South London Weekly - June 7th 2024

SouthLondonWeekly. Community matters

Page 7

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merTon councillorS reSiGn To PurSue

GenerAl elecTion AmBiTionS

By Harrison Galliven

Local Democracy Reporter

laBoUr coUncillorS natasha irons, of the figges marsh ward and cllr helena dollimore of the St helier ward announced their resignation via mrton council’s website last week.

Both councillors had made clear their intentions to stand as prospective parliamentary candidates ahead of the General Election announcement last week. Irons, first elected to represent the Ravensbury ward in 2018, will stand as the Labour candidate in the newly created Croydon East constituency.

Irons, who has family from Croydon, has previously served as Merton’s Cabinet Member for Local Environment and Green Spaces. Following her 2022 election to the Figges Marsh Ward, she took on the expanded role of Cabinet Member for Local Environment, Green Spaces and Climate Change until her resignation.

Irons’ selection for the Croydon East constituency came amid a Met Police

investigation into the party’s stalled selection process. The investigation found some of the personal details of members in the constituency were altered on the Labour Party membership database without authorisation.

Council Leader Ross Garrod acknowledged Irons’s work in the borough in a statement published to X on May 30. He said: “From helping breathe new life into Mitcham Town Centre, and working to ensure everyone in Figge’s Marsh has a safe, warm and secure place to call home, to investing in our muchloved parks, delivering 10,00 new trees in just one year…Natasha has a long list of achievements to be proud of.”

Dollimore was first elected to the St Helier ward in 2021 after a by-election was triggered because the previous councillor Kelly Braund moved to Scotland. During her first term, Dollimore was appointed to the Labour-run Council’s Healthier Communities and Older People Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Like Irons, Dollimore was re-elected to the same ward in 2022 and served on the Licensing Committee. However, following her appointment in June 2022 Dollimore failed to

attend a single licensing sub-committee.

Dollimore’s absence had led some residents to express concerns that she was more interested in her ambition to become an MP in the Hastings and Rye constituency. This was despite her initial campaign promise in her St Helier election leaflet saying: “I promise I will be in the community with you.”

Furthermore, Dollimore announced her MP candidacy almost a month after her 2022 reelection. This led to anger from residents who thought she intended to collect her yearly £8,694 allowance while focusing on her parliamentary candidacy instead of issues in the ward.

Dollimore claims that she spent her lockdown as a volunteer vaccination in Hastings, 65 miles away from her St Helier ward. Philipa Maslin, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Mitcham and Morden, believes Dollimore has a record of absence in the ward and welcomed the upcoming by-election.

Speaking to the local democracy reporting service, Maslin said: “I have lived in the St Helier ward since 2013 and am of the view

that Helena Dollimore is one of a long line of Labour Councillors whose complacency and lack of activity in the ward has been pronounced.“

Maslin, who ran against Dollimore in 2022, added: “As her posts on X demonstrate clearly, her focus has long been her ambition to become Hastings and Rye’s MP. I welcome her resignation and the forthcoming by-election.”

Despite this, Garrod was quick to praise Dollimore’s political record in the borough. He said: “From making St Helier Avenue safer by securing the lowering of the speed limit, to delivering investment to Morden Rec and campaigning to save St Helier Hospital. Helena has a record to be proud of.”

Speaking of both councillors, Garrod added: “I’d like to place on record my deep gratitude to Natasha and Helena for their years of service to the people of Merton.

“The role of a councillor is not an easy one –for most, it is done in addition to regular day jobs, so it takes real commitment and desire to serve your local community. Both have done Merton and themselves proud, and I wish them the best for the future.”

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© Merton Council

© Helena Dollimore

Local residents joined by local Cllrs Helena dollimore, Natasha irons, Stephen Alambritis, Martin Whelton (L-R)

Merton councillor Helena dollimore with the speed gun on a speed watch in St Helier Avenue

Natasha irons will stand as the Labour candidate for Croydon east

The Blue Plaque winner is... Stock Aitken Waterman!

EXCLUSIVE

By Isabel Ramirez

Three of the most successful songwriters in the world are this year’s Southwark Blue Plaque competition winners.

Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, known as Stock Aitken Waterman, who churned out hit after hit from a humble studio in Borough won by a landslide, with over 1200 votes.

They will now have a blue plaque put up in their honour.

Between 1984 and 1993, the songwriting trio were responsible for over 200 million records sold worldwide.

All their songs reportedly began at a little backstreet studio in Borough – The Vineyard.

It was there that they famously launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, with ‘I Should Be So Lucky,’ and Rick Astley with ‘Never Gonna Give You Up.’

They also made chart successes for Bananarama, Donna Summer, Cliff Richard, Paul McCartney and many more.

Lesser celebrated feats are their charitable ventures, including the three records that raised millions for various causes.

The location of the blue plaque is likely to be their backstreet studio, which became known as ‘The Hit Factory’, on Sanctuary Street.

A date of any unveiling has not yet been confirmed when but all three have reportedly said they ‘will be there.’

Second place was Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi MBE and third was Ensign John Davis.

We would like to express our gratitude to all who voted and congratulations to all the nominees.

For the past twenty years the News has been proud to have been one of the founders of the Blue Plaque scheme here in Southwark and nominations are now open for next year.

The scheme came about after the News and Southwark Heritage Association tried to find a way around English Heritage’s strict criteria, that a building must be standing and the person dead for them to qualify.

