South London Weekly - March 29th 2024

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Planned or under-construction homes stalled due to fire safety rules uncertainty up 4,000 in six months

By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter

The number of planned or underconstruction homes in London which have stalled due to uncertainty over fire safety rules has grown by almost 4,000 in six months.

Mayor Sadiq Khan last year accused the Government of “dither and delay” over its plans to require all new buildings in England taller than 18 metres to have a second staircase.

The rule is being brought forward by Housing Secretary Michael Gove to ensure residents have more than one escape route and to make search and rescue operations easier for firefighters. It comes as policymakers seek to learn lessons from the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, as the 67-metre building had only one staircase.

Mr Khan, who has said he is “sympathetic” to the measure, revealed in September 2023 that at least 34,000 homes across the capital at various stages in the planning pipeline were unable to be built due to a lack of clarity over how the regulation will be applied.

It remains uncertain, for example, whether

the two staircases in each building will need to be entirely separate or whether they can be contained within the same building core.

The mayor recently confirmed that the number of homes affected has grown to “nearly 38,000”.

The figure only includes homes from planning applications which are large enough to be referred to the City Hall, meaning that the true number of properties which have stalled across London is likely to be much higher.

The new statistic was revealed by Mr Khan in his answer to a written question from Labour assembly member Sakina Sheikh.

He told her: “It has now been over a year since the government launched the consultation on the requirement for second staircases and they have yet to publish the technical details. I understand that they have now committed to publishing this by the end of March.

“This delay has resulted in many developers deciding not to pursue their proposals until there is clarity on the requirements. The current number of schemes referable to me affected by this delay is now nearly 38,000.

“My officers do not have details on affected schemes which are not referable to me,

which means the number of new homes whose delivery is being delayed by the lack of clarity around the requirements for second staircases is inevitably significantly higher.

“My housing and planning teams continue to work with DLUHC [the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities] to stress the urgency of providing the clarity to developers to help unlock the delivery of much needed homes in London.

Ms Sheikh said: “The housing crisis is bad enough without the Government making it worse. It’s not good enough that they’re

missing their own deadlines for the rules new schemes need.

“Buildings over 18m should have a second staircase to allow residents to get out safely in an emergency. The uncertainty the delay is causing, however, means Londoners are seeing the homes they need get stuck in the planning system. It’s unbelievable that ministers have the gall to criticise others’ housebuilding efforts when they are preventing new homes being built for Londoners.”

The Government was approached for a statement in response.

In October 2023, Mr Gove confirmed that once the regulations have been detailed, developers will be given a 30-month transition period in which to adapt to the new rules.

He also confirmed that any building projects which already have permission to build but which “do not follow the new guidance will have 18 months for construction to get underway in earnest”. Once the 18 months has elapsed, and if construction has not started, a new ‘building regulations application’ will be required.

Council takes down document it says mistakenly refers to plans for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

By Adrian Zorzut Local Democracy Reporter

A London council has taken down a document from its website it says mistakenly referred to plans for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) after admitting it had been uploaded ‘in error’. Westminster City Council said it had no plans to implement LT ns and said the document was meant to refer to Neighbourhood Traffic Management Schemes, which it says are different.

The document, known as the draft infrastructure delivery plan, had been recently uploaded to the council’s website. It outlined infrastructure plans for the Central London borough. Within it are two mentions of LTNs, which had been crossed

out and replaced with ‘Neighbourhood Traffic Management’ schemes, a review by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) found.

The references appear under a section called ‘active travel’, next to columns appearing to suggest current and planned ‘provisions’ for the London borough of Westminster. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the document was in the early stages of being reviewed and should not have been on the website.

The LDRS also understand the webpage containing the document will also be taken down as it, too, was mistakenly published.

A council spokesperson said: “The draft document was published in error and has now been removed. The council will be

launching a consultation in due course and we welcome feedback from residents.”

The plan outlines what infrastructure is needed to support new development in Westminster across the short and long term, the document states. The document feeds into the borough’s City Plan and the council’s Fairer Westminster Strategy. It is dated March 2024. Leader of the opposition, Paul Swaddle, suggested the blunder showed the council had been considering LTNs, adding they were not mentioned in a previous plan. He said: “I would like to thank Local Democracy Reporting team for uncovering these secret plans to introduce LTNs by the back door by just renaming them.

“Residents will be rightly worried that yet again this administration like Sadiq

Khan appears to be anti-car, and not willing to listen.” The LDRS understands an LTN involves a targeted reduction of traffic by restricting vehicles on specific roads whereas a neighbourhood traffic management scheme is any project involving road safety and environmental improvements; from dropped kerbs and dockless bikes, to EV charging and improving air quality.

It comes as the Department for Transport said councils will need the support of local communities before introducing an LTN from this summer. The Department published guidance for councils and warned those who fail to follow it risk having future funding withdrawn and control of an authority’s roads taken away, according to a report by Sky News.

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Photo: Sakina Sheikh AM. Credit: London Assembly

By Isabel Ramirez

A group of rotherhithe residents is using a school kitchen and giving up their Sundays to serve free meals to the needy.

Thirteen weeks ago, a small group of locals had an idea to cook for people ‘suffering in silence’ and the Rotherhithe Community Kitchen was born.

The organisers said they wanted to prove that you don’t need much to help people.

Abhishek Baloni, one of the volunteers, said: “It started with a small amount of food we prepared for the homeless. And then over the weeks, it’s grown.”

“We were never expecting this to be such a success. Now you see the local people come and they are happy.”

Every Sunday, they pitch up at Peter Hills C of E Primary School ‘at the crack of dawn’ to begin cooking. “We make big pots of rice and curry.”

They explained that aside from being ‘filling’ and affordable, they cook this meal because it stays hot for a long time.

To date, they’ve cooked over 5000 meals and there are now around 40 people who come to help out, including some teachers from the school itself.

In a project designed to bring all cultures together, they are cooking for anyone who needs it.

“The Old Kent Road mosque, Christian charities, St Mungo’s, people from the Canada Estate and elderly peoplethey all come to collect food and some people come on their own,” Abhishek

said.

“It’s not a political place - we want this to be a place where everyone wants to be together. Caring for people and spreading the love.”

Another volunteer, Eleanor Thorn commented: “They’re literally feeding the 5000. The quality of the food is really amazing. Everyone wants to know the recipe.”

This Sunday, (24 March) they hosted a free event for the popular Hindu colour festival - known as Holi - to celebrate colours, love and the start of Spring.

Around one hundred people turned up throughout the day to share food, dance and smear each other with bright-coloured powder - as is tradition.

So far they have been supported by local MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Neil Coyle, who said he’s ‘proud’ to have helped set it up: “I’m amazed to see how fast it has grown and how many people it is already helping.

“It is run by a great team and I’m happy to continue supporting them grow and help more local people.”

Despite receiving his support and also the support of a nearby Indian restaurant, Mogul, the initiative is otherwise self-funded by the volunteers.

“To keep it going and make it even bigger we need to register as a charity and then we can accept donations.”

They explained that they hoped to give the money to Surrey Docks Farm and also fund more kitchen appliances. Abhishek added: “We hope to get a community garden involved too - where we’ll use the produce we have grown for the food we cook.”

damilola’s dad made iT his mission To aTTend The funeRals of The ChildRen killed By knives

By Herbie Russell

CAmpAIgner rIChArd Taylor, the father of damilola Taylor who was killed in peckham in 2000 aged ten, has died.

The trials that followed Damilola’s death gripped national headlines for years, with his killers finally convicted in 2006.

Who WaS DamiLoLa TayLoR?

Damilola Taylor, born in Lagos, Nigeria, moved to the UK with his brother, sister and mother in the summer of 2000.

The family had moved to London in search of a better life and treatment for his sister Gbemi who had epilepsy.

At 4.41pm on November 27, 2000, he left Peckham Library having attended an after-school computer club.

These were his last moments. Soon after, he was discovered on a stairwell in a pool of his own blood on the North Peckham Estate.

He’d been slashed with a broken bottle which severed an artery in his left thigh. He was pronounced dead after being taken to King’s College Hospital.

A trail of blood from the wound in his leg led from the stairwell to Blakes Road where police believed the attack took place.

He was just ten days away from celebrating his 11th birthday when he was killed.

Who WeRe hiS kiLLeRS?

His killers, brothers Ricky and Danny Preddie, were aged twelve and thirteen at the time.

They were eventually convicted of manslaughter - but only six years later and after three trials.

The troubled youths, who had been

By Isabel Ramirez

TRiBuTeS pouRed in following the passing of Richard Taylor, including from a close friend who said the ‘humanitarian’ went to the funeral of ‘nearly every child who died by a gun or a knife.’

Richard - Damilola Taylor’s dad - sadly passed away aged 75 on Saturday, March 23, following a long battle with prostate cancer.

He became known after his ten-yearold son, Damilola, was killed in 2000 when he was slashed with broken glass on his way home from Peckham Library. It was a death that dominated headlines for years and rocked the country.

In May 2001, parents Richard and

Gloria set up the Damilola Taylor Trust in their sons’ memory to campaign against knife crime.

Through the charity, Richard toured schools sharing his heartache and persuading young people away from criminal careers.

Reflecting on his death, a close friend of Richard’s, Eula Clarke, told us: “I have worked with the Trust since 2005 and knew him before that. We used to speak every day.”

Asked of her lasting memory of Richard she said: “Our banter. He became a good friend. Even when he was deteriorating and we could no longer talk on the phone, he would always text me.

“Despite everything he went through, he remained a humanitarian.”

“What we didn’t know before was that Richard attended the funerals of nearly every child who got killed by a gun or knife.”

Back in November, Eula held a memorial event at the House of Lords to mark 23 years since Damilola’s death.

“I didn’t realise how precious our event was before. But I’m so glad we did that.

“Richard came with his other children.”

In terms of the future of the Damilola Taylor Trust, Eula said there was ‘still a need’ for it.

“The crimes are still happening so we can continue to educate everyone on the issues around youth violence.

“The Trust has a double legacy now.”

She added: “He’s at peace he’s out of pain. I’m just glad that I got to know him.”

Ben Lindsay, CEO of Peckham-based anti-youth violence organisation, Power the Fight, commented on the ‘massive loss’ for the charity sector.

“Richard Taylor’s passing is really sad,” he told us.

“He’s been an absolute legend and champion in his attempts to make the issue and cause of violence affecting young people something which is on the radar of politicians, and decisionmakers for over two decades.

“His dignity, his passion, his desire for change is something which will be missed.”

He explained that organisations like

Power the Fight were set up “following in his footsteps.”

Ben added: “To lose such a pioneer for me personally, but also for the organisation is a massive loss for the sector, but at the same time, I truly believe that his legacy will not be forgotten.

“I just hope that the things he has said and pushed and demanded in terms of change - for more peaceful communities is stuff which we will never forget.”

Other tributes on X from local figures included the Southwark branch of the Met police, who posted on X: “We are saddened by the news of the passing of Richard Taylor OBE. His tireless work, undertaken with great diligence and dignity, has been instrumental in making the young people and wider communities of Southwark safer.” - Det.

Chief. Superintendent Adjei-Addoh, BCU Commander.

Camberwell and Peckham MP Harriet Harman also shared this message: “So sad to hear this news. RIP Richard Taylor. He never stopped fighting for other children to have the chances his beloved Damilola never got.”

Finally, council leader, Kieron Williams, said: “Deeply sad to hear Richard Taylor has passed away. His work to create opportunity and hope for young people in Southwark and beyond has left a lasting legacy. He will be greatly missed by people across our community #LegacyOfHope”

in and out of children’s homes, were suspects from the outset.

But despite Operation Seale, a police investigation involving 120 officers, the brothers weren’t even prosecuted during the first trial due to a lack of forensic evidence.

WhaT haPPeNeD iN couRT?

The FiRST TRiaL

Initially, a group of four people, which didn’t include the Preddie brothers, stood trial.

The four youths - one aged fourteen, two fifteen-year-old brothers and a sixteen-year-old - were charged with murder and assault with intent to rob in June 2001, seven months after Damilola

who was damilola TayloR?

was killed.

But the prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of a fourteen-yearold named ‘Witness Bromley’ whose accounts were deemed unreliable.

Meanwhile, the defence argued Damilola hadn’t been attacked but had fallen on a broken bottle and bled out.

The prosecution’s case collapsed. Two of the defendants were acquitted on the direction of the judge and the remaining pair were found ‘not guilty’ by the jury.

The SecoND TRiaL

The second trial in 2006 saw the Preddie brothers, now aged seventeen and sixteen, and Hassan Jihad, nineteen, charged with murder.

Forensic re-examinations had brought

new evidence to light including a 9mm blood stain on Danny Preddie’s trainer containing fabric fibres from Damilola’s jumper.

Once again, the defence argued Damilola had fallen on the broken glass.

The jury cleared Jihad of all charges on April 3, 2006, but couldn’t decide whether to convict the Preddie brothers of lesser manslaughter charges.

The ThiRD TRiaL

Two months later, in June 2006, a new trial began with the Preddies accused of manslaughter.

The defence argued forensic evidence could have come from contamination.

The brothers, who it emerged were meant to be under supervision at the

time of the killing, were convicted of manslaughter.

They were sentenced to eight years in youth custody and given early release in 2010 and 2011.

Ricky Preddie, also known as Ricky Johnson, was later jailed for another four years in 2020 after running over a police officer.

WhaT iS DamiLoLa TayLoR’S LeGacy?

After his death, parents Richard and Gloria set up the Damilola Taylor Trust in May 2001 to campaign against knife crime.

Through the charity, Richard toured schools sharing his heartache and persuading young people away from criminal careers.

The Damilola Taylor Centre opened in Peckham in 2002 and still has space for over 100 kids to enjoy sports and youth programmes.

Damilola’s mother Gloria died from a suspected heart attack in 2008, aged 58, after being diagnosed with high blood pressure soon after her son’s death.

In 2009, Richard Taylor was made antiknife crime and youth violence envoy by then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He was awarded an OBE in the 2011 New Year Honours for his services to campaigning for youth charities.

In June last year, Southwark Council announced plans to establish a memorial to Damilola at the centre of the revamped Peckham Square.

The memorial will be just a five-minute walk from another sculpture erected in his memory at his former school, Oliver Goldsmith Primary School in Camberwell.

Richard Taylor died aged 75 following a long battle with prostate cancer, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

© Andrew Parsons

©

Met Police

Richard and friend, Eula Clarke

Damilola Taylor was killed aged ten

Richard with Power the Fight founder, Ben Lindsay

Danny Preddie (left) and his brother Ricky Preddie

BeCkenham soul Town fesTival liCenCe appRoved

By Joe Coughlan Local Democracy Reporter

A T wo-dAy music festival expected to attract up to 10,000 people is returning to a park in Bromley at the end of this summer. Soul Town music festival has been given permission by bromley Council to take place again in Croydon Road Recreation Ground in August and September this year.

Soul Town Festival is scheduled to run for two days on August 31 and September 1 and will include performances from The Four Tops and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire fame. The event in Beckenham has taken place in the park since 2018 and has a capacity of up to 10,000 people. It will run from midday until 10pm on Saturday and 9pm on Sunday.

The topic was discussed at a licensing meeting for Bromley Council on March 25. Joe Courtney, co-founder of the festival, said at the meeting that the organisers felt the event had been very successful in the last two years at reducing disturbances to nearby

residents. He said that additional measures in place at the festival last year included more toilets, security and fencing along blind spots on Croydon Road.

