James Barber

This is what he is quoted as saying to Southwark News http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/by-election-called-after-labour-councillor-steps-down/ : " A second Labour councillor has stepped down in less than six months, citing a poor work-life balance in his resignation statement. Chris Gonde, who was elected eighteen months ago to the South Camberwell ward, admitted that he found it ?increasingly difficult? to balance his many business responsibilities with his family life. " I wish him and his family well. Bit surprising he couldn't wait until next March when the by-election could have taken place alongside the GLA elections avoiding the council spend ?20,000 to run this by election on standalone basis.

Roundabouts are notoriously more dangerous for people cycling and crossing roads. I've heard the number x14 more dangerous. It would be a travesty to use cycle quietways money to make the junction less safe for cycling and walking.

Have asked council officers to investigate.

This is the response I had yesterday from council officers: " Dear Councillor James Barber, Thank you very much for drawing our attention to the poor drainage on East Dulwich Road at crossroads with both Adys Road and Crystal Palace Road. A member of our team visited the location to investigate the problem. The gully crew were instructed to attend and clean all three gullies straight away but found the pipe from drain run to about 15metres in the direction of the sewer and stopped. To establish what is really happening underneath the carriageway a detailed investigation including a CCTV survey has subsequently been instructed to clarify whether possible civil works will be required to rectify the problem. In the interim awaiting further investigations, our gulley crew will attend to remove surface water anytime there is heavy rainfall until all the necessary remedial works are completed. We will update you when this is done. Please do not hesitate to contact us if there are further issues relating to this matter. Kind regards, " As soon as I hear more I will pass it on.

Southwark Council officers are looking at what flood relief scheme may or may not be needed for the Peckham Rye/East Dulwich area - eastern parts of East Dulwich. To get the process started they're seeking any information or data about past local flooding. Photos, video, notes, memories. They would then map these to get an idea of degree and extent and then consider solutions. If you have been flooded at any time, or know of past flooding of your or another property can you please share any materials about this with the lead council official [email protected] and myself. Depending upon how many people have been affected we may organise a local meeting to discuss past flooding, what officers can do with partners such as Thames Water and the Environment agency to relieve the chances of future flooding and the general process and timescales. I have initially suggested they seek London Fire Brigade records of basements flats and cellars from flooding I recall 6-8 and 10-12 years ago. Can you help? Also please do pass this request onto anyone you know who has been affected by flooding.

Hi Jules-and-Boo, I help lots of people in East Dulwich ward and the wider area. I can't imagine any councillor betraying your trust. if you'd like my help just drop me an email or let me know when/where you'd like to talk. However, whoever you choose to ask for help I hope it doesn't take long to sort whatever the issue/s are. Good luck.

Hi ed_pete, No. NHS Property and its predecessors between them have been planning to replace Dulwich Hospital for 23 years now and announced it will be another 4 before they complete. Even glacial would be quicker. hi spider69, Not sure what the NCR fiasco has to do with me other than suggesting the junction should be improved. I don't manage Southwark's chosen contractor doing the works. Or manage the people managing the contractor. Hi Sunglasses, We're not clear on about playing fields yet. I doubt if they did it would be grass. They will have sufficient land for sufficient outdoor space. modern astroturf would be good. They're also hoping to keep the central chateau which would be great but adding a large amount of building behind and joined to it.

At the last Dulwich Community council it was explained that NHS Property are relaseing two areas for the new temporary and permanent school building. Extreme western end and NE rectangle longest side going East to West abutting Jarvis Road entrance. The Charter chair of governors explained that they're thinking along with the Educational Finance Agency is for the sports hall to go on extreme western land being passed to them. That the NE area will hold the temporary buildings close to Jarvis Road and the western end will have one of the main permanent blocks built. NHS property explained they would need an extra 23 years before they vacate the bulk of the site to plan and build new health facilities. They seemed pleased with themselves to do it so quickly. This is probably when the comment I was pulling faces someone made came from. I was seriously agog it could take 4 years - after 23 years of 'planning' to build a new health centre. They're allowing 18 months to plan the thing. a couple of years to build it. All funded by a PFI arrangement - amazingly stupid way to finance any public building if you consider more than one parliament. This obviously raises lots of questions which I'm sure we'll get resolved and flexed with meetings offered over the next few weeks.

Hi first mate, I have formally asked for details of all changes to Chesterfield grove yellow lines over the last few years as determined to get to the bottom of this.

Also anyone living on Melbourne Grove, Jarvis Road or East Dulwich Grove. Big impacts with proposed school entrances, building routes, phasing.

Hi first mate, I would not expect to agree to any increase in double yellow lines on any local roads without an exceptionally good reason. I will have asked for existing linings to be repainted as we have a long term problem around the car wash there parking and enforcement not having been particularly effective. I'm not aware of any extension in double yellow lines - perhaps they'd worn away and were repainted. I will ask officers for the recent history of linings on that road.

