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A healthier, safer & active Dulwich

Slowly action is being taken to make Dulwich healthier and safer. Southwark Council has a programme of work to do this and to learn more about it. A public meeting took place last week on Saturday 12 January – GETTING AROUND DULWICH – Towards a healthier, safer & more active future

The meeting discussed how to move forward and make Dulwich a better place to live. Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport Management & Air Quality, Richard Livingstone, plus Village Ward Councillors and experts on the health effects of traffic related air pollution took part.

The possibility of the Croxted Road Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) being extended was raised. This has yet to be consulted upon but a request has been made to Lambeth and Southwark from Residents in Croxted Road, who find it difficult to park near their houses, for the existing CPZ to be extended. At present it runs up to the petrol station from Norwood Road. The extension is likely to take it past the Turney Road junction. Lambeth and Southwark have to agree to run a consultation but it has not yet been confirmed nor whether Turney Road will be included in the consultation. The other roads that join with Croxted Road i.e. Guernsey and Hawarden Grove were included when the existing CPZ was created. How much any extension will impact on Turney is not known but there may be some displacement onto Turney on both Lambeth and Southwark sides.

Southwark is putting together its latest traffic plan now called a movement plan and the consultation is open until 18 February see: https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment-leisure/movement-plan/consultation/subpage.2018-11-01.3664391771/

The latest status of pollution for the local area can be found at http://www.londonair.org.uk/LondonAir/Default.aspx and there is a phone app. The meeting highlighted that this invisible pollution is being found, through research, to be impacting on the elderly and young and it reduces lung capacity. It may account in part for the increase in asthma. It was stated that the level of pollution is higher when inside a car than outside. When walking and cycling it is preferable to avoid busy streets and walk on the side away from the traffic. The amount of pollution at the height of children in buggies is reported as higher than for adults.

Comments made included parked cars/school coaches running their engines (which is illegal), the green screening of Schools or closing roads with Schools in them at drop off and pick up times e.g. Bessemer Grange and the lack of bus services through the village. Many comments were made about the through traffic in Dulwich and the potential of electric cars to reduce pollution if not the number of cars.

Turney and Burbage Roads look ahead to 2019

At a well attended AGM of both roads residents celebrated the many activities of 2018 undertaken by active residents and noted changes in the streets. Councillors from Southwark attended as well as a member of our local police team.

Throughout 2018 residents were represented on a number of public consultations; working with Dulwich Village Forum and the Safer Neighborhoods Panel; supporting Safe Routes to School in the installation of a new crossing at Half Moon Lane, and encouraging good communication with The Dulwich Estate.

Residents helped support charitable and sociable initiatives including the Learning Hub Campaign for St Christopher’s Hospice, volunteers for St Barnabas, Abbeyfields and Bell House and carol singing in aid of School Home Support.

No party was held this year as a great deal of work has been going in to a special celebration for next June. Tessa Jowell MP, Cllr Toby Eckersley, Len Bishop and John Ward, were amongst cherished friends lost this year.

During the year Southwark council carried out the Quietway Turney Road changes though Lambeth council is still to decide on its implementation plan. There was continuing liaison with the three Sports Clubs, SCST, Dulwich and Edward Alleyn.

PC Stephen Bush of the Village police team reported on:

School child mugging: Muggers on bikes have been targeting children and are not the usual known gangs. There has also been some Inter-school fighting involving a weapon and a slight wound was inflicted. Police have this in hand.

Burglaries: May was bad but levels have been lower recently.

Car Theft: All attempted thefts and cash lost from cars should be reported. Ap known gang tries car doors in the early hours and have been caught.

Fireworks: Residents have complained that Belair House and others, let off fireworks late at night. PC Bush reported they need a a special party license to do this.

Resourcing: We value the knowledge and contact point of a local team. Dulwich Village currently has two PCs (Bush and McLynn) but PC Support Officers are not being replaced. PCs are occasionally taken off the area to work elsewhere.

