Dulwich Village Forum representation to Southwark Council 30/11/16

We are members of the new Dulwich Village Forum, which is open to residents, local businesses and schools, and works with existing community groups like Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School, and the Dulwich Society.

We want the Dulwich section of Quietway 7 to succeed. We believe less confident cyclists should be given the encouragement and safety they deserve. So we want to underline today the importance of three of the recommendations Councillor Wingfield has attached to his decision.

http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgDecisionDetails.aspx?IId=50008539&Opt=1

Recommendation 6 is about monitoring parking stress, as the Quietway runs down two busy roads which have recently become even more congested because of a new neighbouring Controlled Parking Zone.

Recommendation 10 is about ensuring that the coaches operated by the three local independent schools no longer use the Quietway. This can only be achieved if TfL agrees to a new or improved pedestrian crossing point on the South Circular.

And recommendation 9 is about a community proposal for an alternative junction layout in the middle of Dulwich Village, which we would like to draw your attention to now.

In the recent public consultation, two-thirds of the local community voted against Southwark’s official proposal for the junction. There were anxieties that it didn’t put pedestrians and cyclists first, and was likely to cause more traffic congestion and more air pollution. May we remind councillors that there are two schools with primary-aged children situated directly on this junction, as well as hundreds of local schoolchildren walking and cycling through it every day.

Our alternative proposal is based on a low-speed environment that gives priority to pedestrians and Quietway cyclists. It offers continuous traffic flow with respect for the most vulnerable road-users.  If councillors would like to see the official proposal and a rough sketch of the alternative side by side, please go to the website of the new Dulwich Village Forum www.dulwichvillageforum.org.uk

We believe the alternative community-backed proposal unites Dulwich rather than splitting it in half, and adds value and good civic design to one of Southwark’s historic conservation areas. We believe this is a genuinely exciting opportunity that will show that the council is not only committed to the safety of pedestrians and Quietway cyclists, but is also forward-looking, innovative, and responsive to the concerns of the local community.

Councillor Wingfield recently invited members of the local community to re-submit ideas for this alternative proposal. To test out whether the design could work, expert traffic consultants have been commissioned to carry out a feasibility study, paid for by a local crowdfunding initiative. As of today’s date, £2,900 has been raised in 12 days through 90 individual contributions, ranging from £5 to £100. We hope this shows the depth and scale of local concern.

We understand that TfL believes this alternative proposal offers gains for Quietway cyclists and pedestrians. There is still, of course, further work to do, and we would be delighted if modifications or improvements make the design even better for experienced as well as inexperienced cyclists. But nothing can happen at all without wholehearted support from Southwark Council and TfL.

We would be pleased to answer any questions about our proposal, and about the conclusions of the feasibility study by Phil Jones Associates. Our deputation today includes Alex Hamilton, who first sketched out the idea, as well as local parents and cyclists in support. We would also be happy to talk in more detail about why we feel the implementation of Councillor Wingfield’s recommendations are crucial to the success of the Quietway.

Thank you again for your time.

 

Question to Councillor Wingfield

“We are trying to persuade Southwark and TfL to support a co-operative, low-speed environment for the Quietway junction in the middle of Dulwich Village. Are we wasting our time?”

 

The Dulwich Village Forum

Against all indications, the Southwark Council cabinet member, Ian Wingfield, has now decided to implement the Quietways 7 plan.

The members of COLAR are overwhelmingly against it as they revealed through the Survey Monkey carried out earlier this year. Our local councillors have attempted to ‘call in’ the decision but the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Southwark Council (Chairman, Cllr Gavin Edwards) has over-ruled them.

The new Dulwich Village Forum has just been set up by members of a number of Dulwich Residents’ Associations, The Dulwich Society, Schools, Shops and other interested parties to make representations to Southwark Council and to finance a new independent road safety study for the Village Junction.

COLAR itself is not expressing any views on the Dulwich Village Forum proposals because members have not been consulted and neither is COLAR inviting any members to contribute any money because any such invitation by COLAR to do so would be contrary to the terms of our Constitution.

However, the issues raised are clearly of the greatest interest to all Dulwich residents and therefore we are passing on the information about the Dulwich Village Forum and its plans to you.

Any response or contribution you make would be entirely personal to you.

A flyer from the Dulwich Village Forum dulwichvillageforum.org.uk will be put through your letter box shortly with further details.

 

Double Yellow Lines for all Dulwich junctions – timetable

Provisional dates for the double yellow line junction protection delivery:

Technical design drawings.     July/August.     Parking design need to prepare technical drawings for 123 junctions in the DCC area.

Statutory consultation (including letter drop to adjacent properties).   September/October.     TMO scheduling: these are the legal documents that allow the council to regulate and enforce the parking restriction.  Statutory consultation will run for a 3 week period.

Determination of objections.   Dulwich CC 7th December 2016.   If objections are received, these will be presented to Dulwich community council for determination.

Implementation.   Early 2017.

