Comments on: North is pretty, Green is vile

By: J Mark Dodds

J Mark Dodds — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:46:16 +0000

All that is still oh so familiar. Groundhog DAYS.

By: Alan Dale

Alan Dale — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:30:07 +0000

So it’s who you know rather than what you know?! Who let the dogs out?!

Now that we’ve realised then the surely plan should be to get to know some people.

By: Regeneguru

Regeneguru — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:28:07 +0000

‘Snot about the leisure centres, although they’re symptomatic. Proof of the existence of some kind of Dulwich Connection may be found in the Council’s successful resistance of the designation of Dulwich as a high-residential-density area despite overwhelming pressure from Mayor Ken and central Government.

Camberwell has better architecture and more conservation areas than Dulwich, so why are the high-rise porthole window breeze block cheap builds planned for SE5, instead of SE22?

Local Labour councillors did not lift a finger in protest, because campaigning for quality of public space is something of which the mythical working class would disapprove.

By: Newroad

Newroad — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:44:39 +0000

We already have many ‘Dulwich type’ shops, whatever they are. Be nice to have some more. I’d also challenge you to show me where the ‘Dulwich elite’ campagined for investment in their Leisure Centre. It was actually a quite dispassionate, very straight forward analysis across the Borough and given the severity of so many Centres, was a good result for a way forward. Our local Councillors did little — they are the ones whose Governments let them rot. Now local people are finding a good solution. Despite folks hyjacking it with issues of parking and Councillors like Alison McGovern pretending to be effective. Go local team. You’ll do it in spite of the obstacles by (mostly) local people.

By: Dagmar

Dagmar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:26:29 +0000

A limescaled toilet at that, what was it? Crime scaled? Grime caked? Corncrake? Cornflaked? Carrot-flecked? The Baths are great for toddler gyms and the Pulse good for toddler swimming. The toilets in the Baths are very pongy — remind me of remote Greek islands. It’s good. Anyway, daytime people with small children — these are people who really appreciate the Baths and the Pulse. Now that the economy is going down the toilet, useful local places like them will be even more valuable, but less affordable, as the money recedes to the distant suburban rim.

By: eusebiovic

eusebiovic — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:20:35 +0000

reg @267

Well maybe the influence of the new Mary Datchelor tenants may well pave the way for a town centre masterplan in Camberwell rather than leaving it at the mercy of the lowest common denominator…

I’m sure their presence will guarantee at least a couple of East Dulwich type businesses to open on Church Street

By: Regeneguru

Regeneguru — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:48:28 +0000

Newroad has one point - that throwing money at a problem doesn't always solve it. Inner city areas like ours need policy solutions, not just 100% grant-funded project work. It is wrong to suggest public sector management is never the best solution; that encourages a lazy PPP approach. The lesson from New Labour is that any organisation tends to take a more relaxed view of spending taxpayers' money than their own. The No.1 challenge of finding something to run the Baths was always about making the Green seem like an attractive destination - but no campaigner picked up on that, so all we've had is a pavement replacement and a new toilet.

By: Mushtimushta

Mushtimushta — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:39:06 +0000

@Phil G Speaking as a Council tenant, I can tell you that it doesn't feel like the Council is totally focussing all the borough's resources on me. And I've never claimed a single benefit in my life, didn't "inherit" my tenancy and don't own a sports car (can't drive, actually!) So please, don't waste any of that bile on thinking that you're keeping ME in the lap of luxury. Perhaps my ownership of a computer to leave this posting means that I should be means tested and removed from my home of 20 years? If you have an illegal sub-letter, I'm sure you know how to resolve that one. One telephone call is normally all it takes.

By: Newroad

Newroad — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:06:49 +0000

Not complaining. Just using hard evidence to prove your whole argument was flawed.

But if you tell me you fought hard at the countless meetings re: the Leisure Centre, then I will be glad to entertain your facts about the outcome. Otherwise its just ill informed barbs thrown out post-fact that only make things worse.

By: D-MAN

D-MAN — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:05:06 +0000

Newroad, you can complain about spending money on poor areas, but that’s the price for keeping a lid on things.

Relatively, it’s good value, especially if you’re well off.