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Like many other London amenity societies, the Dulwich Society has considerable concerns over the proposed changes to England’s planning system proposed by the Government in the recent consultation document ‘Planning for the Future’. They are likely to be profoundly unpopular and could cause permanent damage to the built environment. The London Forum of Amenity Societies is asking member societies and individuals to consider writing to their MP, asking them to take note of the concerns and to make their views known to the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP. Write to our MP Helen Hayes at
The major points are as follows:
The new Standard Method for setting housing requirements is wholly inappropriate for London. Overall, the Capital will be expected to deliver almost three times as many homes annually as it has averaged over the past 5 years, with much of the increase directed at those boroughs with the least capacity to raise output. The method takes no account of London’s great shortage of homes for social and low-cost rent for key workers and their families.
Councils will be required to produce new Local Plans in 30 months, an impossibly short timescale given the need to map the entire borough into Growth, Renewal and Protected areas, and to create design specifications (known as Design Codes) for all sites earmarked for development. Until this task is completed, it is likely that highly inappropriate and unpopular developments will gain planning consent.
The proposals foresee more intensive public participation in producing Local Plans and Design Codes, but curtailment of the public’s right to comment on specific planning applications. This might be acceptable were there a requirement for all applications to comply with those plans and designs. But there isn’t. It appears that developers may submit non-compliant applications and have them assessed against planning policies that have been determined centrally, but with nationwide application having no regard to local circumstances. This will rightly incense communities whose up-front efforts have been by-passed or over-ridden.
No mention is made of the London Plan (currently awaiting approval by the Secretary of State), nor of Metropolitan Open Land which currently enjoys the same protection as Greenbelt - and should continue to do so.
A new single-rate Infrastructure Levy, not payable until completion of development, is proposed to replace Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy. This will expose Local Authorities to risks they are ill-equipped to bear in borrowing to build the required infrastructure, and the various exemptions proposed will further reduce the delivery of genuinely affordable homes.
It now appears that the previously approved scheme for 13 houses in on this site is not going to happen as it is no longer financially viable. This is now a great opportunity to solve two endemic Dulwich problems, how to provide decent sized apartments in the centre of the Village for downsizers and how to provide up-to-date accommodation for the Dulwich Estate Almshouse Charity.
The situation was confirmed at a meeting on 22 October between the local residents’ monitoring group and the CEO from McCulloch’s (chaired by local MP Helen Hayes). The developer is now having pre-application discussions with Council planners over an apartment scheme which will include a larger element of social or affordable accommodation (up to 35% to be in line with Council policies) and has agreed that it will carry out a further public consultation. Common sense says that the smaller units would be ideal for almshouse accommodation and, hopefully, the Almshouse Charity will seize the opportunity.
The 57th Annual General Meeting of the Dulwich Society will be held at 7.30pm on 24th September 2020 via Zoom teleconference.
https://zoom.us/j/95666923217 or go to Zoom.com and click on Join Meeting using: Meeting ID: 956 6692 3217, Passcode: 573114
Agenda
- Introduction and apologies for absence.
- Approve Minutes of the 56th Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 7th May 2019.
- Matters Arising.
- Chairman’s Report and Review of the Year.
- Approve accounts for the year ended 31st December 2019.
- Appoint Independent Examiner. Nominee: Sally-Anne Jeffries, Chartered Accountant.
