AnotherPaul

or 'horseinducedhousepriceageddon'

At the BARA meeting last night, as short as I can make it. In order for the Dulwich Medical Centre (DMC) to be able to apply to open a pharmacy they have to indicate their willingness to provide needle exchange, methadone treatment, smoking cesation facilities - whether the DMC want to actually provide those facilities or not. The pharmacy will be owned and run by a business called Mediquick which, comments floor suggested, are part owned by some of the doctors at the DMC. Our Southwark Primary care trust (PCT) will review the application. They were represented here by Jane Fryer. It's their opinion that there is no need for another pharmacy in the area and that heroin users in the neighbourhood already well provided for. They couldn't tell the BARA meeting what their decision will be but hinted strongly that they will reject the application. Jane stressed that even were they to approve the opening of the pharmacy that would not mean the start of a needle exchange or methadone treatment provision - for now. Jane could not promise this forever queue howls of grumpy derision from the floor. Up Next was the Practice manager of the DMC Raj Gupta, who gave a deeply unconvincing performance. The gist of his speech was that opening a pharmacy is about enhancing patient choice. He may have other points to make but in the face of loud and persistent interventions from the floor his speech fell apart and stumbled to a halt. The speech which followed was the strangest and most intense rant I've ever witnessed, it's author being Jonathan, local Liberal councillor. He spoke powerfully against the new pharmacy, focusing on the wrongness of a system which obliges the PCT to consider DMC's application although it knows it to be wrong. Jonathan thinks this a new Labour thing and example big government enforcing decisions upon people. Quite fair points I though but? he was turning bright red, he was transforming into a besuited angry radish before my very eyes. His back was up, this was all wrong, how could this be? Then he ventured into the world of analogy. The new pharmacy would be like a "mushroom cloud" located between the community center and nursery. I smirked as did my companion but it seemed that no one else in the room was up for a laugh. Jonathon stopped and returned to his usual unradished state. Next came the head of the hecklers, David, chair of Crystal Palace Road estate assoc. Considering the volume and regularity at which he interrupted others he was guaranteed a good reception and got it. He was also bordering on the eliquant. Put his point, 'we don't want the pharmacy', referred to the petition against having 1500 names and read out some of the petitioners fears. A pretty good performance aside from the off the cuff doom saying. Towards the end of his speech he even managed to suggest that drug addicts would be coming into regular contact with little special needs kiddies (his tone not mine) "and they really can't look after themselves can they, there's no argument". A short statement was read out from the calm woman representing local pharmacies (apols for loss of name). They're working to provide the late night opening hours which DMC claim are the reason for the new pharmacy and feel that they could be put out of business by this new pharmacy. Matthew from the Southwark patients forum stated he works with drug users and that the new pharmacy would be bad for them. Users take time to trust pharmacies so were existing ones to be put out of business users in the neighbourhood may be likely to revert to illegal behaviour. Then questions were opened up to the floor. A female doctor from the DMC made a decent attempt at explaining the detail of the patient choice argument so poorly handled by Raj earlier but the effort was ultimately in vain. When respending to questions about how the DMC has handled public engagement on this issue she cited that patients had be questioned. Jonathan the councillor went all red again and led the charge, "but what about the wider community" he and the chair implored together (jinx). Said doctor had air pressed from her but still managed to smile as she sat. A defense had been made. The man who appeared to be the lead partner of the DMC responded to questions about how they had handled this issue by stating they were here to listen and only dealing in "facts". Again the floor and chair (who was getting quite stuck in for a chair) railed against this, why had the DMC not asked the community what it wanted? Aside from saying they would go away and think about it there was no answer offered. The facts argument neatly showed why the DMC has handled the matter so poorly, there being no such things as 'rational man'. From the back of the room a city worker (as he described himself) made the point that the pharmacy going ahead would devalue house prices. Well, this is East Dulwich after all and house prices had to figure somehow. He'd just been on the phone to a city lawyer (oooh!) and suggested that locals in the community should get their houses valued and that he would start a class action against the DMC were they to proceed. Many arms were raised in support of this. The evening came to an end with a measured comment from the floor. A woman with seemingly no axe to grind suggested that the DMC had made a bit of a mess of this and that they seemed to be motivated more by money than caring for the community. A popular and well put sentiment Tea and biscuits were offered and it was over. As I left I couldn't hep feeling that the first and final speakers had nailed it. There almost certainly isn't going to be a pharmacy at the DMC but had the DMC handled the issue with some sensitivity a lot of stress and upset could have been avoided. ap (edited for typos n that)

Hi Jenny Did you know there's a public meeting tonight, 20.15 at the community centre on Crystal Palace Road? It's about the proposed late night pharmacy and needle dump. Seeing as the thread here was shut due folks getting ott with each other it might be quite charged and worth a look. ap

Have just checked archant life (the owners) and Sept edition does exist but I've not seen it either. Can it stay gone?

I've not seen them, are they as bad as petit chou's? That would be something.

That is a trick question. It's impossible to correctly choose between Ian Wright or Jade Goody. Anyway, they are both wrong and should stop.

Keef, sorry but doing a program about helping overweight kids and then endorsing Kelloggs brilliantly cover all 'if you eat breakfast you'll be great at school' line seems hypocritical to me. That message and his grinning mug feature on coco pops boxes. Nice though coco pops might be, healthy they're not. I would *love* to see Wrighty, Vorderman and Moyles tied together and chucked in the Thames. Too harsh? Answers to?

