Redesigned Dulwich Square

[Sue]

14 hours ago, Rockets said:

Sue, I was correct - Projects in Parks comes from the same pot as CPZ and LTN revenue - the council spent 244,000 on Parks last year from a surplus of £17m....perhaps they could find the money to replace the bridge by using some of that surplus as they spent £2m on LTNs alone......

 

I stand corrected! Apologies!

In that case I have no idea why the bridge hasn't been replaced. 

Given it hasn't been there long, I would have thought the council should have some claim against whoever built it, as on the face of it,  it can't have been  fit for purpose.

Maybe there is some dispute going on behind the scenes. Who knows.

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, Sue said:

I stand corrected! Apologies!

In that case I have no idea why the bridge hasn't been replaced. 

Given it hasn't been there long, I would have thought the council should have some claim against whoever built it, as on the face of it,  it can't have been  fit for purpose.

Maybe there is some dispute going on behind the scenes. Who knows.

It has been there at least 10 years, I can't remember exactly how long.  It's a wooden bridge that has never been properly maintained, apart from a bodged up repair now and again, when the floor falls through.  If you left a wooden bench or table in your garden all year round and never bothered to repaint or treat it, it would soon rot, same as happened to the bridge.

This is the thing with Southwark Council they never maintain anything, they have put in all new plant beds and trees at DV junction but I bet they are never maintained properly.  They will end up like the ones in Court Lane, rubbish dumps.

[Rockets]

52 minutes ago, Sue said:

In that case I have no idea why the bridge hasn't been replaced. 

I think you hit the nail on the head - if the council can spend a huge amount of money on numerous redesigns of Dulwich Square we have to ask the question why some of that money could not be spent on replacing the footbridge. It seems that the council is happy to throw tax payers money at some projects and not others.

[Earl Aelfheah]

1 hour ago, Rockets said:

I think you hit the nail on the head - if the council can spend a huge amount of money on numerous redesigns of Dulwich Square we have to ask the question why some of that money could not be spent on replacing the footbridge. 

I agree. You should email your councillor and ask the question.

[ab29]

2 hours ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

I agree. You should email your councillor and ask the question.

We have - contacted Helen Hayes, Andy Simmonds and Catherine Rose (who does not reply to any emails full stop).

3 hours ago, Rockets said:

I think you hit the nail on the head - if the council can spend a huge amount of money on numerous redesigns of Dulwich Square we have to ask the question why some of that money could not be spent on replacing the footbridge. It seems that the council is happy to throw tax payers money at some projects and not others.

Yeah. So millions of pounds are wasted - (and apparently councils have no money) - on never-ending-redesign-of Dulwich Village junction for rich people.

The council money waste is spectacular.

And yet the bridge across the pond in Dulwich Park is closed, rotting away for over a year - but but who cares, even though is such a lovely spot and a local attraction

[Earl Aelfheah]

3 hours ago, ab29 said:

We have - contacted Helen Hayes, Andy Simmonds and Catherine Rose (who does not reply to any emails full stop).

Who is 'we'? 

I'm surprised, whenever I have emailed the council I have always got a fairly quick response. Helen Hayes is an MP, so not really the right person, but Catherine Rose should respond. Perhaps try James McAsh.

Edited June 24 by Earl Aelfheah

[ab29]

@Earl AelfheahMe - an ordinary person living  on Lordship Lane - and my neighbours. Message me in prv if you want to meet.

