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The former SG Smith workshop site which was to be called ‘The Gilkes’ when it was owned by McCulloch Homes, is now to be called ‘Soane Place’. The new owners, Aquinna Homes, have renamed the site and have also applied to Southwark to remove the previously agreed affordable housing, offering a cash payment in lieu. A similar application by the previous owner was withdrawn after the Council indicated it would refuse. Southwark should say the same with this application (Ref: 21/AP/2458). The new owners also want design amendments which would impact on its appearance and the Society will also be objecting to those.
As part of the Great North Wood Living Landscape Project, the Society has recently funded LWT to build a replacement wooden bridge in Sydenham Hill Wood, linking it to Dulwich Wood. The Society has previously funded temporary fencing to reduce erosion, removal of invasive species and path consolidation. Lockdown has seen a huge rise in visitor numbers with further erosion of paths exacerbated by heavy rain.
The consultation closes on 11 July. It can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/42cwhx5c
Please make sure your voice is heard.
Peace & Riot, the new restaurant/café in West Dulwich is open. https://www.peaceandriot.co/
Megan’s Deli in the old S G Smith showroom site should open later this summer. https://megans.co.uk/
The two empty units next to Megan’s are now let, one is to be a wine specialist who is planning a sister site to Peckham Cellars. It will be a wine bar, deli, & coffee shop specialising in British produce & wine. The other a coffee shop called Redemption Roasters, a social enterprise founded by Alleyn’s old boy Ted Rosner, which runs a roastery inside a prison and trains young prisoners to become baristas. https://www.redemptionroasters.com/
Despite letters from Helen Hayes MP and Ellie Reeves, Lewisham West MP and the recommendation of Lewisham’s own Design & Review Panel for a reduction in height, Lewisham Strategic Planning Committee voted on 29 June to approve the Corporation of London’s application for 110 units of social housing on the Mais House site in Sydenham Hill.
McCulloch Homes has sold the site on; the new owner is Aquinna Homes. Gilkes Place remains closed to traffic from Dulwich Village.
The former King’s College sports ground has been leased by a new charity that focuses on inclusive sport. The Lambeth Tigers Football Club draws from communities where young people are denied access to facilities, and Dulwich Cricket Club’s women’s and girls’ teams will share the ground.
Following the end of the meeting, the Zoom reports on participants and voting were downloaded. These were cross-referenced with the membership list and the votes were then counted and validated. The results were as follows:
Motion 1: That the process for appointment of members of the Society’s sub-committees and all minutes of their meetings must be published on the Society’s website, including declarations of interest.
The motion was carried by 90 votes to 53, with 4 abstentions
The Society's Executive Committee had already agreed to this motion and, following the next Executive Committee meeting on 12th July, a more detailed statement about the process for the appointment of members of the Society’s sub-committees will be prepared and published on the Society's website, along with minutes of the future sub-committee meetings, including declarations of interest.
Motion 2: The Society must undertake a formal, independent and impartial survey of its Membership about the remit the Membership wishes the Society to adopt with regard to the Society’s long term policy position on Travel and Environment. The findings of this consultation with Members to be published in full on the Society’s website and available on request to all members.
The motion was rejected by 79 votes to 67, with 3 abstentions
Zoom Guidance Notes for the Dulwich Society Special General Meeting on Zoom at 8pm on 28th June 2021
Please join the meeting between 7.30pm and 8pm for registration. The meeting will start promptly at 8pm.
The meeting is not a public meeting and is for Society members only. Only Society Members can vote and only one vote is permitted per household.
These notes are also available to download as a PDF
1) Why is the SGM being held on Zoom?
The Society Executive Committee has called an SGM to consider two motions from a group of members. As the Covid 19 regulations continue to prohibit large meetings indoors, we have decided to hold a virtual SGM. The Charity Commission has advised that virtual AGMs or SGMs are acceptable in the current circumstances. Our AGM will be held near the anniversary date of the AGM 2020 in September when it is hoped we can meet in person at the Crown & Greyhound.
2) Do I need a Zoom account to join the meeting?
No, a Zoom account is not required to join the SGM Meeting as a participant.
3) How do I join the Zoom meeting?
You can join the meeting by clicking on the meeting link:
https://zoom.us/j/94617810285 and adding the Passcode: 925544 when requested
or going to https://zoom.us/join and entering the meeting ID and Passcode when requested.
Meeting ID: 946 1781 0285 Passcode: 925544
You will enter a waiting room and will be admitted after a short pause. Please ensure you have typed in your full name. You will not be admitted to the meeting unless you show your full name. This will then appear on your screen and will be checked by an administrator to confirm your eligibility to attend and vote.
