Tower Subway fails the grade

Southwark is often said to be the most historic London borough. Part of this evidence in the Tower Subway. It was the world’s first ever tube railway in 1869.

Today English Heritage decided not to award it Grade II listing.

See the report why:  report_165456

Tower subwayThe tower subway has historical significance as one of the earliest tunnels to be dug using the tunnel shield method.  Marc and Isambard Brunel pioneered the use of a tunnelling shield in the digging of the Thames Tunnel between Wapping and Rotherhithe (now part of the London Overground Network) and Peter Barlow and James Greathead significantly improved on this work in constructing an iron shield that was circular in cross section (the Brunel’s shield was rectangular) that laid the foundations for the tunnel boring machines that are used today. The Tower Subway is also significant in being the first to use a segmental cast-iron lining, a system still in common use today.  The Tower Subway is thus London’s second oldest tunnel beneath the River Thames and pre-dates the next oldest – the City and South London Railway (now the Northern Line) – by some 14 years. Tunnel’s are not normally listed (the Thames Tunnel, at grade II*, is a rare exception) the historic significance  of the Tower Subway suggests that it would make  a worthy candidate for listing.

It was built in less than one year in 1869 which is a great example of how great an engineer Peter Barlow was designing his shield etc and how James Greathead delivered the project. It originally had a mini tube train which failed commercially. Once this subway train was removed in 1870 it became a 1/2 penny toll foot tunnel and was hugely successful in getting one million people a year from Tooley Street to outside the Tower of London. But this commercially died when Tower Bridge was opened as a free way of crossing the River Thames in 1894.

The tunnel was then bought by the London Hydraulic Power Company housing high pressured water pipes, later Thames Water pipes and more recently fibre optic cables for Cable&Wireless Worldwide.

Is it safe for the future?

Prehistoric Clues to Potential Southwark Flooding

Working out the likely effects of global warming is extremely complicated.

Paleoclimatologists have been looking for past earth climates that closely match the expected climate of Earth in 2100.

As ice-sheets melt the weight of then decreases and the earths crust can ‘bounce’ back. This then impacts. Water takes up more volume as it heats up toward 4 degrees C.

The period most like the atmosphere mankind is creating is the Pliocene (5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present). During this period CO2 concentration in the atmosphere was 350-400 parts per million.

remoter parts you can see where the sea level was then – places in South Africa, Australia and US. Paleoclimatologists are find that level between 11 and 33 metres higher than present in other areas 10-88m!

This variation is partly from the earths crust moving over such timescales up and down.

The work is ongoing but what would Southwark look like is sea level rose  ‘only’ by 10m?

We already know that in Southwark all the land north of Camberwell Road is in a flood plain with the odd tiny island dotted around that area if it were to flood. 

It looks like the flood plain is increased south along Rye Lane, stops before Denmark Hill station, at  Nunhead stations. But it passes Peckham Rye station and gets close to Grove Vale

But more significantly a 10m rise in sea levels would see the Thames Barrier being made completely redundant. During the next 20 years planning for its replacement will need to start.

 

Edward Pellew

220px-Edward_Pellew,_1st_Viscount_Exmouth_by_James_Northcote 

 

 

 

 

I have just finished reading a biography of Sir Edward Pellew – The Life and Exploits of Britain’s Probably Greatest Frigate Captain by Stephen Taylor. What a marvellous read about possibly a greater if different naval commander than Nelson from that period. He lived 1757-1833. Was a legendary captain the frigate Indefatigable. Showed extreme physical and emotional bravery often when he could have avoided it.

His humble beginnings meant his climb to leadership was startingly. His tenacious loyalty. Anti slavery leadership. Amazing.

If you get the chance read this book.

T Brown excess

Every weekday morning at the northern end of Melbourne Grove T BROWN vans park willy-nilly. Some come super early before 7am park up and play loud music to annoy the locals. Many park on the single and double yellow lines.

When I’ve checked with council officials they tell me they have park anywhere passes.

I say but those vouchers are meant to be at the council housing end not at some depot newly acquired and effectively subsidised by this parking free for all. Tough is the effective response.

I point out that the vans proclaim how they work for Lewisham and Lambeth. And is the effective response.

This is exactly the type of issue that leads residents to understandably question the probity of parking wardens. I feel some sympathy with a management system that creates this wrong.

come of Southwark sort this problem out. It’s not fair. It’s not fair foremost on neighbours. But it’s also not fair on the contractors who also bid for this contractor but never realise they didn’t need to create a depot with parking.

14 February 8_12am22 January 8_24am

Greendale farce

I’m agog but sadly not surprised by the farce that is the huge budget being spent on ‘improving’ Greendale cycle and pedestrian route.

I use this route most days walking or cycling.

From the following pictures you can see demonstrate this section didn’t need any maintenance –Champion Hill to Wanley Road

It is deeply disappointing to see cycle investment money solely being used for what has turned into a maintenance project. No attempt has been made to improve the utility of this section for cyclists or pedestrians – which fails to meet London Cycle Network guidance.
In fact the kerb to be placed instead of a white line will add danger for cyclists and pedestrians reducing utility. The cycle lane is so narrow that for cyclists to pass each other they have to cross the white line. But crossing a kerb at such an angle is likely to see  cyclists  toppled. The same will apply for people walking. A kerb would only make sense if the route was widened which it isn’t. I predict a rise in people suing the council.

