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The Dulwich Estate Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Simone Crofton as the new Chief Executive. She succeeds John Major, who is retiring after leading the organisation for 16 years. Ms Crofton will take up the position on 15 January 2018.
Ms Crofton is a former Chief Executive of the Institute of Imagination and The Borough Market Trust. Her CV includes extensive leadership experience in running charitable Trusts, building community relations and managing property portfolios and development programmes. She was instrumental in making London’s Borough Market the renowned national and international food destination it is today.
In welcoming her appointment, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Martin Bagley, said: “We are delighted to welcome Simone Crofton to the role. She brings an impressive mix of experience which will prove invaluable to the future of the organisation. We have no doubt she will serve our beneficiaries and the area well. We look forward to working with her as we move towards marking our 400th anniversary in 2019.”
Ms Crofton commented: “As a regular visitor to Dulwich, I am thrilled to join the organisation at such an important milestone in its history. I will work closely with businesses, residents and the wider community to build on The Dulwich Estate’s proud history of stewardship, supporting education and the elderly, contributing to this much loved and unique area of South East London.”
The junction works appear to be largely complete. All barriers have been removed and the new permanent signals are operating. F M Conway and AECOM will return to site on 12 February, when the final resurfacing will take place. Residents will be notified nearer the time regarding exactly what will be happening. However, we are told that there will be a few operatives completing small snagging tasks throughout January.
If further specific information is needed about the scheme, or if you require any clarifications, please contact F M Conway’s resident and business liaison officer Helen McConnell Tel 07917 518 529 or email
Residents who live near Brockwell Park are very concerned over the potential impact of Lambeth’s plans for these two music festivals. If you have concerns you should contact local councillors (Lambeth and Southwark) and you can also write confirming your objections to Cllr Sonia Winifred
The deadline for comments is 24th January. The consultants have put together an online page which includes a list of all proposals and a map to help localise them. Each proposal is presented with a short description and with the opportunity to leave a brief comment. The proposals are grouped under six wide themes (some of them fall within more than one theme): Air Quality, Walking, Public Transport Accessibility, Traffic Calming, Cycling, Parking. See this web page. You can also email
Spring gardens talk - Troy Scott Smith on “Sissinghurst - revitalising Vita”
7.30pm Thursday 22nd March 2018
at the Lecture Theatre, Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU
This year’s talk will be given by Troy Scott Smith, the Head Gardener at Sissinghurst Castle Garden since 2013. Before his move to Sissinghurst, Troy was Head Gardener at Bodnant in North Wales, another celebrated - but very different - National Trust garden.
Troy’s talk is called “Sissinghurst - revitalising Vita”. He will tell us about the 7-year project which he and his team are carrying out to revitalise the garden, bringing about a more authentically Vita Sissinghurst - a celebration of beauty, romance, intimacy and emotion.
After the talk there will be an opportunity to meet Troy over a glass of wine.
Tickets are £10 each (including a glass of wine) and may be purchased through www.eventbrite.co.uk (search “Dulwich Society”), or by sending a cheque payable to the “Dulwich Society” & SAE to Jeremy Prescott, 142 Court Lane, London SE21 7EB.
Enquiries to
There are now reports of at least 35 recent mail thefts from Burbage Road, Dulwich Village, Gilkes Crescent, College Road/Woodyard Lane, Court Lane Gardens, Calton Avenue, Pickwick Road, and Desenfans Road. Local MP Helen Hayes is taking it up directly with the Police and Royal Mail on behalf of everyone who has suffered a loss. She has a map showing the locations, plus an anonymous list of those who have experienced cards or bank accounts being compromised.
Hopefully everyone who has been affected has recorded their individual problem with Royal Mail Customer Service Dept. (
Those reporting back to her should include people who have missing statements, usually John Lewis credit card statements, as this has been the precursor in some instances, to having a card issued to a third party, unknown to the account name. But please make it clear you have not suffered a loss at this time but have told JLP a statement is missing.
Your email should be headed Royal Mail in the subject line. You should then give your full name, address and the customer complaint number given you when you reported the loss. If for some reason you did not report this to Royal Mail would you please still report what happened to your post/credit cards/bank loss to Helen so that she has a full picture of the situation in our pretty small area.
Here is a very useful advice list prepared by Lovelace Road Residents Group:
F M Conway and AECOM have now said that the previously advertised dates for returning to site after the Christmas break, have been revised. It appears that work has accelerated to such an extent that they fully expect the junction works to be largely complete by the week beginning 18th December. All barriers will be removed and the temporary traffic lights will be replaced with the new and permanent signals, presently being commissioned. This will mean there will be no need to return to site until 12th February 2018, when the final resurfacing will take place. Residents will be notified nearer the time regarding exact;y what will happen then.
It is highly likely however that you will see a few of their team members completing small snagging tasks throughout January. There will only ever be a small team of perhaps two or three operatives with one small site vehicle. Large construction vehicles and extensive barriers will not be required for this type of work.
If further specific information is needed about the scheme, or if you require any clarifications, please contact F M Conway’s resident and business liaison officer Helen McConnell Tel 07917 518 529 or email
The site owners, McCulloch Homes, have formally submitted a draft Construction Management Plan (CMP) to Southwark council for approval (Ref 17/AP/4454). This is required under their planning approval and sets out how they will manage the construction process and covers all site works, including deliveries. The Local resident’s group, chaired by local MP Helen Hayes and Village Ward Councillor Jane Lyons, met on the 14th December and will be responding in detail with its concerns.
Despite assurances from the Dulwich Estate that action would be taken to tidy up the site and make it more secure, nothing appears to have happened. The Society has reminded it that something does need to be done urgently.
On a more positive note, the pub’s car park has been identified as a potential holding area for the Foundation School coaches. The Dulwich Estate has agreed in principle and details are currently being sorted out.
Many will be aware of the work of the Herne Hill Forum. Now there is an emerging neighbourhood forum in Dulwich. The group held an initial meeting in October and is setting up a working group to take it forward. For further info see dulwichvillageforum.org.uk. If you would like to be involved in the working group, please use the contact form on their web site. Anyone who lives and works in the Dulwich Village area is very welcome.
The Society objected to Lombok Thai's application for extended closing hours in Herne Hill and their request for a licence to play recorded music hours daily later than 11pm on the grounds of the potential for public nuisance. The extended closing hours sought on Monday-Thursdays (until 00.30) exceed by 30 minutes the suggested closing times for restaurants/cafes in District Town Centres set out in Southwark Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2016 - 2020. The Dulwich Society can see no good reason why such an extension should be granted, bearing in mind that no other local cafe/restaurant has such extended closing hours. An extension of closing hours is the thin edge of the wedge, encouraging other similar establishments to seek extended closing times in what (despite its designation as a District Town Centre) is essentially a residential area. The closing times should not exceed the Licensing Policy’s recommended closing times for cafes/restaurants. The grant of an application for a licence to play recorded music daily until 00.30 (Sunday 00.00) may potentially give rise to noise nuisance. The Society accepts that a licence to play recorded music is not required between 08.00 - 23.00. Recorded music should cease to be played in Lombok Thai at 23.00.
The works, continue. As reported last month, Court Lane will be closed off between 21 November – 22 December & 8-26 January. For more info please go to: southwark.gov.uk. To help the shops the Conway welfare units were moved onto the McCullochs site on 26 November freeing up the parking spaces and ensuring everyone can see the shop windows.