Nigello

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.

Whereabouts? Rough area, not specific

Tax the trees! Each vendor should add £1 to each tree sold to be given to the council which would then promise to pick up abandoned trees for the whole of January. If you’ve dumped a tree on the pavement or on the road then you’re really rather selfish.

I’d be less averse if the council told us how much profit was made and where that money would go to.

Did you request collection from the council or just bung it on the road and hope for the best?

I love trees, especially street trees but not Christmas trees left on the pavement because the owners CBA to request a free collection from the council. I’ve seen primary school children having to walk into the road to avoid these fly-tipped trees. Get rid of yours responsibly or don’t buy one if you don’t plan to do so. Ask a neighbour to offer space in their brown bin, for example or take it to a tip - preferably taking a few at a time to extend that spirit of Yuletide togetherness. (I’ve rung the council environment line to tell them about the SE22-wide problem so not just ranting…)

I just saw a (male) blackcap feeding on suet balls in my front garden - a first.

It was dark so maybe I was mistaken.

Workers were putting up a new ramp (or just new fencing on the original ramp) and the door looks new. What’s it going to be, does anyone know?

I pick up cans and bottles regularly just while walking from A to B. I’d prefer it if barbarians didn’t drop litter in the first place and if the council had omnipresent street cleaners and twice the number of litter bins but I’m a realist. If the littered can or bottle looks too grubby I leave it and I wash my hands or use alcohol gel afterwards.

The article is more than 12 months old. It’s possible that the council has reinstated some of the street cleaners. Possible, not likely, but still possible. The online reporting system works well, in my experience. As long as you’re specific and provide details the problem gets dealt with within 72 hours and often before.

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/street-care/street-lighting-and-furniture No need to fill in your details but be detailed as to location (ie. street number or junction etc. )

I see leaf sweepers and collectors often. It’s impossible to have all leaves cleared, unfortunately, even if the result is hazardous pavements. A call to the council will at least alert it to the problem.

J and B, please show your evidence for your claim that the flu vaccine prevents your immune system from working as well as it could without it, then at least the readers of the EDF will have another point of view. Thank you very much and stay healthy.

I agree with the poster who asks that people don’t mean the whole centre when they really mean one of the service providers, such as the GP facility or whatever. The blood drawers are excellent and the pharmacy is good. It’s bright and clean and airy. Parking spaces are available, as are e-chargers. The vaccine service during the first couple of years of COVID has been great, if a little over-staffed with sometimes not altogether competent volunteers.

The pool ought not to be pre-booked for anyone. It is a real pain to get a slot and then if you do, to see plainly that at least ten percent of people booked in for that hour don’t arrive. It’s a public facility that is in effect cutting off access to some people by citing outdated Covid guidelines. I feel bad for the staff who are mostly good and welcoming, having to work for this company.

Great if you’re considering a child making his or her future on Taiwan, but don’t put you daughter (or son) on the mainland stage.

I’d like to agree but see evidence of great progress in other parts of Southwark, such as Walworth Road, where fronts have been scrubbed clean in what seems an organised effort. I see a lack of real conviction on the part of all players. Landlords who are living far away and not in the slightest bit bothered about their tatty properties seem to the the big contributory factor (after the vandals themselves). The fact that many people who work, live and visit there are working class and relatively poorly off must have something to do with the lack of imagination and effort on the part of all parties. I go only when I have to and lament the lack of true interest by politicians and business owners there.

I don’t blame the shop owners for the graffiti. That is solely the responsibility of the (mostly) young men who do it. I do blame them for doing nothing. They could remove it, paint their shutters with a varnish that helps with easy removal of further vandalism or install shutters behind glass or install those shutters that are grilles. They could demand action from the council and MP, asking, for example, for assistance in removing the tagging. Councillors could try coming up with and then fighting to implement the ideas that have taken me three minutes to think of and type here. But they simply CBA and have no interest in collectively making the place more attractive to current and future patrons.

Is it all of the collection or just some? If the latter it seems half-hearted.

I’m pleased this is the result and hope the powers that be clean up this midden once and for all. It’s a disgrace that landlords/business owners should be allowed to get away with dumping rubbish and not cleaning their walls and tatty shutters. Avoid at all costs.