former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[Abe_froeman]

Good evening James

I wondered if there had been any developments regarding the proposed Melbourne Grove traffic barrier at the DCC meeting on 2 December? I can't see anything on Southwarks website unfortunately.

I also wondered if you knew how much Southwark had sold the plots at 236 and 240 Lordship Lane for? This information does not seem to be available at the Land Registry website for some reason.

Many thanks

[James Barber]

Please email [email protected] marking he message urgent and highlighting the title racist graffiti.

If you cc me such emails I can escalate them as well.

gsweet87 Wrote:

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

> Hi,

>

> I noticed some racist grafitti has been scrawled

> on goose green bus stop (the one outside Cafe

> Nero). Who can I report this to to get it covered

> up?

>

> Thanks

[first mate]

James, given that you have been closely involved with the M&S build all the way through ( albeit the preference you pushed for in the early days was a Waitrose) can you reveal why an alleged three storey build seems to have the structure for stairs and a lift that go up to four stories? Is this for the fourth storey and penthouses? What news of those? Are you aware of the current state of play?

Guven the size of the build and its new footprint, can you confirm that M&S are confident that their lorries will easily be able to roll into the loading bay and turn to come out again? If this is not the case what action will planning/Councillors take? The ability for delivery vehicles to manoeuvre safely and in the normal way was a central plank of the planning applications. Please note it was never proposed that vehicles move in and then ever so slowly reverse out, especially not when deliveries will be more frequent than those made when it was Iceland.

[gsweet87]

Done, thanks.

[bil]

Hi James

Is there any chance of TfL taking over the Franchise 'served' by Southern railways (the company that provides a sporadic unreliable service to East Dulwich station) in the near-ish future?

Thanks

Bil

[James Barber]

Hi Bil,

Yes, TfL are seeking to take over various suburban train routes in south London and upgrade them to the London Overground style of operation. But they'd still have the issues of London Bridge station being at best chaotic until 2018.

[bil]

Thanks James

[Abe_froeman]

Would that mean they have the power to reduce the number of trains per hour on those routes?

[James Barber]

Hi Abe_froeman,

So far TfL London Overground have increased quality of stations, trains and frequency of services on routes they've taken over or created. These factors have led to huge increases compared to past actual passenger number and forecast growth. So any train service could be reduced but in my opinion this would be less likely if it's a growing service taken on by TfL London Overground. One but is the planned drastic reduction in TfL funding by Tory chancellor George Osborne.

[Rosetta]

Hello

Do you have info as to how I can report a plumber who says he is registered in Southwark on his website but isn't? Someone at Trading Standards perhaps?

Thank you.

[James Barber]

Yes, Trading Standards.

If you cc me your email reporting this I'll check it gets followed up.

[Rosetta]

Thank you, do you have the best email to report it on?

[James Barber]

I'd recommend - [email protected]

[Grok]

Dear James, why is the council allowing illegal off street parking on East Dulwich Grove opposite the church? For months now a car has been parked in the front garden, garden wall knocked down DIY style, without a dropped kerb, on yellow lines, and facing a bus lane/bus stop. Why is this acceptable here but not elsewhere, and why does everyone else have to pay? What are you intending to do about this?

[James Barber]

Hi Grok,

I've reported this issue to council planning enforcement. Challenging this on planning grounds is time limited - but we're well within the 4 years.

I'll chase again and thanks for the reminder.

[Abe_froeman]

Dear James

I see the luxury devlopments at 236 and 240 lordship lane are progressing very well. Are you able to help me find out how much profit Southwark will make on behalf of its residents as a result of selling these plots? I can't find the information on the Southwark website nor details of the sale on the land registry website.

Many thanks, and happy Christmas!

[Grok]

Thank you. Surely this is more than a planning issue that can take up to 4yrs? What about illegal parking and issuing of tickets, driving over public highways to access and exit site, crossing yellow lines and bus lanes? Slippery slope if these matters are not addressed asap IMO.

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Hi Grok,

> I've reported this issue to council planning

> enforcement. Challenging this on planning grounds

> is time limited - but we're well within the 4

> years.

>

> I'll chase again and thanks for the reminder.

[James Barber]

Hi Grok,

I have two cases of people driving across the pavement who planning enforcement didn't resolve within 4 years!

Unbelievable but true. But council officials in those two cases assure me they're taking a different angle about driving across pavements without authority.

In some other cases the road is a red route which gets really complicated - Southwark Council the planning authority but TfL the highway authority.

Fortunately EDG case is relatively new and all under southwark Councils control.

[intexasatthe moment]

I think most people think it's perfectly fine to use their forecourt to park on and don't realise that driving across a pavement without a dropped kerb is illegal . Or they do know but are aware that no action will be taken .

[James Barber]

Hi ITATM,

Yes, people believe that. I've even had one home owner while I was canvassing tell me about the perils of pavement cyclists while they clearly drove across the pavement and didn't have a dropped kerbs.

[intexasatthe moment]

Do you know of any instances where Southwark have taken action ?

[James Barber]

Hi ITATM,

I know of several where they are in the process of taking action.

A related case would be the car that was always parked on the pavement outside no. 11 Lordship Lane. It took years before one of my Lib Dem colleagues came up with a route to get the council to remove it permanently. Former Councillor Geoffrey Thornton.

[intexasatthe moment]

Thanks ,that's interesting James . I wonder why Southwark aren't more active in persuing this ? I guess the great cuts in revenue don't help and inspire greater priorities .

I have a vested interest which includes a huge dislike of what should be a piece of garden ( with all it's climate ,aesthetic and physchological benefits ) being replaced by a machine. And you can bet that those who park without dropped kerbs won't ensure that requirements re permabilty and water run off are met .

[James Barber]

Hi ITATM,

I concur. If a front gain is paved ver the minimum we can expect of our neighbours is it;s permeable, with a dropped kerb with full permissions.

[first mate]

James, I see that you have announced that the developers on the M&S site have, to quote you, "Admitted" they are building 10 flats in contravention of planning policy. How and when was this admission made? What other contraventions are underway?

Not long ago, on this site, you said you saw no problem with the build and that the developers were adhering to submitted plans.

Has there also been scrutiny of what appears to be a lift and stairs structure for a fourth floor? what about sufficient room for large vehicles to turn on land owned by the developers, are we sure there is enough room?

In your view, is there sufficient scrutiny of this build?

You say that you are pleased that M&S are in situ but advise that residents should write to the Chief Exec of M&S to object to contraventions in planning policy. Is this a tacit admission that Planning and Councillors are toothless and that we are all at the mercy of developers and supermarket chains, who can do pretty much as they please?