intexasatthe moment

I'm thinking with regard to streets/transport which seems not to be something that planning officers deal with . They seem to rely on advice from internal departments and sometimes on external guidance quoted by applicants eg Institution of Civil Engineers . Officers sometimes seem to go with such external opinion even when it differs from requirements found in Southwark's planning documents eg Sustainable Transport SPD . Does anyone have any insight into why a published Southwark specification should carry less weight than the recommendations from a non planning agency ? I think SPD's are probably for guidance only but if they are going to be by passed in favour of other advice wouldn't it be sensible ,in the interests of clarity ,to indicate which advice and in what circumstances carries more weight ?

Trying to think of an existing butchers shop that used to have a newsagent's next door . What is in place of the newsagents now ? ( hasten to add that I am not interested in new shops etc ,just trying to identify butchers ) I know of one that smells badly ,though meat purchased there has never done me any harm .

It'll be a Victorian stink pipe venting a sewer . http://greatwen.com/2011/09/27/secret-london-stink-pipes/ http://stinkpipes.blogspot.co.uk/

How indeed . I've been wondering a great deal lately about how one ,as a bystander ( oh ,sorry presumably that should be stakeholder ) and not the applicant , can query any decision taken by Southwark planning department . Or even something basic like a quoted measurement .

Les - thanks for this info ,good to know that the issue is being raised by other people in addition to Renata .

Double yellow lines are allowed under the regulations ,no need for wardens to turn a blind ete . You need to display time clock . Residents bays and loading only bays are not and I have been ticketed when displaying a blue badge . I think you may be luckier than me ! see p 15 and 20 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206022/blue-badge-rights-responsibilities.pdf

I think you only need to use the clock if you're parked somewhere where a time limit is indicated . You are not limited to parking in disabled bays ,with a blue badge you can park on single and double yellow lines - but make sure you are not causing an obstruction . You will see many blue badge holders parked on double yellow lines on the access roads around the car park . Often there's no space even on double yellows and I've ended up in Coldharbour Lane and then use a wheelchair . De Crespigny park is also a possibility . Or drop person off ,park and return . Obviously allow LOTS of time and be careful not to park in a Residents only bay . You can park on double yellows but not in resident permit parking . Good luck . It's not easy .

" ** I think this may be what is causing the current thinking - some of the older dropped kerb resident accesses are too short such that if wide high sided vans/lorries park either side you can be boxed in." Well if it were informing their thinking it would make more sense to paint yellow lines giving adequate site lines over existing dropped kerbs that are deficient as opposed to making new dropped kerbs the ( possible ) target of yellow lines . James - what are your views ?

That's very interesting thank you . I would read "Prohibition of parking at dropped footways etc. (1)In a special enforcement area a vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway adjacent to a footway, cycle track or verge where? (a)the footway, cycle track or verge has been lowered to meet the level of the carriageway for the purpose of? (i)assisting pedestrians crossing the carriageway, (ii)assisting cyclists entering or leaving the carriageway, or (iii)assisting vehicles entering or leaving the carriageway across the footway, cycle track or verge; This is subject to the following exceptions. (3)The second exception is where the vehicle is parked outside residential premises by or with the consent (but not consent given for reward) of the occupier of the premises." as meaning the resident ( of the house with the dropped kerb ) can allow people to park across his dropped kerb outside his residence . Southwark's website has this "you and your visitors may park close to this type of driveway without penalty. " I don't read " close to this type of driveway " as the same as " outside residential premises ." Maybe it's just my reading but to me " park close to this type of driveway " is different . I understand that it is an offence to park across a dropped kerb ,what I'm concerned about is parking either side of that dropped kerb .

Penguin - the requirements are quite clear . The presence of a new dropped kerb is only cited as one circumstance where yellow lines may be installed . So yes ,perhaps I am imagining a draconian reaction . Apparently it's illegal and can now be enforced to park across a dropped kerb with or without markings . But yes I think the advice to residents that it is in their power to sanction parking close to their dropped kerb is contradictory . And open to abuse by those with a grudge . http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/473/guide_to_parking/3069/dropped_kerbs_and_driveways/4 http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/473/guide_to_parking/3069/dropped_kerbs_and_driveways/3 "Driveways that serve a single property Providing there is no enforceable yellow line, you and your visitors may park close to this type of driveway without penalty. For this reason, we only enforce upon specific request of the property occupier." As for an agenda ,I don't know .

