Carry on the good work Michael - dont go all stephen fry on us!

I am sure others will pick up the campaign but I will not publicly front this campaign. But with comments like those on http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php...7#pid21497 it would be wrong for me to continue my involvement and risk the good of the campaign.

I am not trying to get praise for the work I have done or anything like that, so please don't. But for the moment I am very happy to shut up like some people would like. If it sounds like I am sulking then you might have a point. I have no other comeback to the accusations levelled against me by people who refuse to enter reasonable discussion on the forum.

Now I suggest this thread returns to the trains.

Gaz, from Crystal Palace, there are another two trains to Victoria via Streatham Hill which start from West Croydon and two to LB via Tulse Hill that start from Beckenham Junction, so basically if you miss the through Victoria train.[/quote]

But that post was by Roz! Not the most chilled poster here.

Surely you can't count that against (what I believe is) massive support for your efforts from everyone else?

I totally agree, Foresters.

To clarify some misunderstandings about our leaflets earlier in this thread, there are two different train issues here:

Crofton Park's proposed service on the Victoria to Bellingham line has been cancelled. As part of the resulting consultation from the Lib Dem campaign against this (as far as I'm aware there isn't any non Lib Dem campaign) there is another round of consultation, with the next crucial meeting is on 24th November.

Petition here: http://bit.ly/YwszA
Latest update and more details here: listentolewisham.org

This decision was taken by a combination of (Labour run) DfT and (Conservative run) TfL. They've passed the buck on who ultimately took the decision.

Then there's the Forest Hill / Honor Oak cuts by Southern
As a number of you have mentioned this is, mainly, a cross party campaign.

Responsible are Southern - though they are ultimately responsible to DfT.

There's one oddity though. Joan Ruddock hasn't answered letters on this campaign - so I can only assume that, as a government minister, she considers these cuts government policy, and so is bound by collective responsibility. Happy to be put right on that though.


Posting by Rob (Tam Langley's partner), since Tam's out of town until tomorrow and only has intermittent internet

Michael: you have worked tirelessly to help improve life for all in Forest Hill and your hard work has really made a difference. Please don't be disheartened by the petty and misguided comments of those who are happy to criticise, but are not nearly as proactive in actually making things change.

Apologies for change of subject but I am not going to put up with the last few comments especially as they involve some of my posts.

Michael, as you are well aware, I wrote that post (18th October) to which you refer here so blatantly, largely in response to the FHS rather blanket position that there were no real speeding problems in this area, namely Woodcombe and Ewelme. I understand that was in fact a summary of the FHS viewpoint made to the Council as part of the consultation. I stand by those comments as I and several others who live on these particular roads were and are absolutely furious at such an overt dismissal by the FHS of a long standing local campaign and petitioning over the years and indeed complete denial of the problem. Despite highlighting the extent and timescale of that previous campaign it would appear that you in your capacity of FHS, decided that you knew better than the many local residents who were active in same. If you choose now, either as then Chair of FHS or Michael Abrahams Esq, to take these comments personally then I'm afraid that is your look out.

You now appear , several weeks later, for whatever reason , to want to make some capital out of that comment and to transcribe it somehow and inexplicably to a completely different topic ie a thread on the local train service on which I have not to my recollection posted for some time, only to wish everyone the best of luck. You appear to be withdrawing your personal campaigning on this issue, which I have to say has been excellent, using my previous post on a completely different topic as a reason for doing so. Clearly other people have now joined in the fray, castigating me as the villain of the piece. If this is some way of instigating some sort of backlash against me, as a means of making yourself feel better, or getting further pats on the back from posters, then I am not going to tolerate this being done at my expense.

I am also not prepared to continue to discuss this matter on this forum so will be taking it up further with Richard Hibbert and the FHS Executive.

Now I suggest this thread returns to the trains.

