James Barber

Hi Fuschia and hoipoloi, This year everyone has been taken by surprise by the sudden unexpected problems with Primary school admissions. The GLA have the London statistics unit that informs local authorities about demographics and informs school plans - when we need more school places, less, etc. Until 14 weeks ago the stats were telling us we'd need a new primary school in about 7 years time. The stats now tell us we have a problems now. So bulge classes have been agreed and all children were found suitable places. Also the process was not as helpful as it needs to be. The process will be markedly improved. Why the sudden problem this year? Is it people not leaving the area? if not why? For East Dulwich I had two families contact me and only at the point where they were deeply unhappy but already in the appeals process. This was the first time I've had primary school casework and was advised to let the appeals run their course and then step in if still a problem. I wont be so naive with any future similar casework. How to avoid this happening again. In the short term bulge classes. Medium to long term is being discussed

Hi Strawbs, I'm baffled. I've never had problems crossing at either of the zebra crossings outside EDT. Are you being assertive enough? You might have noticed that the Goose Green roundabout is being reworked at present. The two existing zebra crossing will be brought up to scratch and a new one constructed on the Grove Vale arm. Hope this helps.

Hi cokeycat, I and all my lib Dem collegues are concerned at the Council Tax rate collection. When the Lib Dems took over from Labour we inherited a number of pickles ranging from privatised services including education, coucnil tax collection; recycling at 3.5% and falling, 7 grass cutting contracts, over 100 different council office vending contracts. It was truly a shambles At that time Liberate the council tax collection was mediocre but not terrible. So the administration concentrated on getting education fixed, getting recycling up, havings streets cleaned. However, liberata performance at council tax collection has slipped rather than improving as others have. So the in year collection rate is about 90% with further collection as people pay after the year. The Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Mcnally in charge of resource last year and this year has and is working hard to transform this. Watch this space as this service is transformed. I know he'd be happy to give more detals [email protected]

Hi TJ, I believe extending the no.63 bus route to Honor Oak rail station is a great idea assuming no practical difficulties turning buses around, bus driver toilets etc. Both being quite easy to resolve. This route would then serve Peckham Rye ward even better. It doesn't currently get very close to East Dulwich ward. After receiving your email I joined the Facebook group to support this idea and have forwarded your email to GLA assembly member Caroline Pidgeon. If you'd like to contact other Southwark councillors you can find their details at: Southwark Councillors

Hi Gimme, I'm sorry you feel I've let you down. Obviously from your login I can't tell who you are and check my records. I'm not perfect and deal with many cases. At this moment in time I have 43 active cases. If you have another problem please try me again and hopefully I wont disappoint you.

Hi Judy2 and reggie, The choices for all parents in Southwark at the secondary school stage are increasing. The new local Harris Boys school/Academy on a temporary site opened this week. It moves to its permanent site next summer. Southwark mixed schools have a ratio of around 3 boys for every girl. Creating a boys school starts to address this imbalance making mixed schools more attractive to parents of girls. If you look at Southwark state school results over the last 5 years they are the most improved in the UK. We still have some way to go before we can relax. By the time your 6 and 4 year olds reach the secondary stage they should be even more improved.

Hi GerritSmith and Peckwich, Why id Peckham Library being noisy? Its an award winning design and has been so very popular that it is noisier than expected. Its an environment that attracts users who in other places would'nt be in libraries. Truly inspiring. don't forget we have great local libraries - Dulwich Library which I helped push to be open 7 days a week, Grove Vale library a friendly pocket library. Not sure why you'd want to traipse over to Peckham Library espeicaly if noisier libraries bother you.

Hi Gerritsmith, The only palm tree planted in East dulwich is in the middle of Goose Green roundabout. In Southwark the Lib Dems have introduced a capital fund every year for every ward - roughly ?120,000 every year for every ward. Anyone can apply and local councillors decide which applications are funded. A local resident close to Goose Green asked for a tree to be planted in the middle. They wanted a plam tree. Council officers consulted a wide area around about a plam tree, london plane tree, heritage light, direction fingers posts. I perosnally voted for the plane tree so it felt like an extension of Goose Green. The Palm tree won. I asked whether our planting contract could augment it and it looks fab. As for other trees. Every year the East Dulwich Lib Dem cuncillors fund lots more trees for East Dulwich. Typically around ?10,000->?15,000 every year. If you have ideas where you'd liek a tree in East Dulwich let me know - [email protected]

Hi SMBJones, Would love to meet up at East dulwich station. Please email [email protected]

Hi Nero, Cycling on pavements is legal for children and adults on bicycles with wheels under 14" diameter. Frankly it will be a while before I feel comfortable as a parent for my young kids to cycle on the roads. They're just a bit to random about directions. Saying that I don't take them on any pavements with people about. I suspect you really mean perfectly fit adults cycling in aggressive ways. In Southwark we provide free cycle training to help boost confidence about cycling safely on Southwark's roads. We've made lots of part of Southwark 20mph zones to make it safer for all road users - more on the way for East Dulwich. We have the largest Community Warden scheme and we're working on our wardens being allowed to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to aggressive cyclists. One good thing. I suspect aggressive cyclists if they weren't cycling would be driving a vehicles aggressively. If you know any East Dulwich streets that have a problem let me know.