I'm sure an example of an agrieved neighbour - presumably only time before there is one - would make a nice little story for the local press . Then more people will be aware of it and maybe there will be more hope of putting pressure on Southwark to review this situation . It's a nonsensense as it stands . Having a policy that seeks to extend double yellows to improve safety while at the same time telling people who have dropped kerbs that it's ok for friends and relatives to park next to their dropped kerb and that enforcement will be only actioned on the residents say so .

Pots are hard to protect but I've heard of people using the chicken wire method to prevent theft of shrubs and trees "Using chicken wire Dig a hole for the root ball and then dig a larger, slightly shallower hole around the outside, so it looks like an upturned cowboy hat. Lay a sheet of ?chicken wire? inside the larger hole. Make two cuts across the centre of the chicken wire and fold up the wire to allow the root ball to pass through into the smaller hole that you have dug for the plant. Back fill the hole for the plant. Push the chicken wire back down on top of the root ball and use gardening wire to tie up the cut chicken wire, so only the stem of the plant is now coming through the hole in the wire. Now push the chicken wire firmly into the bottom of the larger diameter hole and over fill with the soil. Water thoroughly."

I'm beginning to think it's only you and me that are bothered by this new crazy policy LS1234 .

I found this " The considerable resources that public schools put into justifying their charitable status ? for example, ?365m a year in support for poorer pupils, according to Harman ? is an index of what they must know they gain by being charities. It reveals the scale of the effective state subsidy. " from the above article ,particularly interesting .

James - have you made any progress on Southwark's plan to install yellow lines over properties neighbouring new dropped kerbs giving access to park on a forecourt ?

Marigolds - what a pain . The situation in Southwark as I understand it is White H markings will not be renewed or installed Double yellow lines extending across the dropped kerb and 2 metres either side may be installed for new dropped kerbs .

I think white gold is plated with rhodium now and has to be replated as it wears . http://www.finishing.com/faqs/whitegold.shtml I have a white gold ring ,it's never been particularly shiny and I've never had it " dipped " .

Mmmm - I see I'll need to check several documents . SNMP , SNEP ,and the STP . " What does the manual not include? The SSDM does not include Details of our policy about introducing traffic controls (e.g. parking restrictions); managing vehicle traffic on the network and providing access for different road users in new developments (e.g. whether new streets and spaces should be designed to allow access by buses or pedal cyclists). These can be found in the Southwark Network Management Policy (SNMP), the Southwark Network Enforcement Policy (SNEP) and the Southwark Transport Plan (STP) "

Mark - thank you so much for this . So there needs to be pressure to produce an SDP ( which would involve consultation ) and once in place dropped kerbs would be dealt with on an individual basis as planning applications ? I thought I'd have a quick look at the Southwark Streetscape Design Manual to see if I could work out what weight the current info re yellow lines/dropped kerbs has . But it looks pretty complicated - a task for later . But very many thanks for your comments ,the situation ,and how it's arisen , makes more sense to me now . Bit worrying though that this has come about ...

I think people often drop children off before travelling onward to work or whatever .

Sorry ,good point .

"if you are having problems with vehicles obstructing your driveway and would like enforcement then we can include your address as part of our Civil Enforcement patrols. There is no cost to you for this service but you must first apply and register your address. Please request dropped kerb enforcement by contacting parking services [email protected] or 0207 708 8610 or 020 7708 8587" http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/473/guide_to_parking/3069/dropped_kerbs_and_driveways/3

Mark ,is there any way you could simplify your above post as I'm afraid I'm struggling to grasp all of it ? I think I get most of it ,but I'm not clear on the last 2 paragraphs ,particularly the penultimate one . Are you saying that each dropped kerb should be treated as a planning application ? Is that the suggested way forward ? And are you saying that the decision for this to be part of an SDP ,and therefore consulted on ,has been by passed ? I'm not being picky or anything ,just a bit slow ! It sounds as though you've got a really good grasp on this ,which is great because I think we're going to need expert knowledge .

Hi James ,I'm watching this space for news about yellow lines to new dropped kerbs . And whether Southwark really intend to routinely extend them 2 metres each side to neighbouring properties .

Sorry , I missed Karen's post . Really sorry that this awful situation has been made worse by press reporting . Terrible situation for all involved .