former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[slarti b]

Cllr Barber,

re the malfunctioning traffic lights. I have just heard from a neighbour that one of the Labour councillors has been escalating this with the council.

Apparently they are due to be "fixed" next week. Fingers crossed they get it right ....

[James Barber]

Which one slarti b?

If bottom of Dog Kennel Hill I've gone through this cycle three times so far.

[slarti b]

Apologies, was following on from my earlier post but I should have said the malfunctioning lights at junction of EDG and Townley road.

I know you have been active on the Dog Kennel Hill lights :-)

[Northeastview]

Hi James, I keep getting abuse from other drivers because I'm following the 20 mile per hour speed limit. it is quite frightening sometimes, especially when my children are in the car. What are the police doing to support drivers like me? There seems to be no police presence or penalties for those speeding, or abusing other drivers.

[James Barber]

Hi Northeastview,

The police are sadly not doing much. they argue nationally that 20mph should be self enforcing.

Your perception of no Police enforcement of the 20mph is correct. Speedometers are not highly accurate so the Police allow a high margin above the speed limit before they enforce. Traffic police have been significantly reduced in the last 20 years (not due to austerity) in favour of policing of more politically acceptable policing. concern about the 'war on motorists' fiction. But in Southwark more people are killed and seriously injured on our roads than from other violent crime.

In these circumstances a rational person will be sorely tempted to go over 20mph.

I have tried to get average speed cameras on local roads such as Barry road and Lordship Lane as they are incredibly effective at enforcing and giving people the confidence to drive no faster than the speed limit - it takes the pressure you've described away imposed by others.

A ?700k Southwark Council fund to deploy physical measures on the most blatant areas of people speeding greater than 20mph will be used soon. But ?700k will result in very few physically measures.

We clearly need more done on making 20mph speed limits work.

[spider69]

"A ?700k Southwark Council fund to deploy physical measures on the most blatant areas of people speeding greater than 20mph will be used soon. But ?700k will result in very few physically measures."

For what and where?

[Northeastview]

I just want to follow the speed limit, I have no strong feelings for or against the limit, but people are really threatening and their driving around me shouting abuse is scary.

[Abe_froeman]

It 's not likely to be ?700k worth of speed cameras, Spider...

"Re: East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

Posted by James Barber October 15, 11:22AM

Hi Abe-frieman,

What shiny new speed cameras?

All London is covered by a Safer Camera Partnership and local councils have little say is where they place cameras. So very curious about your comment?"

So, that leaves sleeping policemen, build outs, dot matrix signs and road barriers. Anything I've missed?

[Bic Basher]

James,

My mother used to collect her pension at the old post office next to Sainsbury's Local, since it moved to Costcutter, she's had to travel on a bus to the main branch at 76 LL as they never have enough money to give her in cash as the float is shared with the shop. Can anything be done to reassure especially older people that they don't have to travel far to get their pension?

[James Barber]

Hi Bic basher,

That sounds really odd and not right.

Can you email me more details - typicaday and time this occurs please.

[Nigello]

FYI - Conway detritus (cones, bits of discarded wood, barriers) - left opposite Goodrich school have been reported to Conway. Why the firm cannot clean up after itself is beyond me.

[James Barber]

Hi Nigello,

I've also reported it.

[bobbsy]

Going back to the 20mph comments above - when will it be accepted that 20mph is a waste of time and money and revert to 30mph?

[Bic Basher]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi Bic basher,

> That sounds really odd and not right.

> Can you email me more details - typicaday and time

> this occurs please.

Will email you shortly James.

[James Barber]

Hi bobbsy,

When we know everyone is a perfect driver and all children will act as responsible adults from the first time they walk.

Crashing a vehicle into the human body greater than 20mph results in a high probability of death - if not death life changing injuries. The average speed of vehicles is so low anyway why would you want to speed to the next hold-up?

[James Barber]

The North Dulwich & Denmark Hill new controlled parking zone has been decided upon by the cabinet councillor:

http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgDecisionDetails.aspx?IId=50005998&Opt=1

"

1. That the implementation of a new parking zone in the North Dulwich and Denmark Hill area, operating Monday to Friday, noon to 2pm be approved, subject to the outcome of any necessary statutory procedures at an estimated cost of ?70,000 comprising ?50,000 for implementation works and ?20,000 staff costs.

2. That approval not be given for the implementation of a parking zone in the Champion Hill area.

3. That the position and type of parking bays and restrictions for the new parking zone and surrounding streets (Champion Hill area and Village Way) as shown in the detailed design (Appendix 2 of the report) be approved.

"

Last time I spoke with council officers they said this would be operating from January. WE may well see increased pressure on local East Dulwich parking as a result.

[first mate]

I cannot remember James, dud you formally object to any of these new parking measures on the basis that they would create pressure on ED?

[Penguin68]

What, and spoil a win-win?

