Penguin68

Yes, more strikes, I'd just noticed. B****r.

There's a shop in Honor Oak (Honor Oak Provender?) that I think had a stack of them last year. Haven't checked this year. They looked good quality.

On a positive note, although all my subscription magazines have been delivered late, and some very late, I believe I have now received all outstanding issues. The next ones are due on Friday. If they do arrive then it may be that, at least for my deliveries, we have got, or are getting, back to what should be normal. I'm not holding my breathe on that, and I do know there is other mail outstanding. But not, I think a lot.

I forgot to say that electrical work must now be either done, or fully checked by, fully qualified electricians (there's a standard). Without that the work isn't legal, and could impact the property value on sale. And very possibly invalidate your own buildings insurance. You must check whether the person doing the electrical work is qualified.

The firm you are using should have liability insurance against the sort of damage you are worried about - you need to check with your supplier if he has that insurance, and ideally who with. However, clearly you know the work done so far has not been of a satisfactory standard, so you would be in the right if you now stopped any further payments until the problems to date are corrected. I am guessing that the new door will require a properly installed RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist) to support what I am assuming is a load bearing wall. If that is not on-site then I would refuse permission to the builder to continue. Contact Citizens Advice about this. But from what you have written I think you are right to be worried. What you need I think is at this stage expert building, rather than legal, advice. Maybe one of the firms recommended on the forum might be able to give (well sell) you this advice - there are many good handymen who would not necessarily take on the job but who know enough to either reassure you, or not, about the state of play so far. I'd have called Vic of 007 Handymen - who has worked for me - for advice (if he's still about) - he knows his stuff even though he wouldn't himself take on a job of this scale. So his advice would be unbiased.

Received a weekly today dated 5th November (!), but they do seem to be getting to the bottom of the pile. And that's deliveries two days running!

The general rules are caveat emptor, that is, that it is the buyer or potential buyer that needs to do due diligence. That may include more general research, but it is not up to others to editorialize a small ads page! Other, perhaps, to indicate where you know from personal experience that a seller is not to be trusted, through e.g. non delivery or false description. Which doesn't include selling something that you wouldn't buy. Had a poster, I suppose, asked whether something was good value or worth buying you could, reasonably, comment. But not as a gratuitous insertion. And it's not a question most would pose on a small ads site itself.

Actually, a properly moderated forum does not offer unlimited freedom of speech - there are certain things said which, whilst not illegal, are nevertheless unhelpful, untrue or unnecessarily rude - and of course there are some things said which are, or may be, a breach of the law. The fact that Admin has put forward his reasoning in this case is helpful, as it helps clarify the moderating policy in this instance. In those parts of the forum where 'discussion' is expected a wide range of different views are allowed. But even these must and should be moderated. On occasion it is annoying where a legitimate view is 'lost' because it has formed part of a wider debate which is off topic or may even be verging (e.g. issues sub judice) on a breach of the law, where the view, expressed solus, would make no sense. But that's what good moderators sometimes need to do.

I've also raised complaints. It's sad that we have to do this to get the service mandated in their operating charter, and very possibly at the expense of service to others.

18 items of mail and one parcel delivered this morning, including 6 subscription magazines, all late but mostly by no longer than a week (!). Maybe the fuss being kicked up by, inter alia, Helen Hayes is having an effect? But maybe it's just me who's been so lucky.

Dear neighbours in the Peckham West CPZ area,... Everything in this post makes perfect sense and sets out a proper process and all necessary considerations SAVE that Southwark council's track record is that they will ignore anything that doesn't fit with its agenda ('it's a consultation, not a referendum' is their mantra for things that don't 'fit') and will go ahead and do whatever it is they planned to do willy-nilly, but claiming justification because of the 'consultation'.

I'm afraid that it is no surprise that the overwhelming number of people participating in the poll, as I write, are SE22 residents in receipt of poor service from the ED DO. Those are the ones most likely to participate. And the ED DO is on record (even from Royal Mail's own statistics) as providing poor service. The problem (statistically) with such a poll is that the sample is self selecting - not random - and participation is voluntary. We do not know from what sample base this is drawn from (how many people have read the thread since the poll was posted, to gauge what %age of readers then went on to participate (understanding that where you weren't having bad service from Royal Mail the thread might anyway not be interesting to you). It comes as no surprise then that the majority (vast majority) of those participating are SE22 residents - and every evidence suggests that the service is pretty uniformly bad across the postal district. The poll needs to run for far longer (possibly) to pick up more readers for any unanticipated results to emerge. Amended to add:- The most satisfactory polling use (statistically) for the ED Forum Universe is to ask questions about that Universe itself and the ED Forum itself. Sadly the ED forum 'members' do not represent ED (and include participants who are not (now) living in ED) so although many are ED-ers - and indeed do represent, I'm sure, many different cohorts now living in ED they have (a) to be people comfortable in using social media, and (b) be computer/ smart-phone literate (and have access to these). They also need to have both the time and inclination to participate in what might be seen as ED centric issues (Lounge apart) - and to be on this board, rather than more specific (and utilitarian?) boards. Polls, such as the one on this thread, can confirm (or deny) that a particular issue is, broadly, important, of course, but not to any degree of accuracy the scale of that importance. But I'm never the less pleased to see the poll, and participate in it!

Actually, there are I think 2 DOs based in Peckham (Highshore Road). They are separately managed but co-located. I spoke to a postie 3 or so weeks ago who lived in SE15 who told me they also had a poor service, at least recently.