Council Officers have even confirmed this section is already substandard in design and used that as an argument to only undertake maintenance. Adding a kerb will further reduce the quality of this section. And the council claims its short of money!

The route is used by a partially sighted resident who has a guide dog with no stick. So again not even extra utility for the partially sighted existing user.

I genuinely don’t think the responsible cabinet councillor Barrie Hargrove desires this or is trying to achieve this with the very limited cycle capital budgets he has. But he’s fully aware of all these issues and doesn’t appear to be taking any action before workers were on site or now that they’ve stalled because they forgot to order the required materials.

Overall a great deal on money is being sent on Greendale but I perceive zero improvements to the cycleability or walkability of this route. But the southern end will look a little nicer once the raised bed has some planting.

Continue reading →

Welfare Reform – cap and spare bedrooms.

Welfare reform will always be painful. With the current generally harsher economic circumstances our societies tolerance for others on benefits has reduced.

One of the proposals is that no family claiming benefits will be able to claim more than the average family income for the country – £25,000 pa.

In East Dulwich this will impact 11 families claiming benefits. Each of these families are predicted to lose on average £3,887. If you’re one of those families please do get in touch if you need extra help or support.

Another aspect of welfare reform is around council houses where the occupants claim housing benefits (where the government pays the rent) and have spare bedrooms. They’ll see a reduction in housing benefit. The idea is that while we have families in bed and breakfast without proper homes we shouldn’t be fully subsidising under occupation of council housing. Their will be circumstance where this feels harsh but it must feel even harsher trying to raise families in bed and breakfast accommodation for long periods of time.

In East Dulwich this is predicted to affect 91 homes where 1 bedroom is spare and the tenants claim housing benefit and another 43 homes where 2 or more bedrooms are spare and the tenants claim housing benefit. Some years ago when the Lib Dems led the council we had schemes to encourage such occupiers to move to smaller council homes. Hopefully this scheme will become more popular to smooth people moving to smaller homes where appropriate.

If these changes affect you and you think you need those spare bedrooms please get in touch so we can try and help you fight for a sensible solution. It might be due to home dialysis, a son or daughter being in the armed forces. Whatever it is we want to try and help.

 

 

Liberal Marriage

I was chuffed to see long standing Liberal Democrat policy of equal marriage rights for people who are gay passed by the Commons yesterday. I’m sure gay friends who have civil partnerships will want to get married ASAP.

Hopefully the Lords will pass this legisalation but I suspect with even more fuss.

It was no surprise that the majority of Conservative MPs who voted, voted against gay marriage. They’re conservatives. Fortunately Labour didn’t decided to play silly games as they did with Lords reform. So it was passed 400 to 175.

Amazingly 4 of the Lib Dem 56 MP’s voted against this but with a pseudo free vote that’s not entirely surprising. Lib Dems love to be independently minded.

 

 

Making Lordship Lane 20mph

Since being elected in 2006 East Dulwich councillors have been working hard to make our high street Lordship Lane safer. It’s a particularly busy high street.  We’ve been successful having two new crossing installed early last year, enhanced Goose Green roundabout with all arms having Zebra crossings, most side roads with raised entry treatments. These are the types of measures that the Mary Portas Review recommended “focus on making high streets accessible, attractive and safe”.

2223576497_3520d6c0af_mThe latest progress towards making Lordship Lane safer is to introduce a 20mph speed limit on Lordship Lane between Goose Green and the Police Station at Whateley Road . We applied and awarded £15,000 towards this from the 2012/13 Cleaner, Greener, Safer capital funding. After a year of working with officers they’ve now agreed that physical measures are not required. This is partly from the governments change in national policy january this year making 20mph easier via its new guidance – Setting Local Speed Limits.

As part of the process we’ve had speed surveys done at two points along Lordship Lane – just south of Frogley Road and just south of Hansler Road. They were done during term time in the Autumn.

The surveys were carried out just south of Frogley Road which had a mean speed of 17.9mph and an 85th percentile speed of 23.9mph and also just south of Hansler Road where the mean speed was 22.1mph with an 85th percentile speed of 28.2mph.

The new guidance says that if the mean average speed is below 24mph 20mph speed limits can be introduced. It also suggests that  if a large variation exists between the mean average and 85th percentile speeds then drivers are likely to be confused about what speed to drive at and introducing 20mph speed limits should help reduce this confusion.

The next step is for officers to formally consult on making this happen. Assuming no hiccups I’m hopeful it can be introduced within three months.

 

 

How long to… remove guard railings

In 1994 St.Clement’s School moved from Archdale Road in East Dulwich to Ady’s Road in The Lane ward. Nineteen years ago. The old school has been turned into 6 amazingly different apartments and homes.

Before ArchdaleAfter Archdale

 

 

 

 

 

But the guard railings were left and left and left. Eventually I spotted them and after 19 years they were removed.

So how long does it take to remove guard railings… 19 years!

 

 

 

 

New ED Harris Primary school update

Monday 28 January the very first interested parents meeting took place of those interested in sending their children to a new local Harris East Dulwich primary school.

The invite had gone out from Harris to those who’d said they’d consider joining any steering committee. Despite terrible weather I counted a dozen parents.

Lots of really useful questions.

Harris promised to provide a summary of their vision for the school – Harris Primary Free School East Dulwich vision

What I’m really chuffed about is the vision to create a school in the top 10% of the country by progress and overall achievement and through literacy.

Please do have a look at this document. Let me know what you think.