Mr Courtney said: “We have also done a deep clean, spray and minor regeneration of the park toilets which we liaised with Bromley Council on and we’ve got some great feedback on that. The park toilets were then back in use. We had a plumber come out and jet wash them, had them repainted and those park toilets were clean and safe for children to use for the rest of the holidays.”

Andrew Baker, who lives on Village Way beside the park, said at the meeting that he had no objection to people enjoying themselves and accepted that the running of the event had improved over recent years. However, he said that residents in the area felt the noise from the festival was causing a public nuisance and locals had no choice on whether they wished to listen to the music.

Mr Baker said: “For some people in extenuating circumstances, they have

Chessington to upgrade muddy visitors' parking

By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter

CheSSiNGToN woRLd of Adventures will upgrade its parking to stop visitors’ cars getting stuck in mud and causing tailbacks after Kingston Council approved the plans. Visitors to the popular theme park in South London had complained about the issues for many years.

The scheme from owner Merlin Entertainments will see Chessington’s Macaw Car Park, which can be accessed from Leatherhead Road, formalised –leading to a reduction in its capacity from 593 to 500 spaces. The site is currently grass and the parking area is unmarked.

The resort has around 5,100 car parking spaces overall. The council’s planning committee unanimously approved the plans on March 20 after expressing support for the major attraction.

Conservative councillor Rowena Bass said: “I think we need to support one of the biggest attractions and main employers and businesses in the borough.”

The works include creating surfaced parking bays and aisles in the car park, along with surfacing the western track linking its entry and exit points. Its

surface water drainage system will also be improved, while new trees will be planted. The parking bays will be laid out in a more uniform arrangement to improve the flow of vehicles.

A report submitted with the application warned Chessington must improve in order to continue its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing economic uncertainties, including by investing in its infrastructure which is ‘critical’ to operations. It revealed the car park can remain ‘damaged for much of the year’ as cars ‘inadvertently churn up the surface and create ruts’.

The report said: “The proposed surfacing will address an existing major shortcoming that occurs during periods of wet weather when cars often get stuck in the mud and experience difficulties getting into and out of the parking areas, causing tailbacks onto Leatherhead Road. This undermines the safe and efficient operation of the Macaw Car Park and has led to negative guest feedback for many years.”

Chessington hopes to complete the upgrade by autumn. It may also consider upgrading some of its other southern car parks in the future, subject to further funding and planning permission.

no option but to leave their homes and go away for the whole weekend… Those people cannot stay in their homes literally ten feet away from the fence without Earth, Wind & Fire blasting at them for the best part of two days, or that sort of music. My point is those people are basically being forced out of their homes.”

A council officer said at the meeting that the applicant had agreed to reposition the main stage and DJ tent of the festival to ensure they pointed away from nearby properties. He added that the police had not objected to the event proposed for this year but sent a list of recommended conditions, which the applicant had agreed to.

A Soul Town spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“We are thrilled to be granted our licence for 2024. The amount of objections year on year are reducing dramatically, and we will continue to work closely with the residents to keep disturbances to a minimum. The lineup for this year is the biggest yet and we can’t wait. Thanks to everyone for your continued support.”

Soul Town lineup (more still to be announced)

The Four Tops Tavares

Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay Maxi Priest

Thomas Atlantic Starr

The Trammps

Jocelyn Brown

Odyssey

Gwen Dickey

Damage

David Grant

Cool Notes

Julie McKnight

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter

SouTh LoNdoN residents have lost their battle to stop the construction of a 14-storey tower after a council approved the plans despite 1,000 people objecting to them. Lambeth councillors waved through the proposals to build 237 homes in five blocks on the site of a homebase store in Streatham on Tuesday evening (March 19).

More than 1,000 residents had signed a petition demanding the height and density of the planned development on Woodgate Drive be reduced. They had raised concerns about the pressure extra residents would put on local services and the impact of noise pollution from a nearby railway line on their new neighbours.

Existing residents had also criticised the design of the development, including the placement of some kids’ play areas on the roofs of buildings and the number of single-aspect flats (where windows are only on one side of a property).

But a majority of councillors ultimately agreed with planners about the benefits of the development and waved it through. Labour councillors Joanne Simpson, Malcolm Clarke, Joe Dharampal Hornby and David Bridson voted in favour of the plans. Cllr Martin Bailey, Labour member for Vauxhall, and Cllr Scott Ainslie, Green member for Streatham St Leonard’s voted against them.

Speaking after the meeting, campaigners expressed dismay at the councillors’ approval of the controversial plans. Emily Smith, chair of Woodgate Tower Protest Group, said: “Giving the goahead to something like this is completely unforgivable. [It] should have been blown out of the water [from] day one.

“Unfortunately I fear it will set a precedent and be one of many in the area over the next decade. We don’t have

to look very far into the past to see the architectural failings of these types of buildings.”

A council report had warned that the lack of on-street permit parking in the area meant the new flats would cause a ‘very high level of local parking stress.’ But speaking at the planning meeting, a council officer said proposals to introduce a controlled parking zone nearby were in progress and would likely deter car owners from moving into the development.

Council planners also said that increasing the number of dual-aspect homes (where windows are on both sides of a property) in the development would have reduced the number of homes.

Officers added that they were prioritising ‘maximising housing delivery’ in the borough by bringing forward the plans.

During the meeting, Cllr Ainslie asked officials to explain why they were recommending proposals for a 14-storey tower block in an area which wasn’t earmarked by the council for tall buildings.

In response, a council planner explained: “The area has not been identified as inappropriate. It just has not been

identified as appropriate.”

He went on to explain that the council allowed high developments to come forward in locations not earmarked for tall buildings, as long as they met other rules.

A council report recommending the plans for approval praised the proposed development for creating hundreds of new homes and for regenerating the surrounding area through planned improvements to roads and public spaces.

The report added: “The development would have no unacceptable impacts on surrounding properties or the local environment, with new landscaping opportunities and biodiversity improvements, and it would have excellent sustainability credentials.

“In officers’ assessment, the application complies with the development plan when looked at overall. No material considerations have been identified that weigh against the proposal. Officers are therefore recommending that the application is approved subject to conditions and a section 106 legal agreement.”

2024

Earth,

Kenny

Photo: The Four Tops

Petition to stop Walworth Marks and Spencer closure is launched

By Herbie Russell

‘upSeT’ ShoppeRS have launched a campaign to stop the closure of the Marks & Spencer on walworth road.

The online petition has collected 755 signatures in just two days after being launched on Wednesday, March 22.

The M&S branch which has served customers since 1913, is set to close this summer after a downturn in sales.

The petition, started by Linda Woods, said: “We have read in the local paper Marks & Spencer on Walworth Road is set to close, signalling the end of a shop that has served locals since

1913.

“We are very upset, we don’t want the store to close down.”

M&S retail bosses have only lodged a proposal to close so far but employees are already being informed about transfers to other stores.

The store was opened during the Edwardian Era, just 29 years after the first-ever shop was founded in Leeds and one year before the outbreak of World War I.

The shop has a clothing department, bakery plus the usual food offering.

The nearest M&S stores are in Denmark Hill and Brixton but only the latter has a clothing department.

disaBled people CeleBRaTe new dulwiCh paRk ToileT opening

By Herbie Russell

diSABLed peopLe have celebrated the opening of a new toilet with hoists and adult-size changing benches at dulwich park.

They will now be able to fully enjoy the park, which already has accessible parking, wide flat pathways and a levelaccess cafe.

It’s been made possible after Southwark Council received £120,000 from the government’s Changing Places Fund.

The money has also gone towards a new disabled toilet in the Una Marson Library, Walworth, and upgrades to one at Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre.

After conversations with local stakeholders, including disabled people and carers, Dulwich Park was identified as a priority location for a new Changing Places toilet.

Dulwich Park is also home to Whippersnappers, an inclusive activity provider that recently secured funding from Southwark Council to deliver weekend and school holiday schemes for disabled children and young people over the next three years.

The new Changing Places toilet will ensure children with a range of care needs can access the Whippersnappers schemes.

Cllr Evelyn Akoto, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We know being able to enjoy our beautiful parks and open spaces is so important for people’s health and wellbeing.

“We want to make our parks as accessible to people as possible, and we really hope this will encourage more disabled people and their families or carers to come and enjoy the loveliness of Dulwich Park.

“Being able to do something as simple as use the toilet comfortably and with dignity should be available to everyone and I am so pleased this is now available to our disabled residents and visitors in Dulwich.”

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© Southwark Council

The Marks & Spencer shop on Walworth Road

Cllr Evelyn Akoto (right) has hailed the new toilet

By Herbie Russell

LoNdoN’S iCoNiC bridges will soon have their very own poet according to a “one of its kind” job advert.

The City Bridge Foundation, which maintains the Tower, London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars crossings, is hiring a “bard with a bent for bridges”.

The lucky candidate, responsible for celebrating the bridges’ history through verse, will be paid £10,000 for sixteen days’ work - equivalent to roughly £3,125 for a five-day week.

Giles Shilson, City Bridge Foundation chairman, said: “The job is, as far as we know, the only one of its kind anywhere and is a way of celebrating our bridges and our funding work, while supporting and promoting poetry as a modern, vibrant, culturally relevant art form.”

The poet-in-residence scheme, launched on World Poetry Day (March 21), will see the successful applicant regularly visit London’s famous bridges to draw inspiration for their work.

The role is open to published poets of any style who either live in London or can regularly travel to the capital to central London and visit some of the charities funded by City Bridge Foundation.

The charity, which awards over £30 million a year to projects across London, said the new role is of no cost to the taxpayer.

The winner will likely draw inspiration from past portrayals of the iconic crossings, including the world-famous nursery rhyme London

Bridge is Falling Down.

Dating back to the 17th century, the song deals with the dilapidation of the original medieval stone bridge.

The Victorian London Bridge

CuRRenT affaiRs: Thames BRidges TO HIRE £3,000a-week poeT

opened in 1831 appears in TS Eliot’s The Waste Land, regarded as one of the most important English language poems of the 20th century.

Eliot compares City commuters

Jailed: the south London cohort who ‘flooded’ Wales with crack and heroin

By Herbie Russell

A group of south London men who ‘flooded’ wales with crack and heroin have been jailed.

Nine people have been sentenced for their roles in the county lines drug operation, including gang members from Camberwell and Lambeth, after a hearing on Friday, March 15.

The south London cohort included Santana Donegan, 23, from Camberwell, Dejuan Maurice Bell, from Lambeth, Shaquile Oduleye, 27, from South Lambeth, and Tenika Brown, 31, from Lambeth.

Police said the success of Operation ‘Goldie’ had “disrupted a major county line drug dealing gang”.

Detectives say the gang ran the drug trafficking route from London to the Bridgend area of Wales between October 2018 and May 2019.

According to police, they ‘flooded’ the region with heroin and crack cocaine - the total quantity equating to 3.29kg.

The head of the county line was Caine Morris-McGibbon (AKA ‘Goldie’), who controlled the ‘line’ from south London. He also trafficked a sixteen-year-old boy to work as part of his drug-dealing enterprise.

A network of other individuals played vital roles in the operation.

Donegal and Bell trafficked the drugs from London to south Wales and controlled the hands-on dealing with customers.

Oduleye and Brown facilitated the transfers of money from their own accounts to Morris-McGibbon.

Detective Sergeant Richard Gregory said: “We have disrupted a major county line drug dealing gang jailing nine people involved in a significant organised

conspiracy after a five-year operation which has taken a large number of dangerous people and substances off the streets”.

“The case saw officers trawling through a vast amount of media data, phone analysis, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) along with forensic and tactical enforcements which needed overlaying to order to put forward a meticulous prosecution case.”

“We will continue to proactively target those we believe to be involved in drugs and use the powers we have to make sure their activity is disrupted.”

The SeNTeNceS WeRe aS FoLLoWS:

∙ Caine Jardel Morris-McGibbon – 26, from London - 11 years and six months

∙ Santana Donegan – 23, from Camberwell, London - eight years

∙ Dejuan Maurice Bell – 24, from Lambeth, London - eight years

∙ Menna Louise Thomas – 29, Pencoed, Bridgend - six years and six months

∙ John Hauxwell – 46, from Brackla - two year suspended sentence

∙ Shaquile Oduleye – 27, from South Lambeth - Community Order for Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) offences

∙ Tenika Brown – 31, from Lambeth, London - Community Order for Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) offences

∙ Aisha Mills – 26, from CroydonCommunity Order for Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) offences

∙ Joanne Gordon – 49, from LondonCommunity Order for Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) offences

crossing the bridge to the condemned souls in Dante’s Inferno – a feeling many commuters may recognise.

at www.citybridgefoundation.org. uk/poetry or https://poetrysociety. org.uk/projects/city-bridge-poet-inresidence

Bermondsey storeroom destroyed in fire

By Herbie Russell

A SToReRooM in bermondsey has been destroyed by a fire with the Brigade warning people about using candles.

The blaze occurred on Southwark Park Road at 6.26pm on Saturday, March 23.

Around 20 people left the building before London Fire Brigade arrived and there were no reports of any injuries.

Around 25 firefighters and four fire engines had brought it under control by 8.06pm. The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by candles.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Candles are one of the most

common causes of fire.

“It’s really important that you never leave a candle unattended and keep them away from anything else that can easily catch alight.”

ToP caNDLe SaFeTy TiPS

∙ Keep candles away from curtains, furniture and anything else that can catch fire.

∙ Keep loose clothing and hair away from candles when they are lit.

∙ Always place your candles tealights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder.

∙ Make sure the candleholder holds the candle firmly and is on a flat and stable surface to stop it falling over.

© London Fire Brigade

Convicted left to right: Santana Donegan, Caine Jardel Morris-McGibbon and Dejuan Maurice Bell

Stock image of a poet on Tower Bridge

The Brandon Estate

Tulse hill RapisT ConviCTed afTeR woman Jumped fRom window To esCape

By Herbie Russell

A mAn who raped and attacked a woman he held captive in Tulse hill has been convicted of a string of violent and sexual offences.

Nam Nguyen, 26, subjected his victim to horrific abuse over a ten-day period in September 2023, leaving her with extensive injuries including a fractured spine.

The woman only escaped her captor by jumping from a window and running to a nearby care home.

Southwark’s police chief described it as “some of the worst offending our detectives have ever seen”.

Officers launched their investigation after the woman fled to the care home with injuries to her face and body.

Nguyen was identified as the suspect

and arrested shortly after.

The victim spoke at length with officers who learned she’d been raped and repeatedly attacked.

She said the defendant had taken control of her finances and restrained her to stop her leaving the flat.

Her accounts, CCTV, and forensic evidence were crucial to Nguyen’s conviction.

The defendant, of no fixed address, was found guilty of multiple offences following a trial at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, March 18.

They included false imprisonment, controlling and coercive behaviour, wounding with intent, threats to kill, grievous bodily harm with intent, rape, actual bodily harm, administering a noxious thing and sexual assault.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb

Pupils had forty minutes to do as many laps of the school as possible

School kids run ‘mini marathon’ to pay for their end-of-year trip

By Herbie Russell

peCKhAM SChooLChiLdReN have run a ‘mini-marathon’ to fundraise for their end-of-year trip to an adventure camp.

Convicted: Nam Nguyen

Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Lambeth and Southwark, said: “It’s hard to imagine the pain and suffering this woman went through and I am pleased the man responsible for these awful crimes has been brought to justice.