James McCash is not my councillor

Edited June 24 by ab29

[Rockets]

19 minutes ago, ab29 said:

And yet the bridge across the pond in Dulwich Park is closed, rotting away for over a year - but but who cares, even though is such a lovely spot and a local attraction

Someone needs to start a wooden bridge lobby group, cosy up to the local councillors and get the Mayor's office to pay some activist researchers to write a report on how good a wooden bridge is compared to a metal bridge thus justifying the investment in said wooden bridge.......;-)

[Spartacus]

12 minutes ago, Rockets said:

Someone needs to start a wooden bridge lobby group, cosy up to the local councillors and get the Mayor's office to pay some activist researchers to write a report on how good a wooden bridge is compared to a metal bridge thus justifying the investment in said wooden bridge.......;-)

Just ask the London Cycling Committee to get behind it, after all cyclists need wooden bridges too 

For a change motorists, pedestrians and cyclists could campaign for the same thing 😅

[ab29]

28 minutes ago, Rockets said:

Someone needs to start a wooden bridge lobby group, cosy up to the local councillors and get the Mayor's office to pay some activist researchers to write a report on how good a wooden bridge is compared to a metal bridge thus justifying the investment in said wooden bridge.......;-)

@Earl Aelfheah am sure you can help with lack of funds to repair the bridge in Dulwich Park - it's for community

[Earl Aelfheah]

9 minutes ago, ab29 said:

@Earl Aelfheah am sure you can help with lack of funds to repair the bridge in Dulwich Park - it's for community

Eh? Why are you directing this at me? You're the one posting across multiple threads on the topic.

43 minutes ago, ab29 said:

@Earl AelfheahMe - an ordinary person living  on Lordship Lane - and my neighbours. Message me in prv if you want to meet.

James McCash is not my councillor

That's an incredibly (and typically) spikey response. I just wondered whether it was just you, or on behalf of a group ('we'). As Rockets says, it may be helpful to get a group to lobby on the bridge.

I suggested you might want to contact James McAsh as I've always found him responsive - but up to you.

I have no interest in meeting with you in person based on the unpleasant tone of many of your posts.

Edited June 24 by Earl Aelfheah

[ab29]

8 minutes ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

Eh? Why are you directing this at me? You're the one posting across multiple threads on the topic.

That's an incredibly (and typically) spikey response. I just wondered whether it was just you, or a group. As Rockets says, it may be helpful to get a group to lobby on the bridge. I suggested you might want to contact James McAsh as I've always found him responsive. I have no interest in meeting with you in person based on the tone of many of your posts 

like @lobby on the bridge'? 😀😀 😀 

Cause I want to see the ducklings?

@James McAsh beware of your followers! 😉😄

[Rockets]

7 minutes ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

s Rockets says, it may be helpful to get a group to lobby on the bridge. I suggested you might want to contact James McAsh as I've always found him responsive.

To be honest the lobby group was said in jest - council investment in replacing a well used and loved bridge in a park should not have to rely on lobby groups. Surely someone in the council would have enough grey matter to say...hey, given we have a £17m surplus from all the fines, parking permits etc we have issued let's maybe spend some of it on repairing the bridge in the park. Or are they not interested as it is not something to keep the cycle lobby happy? 

Also, is the park not Margy and Richard territory as it falls in their manor? I bet if people contact them they do something about it as we are less than 12 months away from an election.....

[Earl Aelfheah]

I simply suggested that if one wants it pushed up the priority list, then getting a group of like minded people to all contact the council and express their view isn't a bad idea.

It sounds as if Ab has already done this to some extent, emailing along with a load of her neighbours. But then follows it up with a strange email suggesting I should pay for the bridge for some reason, and going on about wanting to see the ducklings (perhaps a reference that's gone over my head)? Odd.

I sometimes get the impression that people would rather just moan about stuff than actually try to change anything.

Edited June 24 by Earl Aelfheah

[ab29]

11 minutes ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

I simply suggested that if one wants it pushed up the priority list, then getting a group of like minded people to all contact the council and express their view isn't a bad idea.

It sounds as if Ab has already done this to some extent, emailing along with a load of her neighbours. But then follows it up with a strange email suggesting I should pay for the bridge for some strange reason, and then going on about wanting to see the ducklings (perhaps a reference that's gone over my head)? Odd.

I sometimes get the impression that people would rather just moan about stuff than actually try to change anything.

😀 I want local residents ( myself included) friends and family and visitors & such to access the bridge in Dulwich Park - but it is closed cause the work unknown to anyone. @Earl Aelfheah maybe you know more?