- Elections for 2020-2021. Officers, Members of the Executive Committee, Honorary Officers
The following nominations have been received:
Role - Name (Proposer, Seconder)
a) Officers*
Chairman - Ian McInnes (Paul Butler, Duncan Bowie)
Vice-Chairman - Kenneth Wolfe (Brian Green, Sue Badman)
Hon.Secretary - Sue Badman (David Cianfarani, Ian McInnes)
Hon. Treasurer – Russell Lloyd (Gardner Thompson, Kirsty Gould)
Membership Secretary - Diana McInnes (Patricia Reynolds, Paul Butler)
b) Members of the Executive Committee and Chairs of Sub-Committees where indicated*
Journal Editor - Brian Green (Bernard Nurse, Sue Badman)
Travel & Environment - Harry Winter (Ian McInnes, Sue Badman)
Planning & Architecture - David Roberts (Oliver Probyn, Lesley Gibbs)
Gardens - Jeremy Prescott (Jean Cary-Elwes, Terry Harvey-Jones)
Local History - Bernard Nurse (Patricia Reynolds, Gavin Bowyer)
Trees - David Beamish (Patricia Hole, John Hughes)
Licensing - Patsy Bramble (Hugh Bramble, Sue Badman)
Wildlife - Angela Wilkes (Sigrid Collins, Anne Laver)
Committee Member - Adrian Hill (James Thompson, Catherine Holmes)
*Officers and Members of the Executive Committee are Trustees of the Dulwich Society Charity.
c) Honorary Officer: President: Dr Colin Niven
- Any Other Business/Questions – please raise with the Chairman (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) in advance, copied to the Secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). - Date of next AGM – Monday 26th April 2021 (proposed)
- Close of AGM Business.
- Talk by Chair of the Dulwich Estate Trustees, Andreas Köttering.
The Chairman’s and Committee reports are available on the Dulwich Society web site www.dulwichsociety.com. The Rules of the Society are available at http://www.dulwichsociety.com/about-the-dulwich-society.
Details of the Zoom link were sent to members in the September enewsletter (published at the end of August). If you are not already receiving the enewsletter please send your email address to
Never used Zoom before? First-time Zoom users will find the following video useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh50kVaIdAY
Susan Badman, Hon. Secretary, Dulwich Society,
Phase 1 - Covid-19 Temporary Highway Schemes Batch 1 Including Permeable Filter at the Dulwich Village Junction and Melbourne/Tell Grove
The Dulwich Society has reviewed the Council's recently published report on its plans for the implementation of temporary emergency measures in Dulwich Village and Melbourne Grove and is supportive of them as a means to improve social distancing to directly mitigate Covid-19. These are part of a Southwark-wide programme financed by public funding, and part of a national response to the Covid-19 pandemic which can be found on this link:
http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50023147&Opt=0
We also note that the proposals reflect much of what has recently been consulted on in the Council’s ‘Healthy Streets Initiative’ and that the measures proposed could have a beneficial impact on promoting active travel and reducing air pollution.
There may be unintended consequences and some areas will be positively or adversely affected more than others. It is essential that the measures are seen as being flexible and easily reversible and/or extendable if need be, and that the Council responds positively to residents' experiences of the schemes in operation. The Dulwich Society expects the full impact on the surrounding area will be properly evaluated and that the changes should not, at the end of the period, de facto stay unaltered or unimproved as a permanent change without a full public consultation.
Phase 2 - Covid-19 - Post Lockdown Highway Schemes Batch 2 Including Permeable Filters at Melbourne Grove, Derwent Grove and Elsie Road
Given the apparent diversity of views among its membership, it would be inappropriate for the Dulwich Society to take a position either for or against the proposed Phase 2 traffic amendments.
http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50023482&Opt=0
Phase 3 - Covid-19 - Post Lockdown Highway Schemes Batch 3 Including Timed Cameras and Bus Gates at Dulwich Village, Burbage Road & Turney Road, Townley Road, Plus Double Yellow Lines in Dulwich Village
Given the apparent diversity of views among its membership, it would be inappropriate for the Dulwich Society to take a position either for or against the proposed Phase 3 traffic amendments. http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=7153
THE DULWICH SOCIETY MINUTES of the 56th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Society held on 7th May 2019, 8pm at the Crown and Greyhound, Dulwich Village, SE21
Present: approximately 35 members and three Southwark Dulwich ward councillors
Apologies: Russell Lloyd, Bernard Nurse, David Beamish, Diana McInnes, Merrill Spencer.
