Gary P

almost peckham Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > On this view > 'the club' could plausibly play football at any > number of spaces, it is not limited to the > proposition on the table. This is evidenced by > 'the club' playing at Tooting but it could be > elsewhere. Sorry but that's just not correct. The only thing the move to Tooting evidenced was that any prolonged absence from the Dulwich area would kill the club. For all the arguments back and forth, I'm yet to see a single person suggest how they would expect the club to survive if the stadium plan is blocked.

Abe_froeman Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You keep making that threat but no everyone is > convinced How are you expecting the club to survive if the stadium doesn't go ahead?

thedukeofmonclar Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I know the epidemic may have helped more people > see the value of the open sports field but its > value has always been there and more importantly > may not be there in the future. I?m really going > to struggle with how 30 people doing different > sports are going to fit on the new multiuse games > area. It?s only a 20th the size of the astro turf > and has to be booked, as will the stadium. So > that?s a total loss of all informal sports use? Do > you really think that checking the astro turf use > over four winters days, is going to give you a > measurement by which to decide the future of this > space forever? I have a question relating to this point. I used to be part of a group that played organised 5-a-side football matches on the astroturf once a week (this was probably around five years ago). My memory of this is that in order to play our matches there we had to book the astroturf and pay a fee. The above seems to imply that this is not the case with the astroturf as it is today (no booking or payment required), but is that not only because the pitch has fallen into disrepair and neglect? Having it left there in that state, with no upkeep, no charge, and no booking required, was surely never going to be a long-term option. As Ben has mentioned above, the Southwark plan for the pitch is that it should be renovated and enclosed, which is the norm for astroturf pitches as far as I'm aware. I think it's unrealistic to use the current 'informal' state of the astroturf as a reason to oppose a change. Surely, in the long-term, people who are looking to play informal sports and games on a completely free piece of ground that does not need to be booked, should be using one of the area's numerous park spaces?

thedukeofmonclar Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello Gary, > I'm very aware there are thousands who support the > application. They are the club's fans. Directed by > internal advice and understandably tribal and > adversary in their attitude. > Allowing a company to develop 9000sq.m of M.O.L. > and building tower blocks across a loved club's > home ground (with protective covenants) because > the developers have held the club to ransom is old > school gangster stuff. > While i encourage your ongoing search for > alternative solutions, i fear you may be asking me > in order to dismiss any suggestions, because you > feel this will justify the position you and some > of the fans have been forced to take. Let's be > honest. Not all DHFC fans support the plan. Those > that do have all had to swing fully behind it, and > here you are campaigning for a property developer > who evicted you, stole your name and will build > across your home ground and destroy natural > habitat and community used sports facility at the > same time. I'm supportive of the plan, but reluctantly. I'm a DHFC fan but I wouldn't call my attitude tribal or adversary. I think that's a bit of an unfair generalisation. I actually agree with many of the points that have been put forward in opposition to the project, and I certainly have no enthusiasm for the idea of letting Meadow have their way after the way they have behaved. However, at this point I genuinely see no other alternative which won't result in the club's demise, which is why I asked you if you have an alternative in mind. If you don't have an alternative in mind, then I'm struggling to see what it is that you're actually arguing for.

thedukeofmonclar Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello Dontbesilly, > Your post shows your propensity to generalise, > stereotype and dismiss people with different > views. That's really not helpful in a discussion > of such significance. Believe this. Thousands of > local people oppose the development as it develops > an undeveloped area that is well used and loved. > The thing that dog walkers have in common is that > they walk dogs.The reality of the situation has > been made very clear for everyone. Pass this > application or the club goes under. Why then > attack locals and dog walkers? There may well be thousands of local people who oppose the development, but I think you also have to accept the fact that there are thousands who support it. Ultimately, it's not going to be possible for everyone to get what they want. Regardless of who is to blame and how we got to this situation, the fact is that this is where we are. DHFC has relatively new owners who have acknowledged the mess made by previous owners and are now doing their best to find a way forward. You suggest that fan ownership is not necessarily stable ownership, and you may well be right about that, but unless a wealthy benefactor with the club's interests at heart is going to step forward from somewhere, it's the best available option there is. Can I ask what you think the solution should be from here?

