former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[Narnia]

Hi James

why do parking wardens (or whatever they are called) not assist traffic flow by advising motorists where they can't park instead of hiding so they can issue them with a ticket when they have left their vehicle?

Regards

D.

[James Barber]

Hi Narnia,

Parking enforcement is meant as much as a deterent as enforcement. The more efficient the enforcement the better the deterent. BUT its self funding in that it has to raise more money than it costs to run the operation else residents would be funding it through council tax and general taxation and leisure centre fees etc.

Getting this balance right is really tricky.

BUT hidining is a step to far and if you have any examples of this let me know and I'll complain.

[evildrwallace]

James,

If parking enforcement has to be funded through fines then it should be abolished immediately. If enforcement is working correctly it should not make any money, as nobody would be parking illegally. Any service that must fail in order to survive is an anachronism and should be rethought. I don't drive and would happily see all private cars banned from the streets of London, but I still cannot see the sense in designing a system that relies on fines to exist - this is not a balancing act, it is just counter-productive and stupid.

[rbrtdngl]

Hi James, thanks for the introduction and it is nice to see you on here. I am sure this will prove to be a fabulous resource for you to tap into what local residents in the area are thinking as well as the concerns they have. Looking forward to reading more from you.

[first mate]

evildrwallace,

an excellent point, well made.

[James Barber]

Hi evildrwallace and first mate,

Southwark's parking enforcement costs are considerable but generally produces a surplus.

Dramatically stepping up parknig warden patrols to the point people would always be caught I think would feel oppressive. Most people obey parking restrictions. If anything I think more freedom for parking wardens should be in place. However, I don't see why the nearly half of homes in Southwark should subsidise parking enformcenemt as you've suggested. Often they are the poorer members of out community. So your suggestion would seem less fair, more oppressive and regressive - council tax is already very unfair form of taxation.

Regards james.

PS Happy New Year to everyone.

[James Barber]

Monday works start on the East Dulwich station platform (London Bridge one) to building a new extra passenger shelter.

10-14 January - reroute a cable

17-21 January - realign fence, concrete pad

24-27 January - install new shelter

28 January - make good platform and fence

[Jeremy]

evildrwallace - if the enforcement was so extensive that nobody would ever risk parking illegally, then it would cost a lot more money. Where would that money come from?

I understand what you're saying in principle, but I'm not sure it adds up in practice.

[James Barber]

I've just had a call from a resident (inflamed) on Landcroft Road who witnessed for the third time a Fiveways dustcart have all their sorte recyling placed in green wheelie bin and dumped in back of said dustcart.

Has anyone else spotted such behaviour?

[Tarot]

Hi James, would it be possible to have the cars banned, from parking on the corners of every road.

It is ridiculous how you are not able to see if the road is clear.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

It's already covered in the Highway Code, Tarot. Enforcing it is another thing.

James, can you please remind me why a pedestrian crossing across E.Dulwich Grove was not viable? I know it's been asked before. Just that I was almost knocked down this evening, despite it being my right of way.

[Tarot]

I know that PGC, I was thinking James had enough intelligence to maybe work out, that red lines could be painted

on each corner,

Because no one is obviously not taking any notice of the code are they.

But wardens could ticket them on red lines.

[James Barber]

Hi Tarot,

Red lines can only be placed on Red Routes and a few metres along side roads from Red Routes.

Corners of roads, as per the highway code, are meant to be kept clear with no parking. This is generally only enforced where a dropped kerb is present.

The only way to make it clearer would be lots of double yellow lines or more dropped kerbs.

Is the problem at corners so bad we'd want to request money spent on double yellow lines - the administration for such changes is exhorbitant. Or would we prefer to see more dropped kerbs to help people actually cross roads - taknig into account they should be isntalled on the pedestrian desire lines - I'd do for the dropped kerbs.

What do you think?

Hi Peckhamgatecrasher,

Works are planned for Lordship Lane including it junction with East Dulwich Grove. Several detailed studies have been made of this junction. East Dulwich councillors have met with transport council officers and specialist conmsutlatnts over the last 4 years. Officers have proposed signalising the junction. To do that no parking on Lordship lane would be allowed within 100m to keep the current junction capacity. SAfter much debate the proposal I made of a crossing of lordship lane immediately to the south of the junction is being explored. Pedestrians crossing break up the flow of Lrodship Lane traffic allowing vehicles to turn in and out of East Dulwich Grove safely which also means pedestrians can safely cross when vehicles can;t turn into or out of EDG. That's the concept. This can be done without having to remove lots of parking. Probably with a kerb built out one car width on the eastern side of Lordship Lane to reduce the time taken to cross the road with any new crossing.

However, the funds assigned to this have had a a change of scope to reflect the change of council adminsitration and their emphasis is now on Grove Vale - they even want to spend ?100k on speed calming on Tintagel Crescent of all places!