The latter was not really a problem, but the idea that so much of our rich heritage could not be recognised because a building was no longer there was not acceptable to us. Much of our physical heritage was destroyed in the Blitz, but it is perhaps the 1960s and ‘70s architects who did the most damage. So, we invited Southwark Council to join us in drawing up our own Blue Plaques and getting local people to vote.

There are now well over 50 Southwark Blue Plaques across the borough.

If you wish to nominate someone for next year, please get in touch with Veronica Alden at Southwark Heritage Association at admin@southwark.org.uk

From The BlackStuff Arts page 16

Gissa Ticket For Boys

Stock Aitken Waterman

Be WArned: croWS Are ‘ATTAckinG’ PrAm

PuShinG mumS And School kidS in dulWich

EXCLUSIVE

By Isabel Ramirez

crowS are dive-bombing and attacking residents on a residential street in dulwich, including prampushing mums and school kids.

Residents are warning people to avoid the junction of Townley and Beauval Road due to an apparent increase in these attacks.

Ingrid Davidson told the News that her daughter and a friend were attacked by a crow last weekend.

“They were walking along eating some chips and it attacked them from behind,” she explained. “They ran across the road but it followed and attacked again.”

Ingrid said they threw the chips away in case the food had been the cause, but it didn’t seem to help.

“It followed and attacked my daughter’s head a third time.”

Luckily, a doctor from King’s College Hospital, who Ingrid said was ‘very kind’ came to their aid. They didn’t sustain any serious injuries.

She said they would be avoiding that area for a few days and urged others to do the same, adding: “It was horrible to see

our daughter so upset. “She and her friend have been very brave

Patients turned away after cyber-attack on hospitals

By Herbie Russell

PaTienTS are being turned away from blood tests and transfusions after a cyber-attack affecting both of Southwark’s hospital trusts.

A ransomware attack on lab service provider Synvosis has caused havoc at the King’s College Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ (GSTT) NHS Foundation trusts. It has meant Gracefield Gardens, the Tessa Jowell Health Centre and Evelina London’s Children’s Hospital are also affected. NHS England has apologised to patients, urging people to continue attending appointments unless told otherwise.

The government’s National Cyber Security Centre and NHS England’s Cyber Operations team are working towards a solution.

A Bermondsey patient contacted us after she received a message at 6.57pm on Monday, saying blood services at the sites had been halted “until further notice”. Synnovis is a partnership between SYNLAB UK & Ireland, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation

Trust.

The company provides services to the NHS, clinical users and other service users. A spokesperson for NHS England London region said “On Monday 3 June Synnovis, a provider of lab services, was the victim of a ransomware cyber attack.

“This is having a significant impact on the delivery of services at Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts and primary care services in south east London and we apologise for the inconvenience this is causing to patients and their families.

“Emergency care continues to be available, so patients should access services in the normal way by dialling 999 in an emergency and otherwise using 111, and patients should continue to attend appointments unless they are told otherwise. We will continue to provide updates for local patients and the public about the impact on services and how they can continue to get the care they need. We are working urgently to fully understand the impact of the incident with the support of the government’s National Cyber Security Centre and our Cyber Operations team.”

about it but it was pretty frightening.”

Bridget Furst, a Dulwich resident, said

she was in the area the other day and saw the crows circling and a woman with a

pushchair ‘running away.’

“She looked frightened and was looking over her shoulder into the sky where a crow was wheeling away.”

Dashcam footage shared on X by @

DeTours360 shows two crows swooping at a cyclist before he audibly lets out a cry for help. Bridget added: “The danger is that sweeping down on a cyclist could knock them into a car - it’s unexpected.

“Last year someone was hospitalised.”

The junction is opposite a lot of trees, where there is thought to be a nest.

From May to June, known as fledgling season, crows are known to be extra protective of their young and can attack passersby as a result. Since the attacks are more common during the summer months, this would be the most likely explanation for the unprovoked divebombing that residents have described.

Studies show that crows will also remember faces linked with a stressful situation and will warn their friends too.

As well as avoiding an area, if you are being attacked the advice is to walk away quickly and try not to panic or run. Other options include travelling in a group and carrying an open umbrella.

Cyclists should dismount and walk through the swoop-zone.

Bankside is hosting free festival of music, dance and family activities this Saturday

By Isabel Ramirez

a free festival on the South Bank featuring four stages of latin-american dance, indie pop and community choirs is on this weekend.

Bankside Open Spaces Festival hits the streets from 12pm to 9pm on Saturday, June 8.

The day will begin with a Latin Fiesta opening with dancers parading from Castle Square, Elephant and Castle, to the BOSfest’s Main Stage on Flat Iron Square.

The parade will feature Latin American dance groups from the local community, with UDM Samba, bringing Rio-Carnival

samba in the afternoon.

The main stage will also feature Dana Immanuel & The Stolen Band’s altcountry eccentricity, via Art Terry & the Black Bohemians’ art house funk.

In Red Cross Garden, visitors can expect Americana, delta blues or indie pop from a line-up of five London artists, headed up by UK folk scene favourite Rob Corcoran.

Pints will be provided by beloved south London pub The Glad’s pop-up bar. Whimsical distractions include maypole dancing, bee hives and medieval crafts from the Old Operating Theatre. Head over to Marlborough Sports Garden’s Community Stage for a mix of community choirs and performers.

Dance workshops are also on offer, ranging from Irish jig, salsa and street dance.

Across the festival, local craft stalls and free activities, and workshops across the festival will keep all ages busy and entertained.

