Perhaps when voting for new Mayor one should investigate which candidate will best serve the people when it comes to managing contractors.
My own experience with Lewisham Homes would indicate that there is a blind acceptance of estimates and the clarity of contractural conditions is sadly lacking.
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The truth is that responsibility is obscured and voters/residents are in a state of mystification about who is accountable. This forum is full of comments on many threads which are plaintive cries for help without knowing who to contact. And those of us who have contacted the council have experience of being ignored or passed around, or given information which does not answer the question actually asked.
Enjoyed a three cheese toastie from Aga’s and some sweets this weekend.
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And I refer the poster to my earlier comments, you (andI) pay their wages your power is in your vote Lewisham has been Labour for years if its not working for you change it.
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As people are aware we are 10 days from the election. So something you suggest will not happen until after the election.
I will PM you more
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Just to remind people that @MajaHilton is not standing for reelection next week so in her current capacity as local Councillor we will be losing her amazing insight into Council workings and her dedication to the Forest Hill community. I sincerely hope she continues to engage with the community in some similar way.
I’ve been amazed at the level of engagement Maja has with the Forest Hill community, both online and in person. And that she continues to be so engaged when most people would be sun-setting their jobs is a testament to her commitment that she continues to engage so close to the finish line.
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TfL are saying Dartmouth Road closed until Sunday.
I had not seen that statement.
@MajaHilton has been in extensive discussion with council officers who report that there are still technical/practical issues with work in the one open hole on the carriageway. Until this excavation is re-instated and capped off - the road remains closed and re-surfacing cannot be done.
This can hardly be viewed as anything other than distressing for the DR businesses affected by the further delay.
And apart from failing to open the road - it will take at least two more weeks for Kier to complete the paving works and clear the site.
The Road will be open on 10th June.
@InTheNightGarden - on 19 April you posted that the road would open on 10th August (year unspecified) and today you post that it will open on 10th June (year unspecified).
Its curious - do you have an inside line to Kier’s ? Or are you just testing the forum to see if we pay attention to what you say ?
Or are you running a sophisticated Monte Carlo algorithm on known data about progress and it produces a different result everytime you run it ?
Just curious.
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Is the remaining hole right in the middle of the road? If not, why keep the whole road closed. The cost to Kier of getting the resurfacing kit out twice surely needs to be weighed against the ongoing cost to local businesses of keeping the road completely closed.
How many days have we slipped from the planned reopening date?
I’m just pulling dates out of thin air - just like Keir does 
Just trying to lighten a depressing situation. Has anyone claimed responsibilty for the hole opposite The Hill? It seems that it is the only thing that needs attention (to a layman) apart from moving the excess slabs from outside The Bird in Hand. I’m waiting for them to put a notice on them - Free to a good home. They would look lovely in my garden! I’m sure they could be shifted overnight if they gave us permission.
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The hole is on one carriageway and the responsibility is ultimately Kier’s Thames Water was for a time in the frame for delays and outstanding works - but new information says there may be other factors now.
Material is stored nearby on the other carriageway - but it probably could be moved quickly.
Plan to visit this afternoon whilst passing through if possible to a have another look.
@InTheNightGarden - understood and the efficacy of your approach could be the equal of or better than that of Kier’s.
ALL the contracting parties need to make a concerted and determined effort to finish this and open the road.
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The latest information I managed to get is as follows
- the hole in front of Heron House (opposite the Hill) is indeed what is causing delays to resurfacing work. It is to do with drainage and there are some piping issues. Some parts were delivered today that had been ordered on Friday, but one bit was short delivered. To his credit Curtis has sent a man in a van to pick up this item from North London.
I have been reassured that once this part is on site, they can crack on to install it and then fill the hole with quick setting concrete. The plan is still to start the resurfacing on Wednesday night and to open the road for the weekend.
There will be still some work going on for possibly 2 more weeks, laying the last bit of paving and correcting the bits that have either not been finished or need remedial work. All this can be done while the road is open.
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Better news Maja - thank you.There can always be last minute hiccoughs - and info on the quick setting concrete is welcome.
Evidence of qualities and delivery on your part that deserve to be classified as “over and above…”.
I trust that if you have taken up a watching brief that you have a flask of good tea or coffee with you.
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After all the promise that the resurfacing will start Wednesday night, this email was sent to the Council officer later yesterday
I would just like to confirm that the drainage connection on Dartmouth Road next to Heron House will be completed by tomorrow midday that will then allow us to backfill and compact the sub base to the lower layers of the road construction.
As we will need to reinstate the carriageway to match the existing concrete carriageway by fixing Dowel bars and placing C32- C 40 High strength Concrete, the concrete will need time to cure before placing the Layers of Binder Course and Surface Course
The Concrete needs a minimum of 7 days Curing as we are using high early strength concrete we can reduce the curing time to 3 days dependant on weather conditions we would recommend that the resurfacing is carried out next Monday 30th April for 3 nights plus 1 night contingency starting south end of the project allowing extra time for the concrete to cure in the middle of the project .
Cutis will amend all surfacing information notices and extending the permit with our permitting manager.
I hate being lied to. In my professional time I have never given out deadlines I knew I could not keep. In fact I always would build in some contingency as I liked to sleep over on the finished reports before issuing them.
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Oh how frustrating - you have my sympathy Maja. Well done for keeping the pressure up though!
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Isn’t the overrun now almost as long as the project time?
Given the detriment to business I cannot believe that Lewisham Council would not consider compensation. As someone previously mentioned Kier is likely to be paying penalties. Why shouldn’t those penalties go to the businesses affected by this?
The local election is next week. I can’t help but feel that Kier is taking advantage of a system which is impotent in the weeks prior to an election.
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Very disappointing @MajaHilton
But an issue not of your making and certainly outside your control.
I welcomed yesterday the reference to the quick setting concrete as it would avoid an extended curing period. However the introduction of the dowels to the specification, whilst viewed by the officers as being necessary, means that a clean edge cut to the existing concrete bed will be required. The drilling and insertion of these dowels could prove to be time consuming.
It is entirely foreseeable that this will not be an operation than can be completed rapidly.
As discussed yesterday about being fobbed off - it is entirely probable that the estimated times for the combined task is not adequate and will take longer than stated by the officer.
Kier will have to provide assurances that they have the required concrete cutting and drilling kit available and have the details of the dowelling agreed with and or approved by the council.
It is also noted that the council has returned to a three night estimate to execute the re-surfacing (with another 1 day contingency added making it 4 days) - as discussed we know this should take a maximum of two nights - including laying road markings.
Overall therefore the response from the council can only be viewed as not only being mendacious but unrealistic.
I plan to visit the site this morning in response to this post and take a view on the condition of the existing concrete bed.
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I have always been a (cautious) supporter of the changes being made to Dartmouth Road, but I think the delay in actually getting them done has become faintly scandalous. It seems to be causing financial loss to local businesses and is certainly causing various degrees of inconvenience to local residents. Reasons cited for the delays have included bad weather, failure to supply materials on time and failure, it appears, to liaise effectively with utility companies. Overall there seems to have been a very low quality of project management. I wonder whether after the elections Lewisham borough should not be asked to do an investigation of what went wrong and why, and to make the results publicly available?
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