Penguin68

It's wide enough for all other traffic, including lorries, to 'squeeze' through. But my point is, the road isn't closed. Underhill has always been a 'bit of a squeeze' - but this small space coned off is occupying no more room than a parked car or van, in a place where vans or cars can legally park! And there is no work going on - the area blocked off looks to have been fully repaired and the road restored. Of course Thames Water should remove their blockage - but surely TFL could have required this of them. Or is TFL looking for an excuse to close down the Underhill bit of the P13 route south of Barry? In which case all the whining about - 'why don't you take the bus?' by the Southwark anti-car mavens looks a little weak. The buses on Underhill do have to negotiate parked cars, of course, but this blockage is no more than a parked car.

BUT UNDERHILL ROAD IS NOT CLOSED! Sorry to shout, but I've been driving up and down the full length of Underhill for the last 3 days - there is a small area which is coned off (less than half the road width, about a car's length)- the road way has been repaired and there is no work going on at all. Neither are there any signs showing the road to be closed or any diversion signs. Lorries etc. are happily driving up and down - it is only the P13 which is diverting, and there has been no need for that, as I said, for at least 3 days. Even when there was work going on, it didn't close the road. This is different from the closure last week, where the road was marked as closed and there were diversions in place. TFL is being entirely ridiculous.

indeed it was quite a shock to see that the brick is not, in fact, brick. Or was I being incredibly naive! This has been widely discussed in an earlier thread, brick or stone cladding on buildings is very common - much of Bayswater is stone clad - it doesn't represent any form of cheap or skimped building works, necessarily, but reflects a finish which is deemed to be appropriate. It can allow for levels of e.g. insulation far better than any apparent surface finish. Think of it as being a tiled finish - as indeed buildings in e.g. Kent often have tiled walls.

Many items of large furniture have been brought into rooms through windows - you can remove sash windows entirely - although you will need a good handyman and a crane or hoist to do this - in Amsterdam the very narrow houses actually have hoists on the roofs so that furniture can be brought in that way. Also good furniture removers are amazing at moving stuff - I can recall a (small) upright piano which we were touring with being taken up (and down) a metal spiral staircase - I watched it happen and still couldn't believe it.

About five minutes ago a "signed for", letter was put through my door. I have no idea who signed for it (obviously not me, nor anybody at this address), nor who put it through my door. Possibly delivered to a neighbour in your absence and then posted to you by them?

Not clear whether this charge is for food waste or just garden waste in bags? Collecting food waste is a core and statutory duty of the council - such collections are already factored in to the Community charge. I believe it is brown bin garden waste which is referred to, and the council will (I believe) charge separately for the garden waste bags now given free. Presumably if you pay their ransom they will give you a sticker for your bin, or some other identifier. They are starting in 2 weeks time, yet have made no provision or plan for any of this. Nor any real announcement (the information being posted does not come from any communication made direct to residents, but from their tedious and obscure documents). And I note it takes an ex councillor (and not any of the incumbents) to confirm the rumours.

The cherry blossom across ED at the moment is amazing - Whately St is transformed - and it's the best season for Magnolia I can remember - I suspect all down to that wonderful hot spell we had in February. Worth going out to catch it - the cherry blossom will be gone in a week. We could be in Japan (as I was this time last year). Friern and Upland good too, as are sections of Underhill.

Actually, when you consider the schemes are targeted on people with cars, with gardens, who live in the more suburban parts of the borough (where public transport is dire) - with parks, etc. etc. it's just good old fashioned class war - which is what you sign up for when and if you vote labour, particularly now with the changed regime at the top. And many will (and on these threads do) welcome exactly that. There are good economic reasons why class war is bad (and statistics show that currently there is more employment - and less wealth diversity - than in the past) but why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

There are cases to be made for differential charging for different services (although as I've sent no children to be state educated maybe I should have a discount - oh, it doesn't work like that?) - what I object to is to receive a very short letter from the council making claims about the levels of charge rise - which implies some sort of like for like comparison when (and if) they plan to increase the costs to me of the services I take from them over and above that level, because I could choose not to have garden waste removed (waste which they then compost for their own use!). That (if that's their intention) is (or would be) simply duplicitous. The trouble is that I have so little trust of Southwark that I am quite happy to believe that they will lie and obfuscate in this manner. It's what I have come to expect. I hope the rumour is wrong - (which is not to say that I wouldn't wish them to make a case and debate such a change - just that the implied manner of what they are doing would sicken me if the rumour is true). The fact that none of their elected lackeys is prepared to bell this particular cat (either through their own ignorance or policy) really says it all.

We don't have a brown bin but we do use the bags a few times a year. How will that be provided for? You either pay an annual fee to have garden waste collected, or it isn't collected. As it was explained to me by the bin man. How they keep a record of who has paid is moot, of course. Indeed the management of this will cost more than they gain, particularly as they will have to provide everyone with the larger kerb side caddies - the kitchen caddy doesn't hold enough. But this is still rumour and innuendo at this time, even if they are to start charging in April - as the householders know nothing official. (And wouldn't, if it isn't true, of course!)

I told them (as the notice by my front door said) that I did not buy on the door. One guy originally and then back with a second guy. I didn't open the door that time. Clearly threatening.