1. Introduction and Welcome by Dr Colin Niven, President
Colin welcomed members and councillors to the meeting and thanked the Chair and the Executive Committee for their remarkable work over the past year. He also thanked the Crown & Greyhound for their hospitality in hosting the AGM.
2. Minutes of the 55th AGM held on 30th April 2018 were approved and signed.
3. Matters Arising - None
4. Chairman’s Report and Review of the Year (Ian McInnes)
Written reports from the Chairman, Sub-Committee Chairmen and Officers are available on the Society’s website (www.dulwichsociety.com). The Trustees’ Annual Report for 2018 submitted to the Charity Commission is at https://www.dulwichsociety.com/pdf/annual-report-and-accounts-2018.pdf
The meeting received the report from the Chairman and his review of the past 12 months.
The Chairman highlighted the growth in Society communications with the successful eNewsletter and Twitter accounts which had gained a large following. The Journal remains a very well received benefit of Society membership. The Society has over 1,100 paid-up members.
The January 2019 Traffic meeting hosted jointly with Dulwich Safe Routes and featuring key Council and academic speakers as well as Helen Hayes MP was well attended, and helped spread positive messages about school streets, air quality and active travel.
The Society has awarded grants to local projects including historic information signs in several locations including College Road, bench and white post repairs and the digitisation of the court rolls and the historic Dulwich Estate maps (split 50/50 with the Dulwich College Archive).
The Society decided at the end of 2018 not to extend the Rosebery Lodge lease with Southwark Council and will return the Lodge to Southwark Council on 1st June 2019 – the Society felt that, in future, it would be best managed by the Council itself.
The Society has continued to conduct history and architecture walks and talks and will be hosting a party at the Dulwich Gallery Pavilion later in the summer to which all members are invited.
In 2018, the Society continued to be active in the promotion of public engagement and consultation on transport, local developments & planning applications. In the past year these have included the Quietway 7 implementation and changes to the main Dulwich Village junction and the holistic review of Dulwich traffic management – the Dulwich Traffic Management Study. The monitoring report on the Dulwich Village junction should be published at the end of April. The changes for Quietway 7 have not had the beneficial impact that the Council were expecting. Coming up is a new Southwark traffic project Our Healthy Streets whose first community engagement event took place on 7th May.
There is agreement on new Foundation School coach routes, but implementation has been delayed because of the delays in the Thames Water works on Lordship Lane & Dulwich Common - TfL will not go ahead until the latter are complete.
There is widespread concern about the lack of progress on the McCulloch’s development site in the centre of the Village and the Society has continued to press for the construction to begin and the site to be maintained in good order.
The new monthly surgeries at the Dulwich Estate are a positive benefit. New Estate information signs in the Village and an exhibition on the history of the Estate are planned at the Gallery. However, there has been no progress on finding a new site for the Almshouses or on a future for the Grove Tavern site. New tenants have been found for empty shops – a new butcher had arrived in the Village but the continuing delay over the arrival of the “Simply Fresh” convenience store was a major source of frustration for residents.
Southwark and Lambeth police forces have been combined under a single superintendent. The Dulwich Safer Neighbourhood Teams are now based at the former Gipsy Hill Police Station - which is much nearer to their operational area than their previous base at Camberwell.
Local levels of crime remain a concern - after extensive lobbying from the Society, Councillors and our local MP, dedicated schools’ officers are in place, and this has led directly to a reduction in youth-on-youth robbery.
The spate of credit card thefts reported last year appears to have abated, and an arrest made at the Alleyn park sorting office.
The closure of the East Dulwich sorting office also impacted on the timing and efficiency of mail deliveries in SE22.
5. Presentation of Accounts and Financial Report for year to 31st December 2018 by the Chairman, Ian McInnes on behalf of the Society’s Hon. Treasurer, Russell Lloyd.
Overall, the independently examined accounts of The Society show a surplus of £3,761 for the year, compared to the previous year’s figure of £2489, an increase of £1,272
Income was £26,854 in 2018 against £25,153 for 2017. The main variance was a street art grant of £2,500.
