Spartacus

Also came across this, whilst not ED, it is just around the corner and reinforces what residents in East Dulwich have experienced https://newsfromcrystalpalace.wordpress.com/2022/08/31/blocked-off-roads-report-shows-massive-increases-in-car-traffic-on-lambeth-ltn-boundary-roads/ No idea on the validity of the data but makes fascinating reading.

Interesting and whilst mentioned before, this Southwark news story puts the debate between councillors and TfL into perspective. https://southwarknews.co.uk/news/like-a-red-rag-to-a-bull-emails-reveal-council-feared-impact-of-dulwich-ltn-report/

Came across this article today talking about a £2.5 million study into the effects of cannabis on the brain. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv25ex5e30lo Can you imagine the conversation "I want to do a study on the human brain" "Okay how much do you need?" "£2.5 million" "Okay what are you going to spend it on?" "DRUGS MAN"

It's looking very much like the EU are starting to do just that, let's hope other governments, including ours, can join the discussion BBC News - EU faces awful winters without gas cap - minister https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62710522

Could be any number of reasons Cat sitting in a funny pose under the car Or Something amusing about the car that he wanted to capture Or Just liked the shape for a photo Jumping to conclusions, whilst potentially correct, could also be wrong and without asking the photographer I guess its impossible to know the real reason but I guess speculation is all we have left 😉

Billy, the issue here is that they are offering two options One way buses Or Two way buses That's as close to a referendum as we seem to get In terms of the recent election, it was obviously ABC (anything but Conservatives) after the scandle of central government and our councillors could have stood on any agenda including building on estate green space and still won. My issue isn't that I didn't get my way on something but that time and time again they ask a question then wiggle out when they don't get the answer they wanted which makes consultations baseless and a tick box exercise rather then listening to what people actually are saying.

Thanks DR Interesting reading, however it seems to miss part of the issue that the big oil and gas companies supplying the retail suppliers are profiteering on the rise in global prices, caused partly by demand as the economy reopened and partly by the war in Ukraine. It talks about windfall taxes on them but that alone won't stop global wholesale prices rising. There needs to be some constructive thinking on how to globally, short term, reduce wholesale prices which then reflect in domestic and business bills. Long term the reliance on gas to produce energy obviously needs to be reduced. Whilst I can arm chair speculate, I'm not in power (yet, Wha Ha Ha Ha 🧐) and globally governments seem to be tinkering around the edges and not tackling the real problem, high wholesale prices spured on by oil and gas companies taking advantage of the situation.

It would be interesting to see how similar data on cycling was captured and in which area to verify if the stats presented by the council reflect reality or not.

The latest thinking from Scottish Power is that the government should loan them £100bn so that they can freeze energy bills now and the loan is repaid over the next 20 or so years through bills. BBC News - Scottish Power's £100bn plan to freeze energy bills for two years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62645441 Let's think about this, saddling consumers now and in the future with a share of the £100bn debt for 20 plus years where there is no guarantees that in 2 years energy prices will be lower then they are today A classic robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario. At the same time, the big gas extraction companies will still see excessive profits from the current situation at our and our government backed loans expense. This is not a solution but a case of locking us into fuel poverty for longer. The solution needs to remove the emphasis on the gas extraction companies making a profit out of a crisis whilst allowing energy prices to return to a more sustainable level. Maybe even nationalising them again and controlling how much they sell gas for thus reducing the global race to the highest price as other companies will struggle to sell at higher prices. In all things wholesale buyers look for best not worst price and if someone is offering a lower price they will gravitate towards it thus pulling other companies prices down.🤔 Might be a bit simplistic but somethings gotta give

So what's the point? Another tick box exercise for the council, ignoring any results they don't want to see? It's about time this council is held to account and listens to what residents actually want and stop predetermining what the outcome should be and fudging consultations to suit.

Ganapati is always close to the true southern Indian taste.