Tried the Jolly Bee in Forest Hill last night (as recommended by bob). They were joyously crisp and crunchy on the outside with wonderful warm squidgy centres along with a fantastic aroma. I may have found my chip mecca.

At least Oliver does something and endorses his own products so has a bit of industry about him. Wright is just Wright, all matey loud and pointless - perfect for advertising sh!te. There's been a lot of celeb endorsements recently, it's in vogue for supermarkets it seems. I loved/hated Denise Van Outen wandering through a field with a nicked trolley was taking it a little far though. Not a word of 'this is all muddy and the wheels don't work'.

Like the Vorderman

During the last week I have seen him endorse Ladbrokes, Asda, The Sun and Kelloggs. Feel like I'm being stalked. Will it stop soon? ap

Wing, Tring and Ivanhoe, three little villages all in a row...

Spangles30 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What did Lordship Lane used to be called in the > 1980s? 'the sh!t bit'

Well will Chener sort themselves out? I'll ask them and report back. As for pedestrianising LL, that is funny. ap

Ok, I see your constructive point earlier and apologise for seeming hostile. I don't find making jokes about my child getting hurt all that funny and don't appreciate being misquoted for your entertainment. I recognise the need for kids to hurt themselves and learn to cope with the world as it is but that's not a reason to ignore when public spaces have been neglected to the point at which very young children hurt themselves. It has to be said my 20 month old doesn't have the ability to rationalise little accidents as you do. She can't take responsibility for herself and if she falls over because the pavement's a mess then there is something which can be done. I didn't blame others, just suggested the pavement shouldn't be like that. ap

Dear losttheplot/humour I was contributing constructively to the thread and referring to my one year old who fell. She is learning to walk perfectly but could do without uneven, broken pavements causing her to trip and hurt herself. If you've nothing constructive to say yourself why not button it? ap OR EDITED ANOTHER WAY trip and hurt yourself and see who's laughing.

I'd love to see; ? even paving on Lordship Lane especially in front of shops - the stretch outside the charity shop, opposite Somerfields is uneven and causes small children to fall and hurt themselves ? limited parking on Northcross Road and maybe surrounding streets. the area often looks like a car park, double and triple parking, delivery vans stopping in the road and on corners - dangerous and unsightly ? more bike racks ? a narrower north end of Lordship lane with wider pavements, good for street cafes and space for people to pass Related to the traffic issue, is Southwark condsidering a campaign to encourage people to use their cars less? It's sorely needed. ap

They seemed like they had no idea what to do, walking back and forth from their van past the bemused joiners to the corner of Nutfield. No riot to be seen either, maybe they're from Peckham and quelling time in quiet ED and need to look occupied.

How about 'Cake n Crack Valerie' We see Valerie Singleton in Chez Valerie interviewing poor and rich alike about their love of cakes and crack. Then mash it up, the cake lovers do crack and go out big in Clapton, then the crack lovers just try not to do crack and hold it together surrounded by dainty cakes and old dears whilst Val asks them how it all feels. Balls, that's just wife swap with different details isn't it. I agree, the format thing is hard.

HeidiHi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am a nanny, I took my little man there, and I > was not amused, the toys were nasty and tatty, I > told his mum upon my return that I am not taking > him to that riff raff place again! 'Little man', 'told his mum upon my return' and 'riff raff'. Sounds more like Peckham Rye circa 1880. May I enquire, in which area of the park were you promenading with your perambulator Heidi?

I just hope Foxtons superior branding puts and end to the 'why wates?' toss all over the neighbourhood. If it's 'why wait' they've got the impulse of the audience wrong, ever found yourself nipping out for a bacon butty and getting all impetuous and buying a 400K house? Hmmm. If they mean why (choose) wates? they're asking a question which is going to be solved by what exactly? Am I meant to pop in and find out, or call them so they can tell my why I should use them. I know they think they're great, that's why they're in business. And as for all those pictures of red things, thanks for that. ap

I went throught the same process earlier this year, had a long look at houses in all outlying areas, Nunhead, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Gypsy Hill, Honor Oak and West Norwood. I came to the conclusion that East Dulwich, sh!t bits and all is a far better place to live for the very same reasons Sean gave at the top of this post as well as the some feel good factors. Cafes, markets and the like may seem extra but take 'em away and you end up with empty streets full of run down shops. I found most of those areas faintly depressing in a way that ED just isn't. Not scientific or necessarily correct, just how I felt. Hope you make a decision you're happy with. ap

It's not early season cocky, my mate Arsene has been slipping me tips.

Simon M, much as I rate my children's intelligence relying on their self awareness (eyes, ears and common sense) is asking for trouble as kids are well known for their absent mindedness. You might have been happy with the previous set up but I've had occasion to feel my children were at risk and I'm not easily scared. At lights drivers stop, at zebras they sometimes don't so I'd much rather have lights but better phased would make sense. Dunstans and Colyton Roads are nowhere near as busy so give them less time. Aside from child safety there is one other massive upside to these lights. I can now be buying a paper in the newsagent, see a bus go pass and be pretty certain to catch it. Joy. ap (edited for typos)

it's never too late Keef, i missed week one and am now in 5th!! (queue scoring 3 pts a week for the rest of the season)