almost peckham Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My view was, and > still is the club should be supported to remain in > and redevelop the existing ground without further > encroachment on open ground and without the > building of a six storey block. Can I ask how you would expect that to happen? I think it's already been explained that redeveloping the current Champion Hill isn't an option. Even if the money required to do that was available, Meadow would need to be supportive of it, and why would they be? I understand that some people don't want the development to happen for their own reasons, and that's totally fair enough, but what I don't understand is what realistic alternative they have in mind.

Just adding to this thread as my partner and I just used Pavel for our move and were incredibly happy with the service. Very punctual, reliable and friendly, and at a good price. Would totally recommend And Move to anyone in the area who is relocating.

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This is the response I've had from council > officials: > > "Dear Councillor > > In response to your enquires, which both relate > to the event at Dulwich Hamlet on the 17th > September. > > Please see the following link: > https://shoobs.com/events/22185/family-fun-day-jer > k-fest-car-stereo-clash > > Our records show that we had eight calls between > 7.08pm and 8.20pm that evening. > Officers arrived at the location at 8.24pm on > arriving at the complaints locations they were > informed that the music had stopped. > > However on leaving the location officers could > still hear faint music , and found that the noise > was not coming from Dulwich Hamlets FC , but from > Sainsbury?s car park. > There was a group of approximately 30 odd people, > scattered around the car park playing loud music > from their car stereos. > > It would appear that after the event closed > (7pm), a number people had moved in to the car > park and carried on. > Officers could not make an assessment as to a > Statutory Noise Nuisance , as they were unable to > identify any particular source . > > However they called the Police at 8.53 pm (Cad > 7945), two police cars arrived at 9.19pm , as soon > as they did the music stopped and the cars > started to drive away. > The officers then contact all the outstanding > callers and advised them of what had happened, > when officers left there was no noise from the car > park. > > A noise warning letter has been already sent to > Dulwich Hamlets FC, on the 10th September, in > response to the activities and noise that > weekend. > > If you have any questions on this or any other > maters please call me directly. > " Would it kill the council to learn the football club's correct name?

Swit and bold Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I live in Champion Hill, as I've stated before > DHFC have lost my support!!! Why has DHFC lost your support? It's pretty clear from reading the thread that none of this is the football club's fault. If anything, all of this actually highlights the need for the football club to become fan-owned as soon as possible, so that it can operate fully in the interests of the community instead of the interests of a property developer.

Alex K Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bluerevolution writes: "As for residential, the > local housing were built AFTER the stadium so any > complaints aren't viable." > > I live on Abbotswood Road -- in one of those units > of local housing -- and I try to be a good > neighbour with respect to activities at the > stadium and grounds. "It'll all be over in a few > hours" has got me through many sulky moments. > > When one of the football club's officials > expresses as his or her opinion, however, "We were > here first so naff off", that strikes me as > un-neighbourly. > > "We have our ways, ways that we cherish -- we > recognise that they reflect in some respects the > environment in which they were formed -- we > recognise that that environment has changed -- > we'll look into how our ways adversely affect you, > our neighbours, and, when practicable, we'll try > to change those ways to be better neighbours" > would impress me more favourably than a version of > "Nobody likes us, we don't care". > > Expand the stadium and activities there? Not for > a group who don't care that nobody likes them. What would you like the club to do to "change their ways to be better neighbours"? Just curious.

Such a shame that this place is closing. I live just across the road, and yesterday there were vans parked outside and people taking away all of the (weird and mismatched) furniture. I think the writing has been on the wall for a while though. Such a waste of what could be a good pub in an increasingly busy area. When I first moved in I thought this would be my local, but I gave up on it a while back. Once we went to play the Monday night pub quiz, but none of the staff could even tell us if it was on or not and we sat around for ages waiting to find out if it would happen. Another time I arrived with a group of friends, all wanting to order the pies (which were pretty nice), but we were told there was no hot food. Pretty much every other time I went in after that there were glasses over most of the taps and you couldn't even get a packet of crisps (the excuse always being that the delivery day is "tomorrow"). The garden area also has a lot of potential but had become really run down. Nowadays we use the Herne as its so much nicer, with people using it and good food. Really hope someone takes the Rose on and makes it the pub it could be.

