Glemham

This is a commonly held misconception. The Dulwich Estate’s Scheme of Management is self funding. The annual charge which those of us who live on the Estate are obliged to pay on an annual basis does NOT go to funding the Foundation Schools or the other Beneficiaries of Edward Alleyn’s estate. www.thedulwichestate.org.uk/property-on-the-estate/residential-freehold/ the scheme of management will tell you all you need to know about this feudal tithe gathering enterprise created in 1974. The Dulwich Estate Charity is bound to distribute every year its disposable income to its beneficiaries, which include the three Dulwich Foundation Schools. In 2022-3 this was £5m.

I’m saddened by this response Alice as you usually post sensible comments. Is this a response to the Dulwich Bus Campaign https://dulwichbuscampaign.co.uk which aims to use an existing bus to improve connectivity between different parts of the Dulwich constituency, and in doing so highlights the shortcomings of the P4 bus. If so you haven’t seen our website and the petition which currently has close to 1,000 signatures, and is supported by several organisations across Dulwich. I live close to Lordship Lane which is well served by buses that will take me directly to the centre of London in one direction and to Lewisham in the other. But if I want to travel to see friends in West Dulwich/Norwood or to use the shops and cinema there without using my car there is no direct bus that will get me there. I don’t want to, and cannot cycle because I am 80, and although I look quite fit and healthy for my age, I have a heart condition which means walking other than in the flat or for any length of time makes me tired for the rest of the day. Something that cycling enthusiasts don’t always recognise….. I know that many people in West Dulwich/Norwood would like to come more often to Dulwich Village to support the Gallery, the shops which are struggling with a much reduced footfall and to work. This is what the Bus Campaign is working towards. Oh and if successful will link four local train stations which might help in ferrying around all the thousands of schoolchildren from across London who are being educated here!

Not sure our recent Bus Campaign can claim credit for a decision that has probably been months in the making, but it’s very welcome news. We hope to be involved in any consultation process. https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/three-london-boroughs-win-tfl-funding-to-transform-local-bus-networks

Hope this works https://dulwichbuscampaign.co.uk

A campaign started by a small group of Dulwich residents for better connectivity between West Dulwich, Dulwich Village and Herne Hill. For all the details see the website: dulwichbuscampaign.co.uk This also includes a petition to sign showing TfL the level of support for the proposal. Please forward and share the website.

Might it also be a result of drivers racing their cars as happens in other areas of London?

Agree with Treacle Rabbit. Zen is a WHICH? recommended provider.

The Dulwich Park Friends might know the answer: dulwichparkfriends.org.uk

On dark nights LTN roads are often too quiet and some people both young and old don’t feel safe walking home alone. Not helped by large trees obscuring the street lighting on some roads. Is it my elderly imagination or is the new environmentally friendly lighting not as helpful to elderly declining sight as the previous lighting? But then the needs of the elderly don’t seem to count for much in LTN and closed roads planning.

Heritage Cheese in Vanity Square closed suddenly yesterday and has a High Court notice on the door “That goods have been secured on site”. Apparently the Dulwich Estate knew nothing about the closure. It might be some time before another tenant can move into the shop……..

The tenants are/have been Stonegate Pub Co. which claims to be the largest pub company in the UK. Last year they were £2.2billion in debt and “seeking to refinance”. Allegedly the Estate has been receiving anything from £50 to £100K in rent.

I understand that The Grove is to be handed back to the Estate in September hence the cleaning up process. Will we ever know why this building was allowed to become so dilapidated and remain empty for so long and who profited?

Meanwhile whilst you are both going down a crime rabbit hole yet another shop has closed on Vanity Square. Heritage Cheese is no more and only a High Court notice about goods being secured on site remains. Will the Dulwich Estate make any comment about the disappearance of yet another business tenant? Don’t hold your breath……..