4) What devices can I access Zoom on?
You can use your computer, laptop, phone or mobile phone to access the SGM on Zoom. If accessing by phone we can provide numbers you can call (voice only and you would not be able to vote at the meeting) or you could participate fully via a browser or the Zoom app on a ‘smart’ mobile phone.
5) Household participation in the SGM?
Two or more participants in the same household can attend the Zoom SGM either using the same device or separate devices. You may get some interference if using a computer/laptop and a mobile phone in the same room. Each household only has one vote in line with the Society Rules (Rule 3)
6) Who will manage the meeting?
The meeting will be managed by the Chair who will progress the business of the meeting and a Host, who will admit participants, mute and unmute them, control screen sharing of documents and oversee the votes.
7) What time should I join the meeting?
We would like members to join the meeting from 7.30pm. Please do not leave it to the last minute as the meeting will start promptly at 8pm. You will be held in a virtual Waiting Room until your name has been checked and the Host is ready to admit you to the meeting.
8) How do I make sure I can hear others and be heard?
On most devices, you can join computer/device audio by clicking “Join Audio”, “Join with Computer Audio” or “Audio” to access the audio settings. There is a facility on Zoom to Test Audio so you can check how loud your microphone and speaker(s) are.
Most participants will be muted by the Host, unless speaking or asking a question, to minimise background distractions. You can unmute yourself if you have been called on to speak, by clicking the blue square on your screen that says “Unmute” or by toggling the Audio on/off icon button.
9) Do I need a webcam to join the Zoom meeting?
You are not required to have a webcam to join the Zoom meeting, but if you don’t have a camera or if you choose to switch video off, you will not be seen by other participants. Your name/photo will appear on your screen. You will be able to listen and speak during the meeting and view the webcam video of other participants.
10) Will I be able to see all the other participants?
Yes, unless they are not using video. For some of the meeting, the main part of your screen will be taken up with Powerpoint slides. If you click on “Gallery View” in the top right hand corner of the screen, you will see a small picture of everyone, as well as the slide. As all the participants will not fit on one screen, you will need to click on the up or down arrow to see all the participants. If you click on “Speaker View” you will have a large picture of the person speaking as well as the slide.
11) How will you check who has attended?
A list of attendees will be saved by the Host to assist the Minuting Secretary.
12) Will the meeting be recorded?
Yes, the SGM will be recorded (audio and video) to assist with minute-taking and record-keeping. If you prefer not to be visually recorded you should turn your video off. The recording will be stored securely and will only be available to Officers of the Society for the purposes of administering the SGM. The recording will be deleted when the Minutes have been transcribed and the vote validated. The recording will not be made available for viewing after the meeting.
13) Will there be questions?
Questions during the Agenda Questions sessions will require attendees to raise their hands or use the Zoom hand signal in the Participants List.
14) What if I need additional assistance before the meeting?
If you have any queries before the meeting, please email the Secretary at
A Special General Meeting of the Dulwich Society will be held at 8pm on 28th June 2021 via Zoom. The meeting has been called by the Executive Committee to discuss resolutions submitted to the Executive Committee of the Society.
1. Introduction - the Chairman.
2. Resolutions: The following resolutions have been proposed for consideration at the meeting. A vote will be taken after each resolution using the Zoom polling facility. The votes will be verified by the scrutineers after the meeting using Zoom facilities to ensure the votes comply with Society Rule 3, “Membership will normally be for a household i.e. all adults living at the same address. 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.” The results will be placed on the Society’s website www.dulwichsociety.com as soon as possible.
The Rules of the Society are available at: https://www.dulwichsociety.com/about-the-dulwich-society
Your Executive Committee’s views on each resolution are set out further below.
Motion 1: Proposed by a group of Dulwich Society members
That the process for appointment of members of the Society’s sub-committees and all minutes of their meetings must be published on the Society’s website, including declarations of interest.
[Note: minutes, including declarations of interest, are already published for the Executive Committee]
Motion 2: Proposed by a group of Dulwich Society members
The Society must undertake a formal, independent and impartial survey of its Membership about the remit the Membership wishes the Society to adopt with regard to the Society’s long term policy position on Travel and Environment. The findings of this consultation with Members to be published in full on the Society’s website and available on request to all members.
[For clarity, the current remit of the Travel and Environment Sub-Committee is to foster safe and healthy streets in Dulwich by:
- Advocating clean air.
- Supporting improvements in public transport.
- Considering the requirements of those with protected characteristics* and vulnerable road users.