Surprisingly I have had deliveries on Tuesday, Wednesday and today (Thursday) - haven't had 3 in a week (and counting) since spring this year, I don't think. Mail is still both late and missing - but at least I am seeing some. Mind you, I have both complained and had support for Ms Hayes (for which much thanks) - and it probably means that my good fortune has been matched by lack of delivery elsewhere in ED. Sorry about that!

No. There are some vehicles which are polluting and can cause respiratory issues (which the widening of the ULEZ addressed). You may as well say that trapping the elderly and infirm (and people with very young children) in their houses is a good thing - with the very poor public transport we have locally, and the hills(!). As far as energy consumption is concerned very high energy prices are a good thing, as that will discourage use and deter emissions - as will cutting off the TV broadcasts and indeed any use of electronic gadgets - surely a good thing as regards climate change? Do we really need lights so much at night? The wasting of the NHS is a good thing as well - we all know it is people who are polluters and higher mortality helps address that scourge. Attenborough is on record as saying we need to reduce population by at least a third for the world as we know it to survive (and how does he think we will achieve this if the world is full of people his age?) Car usage itself really isn't an issue - it's the sorts of cars - and how they contribute to atmospheric pollution which is a clearer issue. But then, I'm a believer in personal freedom. So many 'climate change believers' aren't.

No irony, the problem lies specifically with the Delivery Office (moved from Silvester Road in East Dulwich to Peckham, 4 years ago) which is designated East Dulwich/ SE22. So when that fails it is SE22 deliveries that suffer. Other DOs locally are working better (well, some of them,

The squeals of pain of the posh Dulwich piglets is music to their ears - it demonstrates to their main 'constituency' that they are 'doing something' about all their 'climate issues' whilst hurting only those who are anyway most hated in most of Southwark - a win:win for them. Even if they lost Dulwich Village in 3 years time, they would still rule the roost. A price worth paying.

My Covid tests for the ONS survey were despatched on 2nd November, for a testing window which will close on Thursday - no sign of them yet! But I did get some mail today, including bills late but still within the payment window and a (late) credit card. However, the fact that my MP had written on my behalf might be a part explanation. There is still a bunch of stuff not yet delivered!

I'm sorry to have to revisit old posts of mine, but Southwark Council is on record as saying that its ultimate aim is to wipe out private car ownership in Southwark. If you think that Southwark Labour is waging war against motorists - well then, it actually is - as part of its formal policies, which the majority of those living in Southwark voted for (even if they thought they were voting to punish Boris or Brexit etc.). So don't be surprised when the annual fees soar, when the coverage of CPZs becomes 24/7 (and across the borough), when more and more roads are blocked from traffic or use by residents. You voted for it (well, most of you!)

I think the email addresses are 'personal' - that is they are to a person, not a role. Remember there are 2 DO managers both based in Peckham - one for their original DO and one for SE22/ East Dulwich. The SE22/ ED one is I believe temporary! And (according to one postie I have talked to) inexperienced.

The Sunday Times has an article today (it's behind a pay-wall, so no link) suggesting this problem is quite wide, with the Royal Mail focusing on premium posted mail and telling staff to deliver this instead of 'normal' mail, posted first class or not. I had a Covid testing kit posted to me on 2nd November - my testing window (part of the ONS survey) closes shortly - but no kit delivered yet. Royal Mail claims it prioritises testing kit, it clearly doesn't! We have too many stories from insiders of piles of mail sitting unsorted as the profitable (or more profitable) stuff gets prioritised. Soon we will know that if we want to send anything ourselves (or get anything sent to us) we must pay for tracked or other premium (expensive) services. Frankly it's an insult to the late Queen and to the King that they are still able to hide behind the epithet 'Royal'. 'Rogue Mail' would be more appropriate.

Yes there is, it's called proper and effective management. In Silvester Road days the SE22 walks were properly staffed and 3 additional staff were in the DO after the walks went out, to hand out parcels and as relief/ cover staff. As the walks were all local staff could also readily complete their walk and return and, if necessary or if desired do an 'over-time' walk. Posties are employed over 5 days a week to cover 6 days of delivery, which meant reliefs were needed for rest days. Additionally summer leave was covered effectively by the 'spare' two posties in the DO (one was always needed on duty there). There were, it is true, problems associated with mass staff sickness (e.g. flu) but there was no legal need to isolate if ill. DOs have always been able to deliver 6 days of regular post delivery, and many outside SE22 still do. No 'spells' required - just good management, recruitment and retention. We all (and Helen Hayes in particular) made it clear before the move that moving staff delivering in SE22 outside the district would inevitably be sub-optimal and cause problems. It was and it did. The strikes have certainly caused additional problems for all DOs - but it is clear that the ED DO has been brought even further down on it's knees than before - but it hasn't been properly managed for 4 years - and the abominable service we now have is simply the poor management chickens coming firmly to roost. Most other DOs have had service hiccups following strike days but have very soon recovered (ask around of those not living in this Royal Mail wasteland) - people cannot believe what we have been putting up with for so long!

Not, actually, your option if it's your bank(s) sending a statement or card, HMG sending Road Tax information, licence information, tax information or demands etc.; local authorities sending out stuff (including traffic and parking fines) - someone else, e.g. utilities, sending a bill reminder etc. (not everyone is on the internet) etc. etc.

I know that there is a collection box in Libretto's (the butchers in Wood Vale).

The fact that we are getting (yes, I did as well) almost exactly the same identical form letter (with the reference to 'nothing for 8 months) in and of itself belies any notion of 'it's all news to us gov'. Clearly if you have a form letter for complaints about the SE22 DO then it very much is old news, since you have a pre-prepared weasel response.