Hi Tobester999, Hmmm. Those posts etc are intended to demarcate the properties border. This shop owner used to illegally try selling cars outside this shop. council officers have formally stopped this and allegedly this was perilous. What I find truly amazing is that someone is so rich that they don't need such a prime shop site to be a successful shop, or rent it out, etc. Bizarre.

Hi Pablogrande, Which one way East Dulwich street do you live on that vehicles enter at very high street? Things that can be done range from narrowing the entrance to, humps across the road. Really depends upon the dynamics of the street. Feel free to email me direct to talk about your street. I'm sorry you find it so hard to get info on keyworker housing near East Dulwich (other than Peckham). The biggest key worker accomodation is at 72 Grove Vale. 110 rooms varying from studio rooms upwards. I'm sure if you popped along to the office during normal hours or tried calling them they'd explain how to apply. in the current climate good to hear you have vacancies available which would ideally suit school leavers or someone who needs a career change. I believe the government has a modern apprenticeship scheme that can help fund apprenticeships - Modern Apprenticeshipssee Can we please have a city farm on Peckham Rye? Southwark has two city farms - nearest one in Walworth and one in Rotherhither/Surrey Docks. Crystal Palace Park also has one and another is located in Vauxhall. All these city farms need more support and are located within 3 miles of East Dulwich. When is Waitrose opening? I'm not aware of Waitrose coming to the area. However, the application by Somerfield for an alcohol licence near to Dulwich Library even though successful has seen the shop building work stop..... Other than that I don't know where a Waitrose could be located.

Hi Computed Shorty, All the Alleyways we have gated or plan to gate already have anti social problems - including rubbish dumping, urination, intimidation, defecation. Why should local residents, employees and businesses suffer this? So far the gates we're arranging are designed after consultation by local artist Heather Burrell and her team. The two most recent are those on Northcross Road behind Lord Palmerston and on south side of Ashbourne Grove close to Lordship Lane. They look great and I doubt they suffer the problems you've described. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Hi Jeremy, -Can we have displays in the bus stops telling us when the next bus is coming? I've asked Transport for London myself several time, via council officers once and via GLA Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon as well. TfL are always about to impliment a fabulously more accurate new system. One day I'll be shocked and they will. It is scandalous that for South East London where we rely upon buses so much that Countdown isn't universal. -When is the lowest block of the DKH estate going to get renovated (corner of Grove Vale and Quorn Rd)? I'll find out a report later. -What's the current status of the Concrete House mandatory purchase and subsequent repairs? I know this but can;t recall. I'll check my notes and again come back to you. -Why won't the planning dept allow full width dormers on flats, even though lots of houses have them? loft extensions below a certain size don't need planning permission and that conform to certain stylistic rules so that they appear ancillary. most loft conversion companies discourage residents from making planning application as it delays then cycling onto the next project. Anyone can make a full planning application looking for a full width loft conversion. -Can we have some local recycling facilities for energy-saving bulbs? Good point. For those that don't travel regualrly along the Walwroth Road popping into Manor Place recycling would be a pain. I'll ask whether these could be collected or similar ot battery recycling something that could be left at libraries. This is especially important considering 100W incandescent light bulbs are no longer for sale. I'll find out what can be done. -What's planned for the house in Dulwich Park (currently boarded up, signs indicating a change of use) Two houses. One by College Road entrance and other facing the South Circular. From memort the College Road entrance one is proposed to be a hub for volunteers working in the park. I'll double check this memory.

I've been a councillor since 2006. I've loved nearly every minute of it and feel honoured to have been elected.

Take a look at the East Dulwich Police Safer Neighbourhood Team newsletter: ED SNT Newsletter That money I arranged has helped to see a dramatic reduction in household burglary, a dramatic reduction in shop crime. We're looking at further ideas. The East Dulwich Lib Dem cllrs want East Dulwich to became one of the very lowest crime ward in London. One request the Police often make to me is they wish people would report crime and other intelligence to them so they have the big picture of what is happening locally. Let them know: 020 8721 2447 [email protected] Regards james barber Liberal Democrat councillor for East Dulwich

Any route that has many large buses turning tight corners is bound to result in collisions. Basic probability. I spent a day at Willesden Bus garage on the bus simulator. Even driving a bus simulator was really hard. For some time we campaigned for the no.12 bus route to be extended to Forest Hill. We stopped this campaign when Boris was elected with a promise to phase out bendy buses. Latest news on that is they'll all be gone by 2011.