“This is some of the worst offending our detectives have ever seen and I do not underestimate the impact having to speak at length about this has had on the victim. We will continue to support her in any way we can.

“This has been an incredibly complex investigation and I hope this outcome demonstrates how the Met is committed to tackling violence against women and girls. We will continue to ensure dangerous and predatory men face the consequences of their actions.”

Nguyen will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, May 24.

Dulwich prep school earns high praise

By Herbie Russell

A prep school and nursery in dulwich was praised in a recent inspection for its ‘customised approach’ to pupil’s success.

Rosemead Preparatory School and Nursery was assessed last November by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and the headteacher says he is ‘thrilled’ with the result.

The inspection commended Rosemead’s academic approach to learning, pastoral care and support and the positive influence of the school’s values, vision, and leadership.

‘A highly customised approach to every pupil’s academic progress is a significant strength of the school,’ the report explained, referring to its learning programme in Maths, English and Reasoning. This approach is used for children in Year 4 and above.

The report continued: ‘This, supported by an extensive enrichment programme and much support for individuals, impacts on all groups of pupils, enabling them to make good and often rapid progress over

time.’

Speaking about the report, Head of Rosemead, Graeme McCafferty explained:

“I am absolutely thrilled to share our outstanding recent inspection report with our community.”

Its early years’ provision was also highlighted. ‘Leaders in the early years effectively ensure staff have high expectations of the behaviour and achievement of children,’ the report found. ‘The positive relationships between adults and children in the early years help children settle in quickly and feel safe and

happy.’

Last year, the school announced a merger with St Dunstan’s College joining St Dunstan’s Community of Schools.

Noting the recent merger, the report highlighted: ‘Governors and senior leaders work well together to promote the effectiveness of the school. Governors’ vision has a positive influence on every area of the school and drives continual improvement, for example, the recent decision to merge with another school.’ The full inspection report can be found on Rosemead’s rosemeadprep.org.uk

Pupils at St Mary Magdalene CE Primary School have so far raised £1,600 to fund the excursion which has become “prohibitively expensive” for “most families”.

A national charity has warned English primary school kids are regularly missing out on these seminal life events amid a lack of government funding for schools.

Chavvah, a Year 6 School Councillor, said: “It was a fun way to get us all active and raise money for PGL.

“I’m really looking forward to the independence of being away from home for two nights and all the new activities I’ll get to experience.”

Almost the entire student body huffed and puffed its way through laps of the school for forty minutes on Friday, March 1. Cheered on by staff members, some managed as many as fourteen laps - equivalent to around 5km. They were sponsored by friends

and family and there is still a JustGiving page open to donations.

The end-of-year trip will take them to a PGL centre in Marchant’s Hill, Surrey, where they’ll try archery, rat building and high ropes.

A school spokesperson said: “For some, it is their first trip away from home and is part of the school’s commitment to develop the whole child.

“They learn to develop courage, resilience and perseverance whilst strengthening relationships and having fun. It is an experience they will never forget.”

According to the Sutton Trust, 50 per cent of schools from the most disadvantaged communities were being forced to cut back on trips and outings in 2023.

The charity’s poll also found two in five primary and secondary leaders were using pupil premium – funding given to schools to support poorer pupils’ learning – to plug gaps in their general budgets.

In February, a Rotherhithe pupil completed 150 laps of Southwark Park - equivalent to 375km - so his peers can afford their Year 6 trip. Visit rb.gy/p3okwg to donate.

Security guard strike ‘did not compromise safety’, says hospital trust

By Isabel Ramirez

STAff ANd patient safety will not be compromised whilst 30 Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital security staff strike, says Trust.

Last week, the workers went on strike after the trust declined to pay them a wage increase worth £2,000 - which equals 96 pence per hour.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, said its members walked out for seven days from 7 am on Monday 18 March.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “The action of the trust is deplorable. These workers play a crucial frontline role but are on poverty wages and are struggling to make ends meet.

“Unite always backs its members to the hilt and the workers at Guys and St Thomas’ have the union’s total backing in the escalation of strikes.”

There were questions over the safety of staff and patients, given the crucial role the officers play across the two hospitals: St Thomas’ Hospital and Guys Hospital.

However, the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said this would not be a problem as not all workers were striking.

The latest wave of strikes follows two previous days of industrial action which took place because the security guards are amongst the lowest paid at the hospital.

The workers are reportedly paid less than their counterparts at hospitals across London, such as Kings’ College Hospital, where a security officer’s salary starts at £30,000 per annum.

A security officer taking part in the strikes said: “Our security management got a pay increase last year, but our salary remains the same, despite our role becoming increasingly more dangerous.

“We never quite know what we are going to get when we come into work and that is incredibly daunting. We deal with everything, from volatile patients to opening and unlocking various hospital departments. It all comes with a great deal of risk, but that is ignored by the trust.

“We have simply had enough.”

In addition to the pay dispute, the security workers are also fighting against the trust’s implementation of unpaid breaks as well as its refusal to calculate holiday allowance based on a 37.5-hour working week.

A spokesperson for Guy’s and St Thomas’ said: “We are disappointed that Unite is continuing with these strikes in the middle of constructive talks. We would urge them to call off this action so we can continue making progress on a fair deal for our highly valued security officers.”

BeRmondsey aRTisTs’ doCumenTaRy To sCReen aT suRRey Quays shopping CenTRe

By Herbie Russell

The SToRy of bermondsey’s artistic community will be explored in a documentary screening at a local gallery next week.

Filmed over twelve months between 2004 and 2005, The Story of The Bermondsey Artists’ Group shows how a cohort of creatives spearheaded a cultural explosion in the area.

The group, which established the Cafe Gallery in Southwark Park, is credited with sparking a mural craze with their early street art in the Surrey Docks bus shelterwhere jobbing dockers used to wait to get a day’s work.

The film, the work of documentary filmmaker and Southwark News Arts Editor Micky Holland, will be showcased at the Art of Isolation Gallery, inside the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, on Thursday, April 4.

It’s the first time the documentary has been screened since it was filmed in 2005.

Micky, a born-and-bred Rotherhithe local, said: “When I first approached Ron Henocq [Bermondsey Artists’ Group Director] about making the documentary, his first words were: ‘Why would you want to make a film about us!?

“He, and the members, didn’t realise how big a part of Bermondsey they had become and wondered why anyone would be interested.”

London Eye gets fresh paint job for first day of spring

By Herbie Russell

ABSeiLeRS hAVe finished smothering the London eye with 5,000 litres of paint just in time for the first day of spring (wednesday, March 20).

The attraction needs a touch-up once every three years so painters have been dangling 130 metres off the ground to get the job done.

The makeover required eight people to work five nights a week for six monthsthe same time it takes to paint roughly

1,660 cars.

Ti Onur, Head of Operations at the lastminute.com London Eye, said: “Can you imagine a more picturesque painting location than this - it’s the perfect spot to soar above and soak in the iconic London sights!

“Our amazing team take to the skies every three years to ensure the lastminute.com London Eye stays sparkling over the capital. And this year even more importantly, to ensure the attraction looks its very best heading into its 25th birthday in 2025.”

But Micky was adamant they had a story to tell. “When did you start seeing street art on the manor?” he said.

“There was none before they arrived, now, after what some of those artists started with those early murals in Surrey Docks bus shelter and Swan Lane has mushroomed into murals everywhere.”

Inspired by Reap, a twelve-month project by Anne Bean, based in the group’s two galleries, Micky also decided to film the documentary over one year.

Micky explained: “They were initially a bit suspicious but after the third or fourth visit to film them working and to conduct interviews, they were fine.

“Getting to know the artists was great

and hearing about the mad parties and events they had in the old Butler’s Wharf warehouse was eye-opening; becoming more informed about art is something that has stayed with me.”

Micky also created the Silwood Estate: Our History – Our Home documentary, a history of the Rotherhithe estate, from weathering Nazi bombs to its turn-of-thecentury regeneration.

‘The Story of the Bermondsey Artists’ Group’ will be screened at the Art of Isolation, upstairs at the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, at 6.30pm on Thursday, April 4. Turn up on the day or book ahead by emailing isolationart2020@ gmail.com. Tickets cost £5.

By Herbie Russell

wATeRLoo STATioN staff subjected to abusive taunts like ‘you dumb cow’ and ‘you absolute moron’ are being supported with a new marketing campaign.

South Western Railway will paste eyecatching posters across its network, including the south London station, to deter passengers from mistreating employees.

The graphics show everyday items photoshopped with mean messages to show vile comments can stay with staff after work.

‘You dumb cow’ has been superimposed on a doormat while a shower gel bottle has been edited to say ‘you stupid old fool’.

While verbal attacks might be considered ‘low-level’ compared to more extreme assaults, their consequences can be enduring, the rail operator said.

The campaign is based on consultations with employees, who shared their experiences of abuse.

’Be Kind’ badges are being given out to staff to help spread the message.

Grant Robey, Security Manager for South Western Railway, said: “We hope this campaign will bring the human impact of thoughtless abuse to the front of our customers’ minds and remind them to be kind to our colleagues, even when things go wrong on their journeys.”

The ‘You dumb cow’ poster

Artists Tony Fleming (left) and Jane Collings (right) feature in the documentary

TenanTs Claim They pay £500 peR

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter

CouNCiL TeNANTS living in a rat infested block of flats plagued by repair issues claim they’re shelling out over £500 per year for a ‘non-existent concierge’ while residents living in near identical private apartments next door enjoy luxuries including a 24-hour caretaker service, a private gym and underfloor heating.

When Southwark Council bought a block of affordable housing included in the award-winning Blackfriars Circus development in 2017, then cabinet member for housing Stephanie Cryan said the purchase would allow council tenants ‘to enjoy living in some of the most attractive homes in the borough’.

Few families living in the 56 flats the council took over in the Dibdin Apartments block would describe their homes using those words today. Instead they talk about constantly broken lifts, faulty doors that allow strangers to walk in off the street, and a weekly charge for a concierge which is included in their rent, despite the building not having one.

Teenagers hang out on the rooftop garden smoking weed, junkies linger in the basement and stairwell, the heating

and hot water breaks repeatedly, while residents claim cleaning is not up to standard.

Dad Maciej Malicki, 40, said: “Our rent includes concierge and we don’t have a concierge. It’s a fairly new building but the state is already worse than older ones because there’s no management of people

The youths get bricks from the roof and they throw them on the road. We have more weeds than plants in the outside area.”

Mum Fadumo, 34, who declined to give her surname, added: “We pay a concierge charge. It’s quite a lot and we don’t know where it goes and what the benefits are because we don’t have one. It just does not feel safe in here..

Francesca Garrett, 34, who moved into the block when it first opened seven years ago, said: “I have experienced a lot of problems. I had mould and it took them months to come and deal with. It went on for eight to 10 months until it was done and safe to sit at the kitchen table and eat.

“The first floor terrace has rats now. The rats from the bin store have eaten their way through the concrete to the first floor. People are terrified so they leave their bins in the area outside. The rats are big and once I counted 23 of them.”

the rent goes up but we have no one downstairs. The lift breaks often. The door is always broken and lots of people come off the street to smoke weed. There’s people doing drugs on the stairs and there’s kids going down them.”

She added that the building’s door locking system, which is currently switched off, was dangerous. Yusmeri said she had previously got stuck in the stairwell with her baby son when a door release button broke.

When the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited this week, there were several people hanging around in the stairwell and cigarette butts peppered the steps. The rooftop terrace, which has panoramic views of the London skyline, was empty. A wooden enclosure surrounding a satellite dish had been partly pulled down and a paving stone was missing from the terrace floor.

In the reception area downstairs, notices warned couriers not to leave parcels in the hallway because parcels were ‘usually stolen’. A letter dated June 2017 stuck to the noticeboard and headed with the Southwark Council logo informed residents of ‘actions that the council has taken in response to the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower’.

The area’s Liberal Democrat councillors, Maria Linforth-Hall and Graham Neale, said residents felt ignored by the Labourrun council. Cllr Neale said: “Housing services under Southwark Labour have become inaccessible and woefully inadequate. Dibdin is yet another example of residents with urgent issues being ignored by the council.”

Cllr Sarah King, the council’s cabinet member for council homes, said: “We take all of the issues raised by residents very seriously, such as the repairs, maintenance and pest control matters, and will look into each point. We will meet with residents to discuss all of these matters further in order to resolve them.

“We are also aware of the issue with vandalism of the doors and associated antisocial behaviour, which we have picked up with the police in order to get an action plan in place. I sincerely hope that we can make life more pleasant for residents once we have tackled these various issues.”

Yusmeri Misle, 37, who also moved in seven years ago, added: “Every year

Broken paving stone on the Dibdin Apartments roof terrace

Broken fence around satellite dishes on roof terrace of Dibdin Apartments on Blackfriars Road

Francesca Garrett with cllr Graham Neale

Yusmeri

By Isabel Ramirez

A weLL-LoVed peckham nursery, which plunged into debt due to falling pupil numbers, will close in August.

News that Ann Bernadt Nursery School was at risk first broke in November after being deemed financially inviable.

Over the last seven years, pupil numbers there have fallen by almost two-thirds and they currently owe £300,000 to the council.

Since being earmarked for closure, the nursery took various steps to curb the outcome, including staffing restructures and joining up with another governing body for support, the River Peck Federation.

But at the last cabinet meeting, Southwark Council approved the decision to close it.

Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees said: “I would like to thank Gregory Doey the Executive Head Teacher at River Peck Federation, Levia Ostrove-Pound the Head of School at Ann Bernadt for her unwavering dedication to the staff, children and families and to each and every staff member who works tirelessly on behalf of the children.”

Ann Bernadt Nursery School will close

on 31 August 2024.

Regarding the loss of places, Cllr Ali said there is another nursery in the River Peck Federation that will be able to find some places for families that need them.

She continued: “In all schools that have closed or amalgamated children have successfully managed the transition to the new school regardless of need.”

“Southwark Schools HR have worked previously with closing schools and will support staff to secure employment elsewhere in the borough wherever possible. They are given practical support and can be put forward for roles if available, and then undergo a normal recruitment process.”

Nurseries and primary schools across the borough, and nationally, are struggling to remain open amid plummeting pupil admissions.

At the start of the year, Kintore Way Nursery in Bermondsey made staff cuts in an attempt to revive its debt, which parents say has negatively impacted its ability to cater for its pupils - especially those with special educational needs.

We want to hear from any parents affected by the decision to close Ann Bernadt Nursery School. If this is you please feel free to get in touch via email: isabel@southwarknews.co.uk

Woman dies after being rescued from Peckham house fire

By Herbie Russell

A WomAn has died after she was rescued from a house fire in peckham.

Last Sunday evening at around 7:40 pm, firefighters were called to a fire on Crane Street.

Despite being saved from the first floor of the building and receiving emergency care, the woman died at the scene.

The police and fire brigade are investigating the cause of the fire.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ““Part of the first floor of an endof-terrace house was damaged by fire. One woman was rescued by breathing apparatus crews via an internal staircase. She was given immediate emergency care by firefighters and London Ambulance Service but was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

“The Brigade was called at 1940 and the fire was extinguished by 2125. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Peckham, Old Kent Road and New Cross fire station attended the scene.”

The Range aT suRRey Quays will Close soon and iT won’T Be ReplaCed

By Isabel Ramirez

STAff AT The Range at Surrey Quays say they’re ‘disheartened’ following news that the store will close in may.