Now that the summer months and good weather are upon us, our football group is looking for some new faces to boost our numbers a little. We play on Sunday mornings (and occasionally Saturday mornings) on Peckham Rye at 11am. All are welcome, regardless of gender, fitness levels or footballing ability. The emphasis is on having a fun and friendly kick-about, with no moaning at each other. If interested, please get in touch for more details or request to join our Facebook group (search 'East Dulwich Forum Football'). Thanks!

Some info on our football group here. All welcome: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?6,1395092

tomdhu Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > From my limited knowledge, it appears the club has > got into financial difficulties but if these plans > go through, the club is going to be even worse off > as it looks as though the all the existing club > buildings will be knocked down and not be > replaced. All they get is a pitch in a different > location. Just a pitch - no club house etc. Or > have I got it wrong? That's definitely wrong. The plan is for a new stadium that meets Conference National requirements.

milk76 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But Gary, Southwark Council have already allocated > the money and are going to upgrade the current > astroturf pitch since it's current lease holders > have allowed it to fall into disrepair. > > Hadley is not offering to add a facility it is > trying to garner public support to remove one. > > Investing in a 4g pitch for the Champion Hill > Stadium would increase conservatively eightfold > the time the pitch could be used each week. Thus > bringing in new, significant, year round revenue > streams to the stadium. It would also greatly > reduce upkeep costs and reduce the losses from wet > weather cancellations. Sure it is not the profit > they can make bulldozing it and then selling 200 > new homes, but I fail to see how it is in the > public interest to change planning policy to help > them make a pile of cash. If the Council insists on simply upgrading the astroturf pitch, without allowing that pitch to be part of a new stadium, it could result in the death of the football club. Yes, Hadley want public support for their plan to build on the current site of the stadium, but as part of their plan to do that they are also attempting to make provision for the football club. Putting the 4G pitch inside the current stadium is not an option, as Hadley want that land for their own uses.

Bluerevolution Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > From January this year and why 3g/4g is a no goer > at present > > "It?s tight at the top of the Ryman League Premier > Division. With a little less than half of the > season left to play, just seven points seperate > the top six clubs in the table and it remains, for > now at least, anybody?s guess who from > Kingstonian, Maidstone United, Wealdstone, Dulwich > Hamlet, Bognor Regis Town or AFC Hornchurch will > be taking a place in the Conference South. Indeed, > one of these clubs will not even make the > division?s play-offs come the end of the season. > Out of that six, though, there is one club that > will be furrowing the brows of people at the > Football Association and the Football Conference > more than their competitors at the moment, because > at the moment one of those clubs could yet earn > promotion on the pitch, only to be subsequently > denied it at a committee meeting. > > The club at risk of missing out is Maidstone > United, and the reason for it is the 3G artificial > pitch that the club has fitted at The Gallagher > Stadium, the new ground into which it moved in the > summer of 2012. The game?s authorities, however, > have not yet granted permission for 3G pitches to > be used above Level Six ? the level at which > Maidstone United currently play ? of the English > National League System. As the rules stand today, > the club would be refused promotion should it win > the Ryman League title or the play-offs at the end > of this season. Football Association rules > preclude the use of artificial pitches in > competitions featuring Premier League, Football > League or Conference clubs and beyond the Fourth > Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, although they are > permitted below this level and in the FA Trophy > and FA Vase, and it is this fudge of an > arrangement that threatens to cause issues for > Maidstone United at the end of this season." > > Source: http://twohundredpercent.net/?p=25260 This ruling has since been changed, and Maidstone will go up if they win promotion this season.

