Having sent an email (22nd Jan) and a letter (17 Feb) to Mr Dowd, I have had neither acknowledgement nor reply to either.
Perhaps he is exceptionally busy, but I am surprised not to have had at least an automated email acknowledgement. I would be interested in the experience of other constituents who have contacted him - the nature of his response.
Of course, if he had sent a letter, it is possible that Forest Hill Royal Mail may have done something other than deliver it to the address on the envelope.
Looking at my email history it took him 3 weeks to respond both times. However these were generic statement replies that would have taken his aid 2 seconds to respond to.
I sent him an email in November (about bombing Syria) and a reminder email in December. I received neither reply nor acknowledgement to either.
I don't think Jim needs any reminders about bombing Syria...
Clearly, Devonish Forester, you have no idea just how busy Mr Dowd is, representing the interests of his constituents not just in answering emails about irrelevant, distracting topics such as bombing Syria but being right there at the heart of what
really matters, putting written questions to the government about important issues such as the 600th anniversaries of the Battles of Harfleur and Agincourt as well as the even more important Honours and Decorations Committee's Medal Review.
As for his speeches in Parliament about the things that are really important to his constituents - whose undying gratitude for his devotion to their cause is such that they vote for him, no matter how useless he is - then I can only point you in the direction of his agenda-setting utterances on the crucial matters where he challenged the government's claim about the type of missile used in the shooting down of Malaysian Flight MH17.
So busy is Mr Dowd that, of the nine times he spoke in parliament over the course of the 2014-15 year, he had to squeeze in two speaking sessions in the same day - and doing that when he was busy preparing for the 2015 general election, then just weeks away.
We should all be terribly grateful for all he does - and if you think I'm making any of this up, look at these links.
Dowd's written questions:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...17_ws.html
Dowd's spoken comments/questions:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...17_os.html
In view of The Right Honourable Mr Dowd's
spoken comments/questions, it appears that his main concern is with the development work to London Bridge.
I would have like to have seen some comment about reducing or managing traffic volumes though the area, improving the road network for pedestrians or cyclists all with a view to increasing air quality for the local residents.
Aside from all the above he always used to support events at the children's primary school in the late 90's including the quiz night.
Hello Devonish Forester
Please email me at cllr_paul.upex@lewisham.gov.uk with your name and address and I will raise this with his office.
Best wishes
Cllr Paul Upex
Aside from all the above he always used to support events at the children's primary school in the late 90's including the quiz night.
Perhaps he's needed the last 16+ years to recover from that.
I have had a reply to every letter or email I have sent to Jim Dowd.
You need to give him your address so that he knows that you are one of his constituents.
Perhaps he has gone part-time. He has been in the job for a very long time and like many elderly workers perhaps he is winding down with a view to retirement.
The MP for Dulwich seems much more active. I have seen her twice on the local news in the last couple of weeks.
When we lived next door to him in Colfe road I found him very personable although I can't say we troubled him with any deep political questions.
I believe MP's do receive an allowance to help them run an office, and deal with correspondence and enquiries from constituents, so I think there is no excuse for the non-response.
With Jim Dowd's huge majority vote, I suppose he can afford to be complacent.
I think his office is in Sunderland Road, just off the South Circ. It always looks to be staffed.