British Land confirmed the news in a statement online and said the unit would be ‘refitted’ with leisure facilities and restaurants ‘by the Autumn.’

It is part of the Canada Water Masterplan which includes the construction of a new town centre on the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre site - where The Range is currently located.

One staff member who has worked at the store for years told us: “I speak for everyone at the shop when I say we are devastated.”

The employee, who would prefer to remain anonymous, said they found out two weeks ago but were ‘waiting for an outcome.’

“I don’t know what I’m going to

do. There are lots of older women working there who have been there from the start.

“It’s going to be impossible for them to get another job now.”

In its statement, British Land said that when the unit has been refitted, new jobs will open up - but staff explained they had not been informed of this.

“Nothing has been said to us about new job opportunities.

“The only other option for work is if another store has vacancies - but the nearest Range is in Croydon so that’s not realistic for most people.”

Commenting on the loss of the store itself, they said: “It’s very busy over there.

“There’s a market for it there. Kids use it for school supplies, and elderly and disabled people come to get art supplies and household goods.

“I feel for the local people - I know they’re very sad about it.”

The full online statement from

British Land reads: “We wanted to provide some clarification on the plans for The Range unit in response to comments on social media.

“We can confirm The Range will be closing in the coming months and appreciate this will be impacting some people’s jobs.

“The unit housing The Range won’t be demolished at this time; instead, it will be refitted and will re-open from this autumn offering places to eat, drink and enjoy leisure time, which will in turn offer people a variety of new job opportunities. We will be announcing further details soon.

“We will continue to work with our retailers in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre to drive footfall and retain a vibrant, diverse retail mix in the medium term. A varied mix of shops and restaurants will be provided in the coming years linked to the new phases of the development. We will continue to keep the community updated via our usual channels.”

Man stabbed in the neck in Nunhead

By Herbie Russell

A mAn in his forties has been stabbed in the neck in nunhead. Officers have made an arrest following the incident on Wednesday, March 20.

The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

Police were called to Gautrey

Road at around 1.40pm and found a man suffering a stab injury to the neck.

Officers arrested a man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm who remains in custody.

Residents said a police cordon had been erected around a residential property on the road.

A Met Police spokesperson said:

“Police were called at around

13:40hrs on Wednesday, 20 March to a report of a stabbing on Gautrey Road, Nunhead.

“Officers attended and found a man, aged in his 40s, with a stab injury to his neck.

“He was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

“A man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and remains in custody.”

Police rushed to the incident on Gautrey Road, Nunhead

Ann Bernadt Nursery School

EastEr in south London

East Er Egg hunts and morE

East E r bunny hunt with priz E s fr EE at El E phant & Castl E

A SpeCiAL event is coming to elephant and Castle with performances, chocolate eggs and an easter Bunny hunt with prizes - all free of charge.

On Saturday 30 March, families are being invited to Castle Square as it is transformed for an Easter celebration.

Guests can enjoy face painting, workshops, performances and food from the local traders, along with an appearance from the Easter Bunny.

Follow the bunny around Castle Square to take selfies and find yourself some Easter treats. Anyone who locates the bunny will also receive vouchers to redeem in exchange for free Easter rainbow cupcakes.

Throughout the day there will be activities and workshops for the whole family to get involved in, including face painting so visitors can transform themselves into the Easter Bunny too.

Community-based group, Art in The Park will also be at Castle Square to create a large-scale floor-based collage to which visitors can contribute. Free chocolate eggs will be available throughout the day gifted by the Easter Bunny.

Along with treats and workshops, an exciting lineup of performances from local groups UpSideDown Dance Academy, Frogprince Baby Music and School Dance Talentos will keep everyone entertained throughout.

Dates Saturday 30th March 11 am - 5 pm

Castle Square, 40 Elephant Road, SE17 1EU

Admission: FREE

East E r trail at th E Old rOyal n aval C O ll E g E in g r EE nwi C h

holidays, bring the kids and hop on the easter bunny’s special time machine at the old Royal Naval College’s Visitor Centre and learn about easter celebrations throughout history. You can buy a self-led Easter activity booklet, which includes fun facts about Easter through the ages. Once completed, the trail can be used to claim a chocolate prize.

No need to book before you go, just head to the Visitor Centre on the day of your visit.

Dates: 29 March to 14 April 2024, 10am to 5pm, Tickets: £3 Visitor Centre, Old Royal Naval College, SE10 9NN ornc.org/whats-on/easter-time-travel-trail/

East E r hunt and gam E s in p EC kham

Ge T R e A dy for an eggtastic easter eggstravaganza filled with an egg hunt, games, and tons of fun brought to you by the hope Gordon foundation, hosted at peckham Levels.

Alongside the main attraction – the Easter Egg Hunt – there will be arts and crafts activities and a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny Mascot.

This Easter party provides a safe and inclusive environment where children can have fun, make new friends and celebrate the joy of Easter together.

Saturday 30 March, 2pm to 4pm. Tickets from £3.96 95a Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST peckhamlevels.org/events/easter-eggstravaganza

hunt with th E family at Eltham palaCE

iT ’S T iMe to work together as a team for eltham palace’s easter Adventure Quest. hunt for clues in the gardens, track down the easter eggs and get rewarded with a tasty chocolate treat.

You can take on the quest every day of the school holidays, and it costs £2 to take part on top of the ticket price.

Dates: 23 March to 14 April 2024, 10am to 4pm

Tickets: £2 Entry costs: Adults £18, children £11 – book online and save 15% on your entry ticket Eltham Palace, Greenwich, SE9 5QE www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/elthampalace-easter-adventure-quest/

t his littl E bunny w E nt t O g r EE nwi C h mark E t

GR eeNwiCh M ARK eT has plenty in store for the easter Bank holiday weekend. They’re hosting an easter egg hunt to raise money for Greenwich and Bexley Community hospice, as well as arts and crafts activities.

On Good Friday (29 March) and Easter Monday (1 April), you’ll find a free arts and crafts workshop hosted by Paper Moon. Saturday (30 March) will see the easter egg hunt take place, and on Easter Sunday (31 March) there will be face painting.

Dates: 29 March to 1 April 2024

Greenwich Market, Greenwich SE10 9HZ

www.greenwichmarket.london/events/detail/easter-atgreenwich-market

The sweet life in Greenwich

Anew exhibition at Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College is telling the delicious history of the area’s chocolate houses, writes Eliza Frost...

JuST iN time for easter weekend, the new Chocolate house Greenwich exhibition is set to open at old Royal Naval College, celebrating the enlightenment and all things Chocolate.

The 18th Century was hot chocolate’s heyday and you can now step back in time to discover its key role in the revival of Greenwich and experience a recreation of Grace and Thomas Tosier’s famous “royal” Chocolate House.

From Friday 29 March to Sunday 3 November 2024, you can explore the complex history of chocolate, and its surprising role at the heart of new cultural and scientific conversations at the time.

Helen White, senior interpretation manager at the Old Royal Naval College, says: “This new exhibition will offer visitors the chance to discover the history and appeal of chocolate as a fashionable and elegant luxury drink in 18th-century Greenwich.

“It will trace the story of chocolate from its origins in Central America to its role as a mark of sophistication among London’s Enlightenment movers and shakers.”

In the early 18th Century, Greenwich became a popular destination for those in search of elegant surroundings and was a hub for astronomy, science and culture. The Tosier Chocolate House, located in what became known as Chocolate Row, became a social space for the leading figures of the day.

The exhibition tells the story of Greenwich’s rich chocolate history, White explains: “Grace Tosier’s famous Chocolate House was part of the regeneration of Greenwich in the early 1700s when Sir Christopher Wren’s iconic architectural project, the Royal Hospital for Seamen, was reviving the fortunes of the town. Greenwich was a place on the up and was fast becoming a popular destination for people of sophisticated tastes.”

She adds: “We have recreated the Tosier Chocolate House favoured by courtiers and ambassadors of the time. The audio and visual experience presents the flamboyant proprietor, Grace Tosier, and a chance to listen in on great minds of the day, including architect and astronomer Sir Christopher Wren, writer and diarist John Evelyn, the first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed, and playwright and architect John Vanbrugh.”

A series of events will also complement the exhibition, including an Easter Trail for families, a Choco-Late this summer, and a series of hands-on chocolate-themed and chocolate-making workshops.

Dates: Friday 29 March to

Sunday 3 November 2024

Tickets: Included as part of Painted Hall ticket (£15, rising to £16.50 from 1 April 2024).

Children go free Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN ornc.org/whats-on/chocolate-housegreenwich

peR feCT foR the school

WhErE to tak E thE kids this E ast Er ...

Spring Family Fun at the Southbank Centre

fAMiL ie S To dive into a world of wonder and excitement with the Southbank Centre’s Spring family fun programme.

Running throughout the Easter holiday and May half-term, this cross-artform celebration promises a tapestry of entertainment for all ages, including plenty of free events.

Go on a fantastical adventure with Dragons and Mythical Beasts, an award-winning show direct from the West End featuring spectacular puppets that bring myths and legends to life.

Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik, the supernatural Baku, the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin.

Take your place among legendary heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon… This is a must-see for brave heroes of all sizes!

Explore the wonders and woes of plastics with thought-provoking dance show Plastic Drastic Fantastic Drawing on South Asian dance, with a contemporary dance theatre workshop for families exploring our complex relationship with plastics.

This Friday, which is Good Friday, March 29, feel the rhythm with family special of Simmer Down, a reggae and revival extravaganza for all ages.

Explore the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden in In the Spring Garden, a delightful fusion of outdoor activities and artistic performances welcoming the arrival of spring.

Dragons and Mythical Beats

The Southbank Centre’s Spring Family Fun programme continues again during May half-term. Whatever you’re in the mood for, they have plenty of unforgettable performances and experiences to keep everyone entertained in the holidays. A world of creativity, imagination and discovery awaits, this is definate must Find out more southbankcentre. co.uk or scan QR code below

Off the Jubilee line

A kids’ review - Ifly

WhaT The kiDS SaiD:

Freddie Byrnes 12 and Mason Terry 12 from Nunhead (pictured)

mason: It was fantastic

freddie: It was brilliant

WhaT iS iT ?

Ifly is an indoor skydiving experience, that nearly everyone can take part in.

hoW much?

Costs from £49.99 per person which seems quite expensive for a short activity but the look on the children’s face during and after was worth it!

hoW To GeT TheRe?

We drove as there’s parking (check car parks and costs before travelling)

As this branch was located at the O2 it’s very easy to get to on the jubilee line. Once you’re out of the station enter the dome and walk round to the right – you can’t miss it!

There is a disabled lift and toilet onsite, there’s no buggy park but there’s lots of waiting space so not a problem. There are lockers available for free for anyone who needs to store valuables.

FooD & DRiNk?

In Ifly you aren’t able to purchase your own food and drink, however there are lots of food outlets to choose from at the O2 or there are picnic benches directly outside Ifly so welcome to bring your own.

hoW LoNG DoeS iT L aST ?

You’re requested to arrive 45 minutes before your flight to get weighed, changed and have a safety briefing . Each person will have 2 flights which last 2.5 minutes each.

aRe TheRe aNy hiDDeN exTRaS?

On your second flight you (parents/ carers) can decide if you’d like a third flight for £20 and/or a high fly for £20 (£40 for both) I declined at first but quickly changed my mind for the boys as the high fly looked so cool and they both said it was the best part, so glad I did!

BookiNG iN aDvaNce?

We was surprised how busy it was but there were still a few slots left, I’d book in advance if you want a specific date and time.

Also check out our website ... www.southlondon.co.uk for all events locally

Juuust right

BR iNGiNG T hi S classic children’s story to life, goldilocks: The ballet is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy the magic of live, professional ballet for a special easter treat at blackheath halls. Join Goldilocks, the girl with the lovely locks and her jar of magic honey, as she befriends a family of bears and teaches everyone the value of sharing. But watch out for Selfish Sid who, on hearing that the honey is magical, hatches a nasty plan to steal it from Goldilocks.

With a 1940s vibe, a variety of dance styles and plenty of bowls of delicious porridge, this ballet is just right.

Dates: Friday 12 Apr 2024, 3pm

Tickets: Adults £16, under-16s £14 Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ www.blackheathhalls.com/ whats-on/goldilocks/

Free at Borough Market

BoRouGh MARKeT will host a free programme of easter activities, including the chance for kids to grow their own food.

The interactive event will take place daily on Tuesday 2 to Thursday 4 April in the Market Hall - which will be transformed into a pop-up garden with trellis archways, white picket fencing and flowers for the occasion.

Primary school children are being encouraged to learn where their food comes from through a ‘What’s in the Box?’ guessing game, hands-on crafts and seed planting.

FoR iNFo?

Website www.iflyworld.co.uk

Guided by Borough Market’s expert traders, all attendees have the choice of sowing their own fruit, vegetable, or herb seeds.

Each child will take their seeds home in compostable pots to cultivate in their garden or window boxes. They will get to personalise their potted

Also check out...

DuLWich PicTuRe GaLLeRy

Experiment with colour and make different artworks inspired by the Soulscapes exhibition and Collection at Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Activities are aimed at 7- to 12-yearolds and their families, but siblings and family members of all ages are welcome.

Art Sundays are grouped into three sessions to make sure everyone has a chance to experiment. Select the time you would like to attend on the booking page. There are a maximum of 5 tickets per family per time slot.

On Sundays (31 March, 28 April, 26 May 2024) from 1pm to 1:45pm, 2pm to 2:45pm or 3pm to 3:45pm. Free Gallery Road, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/ whats-on/family-events/2024/feb/ art-sundays/

seeds by decorating plant pot sticks. There will also be a free chocolate lollipop for the first 100 children who attend the workshops each day.

Borough Market will be open during the Easter holidays at its usual times but close on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

For information on opening times, visit boroughmarket.org.uk

The Market Explorers Garden events will take place daily between 11 am and 3 pm. The events are drop-in, with no booking required.

hoRimaN - FoReST hiLL

The first UK showing of Dinosaur rEvolution is on at Horniman Museum and Gardens.

For kids that dino-mad this is great option.

It explores the relationship between dinosaurs and birds in a colourful and fascinating exhibition, including five large animatronic models, many accurate cast fossil skeletons and skulls – some touchable, detailed graphics by the acclaimed artist Luis V Rey, dress up, games, and more.

Horniman Museum and Gardens is also hosting its Spring Fair on Saturday 30 March 2024, from 11am to 4pm.

Until 3 November. Tickets: Adult £9, child £6

100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ

www.horniman.ac.uk/event/dinosaurrevolution

© Robert Day

Dragons and Mythical Beats

Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

© Brian Hartley

© Cesare DeGiglio

gp suRgeRy says iT will sTRuggle To Cope wiTh populaTion Boom if Big Changes aRen’T made

By Harrison Galliven Local Democracy Reporter

doCToRS AT Sutton’s Robin hood Lane health Centre have expressed concern that their vital services will become overstretched due to Sutton’s rapid population increase.

The centre’s gps have warned that the current NhS funding restraints are pushing them to work overtime to keep themselves sustainable.

While the centre is experiencing pressures felt by struggling GP surgeries across the country, they are particularly concerned because of the dramatic development boom that has taken place in Sutton over the past decade. This phenomenon, epitomised by the recent plans to build 970 flats on the site of B&Q, will inevitably boost the number of people who require local medical services.