I believe the term is lout as in "Lycra Louts" not warrior The issue is a small minority of city cyclists who give others a bad reputation (speeding, jumping lights and so on) which is why there is a proposal to look at how to control that small minority. Years ago we could go as fast as we wanted in our cars, then on Thursday morning June 1964, British rally driver Jack Sears reached 185 mph on the M1 motorway. Tabloids at the time had a field day, citing this as dangerous driving. From 22nd December 1965, the UK government trialled a 70mph limit on all motorways. In 1967 this became an official law. Question is, with roads being increasingly shared by cycles, cars and pedestrians will something similar occur where a huge outcry causes a knee jerk reaction?

Got to love that this is currently the first post below the ad for "Butter and Crust" bread delivery service 😋

There was a quick mention (blink and it was gone) article yesterday about potential price discounts for avoiding peak use. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62626908.amp If implemented It's a sugar coated pill to swallow as it really means that peak usage will be charged at a higher rate. Who decides when peak usage is? Currently its muted as 5pm till 8pm (when everyone has returned from work, cooking their supper and unwinding with a soap or similar) Are they now looking at controlling when we eat our evening meal and if everyone avoids peak times above then will peak time be extended ? Peak billing has been around for years for business (retail contract billing takes a measurement every 30 minutes) but for domestic use it has all sorts of issues including a record of when you appear to be in or out by your energy usage, all good unless the information is hacked then it gives criminals access to your daily routine. Equally if prices are higher during the day to encourage us to free electricity up for business use, what about housebound, home workers or school holidays where daytime usage may not be avoidable ? Theses schemes aren't for the benefit of the consumer , don't let them sleep walk you into higher charges for washing your smalls When I clap my hands 👏, WAKE UP before its too late 😅

I guess the best "united front to the public" would be to hold their hands up and say "we got it wrong, how can we work together to fix it"

Let's hope that they can stay out of trouble as the picture houses are a valuable local resource where they exist. Until there is news either way, this is potentially just rumourmilling at the moment and best way to stop things like this happening is to use our local resources otherwise any closure could be justified.

Thanks Malumbu Would be interested also in others points of view One thought, regarding the economic case, if car use falls through schemes like LTNs then there may need for looking at other forms of revenue to pay for the upkeep of roads. In that scenario would you still be confident in saying there's no economic case ? I agree about better training as most other road users have to undergo some form of training, but curious how it could be managed and enforced for cyclists as currently anyone can just jump on a bike and peddle furiously 🤔

India

Daft response, but have you tried making a small crusty cobb yourself to get both that fresh baked experience and a bit of shelf life ? Barry's off-licence often has a few crusty loaves in that last 2 or 3 days, can't guarantee they are white, brown or seeded but worth a look

Quick straw poll ExDulwicher stated "None of it is remotely workable - even DfT have continually said that bicycle registration is pointless and unworkable" What is everyone else's point of view Workable or Not ? And why This is separate to should it occur and I'm genuinely curious to see both sides of why it is or isn't workable

Branches are closing because the end users (us) aren't raising enough objections A branch closure normally impacts those least likely to complain.and one day soon a bank branch will be a display in a museum and like other great services (recyclable glass milk bottles, 1970s electric delivery vehicles and paper (not plastic) bags we will look back and wonder how we let them go If you want to keep a local bank, vote with your feet and use it 😉

Although I can see him on his mobile phone, standing in the wine and beer aisle ringing the then chancellor "Yeah, listen its me Boris,... B O R I S.... former PM.... yeah thats the one no need to be rude about it.... listen can you do a quick emergency budget and knock a couple of quid off extra strong cider for a few days.... you can brilliant, did I tell you I still have a few knighthoods to give out" "oh cooee Tresea over here love, there's going to be a special on cider any moment now"

Billy, have you been partying with the Finnish PM again 😅

Even more information on the folly of closing banks and trying to remove access to "cash" BBC News - Decline in cash use eases after pandemic slump https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62576024

Ex Just out of curiosity, why is it unworkable ? Once the same sort of thing was possibly said about car driving licences, yet here they are. There's less cyclists on the road then cars and drivers so it strikes me as possible but maybe not practical