former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[LondonMix]

James do you know what's happening to the ED Police station on Lordship Lane? I understand it will be closed but has it been sold off?

[James Barber]

My understanding is Boris is closing it and very nearly disband all the local Policing teams.

That Southwark top Police see no reason why they'd need an operational base localled having largely disbanded local policing Safer Neighbourhood Teams. Extremely depressing and completely avoidable.

So Boris will talk about maximising Police numbers but they'll spend much of their days travelling from centrlaised bases and back agian - ie. much more of eahc officers day will be unproductive.

[fazer71]

The Lordship lane police station appears to be a complete waste of prime real estate just another maintenance and energy burden on the local tax payer.

I though the local police were already all based in Peckham?

Rationalisation and they?ll need to step in line with the real world ?.. After all this isn?t Cyprus or some 3rd world African police state.

[James Barber]

Hi Fazer71,

Somehow the police think East Dulwich station costs them ?277,000 to run in electricity, gas bills. I've been the. It's not that hot.

The good thing about a local Police base is that officers minimise travel time - minutes to walk to a local area needing help or advice. But the Boris plan is to base our local officers in Camberwell Police station. As they won't have their own vehicles they'll reach us via buses. They'll be going a frying by bus. So much of their time will be spent unproductively. That isn't a good use of our tax payers money.

Cross party Dulwich councillors are supporting a local interim police base at the Dulwich Hospital gatehouse. This looks increasingly likely to happen.

The East Dulwich councillors eventually hope a permanent police station will be built on part of the current olive station when it's replaced.

[fazer71]

James

Thanks for the info.

Wow ?277,000 to in electricity and gas a year, we tax payers are paying for.

Sounds very dodgy to me, typical of state run organisations.

Is there a way to check this with meter readings and a little investigation are there no systems in place?

That equates to heating around 150-200 houses quite bonkers.

[James Barber]

Hi fazer71,

It clearly includes lots and lots of property overheads unrelated to East Dulwich. It's probably a divison of thE Met Property divison fixed cost structure.

I think the driver is more the land sale opportunity.

I'll PM you some other bits and pieces.

[James Barber]

Hi fazer71,

I popped along and spotted about 6 puddles in 15m stretch.

Council officers have visited and assured me it will be on next year maintenace schedule.

Many thanks for pointing this out.

Regards james

fazer71 Wrote:

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> Hi James

> I'll have a go next time I go past.

> Many of the puddles are are caused by slabs which

> have sunk over time below the level of the curb,

> looks like poor quality job to me.

> Cheers

[fazer71]

James

Thank you.

[first mate]

Hi James,

Another two weeks has gone by and still the M&S planning application is "pending", according to the website. Could you kindly give an update on whether a decision has actually been made yet, not an intention to make a decision but an actual decision, and why the delay in posting the decision?

[KalamityKel]

or at least a reason why you "leaked" this information before planning had/has any intention of making this public knowledge

[tiddles]

Hi James

did you ever find out what was happening to the trees being 'trimmed'. It seems weird to be cutting the new growth off trees in the spring. Is it a valid part of tree management, or a cunning plan by southwark to gradually kill all the trees in the borough so as to save them sweeping up the leaves??

thanks

[buddug]

Fazer71 wrote: '...After all this isn?t Cyprus or some 3rd world African police state...'

Oh yes it is.

[James Barber]

Hi KalamtyKal,

I was emailed that a decision had been taken and I reported it. I've never experienced such slow Southwark planning portal update. Sorry but I can't second guess when officers will complete the processes they have to follow. If you ever think a councillor has leaked something then report them/me to Southwark Council monitoring officer. I can assure you yet again that I've not leaked anything.

hi First Mate,

I'll chase again for the M&S decision to be formally logged on the website. I've never had this experience before and sorry for the angst its causing you, me and others.