Resident GPs Dr Amit Seyan and Dr Naomi Bennett both live in the borough and have worked at the surgery for a number of years. They told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the centre’s position just off the high street means the new builds by Sutton station are in their catchment area, and that a sudden increase in population could overwhelm the service.

Dr Bennett told the LDRS: “Between the two censuses in 2010 and 2021, there are 20,000 more residents in Sutton and more so since 2021 to 23. We also used to have 23 surgeries in Sutton and now we’re onto 22, it’s a numbers game.”

They also feared that Sutton Council had not provided them with adequate support and consultation in light of the new developments, which they said would have been helpful to know how they could accommodate the change.

Dr Bennett said: “I know schools get consulted on whether they absorb the extra children coming into the area. I think there have even been suggestions that we could build a new school, and that was rejected and instead, it was decided that they could add new classes to the schools.”

“However, other public services like primary care haven’t been asked. I know Councillor Ed Parsely is trying to get some answers for us about what the process is, but they haven’t been very forthcoming.”

Dr Seyan was born in Sutton and has grown up around the centre. His father has also been a GP at the surgery for nearly 40 years and is retiring next month.

He said he’s seen loads of changes in the borough throughout his lifetime but still thinks it’s a great place to live. However, he admits the developments will have a huge impact on what he sees as the area’s already stretched health services.

He told the LDRS: “We’re lucky in this practice that we can take more patients because we’re able to expand. However, Grove Road which is also in the same area has struggled and has had to close their list because they are

not able to expand.”

However, both GPs believe that there are still more immediate pressures facing centres like theirs. Chronic staff shortages across the NHS and rigid NHS funding have placed them in a position that Dr Bennett says could affect their primary ability to care.

Dr Bennett said: “The British Medical Association (BMA) suggests that 72 per 1,000 patients per week is a reasonable amount. At the moment we’re at 92, and we’re doing more than the BMA considers a safe number to see a day.”

“Where it gets difficult is once we have reached a safe capacity which for us is slightly higher than what the BMA recommends, there is no overspill.

“It’s a bit like having the safe number of seats on an aeroplane.

An aeroplane has a safe capacity to ensure that everyone gets a seatbelt. The healthcare industry is similar, it’s a very high-risk industry. People can

get overworked and tired.

“You then get decision fatigue, so if you’re seeing 50 patients, you don’t want to be number 50.”

Staff shortages are a pervasive issue for GP surgeries across the country. Only last week in Parliament, MPs told the house how chronic shortages are putting GPs on the front-line and leading to more stretched services overall.

In response, GP surgeries and professional bodies across the UK have said a fundamental change to the way the system is funded, or we could risk a dip in the public’s trust in the NHS.

Dr Bennett said: “We need to work together to work out how the NHS is managed, it shouldn’t be a political tennis ball.”

In an open letter to their 15,00 patients, Robin Hood Health Centre laid out the way these shortages and other issues around rising costs have affected the centre’s staff and the

patients themselves.

“Over the last few years, Robin Hood Lane Health Centre and all GP surgeries nationally, have been under increased financial pressure. Just like in your households, we have seen huge increases in all our costs – everything we buy costs more, our energy costs have spiralled, and our staffing costs have also increased.”

“Since 2008 this has added up to 52% real terms funding cut to primary care, as our funding from the government has not matched inflation. The effects of this financial crisis are many.

“For example, when we are shortstaffed due to sickness we cannot afford to pay for locums or over-time. We are having to make very difficult decisions about what we can and can’t afford, in order to keep your practice viable.”

Dr Seyan told the LDRS how he and his staff have had to seek other ways of boosting the income of the surgery to cope with the increasing demand. He was keen to stress that GP surgeries were businesses and that the £104 they get per patient per year they get from the NHS is not enough.

He said: “To stay sustainable as a business we have to increase the work we do to get more income in. That comes through having GP trainees and medical students here, we have also tried to engage in research as well.”

“But I’m still a full-time GP and I still have to find time outside of this GP work to do all this work and stay stable. We have to do a lot a lot of extra work, on weekends, evenings and days off to stay sustainable and to ensure that we can provide the best care we can.”

The pressures have also forced the centre to change in other ways and improve efficiencies across the board. One way they have done this

is by eschewing the old appointment allocation system which favoured the more tech-savvy younger generation.

Dr Bennett told the LDRS: “We have moved to total triage, which means that every request for a clinician comes to one of the senior partners and we then allocate the appointments according to clinical need and risk.”

“There may be 20 year old who may have rung us at 8 am and got an appointment on the day for hay fever, and then there’s an 80-year-old who can’t get through but they have something serious.“

“The biggest frustration people have is that they can’t get hold of a GP service. It’s that imbalance we’re trying to address.”

Despite these mounting pressures, both GPs said: “We do it because we love the job.” When asked what their main message to the public was, Dr Seyan said: “The main message would be support us. We’re just as frustrated as you are.”

A spokesperson for the London Borough of Sutton said: “Our Local Plan makes provision for new development including those on allocated sites and is supported by an infrastructure study which sets out the requirements for health, education and other infrastructure to support future growth.

“Any new development and major applications in Sutton are also referred to the NHS London Healthy Urban Development Unit for their comments.

Photos:

Dr Amit Seyan and Dr Naomi Bennett say the current conditions risk eroding the public’s trust in the NHS Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga Plans for a new development called Chalk Gardens on the site of B&Q in Sutton. Credit: St George.

Average council tax over £2k per year in 15 boroughs

By Joe Coughlan Local Democracy Reporter

LoNdoNeRS iN almost half of the capital’s boroughs will from April pay average council tax bills higher than £2,000 per year.

In the latest cost of living blow, residents in 15 of London’s 33 local authorities will be charged the amount if they are living in Band D properties or higher.

Eight boroughs were already charging Band D households – used as the benchmark to compare council tax rates – above £2,000: Bexley, Croydon, Harrow, Havering, Kingston, Richmond, Sutton and Waltham Forest. They have now been joined by residents in Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Lewisham and Redbridge.

The highest bill will be in Kingston,

charging £2,374.32, followed by Croydon (£2,366.91) and Harrow (£2,286.32).

The cheapest will be found in Wandsworth, which has frozen the main element of its council tax, leaving residents with a standard bill of £961.14. The bill does however include an increase to the council’s adult social care levy, meaning an increase for Band D residents of £9.74 compared with last year.

The second-cheapest Band D bills will be in Westminster (£973.16), followed by Hammersmith and Fulham (£1,386.77).

Kingston’s Liberal Democrat leader Andreas Kirsch said his council “had to take difficult decisions about how to allocate the finite resources available” and that the authority is “working harder than ever to find even more cost effective ways of providing the best possible services to residents”.

London Councils, the cross-party body

representing the capital’s boroughs, said after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s budget earlier this month that they were continuing to face a “relentless squeeze” on their funds.

The group’s Labour deputy chair, Claire Holland, said: “Overall, we are left with little short-term relief and certainly no long-term solutions to the crisis in council finances.

“The fundamental factors driving this are

the fast-rising levels of demand for services and the substantially reduced levels of resources available to us. Boroughs will continue to call for urgent reform of the local government funding system.”

The Government has said that it “recognises councils are facing challenges”, adding: “That is why we announced an additional £600m support package for councils across England, increasing their overall funding for the upcoming financial year to £64.7 billion – a 7.5% increase in cash terms.”

Council tax bills include a portion which goes to the borough council, and a portion to City Hall. Boroughs’ increases to their portions are capped at 4.99 per cent –with any annual rise above that amount requiring a local referendum to be held. Almost every London borough opted for the maximum rise, but the Mayor of London has no such limit when increasing

their part of the bill. Mayor Sadiq Khan announced in December an increase to his portion of 8.6 per cent. It represents a rise for Band D households of £37.26 to £471.40 – almost £200 more than when Mr Khan, who is seeking a record third term in office, first came to power in 2016.

Of the £471.40 City Hall precept, £305.13 will be spent on the Met Police and £166.27 on the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London, and running City Hall.

The Labour mayor said he was being forced to again raise his portion due to a “lack of Government funding”, despite admitting the tax is “regressive” and causes disproportionate financial pain for poorer Londoners. His Tory mayoral rival Susan Hall said he was “treating Londoners like walking cash machines”, pointing out that he has raised his share of bills by 70 per cent since being elected.

Fly tippers caught on camera dumping truck loads of rubbish at infamous Purley Way site

By Harrison Galliven Local Democracy Reporter

fLy TippeRS have been caught continuing to leave waste at an infamous Croydon site known as dumping ground locally. This comes despite the purley way site being recently secured before it becomes Croydon’s newest shopping mall.

The fly-tippers were captured on camera dumping a van load of waste outside the gates of the fenced-off site before leaving the scene. In response, the site’s new leaseholder, Koby Yogaretnam, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It’s a punch in the stomach when these types of offences continue to take place and we have to foot the bill.”

According to Yogaretnam the flytippers were discovered when one of his neighbours overheard loud noises coming from the site earlier this week. He turned the corner to find two men dumping a van load of rubbish onto the road leading up to the site before making off in a hurry, all of which he filmed.

Yogaretnam told the LDRS that bollards have now been installed at the bottom of the road to prevent further fly-tipping. Following the incident, he investigated the rubbish himself and found that it largely emanated from addresses outside Croydon borough.

While the incident has been reported to the police, Croydon residents have expressed frustration that this recent illegal dump has marred the seeming progress of securing the site.

A number of residents took to venting their frustrations on the Nextdoor app after the CCTV footage was released by the owner earlier this week.

Yogaretnam told the LDRS: “The rubbish came from Tooting and these fly-tippers have obviously seen rubbish piled outside people’s houses, knocked on their doors and said we can get rid of this at a discounted rate. Unfortunately, people can blame those who own the rubbish but they also don’t really know the rules, it’s very unclear.”

He told the LDRS that after visiting the addresses of the rubbish owners in

Tooting, he was surprised to find that the owners were unaware that they were responsible for where the rubbish eventually ends up. He said: “They were very apologetic but didn’t know that they had actually taken part in illegal activity.”

One Nextdoor user, Jackie Williams, said: “This is precisely why you need to check official credentials etc to know who is taking your waste when you employ them!”

Another, Pearl Pickett, said: “People need to examine their own actions, especially those who have had/are having major work done. Do they give any serious thought to what happens to any extra waste they generate?

“To so many people it’s a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and ‘no longer in my back yard’ Do they think of the poor residents who have to tolerate other folks’ rubbish on their doorsteps? Make sure your unwanted stuff is disposed of correctly.”

Nextdoor user Alison commented: “How can these prolific perpetrators ever be stopped? It would be interesting to learn of the annual costs implications of clearing fly-tipping in our borough, year on year, compared to other London boroughs. Would prefer the funds support the health, housing and social care needs of the vulnerable instead.”

The site at 33 Imperial Way had become a notorious fly-tipping hotspot following the closure of a Sports Direct gym on the premises in the Summer of 2022. Its position on the side of a busy dual

carriageway made it a prime spot for domestic and commercial waste.

The site is now under the control of new leaseholders, who have plans to build Croydon’s newest shopping mall. The new plans would see a 40-shop complex be built on the site, which will cater primarily to local businesses and have its own parking spaces.

Waddon Councillors Rowenna Davis and Ellily Ponnuthurai have also expressed dismay over this worrying trend. The councillors have worked with the landowner and leaseholder to get the site

cleared for over a year.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It’s sickening to see criminals dumping their rubbish here, especially when the new leaseholders have spent thousands cleaning the site up.

“The fact these criminals are masked and driving without number plates means they know they’re breaking the law so we’re working with the police and Labour MP Sarah Jones to bring them to justice.

“Meanwhile, the Mayor has cut staff that used to specialise in fighting fly-tipping,

and he needs to do a whole lot more to keep our Borough clean and safe.”

Croydon Council was approached for comment but failed to respond in time for publication.

Photos: Fly Tippers were caught on camera dumping waste outside the site earlier this week

Councillor Rowenna Davis, MP Sarah Jones and Koby Yogaretnum at the site last month Credit: Harrison Galliven

Work began on clearing the Purley Way site last week Credit: Rowenna Davis.

Register now for a place in Nursery or Reception in September 2024

A

Open Morning Thursday 25 April 2024

what’s on

Teenage R s ends Reaffi R ming m essage

ALL The convincing i needed to see this piece was found by reading: ‘She was a 17-year-old girl, the only God she believed in was Taylor Swift’. if that hasn’t got you, read on, and perhaps i’ll win you over, writes Bella Christy.

Written by Rosie Day, directed by Georgie Staight, and performed by Charithra Chandran (Bridgeton), Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon is fuelled by a trio of women - A story for women, about women (well, a girl, to be specific), told by women—I already love it.

This is a ‘one girl show’ that diverts from the regular presentation of young women as ‘daughter’,’sister’, or ‘girlfriend’. In this piece, a young girl takes us on a journey through grief and growth after the death of her older sister. We watch her navigate her relationships, mental health, and family dynamics with a raw and realistic sense of imperfection.

Walking into the auditorium, playing were artists such as Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, setting the scene for the dynamic, feminist, and pop culture-filled performance. Charithra was brilliant: captivating and never dull; she held the audience’s attention with ease for 80 minutes straight.

The play, despite its difficult themes, starts off light and bright. A humorous tone is set as the young girl pokes fun at the situations surrounding her sister’s death.

As the piece evolves, there is a constant shifting between lightness and tragedy. I find myself laughing and gasping in

unison as the girl ponders, ‘It must be costeffective to go from two to one’.

Charithra delivered emotional moments with heart and resolve. The exploration of parental grief was particularly moving, but what truly resonated with me was the speech about her sister’s luminosity, how she wanted to be just like her. As an older sister, I connected with this type of love, and the mere idea of losing my younger sister brought tears to my eyes.

The play is socially conscious, ‘woke’, if you will. It deconstructs the phrase ‘boys will boys’ and gives advice such as ‘No is a complete sentence’. As a teenager, I think this would have really hit home for me. Now, as a confident adult, the messages in the play reaffirm and align with existing beliefs rather than open my eyes, but I recognise its potential to profoundly impact younger audiences. I think my 16-year-old self would have found this play pretty groundbreaking.

Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon is a powerful journey through a difficult youth, speckled with loss and abuse. Both light and sombre, Rosie, Georgie, and Charithra deliver a wonderful piece of theatre. I encourage any young girl, anyone really, to go and experience it.

Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Rd, London, WC2H 0HH Dates: Sunday 24 March, Sunday 7 April, Sunday 14 April, Sunday 21 April, Sunday 28 April. Times: 2.30 & 6pm. £25 - £60.

Booking: https://ticketing.nimaxtheatres. com/tickets/ - 0330 333 4811

Skully is back in jail

fRANK SKuLLy has been hard at work in South London theatres in recent years and always lights up my radar because of the gritty nature of his work; he makes theatre that is very relatable ,but more to those people who rarely go the theatre and he is slowly but surely changing that, writes Michael Holland.

His self-penned, one-man show “Every Sinner has a Future - Every Saint has a Past” at Peckham’s Mountview Theatre told of his life growing up in West London with parents of the Windrush Generation and how he ended up trapped in a revolving door of committing crime and going to jail.

But even during the years spent in and out of prison, Skully knew there was something better for him. He recalls an early chance that led to him thinking about making changes: ‘In 1995 I got an amazing opportunity of several weeks’ day release to work under the director Simon Callow in an opera at Broomhill Theatre in Kent. After the production ended I immediately signed myself up to do a Drama & Theatre course at Rochester College.’

