Category: Community Associations & Southwark & Lambeth Councils

Parking – Crowds -Safety -Pollution

We may think of kerbsides as just space on the public highway next to the pavement.  But they are more than that.  Kerbsides include footpaths by the kerb and which might be widened for tree planting and street seating. They include the white posts and green verges we love in Dulwich.

There is great competition for the kerbsides from vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, house occupants, push-chairs, etc. etc.  We know only too well how busy our kerbsides are at times and how they are hazardous for the unwary, the reckless and those of us who are a unsteady because of age, youth or illness.

Southwark Council recognises the need for a sensible management of kerbsides and is consulting on a ‘Kerbside Strategy’.  Southwark’s Kerbside strategy_Feb’17

The Council makes some important points for us to think about.  Among them are:

Demographic Pressure: The population is growing faster in Southwark than expected. At the last census in 2011 it was 288,000 and today is estimated to be 306,000. The government forecasts it will be 370,000 by 2031, an increase of 82,000 or 28% in 20 years!
Parking:  60% of Southwark households don’t own a vehicle, yet parking in the borough takes up an increasing amount of kerbside space. In our streets, however, many households own multiple cars and large ones at that.  Parking is the issue which sparks greatest interest in our streets.  There has to be an improvement in access to and usage of public transport.
Road Safety and the Environment: The Council wants to improve the lives  of older residents and to enable them to live independently for longer. Older people typically drive less and favour public transport. There are increasing numbers of older people in Southwark.  There is a demand for wider footpaths, more frequent and safer pedestrian crossings, accessible bus stops and uncluttered, pleasant neighbourhood centres to sit and relax in.
Traffic Collisions: More people walking or cycling in Southwark are killed or injured than in any other mode of transport. Road traffic accidents are increasing each year.  In 2015 there were over 1,000 in Southwark with 90 fatal ones.

Air quality:  According to the 2015 King’s College University report, up to 9,500 deaths in London each year can be linked to air pollution. Southwark’s road transport emissions are amongst the highest in London. There are a number of sites that exceed legal levels of NO2 (Southwark Air Quality Action Plan, 2013).  At peak traffic periods, Dulwich Village experiences poor air quality, right by the primary schools.

There are many competing demands which we are making and are set out in the Council’s draft strategy.  The council wants our views.

The consultation period on Southwark’s Kerbside Strategy has just started and closes on 28 April.

Do you live in Herne Hill or Dulwich??

This may come across as a curious question and you may wonder whether it matters.  It is a question that is troubling some locals as they are being asked to decide one or the other.

This all comes about because the Government is insisting that local neighbourhoods are defined and that they are to have neighbourhood plans setting local guidelines and policies.

Government guidance explains what factors need to be considered in drawing up a boundary for neighbourhoods but the main point about being in one area or another is money.   Neighbourhoods with approved plans are entitled to twice the amount of  money from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) than if there were no plan.  The sum of money is unknown.  It may not be much – especially if there is little development.

Each borough has its own CIL policy.  Herne Hill is shared between Lambeth and Southwark councils.

The Herne Hill Forum has been around for over 10 years and is busy identifying its neighbourhood boundaries. Members of the Dulwich Village Forum are trying to do the same for the Dulwich neighbourhood.  Thankfully they are talking to each other so a sensible outcome is likely.
Attached are some of the maps currently in circulation for discussion.hh-np-boundary-2hhnp-boundary-1
Current proposals would put the Lambeth part of Turney Road in Herne Hill neighbourhood and the rest in Dulwich.  The boundary between Herne Hill & Dulwich in Burbage Road appears to be moving, as discussions take place, from an earlier proposal for the railway viaduct to the junction with Turney Road.  The Herne Hill Velodrome wants to be included in the Herne Hill neighbourhood, not in Dulwich.
If all this seems confusing or you’re asking ‘what does it matter?’ more will come clear as the discussions become more and more public…..we hope!
Do let us know your views.