We are urged to always report a crime. If it is happening or just happened call 999, if less urgent call 111.

The cycle extravaganza in the cycle stadium went off well as far as residents were concerned and will be repeated next year.

PLANS FOR 2019

Residents learned that plans are being made to take advantage of the 400th anniversary of the death of Richard Burbage to mark what an exceptional Shakespearean actor he was.

Following this year’s live concerts in Brockwell Park the Field Day and Love Box events are planned for 2019 and residents were alerted to the Brockwell Park feedback sessions at Gallery 198 on Tuesday 16 and Wed 17 October 2018.

Turney Road will be resurfaced in November and Feedback can be given on the Quietway on the Southwark council website. Residents should inform Councillors Margy Newens and Richard Leeming as well. The main changes put in place, besides the new layout at the Dulwich Village traffic lights, are build outs replacing islands and a new pedestrian crossing near the junior school.

There are proposals for new controlled parking zones (CPZ). Current CPZ proposals include adding Village Way to the North Dulwich triangle CPZ. The possibility of a CPZ in East Dulwich to include Townley Road. Also Croxted Road may have a CPZ. All these may impact Turney and Burbage. So a discussion was held about Turney and Burbage being included in any Village CPZ. It was noted that the Dulwich Society is likely to be setting up a public meeting to discuss a Village CPZ.

Together both Turney and Burbage are proposing to run a survey to obtain some base data about parking in the roads. This will include finding the number of residents vehicles, the number of off street and on street parking places and information about the difficulties if any of parking at different times of the day. This idea was well received.

Edward Allyen Club: residents are encouraged to use the Club as all were welcome. The bar opens 4-7.30pm most days and at the weekends. There is Space for 130, which can be used for parties and residents are given preferential rates.

The EAC and Alleyn’s School were thanked by the RAs for hosting this meeting

Dulwich Society: Sue Badman, recommended we look at the Dulwich Society website www.dulwichsociety.co. There are new digitalized maps of Dulwich Estate. Additionally, Dulwich Society is now giving grants for projects. Dulwich Estate Advisory Committee meets three times a year.

Safe Routes to School: Ros Walton, Secretary to SRS, advised we all keep a look out for children who need support as muggings are often disguised to look like friendly chats using shielding body language.

A concern was raised about the safety of the junction between the Dulwich Sports Club access road and Burbage for vehicles and pedestrians. This will be taken up with the club.

Burbage & Turney Road AGMs this Saturday 10am Edward Alleyn Club

JOINT AGMs TODAY SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER AT 10AM TIL 11.30.

We hope residents can join us for the annual meeting of our Residents’ Association. This year we will hold the AGM jointly with Burbage Road.

We have one of the most long-established, thriving and well-respected residents’ associations in Dulwich. For those of you who are new, or who have not had the opportunity to become involved, we represent our 200 households, including those in Roseway. We foster communication within the road and with other local organisations with the aims of preserving the utility of our environment, the security of homes and the safety of all those using our road and pavements whilst also supporting neighbourly help and socialising. There are no fees but we sometimes raise funds for specific purposes. You are welcome to join the Committee.

Drivers in Southwark fined for leaving car engines running!

Drivers in Southwark face spot fines for leaving engines running in the street as new research highlights the link between vehicle emissions and premature death. This will be a great benefit for Dulwich Village schools as well as others where busy roads pass by and drivers routinely keep their engines running when stationary.

Drivers could be hit with £20 on-the-spot penalties for refusing to turn off engines when cars are stationary by the roadside. In some areas, residents are being asked to report motorists who leave engines running, including providing the registration number, colour and car model of repeat offenders.

As well as Southwark, measures have been adopted by Norwich, Wirral, Reading and Camden.

Research has found that people living near busy roads are at risk of developing dangerously swollen hearts.

