Nigello

So, you’d prefer not to know you have a (somewhat) contagious - without treatment- and - without treatment - deadly disease, even once you had the option to say yes or no? You also worry you’d be thought gay by a GP (who really couldn’t care less about your sexuality) if you - although very highly unlikely - were to test positive? Take the test and help Southwark provide resources. The council isn’t interested in any one individual’s status but does want to know how many people are positive so as to be able to allocate or even request funds.

The Belisha beacons are covered in clear plastic so the lights can be seen. Odd

The beacons are wrapped in plastic. Does this mean the crossing is no longer in use, legally speaking?

Yes - build up, build more. If you want your shops, cafes, delivery drivers, bars, schools, buses, health centres, etc. you’ll have to at the very least grudgingly accept the people who do these valuable jobs need places to live.

I get confused about what to send to people in need after disasters. Money is easy to give and to allocate. Many of us can add value by tucking the Gift Aid box and adding our personal details. I’ve heard that edibles and clothes are less likely to be of need because they are expensive and bulky to transport; such claims were made after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for example.

The traffic will be displaced along the adjoining section of Dunstan’s as well as Upland and Goodrich, both of which have narrowed (one vehicle width) sections next to the school, likely causing jams, arguments between drivers and possibly dangerous situations. All because some people CBA to sort their mornings out like responsible adults (which doesn’t include those who have a *legitimately obtained* blue badge).

I doubt that it is “very cold”. I expect it’s chilly but that the body very quickly heats up due to towelling and drying naturally. Overheated spaces abound in the UK; many are in properties owned or managed by public bodies. Fancy that! I don’t downplay the inconvenience or even the potential danger to a small number of individuals in theory, but it’s not healthy, economically sound or environmentally friendly to demand 27°C, pool water and similarly warm changing spaces, especially at a time like now.

This is not factual. A hardcore of parents - often in larger vehicles - park illegally on the DYLs and zigzags. The school really doesn’t care and I fear there will be more congestion, road rage potential and even accidents. Today there were cars parked on every DYL around the mini roundabout and five more on zigzags. I have no car (and haven’t had one since 2000) and applaud restrictions when they’re unlikely to make things worse.

Dunstan’s from Goodrich to Mt Adon will be open to only a very small number of exempted vehicles between roughly 8-9am and 3-4pm during term time. All that traffic will now be displaced. The school does very little to up safety and decrease congestion etc. so I’m wondering just how much more jammed and unpleasant it’ll be for pedestrians, residents and drivers who are not taking kids to school. (I don’t care about drivers who are - they’re the guilty party - with exceptions made for those with legitimate and valid blue badges). I’ve written to the local councillor (there are two but one never acknowledges emails) and to head of highways to ask how this new scheme will affect the roads nearby not restricted and what the council will do to police illegal and dangerous parking (which is already a daily occurrence)

26° is definitely not cold. Hyperbole weakens a basically sound statement.

This one is real: Lovely Cockney sparrer, Lorraine Chase, alighting from bus (185) just past Superdrug, looking fantastic in eighties garb one afternoon last week

The pool and the centre in general would benefit from a rethink on temperature. It’s very often too warm - water, poolside and entrance area - which means wasted energy, wasted money and more emissions. I agree that cooler pool water is likely uncomfortable but does it really need to be 28°C? I’d say not.

Reduced services, I expect. Some staff won’t have taken part.

If we must have a mayoralty, scrap the boroughs and go for a GLA-redux. Local differences and needs would of course need to be honoured and local councillors would be there still. As for costs, richer areas could subsidise poorer ones in a GLA-wide tax system.

Thanks Yes - but you can control rads individually with no boiler needed, though electric systems with boilers are available. No yearly upkeep either. As for water heated by electricity, they must be much improved on immersion heaters of old?

Please don’t equate the victim’s loss of life with the assumed perpetrators’ loss of liberty, should either of them be found guilty.

Conway has a team there widening the pavement - it’s making permanent the widening that was put in with bollards and perforated kerbs two years back. I think the same will happen at Dunstan’s at Goodrich. The school is recalcitrant when it comes to pedestrian safety, choosing not to use the portable bollards (in the shape of kids) it has bought/been bought by the council on the DYLs and zigzags on the roads it stands on.

Has anyone gone electric for central/underfloor heating and hot water? I know the newer electric rads are much improved on storage heaters etc. but am unsure about hot water provision. Any experiences, good and bad, gratefully received.

I used to hear one - the classic hoot - around Dunstan’s Heights but not for ages.

Speedy response to initial message (Friday) to Norwood Roofing Specialists and job done (full flat roof replacement) in the equivalent of less than two full working days (bit of Tuesday, most of Wednesday, bit of Thursday), including scaffolding being put up and taken down. No fuss or mess, photos of before and after and explanations given about courses of action, etc. Lots of recommendations already that I gladly add to.

I’d argue it’s well worth a multi-national firm with instant brand recognition to at least attempt to do as much as it can to stop its drivers (who choose to work for it) from breaking the law and getting into accidents that could harm both workers and members of the public. Having a non-too-desirable job or being young or male doesn’t mean you’re exempt from traffic laws as you travel on hulking bits of metal at speeds up to 35mph.

I’ve written to HH MP to ask that she take up the original complaint with TW. It’s still icy and dangerous. I did not see anyone on site this morning. If I had I would have asked him to sand all of the frozen leaked water. If anyone passes and does see a TW operative please ask for effective gritting!

A bit of sand was scattered near to the location of the work but nothing a few feet further down nor at the crossing or pavements approaching it, at least when I saw it at about 16:30ish today. That a person deemed responsible to fix this leak (ie. to drive a van and operate machinery on site) didn’t have the wit/courtesy to scatter grit/sand a tiny bit farther away from the leak on a sub-zero day speaks volumes about that individual and the training Thames Water gives (or doesn’t). Please reply with a working email address or helpline if anyone has one so I can complain.

The area on both sides of the road and on the zebra itself is icy and slippery due to escaped water freezing. Grit isn’t doing much. A Thames Water van is present. If you’re there and have any grit to hand please chuck some down.

I’d first of all talk to (not email) the manager of the branch, explaining what you’ve witnessed and what you will do if the drivers carry on breaking the law. At least then they’ll know there’s a problem and need to fix it. You could also send your comments to the regional head, explaining what you’ve said to the local manager.