intexasatthe moment

Medley - having been told by Southwark's contact for the "consultation " that Barry Mason and Southwark cyclists were in favour of this plan ,I emailed southwark cyclists asking if they could tell me why/explain what I was missing . But I didn't get a reply . I also raised it with James Barber but his reply didn't deal with the concerns I'd raised ,only said that it was a good thing to extend the cycle route that runs from Old Kent Rd area along old canal past library . I did respond to the "consultation " but the impression I got was that it was already decided . I had asked if the date for replies could be extended ( given the lack of publicity ) and was told that this wouldn't be possible as a delay would mean loosing the money allocated to the project .

I'm a bore I know ,but one of the things that makes me so mad about the Peckham Rye contraflow is that there was a consultation . But who knew ? And how much did the "consultation" cost ?

cyclists overtake buses everyday and filter in and out of the bus lane to do so- yup ,and down in Peckham they filter into the bike contraflow going in the opposite direction . Hopefully they manage to avoid any bikes /pedestrains coming the other way but obscured by the bus they are overtaking .

I think most supported housing ,either that you buy or rent ,offers only minimal support . And sadly ,ime ,because it's usually a number of flats with some shared common facilities it can be quite a confusing environment .Think hotel corridors and trying to remember which is your door . But a lot of help can be available to people continuing to live in their own homes from social services - carers calling in several times a day ," meals on wheels " . Ask GP to refer ? Or try Alzheimers society for help and advice ?

Well it doesn't matter if they have does it ? Sure there's room for more than one account . I love historical detail about the area and am especially interested in this bit - where are you going public ? How can I read it ?

Sean I appreciate your sentiments . The thing is ,this is an online forum ,this thread is a debate and we all have different views . But ,in this case ,for me ,it wasn't just a debating contest and examination of the finer points of the DPA - it involved a real person . I think the reason I brought my mother into it was because so many people seemed unable to see that just because theywere unfazed by their details being used like this ,other people may genuinely mind . Kings aren't ,technically ,breaking any laws but imo my mother's comcerns are still understandable and legitimate .

Sean - she wasn't largely unaware of the letter .She had it open ,on her lap and was talking to me about it before I'd even closed the front door . Just because she has a number of problems and concerns doesn't mean that it's fine or "small beer " for her to get landed with another one . In fact ,given her age and health ,it makes it worse .She has lost a lot of independence and what she loves most - the sense that she is contolling her own life .She doesn't like cold calls - it makes her anxious that people have her details and contact her .

pk - I told her it was just a standard letter sent to everyone and took it away as quickly as I could . I told her not to worry about it . I'm not sure if she's reassured . She has lots of other things to worry about which I think are probably occupying her more .

Killaqueen - thank you for your posts ,your research and for your interest . I'm not up to this level of debate ,but I'm very glad that you are . Not everyone is so sanguine about receiving cold calls for money - yes I know ( because I've read it ) that this letter didn't directly ask for money . But my mother wasn't interested in foresenically analysing it - she got the message ,it was about "King's College Hospital Charity ". And she certainly didn't appreciate the fine distinction that the letter was from the Chief Executive rather than the Fund raising department . She's recently had two stays in Kings ,they were both deeply unpleasant ,some of the treatment she received fell short of what I am sure are Kings high standards and has had knock on effects on her health since she left hospital . She was concerned to get this letter , wondered why she was sent it , and was anxious about where and how they got her address .She's elderly ,ill and brought up in different times . I suspect that she is not alone . People who use on line forums may be less anxious than other demographics ( if that's the right term) about their details being used and more sanguine about perceived levels of privacy .

What Mickmac and Peckham Rose said .

Thanks PR ,have PM'd you .

Well gosh, it's not unreasonable that KCH thinks that those most likely to support them are those that have made recent use of their services!! - slightly galling though that lack of joined up thinking /failure to treat patient holistically saw this particular user of their services readmitted weeks after discharge . And I think it's innappropriate to use medical records in this way .