There’s a beach, free sports coaching and plenty of crafts for the kids, plant stalls and a plant giveaway. P

Visitors can also expect walking tours, massage, improv theatre, a live murder mystery and roaming ‘Insecurity Guards’ to help tackle those pesky insecurities. The free Bankside Open Spaces Festival will take place from 12pm to 9pm on Saturday, June 8. Find out morewww. bost.org.uk/bosfest24

The Bankside open Spaces Festival will kick off with a Latin-American parade

L: School girl’s head bleeding after a crow attack. R: The junction of Beauval/Townley Road, dulwich Crow stock imageAlex Lours

‘i

WAS lefT WiTh inSecT conTAminATed WATer for SiX yeArS’

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter

a dad claims he was left with insect contaminated water for six years in his home after a council failed to carry out repairs.

Barry Barnes said he had to sofa surf with friends and at one point live in his car after Southwark Council delayed fixing pipes at this flat in Camberwell.

The 41-year-old noticed issues with the water in the local authority property soon after moving there in 2015. He began finding insects, rust and metal particles in water from his bathroom and later realised his tap water in the kitchen had the same problems.

Mr Barnes said: “I will have digested all sorts because I didn’t realise the drinking water was affected at first. When I looked closely there were bits of insects, rust, metal particles and limescale.

“It was awful. I spoke to my neighbours, their water was fine. Mine was coming from a tank in the loft of the flat above. Apparently the lid was off so anything –from rats to insects – could get in there.”

He alerted the council to the problem but was disappointed when he claims they assigned him an ever-changing list of ‘disrepair managers’ – one who he claims never even came to visit the flat. Mr Barnes also complained that some

contractors sent by the council turned up at his flat without ID.

In the meantime, Mr Barnes had to shell out cash on hotels and stay with relatives.

Despite continuing to pay rent on the Camberwell flat, he was unable to even eat in the property due to the contaminated water.

Mr Barnes said: “I didn’t want anyone to be put out so I paid my way. I lived in my car for a bit, too. I fell into rent arrears because I was spending so much on living elsewhere and eating out. My health took a dive. I gained weight.”

The council eventually carried out repairs to pipework in the property after Mr Barnes contacted housing disrepair solicitors, SJS Legal. The firm took action against Southwark Council, bringing court proceedings and ensuring compensation was paid when repairs were not completed to schedule.

Mr Barnes is now looking forward to spending his first Christmas at home in the property with his kids. But he said there are still other issues with the flat that he wants to sort out when he has the energy to deal with them again.

Mr Barnes added: “The council

wouldn’t fit a filter so I did it myself. There’s still some other work that needs doing, but I’ve used my own time and money to fix things.”

Stephen Weston, senior solicitor at SJS Legal, said: “Mr Barnes’s situation was shocking but not isolated. Social housing in the UK is in dire need of an overhaul. Personnel and funding should be available to fix problems much quicker. Many tenants find themselves going round in circles, all while their homes fall to pieces around them.”

Councillor Sarah King, Southwark’s cabinet member for council homes, said: “We know that home is at the heart of people’s lives, which is why we make every effort to ensure our tenants’ homes are comfortable, warm, dry, and safe.

“We are very sorry for the delay in resolving Mr Barnes’ issues and are glad that all the works have been completed and his home is now back in good condition.”

Barry Barnes was left with insect contaminated water in his fl at in Camberwell, for six years

debris in Mr Barnes’s tap water from 2018

Snowsfields Quarter will be a series of three buildings t hat will creat e a new life sciences quarter in L ondon B r idge.

INFORM ATION S ESSION

Drop-in to see the drawings a n d talk to the team be f ore a p lanning applic a t ion is submi t te d to the council.

Wednesday 5 Ju ne , between 5 p m an d 8 p m L e athermarket J MB , 26 Leatherma rket Street, SE1 3 HN

Saturday 8 June , betwee n 12:30pm an d 3: 30pm at St Hugh’s Churc h , Vintry Court, Crosby Row, SE 1 3PT

ONLINE

www.snowsfieldsconsultation.co.uk (or scan the QR code)

lAmBeTh counTry ShoW reTurnS for A Weekend of free fun

The lamBeTh country Show will return to Brockwell Park this weekend - featuring dancing sheep, jousting and ‘wall of death’ bike shows.

The free two-day event, now in its 50th edition, attracts over 120,000 people every year.

Visitors to the park on Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June can revel in the weird and wonderful entertainment including sheep shows, birds of prey exhibitions and jousting contests.

Wall of

- where motorcyclists do death-defying stunts around a velodrome - will have its own area for onlookers to enjoy.

Performances on the main stage will feature neo-soul and hip-hop duo Children of Zeus, Brixton Chamber Orchestra and British radio DJ David Rodigan MBE.

Other stages include the LatinoLife Big Top Stage, with reggaetón and baile funk, and the Groove School stage which will platform local talent.

Although there will be an array of street food stalls and bars to satisfy

Four staff from Evelina Children’s Hospital are thanked by Prince William for 90 years of service

all, people are encouraged to bring their own food and soft drinks. Lambeth Council confirmed on Friday (31 May) it would go ahead despite fears over the current state of Brockwell Park.

Following several consecutive festivals over the Bank Holiday, the park was left in a muddy mess leading to one community event being cancelled last week. However, efforts to restore the ground so other planned events could go ahead were successful.

This included last weekend’s Mighty

By Isabel Ramirez

foUr STaff members from evelina london children’s hospital, who have dedicated most of their working lives to the nhS, were thanked by Prince william at the Palace.

