatures below freezing and apparently -6 degrees C last night the salt/grit combination doesn't work well at all. In some locations I've seen about an inch of ice and then through that frozen salt. This morning Lordship Lane looked fine around Goose Green with relatively free pavements. On the salt/grit being too wet to work. I've been seeking Southwark investing in a salt barn but they cost ?200,000. Officers this year have been using a cover system. If it's failed to keep the salt/grit at the right moisture content I'll be asking about salt barns again.

Some time ago I asked what Southwark Council could help with at East Dulwich station. you said that help funding a new waiting area for the platform 1 facing London Bridge station. You've estimated this would cost ?12,000-?15,000. I've now applied for Southwark Council Cleaner, Greener, Safer funding for ?4,000 from East Dulwich ward and after checking with Cllr Jenny Jones for ?4,000 from the Southwark Camberwell ward. Each ward broadly has around ?120,000 a year to spend on capital projects. You've agreed that if Southwark Council helps with ?8,000 that Southern would contribute the rest and project manage it all. I'm hopeful that my East Dulwich ward colleagues will agree to support this. I'm also hopeful that Green Party Cllr Jenny Jones for South Camberwell will be able to persuade her Labour cllr colleagues in South Camberwell. The final decisions would be taken in mid March and all going well money would be available 1 April. How long do you think it would take to construct?

Hi Eileen, She did start a new thread at the same time.

I've not heard of anyone being sued for clearing their path and someone slipping. I would have thought a lawyer is as likely to sue for not clearing a path. I would have thought most household insurances carry 3rd party insurance for just such circumstances. Also, I don't think it likely that if someone slipped on a Southwark pavement and the council was sued that it would counter sue the adjoining property owner for clearing the pavement for them. I think this line of concern is used by those of us who don't clear the snow.

They are not very near anything and have little 'passive surveillance' people using them or walking by them to you and me. I've been told they were repeatedly wrecked and some years ago Southwark Council decided it couldn't afford to keep them open and constantly repairing the damage or provide a permanent presence to increase security.

Hi Crokes, The decision was taken by Camberwell councillors at 21 October Camberwell Community Council. It followed a site visit in September with the Peckham watch fire engine. The Officers report states that if a fire were to occur the London Fire Brigade would send four fire appliances. When will the change happen? I would expect before the end of March ie the next 10 weeks.

Hi Sue, The part of East Dulwich Road affected, north side of Goose Green, is in South Camberwell ward and although part of East Dulwich not part of East Dulwich ward. Your South Camberwell Labour and Green Party councillors will have been asked to make the decision several times and a public consultation would have been involved. One of the powers the Lib Dems devolved to local councillors at local Community Councils. Without wanting to second guess why council and fire officers asked for this change. Many of the houses along this road have been highly sub divided - Houses of Multiple Occupation. Such highly sub dividied properties are much much more likely to result in fires where people die. Sometimes multiple deaths. On this basis ensuring fire engines can gain access seems a sensible, if painful for drivers, precaution. Apparently 5% of UK population live in HMO's but 35% of fire deaths and 40% of fire injuries for people living s in HMO's. Total 600 fire deaths and 18,000 fire injuries a year in the UK. Your suggestion of allowing fire enginer access across Goose Green is appealing but with two lines of parked cars between Goose Green and the houses would'nt actually mean fire fighters could get ladders and kit quickly into the right place. It would also probably result in more restrictions and fewer public events on Goose Green - which would be a shame. I'd also guess that the pavement after this change could be returned fully to pedestrians which would make walking along here more pleasant and feasible for those with prams and buggies, etc.

Hi Sue, The part of East Dulwich Road affected, north side of Goose Green, is in South Camberwell ward and although part of East Dulwich not part of East Dulwich ward. Your South Camberwell Labour and Green Party councillors will have been asked to make the decision several times and a public consultation would have been involved. One of the powers the Lib Dems devolved to local councillors at local Community Councils. Without wanting to second guess why council and fire officers asked for this change. Many of the houses along this road have been highly sub divided - Houses of Multiple Occupation. Such highly sub dividied properties are much much more likely to result in fires where people die. Sometimes multiple deaths. On this basis ensuring fire engines can gain access seems a sensible, if painful for drivers, precaution. Apparently 5% of UK population live in HMO's but 35% of fire deaths and 40% of fire injuries for people living s in HMO's. Total 600 fire deaths and 18,000 fire injuries a year in the UK. Your suggestion of allowing fire enginer access across Goose Green is appealing but with two lines of parked cars between Goose Green and the houses would'nt actually mean fire fighters could get ladders and kit quickly into the right place. It would also probably result in more restrictions and fewer public events on Goose Green - which would be a shame. I'd also guess that the pavement after this change could be returned fully to pedestrians which would make walking along here more pleasant and feasible for those with prams and buggies, etc.

Hi AcedOut, 1. The bike hire stations are all in Zone 1. No plans to extend out this far at present. Guess edepends how successful the scheme proves to be. 2. You could easilly make this happen yoursefl. Apply for Cleaner, Greener, Safer money for a water fountain. Deadline for application is Friday 8 January. So get cracking. 3. I wonder if a Peckham Commerce soceity exists to run this. 4. Would think being so close to busy roads would make this overly noisy for outdoor theatre.

The decision to close the South London Line has been jointly taken by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Governments Transport Secretary. The outer circle train line proposed would probably be a combination of the North London Line and East London Line phase 2. It wont help SLL.

The Post Office External Relationship Manager has emailed me today that they are looking into the East Dulwich postal matter.

Apologies had planned a site visit to Greendale for tomorrow. Due to the weather I'm cancelling this site visit. I'll try and PM everyone who has expressed an interest.

Two cars crashed and are badly damaged. No personal injuries thank goodness. Apparently with the sun so bright and low hard for cars to judge when to pull out and car on Barry Road might have been going too fast. Suggested speed humps might help BUT as a bus route full humps would be a problem. Will ask officers for a site visit as this junction going to cause a death eventually.

Last week I asked council officers to contact EDF Energy Networks about the variable electricity supply they are providing for SE22. I don't know how long it will take to get a response or how helpful it will be. However, it is worth pointing out that EDF Energy Networks is licensed by Ofgem. When you have any problems you should report them to EDF customerr services 0800 028 0247. The more problems are reported the more likely they are to put effort into fixing them. Ofgem have created Guaranteed Standard of Performance Regulations - 18+ hours you can claim ?50, every extra 12 hours ?25. Not much comfort if you go without electricity. If your not happy tell EDF. If you're still not happy then contact Ofgem.

Hi Sian, On Sunday 27 December you highlighted a bad contact centre experience. You were able to provide sufficient details on Wednesday 30 December. On new years eve your were called by the respoinsbile manager who apologised and rearranged rubbish collection date for Saturday 2 January. Additoonally the original call recording is being extracted to be fully reviewed and appropriate action within the contact centre taken. Fingers crossed Saturdays collection went to plan.

Hi jim_the_chin, Sounds very bizarre. I'm on the case and will let you know what I find out.