Expenditure was £16,332 in 2018 vs £15,841 in 2017. The Society made net provisions of £4,909 including the £2,500 street art disbursement, compared to £1,489 net provisions in 2017.
The Society’s consolidated net bank account balances totalled £54,761 in 2018 compared to £52,893 in 2017.
The Treasurer thanked all those members who pay by standing order since this saves the Society money and reduces the heavy burden placed on our Membership Secretary.
The Treasurer also thanked Sally-Anne Jeffries for her support of the Society and for her auditing and accounts preparation services.
The accounts were duly approved.
6. Appointment of Hon. Independent Examiner.
Sally-Anne Jeffries was proposed for re-election and this was duly approved.
7. ELECTIONS for 2019/2020
The following, having been duly proposed and seconded, were elected:
(a) Officers:
Chairman: Ian McInnes
Vice-Chairman: Kenneth Wolfe
Hon. Secretary: Susan Badman
Hon. Treasurer: Russell Lloyd
Membership Secretary: Diana McInnes
(b) Members of Executive Committee (and Chairs of Sub-Committees where indicated)
Brian Green Editor of the Journal
Alistair Hanton Traffic & Transport
David Roberts Planning & Architecture
Angela Wilkes Wildlife
Jeremy Prescott Gardens
Bernard Nurse Local History
David Beamish Trees
Patsy Bramble Licensing
Adrian Hill Committee Member
Officers and Executive Committee members are Trustees of the Dulwich Society Charity.
(c) Honorary Officers:
President: Dr Colin Niven OBE
8. Proposal to amend the Rules of the Society
The rules are available at https://www.dulwichsociety.com/about-the-dulwich-society
The following changes to the Society Rules, which had been previously notified with the Notice of the AGM, were proposed and approved.
Replace existing Section 3 (Membership) with new Section 3 (Membership)
“Membership shall be open to residents of Dulwich and to other persons who agree with the aims and objects of the Society. Every application for membership shall be made in writing signed by the person desiring membership. Membership will normally be for a household i.e. all adults living at the same address. However, in the event of a vote being needed at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting only one vote is permitted per household.”
This clarifies the definition of membership and voting rights associated with each membership.
Correction to Section 10 (Finance), Line 4: Correction
Replace “shall be audited…” with “shall be subject to an independent examination…”
The accounts of the Dulwich Society are subject to an independent examination conducted in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.
Section 7 (Executive Committee). Add new sentence at the end of the paragraph:
“The Officers and members of the Executive Committee shall be the trustees of the Dulwich Society Charity registered number 234192.”
This is to acknowledge and confirm that all members of the Executive Committee are also trustees of the Dulwich Society charity and are registered on the Charity Commission website.
9. Questions/Points to the Chairman
· What are the factors behind the delays at the McCulloch’s development? The Chair outlined the current position.
· What actions can be taken on McCulloch’s and the Grove Tavern? Surely the Dulwich Estate should be concerned about the impact on the amenity of Dulwich. If the sites are derelict, action can be taken under Section 215 of the Town & Country Planning Act.
· Grove Tavern - Councillor Andy Simmons said the council has met with the Estate repeatedly and there are aspirations for a development but no firm plans. There is the possibility of a Dulwich Wood conservation area. One member asked for a copy of the Grove lease.
· Concerns were raised about air quality on the South Circular. There is evidence of heavy pollution on Dulwich roads. It is hoped that the situation will improve when the expanded ULEZ comes into force in October 2021. The proposed “Our Healthy Streets” project is also aimed at reducing pollution.
· Why is the Estate taking so long to find tenants for empty shops? Are the Estate rents too high? While there are plans for several shops in the Village and West Dulwich vacant units the delays are too long. Cited were Simply Fresh, the pharmacist and adjacent shops in West Dulwich, the newly vacated Mimosa site and the Wine Cellar on Half Moon Lane.
· There are problems with the alleyway next to Gail’s Bakery – the gate is not being closed (will be referred to the Dulwich Estate).