Former Audi Workshop Site

Gilkes Crescent, Dulwich Village

Press release from the Dulwich Estate – 8 July 2016

The Dulwich Estate is pleased to report that McCulloch Homes Ltd has acquired the freehold.

The site in the heart of Dulwich Village has planning consent for eight three-storey town houses (4 x 4 bed and 4 x 5 bed) with basement parking (two spaces per house) and four affordable dwellings: one three bed, wheelchair accessible house, one two bed house and two one bed flats, all with parking at basement level.

McCulloch Homes Ltd has over the past 26 years a strong reputation for building innovative, quality, homes in the South East.

Terry Phillips, Land Manager for McCulloch Homes Ltd said “we are delighted to have secured this prime location in Dulwich Village where we will build these highly desirable homes which have been carefully designed to suit their surroundings”.

Results of the COLAR survey on the Quietways Consultation

Court Lane Residents (COLAR) Survey on the Quietways Consultation

 

In your opinion, will the proposals increase, not change, or decrease traffic congestion?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
They will increase traffic congestion 89.0% 130
They will not change traffic congestion 6.8% 10
They will decrease traffic congestion 2.7% 4
I don’t have an opinion 1.4% 2
answered question 146
skipped question 0

 

The Quietways initiative consultation A4 leaflet explains proposed changes to the Court Lane/Calton Avenue/Dulwich Village junction road/pavement layout. Was a printed copy delivered to your home?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Yes 74.6% 106
No 25.4% 36
answered question 142
skipped question 4

 

The Quietways proposal involves changes to the Court Lane/Calton Avenue/Dulwich Village junction which you can view at www.courtlane.info. In your opinion, are the proposed changes to the junction:
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Needed 2.8% 4
Needed in part 26.9% 39
Not needed 67.6% 98
I don’t have an opinion 2.8% 4
answered question 145
skipped question 1

 

In your opinion, will the proposals increase, not change, or decrease traffic congestion?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
They will increase traffic congestion 89.0% 130
They will not change traffic congestion 6.8% 10
They will decrease traffic congestion 2.7% 4
I don’t have an opinion 1.4% 2
answered question 146
skipped question 0

 

 

The proposals are intended to increase safety for cyclists using the junction. In your opinion, will the proposals:
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Increase safety for cyclists 8.9% 13
Have no effect 46.6% 68
Decrease safety for cyclists 38.4% 56
I don’t have an opinion 6.2% 9
answered question 146
skipped question 0

 

In your opinion, do you think that the proposals give too little or too much consideration to cyclists?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
They give too much consideration to cyclists 81.4% 118
They give adequate consideration to cyclists 9.7% 14
They give too little consideration to cyclists 4.8% 7
I don’t have an opinion 4.1% 6
answered question 145
skipped question 1

 

In your opinion, do you think that the proposals give too little or much consideration to pedestrians?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
They give too much consideration to pedestrians 10.3% 15
They give adequate consideration to pedestrians 38.6% 56
They give too little consideration to pedestrians 45.5% 66
I don’t have an opinion 5.5% 8
answered question 145
skipped question 1

 

In your opinion, do you think that the proposed removal of the guard railings around the pavement outside the village school at the junction:
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Increase safety for children 2.7% 4
Have no effect 1.4% 2
Decrease safety for children 92.5% 135
I don’t have an opinion 3.4% 5
answered question 146
skipped question 0

 

In your opinion, do you think that the proposals give too little or too much consideration to car users?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
They give too much consideration to car users 4.8% 7
They give adequate consideration to car users 6.2% 9
They give too little consideration to car users 84.8% 123
I don’t have an opinion 4.1% 6
answered question 145
skipped question 1

 

Do you agree that priority should be changed from Court Lane road users to Calton Avenue road-users?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
I agree that priority should be changed from Court Lane to Calton Avenue road users 7.6% 11
I disagree that priority should be changed from Court Lane to Calton Avenue road users 84.8% 123
I don’t have an opinion 7.6% 11
answered question 145
skipped question 1

 

The proposals seek to reduce the three lanes at the traffic lights at the bottom of Calton Avenue to two lanes. In your opinion, would this lead to:
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Increased congestion 92.5% 135
Have no effect 2.7% 4
Decrease congestions 2.1% 3
I don’t have an opinion 2.7% 4
answered question 146
skipped question 0

 

Do you have confidence that the Quietways initiative has sufficiently modelled likely displacement in traffic flows? Please choose one answer:
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
I have great confidence that the proposed changes to traffic flows have been sufficiently modelled 1.4% 2
I have some confidence that the proposed changes to traffic flows have been sufficiently modelled 1.4% 2
I have little confidence that the proposed changes to traffic flows have been sufficiently modelled 21.2% 31
I have no confidence that the proposed changes to traffic flows have been sufficiently modelled 71.9% 105
I don’t have an opinion 4.1% 6
answered question 146
skipped question 0

 

