Is it worth objecting to anything

[richard tudor]

This evening I was informed that the large telephone mast in Chadwick Road has been approved.

69 residents sent objections in and 10 were for the mast.

The purpose of this thread is to ask whether it is worthwhile now taking the time to cast a vote on any project in Southwark

It was also mentioned that local Cllrs voted in favour even though residents told them they were against this mast.

I was under the impression that local Cllrs were there to listen to the voice of residents. I was wrong.

Southwark will do whatever they want regardless of any consultation.

When I requested Cllrs to keep me informed I never heard a word from them.

[Penguin68]

69 residents sent objections in and 10 were for the mast.

Whilst I recognise your pain - this was not however a democratic process or plebiscite - those who object to things are more likely to write-in than those in favour or broadly indifferent - and I suspect complainers were either aesthetic objectors or those confused by the science (masts aren't dangerous, most studies demonstrate).

Those who will benefit from the improved connectivity and signal offered by the mast probably didn't know to support the proposal - but that local improvement in infrastructure may (indeed should) have been part of the influence on the councillors making the decision - particularly as more and more are working pretty-well full time from home, and quality communications is a pre-requisite for this.

Of course Southwark will do whatever it wants - it pays slim lip service even to the concept of consultation - and it would be good to know why they made the decision they did; but sometimes councillors, and quite properly, listen to issues of 'greater good' and may over-rule the desires of locals.

You are not asked to 'cast a vote' on consultations - you are asked only to cast a vote in council elections - and it is that vote which is your only real power, once every three years, to influence what's happening locally. If you don't like the mob we have, vote for another mob.

[richard tudor]

If it had not appeared in a Dulwich Forum thread, I suspect nobody would have known about it.

Which is Southwark's way these days

[lameduck]

No its not worth it

as they have already made their minds up,

They just like to be seen going through the motions

So sorry to hear this for you

[Monkey]

Sorry to hear, Richard. It looks like if you want your views to be listened to these days, you have to move to Dulwich Village.

[JohnL]

They changed the law about these I think - it was always going to get through.

Was anything modified before it finally got through (height, look etc.)

[malumbu]

I object to the title of threads such as this. If you'd said it was about a specific issue then you would have invited comments on this rather than simply some more local authority bashing. I don't know about this particular case so can't comment on it.

But on the general principle of fighting for your right to party that is up to your conscious. If they kick at your front door, now you going to come, with your hands on your head or on the trigger of your gun? Well at the least we've spawned lots of good music. It's better to have fought and lost than not have fought at all.

Anyway, following that musical interlude, one piece of advice is to pick your battles. Had some minor successes on planning, at times pushing at a slightly open door when speaking to planning officers. But on many times it can be like whistling in the wind. Developers with deep pockets have much more stamina/resources/expertise than Joe Public. Helped by relaxing of regulations form government which puts developers in even stronger positions.

But there are also times when due to the greater good local authorities should not need to have extensive consultations etc and be allowed to get on with important business.

[cohen22]

How not now.

[malumbu]

How now brown cow

[Cora]

Planning in Southwark is soul destroying with everything stacked against existing residents. No wonder people feel disempowered. The system is also set-up as a ?for or against? when compromise could make a huge difference for years to come. But then, when the head of housing has to resign for having an anonymous twitter feed moaning about nimbys it says a lot......depressing