So much for James Barber's contributions.....

[Townleygreen]

...James seems to have vanished from the ether, unless he's on a cruise round the world:)-D

Pity, as some of his efforts made a difference.

Wonder if he'll ever return?

When's his election? May?

[paulino]

for the love of god, maybe there is more to his life than the sodding EDF.

i must say that i get a little tired of the constant little digs at the councillor that crop up all over this site.

disclaimer: i have no connection to him, cannot even remember what party he represents and have no other involvement in local government etc.

[Mark]

I'll second paulino on that

[Townleygreen]

Look, folks, leave it out. James set himself up for this - no one asked him to start posting on the EDF, he just came forward - fair play to him, as they say in Cardiff. I think he ahs done some good.

However, once he puts himself forward, I don't think it unreasonable to wonder why he has suddenly ceased to respond.

I would be happy if he said he no longer had time or whatever, but just to cease seems a bit of an own goal for him.

It doesn't mean I won't vote for him. My last comment (When's his election? May?) was meant to be tongue in cheek.

[*Bob*]

You need to get yourself a direct 'Barberline' fitted, Townley.

I had mine put-in last week. If anything urgent crops-up (toaster crumb-tray needs emptying, bum needs wiping etc) I simply activate the signal and James will appear within five minutes (slightly longer during peak hours) to deal with the crisis.

[Townleygreen]

Yes *Bob* my personal preference would be a James Barber lamp (as with Aladdin) - one rub and...whoosh...James appears.

What a great Chrissy present that would be.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Paulino + mark = bang on

townley - you are correct that no one forced James to join the edf but he probably didn't factor so much negativity either. His position doesn't give him a rhinos hide. If I were him I would have buggered off long ago

stationmanager doesn't get a smidgen of the same criticism despite the train system not being perfect. Cut the guy some slack

[Horsebox]

Townleygreen Wrote:

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

> Yes *Bob* my personal preference would be a James

> Barber lamp (as with Aladdin) - one rub

> and...whoosh...James appears.

> What a great Chrissy present that would be.

Not quite as good as a rice cooker.

[TJ]

back off townley. No-one asked you to come on here either.

[Townleygreen]

TJ said:

back off townley. No-one asked you to come on here either.

Such a nice positive comment! Pity you havent even read what I posted. That would be too much to expect when you can just come out with a pithy aggressive comment.

[SimonM]

Well the sneery title of the thread kind of gave away the tone and agenda didn't it?

[Burbage]

Those who follow the Barber blog will have noticed he's been very busy on our behalf. It can't have escaped everyone's notice that his campaign to rationalize bus announcements, with a specific fixation on expunging 'Dulwich Plough' in favour of 'Dulwich Library', remains top of his agenda. This might not be universally welcome and many, like myself, might prefer the Plough to be called the Plough, whatever upset it might cause among the lemon-face illiterates who pretend to run the library - for much the same reason as I'd prefer what Jowell calls 'the Harvester' to be calle 'The Grove'. I'm sure the Library is a useful local amenity, but Camberwell's 'Coldharbour Lane' stop isn't called 'Clap Clinic' and that, in my book, is a precedent.

To be charitable, perhaps the allegedly murderous negligence that led to Lakanal House, the Peckham Inferno or, for that matter, Harman's neighbourhood masseuse, have distracted Barber from making his academically interesting contribitions. Or, maybe, he is really busy doing the useful things he was elected to do. I don't know and, not being a qualiied loonologist, can't comment. But, rather than carping from the sidelines, I'm only too happy to welcome his absence from this forum.

[Huguenot]

:))

[TJ]

Townley -

pithy? How rude. You nasty bit of work.

[HonaloochieB]

TJ Wrote:

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> Townley -

> pithy? How rude. You nasty bit of work.

Yeth there wath no need for that.

[TJ]

thankth for the thupport!

[Steady Eddy]

Hi,

I just thought it important to point out that there is a possibility that he has been deselected by his party to run for east dulwich in the Local elections next year.

I read in the South London Press on Tuesday that the Lib Dems have chosen Rosie Shimell, a 21 year old graduate to stand for East Dulwich in next year's elections.

I'm not sure how it works, but if this is the case, then I am sure James Barber must be upset and may need space to come to terms with this. :-$

[Weegee]

I found James very helpful. I spoke to him directly recently about the proposed sale of the Dulwich Hamlet Football ground. He was very helpful and patient in answering my questions.

So I think this thread is a bit unfair.

[BARA]

James was not deselected, he and Jonathan Mitchell, along with Rosie will be standing for ED Ward. Richard Thomas after many years as a councillor decided that he would not run again. He has been both an 'ordinary councillor' and an executive member and now feels that he must devote his time to his family and work. Unlike MPs, councillors get allowances, only the Executive Members get allowances equivilant of a salary, they still have to work or have an income from another source. There are not many of us who would be willing to do a 35-40 hour week day/paid job and then spend 10 - 20 hours pw on council duties.

Dulwich Community Council Meets on Monday 14th 7 pm at Christ Church Barry Road meet your councillors there.

[Trump]

Bara.

How do you gauge, how many people would not be willing to stand as a Councillor?

IPM poll?

[James Barber]

I'm sorry you've all missed me.

I've been busily beavering away in the background.

We now have another 1,000 SelectaDNA property marking kits to give away to local East Dulwich ward residents. Last year we bought and distributed a 1,000 of these kits. Burglary has nose dived from 10-12 per month to around 2 now. To lock this in I've arranged the purchase of second tranche of 1,000 kits.

[ontheedge]

This seems a low figure as there were 3 in my block of 24 flats last month including my own in one week on 2 seperate days.

[Acid Casual]

Hello James.

Glad you're making a contribution to the forum. Whilst we're on the subject of crime prevention, could you have a look at the thread on making Greendale safer? This place has violent mugging/assault written all over it. It's a serious incident waiting to happen. Given that there's a nursery school there and loads of mums/grandparents/child carers use it as access, it really needs action.

The thread documents at least two prior muggings (one attempted on me at knifepoint) and I worry that next time the person at the wrong end of the mugging may not be in a position to fight back like I am able to.

Thanks in advance.

Acid Casual.

[PeckhamRose]

Why don't you lot go to your local POLICE WARD PANELS to ask them to concentrate on the burglary problem? He's a councillor, not the police. He's doing his best. Do some work you lot, research, find out, and GO to your local police ward panels which is the correct platform for whinging about crime. I tend to put on the What's On section when the Nunhead and Peckham Rye one is (which covers a bit of East Dulwich).

[Acid Casual]

PeckhamRose Wrote:

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> Why don't you lot go to your local POLICE WARD

> PANELS to ask them to concentrate on the burglary

> problem? He's a councillor, not the police. He's

> doing his best. Do some work you lot, research,

> find out, and GO to your local police ward panels

> which is the correct platform for whinging about

> crime. I tend to put on the What's On section

> when the Nunhead and Peckham Rye one is (which

> covers a bit of East Dulwich).

If you're having a go at me (and I'm not certain if you are) the old bill don't put up extra street lighting as far as I'm aware. That's what I think would go a good way towards making Greendale safer. It is about creating a safe environment in the first instance, not about response to crime. That, although very important, is another conversation, and one outside of James' remit.

For what it's worth, the Camberwell robbery squad who responded to my call said they had extra undercover units in the area as a result of the recent level of incidents, so they have responded within the limits of their powers. I'm not having a go at James. The tone of my post was quite polite, I just want to know what to do.