Alas, his next taste of freedom and the temptation of easy money culminated in him being caught in the back of a security van full of money after the crooked driver had lured Frank in to ‘robbing’ him.

That cycle of crime ended when Synergy Theatre project visited Brixton Prison while Mr Skully was on remand for the fake robbery, to put on a production of Elmina’s Kitchen. They cast Frank in one of the lead

roles. ‘Instead of the judge sending me to prison he sent me on a theatre tour instead,’ he says now with as much surprise as he felt that day in court. The play asked the question ‘Could you be born into crime?’ and how the narrative could be changed.

The next time Frank Skully came to the attention of this publication was when he was involved in a short film about boxer Frank Lucas. This was turned into a stage play called Going For Gold at the Chelsea Theatre and garnered awards for the team that put it together: Brighton Fringe Award and three awards at the Black British Theatre Awards - best actor, best production play and best producer. With much film and theatre work under his belt, Frank is now back on stage with Kiss Marry Kill. Written by Daphna Attias, James Baldwin and Terry O’Donovan, it tells the story of Jay and Paul, two inmates both serving life sentences for homophobic murders. Incredibly, they fall in love and seek permission to marry. Frank Skully plays the prison governor who has to make the decision whether to allow this wedding to go ahead.

The Kiss Marry Kill blurb says that the play ‘zeroes in on the limits of our compassion, challenging our assumptions and preconceptions around sexuality, and the criminal justice system.’

After we had managed to stop laughing at the idea of this former armed robber and long-term prisoner playing the role of a prison governor, I asked why he got involved: ‘It’s a fascinating story about a

world that even in prison is swept under the carpet by the powers that be, so to have a play depicting that world for the public motivated me to be a part of the process telling that story.’

Why is it fascinating?

‘It’s a fascinating story inspired by the first same-sex marriage to take place in a UK prison. Our play is a fictionalised tale that centres on Jay and Paul. We see Jay commit a horrendous LGBTQ+ hate crime and follow him into his life in prison, where he meets Paul. Slowly, they start a hidden relationship, eventually asking to get married, which has never happened in any prison, so everybody is confounded by it.

‘The cast are an amazing group of people who are putting so much energy into everything. We’re at the point where we’re making music in the rehearsal room with sound designers and Lady Lykez is writing lyrics on the fly for the production. It’s exciting.’

Are you looking forward to the tour?

‘Can’t wait! It’s going to be really special to see this story in places like Sheerness and Reading and Norwich. I think audiences are going to be buzzing.’

What next for you after this?

‘After this I start work on a national and Caribbean tour for the play Going for Gold.’

Kiss Marry Kill comes to London in April.

Stone Nest, 136 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5EZ from 16 April - 27 April.

Mon to Sat at 7.30pm.

Booking and tour details: danteordie.com

Photo by Danny Kaan

History

By Herbie Russell

ACCordIng To his legendary diary, written between 1660 and 1669, Samuel pepys watched the Great fire of London unfold from a tavern on the South Bank.

Historians believe the ‘ale-house’ was a pub now known as The Anchor, next to Shakespeare’s Globe.

Generations have read the famous entry, in which Pepys ‘weeps’ as a ‘horrid malicious bloody flame’ engulfs the capital.

Pepys is most strongly associated with central London where he lived and worked as a high-ranking civil servant in the navy for much of his life.

So this short passage about The Anchor is sometimes considered Pepys’ most enduring connection with south London.

In reality, while south London was far less urbanised than the north, Pepys still frequently forayed into Southwark.

So just as his diary sheds light on 17th-century England’s historic events, it also illuminates the grimy alleys of south London.

PePyS’ PuBS: ‘WiNe aND cheeSe DoWN The BeaR’

The Bear - London Bridge

pepyS’S LoVe of drink is hardly a secret. it’s telling that when he suspected his home was burning down during The Great fire, he rushed back to bury his wine in the garden.

But few pubs are mentioned in his diary as many times as the Bear which is referenced eleven times.

Established in 1319, the Bear was based at the southern foot of the old London Bridge, on the west side of the road, where the steps are today.

Fortunately, being a landing point for vessels carrying passengers across the river, Pepys had a good excuse to visit.

On June 4, 1661, he visited with his father, brother and cousin to drink wine after perusing lodgings with the English baronet Colonel Robert Slingsby.

Another time, on Thursday, September 14, 1665, he stopped by before being forced to make a treacherous journey through the hustle and bustle of London Bridge after high winds brought vessels to a standstill.

Being the height of the Great Plague of 1665, Pepys was worried that the sickness was ‘all whereabouts’ along the bridge.

Fortunately, he made the crossing unscathed, presumably fortified by the ‘piece of cheese and gill [quarter pint] of sacke [wine]’ he’d picked up moments earlier.

pepys fled to a pub now called

The Anchor on bankside.

Pepys portrays himself as playing a key role in the King’s strategy for tackling the fire; claiming to be the one who recommended that houses be pulled down to stop it from spreading.

After playing his part in history, he watched the fire spread from safety across the river and later wrote a startling account.

‘When we could endure no more upon the water; we to a little alehouse on the Bankside, over against the Three Cranes, and there staid till it was dark almost, and saw the fire grow; and, as it grew darker, appeared

more and more, and in corners and upon steeples, and between churches and houses, as far as we could see up the hill of the City, in a most horrid malicious bloody flame, not like the fine flame of an ordinary fire.’ He continued: ‘We staid till, it being darkish, we saw the fire as only one entire arch of fire from this to the other side the bridge, and in a bow up the hill for an arch of above a mile long: it made me weep to see it.’

The King’s Head - Lambeth Pepys was something of a womaniser and his diary is littered with his overtly sexual and often questionable behaviour.

He wrote about fondling his servants’ breasts and would sometimes use his senior position at the Navy Board to cajole women into affairs.

We get another insight into this side of him during a visit to the King’s Head in Lambeth, which was possibly near St Mary’s Church - today by the Imperial War Museum.

On April 20, 1666, he met with Mrs. Martin there - a mistress of his who ran a draper’s stall in Westminster Hall.

He wrote how the pair took a boat over the river to Stangold [Stangate] and ‘after a walke in the fields to the King’s Head, and there spent an houre or two with pleasure with her, and eat a

The Anchor - Bankside

AfTeR BeiNG the first to warn King Charles ii of the Great fire of London, historians believe

Samuel Pepys (Public Domain)

The Bear was based near the west side of the road at the foot of London Bridge (not an exact location)

The anchor on the South Bank

© Google Maps

Ewan Munro (Creative Commons)

diaRisT samuel pepys and his foRgoTTen souThwaRk TRavels

tansy [a herbal pancake] and so parted’.

The Bear Garden - Bankside

The beAr Garden, next to where Southwark Bridge now stands, was not strictly a tavern but still fell firmly in the ‘pleasure’ category.

Based where an alley sharing the same name is today, it was a circular theatre where spectators watched animal sports with bulls and bears fighting to the death.

In his diary, Samuel Pepys described a visit he and his wife paid on August 14, 1666 – describing the spectacle as

‘a rude and nasty pleasure’.

It wasn’t just animals. On May 27, 1667, he appears to have watched a butcher and a waterman have a knife fight.

At one point the waterman, who was already losing, dropped his sword and the butcher, against protocol, slashed at him while he was unarmed.

Pepys described how a bloody fight erupted between spectating watermen and butchers: ‘But, Lord! to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend their fellow, though most blamed him; and there they all fell to it to knocking

down and cutting many on each side.

‘It was pleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt.’

PePyS The commuTeR

Crossing the Thames

LiKe ANy London worker, much of pepys’ life was spent commuting between various places on business errands.

When crossing the river he appears to have avoided using London Bridge at any cost. At that time, shops lined the bridge and he appears to have

What troubled Pepys ‘the more’ was the realisation that she was the ‘beautiful woman’ who lived at the White Horse Tavern on Lombard Street. A frequent customer, he came to know the ferrymen by name; Bland and Payne being among them.

He trusted Bland so much that on September 21, 1668, he left him with gold and valuables worth £40equivalent to nearly £8,000 today.

Pepys had feared that if he carried the goods around his pockets would be ‘cut’ by a pickpocket.

Walking the streets

eVen A wealthy gentleman like pepys was sometimes forced to walk the streets, an experience he didn’t always enjoy.

On January 24, 1665, he walked through Horsleydown, now part of Bermondsey, on a ‘very foule, windy, and rainy’ day.

He wrote that it ‘was dangerous to walk the streets’ while ‘bricks and tiles… and whole chimneys’ were toppling to the ground.

While waking through Redriffe [Rotherhithe] at night after work, on September 19, 1662, he was glad to be guarded by ‘four armed men’.

He wrote: ‘I hear this walk is dangerous to walk alone by night, and much robbery committed here.’

PePyS’ Wo Rk: GeTTiNG DoWN To BuS iNeSS

The Dockyards in Rotherhithe

AS SeCReTARy of the Royal Navy, pepys was a regular visitor to Redriffe where ships gathered at the dockyards.

It was here that he ordered the fitting out of the fleet for the Dutch Wars - hence Rotherhithe’s Pepys Estate is named after him.

The senior civil servant kept a close eye on the dock. On January 24, 1662, he surveyed a ship bound for Tangier, Morocco - then a British colonyfinding her ‘ready to sail’.

Six months later, on July 1, 1662, he wrote of ‘concerning abuse of the yard’ which a clerk warned him about during his visit to Redriffe.

Pepys excelled in his role despite the underfunding of the Navy and strategic mishaps by admirals.

An intriguing passage, written on March 19, 1662, hints at the obstacles he faced, with a colleague discussing ‘several errors in the Navy’ as they walked through Redriffe.

been worried about it being a source of the plague.

And on October 26, 1664, he put his foot straight through a hole in the bridge and nearly broke his leg. Instead, he much preferred using watermen or ‘werrymen’ - 17thcentury aquatic taxi drivers who ferried passengers between the Thames banks. They were a good source of gossip. On February 24, 1666, one told him the wife of the Bear’s publican had committed suicide.

Pepys wrote: ‘My waterman told me how the mistress of the Beare tavern, at the bridge-foot, did lately fling herself into the Thames, and drowned herself.’

The Admiralty Court

In The mid-17th century, an admiralty court was based on St Margaret’s hill, now Borough high Street.

Pepys paid a visit on Tuesday, March 17 to witness a hearing, overseen by lawyer Dr John Exton, which he appears to have been unimpressed by. He wrote that the meeting was ‘somewhat dull, though he [Dr Exton] would seem to intend it to be very rhetoricall, saying that justice had two wings, one of which spread itself over the land, and the other over the water, which was this Admiralty Court’.

The location of the Bear as seen on the agas map sometimes attributed to Ralph agas (c.1540-1621)

Or

Elim

Contact us on 020 7708 4556 or info@southwarkpensioners.org.uk

Or pop into 305 -307 Camberwell rd, Camberwell Green, SE5 0HQ

Funeral Announcement

BiLLy duffiN

It is with heavy hearts that we have to share the sad news that our Dad/Pops, Billy Duffin, sadly passed away on Saturday 16th March.

For those that knew him, you are welcome to attend his funeral. His final journey will start by leaving 157 Arnold estate, druid Street, Se1 at 2pm on Thursday 11th April.

If you wish to send flowers please send them here we are using Nancy @ Greens. The cremation will take place at honor oak Crematorium at 3pm.

Thanks Kelly & Joanne

required. We offer and are proud to be a part

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1)

(ALEXIS STREET,

BOMBAY

STREET, REDCROSS WAY, STONEY STREET, THE CUT, GROSVENOR TERRACE)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

1.The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable various works to be carried out, it intends, to make, an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.

2.Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in:

(a) Alexis Street, between Linsey Street and St James Road

(b) Bombay Street, between Blue Anchor Lane and No’s 13

(c) Redcross Way, between No’s 10 and Union Street

(d) Stoney Street, between Winchester Walk and Clink Street

(e) The Cut, between No’s 3 and No’s 11

(f) Grosvenor Terrace, 20m either side of bridge, located between Camberwell Road and Grosvenor Park

3.The alternative routes for affected traffic as indicated by the signs displayed

4.Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.The works will be in operation for (2a) 8th April – 18th June (2b) 10th – 11th April (2c) 8th –21st April (2d) 8th – 15th April (2e) 4th – 8th April (2f) 27th – 28th April

7.Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 28th March 2024

Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management

Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529

London SE1 5LX

Ref: (2a) BER6-ALES192-01 (2b) LBSCR13418 (2c) 40225487 (2d) 25619844 (2e)

SLS00081170498-0135 (2f) LBSCR13389

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that Chesters (Tooting) Ltd. has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Chesters (Tooting) Ltd trading as Chesters, 79 Mitcham Road, London, SW17 9PD for Late Night Refreshment On and Off the premises.

Sunday to Saturday 23:00 to 02:00

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 18th April 2024 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

PUBLIC NOTICE

LICENSING ACT 2003

First Date of Display of this Notice: 23 MARCH 2024

Notice is given that Mr Leonard Truni has applied to London Borough of Bexley for the Variation of a Premises Licence in respect of the premises known as: The Greek Meze 2 situated at: 299 Main Road, Sidcup, DA14 6QL

The application seeks permission for the following licensable activities:

● Update the layout plan

● Remove and add various management conditions attached to the licence as requested by the Police so that it reflects the current operating procedures.

Any “Other Persons” or “Responsible Authority” may make representations in writing to this application no later than: 19 APRIL 2024

To: London Borough of Bexley, Licensing Partnership, P.O. Box 182, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1GP Telephone 01732 227004

Details of this application and the Licensing Register are available for inspection at the above address between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.

Guidance notes on “making representations” are available from the Licensing Team, or by visiting www.bexley.gov.uk

Under the Licensing Act it is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is a fine not exceeding £5,000.

Notice of application for a Premises Licence

Notice is hereby given that Argandab Limited has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Basilico, 175 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TE for Late Night Refreshment - On and Off the premises

Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 23rd April 2024 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BENHILL ROAD, ST AIDANS ROAD, BELLENDEN ROAD, GLASSHILL STREET, MALTBY STREET, NEWCOMEN STREET, SCORESBY STREET, UNION STREET, GREAT SUFFOLK STREET, EWER STREET, GREEN HUNDRED ROAD)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

1.The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable various works to be carried out, it intends, to make, an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.

2.Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in:

(a) Benhill Road, between No’s 37 and no’s 41

(b) Benhill Road, junction with Benhill Road to 15m west into Owgan Close

(c) St Aidans Road, between Marcus Garvey Mews and No’s 82

(d) Bellenden Road, between Holly Grove and Blenheim Grove

(e) Glasshill Street, between Pocock Street and Webber Road

(f) Maltby Street, between Tanner Street and Millstream Road

(g) Newcomen Street, between Bowling Green Place and Tennis Street

(h) Scoresby Street, between Blackfriars Road and Gambia Street

(i) Union Street, between No’s 47 and No’s 49 to it’s junction with Redcross Way

(j) Great Suffolk Street, between Dolben Street and Union Street

(k) Ewer Street, between Union Street and bridge

(l) Green Hundred Road, between Ethnard Road and Windspoint Road ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced on both sides of the carriageway (north and south side)

3.The alternative routes for affected traffic as indicated by the signs displayed

4.Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.The works will be in operation for (2a) 15th – 17th April (2b) 18th – 20th April (2c) 15th – 19th April (2d) 15th April (2e) 11th – 12th April (2f) 17th – 18th April (2g) 11th, 18th April (2h) 18th – 19th April (2i) 12th – 19th April (2j) 15th – 16th April (2k) 16th – 17th April (2l) 8th – 19th April

7.Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 28th March 2024

Ian Law Traffic Manager

London Borough of Southwark Network Management

Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529

London SE1 5LX

Ref: (2a) 23357599-conway (2b) 65691257-conway (2c) 000032081176-001 (2d) 32089694-S81 (2e) LBSCR13417 (2f) LBSCR13422 (2g) LBSCR13411/-1 (2h) LBSCR13425 (2i) 90240001 (2j) grt/suff/bri(2k) ewer/bri (2l) 30761-WAL-WK15

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

Please take notice that I / we Music At St Giles Ltd

Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of St Giles' Church, Camberwell Church Street, London, SE5 8RB

The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are

The

Opening hours:

to

A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by:

The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH

A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp

It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above (or by email via licensing@southwark.gov.uk) and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below.

Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Date of application: 20th March 2024

London Borough Of Lambeth

London Local Authorities Act 1991

Special Treatment Licensing

Notice of Application for New Licence

Notice is given that Dazzling Nails & Eyelashes Salon has applied to the LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH for a SPECIAL TREATMENTS LICENCE to carry out the following treatments Nails extensions, pedicures, manicures, massage at the premises 100 Acre Lane London SW2 5QN

Date of application: 18/02/2024

Anyone wishing to oppose the application must give notice in writing to:

Food, Health and Safety Team, London Borough of Lambeth, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, specifying the grounds of opposition. Persons objecting to the grant of a licence must be prepared to attend in person at a public hearing before a committee of the Council. Letters of objection will be sent to the applicant inviting comments

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended) PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 (as amended)

The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/ You can use facilities at your local library or 'My Southwark Service Points' to access the website.

How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked 'confidential' will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Chief executive's department, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX.

Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; EIA - environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council - there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ - major planning application; STDCA - development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building;

51 GROVE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK

SE5 8SP (Ref: 24/AP/0617)

The proposed works include creating a garden access opening at basement level on the rear facade, installing new windows and replacing the existing roof on the rear extension, altering the entrance at the basement level (front of the house), and undertaking minor internal alterations. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele 07548097486)

42 SCOTTS SUFFERANCE WHARF 5 MILL STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2DE (Ref: 24/AP/0702)

Conversion of loft above Flat 42 into additional living accommodation including the installation of dormer windows on the north and south-facing roof slopes, an additional rooflight on the eastfacing roof slope, and solar PV panels and sun pipe on the south-facing roof slope. (Within: St Saviours Dock CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Michèle Sterry 020 7525 5453)

40 BARFORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK

SE15 3PS (Ref: 24/AP/0670)

Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of three-storey building comprising of four

residential apartments (Class C3) (four x 2bedroom units) with private amenity, cycle parking and refuse storage. (Within: Nunhead Green CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Zaib Khan 0207 525 0311)

32 NEW KENT ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK

SE1 6TJ (Ref: 24/AP/0680)

Display of internally illuminated advertisements at level 11 of the east and north-western elevations, the cycle entrance, ground floor northern elevation entrance and first floor western elevation entrances. Reason(s) for publicity: AFFECT (Contact: Victoria Lewis 020 7525 5410)

1 DULWICH VILLAGE LONDON SOUTHWARK

SE21 7BU (Ref: 24/AP/0773)

Replacement of sections of existing timber fence with new timber fencing, replacement of existing pedestrian timber entrance gates with solid oak gates and new vehicle entrance gates in solid oak. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Megan Stevens )

ALLEYNS SCHOOL TOWNLEY ROAD

LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8SU (Ref: 24/AP/0794)

Construction of a timber frame extension to and

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ST JOHN’S AND ST CLEMENT’S PRIMARY SCHOOL AREA IMPROVEMENTS

The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (St John’s and St Clement’s PS area improvements) Order 202*

The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting and Loading restrictions) (St John’s and St Clement’s PS area improvements) Order 202*

1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that it proposes to make the above orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The effects of the (Charged-for parking places) Order would be in AMOTT ROAD, within existing Controlled Parking Zone ‘PW’ south-east side, o/s No. 47 Amott Road (Amott Road Baptist Church) reduce in length by 14 metres an existing 'shared-use' parking place (25.5 metres remain).

3. The effects of the (Waiting and Loading restrictions) Order would be:

(a) in ADYS ROAD north-east side o/s St John’s and St Clement’s C of E Primary School (opposite Nos. 88 and 90 Adys Road) convert 7 metres of existing ‘timed’ waiting restriction (single yellow lines) to ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions (double yellow lines), and add new ‘timed’ loading restrictions (operating Monday to Friday between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm); and

(b) in AMOTT ROAD south-east side (i) opposite Nos. 66-70 Amott Road add 14 metres new ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions to accommodate the new kerb-line and parking changes, and (ii) opposite the side of No. 61 Adys Road formalise 25 metres ‘timed’ waiting restrictions (operating Monday to Saturday between 8.30 am and 6.30 pm).

4. Southwark Council hereby GIVES FURTHER NOTICE that in ADYS ROAD on the north-east side o/s St John’s and St Clement’s C of E Primary School (i) split and reduce in length by 7 metres an existing ‘school keep clear’ marking (both separate sections will be 25.4 metres in length and will continue to operate Monday to Friday between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm); and (ii) new free cycle parking facilities (‘toast racks’) will be added in the carriageway in the area surrounding St John’s and St Clement’s C of E Primary School in ADYS ROAD north-east side opposite Nos. 102 and 104 Adys Road and in AMOTT ROAD south-east side opposite the side of No. 61 Adys Road.

NOTES: (1) ‘shared-use’ refers to parking places in which holders of a valid permit for the Controlled Parking Zone ‘PW’ or ‘pay’ paid ticket holders are permitted to park within the permitted hours. (2) All measurements are in metres and are approximate. (3) Parking charges are listed on www.southwark.gov.uk/parking

5. For more information contact Tobias Allen of the Council's Highways, Transport Projects teamHighways@southwark.gov.uk

6. Copies of the supporting documents (this Notice, the proposed Orders, and a statement of Southwark Council's reasons for making the Orders) may be found online at www.southwark.gov.uk/trafficorders; paper or digital copies of plans showing the location and effect of the Orders and the supporting documents may be requested by emailing traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk, or inspected by appointment only at: Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH - from the date of this Notice until the end of a period of six weeks from the date on which the Orders are made. Email traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk (or call 020 7525 3497) for booking details.

7. Anyone wishing to make any representations either for or to object to the proposals, may use our consultation portal at https://consultation.appyway.com/southwark; or send a statement in writing to: Traffic Order Consultations, Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, P.O. Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX or traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk quoting reference ‘TMO2324023_Amott Rd area’ by 22 April 2024. Please note that if you wish to object to this proposal you must state the grounds on which your objection is made.

8. Under requirements of current access to information legislation, any letter or e-mail sent to the Councils in response to this Notice may be subject to publication or disclosure, or both, including communication to other persons affected.

Dated 28 March 2024

Dale Foden - Head of Service, Highways

reconfiguration of existing Entrance Lodge; amendments to pedestrian access and landscaping. (Within: Dulwich Village CA)

Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Chloe Rimell 0207 525 1397)

Dated: 26 Mar 2024 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK CRIMSCOTT STREET IMPROVEMENTS

The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (Crimscott Street improvements) Order 2024

The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting restrictions) (Crimscott Street improvements) Order 2024

1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 28 March 2024 it has made the above Orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The effect of the orders in CRIMSCOTT STREET (within Controlled Parking Zone ‘GR’), between its junction with Grange Road and its junction with Willow Walk, the purpose of which is to accommodate new servicing access and a new ‘car club’ only parking place, are:-

(a) on the south-east side opposite No. 21 Crimscott Street remove 8 metres of existing ‘shared-use’ parking and replace with 8 metres of new DYLs;

(b) on the south-east side opposite No. 22 Crimscott Street remove 5.5 metres of existing SYLs and replace with a new ‘car club’ only parking place (5.5 metres in length) which would operate at any time and every day of the week; and

(c) on the south-east side opposite Nos. 18 to 22 Crimscott Street convert a total of 41.5 metres of existing SYLs to new DYLs.

NOTES: (1) ‘shared-use’ parking refers to parking places in which holders of a valid permit for the Controlled Parking Zone listed or ‘pay’ paid ticket holders are permitted to park within the permitted hours. (2) ‘SYLs’ refer to ‘timed waiting restrictions’ (single yellow lines), and ‘DYLs’ refer to 'at any time' waiting restrictions (double yellow lines). (3) All measurements are in metres and are approximate. (4) Parking charges are listed on www.southwark.gov.uk/parking

3. Copies of the Orders, which will come into force on 2 April 2024, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH, by appointment only. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 3497 for booking details.

4. Any person desiring to question the validity of the Order/s or of any provision contained therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order/s may, within six weeks of the date on which the Order was made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 28 March 2024

Dale Foden - Head of Service, Highways

the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

suRRey’s sTewaRT eXplains ‘ToughesT deCision of woRking CaReeR’

By John Kelly

LuKe wANAdio scored a brace of penalties to make up for his missed spot-kick in his previous game as dulwich hamlet bounced back from their shock defeat at Kingstonian to beat Bognor Regis Town 2-0 at the MKM Arena last weekend.

Wanadio scored in the fourteenth and 49th minutes to keep Dulwich in with a chance of reaching the Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs as Hakan Hayrettin’s side aim for an immediate return to the National League South.

The result left Dulwich four points off fifth with seven games left.

“I apologised on Wednesday night, I think it was out of character, it wasn’t the performance that we all deserved,” Hayrettin said. “And I’m pretty sure the players wanted to put a performance in that was worthy of the shirt, and I think we did that [Saturday].

“We had some good chances even though they’re a good team. I know their manager really well, they’re a good team, a young team with running enthusiasm.

“We took our penalties, we deserved to get our penalties. But saying that, Danny Mills had two good chances.

Anthony Jeffrey, whose work-rate off the ball was really good, had three good chances. Luke had a chance. So we played well. We had to make sure without the ball to nullify what they had. They put some good corners in but we did well.

“I made a decision with some of the players, I changed it, and we got our rewards.

“I’m so pleased for the supporters that turned up here and I’m also pleased for the supporters that didn’t

By Sport Reporter

ALeC STewART, director of cricket at Surrey CCC, is to step down from his position at the end of 2024 after eleven years in the role.

As director of cricket, Stewart has steered the team to three County Championship titles to date and built a strong culture of success within the dressing room. A hallmark in that period has been the production of talent through the Surrey pathway who have joined the professional squad. Nine of those players have gone on to represent England including Ollie Pope, Sam Curran and Will Jacks.

Having played all the way through the

age group cricket set up for the county, he signed his first professional contract in 1981. In a 23-year playing career for Surrey, Stewart won the County Championship title three times as well as three limited-over trophies.

Explaining his decision, Stewart said:

“Without a doubt, this has been the toughest decision of my working career, but after careful consideration I will be stepping down from my role as director of cricket at the end of this calendar year. The main reason for informing the club at this point in time is to give them enough notice to find a suitable replacement.

“Since November 2013, I have given this job my total commitment and it has been

an honour and a privilege to be a part of the greatest cricket club in the world. However, the job is not one that you can just leave at the ground, as it demands 24/7 attention. As people may know, my wife has been battling cancer since 2013 and I want to give her, and my family, more of my time over the coming years than this job allows.

“I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the last eleven years, winning trophies as well as continuing to produce our own players through the Talent Pathway and providing players for England. Supporting young talent to develop into top-quality players is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable parts of the job.

Cool hand luke

Wanadio nets twice from the spot as Hamlet bounce back

turn up because we’re back on track and we need to keep pushing.

One of the changes Hayrettin made was to give a debut to Peter Ojemen, who signed after his release by Dover Athletic. He came with a reference from Dover boss Jake Leberl and went straight into the defence.

Hayrettin said: “I had to make a decision after [Wednesday] night. I

brought in Peter. I know Jake really well, he’s given me the thumbs-up, so I took him. He’s come in and done really well on his debut at left-back.

“I switched Roarie [Deacon] to rightback, I just made a decision to do that.

“I brought Adi [Shokunbi] back in, he was a bit sore last game because he didn’t play the game before that, we gave him a rest against Kingstonian

and brought him back in. We had more payers in the right positions, really, and it was a good result. We could have had a couple more [goals].

“It’s all to play for, it’s all in our hands.” Dulwich were away at Potters Bar Town in midweek. The Hamlet are back at Champion Hill on Saturday to face Billericay Town at 3pm.

“I want to thank all the players, coaches and cricket management staff I’ve worked with for their incredible support and hardwork. I’d also like to thank everyone who has played their part in taking the club forward both on and off the field.

“I will always be available to support the Club in any way that I can and would also consider other opportunities in and around the game that work for me and the family.

“From now until my last working day, I guarantee that my commitment to the job and to the club will not diminish one bit and I am fully focussed on helping the squad to achieve more success.”

Fish settle for point

By John Kelly

NAThAN TShoLA scored his third goal in four games but it wasn’t enough for victory as fisher had to share the SCefL premier division spoils with Kennington last weekend.

Tshola opened the scoring ten minutes in but the hosts hit back through Charlie Owen in the 55th minute.

The Fish are twelfth in the table with 48 points from 36 games as manager Ajay Ashanike plans for next season.

Also in the Premier Division, Stansfeld were beaten 4-0 at home against Hollands & Blair.

Lewis Allan, Rob Denness and Jabari Christmas had the visitors 3-0 up at the break before Kene Ukatu added the fourth on 77 minutes.

The Stans are eighteenth, just five points above bottom side Welling Town in the 21-team division.

Fisher host Holmesdale at St Paul’s on Easter Monday at 3pm.

Stansfeld are away to Corinthian at the same time.

Double Olympian inspires Southwark swimmers

By Sport Reporter

SouThwARK AQuATiCS

Swimming Club competitors were given an insight into the highest level of the sport after a visit from double olympian edward Sinclair recently.

Sinclair is a former World and European medallist and an ex-British and European record holder. He swam in a relay team for Great Britain at the 2000 Olympics and was also a member of the 2004 team.

Sinclair went to talk to the swimmers about his swim journey and give a highly

engaging motivational talk. He explained the highs and lows of the sport and the importance of having a good support structure made up of coaches, parents, volunteers and swim friends. Sinclair emphasised that to achieve high, swimmers must be prepared to put in the work.

Edwards ran a two-hour starts and turns session with 30 swimmers of varying levels. The swimmers not only went away with with tips and tricks but with signed floats and hats. Sinclair also presented County Swimming hats to fourteen of the swimmers who qualified for the County

Championships this year.

The club said: “Our swimmers train hard to achieve the times to swim against the fastest swimmers in our County, it is a big achievement. County is the first step of the competitive swim ladder, which is followed by Regionals, then Nationals and British, then European, World and Olympic events.

“Our swimmers made the top ten in eight events, and came away with one bronze medal. Next year we hope for even more success, but we are a small club and are punching above our weight.

“The Edward Sinclair event was a great success. The kids got an insight

into the life of a swimmer achieving National level and beyond. This was only possible through the Leadership Award we received via Jack Petchey, which was won by our chairman Andy Moore who puts his heart and soul into running our club.”