Between them, they have spent over 90 years caring for children, young people and their families at Evelina London.

The colleagues include orthopaedic surgeon Martin Gough; pharmacy operations manager Pat Hayes; medical secretary lead Shawmine Donaldson; and Vaishali Patel, senior sister on the neonatal intensive care unit.

The Royal Garden Party was hosted at Buckingham Palace with His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in attendance to greet guests, alongside Princess Beatrice,

The Euro 2024 games screened in underground tunnel shaft

By Isabel Ramirez

a mUSeUm in rotherhithe will be screening the euro games in its underground tunnel shaft.

The Brunel Museum, which celebrates the history of the Thames Tunnel, regularly hosts events in the shaftwhich has smoke-blackened brick walls and a ‘raw but atmospheric backdrop.’

From Sunday 16 June (England v Serbia), the Euro 2024 games will be screened there on a big projector with surround sound. There will also be a pop-up bar and games with prizes, including a raffle.

Nelly Furtado, Jessie Ware and Rita Ora.

The site is being assessed daily, and the council’s parks team is working with an independent grass and landscaping expert firm to ensure the park is restored to its best condition as quickly as possible.

For a full lineup of what’s on offer at this year’s Lambeth Country Show, go to lambethcountryshow.co.uk

The event will take place this weekend Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June from 1pm-9pm.

Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall and Peter Phillips.

Despite the wet weather attendees enjoyed a ‘wonderful’ event.

Pat Hayes has been part of the pharmacy team since 1998 and is one of the most experienced pharmacy technicians within the Trust. Her dedication to patient care has seen her being involved in many innovative projects within pharmacy and at Evelina London. She is also involved nationally in developing and promoting the role of the pharmacy technician.

Senior sister Vaishali Patel has worked in the neonatal intensive care unit for over 17 years. She cares for some of the sickest babies across the region, especially those with complex heart conditions. Vaishali also took along longstanding colleague and fellow neonatal intensive care nurse, Sue Stroud.

Martin Gough has worked at

Early bird tickets start from £5. Dating back to 1843, the shaft is Grade II* listed and is where work on the tunnel began. It has now been sealed with a concrete floor, following the tunnel transformation for the construction of the East London Line and London Overground.

As well as screening this summer’s epic football moments, it is also regularly used for concerts, weddings, film shoots and commercials.

Go to the-brunel-museum.org.uk for tickets and a full list of the games.

The Brunel Museum is located at Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 4LF

Evelina London since 1998. He supports children from across London and the southeast affected by orthopaedic problems due to neuro-disabilities like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and spina bifida. Martin and the team have gained national and international recognition for their expertise.

Shawmine Donaldson, lead medical secretary, has worked for Evelina London for over 25 years. Her colleagues describe her as being an integral part of the “backbone” of the children’s spinal and orthopaedic team.

Gubby Ayida, Chief Executive of Evelina London, said: “We are really grateful for the opportunity for our staff to attend the Royal Garden Party. It was a fantastic occasion to celebrate their hard work and dedication, and to show our appreciation for their commitment to Evelina London.”

From left: Shawmine donaldson; vaishali Patel with friend (L) Susan Stroud; Martin Gough

By Isabel Ramirez

The

Death

Hoopla Festival (1-2 June) with headliners

The Brunel Museum

GuilTy verdicTS

AfTer mAn SlAShed To deATh And mum held cAPTive over ‘mArriAGe ScAm’

By Herbie Russell

a man has been found guilty of murder after slashing another man to death over a suspected marriage scam.

Jurick Croes repeatedly stabbed Riches Obi, 25, at a property in Elephant and Castle, in November 2020.

Police found Riches’ mother bound with cable ties in her bedroom. In court prosecutors said they believed she was allegedly involved in a sham marriage scam.

Croes, 38, fled to Colombia following the murder but was extradited to the UK.

He was convicted of murder and false imprisonment following a trial at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, May 28.

Two others, Raichell Felomina, 40, of no fixed address, and Suvenca Martis, 34, of Sydenham Hill, were convicted of false imprisonment with Martis also convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Police arrived at the Harper Road address finding the door was partially

open, on November 17, 2020.

They found Riches lying on the floor suffering stab and slash wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite paramedics’ best efforts.

An officer called out to see if anyone else was in the property and a woman replied: “I’m here.”

Officers found her in a bedroom, bound with cable ties and with a scarf around her neck that looked like it had been used as a gag.

On searching the property, officers found a bag of cable ties, identical to those used to bind the woman.

The ties contained a price tag to a nearby hardware store. Officers obtained CCTV footage showing Suvenca Martis buying them.

Detectives arrested Martis later that month and found communications linking her to Felomina and Croes.

Messages included ferry times showing the pair arriving from Holland, then fleeing on the same boat on the night of the murder.

DNA matching Felomina and Croes was

found on two knives, and other objects, in the Harper Road flat. A hire car used by Martis also had Croes’s blood inside.

Detectives tracked Felomina to Holland and he was arrested and extradited to the UK in November 2021.

Croes fled to Colombia but was arrested in February 2022. His extradition took eighteen months.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb said: “While it has never been comprehensively established why Riches Obi was attacked and killed in such a horrifying manner in his own home, it is thought that the three suspects were involved in some way in a money making scam with the woman they targeted.

“Whether Riches tried to intervene is not known, but it is clear he was subjected to a sustained and violent assault.”

He added: “Our thoughts remain with [the] Riches family who have been made to endure a significant wait to see justice done. I only hope that these convictions can allow them to begin to move on in some way.”