A study by King’s College London projecting the impact of vehicle emissions on life expectancy estimates that the measures to cut car use and promote more active lifestyles would lead to a reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels of up to 25 per cent between 2013 and 2020. Children born in 2013 would be expected to gain seven weeks of life as a result of the measures to cut car use and promote more active lifestyles.

It is an offence under laws introduced in 1986 to leave a “vehicle engine running unnecessarily”. New powers were handed to councils under the road traffic regulations 2002 in England to issue fixed penalty notices of £20 if motorists refuse to turn off engines when asked by traffic wardens or police. It can increase to £40 if unpaid after 28 days. Similar powers were introduced in Scotland and Wales in 2003 but most councils have previously opted not to exercise them.

According to the RAC, idling engines can produce emission levels twice as high as those in motion and it welcomes a focus on idling engines, expecting drivers to be fined if they failed to turn off.

Westminster council in central London was one of the first to adopt the fines as part of a concerted campaign. Last year, the authority said that it wanted to get even tougher on drivers by issuing parking charge notices of £80 to those leaving engines running. Westminster allows people to report repeat offenders, using the authority website to log details of cars involved.

Let’s hope it makes an improvement in Dulwich.

For a fuller story see The Times:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/drivers-face-20-on-the-spot-fine-for-leaving-their-motor-running-g396c99wd?shareToken=31846811fa77325bab70d24dce42286e

Dulwich’s New Health Centre is being built – hooray!!

The new Dulwich Health Centre will definitely be built after decades of delays. The traditional ground-breaking ceremony was carried out on Friday 20 July by the Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Catherine Rose and Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes.

The health centre will cost £16.8 million and will provide primary care, children’s service, diagnostics, physiotherapy, renal dialysis and community mental health services.

A new health centre was first proposed some 30 years ago to replace the very old red-brick Dulwich hospital and has gone through several potential versions There has been a lot of consultation with the people of Dulwich during which there has been tough questioning over the use of the original buildings and whether they would be retained. The old Dulwich Hospital, where many local residents have been treated and had their babies, is a sad shadow of its former self and now houses a limited number of NHS services including the blood test unit and the out-of-hours GP service.

The new school shares the site and is appearing quickly. The new Health Centre will follow right behind.

Dulwich Schools protest funding cuts

All three Dulwich Village schools have put up these powerful banners complaining about the loss of funds for education in the Village. Primary and Secondary schools are suffering a loss of considerable funds. It does not seem to be the time for cutting education capacity. Our children need to compete for further education and for jobs and our country needs to compete better in the world. For decades our education performance has lagged compared with other countries and continues to do so. We all know that good education is the key to success.

The banners speak for themselves.

Dulwich Village Independent Businesses take centre stage

Dulwich Village was long known for its healthy range of shops run by locals. Some can still remember that the Village once had a much wider range of shops. It was a destination for shoppers within Dulwich and beyond seeking a wide range of fresh food including fruit & vegetables and fresh meats.

Many such locally run shops have gone. Only recently the last remaining grocer closed, causing great inconvenience to locals who depended on it. Higher and higher rents demanded by the Dulwich Estate landlord, attracted by high value tenants such as corporate chains and estate agents, have made it hard for neighbourhood shops to continue.

In this environment, it is wonderful to see that our independent businesses are doing well and that they are strengthening by working together. They depend on us shopping with them.

Enjoy this video about our Dulwich Village independent businesses.

George Okello

Published on 25 Feb 2018

In this documentary I interviewed shop owners in Dulwich Village about the importance of independent businesses to the local area and what they liked about their local community. Part of a series of blogs promoting independent businesses in the London Borough of Southwark, Supported by Creation trust & Southwark Council. View the rest of the documentaries here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRgf… Shot and edited by myself. Researcher Will Akinnuoye. Special thanks to the contributors: Anne Halmer Hazel Broadfoot Brian Green Patrick Belton Keeley Turner Executive Produced By Patrischia Warmington. Music: Blue Dot Sessions – Town Market

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Author: zen148812