Hi P68, You may be right about losing lots but I decide what I think it right rather than whether it will win or lose more votes. Vote chasing would mean inaction to avoid any chance of offending. East Dulwich is far being perfect to be able to do that. I do think we have an incredible challenge with global warming, obesity with cycling and walking being part of the answer to both. Driving is unavoidable for many journeys so I don't dislike cars as much as the consequences of not addressing global warming and obesity. to me that's an important difference. Hi Abe-froeman, Do you honestly think people vote en masse based on single issues. It's hard enough to get people to vote. We do really well these days in East Dulwich getting just under half the electorate to vote in local elections. Hi fazer71, Planning is about shaping our communities for the better. Not allowing annoy thing goes mentality ruining what we have. The reason we don't have enough homes in London is taxation with no real consequences to leaving homes unused. Land unused. Homes even get a council tax discount is only one occupant. Rapid growth in London population causing incredible home price inflation. Hi first mate, You've asked repeatedly about emails I received 10 April 2014. I've made a special trip to the council hQ to read my email account fully- normally just use a Blackberry. I've search the inbox, sent folder, deleted folder and could;t find anything about Chesterfield grove from that date +/- 2 days. I might have squirrelled it away in a folder but after 30 mins of looking went home. If you have a copy of anything do share so I can see what you're trying to get art.

Hi fazer71, The planning system isn't the problem. Developers land bank as if they wait the property prices will likely to have risen. Planning departments can be a problem in that officers on the same case give wildly different views from one meeting with applciatns to another. People with deep pockets can trump the system through fear of losing appeals. Objectors don't have a right to appeal decisions but applicants can. A system of taxing un occupied land could help stop land banking. It would see developers get cracking to build schemes they have permission for.

Hi Fazer71, I think adding another floor to the Iceland/M&S site would be potentially an over development. It would potentially have serious overlooking of other neighbours. It would also be an abuse of the planning process to develop this site in a piece meal way to avoid planning obligations. You're obviously much more economically liberal than me on how East Dulwich is developed.

Sorry mho ward. We've ensured it's 20mph. After several years it's mostly been resurfaced. But the volume of traffic on Landcroft Road means traffic calming won't be centrally funded. I have two sets of traffic counts. 2009 & 2013. LOCATION DIRECTION YEAR AVERAGE DAILY FLOW PEDAL CYCLE AND MOTORCYCLE AVERAGE DAILY FLOW CAR AVE_SPEED _85TH_SPEED Landcroft Road north section North 2009 30 292 19.4 23.7 Landcroft Road north section South 2009 7 51 18.2 24.4 Landcroft Road south section North 2009 12 162 18.6 23.3 Landcroft Road south section South 2009 5 162 19.9 25.5 Landcroft Road south section North 2013 14 171 17.1 21.5 Landcroft Road south section South 2013 13 187 18.3 24.4 So our locally organised 20mph appears to have helped. But we still have some speeding. Please submit a Cleaner, Greener, Safer application for speed humps OR let me know if you'd be happy for me to do this.

Hi Bic Basher, I've checked and it appears that those recent plans were just to redo the frontage and that the internal layout will be self-service predominantly as shown on earlier plans. That they'll undertake all the works during normal hours and have to close for just one Saturday morning so they get a whole weekend to work uninterrupted. They'll complete the works during the first two weeks of October.

"...in the fullness of time..." is straight from Yes, Minster. Recently people were celebrating the 50th anniversary of merging London's previous 110 or whatever councils into 32 super councils - one of which is Southwark. I would wholeheartedly support smaller more focused councils OR devolving significantly more power to community councils. Robin is right in that vast majority of councillors have full-time jobs/ commitments and we are councillors as effectively a hobby. So whichever party/person you support do try and help them, practically with ideas, delivering leaflets, etc.

Hi Lynne, I agree. It appears to be a money making idea but the overall total costs when you consider reactive fly tipping clearance etc. in my view mean they make little money from this but annoy people. The council largely closes down in August. The administration changed who would make these decisions from the whole cabinet to the sole cabinet member. They then took this decision during the school summer holidays. It gives the whiff of burying this news.

Yes, the Local History Library at the rear of the john Harvard library at 211 Borough high Street, SE1 1JA is a great place to start. You can call them on 020 7525 0232 or email - [email protected] I'm keen we get their collection for SE22 digitised...

Aircraft noise is much more prevalent as the number of overflights going to Heathrow has dramatically grown and London City Airport. London City Airport are fighting to increase their flights by 50%. Boris thankfully is trying to stop this. A 3rd runway at Heathrow would also see a dramatic increase in flights. Some may not notice the noise - good luck to them. Many of us do. If you're in the latter category then please do join HACAN the campaign against aircraft noise.

Hi MarkT, Usually I would attend the planning committee to argue the case in person. Usually other residents also attend to argue in person as well.

Nicely dodged. I don't think you really believe obesity and global warming is all due to Lib Dems helping to form a coalition gov't for 5 years. Come on you must have ideas to solve these massive problems? you clearly care.

The current residences at this property did not have planning permission. If they get planning permission for the two flats on additional floor they'll then apply to convert the offices into flats. Such conversions the gov't has issues guidance are allowed and nearly nothing councils can do to stop them. The result in 10 residential properties. Normally social housing is required for development of over 9 homes. So they'll have side stepped this. Cllr Rosie Shimell and I are calling this in.

Can't wait until the planning application is submitted and works start. wish we had such a line in East Dulwich...

Hi ZT, You've poo poo'd wulfhound. So what do you think the answer it sot rising obesity and the associated ill health epidemic, global warming and need to reduce CO2 emissions by 90%? Hi first mate, We've heard that 43% of residents have access to a car. So 57% don't.