Nursery transforms grubby patch into insect garden

By Herbie Russell

a Peckham nursery has transformed a disused, grubby patch into a garden full of ladybirds, bees and butterflies.

The Grove Nursery School unveiled the new Feel Good Garden, along with children, families and colleagues, on Friday, May 24.

Parents and teachers helped build the space with funding from Southwark Council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer Fund.

Armaghan and David, parents at the nursery, said: “We just helped with putting bits together and some planting as we wanted to say thank you to the nursery and give something back because of all the hard work the staff put in for all the children.

“We know the Feel Food Garden will benefit lots of children for years to come with its sensory elements and calm atmosphere and it was really nice to be a part of it.”

The new garden is filled with

beautiful scents, colours and textures for the children and local wildlife to discover.

Within a few days of its completion, ladybirds, bees and butterflies, including some that hatched in the nursery, started calling it home.

Claire Navaie, the teacher who coordinated the project, said: “Since the outbreak of Coronavirus, children’s emotional well-being has become even more central to our curriculum.

“The natural world has many benefits for mental health and the garden is a place where they can feel calm and good about themselves.

“The children really enjoyed helping to plant and water the flowers and watching things grow.”

There were double celebrations as The Grove’s Ofsted report, published on May 22, rated the nursery as ‘Good’. Inspectors described it as a ‘special place to be’ where there is ‘always something exciting or meaningful happening’.

By Herbie Russell

The laST island of free parking in Bermondsey and rotherhithe is set to be replaced with parking fees.

Southwark Council hopes the Rotherhithe Village Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) will make the streets safer and healthier.

The Labour council has published a key report recommending the new CPZ be

approved. The general election means the official sign-off will probably be delayed until after July 4.

But local resident Andy Hind, whose petition against the controls garnered 115 signatures, has branded it a “moneymaking scheme”.

Southwark Council has claimed there is high parking pressure in the Rotherhithe Village area - over 80 per cent in five roads.

But Mr Hind insists there are usually plenty of spaces. He said: “There’s a lot of free spaces… friends come round and they can park on the street and they don’t have to pay or whatever.

“Taking free parking spaces away and making people pay by other means is an infringement of the whole area.”

The Rotherhithe Village CPZ will stretch from the Rotherhithe Tunnel to Elephant

Lane.

When local people were surveyed, 56 per cent of respondents were against the measures.

Mr Hind has fought off four similar Southwark Council CPZ proposals over the last quarter-century.

He said Southward Council had previously proposed parking permit schemes for the Rotherhithe Village area in 1998, 2003 and

between 2016 and 2018.

But the 65-year-old fears the council will press ahead this time around.

Southwark Council has said Mr Hind’s petition has not been considered in its decision-making because it was submitted past the deadline.

Mr Hind has claimed no deadline was clearly stated on consultation documents sent out to residents.

Before and after pictures of The Grove Nursery School garden

CoN viCT ed: Jurick Croes

CoN viCT ed: Suvenca Martis

CoN viCT ed: Raichell Felomina

v iCT iM: Riches o bi was stabbed to death in e lephant and Castle

The proposed boundaries of a new Rotherhithe v illage CPZ

The 2024 General Election

The UK Parliamentary General Election takes place on Thursday 4 July 2024. Register to vote by midnight, Tuesday 18 June.

Go to gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Apply for a postal vote by 5pm, Wednesday 19 June. Go to gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter

eritreaN PrO-DeMOCraCy

activists have spoken out after police arrested 44 people over violence at an anti-government demonstration outside a camberwell theatre last year.

Campaigners, who oppose the dictatorship of the East African country’s president Isaias Afwerki, said they were frustrated at being left vulnerable to threats and intimidation from supporters of the regime in the UK.

Earlier in May, the Met Police released a statement criticising protestors for attacking officers during the disturbance outside the Lighthouse Theatre on Camberwell New Road, on December 30, 2023.

The Met said a crowd of over 100 people gathered outside the theatre, where a pro-Eritrean government event was allegedly taking place, and pelted police with missiles.

A number of officers required hospital treatment for injuries sustained during the incident.

Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas described the violence as amongst the ‘worst’ they had ever seen.

Arsema Daniel, chairwoman of the Working Together group – a collection of eight Eritrean opposition organisations – said protestors felt police had sided with supporters of the East African government during the incident.

Ms Daniel said: “[Among Eritrean asylum seekers], there’s a feeling of a lack of protection. They come to this country for safety, to be able to work, to get education… and do it in a way they don’t have to look over their shoulders.

eriTreAn democrAcy AcTiviSTS condemn violenT ProTeST in cAmBerWell

44 people were arrested and police hospitalised at the demonstration last year

But even here in the diaspora… they’re fearful for their lives and their safety because of these pro-regime supporters and then you’ve got the police supporting them, [that’s what] it looked like on the day.

“There’s laws and there’s rules you need to stick to in this country and I think the vast majority of us do know and understand that. But it’s hard when there’s so many raw emotions involved to follow through and then you’re getting provoked by regime supporters on the

other side.”

Mehari Measho, one of the antiregime protestors who attended the demonstration in December last year, said: “No one came to fight with the police. We support the police. The young people there were frustrated and that’s what created the situation. The regime has started to make young people nervous.”

Ms Daniel added that the Eritrean opposition had succeeded in cancelling around nine pro-government events in

F A ALBIN & SONS

arrested and remain in detention for belonging to unrecognised religious groups.

