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I have said before on the Forum that basically Heathrow is in the wrong place and the flights will nearly always have to make their final decents over us because of the wind direction. Sadly, that's it, but I did read in this week's free Finance News (available outside East Dulwich) station that in 1974 there was a proposal to build a new major airport in the Thames estuary which would have created many new jobs and would have established a new town of 600,000. Also, it would have meant that a big proportion of flights would have come in over the sea from the east, thus taking the pressure off of Heathrow and us, by now. Guess who strapped it, the idiot Labour government of the time. Other news in that paper was that at the City Airport they ARE starting to build another runway to increase flights. So, we will have many more of those twin prop light airliners whizzing over at tree-top level soon. Where are the emergency exits again? Cheers - more cheery news soon.

Interestingly, some years ago, we had some young guys renting the house next to us who had a full-size professional DJ system installed in the bedroom on the other side of the (9 inch) wall from us. When they go that blasting out at night the whole house shook and it was rather disturbing for us when we tried to get some sleep at the end of a working day. Well, what to do - call Southwark. They told us to take lots of notes of when the noise happened and after some weeks of monitoring, maybe someone might call around (they never did). Next step - write to the estate agents renting out the house (Acorns on Lordship Lane) and explain exactly the problem, that should do the trick? No,that backfired a bit - we were told by them, that in fact our wind chime as the front of the house was disturbing their enjoyment of watching TV and we were in the wrong. You could'nt make it up, as they say! In the end, we just knocked on the door one evening and shouted abuse at them - then they eventually moved out of their own accord, thank goodness. Good luck and cheers.

First mate and moonlaunch, I just read some of your comments about 'want' and 'need' of extra rooms in loft conversions and extended 'outriggers' (back extensions?)- yes, maybe buy a bigger house instead. The other big issue is the amount of noise and disruption that neighbours have to put up so these 'lofty ideas'(geddit)can be carried out. Anyone on this thread getting ready for their Grand Designs to go ahead (after getting the Party Wall Agreement signed off, of course, should take a look at the all the vans, concrete mixers, pallets, girders, slurry on the roads and pavements and constant deliveries that go on when the work is carried out. Also, pop into your neighbours house sometime when the guys are drilling out the party wall and have a listen to the noise. But, at the end of the day though, it's all worth it for YOU though. Pip, Pip.

Red Rose, A bit of history. Used to go and collect bags of horse manure from the skip in their yard, very useful for the allotment. Had to take our own shovel though, they used to keep getting their one's stolen! Very interested to see what it will become, could take a very long time to be developed/reoccupied. Purpose built in 1979; not really a lot of use for a building that was expensive to build - I imagine. Cheers.

jalongy, We have them bees nesting in our loft and they are going in under the guttering board at the rear of the house. We went along to the Wildlife Centre in Marsden Road with a photo of one of the bees and they identified them as Tree Bees, from Europe, that have only been in the UK for ten years. They are obviously very good for all of the plants and no more dangerous than any other bee. We are just going to keep ours but if you are concerned do get in touch with the Centre and maybe a beekeeper will collect and 're-home' them. Kind regards.

Sue, Just call Southwark council and ask if they have removed the tree due to a subsidence claim, that's most likely what's happened. Cheers.

Getting back to 'planes flying over ED, it's funny that; a. You can't complain about the noise to Southwark because it's not classed as noise pollution. b. How ever many flights that go over you don't have any say in the matter - and it's getting worse. c. All the people moving to ED must be deaf and/or at work all day seven days per week, unless they love that sound. d. Heathrow's situated on the wrong side of London - so what the hell! Cheers and enjoy your flights.

Miss P, Sorry that I can't help but I do feel sorry for you. The new back bumper of my treasured 22-year-old car was rammed one day by someone in a Mercedes saloon (solid built cars!), then hit again by, probably, a huge people carrier or something similar sometime in the day. That's how it is here in London, the days are gone in ED when the roads where half empty of cars and life was tranquil (and boring). Cheers.

First mate, thanks for your comments about nuisance to neighbours. Yes, if you have 'made the grade' and managed to move to ED, please consider those funny old folks next door with dodgy accents and bad teeth - they are human. When you go off to work leaving all the cements mixers, lorries and skips outside your house and theirs, do think of the noise that they have to put up with all day plus the dust blowing into their homes and the mud and sand on the pavements to trudge through. Remember that this area has been their home for thirty to forty years and when they came here it was just an ordinary run-down south London district when the house had to be patched-up to make them habitable. Cheers. And may the loft be with you.

Jimbo1964, I've bought several lots of apples from the boxes outside and they've always turned out to be pulpy and tasteless inside. One day I asked for some mushrooms - did'nt get to choose them myself and ended up with a bag full that must have dried out a few days ago - inedible. Also paid a lot for an organic celeriac from France once - inedible too. Nice looking shop though and friendly staff. Cheers and Bon Appetit!

