suecharlie@btinterne

I have also like James received complaints about the lack of cards and letters being delivered in the East Dulwich area. I spent almost 30 minutes on the phone to Highshore Road being played music before I gave up. As I couldn?t get a reply I went down to the sorting office on Highshore Road on Christmas Eve afternoon. I was told a majority of staff were off sick with COVID or were isolating. I asked why Casuals were not being used to fill in the staffing gaps. I was told they had taken on a small band of Casuals but they were being let go that evening (Friday). There was a very large amount of unprocessed mail waiting to be sorted. It was hoped some members of staff will return after the Christmas break to deal with the backlog. It was interesting during the run up to Christmas to see the parcels side to the Royal Mail were working flat out. I wonder if there is more profit in parcels delivery rather than cards and letters. Residents of East Dulwich have been let down badly by the Royal Mail. We should expect a much better service than this. We should also receive an apology and an explanation why the service has failed so badly. There may well be grounds for compensation payments for those who may have lost out financially where payments have been missed and penalties incurred. Your local Councillors and Member of Parliament will be pursuing this matter on behalf of local residents and will come back with answers. After all, who wants to receive Christmas cards in the first week in January? Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Member

Dear Goose Green Ward residents, face to face Councillor surgeries begin again on the 23rd of September 2021 at the East Dulwich Community Centre, Darrell Road, SE22 between 7pm and 8pm and on the 2nd and 4th Thursday's thereafter apart from The month of August and Christmas week. P!ease wear a face mask. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith

I spoke to my local postie today. He says seven members of his team are still away from work due to lockdown. He said he tends to deliver letters one day and the increasing number of parce!s the next. He says all his colleagues are working very hard during this difficult time. Regards Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Member

Local Councillors were informed there would be a consultation for a company to sell Christmas trees on Goose Green. Nothing controversial about this until I saw the partitions the Treeamigos erected which I think are an eyesore. Also there was a diesel generator going full blast all day and into the early evening. Potentially there could be a problem with extra traffic from customers buying a tree. I contacted Council officers who have now replied. James McAsh has now passed on that reply to the Forum. It is a shame no other power source could be used to illuminate the site. We will not be welcoming Treeamigas back next year.

I am concerned about the Free Amigos tree sellers on Goose Green. I have contacted the Parks Department about the unsightly fencing, lack of toilet facilities, Also will any damage to the grass and ground be made good by Tree amigos when they finish. Also there is the potential problem of increased traffic and parking on East Dulwich Road especially now the number 12 and the 197 busses are being rerouted due to the works being carried out in Barry Road. I will also have a look at the generator problem. Regards Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Member

I was in Sainsbury's in Dog Kennel Hill on Saturday evening about 6.30. Not a cucumber in sight.No mushrooms either.

Both the Bassano Street and the Henslowe Road garage developments were granted permission at last night's planning meeting (1st October). This will bring much need Council housing to East Dulwich. Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Member

Thames Water introduced temporary traffic lights at the Dunstans and Goodrich Roads junction just over a month ago to repair a leak in the road. After two weeks the hole was filled in, the tarmac made good and the traffic lights removed. Another water leak about a metre from the repair sprang up through the road. The contractors could see this but chose to ignore it and moved on. Thames Water were aware of this new leak. I spoke to one of their supervisors who thought the first contactor had not tightened a collar in the ground. Nearly three weeks have now passed and thousands of litres of water have run away down a nearby drain. Thames Water have turned up today (Thursday) and opened up a hole in the road. I spoke to one of their operatives who thought the latest repair should take between two to three days to complete. We are constantly being told to conserve water but Thames Water allows so much water to be wasted because of their incompetent repairs service. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Member

I am glad people like the bench. I have had two others installed along Lordship Lane, One outside the Sogim Pharmacy replacing the bench that was damaged by a car and one outside the Sainsbury's Local. They were paid for from the Council's Cleaner, Greener,Safer fund. Research has shown older people are more likely to venture out of their homes if they know the are places to rest up along the way. Regards Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Labour Member

I live quite close to Goodrich School. It looks like a majority of children do walk to school in the mornings. I do notice a number of parents who drive to the school. Unfortunately some then park on the double yellow lines on the junctions. These DYL's are there to improve sight lines which make it safer for parents and children, especially with prams and buggies to cross the road. In the afternoon some parents arrive early and park on the double yellow lines and leave their engines running especially now when the weather is cold. It is an offence to leave a vehicle in 'idling' mode when stationery. Many drivers are unaware of this when I challenge them. The rule is:-if a driver fails to turn off an idling vehicle when asked to do so by a warden of parking attendant, they could face a penalty charge notice. I would appeal to parents to please walk to and from school. This would help with some of the congestion and promote a more healthy lifestyle. Yours Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Member

As an East Dulwich Councillor i have been on the team with the speed gun about half a dozen times over the last two years. If a vehicle is clocked over 26mph, they are sent a warning letter. If they have previously driven over the 20mph limit they can expect to receive a penalty notice. Any further breaches could result in attendance at a bad driver school You're Sincerely Councillor Charlie Smith Goose Green Ward Member