Charlie Smith

Dear Penquin68,you are correct and I should have said, we will be delivering a paper version of the survey to all addresses in the SE22 area. This will of course include parts of the Village and College Wards. Hope this has been useful. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Deputy Mayor of Southwark East Dulwich Ward Labour Member

Following on from last nights meeting, Helen Hayes has asked me to publicise the on line survey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/royalmailclosures We are also delivering hard copies of the survey throughout the East Dulwich ward. As was said at the meeting, the Royal Mail will receive a quite substantial sum for selling the sorting office building and if they believe in good customer relations then an alternative venue for collecting mail and parcels should be established in East Dulwich. I would also recommend writing to the CEO of Royal Mail letting her know how unhappy we all are with this proposal. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Deputy Mayor of Southwark East Dulwich Labour Member

Please do come along to the meeting at the Darrell Road Community Centre on Tuesday the 4th of April at 7pm to discuss the proposed closure of the sorting office. Myself and Helen Hayes, our local MP will be there to discuss the issue and listen to local concerns. Everyone is welcome. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Deputy Mayor of Southwark East Dulwich Labour Councillor

Jim Boy, I am only going to say this for the last time. I have never advocated the introduction of a barrier. As I have told you, I met a group of Melbourne Grove residents some time ago. I gave them a list of possible solutions which included speed humps, extra signage, build outs and finally a barrier. The barrier idea was seized upon by the residents. So hopefully and finally you might get this into that head of yours. Southwark Council now propose to carry out an informal consultation of this project. The works will proceed if the majority are in favour. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Deputy Mayor of Southwark East Dulwich Ward Member

Being a neighbour, georgeepee came to my door last night to tell me about the attempted break in. I advised a call to 101. The police came quickly and have been marvellous. They returned later to say they may have apprehended the culprit. I have told georgeepee I will buy some anti climb paint and get up myself and apply it to the parapet wall. Hopefully this will deter anyone else who might try to get in. I attend the local police neighbourhood meetings. They say this kind of crime is often opportunistic. A thief will see a window or a door slightly open and can be in and out in a couple of minutes. Now the weather is turning warmer, there is the temptation to live a window or a door open for ventilation. It might be worthwhile fitting a chain to the front door and restrictors to all ground floor windows. It would also advise locks to side and rear doors be at least 5 lever security locks. Often insurance companies insist on strong security locks as part of policy conditions. The Dulwich Community Council have allocated funds to purchase "Smartwater" property marking kits. These when used, will imprint a unique mark on your property. Your property can be identified back to you if it is stolen and subsequently retrieved by the police. If any residents living in the East Dulwich Ward would like such a kit, please get in touch with me. And finally, if you see someone who you think is acting suspiciously, maybe 'casing a house' then call 101 with the location and a description. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Deputy Mayor of Southwark East Dulwich Ward Member

I was at the Dulwich Leisure Centre this morning. I asked a women to check the door to the female changing room. She told me it was closing automatically. I have been having regular meetings with staff and management of the Centre regarding maintenance and cleanliness issues. The cleaning has certainly improved, but this is the standard we should all expect anyway. As for a male member of staff entering the female changing room, this is completely unacceptable and should never happen. I will bring this up when I next meet with management. I also expect a full apology. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith East Dulwich Ward member

Southwark Council is giving away free 5kg bags of salt in readiness of possible heavy snowfalls in the coming weeks. In East Dulwich they will be available on Saturday 3rd of December in Lordship Lane: loading bay between Matham Grove and East Dulwich Grove between 9am and 10.30am. On the same day between 11am and 12.30pm in Half Moon Lane: parking bay outside nos. 21-25 Tips for clearing your paths or roads when it's icy or snowy. Start early: It is much easier to remove fresh, loose snow. Make a path down the middle of the area you are clearing first, so you've got a clear surface to walk on. Then you can shovel the snow from the centre to the sides. Spread salt on the area you have cleared to help prevent ice forming. Table or dishwasher salt will work, but avoid plants or grass as it may damage them. A few grams(a tablespoon) for each square metre you clear should work. The salt found in salting bins should mainly be used to keep the roads clear. Pay particular attention to steps and steep areas; you might need additional salt here. Do not use hot water. It does melt snow, but can result in black ice, which is dangerous. When shovelling snow, make sure it does not block people's paths or drainage channels. If it is sunny, take off the top layer of snow: the sun will melt any ice beneath, but you will need to put salt down to stop it refreezing overnight. When snow and ice are forecast, Council gritters will make sure the busiest roads are treated to reduce accidents and keep traffic moving. If your road is not done, there are 185 grit bins around the Borough and of course you can use the free salt you have collected. You can visit www.southwark.gov.uk/gritting to see if your road is to be gritted. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR Snow and cold weather can make getting in and out hard for older or vulnerable residents. They may not be able to clear their own paths, so if you can, see if your neighbours need a hand when it's cold I do hope this information will be useful. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith East Dulwich Ward Member

I attended the opening ceremony of the Charter School East Dulwich today on its temporary site in Southampton Way along with Helen Hayes MP, Leader of the Council Peter John and councillors Vicky Mills, Andy Simmons and Michael Mitchell. The pupils performed songs and played music. The new school proper will open in two years time in East Dulwich Grove.