Oh come on Malumbu don’t be so disingenuous! There are many causes of obesity and LTNs are a minute part of the solution. If active travel is so important to you why not start using your undoubted energy to campaign for it in the form of improved public transport and access to it; to and from, and in and around Dulwich. It’s not too late, although it might have been more sensible to make improvements to public transport before closing roads. Certainly most of our elected representatives don’t appear to have had much interest in doing so. Some facts: Going to Beckenham and Bromley from East Dulwich by public transport - which many people would like to do necessitates two bus journeys, whereas there’s a direct bus to Lewisham. Easier to take the car. Getting across Dulwich from East to West is almost impossible by public transport. There is a single decker but that goes via a congested South Circular. You might say take the train, and indeed in the area covered by Dulwich and West Norwood constituency there are 10 rail stations. BUT only three of these have step free access, Herne Hill - the only one with a lift, West Norwood and East Dulwich. There is one step free northbound platform at Tulse Hill and Gipsy Hill. But the remaining five are problematic. If you are a parent with a buggy, disabled, elderly with heart or breathing problems, have a heavy suitcase and cycling is not an option, then your active rail travel options are somewhat limited. So Malumbu are you willing to try and make difference?

Many of the tradespeople care because their footfall at the junction has fallen since January when even more traffic restrictions in the form of a CPZ were installed. This combined with the high rents levied by the Dulwich Estate and Southwark business rates, are forcing more businesses to close. Romeo Jones, one of the last independent businesses in the Village will close on Saturday and Harold George the hairdresser is moving to smaller premises a few shops away. A Tapas bar is rumoured to be taking that corner site. I realise this posting is not strictly on the topic of the West Dulwich Action Group, but no doubt they will recognise their own concerns in the Dulwich Village problems.

A very balanced article about LTNs from a Guardian journalist who lives in Lambeth. His point about public transport in South London is well made. Local councillors and MPs have failed to lobby for improvements. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/14/low-traffic-neighbourhood-ltn-lambeth-culture-war?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Perhaps someone who works there owns a Tesla and is keen to promote more sales. After all poor Musk needs all the support he can get right now 😢

Isabel Ramirez a journalist with Southwark News wrote an article - sadly behind their paywall - in October last year. “Why has this pub in Dulwich been vacant for twelve years?” There was no response from the Dulwich Estate. Perhaps you could contact her: [email protected] M.07939857532 As the lease is due this year, and nothing has happened since last October she might be interested in asking some more questions. Many years ago Private Eye published an article criticising the Estate’s response to parents in West Dulwich who wanted to adapt their home for a disabled child. I seem to remember that the Eye referred then to the DE as the ‘Village Idiots’.

Now that’s an idea worth considering #ab29! The Grove saga should be coming to an end soon as the lease from the owners - The Dulwich Estate - held by Stonegate Pubs should run out this year. The group recently found financial backers to help with its £2.2 billion debt. The Estate refuses to reveal anything about their plans for the site citing commercial confidentiality. But they have had many years to plan for the lease ending. However they spent three years refurbishing The Crown and Greyhound aka The Dog in Dulwich Village so don’t hold your breath for anything to happen to The Grove in the near future!

Indeed! You are entitled to your opinion and to speak freely as long as you don’t criticise the Council agenda ………….now where have I been reading recently about similar attitudes to “Free” speech?

Please could you explain the difference between being a “political activist” and “people engaging in local politics”? You seem to be suggesting the former is not to be trusted, but the latter is acceptable.

If all cyclists were required to have liability insurance, and their bikes registered and therefore recognisable surely this would be a deterrent for the antisocial behaviour of those who break speed limits, ignore traffic lights and cycle on pavements.

As the car is parked outside the NHS clinic at the end of Townley Road, could the car belong to a member of staff or a patient? Perhaps the clinic has negotiated with Southwark for permits for staff who need a car to do their work.

Have no recollection of any mention of RPZs by the Dulwich Village Councillors, Margy Newens and Richard Leeming. This is very definitely their patch. Again if you are a stranger to the area how are you supposed to know that you can’t park there at certain times. How would you know where to go for a permit? Are RPZs the future? I do like the irony that it’s to minimalise the need for too many signs and street furniture, when not a million yards away at the junction there’s a plethora of signs and cycle racks …………

Until next Monday the tickets are warnings, fining in earnest starts on Monday. If you don’t know the area, have been driving sensibly and not looking up at signs that require you to get out of your vehicle to read them and park in Calton during the proscribed hours, would you have a valid reason to appeal? Please could someone/anyone from the Council explain the rationale behind this system?