In 2010 Lib Dem councillors promised if they were again re elected to serve East Dulwich residents…

Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose the plans of London’s Labour Mayor to designate Dulwich as “urban” (meaning six storey buildings). We will protect its “suburban”, low-rise character. We will work to enhance the diverse range of local independent shops and businesses. We will continue to work for cleaner, safer and more accessible rail stations at East Dulwich, West Dulwich and Herne Hill.

· Fight to keep the East Dulwich Police station.
· Support Lordship Lane as a shopping high street by making it more shopper friendly –
this will include a crossing outside Somerfield/Coop – and helping improve shop
fronts.
· Rollout 20mph across Dulwich.
· Continue and extend our tree-planting fund, which has installed 220 new trees so far
in East Dulwich alone planted where residents want them.
· New Home Insulation Fund – insulating worst offenders and cutting CO2.
· Improving public transport, cycle lanes and increasing car club support.

How did we do?

We fought to keep East Dulwich Police station – but finally were beaten by Boris Johnson closing it months after promising to keep it.

Lordship Lane – we achieved an extra two safe crossing points which immediately made it a better place to shop. We have helped improved shop front on Underhill Road.

20mph across Dulwich. All East Dulwich ward streets wholly in the ward became 20mph. Roads we share with other wards remained 30mph – Barry Road, East Dulwich Grove, Grove Vale, East Dulwich Road, Lordship lane south from Whateley Road. So of the 65 streets in East Dulwich 60 were made 20mph.

Tree Planting. Every year we dedicated £10,000 to tree planting. Over 100 new trees in the area.

Insulation Fund. We trialled this fund but found little take up. So we concentrated on promoting the government scheme and introduced over 50 residents to that scheme.

Transport. We boosted car club support by funding a doubling of car club cars in the area. We ensured all streets were two-way for cyclists making East Dulwich much more permeable to cyclists. We organised funding for an additional covered area at East Dulwich station.

What we didn’t promise was new schools. That became an emergent strategy as the school place crisis has unfolded.

When we review our progress we were chuffed at the improvements we’ve led for the area.But I’m especially pleased with new schools directly initiated and led by Lin Dem East Dulwich councillors.