I did another speed gun session on Monday evening until the heavens opened and we got soaked to the skin. What we did find in the hour and a quarter that we were there was that there are still drivers who exceed the speed limit. The road was relatively quiet on Monday evening. We clocked about two dozen drivers doing 26 mph and above.I did log a vehicle doing 49 mph which is way too fast. We will have to look at a number of options which could include illuminated signs. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith East Dulwich Ward Labour Member

I have carried out three speed gun sessions with PCSO's present on Barry Road this year. We all wear high visibility jackets and do not jump out behind parked vehicles at the last moment. The last two hour session was on the 18th of August at the junction of Underhill Road at five pm. The speed limit for Barry Road is 20 mph. Any vehicle doing 26 mph or above is logged. During this two hour session 49 vehicles were recorded over 26 mph and one driver was logged at 49 mph. All of these drivers will be written to about their driving behaviour. If any of these drivers are caught speeding again in the future they will probably face a penalty. During this session some local people living in the road came over to say how dangerous this junction was and how they would like some remedy carried out. I know myself what this junction is like having seen a motorcyclist underneath a P13 bus one evening last winter. I have stood at the junction and have seen a number of near misses when vehicles try to edge out from Underhill Road in to Barry Road. I did persuade the owner of two mini busses to park a few metres further on to allow more visibility for drivers. Barry Road is in my opinion one of the fastest roads in East Dulwich. There is a now defunct illuminated sign near the junction with Goodrich Road. I am told that studies have shown that illuminated signs have little long term effect on drivers. I am not so sure about this. I would like to use some Cleaner, Green, Safer funds to carry out a survey of Barry Road and in particular the Underhill Road Junction. I know there a some people who think 20 mph does not work or is dangerous or is impossible to drive. I think I may have said this before, but a person struck by a vehicle travelling at 20 mph is less likely to be killed than a person struck by a vehicle travelling at 30 mph and above. If we can save at least one life, then I think we may have done a service to the community. The next speed gun/Roadwatch session will be on Barry Road at the Junction with Upland Road on Monday the 17th of October between 5 and 7 pm. You are welcome to come along and have a look how it's done. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith East Dulwich Ward Member

84-90 Lordship Lane has been a long and drawn out saga. One of the original planning applications was for 8 office units. I don't think anyone believed this at the time. Low and behold the application changed to 8 flats. This was duly granted with a number of provisions such as deliveries etc. Then another floor appeared at the top of the building with an application for a walkway and 2 more flats. I queried this with officers as now there would be a total of 10 units on this development which would mean the developer had to supply a percentage of social housing or pay Section 106 monies towards some social project in the area. After I queried this I received an answer from officers. It seems that this year the Court of Appeal gave this judgement in the case of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government V Berkshire District Council and Reading Borough Council. The threshold has now been increased from 10 to 11 units on a development before a developer is required to provide any social housing or Section 106 monies. If in the unlikely event that the developer were to increase the number of units on this site, then a proportion of social housing would have to be included. I hope this has been helpful. Councillor Charlie Smith Labour Councillor For the East Dulwich Ward.

I think it is great that the BBC is bring back old (Vintage) sitcoms. I would like to suggest one or two programmes that could be resurrected. What about Some Mothers Do Have 'Em with Benedict Cumberbatch in the Frank Spencer role? And what about bring back 'Sykes' and have Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role. He would be hilarious. And then there's Steptoe and Son with Harold and Albert being played by Benedict Cumberbatch. But how can we leave out 'Hancock's Half Hour'. I am sure Benedict Cumberbatch would make a wonderful Tony Hancock from East Sheen. And there of course is 'What Ever Happened To The Likely Lads' For the parts of Bob and Terry I would like to recommend.... Regards Councillor Charlie Smith Labour Member For The East Dulwich Ward

Dear Edanna, I asked Council officers for an answer to this problem. Here is their reply. Enforcement of parking adjacent to dropped kerbs was decriminalised in 2003 in line with "London Local Authorities Act 2003" (section 14) (This was later added in the Traffic Management Act 2004) This has become the responsibility of local authorities within London to enforce the dropped kerb. Southwark Council has been enforcing dropped kerbs since 2006 within the Borough. However there are procedures in place to issue parking tickets (PCN) RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES Dropped kerbs leading to a single occupancy property is only enforced if the resident contacts the parking services to complain about a vehicle parked on the carriageway in front of the dropped kerb leading to the property. The telephone number residents need to call is 0207 708 8587 which is staffed between 6am to 8pm Monday to Saturday. A mobile Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO-traffic warden) will attend the location to issue the PCN. Southwark does not have a car pound anymore, however occasionally a truck is hired to re-position persistent offenders. BUSINESS PREMISES OR MULTI OCCUPANCY PROPERTIES Vehicles parked adjacent to dropped kerbs leading to a business property or multi occupancy properties (such as a block of flats) are ticketed without receipt of a phone call. I hope this has been useful. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith East Dulwich Ward Labour Member

Herne Bay which is about ten miles short of Margate is good. Lots to do there. Reculver which is about two miles further on has a large sandy beach if you want peace and quiet. There is an Abbey ruin and a caravan site with a pub but not much else. Regards Councillor Charlie Smith Labour Member for the East Dulwich Ward

I met with Helen Hayes today at the House of Commons. Helen and I are putting together a survey asking local people if they support or oppose the cancellation of the train franchise. We are calling on the Department for Transport to take over the running of the franchise until Transport for London are in a position to run the service. When you receive the survey please complete and return as soon as you can. Many Thanks Councillor Charlie Smith Labour Member for the East Dulwich Ward