In your opinion, will the views of residents be taken into account by the relevant authorities?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
The views of residents will be fully taken into account 2.7% 4
Some views will be taken into account 31.5% 46
The views of residents will not be taken into account 59.6% 87
I don’t have an opinion 6.2% 9
answered question 146
skipped question 0

 

In your opinion, should the quiet ways proposals (Please choose one answer):
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Be adopted with strong support from residents 4.8% 7
Be adopted with qualified support from residents 2.1% 3
Be delayed pending further review 33.6% 49
Be abandoned altogether 58.9% 86
I don’t have an opinion 0.7% 1
answered question 146
skipped question 0

Open Gardens in Court Lane

Sunday 12th June 2016

122 Court Lane  Dulwich  SE21 7EA   Jean and Charles Cary-Elwes

Buses P4, 12, 40, 176, 185 (to Dulwich Library), 37.                                             Mainline: North Dulwich then 15 minutes walk, ample free parking.              Opening 2.00pm – 5.30pm   Admission £5 for NGS, children free.             Wheelchair access to terrace only – but good view of garden.  Teas.

Generously proportioned, mature garden with unusual and marginally tender shrubs which thrive in the hands of a keen propagator.  Agapanthus, a signature plant followed by oleander, and a splendid clerodendron.  Backing onto Dulwich Park, it has a countryside feel – a true family garden with sandpit and hammock mingling with a hardworking greenhouse and a super wormery, which will be demonstrated.  Jazz band, cakes and tea, children’s trail, plant sales.

 

Sunday 26th June 2016

118 Court Lane  Dulwich, SE21 7EA   Margaret Evison                   Telephone:  020 8693 2254

Opening time:  2.00pm – 5.30pm.                                                                        Admission:  £3  in support of the Mark Evison Foundation.  Visitors and groups also welcome by appointment May to August.  Home-made teas.

Luscious planting in deep herbacious borders with shrubs, unusual specimens and arching roses, alongside an immaculate lawn.  Pass under an ancient pear tree through a magical perfumed white rose garden to unfold the surprise – a small wildflower meadow with a pond attracting wildlife, particularly butterflies – all with a wonderful backdrop of green Dulwich Park.  The front garden is a mix of white flowers/varigated greenery.  A plant collectors garden.

Best Front Garden Competition

The Dulwich Society

Front Garden competition 2016        

We are sponsoring a front garden competition in 2016.  Entry is free and open to all households in the Dulwich area. Judging will take in June.

Prizes will be awarded: the Front Garden of the Year – £100 Garden Voucher; five Gold Prizes of £50 Garden Vouchers, and five Silver Prizes of £25.

The closing date for entry is 31 May.

Entry forms for the competition are available on www.dulwichsociety.com/garden-group

Quietways on-line Survey

Your Comittee has set up an on-line survey with regard to the potential impact that the Quietways proposals will have on the residents of Court Lane & Court Lane Gardens.  This should take only a few minutes to complete and will enable us to provide an accurate account of the opinions of our members to the relevant authorities.

Please complete this as soon as possible (like straight away!) as we really need these figures before the Dulwich Community Council Meeting on 15th March next.

The survey will only accept one entry from each e-mail address, so for multiple occupancies, please use separate e-mail addresses…and get everyone to complete one!

Just copy and paste this website address into your browser…and you’ll be ready to go!

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/T9QPDWX

Quietways drop-in events

The venues for the three scheduled Quietways open drop-in events have been arranged as follows:

East Dulwich Ward

Tuesday 23rd February – 5.00pm to 8.00pm,  Dulwich Library Hall, 368 Lordship Lane, SE22 8NA

Village Ward

Saturday 5th March – 9.00am to 12.00pm,  Dulwich Sports Ground, Turney Road, Dulwich, SE21 7JH

College Ward

Saturday 27th February – 9.00am to 12.00pm,  Kingsdale Foundation School, Alleyn Park, Dulwich, SE21 8SQ

 

The consultations will also be advertised on printed banners attached to the railings mainly around the schools and Parks.

Residents are encouraged to respond online – www.consultations.southwark.gov.uk

Quietway consultation and drop-in dates

Following the Dulwich Community Council meeting on 27th January, Southwark Officers have provided the following information.

The Elephant & Castle to Crystal Palace Public  consultation will take place from Monday 15th February 2016 to Sunday 13th March 2016.  The consultation will be for the route throughout Dulwich (both Village and College Wards).  Residents in Dulwich and Village Wards will be consulted.  A consultation leaflet will be posted by Royal Mail delivery to residents.  It is aimed to have three open drop-in events as follows:

Tuesday 23rd February,  Village venue

Saturday 27th February,  Gipsy Hill/College venue

Saturday 5th March,  Village venue

Venues will be confirmed via Southwark’s website and details will be included in the printed leaflets.  It is intended to also advertise the consultation via printed banners attached to the railings mainly around the schools and Parks.

Residents will be able to respond online – www.consultations.southwark.gov.uk