New benches

[DulwichFox]

Dulwich Village have several seating facilities and if they want more they can pay for them.

Sponsored by Local businesses perhaps.

DulwichFox

[KidKruger]

kibris Wrote:

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> No harm in that everyone needs somewhere to put

> there head down.

So, basically what I was saying then.

[rch]

I regularly see people sitting on this bench now... it's nice to see, albeit it's not in the most picturesque/sociable location. There used to be quite a bit of anti-social behaviour around there, but it's calmed down a bit now that the nightclub has closed down, so maybe it's possible to think about more improvements...

When the North Cross Road/Lordship buildout was created a couple years ago, we campaigned for planters with seating to be installed on the corner by the Londis, to work in tandem with the market concept across from the pub seating... this sort of thing:-

https://www.marshalls.co.uk/commercial/street-furniture/products/flor-mobile-garden-webfa850170

But they rammed in the bike racks instead. So we then tried to get the bike racks offset so that the planter and seating could fit in and still have the bike racks, but this suggestion was ignored.

The shame about East Dulwich is there is really no community space, no unity.

But I guess it's progress to have one bench set up out of the way at the other end of the block in front of the pharmacist...

[Louisa]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> I saw a pissed-up woman one evening sprawled on

> the bench by th co-op chemists, beer bottle in

> hand, same brand broken bottle under bench with

> beer and broken glass strewn around, fag in hand

> slowly burning to the root while she slumped in a

> stupor.

> Benches are for everyone - hoorah !

I was causing no harm to anyone, and only stayed a short while. Leave me in peace!

These benches are very important stopping spaces for anyone with a health condition, especially older people.

Louisa.

[intexasatthe moment]

Yeah ,leave Louisa in peace !

[nxjen]

?When the North Cross Road/Lordship buildout was created a couple years ago, we campaigned for planters with seating to be installed on the corner by the Londis, to work in tandem with the market concept across from the pub seating...?

I agree a community space with chairs and planters would be nice somewhere in Lordship Lane but the Londis corner is not suitable. Since the build out, there is much more space for pedestrians which was needed especially with the increased foot traffic using the crossing to get to M&S. There just wouldn?t be enough room for planters and seats as well. The seating outside the pub makes the footpath very narrow and many?s the time I?ve had to walk in the road as the path has been blocked, or to accommodate an oncoming pushchair. That part of North Cross may be closed on a Saturday but it?s open to through traffic the other six days of the week.

[Sue]

It could be put on the roundabout!

360 degree traffic fumes!

[nxjen]

Oh no ... the thought of children running around on that roundabout so close to traffic is making me feel very tense!

(I know you were joking :) )

[Louisa]

On a serious note I?ve often wondered why GG and other roundabouts (especially larger ones) are not used as public spaces for picnics and exercise. Some roundabouts are beautiful, and it seems a complete waste of land.

Louisa.

[DulwichFox]

Sitting on a Roundabout having a picnic.. ??

Traffic fumes. and the actual access to the roundabout would be rather Hazardous.

And children running around.

Come on Lou.. you really cannot be serious.

It's bad enough trying to cross the road on the crossings at GG.

Foxy

[rendelharris]

Louisa Wrote:

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> On a serious note I?ve often wondered why GG and

> other roundabouts (especially larger ones) are not

> used as public spaces for picnics and exercise.

> Some roundabouts are beautiful, and it seems a

> complete waste of land.

>

> Louisa.

Perhaps we could have a roundabout zoo a la Royston Vasey?

[Louisa]

I am deadly serious Foxy.

Many larger roundabouts have subway access ( the one on the A3 at Putney Hill for example). Metal railings could be out around the outer edge to prevent danger. It?s a complete waste of land.

Anyway, some people around here enjoy eating and drinking on pavement seating so I don?t think fumes would be an issue.

Perhaps some local councillors could explain why these spaces are not utilised effectively?

Louisa

[Louisa]

rendelharris Wrote:

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> Louisa Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > On a serious note I?ve often wondered why GG

> and

> > other roundabouts (especially larger ones) are

> not

> > used as public spaces for picnics and exercise.

> > Some roundabouts are beautiful, and it seems a

> > complete waste of land.

> >

> > Louisa.

>

> Perhaps we could have a roundabout zoo a la

> Royston Vasey?

A zoo or perhaps a specialist conservation roundabout, similar to the Eden Project in Cornwall. Butterfly sanctuary, exotic plants and trees etc.

Louisa.

[DulwichFox]

A set of Stocks might be more appropriate..

http://www.waitsel.com/character/morality/stocks.jpg

Foxy

[nxjen]

Hahahaha I like that. But be careful for what you wish for

[Louisa]

Foxy be careful what you wish for. If a public vote was anything to go by, those illustrations could easily be you and I in those stocks.

Louisa.

[DulwichFox]

Louisa Wrote:

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> Foxy be careful what you wish for. If a public

> vote was anything to go by, those illustrations

> could easily be you and I in those stocks.

>

> Louisa.

Do you remember #Dulwichmum ?

She was the leader of the Absolutely Fabulous Party and I was her Sheriff.

She commissioned me to re-furbish the Village Ducking Stool that had been hidden away for 100 Years.

I was responsible for all instruments of Punishment.

You and I are quite safe from prosecution. :)

Foxy

[nxjen]

But perhaps not persecution

[rch]

Hi again nxjen... as a totally vehement pedestrian and bus person, I get what you're saying about the pavement build out in front of Londis.

But when I measured the dimensions taken up by the bike racks with cycles attached to them, it became clear that a planter with benches would take up the same amount of space as the bike racks do on that corner, so the actual walking space wouldn't be affected.

I pointed out at the time that if, say, three bike racks on that built out corner were relocated down towards the bus stop, then we could have a nice planter with benches in that location for actual human beings to use, without reducing the number of cycle racks or affecting the walking dimensions of the pavement. So, it would become a multi-user community space.

In other words... it would be really easy to gently develop a community space in East Dulwich if only there was a creative vision!

But this is why I think the bench in front of Sogim is a good experimental starting point...