Arsema daniel said eritrean refugees feared for their safety from pro-regime supporters in the UK

the UK over the last few years. But she said that recently the Eritrean embassy had changed tactics, only releasing the location of events at the last minute or suggesting there would be events in multiple cities across the UK on the same day in a bid to disperse protestors.

Eritrea has been ruled by president Isaias Afwerki since it gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

The country’s parliament hasn’t met since 2002 and there is no independent media. Hundreds of people have been

Eritreans are conscripted into indefinite military service, including forced labour, which Amnesty International has said sometimes amounts to slavery.

The UN has found evidence of schoolage children being recruited into the military during conscription drives. Perceived opponents of the regime have been rounded up and held by the government for in some occasions decades without access to legal representation or family visits.

The Met Police referred the Local Democracy Reporting Service back to a statement it released on May 17, where it said it was looking to identify five people about the violence in December last year.

The Eritrean Embassy in the UK was contacted for comment but didn’t reply.

Mehari Measho said tensions were high in the eritrean community

© Mehari Measho

croSS-Breed nAmed ‘moST hAndSome doG’

By Herbie Russell

a daPPer mutt from crystal Palace has been named the ‘most handsome dog’ in a regional heat.

Leo’s best features are his ‘tail swishes’ and ‘little squeaking noises’, according to his owner, Edward.

The four-year-old pooch, who is a mix of Pekingese and four other breeds, will now compete at the semi-final stages of Crufts 2025. Edward who described Leo as ‘“too cute”, said: “I’m in disbelief really. I was determined to enter Leo into Scruffts as he always receives such a lot of attention, but I just can’t believe he won!”

He added: “I love that he makes little squeaking noises when he gets excited about seeing another dog & his tail swishes away like a feather boa. It’s just too cute!”

According to a DNA test, Leo is 55% Pekingese, 13% Shih Tzu, 10% Chihuahua, 5% Japanese Chin and 3% Tibetan Spaniel.

“He has this infectious, joyful energy & most people smile as soon as they see him,” Edward added.

Scruffts is an annual dog show competition reserved especially for nonpure-breed dogs. The regional heat was held at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, as part of the All About Dogs show, between May 5 and 6.

Competing dogs were judged on character, health, personality and temperament. Other categories included Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch, Golden Oldie Crossbreed and the Good Citizen Dog Training scheme class.

Like Crufts, Scruffts is organised by the Kennel Club, meaning successful crossbreeds head off to the official Crufts 2025 competition.

‘Sexual

predator’ from Camberwell raped ‘vulnerable’ young girl in the ‘90s

By Herbie Russell

a “SeXUal predator” from camberwell who raped an underage girl in the ‘90s has been convicted.

Colin Moore began abusing a “vulnerable young girl he knew”, who was under sixteen, in 1995.

The 57-year-old was found guilty of four counts of rape and five counts of indecent assault following a trial at

Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, May 24. He has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on September 9.

The court heard how Moore’s abuse took place over four years at locations in west and central London.

The girl, now an adult, reported the abuse to police in 2020. Detectives have praised her for her “incredible bravery”.

Moore was arrested and subsequently charged with numerous offences.

Detective Sergeant Laura Harcombe said: “Colin Moore is a sexual predator who manipulated and abused a vulnerable young girl he knew.

“Even when he was interviewed, he tried to pass off his behaviour in many circumstances as acceptable, something that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“This woman has shown great courage to come forward and report the abuse she suffered over a prolonged period of time to police.

“We have specially trained officers who have supported her throughout this process and I can only hope that Moore’s conviction brings her some form of closure.”

Oxo Tower to host free exhibition for ‘Drawing of the Year’ awards

By Isabel Ramirez

a free exhibition to celebrate this year’s best drawings from across the Uk is coming to the South Bank.

Archisource presents the Drawing of the

Year Awards 2024 - which will feature an array of creative works from top architects, designers, artists and emerging talents. Set at the Bargehouse at Oxo Tower Wharf on the South Bank, this will be its first time coming to London. The four-day event will run from Thursday 6 June - Sunday 9 June.

Playhouse to offer free rehearsal space to groups

By Isabel Ramirez

SOUthWarK PlayhOUSe will offer four theatre companies free rehearsal space and a week-long slot to perform at the venue, as part of a new scheme.

Applications are now open for Forge, a brand-new artist development scheme, designed to empower groups amidst challenging times for the arts.

Four emerging companies that are successful will be attached to the Playhouse for 9 months, receiving free rehearsal space for R&D ideas, support from the Southwark Playhouse senior artistic team, free office space for producers and a weeklong slot to platform a show in ‘The Little’ space to a paying audience.

It will also provide industry mentorship from established theatre professionals and bespoke workshops from the Playhouse team on a variety of key learning topics, to guide and empower them in this creative journey.

Programming Associate Ebenezer Bamgboye said: “We have witnessed the unspeakably tragic disappearance of

spaces for early career artists to try things out, grow and learn by ‘doing’ over the last few years in the UK Theatre landscape. This scheme aims to help plug that gap and continue Southwark Playhouse’s longstanding tradition of platforming the next generation of innovative and outstanding UK talent.”

Artistic Director and CEO Chris Smyrnios added: “Ebenezer, our new Programming Associate, has devised a wonderful pilot scheme for helping support the work of new and emerging theatre companies. We recognise how much harder it is to create and develop new work in the current climate and this scheme aims to offer a win realising their latest projects for the stage.” The scheme will be open for applications from until Thursday 13 June at 5pm. The programme will run from July 2024 - April 2025. Apply here: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/ participate/forge-artist-development Southwark Playhouse operates two separate venues ‘Southwark Playhouse Borough’ and its newest theatre ‘Southwark Playhouse Elephant’ which opened in January 2023.