Oh, and BTW,

Forum Archive
Forest Hill Society
Author Message
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Saturday, 22 April, 2006 - 06:11 pm:
So how does it sound?
Following an excellent suggestion from the Sydenham Society, is there anyone interested in setting up an equivalent society in/for Forest Hill? I gather that any such group can co-op itself to the Civic Trust and get lots of support and information that way. There is already a similar group in Brockley, Brixton, and Dulwich.

So what do you think? Any takers?

Sincere apologies if since I first suggested setting up the FHS in 2006, the challenges of two difficult pregnancies, the trials of raising small children, and keeping a full time pressurised job in north London going has hampered my 'pro-activity in making things change.' Others thankfully know different.
Time also I think for a sincere thanks to the many ( you would think they were invisible sometimes!) FHS committee members who have worked hard for the community over the years without tripping over their egos.

Now back to those trains....

Now I don't know the ins and outs of what has happened between Roz and Michael but basically I'm just concerned that Michael who seems to be the best person for THIS job to coordinate a petition / campaign now doesn't carry this as far as he can because of something personal.

Surely everyone is able to put aside their differences to pull together and campaign on the same front?

I would be happy to help coordinate the campaign myself but am definitely not privy to as much info as others on here.

Please can someone decide to be the person that we stand behind and just get on with saving our trains?

I'm with Michael on this one, whether he likes it or not!

I don't know the history, or the nature of the disquiet.

Michael. Please consider continuing your good work on behalf of all those in Forest Hill (and beyond).

Whatever you decide, I'd like to thank you for all you've done.

After reading all the threads - i think i may count muself lucky that i can use the tube/bus/train for work and social - yet on saying that i still beleive that FH is a better place to live than Tooting - many years ago when i lived in FH, the train service was pretty good yet now appears to be a shambles[/align]

Anyway good luck all in your fight - i hope you win

I know the reduced train service is a big topic at the moment, on a smaller subject...

Does the 8:35 fast train ever turn up on time anymore? Im sure I remember it used to turn up on time and take about 12 mins to get to London Bridge. Occasionally i get this train (although I used it regularly at one time when it was more reliable). It appears to always late and consequently gets stuck behind loads of trains and therefore take 20 mins to get to LB.

On another point I am already so so fed up with the overcrowding on our trains that I have decided to drive to sydenham hill and get the train to victoria to get to Paddington (where I work) instead - Not only am I guaranteed a seat, but I am also guaranteed not having vast sways of standers hunching over me too! It's actually quite an enjoyable trip to work now

sometimes reading this I think I must boarding the train at a different forest hill..take the 07:59 or 08:11 and back on the 17:35 from London Bridge, always get a seat in the morning and on way back and hardly ever delays - just have to say the service from forest hill is fantastic

At least someone is having a decent commute Stefan. Trains after those times in the morning peak are definitely busier affairs in my experience although the majority of times I can at least get onto the train (potentially with a few elbows and bags in my face). I certainly prefer getting on at Forest Hill than Honor Oak. I used Honor Oak Park for 5 years prior to moving and it would always be jammed full in the morning. Its only once I started using Forest Hill the last few years that I realised it was because of the volume of people getting on there.
Bear in mind the 17:35 train could be one of the 2 less trains per hour in the evening peak running to Forest Hill from December when our timetable changes...

Luckily I only commute up twice a week into town, the 0920 which is the last 'peak' service I can normally get a seat on if I go in the first carriage but fills up by the time we get to Brockley, although that service is more full than the 0913 which has six carriages.

There is an issue at hand regarding campaigning for a reversal of the planned cuts in service frequency and complete axing of the direct Charing Cross evening services trains.

It is very sad that Michael has chosen to stand back from active support of this, but if that is his decision I suppose it must be respected.

Was his previous support purely personal or was it in his capacity as a representative of the Forest Hill Society? Does anyone know?

If the latter, does anyone know if this issue is still on the agenda of the FHS?

If it is, does anyone know who would be the person to progress the matter (leaflets, contact with other groups, etc)?

Let me assure you all that the Forest Hill Society will continue to campaign with other local societies to get these changes reversed. I am talking to councillors and other societies in order to make sure that all those communities up and down the line coordinate their efforts.