Link Age Southwark wants YOU!!

Local charity expanding services for over-60s

Link Age Southwark is recruiting new volunteers to organise social activities for over-60s in Southwark. The charity, which has been based in East Dulwich for 23 years, offers activity groups, befriending visits, transport to social activities and light DIY help around the home and garden for older residents of Southwark.

All services are volunteer-led and the charity is always looking for new volunteers to help older residents maintain their social life and prevent isolation.

Richard, 53, who visits two older gentlemen weekly, says, “They both appreciate my company and the chance to talk to somebody. They look forward to my visits, and I look forward to them too. I’ve made two new friends.”

If you’re over 60 and would like to find out more about Link Age Southwark’s 23 activity groups ranging from singing to bridge to yoga, or about the befriending home visit service, please call 020 8299 2623, email info@linkagesouthwark.org or look at www.linkagesouthwark.org

If you would like to find out more about volunteering with Link Age Southwark, please call 020 8299 2623, email volunteering@linkagesouthwark.org or look at www.linkagesouthwark.org  Link Age Southwark has volunteers of all ages, ranging from 18 to 91!

Business in Dulwich (Wed 1 Feb 2017)

The next Dulwich community council meeting is happening on Wednesday 1 February 2017 at Herne Hill Baptist Church, Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, SE24 9HU.

This meeting will happen in two parts. The first consists of a formal decision making meeting followed by the themed community meeting. So…

At 7pm:           Dulwich Community Council – Decision making meeting

Decisions announced for the successful Cleaner Greener Safer Fund 2017/18 projects

At 7.30pm:      Dulwich Community Council Forum meeting

The meeting will be hearing from Cllr Johnson Situ – Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Employment and Culture giving an overview on the theme.

The committee wants to hear from you all – local business owners and residents!!

So come along, let it know who you are, what service you provide (business owners) or what you like/want to see improved in your area.

There will be community announcements and also an item on Road Junction Safety through proposed double yellow lines and more!!

So get involved in the discussion about Business in Dulwich at the Dulwich community council on Wednesday 1 February from 7pm.

 

New Recycling Bins for Turney Road

Lambeth council is introducing green wheelie bins for recycling, to replace the current clear recycling sack service. The new green recycling wheelie bins will start to make an appearance on Monday 16 January, and the delivery is scheduled to take approximately six weeks. 

In the Southwark end of the Road, Southwark Council has provided BLUE wheelie for recycling for some years.  We welcome the bins but hope that this is not another confusing difference in waste collection between neighbouring boroughs: the Southwark GREEN bin is for NON-recyclables.  Just yards away in Lambeth, in the same road, GREEN is FOR recyclables!

Lambeth Council is holding a briefing for Street Champions at 6pm on Tuesday 10 January.  Perhaps the Street Champions can ask about this.

Village Ward councillors urge reconsideration of the Quietway 7 route through Dulwich Village

Our Village Ward councillors wrote on Monday 23rd May to the new Mayor, new GLA Transport Committee Chair and the new Southwark Cabinet Member responsible for cycling requesting pause and reconsideration of the Quietway 7 route.

From: Lyons, Jane
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 12:34 PM
To: ‘mayor@london.gov.uk’; ‘caroline.pidgeon@london.gov.uk’; Wingfield, Ian
Subject: Reconsider Quietway 7 route through Dulwich Village

Dear All

We are writing as ward councillors for Village Ward in Southwark as you are new in post and with responsibility for transport.

As you may be aware Village Ward is currently targeted as part of the Quietways 7 route from the Elephant and Castle to Crystal Palace, running along Calton Avenue, through Dulwich Village junction, and then down through Turney Road.

This section has caused an outcry amongst residents and businesses alike.   The route was visited upon us with no prior consultation or option to change it;  and £000s have been spent in consulting at speed with an unwilling but engaged community in an attempt, so far failed, to make the proposed route an acceptable one.

