Agenda item

Deputation presentations.

Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to Schools group

Laurie Johnston, spokesperson for the deputation, introduced herself as a member of the Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to Schools group. 

The representative was at the meeting to talk about the Townley Road junction and accepted the council’s withdrawal of the proposed scheme which was to ban the no-right turn into Townley Road due to the strong opposition from the local community and the impact of rat running in these roads.  Laurie addressed the issue of safety for the children that use the junction and the high number of child pedestrian movements that take place each school day.  The Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to Schools was an inclusive volunteer community group that works in partnership with all the local schools, parents, residents associations, local councillors, the Dulwich Society and the council.

Laurie explained that their goal was to create safer environment on school journeys, whether it was walking, cycling or using scooters.  She said accident statistics did not highlight the danger of the junction. She talked about the experiences of people who use the junction every day and more people would walk if the junction were made safe.  The Safe Route to Schools group had gone before the community council four years ago to express concern about the dangers of the junction.  The group were grateful that the council had acknowledged this and were able to help secure funding to improve road and traffic safety in this area.

Laurie said it was important that all groups and interested parties to work together to resolve road safety issues in a constructive way. She said the Safe Routes to Schools was committed positively and collaboratively to that process.  Laurie asked that the council help groups pull together to accomplish that goal.

Dovercourt Road residents

Barbara Richardson, spokesperson for the deputation addressed the meeting on behalf of residents in the local community which included those that were present for the deputation. The representatives objected to the council’s proposal for the junction at Townley Road. 

Many residents were in favour of improving the safety for pedestrians and cyclists but had concerns there had been no study to examine the impact of a ‘no right turn’ ban on the wider area which would mean diverting traffic onto residential roads. She said it went against the council’s policies making streets in and around Dulwich less safe for cyclists and pedestrians.  Barbara outlined that residents were delighted that the cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport, Councillor Mark Williams, had listened to the concerns of the local community and had instructed officers to explore alternative proposals that did not include a ban on turning right.

Barbara said that the cabinet member took note that there should be transparency and engagement for any future proposals for the junction. She said she would like the council to provide a clear engagement plan in order to gather the views of the local community and ensure there were set timescales during the consultation process.  Barbara said background documents and research should be provided as standard.  It was noted the deputation organised paper petitions which contained signatures from residents in the neighbouring roads before the original consultation deadline and an online petition which contained signatures from both residents and local businesses.

The community council noted the deputation would like the council to take action on the following:

• Put forward a revised proposal for the Townley Road junction that would be properly modelled and for it not to divert traffic to other local junctions or onto residential roads that did not include a right turn ban.

• Consult widely and transparently on the revised proposal in accordance with a public engagement plan that has a clear timescale to ensure all users of the junction have an opportunity to express their views.

• Commit to working with the wider community and to establish a consultation procedure for the future that has a clear process and that seeks broad and representative input from residents.

East Dulwich Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) ward panel

Martin Cambridge, spokesperson for the deputation introduced himself as the chair of the East Dulwich SNT ward panel.  He was joined by members of his committee including the East Dulwich SNT ward panel, Village SNT ward panel and the chair of the Dulwich Society. Martin said the deputation was supporting a cleaner greener safer bid of £40,000 that the Dulwich Society submitted to the council. The funding would be used to convert an unused annexe that was adjoined to Dulwich Library, so it could be used a touchdown community safety hub which could be used by the police so they could meet with local residents in the area.

Martin explained that they might not have a dedicated police team in their ward but did accept the necessary changes that took place within the Metropolitan Police service and changes to the way those local services were delivered.  However their primary concern was to ensure that a police presence remained in the area and the local community had access and contact with neighbourhood policing. In addition the community had access to meeting facilities with the local police.

Martin further explained that East Dulwich and Village wards had not been offered an acceptable replacement police hub since the closure of the police station in East Dulwich.  He said the current police contact was the lobby in Dulwich Library.  This did not offer any privacy and meetings were often interrupted by other users of the library.  People who had arranged to meet with police were at times intimidated being in an open space environment. The other issue was the travel time for residents in Village and East Dulwich wards going travelling to and from Camberwell police station.

In response to a query relating to the borough commander’s views on a local community safety hub in East Dulwich, Martin explained that one of their members from the East Dulwich SNT ward panel confirmed that the borough commander welcomed this proposal.

The Friends of Dulwich Park

Trevor Moore, a local resident presented a deputation on behalf of Dulwich Park friends and as vice chair of the group. He explained that as a cyclist and dog walker, he wanted to speak about the current cycling strategy paper which was available for consultation.  The required responses for the consultation which were required by the 1 February 2015 provided a distinction between the quietways and a proposed cycle spine.  The strategy document described this as a completely new ‘high capacity strategic cycling corridor’ which would provide a clear space for cycling. Trevor explained that neither Dulwich Park Friends nor the manager of the park itself were aware that Dulwich Park would be part of this new cycling corridor. He requested people that were not aware of the proposal should check the council’s website to put in their responses.  He also asked the council to extend the deadline for responses to the strategy as many people only became aware of this recently.  Trevor said many of the group’s members would normally communicate by letter through the post and also included the Dulwich Society.  He asked how would people, influence the principle if they are not aware of it in the first place.

In response to this issue, the chair explained that he was happy to rule out any proposals for traffic (including big traffic lanes) going through Dulwich Park.  He said a Southwark spine or quietway would not be going through the park in the way people had feared.  This followed a conversation the chair had with Councillor Mark Williams, the cabinet member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport.

The chair thanked all of the representatives for their deputations.