intexasatthe moment

I'd rather support someone like Robin who doesn't seem politically motivated and doesn't indulge in all the antics that go with that . And of course this whole voluntary councillor thing doesn't work . It should be a full time salaried job . Of course at the moment it is voluntary ...no one has insisted for instance that JB with his busy life ,job ( even if legally councillors are entitled to reasonable time off work to perform ) and family should be a councillor .

" might start from the position that an 8-year-old on a bicycle must be able to get through safely. That being the basic specification for the route.. no different to specifying that a rail line must be usable by trains, " Wulfhund there'a an awful lot of difference between making a route safe for an eight year old ( especially if that's being done in the 21st century ) and specifying that a rail line is useable by trains . IYHO - humble ? seriously ?

What a terrible misrepresentation of the facts in the Southwark News today http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/ex-councillor-campaigns-against-dulwich-road-safety-study/ I feel really angry that one group of residents are being depicted as the sweet voice of reason and another group as " campaigning against a study taking place." And never mind the repeated twisting about traffic speeds . Robin who worked so hard to sort things out in the face of bizarre CC actions ( a petition with no wording ? ) and a huge lack of information ,gets rudely gagged at the meeting ,and patronised on here - now gets lumped in with some fantasy campaign against a traffic study ! And JB who helped the situation not one jot and declared that if he were living in Melbourne Grove he'd want a barrier doesn't miss the opportunity to stir things by highlighting "the fact that many, if not the majority, of the signatories on the new petition were not in fact residents of Melbourne Grove, unlike the initial pro-study group." and then has the cheek to try and appear conciliatory with his pat comment " ?I think both groups essentially want to same thing, which is safer roads in Dulwich.? Of course as usual JB will be blameless in this latest episode - it will all be down to misreporting by the reporter .

that's interesting christgill - I wonder if there's someone around who's good at reading such things . I imagine that the downloads could be emailed if too large to attach here ?

Great ideas Elinimh . How I'd love a bike hangar near me .

I've come across something called a swpet path anyalsis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swept_path_analysis when looking at planning applications . I guess one must have been done for this work - is there a report available ? Sorry if this has already been discussed ,or is made irrelevant by changes to original plans .I've not kept entirely up to date with this thread .

http://www.hall-law.co.uk/ are very good ,opposite the Catholic Church next to Dulwich Library .I think they have experience of this .

?50 pretty normal IME . Where do you go ?

Someone I know used "No flys " because of a friend's good exxperience .He sold very quickly . So that's 2 votes for No Flys if that's any help .

Quite agree about the " I think Robin is finding it hard to adjust " How patronising . I suspect DCC members are wary of letting someone with her past experience and knowledge of how things should work ,who to contact ,where to access information say very much .

I could be equally shocked by misintepretation of my remarks about the Harris Federation and the wider politics of education as criticism of individual schools . I don't think our exchange is boring ( that word again ) nor distracting from information about how to apply for Charter 2 ,which I think has been clarified ,but we can agree to misunderstand eachother and let this exchange rest .

I think you do schoolchildren a disservice if you feel that they have unquestioning acceptance and a blind loyalty that if " threatened " by putting the institution they are passing through into a wider context would shatter their world. They have no choice in the current education system but they're not stupid or unthinking . I'm sure that they can manage to simultaneously appreciate the immense hard work put in by teachers ( and pupils ) and wonder about the power behind the throne ,the politics of it all . I personally don't want to encourage the idea in young minds that their school is better than another school without there being some consideration of how " better " is defined and achieved .

kirstymac ,I do keep highlighting Harris issues which I feel are negative . I'm dismayed by the power and influence they wield - I'm sure many have positive experiences of Harris and their clout but I have none ,quite the opposite . I can understand why you find it boring - apologies . It's just that I'm continually shocked and concerned that our education system is now so fragemented and that childrens' futures are are so affected by large organisations with business backgrounds who seem to have competition as their main motive . I found the Harris statement " challenge any decisions to proceed with all the means available to us" . truly chilling .It's of immense importance to me and I've written to local MP's about it . We're all different - what you find boring I feel strongly about . It's a forum ,we're all free to express our opinions - including the one that my posts are boring -) .

Yes ,looks like Harris get their way again . Living up to their promise to " challenge any decisions to proceed [with Charter 2 ] with all the means available to us" .

" his professional opinion about the size of the consultation area concerning any road changes and his advice was to keep the consultation area as small as possible." I wonder what the rationale is for that ?

Thanks Tessmo ,that's really helpful I don't suppose there were any details about what the barrier would consist of ?

I commented on this and expressed dismay at the idea of using Adys Rd as part of a main cycle route. Seems completely mad to me ,it's a nightmare at the moment with cars squeezing past . But then I also commented on the potential for collisions between pedestrians and cyclists on the shared cycle lane in Peckham Rye .

Cora - http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200074/planning_and_building_control/3832/user_guide scroll down to item 3 . " now that the planning department will not be informing affected parties with letters?! " - why do you say this ? Surely a misunderstanding ?

" The deputation then said they'd spoken with 90% of southern Melbourne Grove residents whereas the draft minutes suggest local residents. [moderngov.southwark.gov.uk] " is it just me who doesn't understand the point being made here ?

" Several of us felt a lot of angst had been generated needlessly " - do you realise how patronising and dismissive this sounds ? If a group of people get together and without fully talking to residents of neighbouring streets present an untitled petition which moots a measure ( with huge implications for neighbouring roads ) as drastic as closing off a street ,presents it to a community council who ( although there is no evidence of speeding or increased traffic flow to suggest to either Southwark council or the person in the street that the case is a priority ) nods it through as worthy of investigating and incurring spending costs of circa ?10000 ,it's hardly surprising that people will become agitated . Well ,not surprising to me . Your view seems to be that most of the " angst" could have been avoided if the minutes had given a clearer picture of the 24 June meeting .Incredible that you ignore and seemingly exclude your role in all the other possibilities .

What are you going with LM ? I'd be interested in the outcome ...

Was there any discussion /clarification re the bike lane at last nights' DCC ?

Apologies for asking ( as I can imagine you must all be exhausted ) but I was driving back from Devon last night and couldn't attend the DCC so....could some brave person give an idea of how things went ? It must have been a long meeting attempting to cover an awful lot .

I think that's very generous of you to warn people and publicise your mistake . I for one am very grateful as this is just the kind of thing I'd fall for ! It all sounds so obvious when you re tell it ,but I know it's so different when they're talking to you . And I think you did well to stand your ground at the end .

No experience of Brighton bikes but I'm planning on one of these http://www.asgardsss.co.uk/bike-cycle-storage/twin-bike-locker because of price ,small footprint and strength . They have other styles . Obviously not for it's good looks !