Hi tiddles,

This does seems bizarre. And no I've not had an officer explanation yet. What's particularly frustrating is that resources are tight and other trees desperately need trimming having been left for many years and causing a piblic nuisance.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Anything happening about all the rubbish left overnight on the streets from businesses thereby attracting lots of foxes to my road ? If the rubbish got cleared up each night I don't think the foxes would be a regular visitor as they currently are .

[EDLove]

Hi James

I just wanted to say a big thank you for pushing Southern on the litter issue around the train station. I noticed a man clearing up the mess the other day - the area looks so much better now. Let's hope they make it a regular occurence!

[first mate]

James,

Thank you.

At best it smacks somewhat of a lack of organisation or a very over-stretched department. I think it is also irritating because those objecting had relatively little time to do so. Nonetheless, if it is simply an oversight all well and good. However, for the avoidance of doubt, I'd still like to the decision posted on the website.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

The response I've had is that the officer concerned was redirected to more pressing work for a booked committee and that they expect it to be logged on the website early next week. I'm not holding my breath.

[James Barber]

Hi EDlove,

Yes it does look much better. And yes I'm hopeful they'll now stick to a proper litter picking regime on the Network Rail land but have chased again for proper details of the proposed ongoing solution.

[KalamityKel]

James Barber Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi KalamtyKal,

> I was emailed that a decision had been taken and I

> reported it. I've never experienced such slow

> Southwark planning portal update. Sorry but I

> can't second guess when officers will complete the

> processes they have to follow. If you ever think a

> councillor has leaked something then report

> them/me to Southwark Council monitoring officer. I

> can assure you yet again that I've not leaked

> anything.

>

James, as usual, you misunderstand my comment - common sense would have been to wait until planning had offically announced the decision before, in a gossiping manner, sharing the information yourself. Just say, and I'm sure it's not the case, that you had given the wrong information... not many people would be too happy.

[Chillaxed]

James, I'm sure you'll respond to the above post politely as you do to other rude posts. I reckon though that you should cut a few votes loose and tell rude posters to go jump. You'll likely win more votes in admiration for doing so.

[James Barber]

Hi KalamityKel,

You do use unusual language to make such a point.

Huge amount of angst for and against M&S arriving and the planning applicationactually submitted.

Officers told me and emailed other residents that the application would be refused. None of those communications had embargoes and I've never seen such a decision take so very long to be recorded on the Southwark Planning portal.

We differ. I think I've been reasonable and measured. You think I've jumped the gun by telling people news officers have told me and other residents in realteively timely manner - funnily enough I delayed by a week as I was on holiday.

[James Barber]

The Dulwich Library will now re open Monday 15 April. please see attached.

Rather unfortunate seond 6 week closure after previpus 4 week closure late 2012 but I'm hopeful we wont need any further closures for a good number of years now...

[KalamityKel]

James Barber Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi KalamityKel,

> You do use unusual language to make such a point.

>

> Huge amount of angst for and against M&S arriving

> and the planning applicationactually submitted.

> Officers told me and emailed other residents that

> the application would be refused. None of those

> communications had embargoes and I've never seen

> such a decision take so very long to be recorded

> on the Southwark Planning portal.

>

> We differ. I think I've been reasonable and

> measured. You think I've jumped the gun by telling

> people news officers have told me and other

> residents in realteively timely manner - funnily

> enough I delayed by a week as I was on holiday.

so what was the basis of the refusal? which residents have been informed? did you go anywhere nice for your holiday?

[edanna]

James, is it just me or are there loads more potholes around E Dulwich than before? I used to view them as a mild inconvenience but the other day - on the way to an important meeting - I had a tyre ripped by a pothole on Lordship Lane - on a two-week old tyre too. Has the programme of road maintenance been reduced?

[James Barber]

Hi KK,

Loss of amenity from memory - but it was a long detailed explanation of a number of factors sent to me what 6-8 weeks ago.

Residents that had emailed the case officer received the reply and I was copied on one of them.

Regards james.