Hi, My name is James Barber and I am one of the two Liberal Democrat East Dulwich ward councillors along with Cllr Rosie Shimell. We're Liberal Democrats and part of Southwark Liberal Democrats. If you have any issues or concerns related to East Dulwich or Southwark Council then please let me or Cllr Rosie Shimell know. I guarantee we will listen and answer all ideas and issues raised and hopefully help you solve them. Normally I will look in two or three times a week to see any new postings. Alternatively you can email me directly on [email protected]. If you'd like to meet for help - then you can arrange a Skype eSurgery or home visit by contacting me or visit our surgery 7-8pm 4th Thursday of every month (except August) at the East Dulwich Community Centre on Darrell Road. I look forward to hearing from you, James Barber

Several posts have asked for a Controlled Parking Zone free for residents. Controlled Parking Zones cost money to run. Roughly 50% of households in Southwark do not own or run a car. It would clearly be unfair for those without cars to subsidise the running costs of a Controlled Parking Zone via Council Tax for those with cars. Hence the need to charge. The current charge is ?91 per annum. In the survey we've asked residents to tell us whether they think it should be related to CO2 emissions or not. What do you think? Regards james barber Liberal Democrat councillor for East Dulwich www.jamesbarber.org.uk

I understand that today the Labour government Post Office closures programme proposed hit list is released. That one of the East Dulwich Post Offices, the one on Melbourne Grove, is on that Labour hit list. Needless to say all three Liberal Democrat councillors Richard Thomas, Jonathan Mitchell and myself are against this community vandalism. What do you think? cllr James Barber www.jamesbarber.org.uk

Sorry I haven't answered some of the queries about the East Dulwich Liberal Democrat Parking Survey. We've been busey finding out which Post Offices are being proposed for closure. So far we have delivered parking surveys to 2,000 homes in East Dulwich - so yes we still have 3,500 more homes to visit. No we can't deliver them in a few days as some people expect as all the work is done by local councillors and volunteers who have day jobs and families. It will take 4-6 more weeks of evening and weekend work to distribute them all. Streets that I know we have delivered to include: Melbourne Grove, Derwent Grove, Grove Vale (south side), Elsie Road, Tingatel Crescent, Zenoria Street, Oxonian Street, East Dulwich Road, Lordship Lane, Tell Grove, Matham Grove, Ashbourne Grove, Chesterfield Grove, Bassano Street, Blackwater Street, Spurling Road, Crawthew Grove, Worlingham Road, Frogley Road, Nutfield Road, Archdale Road, Lacon Road, Crystal Palace Road (NW side). To re iterate we have no axe to grind for or against Controlled Parking Zones. We are responding to many resident queries, especially near to East dulwich station, and we wont to find out what people want. IF majority who respond want one then we will seek a full formal survey.

To reiterate what Cllr Richard Thomas posted earlier. All three East Dulwich Lib Dem councillors have been repeatedly contacted by residents complaining about problem parking in East dulwich especially near to East Dulwich station and Lordship Lane. Hence the survey asking for peoples views. We know that four years ago people were pretty evenly split on this issue. We've ensured our survey makes it clear what a permit currently costs and asks whether residents would want parking permits based on CO2 emissions. IF the survey results show the majority of residents in an area do want Controlled Parking we would seek a formal Controlled Parking Zone review. Money from the developer for a formal review was agreed as part of the Planning Gain Section 106 agreement for 72 Grove Vale. Regards cllr james barber

Several questions that I can answer. The lease for the new Grove Vale Library will be 125 years at a peppercorn rent of ?100 pa. A tiny fraction of what is currently being paid. I anticipate that the savings will enable the library to increase from being open 4 days a week to 6 days per week. It will take 6 months to finalise all the zillions of details that now have to be resolved post Planning Application approval. It would then take 18 months to build the site and a further 1-3 months to fit out the library.

The planning inspector could allow Cafe Nero to trade with no conditions, set conditions about sound proofing the aircon condensing units, condition removal or relocating the aircon units, close Cafe Nero with a timescale for closure. Cafe Nero gave contradictoroy evidence that its aircon was essential for the sites use as a cafe with seating. They also said they didn't need the aircon. You can imagine how hard it has been for council officers to deal with such shifting sands. Hope that helps. NB. My wife and children love going to Cafe Nero.

I'm sorry think me prejudiced. I've formed this view after hearing a day of evidence yesterday. A year ago when I sat on the planning committee I was expecting to approve the planning application. The failure for the applicant to attend and answer questions, the oral evidence of officers and the obvious suffering of residents swayed the committee to unamously to vote for refusal. I've never need to a planning committee where the applicant or applicants agent failed to show. Weird behaviour.