So East Dulwich councillors will continue to argue and fight for sensible changes to Lordship Lane to reflect its high street pedestrian use.

Hope this makes sense.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Thanks James.

[Tarot]

Looks like dropped pavements then James.No money though yet.

[mynamehere]

?100,000 at any time is a fantastic amount and now, with a budget crisis? It doesn't matter which party holds the purse strings, budgets have to balance and I for one do not want to pay for waste.

People have to control their behaviour and Law should be minimal:

Pedestrians have the right of way at intersections.

Maximum speed should be 20mph on residential streets and enforced until that is deeply clear to drivers and then the enforcement will no longer be needed.

It seems bizarre to build new roads and then deface them with speed bumps and endless piles of tarmac. In that case why not just leave the potholes and building debris to slow people down? Either people understand minimal social participation or government must endlessly run behind them with money and apologies.

To summarize a number of threads here over the months in a general non-specific way:

clean the front of your property

pick up after yourself and your animals

help others when possible

drive at a speed that allows you to stop

yield first to pedestrians, then bicycles, then cars to your right (order of vulnerability)

and never never block the intersection

[James Barber]

Hi mynamehere,

Some of the sensible rules most of us live by.

North Cross Road Market.

Last night at the Licensing Committee very helpfully 10 residents also came along - some to speak others to demonstrate the issues are keenly followed and felt.

The committee helpfuly let me speak and other residents who wished to.

It agreed that the market be expanded from 20 to 30 stalls.

It agreed to refer back to the Dulwich Community Council for its recommendations about:

Sunday trading 10-4

Saturday trading 10-4

Should the market Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs be formally limited to 5 stalls.

Where IF anywhere North Cross Road should be closed.

Views on traffic calming on North Cross Road.

We're not sure which Dulwich Community Council meeting will hear evidence from council markets officers, traders, shopkeepers and most importantly residents who live nearby. As soon as this is confirmed I'll let everyone know.

If anyone has any concerns or issues please email me so I can ensure everyone's voice is heard and the best possible recommendations are made by the DCC.

One very helpful observations is that witohut marked out areas traders arriver very early to nab the best positions.

[Lying Toad]

Hi James,

The toad wonders how many cycle accidents are caused by wet drain / manhole covers? A simple solution would be to have the drain surface partially covered with tarmac (also coloured perhaps?), so bikes and motorbikes do not slip when travelling on or around corners?

I commute by both cycle and motorbike to and from toad hall with so many near accidents. The solution is like a paperclip, a really simple remedy.

Further, I also agree with a good safe distance when parking away from corners.

Best,

TLT

[Pugwash]

Sometimes you feel like stealing out in the dead of night with a can of yellow paint and the appropriate width brush, just to paint a few yellow lines to stop the idiots who park illegally.

[James Barber]

Hi Lying Toad,

Beofre becoming a local councillor I chaired the local cycling campaign Southwark Cyclists and was the CTC's volunteer representative for an number of years.

I met with various road collission experts from TDfL/TfL, DoT, council officers. Non of the stats showed manhole covers as an accidents issue or leading to collissions. If you have further research that shows they are please let me know.

Most manhols covers are placed where you only have to cycle in a straight line over them.

Bigger issue from my perspective is pot holes.

Hi pugwash,

What a tempting idea!

I would be careful of the 'law of unintended consequences' though.

[Terry Thomas esq]

Hi James

Can you provide an update on the 'loading bay' on Barry Road outside the new development (the mews)

The loading bay appeared to be suspended during building works, and it is now causing problems on Barry Road and surrounding streets with lorries unable to use it (cars parked in it as the sign is missing)

The main problem I have seen recently was a lorry parked in the narrow section of the crossing to unload bacause there wasn't anywhere else to stop (okay he should not have stopped there but...) this caused problems for other motorists and the buses along Barry Road.

Any update would be welcome

[James Barber]

Hi Terry TYhomas esq,

I've PM'd you about this.

Regards james.

[James Barber]

Today's South London Press newspaper have a free offer for a Fusion weekend pass.

SLP costs 50p.

Seems like brilliant value to get a weekend of swimming etc at the new Dulwich leiscure centre pool.

[James Barber]

I've just pulled of the December 2010 crime stats for Southwark by ward.For December East Dulwich slipped a couple of 'league' places but it's only one month out of the year - see attached.

[BrandNewGuy]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> Today's South London Press newspaper have a free

> offer for a Fusion weekend pass.

> SLP costs 50p.

>

> Seems like brilliant value to get a weekend of

> swimming etc at the new Dulwich leiscure centre

> pool.

And you can download it for free (legitimately) here, but it doesn't look like Dulwich is one of the eligible centres...