Key points of objection from within the community are the ineffectiveness of consultation,  loss of parking spaces, and the unnecessary redesign of the main junction in the village, with no apparent or evidenced gains or improvements for cyclists – just a worse deal for everyone else.

As you are new to post we are writing now to ask that Village Ward section of the route of Quietways 7 be reconsidered.  You will have this opportunity to reconsider because we currently await  an outstanding traffic survey of the impact of coaches on a key part of the route and the potential impact of the proposed arbitrary introduction of double yellow lines on every junction in Dulwich.

Finally our understanding is that £600,000 has been allocated specifically for the Quietway route through the ward.  We believe that this money could be much better spent developing an holistic overview and solution to the traffic demands in Dulwich which would be of benefit to all road users including pedestrians.

Yours sincerely

 

Cllr Michael Mitchell, Group Leader, Southwark Conservative Group, Ward Councillor, Village Ward

Cllr Jane Lyons, Deputy Group Leader, Southwark Conservative Group, Ward Councillor, Village Ward

 

Save Lambeth’s Carnegie Library – Demo Saturday 9th April 2016, 11.30am Carnegie Library

8th April 2016

Many of you will be aware of the issues relating to the Carnegie Library and Lambeth’s plans to reconfigure their library services.   Campaigners have been occupying the library for over a week and Lambeth is now taking steps to force the campaigners to vacate the library.

The following web sites and articles provide some background:

http://friendsofcarnegielibrary.org.uk

http://carnegiehernehill.org.uk

Follow @hernehillforum,  #carnegieoccupation for latest news

Lambeth news release on Carnegie Library

Toby Litt in The Guardian on why the fight to save Lambeth Carnegie Library continues.

Series of tweets from Lambeth Council today 8th April 2016:

To be clear: We are NOT closing libraries – there are ten libraries in Lambeth now, and there will be ten libraries in the future.  Overall, Lambeth libraries will be open longer and book stocks will be protected.  We have committed to 2 new libraries in the coming years & have recently built a new Clapham library and refurbished Streatham & Brixton. Carnegie will reopen with a library service that will remain free and open to all.  The new gym at Carnegie will be housed in the currently unused basement of the building.  The rest of the building at Carnegie will provide at least as much community space as now, including a library service.

Statement from local Turney/Roseway resident:

“As an old member of the Dulwich Society and a Friend of the Carnegie Library I should like to say a few words on the subject.

The Carnegie Library, as everyone will know, is just over the border in Lambeth, but is used by many Dulwich residents, and those who do not use it may well hold it in some regard.

We are all aware of the threat to libraries and the situation in Lambeth is no exception. However, the librarians and the Friends of the library have devised  financial proposals which, they believe, will enable the institution to continue as initially intended. Up to this moment, the council have not been willing to discuss these solutions. Instead, they have devised a scheme which involves closing the library and inviting  a private company to change the building into a fee paying gym.

To my knowledge, as well as providing the normal services, the library serves a variety of valuable social functions in the neighbourhood. The local people do not want a gym. Yet the council has now closed the building, prior to expensive reconstruction work. No plans have been made available.

The feelings of the local people are so strong on this issue that, following a meeting on April 1st, some 40 people remained behind, now locked inside, determined to occupy the building until the council agrees to discuss the whole situation.

I hope that many local residents will wish to support the librarians and Friends of the Carnegie Library in their struggle for what they believe is right.”

Join the big march on Saturday April 9. Gather outside Carnegie Library, 118 Herne hill Rd., SE24 at 11:30AM. The march will go to Brixton via the threatened Minet Library. 

Saturday’s Big March from Carnegie to Brixton

There is also a Save the Archives event and March at the Minet Library on Saturday April 9 – see Save Minet Library Poster 11am – 1pm  which will join up with the Brixton March

Picture: REX/Shutterstock

Published: 8 April 2016