Yes, the Police warn us to hide 'phones and take precautions - no wonder; have you ever seen any Police on the beat around here? Looks like they will shut the local Police station too, so ED is pretty much a crook's paradise now with streets full of affluent and vulnerable victims. Beckytr, I'm very sorry that this happened to you and I do hope that you have some kind friends to help you get over this traumatic experience. Cheers.

Good luck with the new restaurant and here's my suggestion for a name; Posh Nosh. Hope you will never do what Blumenthal did at The Fat Duck - keep it open when the staff were suffering with food poisoning to keep the punters coming in. Cheerypip.

The Modern House design on North Cross Road looks good and it seems like it will have the obligatory timber (garden shed) panelling that is essential on modern buildings today. Shame about the local works going, they made some excellent replacement sash windows for me.

Louisa, I think that M & S in Peckham probably closed down because it was too upmarket/expensive for the people living there although it was a pretty down market version. As for Iceland, it provides just the right price range for a vast number of local residents in ED who would struggle to manage their budgets using the other local shops. puzzled, Yes that right, nicking stuff from Iceland, that's one of the many things that us Working Class stereo types do around trendy ED - but it does add to the colourful character of the area don't you think?

Polly D, Just 'phone up Southwark Planning Department and put in some plans of any old monstrosity that you like - as you see they're pretty lenient about what goes up these days. If some cases, people just bang up the conversion, then put in for planning permission afterwards. Pip, Pip.

Loz, ATOS appointed by the last government - typical of many of the Right Wing ideas that New Labour came up with - no surprise there! lindylou - good luck, there's a lot of folk out there wanting to help you.

Krigh, Many thanks for the photo - I'll look out for all of the new lofts and maybe new Waitrose sites. Cheers.

No, Probably checking the queue outside the butchers in Lordship Lane - longest so far! Happy Christmas.

Hi Sue and LondonMix, Yes, I was being sarcastic and yes, the staff have been offered jobs elsewhere at other branches which is a reasonable deal for them in the circumstances. I do feel sorry for them knowing what it was like for me, some years ago, when I got made redundant after 16 years in a job.I had a large mortgage (on a house in ED) and a wife and three children to support at the time, but I bounced back, luckily.

I thought that it was about time this thread started up again and got an update - Iceland staff HAVE been given their notices and they will all lose their jobs, there, on 4th January. So, for some of you out there in 'Loftland' - HURRAY, that ghastly shop IS shutting down. Pip, Pip.

A Food Bank, when Iceland closes? No kidding, that's the way things are now for some people in this area. Cheers.

Hi folks, I'm pretty fed up with aircraft noise after spending the past few years being at home all day; it's never been this bad and I have been in ED for 32 years. I did write to Boris Johnson and emailed the Civil Aviation Authority and got some very detailed information. The facts are that airliners can be flown over London 24 hour/day if the airlines wish to, but in their infinite mercy they've seem to have restricted it to around 6.30am - 10.30pm with an hour or so at 4.30-5.30. This is on days when wind direction is suitable (roughly westerly)- most days, so it seems. You can't complain about the noise either as it does'nt count as noise pollution. The 'planes are stacked up over two areas above London then they drop down to low altitude somewhere east of ED then fly over Brixton, Clapham, Battersea and Barnes flying over tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Londoners, at a rate of some 30-40/hour, so noise is near enough continuous. I wrote to Boris I pointed out how foolish we must look to the people of other European capital cities that have their main airports on the outskirts. Sadly, it was one of those unfortunate/stupid decisions to site Heathrow Airport to the west of London so that airliners nearly always come into land (and get stacked now) over densely populated boroughs of the city. Don't expect any apologies or compensation from the airlines though, just listen to them winging on about how difficult it is for them to make money! But if are one of the new, well off newcomers to ED at lease you can have fanct double-glazing fitted. Fasten your seat belts! Exits are here, here and here (sell up and move)!

To Serena2012, SNOB, SNOB, SNOB! Are you serious? There are hundreds, maybe thousands of local people who need Iceland to manage their household budgets and many excellent staff there that need to keep their jobs. Perhaps you don't have a neighbours, like I do, who shop there. Cheers anyway.

I did'nt realise that you posh Dulwich Village types used our lowly forum, times were when you did'nt dare venture across Lordship Lane. Barking dogs - get over it. Might be more riots next month, like last year, and they might be down your manor. Pip Pip and Cheerybye!

headphonauts, Many thanks for your reply; thank goodness there was nothing really unpleasant going on. Having been kicked out by the landlord of a house once when I was a young student for the same reason - I say; the sun's shining, it's a weekend - party on! Cheers.