Here in Underhill too. Quite threatening. Said they were selling to support ex offenders and would I want people to have to start burgling?

I was also told by a (brown bin) man from Veolia. Charge of ?60 or ?80 annually. It looks like the council is planning a number of 'surprise' (never mentioned in the community charge leaflet) charges. So the leaflet will be (in so far as it states % rises) a lie - as the actual rise for many people will be higher (but because you can choose not to have garden waste collected, I suppose treated as discretionary). That's why I started a thread on Tooley St and trust.

a 5k takes you 3 hours??? Presumably includes time to arrive, change, warm up, get to the start position and run through the start line, finish, warm down, change, perhaps meet up with fellow athletes...

Punishing car drivers - they know cyclists will ignore the light anyway. It's all part of Southwark's war against motorists.

They also advertise a 0.780Kg carton of cornflakes at ?2 - when the carton size is in fact 0.720KG (for ?2)

Thank you. Thames Water is clearly planning to entirely isolate Dulwich before the troops are sent in to clear the area.

This road has been blocked off to traffic since Thursday (possibly Wednesday). Which means the P13 doesn't seem to travel south of Barry up Underhill. Does anyone know why, and when the road may re-open?

There have been/ are a number of initiatives currently going on in ED (CPZ 'consultation'; changes to road topology being 'tested', etc.) Most of those are, and stay, 'top of the listings' in this forum. On the face of it this seems to be the exercise of democracy and consultative behaviour. However I have noted a great deal of scepticism (and yes, from me as well) about the level to which Tooley St. can be trusted to act fairly. So, a simple question - do you trust the elected and appointed officials in Tooley St.? Do you believe what they say about their motives; do you believe the evidence they offer to justify their behaviours? And if you don't believe them, do you have evidence to support this?

I think we all know how politicians treat the outcome of plebiscites, let alone self selecting 'research'. They will do what they want, arguing that they know best. Consulting the people, insulting the people - same difference to some people. A majority of the apparat want a CPZ - well if the people get the vote wrong, ignore the people.

Craig Wallace (or his office) has never responded to me (I've written twice), although the PO Chairman's office did for my first complaint (not just a form letter) and Helen Hayes has been very responsive. However I have to say that in the last few weeks my post is more clearly 'normal' (occasional glitches apart - they still haven't worked out how to rota for days off) and I am genuinely worried how they will cope when the proper holiday season comes round again.

That was perhaps the 'conclusion too many' although the earlier and initial power problems could have been inferred (presumably wrongly) as that.

To be fair to DF - this launch has had its teething problems (all from the forum):- Re: New restaurant on Lordship Lane - "Saucy" Posted by awesome3 20 December, 2018 14:25 Hi There Huge apologies for this! We had an issue with power over the weekend so when you came we weren't quite open and still testing everything and putting the finishing touches to the restaurant! We are opening officially from this afternoon and will absolutely be open on Christmas Eve so we would love to see you and the family and give you a great Christmas experience! Watch this space very shortly to check out the final opening menu! Thanks so much and we look forward to seeing you soon! Jules and The Saucy Team x Please email me personally if you want to chat about Christmas [email protected] And then Posted by awesome3 30 December, 2018 14:52 Hi There We have actually run into a power issue so we are having to temporarily close so we can upgrade and will reopen in January at some point hopefully. I have also received some really great feedback re pricing and types of things people want to see so I am tweaking the menu. Will put in up as soon as I have it ready. Thanks so much Jules And then Posted by alex_b January 13, 08:45AM The message on their website says: ?DUE TO SNAGGING AND FURTHER BUILDING WORKS, WE WILL BE REOPENING ON FEB 1ST?. I think I saw somewhere that they needed to redo a load of the electrical work. I?m looking forward to going when they reopen. And then Posted by julesheaton February 09, 02:06PM Hi Guys Quick update - The power issues and function room renovations (a huge job!) are very nearly complete and the building is looking great. Next job is to work on the terrace area and planters and we are waiting for our awning which is currently being produced. Re healthy options and the full menu. Saucy is about celebrating great sauces as part of a variety of different dishes from around the world and not just a burger restaurant like GBK/Byron etc. In fact we have a pretty substantial section of the menu dedicated to lighter dishes/salads, veggie options including vegan, and hearty bowls such as our signature Chilli. But if you fancy being a bit naughty and having our Cornish haddock and chips or a Saucy burger and some loaded chips we have that too! Targeted to open at the beginning of March so hope to see you all soon Cheers Jules So power has been identified as an issue - and there have been a number of false start 'openings'. Maybe DF jumped to a conclusion too many - but I don't think he can be blamed too much for that. I wish them well when they do 'hard' open and hope that they will be meeting local needs for many years.

Admin Is it possible to update the Local Info tab on this site - some information is no longer accurate, some links don't work. I have found it very useful in the past, but information is becoming time expired. For instance the local Councilor information no longer reflects ED's wards (i.e. Goose Green, Dulwich Hill etc.) nor its councilors. I do know that's a lot of extra work for someone (i.e. you!)

DF got it wrong - apparently. May well have been misinformed. I wonder what real pleasure can be got from trashing? And crowing. Aren't we (shouldn't we be?) better than that. Amended to say - cross post with above - hope your pain (DF) recedes and you can get back to a more normal life.