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Karen Wood has been appointed to this two day a week post. She has extensive experience in public sector and charity communications and comes from a central Government marketing and media communications background where she worked on a wide range of UK public policy issues, most recently on promoting international trade. She is a local resident (East Dulwich), and started her career in journalism.
There is still no definite news on when McCulloch Homes will submit information to the Council to satisfy the planning conditions though the start of demolition still appears to be programmed for the summer, presumably after local schools have broken up for the summer holidays. Some exploratory work was carried out on the site at the end of January – this entailed a small ground works team digging trial holes to analyse the ground conditions. The work was overseen by an archaeologist.
The Village Ward Councillors and Southwark Council are seeking feedback on the proposed new zebra crossing on Burbage Road, close to the junction of Half Moon Lane. It aims to provide pedestrian facilities at the intersection, to improve safety and level of service for all users, particularly school children. The plans and an online questionnaire can be found via this link.
The Council granted planning permission confirming the use of the open space next to the school as a playground. A few days earlier the Almshouse Trust had submitted its application to develop the same site with new accommodation. A conundrum for Southwark to resolve.
The Society has been advised that the independent report on the Scheme of Management Office will be available shortly.
The Council has given the go ahead for the Quietway despite considerable local opposition and it is likely that work will begin in the summer. The funding target for the design of an alternative scheme promoted by some local Resident’s Associations was reached. We await the council’s response.
The latest information we have is that both the pub and hotel will open at the very end of March, but we suspect it may be April as the incoming tenant has yet to start his fitting out contract. The projected opening dates have been put back from last summer to January, February, and now March this year - serious questions need to be asked as to why this has happened.
The Dulwich Estate has assured the Society that it is working actively on finding an appropriate tenant but, in the meantime, it is planning to put a short term ‘pop up’ into the unit while it alters the area behind to provide more storage for a potential convenience store operator. The tenant will be Stone Cold Clothing Ltd, a family run independent womenswear boutique.
The Estate ran an advertisement in the Guardian just before Christmas. It outlined that the post holder would develop, deliver and drive, with the Chief Executive and the Management Team, a comprehensive and cost-effective communications strategy which enhances the reputation and protects ‘the brand’ of the Charity. This strategy is to communicate effectively with all local stakeholders. This is a welcome move and it was pleasing to see that the first item on the list of stakeholders was ‘residents’.
If you have an idea for a project that will bring local people together, support community development and improve opportunities in your neighbourhood, try the Neighbourhoods’ Fund. The Community Councils have £630,000 to spend on community led projects, which encourage people from different backgrounds to work together to promote respect and consideration and give communities the opportunity to improve their local area. The application form is online and closes on 19 December.
Following his recent successful interview on BBC Radio London, Brian appeared on the BBC London TV news on 14 November talking about the fencing made from old WW2 stretchers in East Dulwich.