Edited June 24 by ab29

[Earl Aelfheah]

We know why it’s closed. Why would I know more? 

Edited June 24 by Earl Aelfheah

[ab29]

30 minutes ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

Why would I know more? 

Exactly! 🙂🙂🙂🙂

[Earl Aelfheah]

Are you ok?

1 hour ago, ab29 said:

but it is closed cause the work unknown to anyone.

I think we know why it’s closed. It’s not safe/ rotten

You’re not making sense, but seem to have some sort of issue with me? Perhaps you could be a bit clearer.

Edited June 24 by Earl Aelfheah

[ab29]

32 minutes ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

Are you ok?

I think we know why it’s closed. It’s not safe/ rotten

You’re not making sense, but seem to have some sort of issue with me? Perhaps you could be a bit clearer.

The bridge is"rotten"? How?

2 million pounds has been wasted on so-called ltn, a fraction of this money could have fixednthe wooden bridge in Dulwich Park - so families, children, visitors etc.can benefit.

You are asking me if I am ok"? 

Edited June 24 by ab29

[snowy]

You had an answer to this shared with you back in March when you were offering to get a mate round to fix it

 

 

[march46]

This thread has gone wildly off topic 

Isn’t there a separate thread on the Dulwich Park bridge?

[LurkyMcLurker]

16 minutes ago, ab29 said:

The bridge is"rotten"? How?

2 million pounds has been wasted on so-called ltn, a fraction of this money could fix the wooden bridge in Dulwich Park - so families, children, visitors etc.can benefit.

I think your response is probably the reason why work hasn't been done yet. 
 

If the cost to repair the bridge was a fraction of the amount spent on the LTN then it likely would have been resolved already. I imagine the most likely reason the bridge hasn't been fixed yet is because the price of fixing the bridge was probably much more than anticipated. 

The question we have to ask is how much is reasonable to repair the bridge? It's not a 1 to 1, but here's a relatively local wooden bridge that needs replacing in Kelsey park. The FAQ addresses price, estimating it to be over 500k: 

https://www.bromley.gov.uk/parks-open-spaces/kelsey-park-replacement-footbridge/2
 

The bridge in dulwich park isn't as intricate, but it's also much longer. Perhaps the original survey identified additional issues. So let's been generous and say the price is cut in half. Is 200k a reasonable price to repair the bridge?

[ab29]

Just now, march46 said:

This thread has gone wildly off topic 

The topic is why million of pounds are wasted on ltn and yet a simple bridge in Dulwich Park which is used by many in the community is left rotting

5 minutes ago, march46 said:

This thread has gone wildly off topic 

Isn’t there a separate thread on the Dulwich Park bridge?

so stop commenting. why bother?

[Earl Aelfheah]

Are you ok?

32 minutes ago, march46 said:

Isn’t there a separate thread on the Dulwich Park bridge?

There is. Guess who started that thread 

 

Edited June 24 by Earl Aelfheah

[ab29]

1 hour ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

Are you ok?

There is. Guess who started that thread 

 

so?

2 hours ago, LurkyMcLurker said:

I think your response is probably the reason why work hasn't been done yet. 
 

If the cost to repair the bridge was a fraction of the amount spent on the LTN then it likely would have been resolved already. I imagine the most likely reason the bridge hasn't been fixed yet is because the price of fixing the bridge was probably much more than anticipated. 

The question we have to ask is how much is reasonable to repair the bridge? It's not a 1 to 1, but here's a relatively local wooden bridge that needs replacing in Kelsey park. The FAQ addresses price, estimating it to be over 500k: 

https://www.bromley.gov.uk/parks-open-spaces/kelsey-park-replacement-footbridge/2
 

The bridge in dulwich park isn't as intricate, but it's also much longer. Perhaps the original survey identified additional issues. So let's been generous and say the price is cut in half. Is 200k a reasonable price to repair the bridge?

Yeah sure. Millions of pounds spent on ltn wouldn't fix a simple wooden bridge in the park. But of course

Edited June 24 by ab29