Alan Medic Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Years ago (so I may be out of the loop) the > current astroturf area used to be used every > day/night of the week for kids and adult football > matches/training. It could also be used as a full > length pitch if required,if I remember correctly. > I presume that's still the case. So they would get > rid of an existing astroturf area and replace it > with another one and this will increase income. > How? Do they know there is going to be additional > demand for it? > > What's to stop them turning the current pitch of > the football club into an astroturf one? Is it the > building of houses they are more interested in? If > so, once that's finished and they have made their > money, why would they care about the football > club? Having a new stadium with community facilities has been a source of much-needed increased revenue for many football clubs. The current astroturf is outdated and in bad condition. By getting rid of it and creating a new playing surface it'll create a more desirable sports facility for local people, clubs, schools etc. They can't simply put the new astroturf pitch in the existing stadium, as Hadley wish to use that land for building homes. Naturally, Hadley didn't get into this to be charitable, and haven't said they wish to run the club forever. Hadley's solution does seem to benefit everyone, however. They're a property developer so it is the building of houses that they're interested in. Once that's done and the football club has a new home, I believe the hope would be for the football club to adopt a fan ownership model.

Just bumping this up to the top to let people know that we are still playing on the Rye on Saturday mornings and are always welcoming of new players. Please come and join us tomorrow, anyone who fancies a kick-about!

Absolutely loving Ash kebabs. The food's all homemade and really tasty. Definitely recommend.

As a local resident and voter I have to say I'm extremely disappointed in how the Council have handled this whole situation, in regard to DHFC. From attending the consultations and reading the various reports, it seems very much as if the needs of the football club are simply being ignored. In the latest plans for the area, no effort has been made to accommodate the football club, and at the last consultation I was told that the council would not even investigate the possibility of seeing whether building a new stadium in the available space was viable. I was also told by a council employee that it was highly unlikely that the council would sit down with all the relevant stakeholders (Hadley, the DHFC Supporters Trust, Friends of Green Dale) to see if a mutually agreeable solution could be found. Why is this? I would like to remind the Council that this is not simply about a football team. Dulwich Hamlet are a community club who mean a great deal to a large (and rapidly growing) number of people. Average attendances are likely to exceed 1,000 very soon at the current rate of growth. A new stadium with a 4G pitch would create all-weather sporting facilities for all schools and clubs in the local area, as well as social facilities for the wider community. Given the right environment and support, there is real potential for DHFC to not only become self-sufficient as a business, but to rise to higher leagues (thereby attracting even bigger crowds from around London and benefiting local businesses). That is before even touching on the benefits of encouraging an interest in sport (the London 2012 Olympics seem like a long time ago now, but here is a clear chance for our local council to embrace the spirit of sport by investing in football at its purest grassroots level). I'd add that I completely see FOG's point of view: I'm a member of the RSPCA and RSPB, have attended local bat and bird walks in the past, and totally appreciate the importance of providing wild habitats in urban areas. My concern is that no effort is being made to find a solution that would suit all stakeholders. I am also of the view that there is a wealth of green/park spaces within the local area, when you take into account St Frances Park, Dulwich Park, Goose Green, Peckham Rye, Burgess Park (and possibly others I've missed out) - however, there is only one football club, and I would like to see the council publicly acknowledge the importance of preserving that football club's long-term future.

What does a writers' group actually involve? I would potentially be interested.

Hi there, I'm looking for someone to take up a couple of pairs of jeans that are way too long for me. Is anyone able to recommend a place/individual? Anywhere in Dulwich, but towards the Forest Hill side would be ideal. Thanks! Gary

Just bumping this thread to mention that Mason & Green were excellent and I'd recommend them to anyone else in the area who is looking for airport transport. Very friendly, professional, punctual and reasonably priced. They were also very quick to arrange a new collection time when my flight back to London ended up being delayed by over an hour.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Ended up booking with Mason & Green - cost ?38 which seems like a pretty good deal.

Thanks! Sorry my query was maybe a little unclear - I sort of meant having the wrap made up as fresh, rather than having the falafel itself made fresh on the spot. So that's probably a little easier to come across!