- Developing safe active travel networks and reducing vehicle traffic.
- Supporting low traffic neighbourhoods. **
*The Equality Act lists the characteristics that it protects as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
**Note: “supporting low traffic neighbourhoods” does NOT refer to or mean supporting the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods imposed by Southwark Council without prior consultation.]
3. Close of Meeting
The Zoom meeting will be open from 7.30pm to enable the Zoom host to verify attendees as they logon.
Meeting ID: 946 1781 0285
Passcode: 925544
Please ensure your full name (eg Joan Smith) is shown on your Zoom video screen.
Details of the Zoom link are set out above and will also be sent to members in the June eNewsletter (published at the end of May), and will also be available on the web site. If you do not receive 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
For full details of the AGENDA, PROPOSERS' ARGUMENTS and RESPONSE from the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE please see this document [PDF]
Dulwich Society Reports for Annual General Meeting - Tuesday 14 September
Executive Committee Reports for the Year 2020
Please note that the AGM has now been put back until September in the expectation that we will then be able to meet in person and, hopefully, hold an event to mark the retirement of our President, Dr Colin Niven, after ten years’ service.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee met 6 times in 2020, online. The Executive awards funds to suitable local projects in line with the Society’s remit and objectives. There were fewer requests this past year as projects were put on hold or cancelled. Grants were made as follows:
- Repairs to benches and white posts in Dulwich Village
- Design of new sports mural at the Burbage Road rail bridge
- Donations to two Food Banks in Southwark and West Norwood.
- Donation to Sydenham Hill Woods.
If you have any ideas for projects that are in line with the Society’s objectives, please see https://www.dulwichsociety.com/local-projects for further information.
Dulwich Estate Residents’ Advisory Committee: The Society Chairman and Chair of Planning and Architecture together with representatives from Dulwich residents’ associations drawn from across the Dulwich Estate sat on the Estate Scheme of Management (SOM) Advisory Committee which met three times last year, online, to discuss matters relating to the SOM. The Society collated a list of issues ahead of the meetings for discussion arising from our members’ and residents’ concerns, and issues that the Society has identified across the Estate. In addition, the Chairman and Secretary met the Estate CEO and Director of Property on a regular basis at the Estate’s public surgeries to discuss members’ concerns on matters outside the SOM. Please notify
After a series of discussions between the Chairs of the Dulwich Estate Trustees and the Society, the Advisory Committee has been refreshed and will now comprise representatives in rotation to enable a wider group of representatives to attend the Committee. From the first meeting in March 2021, there will be two representatives from RAs in the north and south of the Estate, and two representatives from the Society’s Executive Committee.
Public engagement and consultations: The Society has continued to be active in the promotion of public engagement. Consultations on planning, traffic, public realm, event and premises licensing have continued during the Covid-19 emergency and the Society has reminded and encouraged residents to respond to all Council surveys and consultations affecting the Dulwich area.
Working with community groups: The Society continues to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders across Dulwich including residents’ associations, the Dulwich Estate, Dulwich Picture Gallery, amenity societies such as the Herne Hill Society, sporting venues, local councillors, MP and council officers and the police Safer Neighbourhood Panels. During 2020 this has been predominantly online.
Ian McInnes, Chairman
There are a number of alternative locations to have parcels delivered and collected to reduce the number of small vans driving around in the area.
SE19:
- Amazon Hub Locker - Shell Gypsy Hill, 112 -122 Gypsy Hill, SE19 1PL
- Amazon Hub Counter – FreshGo, 81 Gipsy Hill, SE19 1QL
SE21:
- Amazon Hub Counter / Collect Plus - Rosendale News, 109a Rosendale Road, SE21 8EZ
- Local Collect - Post Office, 47 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BN
- Local Collect - Post Office, 35 Seeley Drive, SE21 8QR
SE22:
- Amazon Hub Locker - Co-operative, 58-62 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HJ
- Amazon Hub Counter / Collect Plus - Lordship Food News & Wine, 141 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HX
- Local Collect - Post Office, 74 - 76 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HH
- Amazon Hub Locker - BP East Dulwich Road, 13 - 19 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9BD
- Amazon Hub Counter / Collect Plus - Mark and Son, 23 Grove Vale, SE22 8EQ
- Collect Plus - V 7 Local 40 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HJ
SE24:
- SE24 Local Collect at Herne Hill Post Office, 31-39 Norwood Road, SE24 9AA
- SE24 Local Collect at ‘On The Hill’ Post Office, 75 Herne Hill SE24 9NE
- Budgens (Hermes) 127-129 Half Moon Lane, SE24 9JY