10. Next Annual General Meeting
The date for the 2020 AGM will be confirmed in due course. It is likely to be the last Monday in April 2020.
11. End of AGM Business
Guest Speaker
After the meeting there was a talk by Brian Green on “Spot the Difference – then and now” followed by refreshments.
Minutes by Sue Badman, Secretary, 31st May 2019
Thursday 10 September. Society Zoom talk with David Beamish, chair of the Society’s trees group. Time: 8.00pm. Zoom details as follows: https://zoom.us/j/98157342236 or go to Zoom.com and click on ‘Join meeting’ using: Meeting ID: 981 5734 2236, Passcode: 104168
Thursday 24 September 7.30pm. The meeting will be held on line via Zoom. The specialist sub-committee reports are on the website: www.dulwichsociety.com There is more information in the Autumn issue of the Society’s Journal. We will be joined by the new Chair of Trustees of Dulwich Estate, Andreas Köttering. The Zoom link details are: https://zoom.us/j/95666923217 or go to Zoom.com and click on ‘Join meeting’ using: Meeting ID: 956 6692 3217, Passcode: 573114
The decision date for the phase 2 emergency measures has passed & they will be implemented soon. More Info at:
http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50023482&Opt=0
The Phase 3 emergency measures for Dulwich Village have now also been published and include timed closures (with cameras but no permits) and permeable filters (i.e. roads closed to motorised traffic); also, the use of ‘bus gates’ with timed restrictions. The Council are currently proposing implementation in October.
http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50023654&Opt=0
On Wednesday 26 September the Council hosted three online meetings with residents in Area B (roads east of the DV junction), Area C (roads west of the junction) as well as traders. The Society attended these meetings. While there was support for the measures in both Areas B and C from those who attended, several residents were concerned over the impact of ‘bus gates’ on access to their homes and to medical facilities and hospitals in the morning and evening peaks. It was clear to everyone that, to reduce queues of cars north bound in Dulwich village during the day, TfL needs to urgently install a right-turn filter at the Dulwich Village/East Dulwich Grove junction.
Following the cancellation of the planned remedial works a couple of years ago Network Rail has come up with a new repair scheme. It started on 22 August and work will continue until Christmas. Temporary scaffold structures have been built beneath the bridge to provide works access (mainly at night and weekends). These will be constructed in three separate phases which will allow two-way traffic to continue (and existing bus routes to be retained). It will require the removal of the temporary footway widening but there will be at least one footway with provision for enhanced social distancing. These works will not help the current congestion in Herne Hill where residents have been badly impacted by the queues on Herne Hill and Croxted Road.
The Council Cabinet member has confirmed that there will shortly be a meeting with local stakeholders on an agreed way forward. There will be no decision on proceeding with felling the trees until after the meeting and a Council assessment of the alternative approach put forward by the local stakeholder group.
Dulwich Society Reports for Annual General Meeting - 27 April 2020
(Delayed Due to Covid-19)
Executive Committee Reports for the Year 2019
The Dulwich Society has reviewed the Council's recently published report on its plans for the implementation of temporary emergency measures in Dulwich Village and Melbourne Grove and is supportive of them as a means to improve social distancing to directly mitigate Covid-19. These are part of a Southwark-wide programme financed by public funding, and part of a national response to the Covid-19 pandemic which can be found at moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/.. We also note that the proposals reflect much of what has recently been consulted on in the Council’s ‘Healthy Streets Initiative’ and that the measures proposed could have a beneficial impact on promoting active travel and reducing air pollution.
There may be unintended consequences and some areas will be positively or adversely affected more than others. It is essential that the measures are seen as being flexible and easily reversible and/or extendible if need be, and that the Council responds positively to residents' experiences of the schemes in operation. The Dulwich Society expects the full impact on the surrounding area will be properly evaluated and that the changes should not, at the end of the period, de facto stay unaltered or unimproved as a permanent change without a full public consultation.
Members are encouraged to give feedback to