For me it's nothing to do with Kings asking for charitable funds , I can cope with that . It's the link ( and there does seem to be one ) with being a recent inpatient and beiong contacted regarding a non medical issue . I was with my mother when she was admitted and she wasn't asked to sign any forms - and she wouldn't have known what she was signing or agreeing to unless someone had patiently gone through each question with her . And even then ,bearing in mind her physical and mental state ,I don't think she'd have known she was agreeing to Kings contacting her re fundraising . My mother is a very private person and very wary of giving her details out to people . She is unnerved by what she perceives as a " Big Brother " society ,monitoring her movements . This is just another thing to upset and worry her . My concern is with where and how Kings obtained contact details and how they selected addresses for this mailshot .

A small point - I didn't keep the letter ,was trying to make light of it and reassure mother ,but ... from memory the wording struck me as odd ( and I now think a kind of sneaky get out in case criticisms of " cold calling " raised ) something about only wanting to update people who were interested and a request for a returned form to indicate interest . Will be interested in reply from Kings fund raising dept .

As Ladymuck said they have, after all, used data from patients' medical records to send them unsolicited mailings in pursuit of charitable donations. My 90 year old mum ( recent patient ,and sorry to say did not receive very good treatment ) also got one . She was distinctly upset by it and felt vulnerable that information about her recent in patient status was being used for non medical purposes .

Although the incredibly helpful staff - sat and taught an internet virgin - made up for the price .

I can't imagine that the young ,slim ,well spoken guy asking for money on train from Peckham Rye was Andrew - but just in case I've emailed his father . Anyone come across the chap I saw - train to London Bridge - very well spoken ,dirty clothes ,addressing carriage in general ,not individuals ?

No advice - I've recently cut out the corner of my living room carpet and binned it because of similar problem . So lots of sympathy ,but... wanted to say - what a gorgeous cat !

Regarding intake for Harris Academies - they operate a banding system for applicants .Personally I find this complicated to understand ,but do notice that the bands are based on national achievment levels rather than those of the entry group . So ,if oversubscribed ,some room for cherry picking I think . But I do think the league tables and number achieving 5 A- C GCSE grades is a very misleading measure . Many schools enter candidates for exams which are not GCSEs but are counted as equivalent . This extract from the minutes of a Governing Body mtg a couple of years ago at the Academy at Peckham gives a flavour. The small group of year 11 students following the new, level 2 qualification entitled ?The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness? have been making good progress and nearly all are expected to pass. This course, which is portfolio based, equates to two GCSE grades and is certificated by ASDAN. A number of year 11 students who are being targeted to improve their chances of examination success were entered for the Adult on-line numeracy and literacy examinations. Each test lasts an hour and if the student passes both, they are awarded a GCSE at grade B. I'm not arguing that schools shouldn't offer a range of qualifications ,just that I think it's misleading when the league tables and the overall GCSE pass rate for the school don't show that some of those GCSEs are other exams .

James - thank you very much ,very helpful . Have emailed my details to you .

James - query about Street Leaders and mini graffiti kits ( as described on Southwark website ) . Not your ward ,in Peckham ,any idea how I could access a Street Leader ,or a mini graffiti kit ? Just want to deal with a tag on elderly mum's house . Would like to do myself . No luck phoning Southwark .

No ! ( although it's white and quite dense ,so I guess it could be used to cover them up ).

Another vote for Disprol here .

Umm - dry the sand out by directing hot air from hairdryer ? Might also heat up and expand metal ,breaking vacuum type seal that wet sand must have created ?

Nero ,I thought Southwark were responsible for this revamp . I read about the plans in the SLP - had seen no local notices etc - and phoned for details about the " consultation " that was being held . I also asked in library at Peckham if they had details ,which they didn't . When I finally got through to the people responsible for the consultation they had no idea where the nearest library was and seemed to have zero local knowledge . They said local houses had received info ,but I know several people living in Elm Grove and the parts of Bellenden and Highshore that close to Rye Lane ,and none of then knew anything about it . But I know James Barber and Barry Mason both thought plans were good . I thought it was just me who didn't .