[Abe_froeman]

First mate, it seems the decision was made by a single cabinet member (Darren Merril, the councillor for East Walworth) but it is potentially subject to call in until 6 November were any councillors for affected wards so inclined.

[a]http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5509[/a]

[first mate]

Abe, you sound as though you know a little more about what is going on, therefore I would ask James Barber if he will be objecting in any way, shape or form? If not, why not?

[Penguin68]

To be fair to Mr Barber (something regular readers will know I am loathe to do) for him to complain would be the equivalent of North Dulwich councilors complaining against the decision NOT to have a CPZ around ED Station - a decision (as was the one to have this CPZ) based on the collective wishes of residents. The reason many campaigned against the ED CPZ was precisely because of the domino effects of CPZs spreading through neighbourhoods - the ant-car brigade work hard to start the infection on one locale knowing that like a plague it will spread its evil across the land. This CPZ is of course 'caused' by the Herne Hill CPZ.

And it must be remembered that Mr Barber is actually pro-CPZ - so to ask him to interfere in another ward - against the declared wishes of that ward's residents and against his own conscience - is perhaps an ask too far.

What we in ED must to is to continue to resist the evil blandishments of CPZ-ers as the consequences of this latest intrusion into our freedoms spreads its poison. I suspect it will not be easy.

[Abe_froeman]

Penguin you are right about the domino effect causing this

http://www.hernehill.org.uk/news/north-dulwich-triangle-controlled-parking-zone-consultation

There is a map here of all CPZs in Southwark. East Dulwich is rapidly becoming an island!

http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s52423/Appendix%201-A%20-%20Map%20of%20existing%20parking%20zones%20in%20Southwark.pdf

[James Barber]

The Dulwich Community council was asked for its view of these proposals. I had heard from many in the North Dulwich area about how stressful parking is for them there. I attended a public meeting on Half Moon Lane where circa 200 attended and it was crystal clear vast majority wanted controlled parking. I think they've chosen the wrong option of noon-2pm for the restrictions. But the public consultation came clearly in favour of those timings.

I did at that DCC meeting and previous one repeatedly ask them to reconsidered the new double yellow lines 10m from the corners of each junction. 10m although Highway Code suggests this is clearly OTT for 20mph area. But all three Village ward councillors were crystal clear they agree with the 10m.

hi P68,

I'm not pro CPZ. I wouldn't have put so much effort into car sharing schemes to reduce parking pressures if I was. But I am pro residents and businesses being able to use their vehicles in preference to people who are not residents. Sometimes CPZ can help - especially reduced hours.

It is curious how the past ED station CPZ crystallised so much opposition versus the North Dulwich station CPZ going through without a murmur of opposition.

[first mate]

Possibly properties around N Dulwich are larger and have off street parking, therefore CPZ does not directly affect householders in same way that it would the smaller properties in ED and therefore residents of larger properties are not inclined to get so involved. The suspicion, despite all you say, is that controls breed yet more controls and that the result is a cash cow, not a real solution.

Just for the record, you say in the above that you think "they" chose the wrong option in 12-2 for the parking restrictions; what for you would have been the right option? Did you state your view as to the right option at the time? Did you raise the issue of the knock on effect re parking restrictions for surrounding wards, once controls are in place? In fairness James, you have not stated here what you said about parking restrictions at the CC other thansome comments about yellow lines.

Sorry, I do think many of us feel you are pro CPZ by the back door.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

No, very few off street parking options in the proposed area. Many streets agreeing to this are council properties with no gardens.

We have limited options for reducing parking.

Carrot approach. Making public transport so good you'd be an idiot to drive - I don't find it that good crushed on local trains, and buses are just not reliable enough.

Making cycling is so good most people are relaxed about doing it. We're a long way from reaching that point.

Reducing demand for parking via car sharing. This can be effective but Southwark Council in its wisdom charge a very high annual rental for each parking space dedicated to these vehicles - reducing the number. It's support but at a price to minimise their growth. also if you reduce resident demand for parking it can be used by non residents commuter parking.

Stick approach. Charging for car use such that people give up using them - the cost of motoring is at an all time low and no political party is going to risk the wrath of 'a war on motoring' hence the lowest price for motoring ever in real terms. Rationing parking via CPZ is one of the only options left.

If you have an alternate solution I'd be delighted to hear it.

CPZ timing. Exactly matching the Herne Hill CPZ timings for the new CPZ mean that instead of using the HH parking enforcement people to enforce the new zone, by choosing a different time period, more officers will need to be employed or less enforcement of the HH CPZ. The idea is to limit commuter parking. A one hour period in the middle of the day before the noon-2pm period would limit commuter parking, minimise the impact on residents and their visitors, if outside noon-2pm enabled the same officers to be used for enforcement the costs of running enforcement would be lower helping in theory to keep parking permit pricing lower.

Although parking permits on council estates are ?25/year and public highway ?125/year. So they're clearly not related to the cost of providing them.