Leo and edward drescher.

Convicted: Colin Moore

A past production of Police Cops: The Musical (Pamela Raith)

© Alan Doyle and The Kennel Club

14 NEWS

By Adrian Zorzut

Local Democracy Reporter

VoTerS in a london parliamentary seat narrowly won by 150 ballots in 2019 have said labour and the conservatives have “lost their way” and are unsure who to back on July 4.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited Kensington and Bayswater on Wednesday (May 29) and spoke to voters from across the newly-created seat about what election issues matter to them most.

Laura Montgomery, 46, has lived in Ladbroke Grove for 14 years and calls herself a Tory voter but said backing the Conservatives this General Election would be “catastrophic and disrespectful” to the country.

She praised her local Tory MP Felicity Buchan, who is seeking re-election, but feels the Conservatives have no plan. She said: “In my view, they don’t understand the problems. They have been in power so long and talk about the issues but don’t do anything about them.”

She is not sold on Labour either.

Laura said Labour’s plan introduce VAT on private school fees, which it claims will raise £1.5bn, will result in a “flood” of children into state school, which she said were already overburdened and underresourced.

The mother-of-three, whose children attend a private school, said: “It’s disrespectful. People work hard to send their kids to private schools. Not all of them are flushed with cash. It’s the kids in state school who will suffer the most.”

The West London mum said the major parties should instead focus on a “reasonable” wealth tax and suggested those well-off might not mind paying a little extra to improve local services and infrastructure.

She also said climate change was a massive concern for her and is toying with voting for the Greens or the Liberal Democrats as a result.

She said: “I want intelligent policies and it feels like it is the opposite. It feels like we’re being treated like idiots.”

‘THEY DID F*** ALL ABOUT IT’

Retired statistician David Devore, 81, from Holland Park, has voted Conservative in the past but feels the party has run out of steam.

He said: “The Tories have had a good run. They’ve had a good chance and now they’re running out of energy and ideas. They are all squabbling amongst themselves and have no clear direction. All the parties are clutching at straws and putting out bait hoping people will vote for them.”

David, who describes himself as socially conservative, feels the party lost its way when it legalised gay marriage in 2014, which he is personally opposed to. He also believes the major parties have failed to prepare for the impact the Boomer generation is having on services and resources.

He said: “For decades and decades all the people who know about demographics and statistics have known there would be a big demand from the Boomers and [the Government] didn’t prepare… They did f*** all about it and as a result, our taxes are going up”.

The 81-year-old, who migrated to the UK from Massachusetts, also believes cutting taxes isn’t going to solve Britain’s economic malaise. He accused Labour of following the same

voters in parliamentary seat won by 150 ballots say labour and conservatives have ‘lost their way’

fiscal rules as the Conservatives and boxed itself in as a result.

He said: “They had a chance to do something different but they haven’t.” David said he also wants to see Ladbroke Grove police station reopened. David’s wife, Rosalind, 85, is a Liberal Democrat voter and plans to vote for them again this election.

‘I FEEL THE CONSERVATIVES

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WORK’

Back in Ladbroke Grove, selfemployed driver and casual gardener

Mike Tesfa said he’s waiting for more policy announcements before

deciding who to back in July.

Mike said he is particularly interested in policy aimed at helping working families like his and which encourages people off welfare. He said: “I was in both worlds. I started on benefits and now I’m working and I’m paying taxes. I feel the Conservatives encourage people to work.”

The 38-year-old said he is against the party’s Rwanda policy, saying it’s too harsh and out of step with other European nations.

His wife Sarah hasn’t made up her mind either. A Labour voter, she switched to the Tories in 2019

because of their policy of 30 hours of free childcare. She is toying with voting Labour again but called the current contest between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer a “choice between the lesser of two evils.”

Les, 81, said he had always voted Labour and plans to do so again. He said improving service in the NHS was his most pressing concern.

As a regular user, he said the NHS has struggled in recent years to keep up with demand. He said: “There is very poor service, very poor. You can’t rely on appointments and appointments are hard to get.”

Kensington and Bayswater was established in 2023 during a periodic review of parliamentary constituencies. It consists of nearly all of the former constituency of Kensington and includes Bayswater and Lancaster Gate wards in Westminster City and the southern half of the Queen’s Gate ward which belonged to the previous Chelsea and Fulham constituency.

The seat of Kensington was won by Tory MP Felicity Buchan by 150 votes in 2019. Labour’s Emma Dent Coad won the seat from former Tory MP Victoria Borwick by 20 votes in 2017.

© Adrian Zorzut

Laura Montgomery, 46, has lived in Ladbroke Grove for 14 years.

david devore, 81 with his wife Rosalind devore, 85, vote for separate parties at the General election.

Park in new cross gets stunning makeover and reopens after four years of neglect

By Isabel Ramirez

a Park in new cross, which has lain derelict for the last four years, is finally open again after a longawaited makeover.

Homeowners at 47 Pomeroy Street bought their properties believing Hatcham Gardens – a green space outside the property – would be relandscaped for community use.

The park was supposed to be opened in May 2020 but has been delayed until now because there was ‘no deadline’ for the project. For the last eighteen months, people who live in the area have been campaigning for it to be reopened.

On Saturday May 25, residents joined the developer, Peabody to mark the opening of their new park, with food, music and entertainment.