Southwark Aquatics is a small volunteer-run swimming club. They are SwimMark accredited with a friendly and experienced coaching team. They aim to be competitive, but in a friendly, sociable environment - at the cheapest cost locally.

If you want to swim for Southwark Aquatics, get in touch via email to: sascchairman@gmail.com

Photo by Dave Anderson

© Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

© Mike Urban

Luke Wanadio, left, and Danny Mills celebrate

Edward Sinclair, middle, and SASC Coaches

Nathan Tshola fi res home

Alec Stewart

’Boom’ time for mateta

Palace striker hitting goal trail under new boss

By John Kelly

J e AN-phi L ippe M AT e TA

revealed he plays with the “fans in mind” as he feels a responsibility to give them bang for their hardearned buck - and hopes to hear many more “booms” from eagles supporters.

Mateta has scored five Premier League goals this season, three of them in his last six games.

Not long after joining permanently from Mainz in 2022, Mateta asked fans to shout “boom” when he kicked the corner flag after scoring.

And Palace supporters obliged and Mateta appreciates the “big noise”.

“I like to play with the fans in mind, because the fans come for us,” Mateta said. “I want to play with them.

‘I like to clap my hands and to see them clap their hands to win the game.

“You can’t quite speak to them, but I like to feel something with them. A relationship with the fans. They don’t come to see us just to be serious, and for us to be serious and do the job solemnly. They pay. They put some money down to come, and they are much happier when we do it for them.

“I like to build a relationship with

the fans, and that is why I ask them to say ‘boom’ when I score.”

He is not going to change his celebration.

“No, I’ve been doing this since I was young. I will always keep it, particularly in Selhurst, because it has started to be very loud now. They make a big noise. When I hear the ‘boom’, it’s always good for me.”

Mateta added: “I can still get better, but goals give me more confidence in the team. I feel like I am playing more, and that means more goals are hopefully going to come.

“For a striker, it’s always good to play. It is hard to play one game and stay on the bench for one game and then play another game. It is very hard. But now I start to have the rhythm, and I feel like that starts to give me confidence. The coaches have given me a responsibility, and now I have to show them I am ready for it.”

Oliver Glasner took over as Palace manager after the departure of Roy Hodgson in February. Palace have won one, lost one and drawn one of his three games in charge, Mateta scoring two goals.

Mateta explained the difference playing under the former Wolfsburg and Eintracht Fraknfurt boss.

He said: “Now we have changed coach, the new coach has a different type of football. It is more about running. He has asked for more intensity in the team and in training. In the game, we want more intensity and more pressure. Everybody has to run.

“We want more attacking pace, more speed, to be more quick. You have to play forward more quickly, and for this we have to train hard all week.

“If I can have more goals with this type of way we play, then it is good for me and good for the team.

“In Mainz it was also a lot of running, but in the Premier League they have everything. There is more tactics, more pace, everyone is more strong. Every game is also completely different. You could play against Burnley or Chelsea or Brentford and it is always not the same.”

Jones wants to give ‘phenomenal’ fans team to be proud of

By John Kelly

NAT h AN JoN e S wants to build something special at Charlton Athletic - and stressed Addicks fans are indispensable in the process.

Jones has made a spectacular impact at The Valley since replacing Michael Appleton last month. He delivered Charlton’s first League One win and home win since last November, and first away win since last October.

The Addicks were in deep relegation

danger when they appointed Jones, but are now nine points clear of the bottom four with seven games left. Charlton fans have packed out away ends under Jones despite the team’s struggles this season. And they have sold out Exeter City on Good Fridaywith 1,335 of them making the trip.

“The supporters have seen a team that goes out there to try and win football matches, that works hard, that grafts, that’s energetic,” Jones said. “We’re only in our infancy really in terms of our development but the fans have seen that, responded to

that and been excellent. “I think it has been a joint venture in terms of players, staff and the fans, but they’ve really, really bought into it. Then what they’ve done is, and you expect it from Charlton fans because they are magnificent, travelled in their numbers. Let’s be honest, it’s been a brutal schedule. Coming up to the Exeter game will be my tenth game in charge and seven of those have been away. The demands on the fans have been phenomenal and unfair really, but they’ve responded, they’ve travelled, they’ve backed us

and they’ve been superb.

“To be fair, I always knew Charlton fans were excellent because of playing here and then being here and seeing when the team is a good team and I can see that developing now. The fans have been brilliant and they’ve got such a big part to play.”

Jones added: "We’re trying to build something and without a full stadium, without fans coming through the door, that will be a slower process. I want them to buy into everything we're doing here. If they get on board right at the start,

imagine when we're successful and we're back where we want to be. They can say, ‘I’ve been there for years, I’ve been through the tough times and right at the start I backed this’, and then they're part of the process. That’s what we want them to be - part of this process. To get on board right at the start and to see the journey right through.

“We want them to buy into something and show that they are right here with us and we’ll give them a team that they can be proud of.”

Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates his goal in the 1-1 draw abasing Luton Town

‘leT’s geT sTuCk in’

Joe Bryan ready for end of season scrap

excLuSive

By Kiro Evans

Joe BRyAN said he is ready to “roll his sleeves up” and do what is necessary to keep millwall safe.

The Lions head into the final eight games of the league campaign still unsure of their Championship status and among the clubs squabbling to avoid the relegation zone.

Their strong recent run of form has left them in a good position to survive but they still have work to do.

Bryan, in his first season at The Den, is keen to dig in and end the campaign on a high.

He told our paper: “It’s known as the business end of the season and we have a job to do. When you have a couple of weeks without a game, it’s easy to forget we are still in a semi-precarious position. We’re in a good position in regards to teams around us but we’ve still definitely got a job to do and the points that we’re going to pick up in the next few games are probably the most important points of the season.

“We’re talking about eight games left until the end of the season and that’s by no means ‘eight games left, counting down the games’. It’s more knowing we need to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in again and really pick up some points.”

Bryan has fought his way back into the side having missed three games in a row due to a retrospective ban.

The FA intervened to punish the 30-yearold after he clashed with Coventry City’s Tatsuhiro Sakamoto in Millwall’s 2-1 loss at the CBS Arena last month.

Bryan admits the incident “looked bad” but insisted there was no intention to hurt the opposition player.

He said: “I made a comment on my Instagram just because I watched the video back and the manager at the time [Joe Edwards] said ‘look, I think you might be in trouble.’

“I was sent it on Twitter and it looked really, really bad. And I’ve never played the game like that. I’ve never gone to intentionally hurt someone. Mistakes happen in football and I extended my

apologies to the boy and hopefully he accepted them. Football moved on, I served the suspension and hopefully it won’t happen again.

“Things like that happens now and again in football and you just have to deal with them. As a player of 30 years old with a bank of games behind you, I’ve dealt with most things. I’ve dealt with promotions, relegations, won the league, won a cup, injuries, play-off games, I’ve played in League Two with Plymouth and the Premier League with Fulham, I’ve played abroad and in European competitions.

“The only thing that hasn’t really happened to me is I hadn’t been sent off or been suspended. So by the law of averages it was bound to happen at some point and when those things happen in football, you just have to deal with them. As long as you do right by your own character and the way you’ve been raised, [you accept that] mistakes happen.”

The suspension caused Bryan to miss three games after injury had already disrupted his game time this season. The

defender is grateful for the timing of the international break so he could get his body into recovery mode.

He said: “The only days as a professional footballer you feel good are normally the first three or four days of pre-season. Especially when you’re approaching your late 20s and you’ve played a few hundred games, you’re just constantly playing with aches and pains. I think that’s easy to forget for people. Most games you’re carrying some type of tightness or injury or ailment or illness. And I’m by no means moaning about it, but it’s a common thing.”

Bryan is now focused on trying to stay in the team and impress Neil Harris.

The defender added: “The gaffer now has come in with a very simple and clear message of what he wants and how he wants to approach games and that’s working so far, so long may that continue.

“It’s a different style of football than I’ve played before but I can adapt and I can fit into that so as long as the message is clear, concise and done in a positive way, I’m all in.”

First goal for Lions youngster

By Kiro Evans

NiiNo AdoM-MALAKi scored a delightful volley to help wrap up a huge win for Sutton united. The Us have been fighting for their lives at the bottom of the League Two table for most of the season with former Millwall striker Steve Morison drafted in at the beginning of January to lead the survival charge as manager.

Adom-Malaki told our paper last week that he was confident his new loan side would stay up.

And they are now just one point off safety after last Saturday’s crucial 3-1 win over Accrington Stanley.

Harry Smith and Omar Sowunmi gave the south London side a twogoal cushion before Adom-Malaki’s moment arrived.

Midfielder Charlie Lakin, who would end the game with three assists, lofted a ball over the top for the onrushing 20-year-old.

Playing in a more advanced leftwing position, Adom-Malaki let the ball bounce before unleashing a sumptuous dipping volley into the top corner. It was his first goal in professional football.

Sutton are attempting to chase down third-bottom Colchester United but have played three games more than their relegation rivals.

Jacko positive despite Crewe cut Ravens miss chance

by John Kelly

JohNNie JACKSoN was looking at the positives despite AfC wimbledon dropping out of the League Two play-off places after their 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra last weekend.

The Dons went ahead in the second minute when Jack Currie set up John-Kymani Gordon for a closerange finish.

But Crewe levelled ten minutes later through Rio Adebisi with a shot from the edge of the box from from a pre-planned corner routine.

Charlie Kirk had a late effort blocked for the hosts, who are in fifth, five points off the automatic promotion spots.

Wimbledon are in ninth, a point behind Crawley Town in seventh.

I’m pleased for him, he’s been really bright since he came in. He’s had opportunities in the team and done really well.

“We had moments to potentially win it. They defended very well, they put their bodies on the line when we had shots. We put them under a lot of pressure. We made positive changes to the side in the second half in order to try and get the win. We defended well, they defended well. It was important that we didn’t get beaten today. But we’re going to need wins to get to where we want to get to.”

Jackson explained why Armani Little wasn’t involved.

by John Kelly

BRoMLey fAiLed to boost their National League semi-final play-off hopes as they lost 2-0 to relegationthreatened york City at hayes Lane last weekend.

The visitors went ahead in the 32nd minute when Marvin Armstrong scrambled the ball home from close range.

York sealed their win when former Dulwich Hamlet striker Dipo Akinyemi scored the second nine minutes from time.

“It was a close game between two evenly-matched teams,” Jackson said. “It was fiercely competitive as both teams wanted to get the win, both teams certainly had their moments.

“We have to be pleased with the point.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t build on the goal because we were on top for the first fifteen minutes. I’m a bit disappointed with the goal we conceded, we switched off from a free-kick and it gave them some confidence.

“It was a great start to the game. John took his goal really well. It was a well-worked move down the left and he put the finishing touch on it.

“He felt his hamstring in training during the early part of the week. He just wasn’t right for today but hopefully he’ll be back fit for the Easter fixtures. We’ll monitor him.”

Wimbledon are at home to Harrogate Town on Friday at 3pm.

The Ravens are in the last semifinal spot in third, four points ahead of Solihull Moors who are leading the chasing pack with six games left.

Meanwhile, Chesterfield Town beat Boreham Wood 3-0 to seal the National League title and promotion to League Two.

Bromley travel to Dorking Wanderers on Good Friday for a 3pm kick-off.

Joe Bryan is enjoying his fi rst season at The Den

Niino Adom-Malaki is on loan at Sutton United

Johnnie Jackson

neTs TwiCe as hamleT

JohnsTone’s euRo Blow

Lions have belief ahead of Leeds tie

By John Kelly

LARRy MCAVoy has hailed Millwall under-18 side’s “great achievement” in reaching the fA youth Cup semi-final - but insists there is “great belief” they can go one step further and reach the decider for the first time in 30 years.

McAvoy, who is in joint-charge alongside former Tottenham Hotspur defender Chris Perry, says the win over Youth Cup kingpins Chelsea on penalties in the quarter-final means they can go to Elland Road to face Leeds United next week with confidence.

Palace stopper suffers elbow injury on England duty

By John Kelly

SAM JohNSToNe’S euro 2024 dreams could be scuppered by an elbow injury that forced him to withdraw from the england squad this week.

Goalkeeper Johnstone may not play for Crystal Palace again this season after picking up the injury while on international duty.

Johnstone, 31, was one of three players to leave Gareth Southgate’s camp, along with captain Harry Kane and Harry Maguire, before Tuesday night’s 2-2 friendly draw against Belgium.

Southgate called up Burnley’s James Trafford from the under-21s after Johnstone left the group.

Johnstone has had tests on his injury and there are doubts whether he will return before the summer.

Former West Brom and Aston Villa stopper Johnstone has been Palace’s No.1, keeping Dean Henderson, who has one England cap, out of the team.

Johnstone has been back-up to Jordan Pickford for England.

It adds to Southgate’s injury problems ahead of the summer tournament in Germany. Pickford is set to be the firstchoice at the tournament, with Aaron Ramsdale providing cover. Ramsdale, though, lost his Arsenal place to Spanish keeper David Raya this season. Newcastle United’s Nick Pope, meanwhile, has been out injured since the start of December.

It is also a blow for Eagles boss

Oliver Glasner. Palace are not yet safe from relegation, though have a relatively comfortable eight-point gap to the bottom three with ten games left.

Henderson will take over from Johnstone in goal for Palace. That only leaves 30-year-old Remi Matthews as back-up. Matthews has played just one game for the club since he joined from Sunderland in 2021. Matthews spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Scottish Premiership St Johnstone.

Meanwhile, Southgate also saw Manchester City’s John Stones go off injured in the tenth minute against Belgium.

Southgate defended his decision after Stones played 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Brazil three days earlier.

“We measure everything and the first game for him wasn’t a game that was a high level in terms of the intensity,” Southgate said. “We have done exactly what Holland did with Virgil van Dijk tonight. What Norway did with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard starting them again. Holland started [City’s Nathan] Ake again against Germany.

“It only ever seems to fall on us when there is a question around that. Of course we are disappointed if he’s got a problem. It seems to be in the adductor area so we’ll have to wait and see. John also came in on the back of not having played for two weeks so it is not an overload situation. I hate sending players back to their clubs if they are not fully fit.”

Leeds beat Liverpool 3-1 in the last eight, though the Reds were missing a number of players who were on duty with Jurgen Klopp’s senior side in their EFL Cup final win over Chelsea a few days earlier.

The Lions last reached the final in 1994 when they lost to Arsenal.

“We’ll approach it the same as [the win against] Coventry, go up on the day, the boys will have a sleep in the afternoon, get to the stadium early so they can have a walk around, get familiar with it,” McAvoy told our paper.

“Anfield would have been a great one but we can’t grumble and worry about who we’re playing against. Liverpool were missing a lot of good payers because they’d played in the Carabao Cup, so Leeds were playing against a weakened team.

“But they’ve beaten Norwich away, Brighton away, beaten Liverpool, though only beat Sheffield United on penalties. It’s a one-off game. They’re going to have a lot of quality. [Former Millwall loanee]

Charlie Cresswell’s brother plays centreback, I spoke to him last year about how his brother was doing.

“It will be a completely different game to the Chelsea game but another massive test for us.

“It’s going to be a great occasion for the boys. It’s a great achievement to get there. They’ve got better as the tournament has gone on.

“It will be a great night for us, great exposure for the academy. And going into the game after beating Chelsea has given us great belief we can go there and perform.

“We’re really looking forward to it.”

The game is next Thursday (April 4).

Sam Johnstone has been the Eagles’ No.1 this season