Nigello

Good - if gentrification means the application of general cleanliness and something approaching civic pride and responsibility. Even a world-class restoration of the station would not translate to general beautification of the Lane. Business owners and the council care not a jot for its appearance. I’m all for the project to restore and improve the station but I have no confidence it will do anything to make Rye Lane even approach a decent place to be.

This from a bumble bee expert I know: …try not to disturb it if possible. If it's actually underground, rather than directly under the old shed floor, they might survive as long as they can still get access. But if they were directly under the floor they're probably doomed, sadly. He also says they're most likely to be Bombus terrestris which is extremely common.

Big-ass, etc. (and ass instead of arse in general)

Great! Can’t wait for the added embellishment à la spray can, to fit in with the general Rye Lane “ambience”.

Lots of hoverflies (that look like drone honeybees) about today. Also, tiny (< .5cm) bees/wasps

The doctor or pharmacist giving jabs at the chemist’s at the end of Half Moon Lane was v unhelpful and even hostile when I asked about the jab and any possible side effects, last time around. I told him I thought his attitude stank and didn’t appreciate being treated like dumb cattle! In future, just ask and don’t be put off, especially when the administrator of the jab ought to give you all details as a matter of course anyway.

Perhaps if you witnessed the three cars parked in/on (because one must mount a kerb to park there) it today with no space for pedestrians or wheelchairs other than what was there before, you’d think differently.

When does investing money into cycling - the routes, the planning, the advisory campaigns, etc. stop being cost effective? There has to be a percentage of people who will ever cycle, but what is that? How does one know it can be best achieved? When does the effort stop? Has the money spent already achieved desired results, or is it all a bit “finger-in-the-air” well-meaningry? I am sceptical that numbers will ever exceed what would only ever be a modest amount of cyclists (as a cycle-and-motor-vehicle-free pedestrian).

And this on an Easter Sunday, when traffic is much lighter than usual! If you live near here and know your councillor, please ask him/her. If you don’t know, go to Write To Them and all info will be three. (They won’t reply to anyone who’s not a constituent, so I can’t do that.)

Three parked cars on the newly built out area - they mounted the kerb. What is the actual purpose of this if it’s to be immediately abused?

https://www.dulwichsociety.com maybe this will help.

The dedicated dog waste bins often were left overflowing and/or used as general rubbish bins so I’m not convinced we need them when most folk know they can chuck their pooch’s poo in any litter or green house bin. There will always be those who won’t clear up after their dogs. They’re boorish, uncivilised and often unhappy. Not much we can do about that.

Please write to your MP via WriteToThem about this. It will let her know that there are still problems.

The shops and services are of use, of course - there’s a variety, which is to be welcomed, and footfall seems to be high, though not nearly so much after Choumert. The general feeling and look, though, is of neglect (on the part of the council and of the business owners, who likely shut their vandalised shutters at day’s end and only get to see them fleetingly anyway) and ugliness.

And look at it now! It’s a sorry mess but ideal if you’re after hobbling pigeons, mashed-up fruit and fish heads à la gutter or inspiration for your toddler’s wildest wall-scribble fever dreams… Southwark Council makes efforts to keep other shopping areas welcoming and clean (like Walworth Road, Old Kent Road) but not Rye Lane.

Please email the address I posted above and write to your councillor and MP - you have to include your address and phone number in your email. It’ll only change if you and others apply pressure.

I’ve emailed and left messages for the parks people, but no response. I hope my email to the elected officials will prove to be effective.

It’s still “under essential repair”, if that translates to “no action whatsoever being taken and no update at all being given”. I wrote to my MP and CCd one of my councillors (the one who actually ever replies). Please do the same if you’re cheesed off at this lack of action. You can find your representatives via WriteToThem. Also try [email protected]

I went to get psyllium husk (which I pronounced very clearly and even pointed to my stomach, reflexively) but was taken by the assistant - whose face showed puzzlement for a few seconds - to the selenium section..! When I said it was not what I was looking for I had to explain what it’s used for and was then pointed to their product which was in tablet form - not what I was after. I’m much keener on places that know what’s what but at least I gave it a go…

? Are you new to 21st C Britain? Performative, over-abundant cautiousness and eggshell phobia are endemic.

Sounds like over-cautious, fearful and patronising jobsworthiness on the part of the management. Makes one weep.

Wiki: The project was cancelled by then mayor of London Boris Johnsonin 2008 due to funding problems. A 2016 review of the CRT plan by subsequent mayor Sadiq Khan concluded that the CRT project would not be reopened at that time.[1]

I see lots of them in DP but not elsewhere, where crows rule the roost.