Object to junction plans
You have until 20 November to object to Southwark’s new plans for the Dulwich Village junction.
We were promised a co-design of the Dulwich Village junction. But on 10 October, to everyone’s astonishment, Southwark updated its ‘Dulwich Village – streets for people’ website with two design ideas, both of which included the closure of Turney Road. This had never been raised before.
Further, despite earlier promises to consider this, Southwark announced that the junction would remain closed to blue badge holders.
HOW TO OBJECT – PLEASE ENCOURAGE FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBOURS TO TAKE PART
1. Fill in the survey
Southwark has extended the deadline for the survey to 20 November. You will have your own views, but our thoughts are:
Question 2 We suggest you answer ‘Don’t support’, as no evidence has been provided to suggest that any of the core objectives could be delivered.
Question 3 Please ask the Council to allow access for Blue Badge holders, GPs, community nurses and midwives, SEND transport and social care workers so that the most vulnerable in the community are looked after.
Question 4 Please object to the closure of Turney Road because there is no information about the likely impact on access or traffic displacement on to surrounding roads. (“Frequently Asked Questions” doesn’t consider the wider area – Croxted Road, for example – but raises the possibility of yet more road closures in mitigation.)
Question 5 cannot be answered, because there is no way of rejecting both design proposals and Questions 6 and 7 are irrelevant. We suggest you leave all these blank.
2. Make a complaint – or escalate an existing complaint
Email complaints@southwark.gov.uk to say (in your own words if possible) why you think the consultation process on the design of the Dulwich Village junction is deeply flawed. Your reasons could include any of the following:
we have been given insufficient information to show the likely impact of the closure to motorised vehicles of either a) Turney Road, or b) two out of the four arms of the junction, in terms of access or traffic displacement to the wider Dulwich area;
we were promised that engagement would take place with local people (residents, businesses, campaign groups) BEFORE concept designs were presented (Phase 1 interviewed only a ‘representative sample’ – and didn’t ask where people lived – so did not capture the views of the community);
the deadline of 20 November is too rushed – only a few local groups have been given meetings with the Council;
the online survey does not allow respondents to reject both design options;
no local councillor is willing to champion the needs of residents or businesses who object to the scheme;
no council officer is willing to act on legitimate concerns raised by local people about the lack of motorised access for those with protected characteristics, or for those who care for them.
If you are not happy with the response you receive (and we have yet to hear of anyone who is, as specific questions and concerns are not addressed), please take your complaint to the next stage. See Southwark’s website for details.
3. Email Southwark’s new chief executive
Email althea.loderick@southwark.gov.uk to explain (in your own words if possible) why the consultation process is flawed (use any of the reasons above).
4. Sign the epetition
There’s an epetition on Southwark’s website (not ours but we support its aims) asking the Council to ensure access through the junction for the most vulnerable. Southwark assures us that all the long-running technical problems have now been fixed, but many of you are still unable to sign. If that is the case, please email constitutional.team@southwark.gov.uk (or ring 020 7525 7234) and ask for their help.
5. Contact One Dulwich if you’re a Blue Badge holder
If you’re a Blue Badge holder or otherwise car-dependent, or know or care for someone who is, please contact us at onedulwich@gmail.com and tell us how the junction closure is affecting you. Southwark could easily have contacted all local Blue Badge holders to ask for their views but hasn’t done so, so we plan to help them out by passing on this vital information.