June Mong, one of the homeowners, said it is a ‘massive sense of achievement.’

Since 2022, she and others have been campaigning for Peabody to sort out the space. She explained: “It was depressing. It was not what we were promised. A lot

of people bought it thinking it would enhance their investment.”

Peabody got permission to build 65 homes on the site just off the Old Kent Road in 2018.

To facilitate construction, a large green space outside the development was blocked off and used by contractors.

In exchange, Peabody promised to contribute £64,000 towards the upgrade of the local play area – something it has done.

Although it wasn’t part of the planning permission, Peabody accepted that it also agreed “to carry out additional improvements to the rest of the park.”

When asked why the project took so long, a Peabody spokesperson said: “There were some delays out of our control including covid and not being able to find a suitable contractor.”

However, there was no set deadline for the project, meaning they could essentially do it whenever it suited.

June told us: “We were told that legally Peabody did not have a deadline to reinstate it, the promise wasn’t kept up

Watch out for dozens of hot air balloons

By Isabel Ramirez

doZenS of hot air balloons are expected to fly across london’s skyline this July for the first time in five years.

The Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta, an event that raises thousands for charity every year, has been cancelled since 2019.

This year, organisers have set aside 7 July, 21 July and 28 July as potential dates for the lift-off of up to 50 balloons. It will go ahead on the first date the weather permits.

The regatta aims to generate awareness about the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and has raised more than £250,000 since 2015.

Money raised through the Lord

until now.”

Last Autumn, there were even reports that ‘aggressive’ travellers were using the space to ‘dispose of toxic waste.’

June said this lasted four days until they eventually left.

She and Mary King, a parent of nearby Kender Primary, set up Friends of Hatcham Park and would hold regular meetings where sometimes they would be the ‘only ones’ to turn up.

Reflecting on their eighteen-month campaign having now been a success, June said: “I think it’s a massive sense of achievement for those who didn’t give up. It’s proof grassroots movements can work.”

Following the event, Mary commented: “The community really turned out to enjoy the park.

“I just feel so happy that our campaign has paid off with a beautiful park and a free event.”

Mayor’s Appeal supports three charities National Numeracy, MQ Mental Health Research and Homewards.

In 2019, 46 hot air balloons launched from Battersea Park at 5:30 am and floated through the skies across central London.

It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, whilst poor weather halted the event in 2022 and 2023.

Organisers say the balloons they will aim to ensure the balloons pass by iconic landmarks such as Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, and the Tower of London.

Michael Mainelli, the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London, will lead the event.

Local mum Ella Rhoomes said it had been ‘frustrating’ that the park was not in use since it is on the way to her daughter’s school.

“It was a bit frustrating because that space has been boarded up for a long time and there was no building work going on,” she told us.

Her daughter, five-year-old Jamella, is ‘super excited’ and has already been using it.

Ella said: “When the sun’s been out on the way home from school, it’s been mandatory that we go to the park.

“She’s been able to play with her friends there.”

Ella added: “It’s super important for kids to have a local park to get away from the screens and get fresh air.”

In another neighbourly act of goodwill, Amarjit, the owner of Budgens - the grocery store on site - reportedly donated food and goods for free to

facilitate Saturday’s event.

He has also said groups can use the first floor of his shop for workshops and Friends of Hatcham Park meetings.

June and Mary thanked him and Peabody’s charitable arm for their unwavering support of the project.

Wells Chomutare, Managing Director of South London at Peabody, said: “The transformation of this playground is brilliant news for the local community. It’s fantastic to see local residents come together to enjoy and look after nature in a shared space.

“By designing this playground with local children and residents, we’ve reopened a playground that the community will love, and that fosters joy, connection, and play for all ages.

“We look forward to seeing the continued community stewardship at Hatcham Gardens for generations to come.”

Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta

Before

16 NEWS

By Noah Vickers

Local Democracy Reporter

Sewage ha S been discharged into london’s waterways for more than 12,000 hours in the last year, according to a new analysis by city hall.

The finding came as mayor Sadiq Khan reaffirmed his manifesto promise to make all the capital’s waterways swimmable by 2034, saying it would follow on from the “progress we have made in cleaning our air”.

City Hall officers said sewage was released by Thames Water into the capital’s rivers for 12,105 hours and 38 minutes in the year to the end of March 2024.

By comparison, the figure was 3,361 hours and 17 minutes in the year to March 2023.

Thames Water insisted that “taking action to improve the health of rivers is a key focus” for the company.

Mr Khan said: “London’s rivers are the arteries of our city and should be a source of pride to us all but levels of sewage that water companies are pouring into our rivers is a scandal.

“I will not stand by and allow this to continue. As well as demanding clear action from Thames Water, I will launch an ambitious plan to make London’s rivers and waterways so clean that they could be safe for swimming within ten years.”

The Labour mayor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that in order to achieve this goal, support was needed from the next Government –and he hoped Londoners would “do the right thing” in the election on July 4 by voting for Sir Keir Starmer’s party.

“The sort of things we can do in the meantime is work with campaigners, ecologists, boroughs, Thames Water and Ofwat [the Water Services Regulation Authority]”, he said.

“We really need the Government to step in. Why? Because if there’s a change in Government, and the next Labour Government puts Thames Water in special measures, that will hopefully give them an incentive to take action and work with us.”

Responding, a Thames Water spokesman said: “We regard all discharges as unacceptable and taking action to improve the health of rivers is a key focus for us.

SeWAGe diSchArGed inTo london’S WATerWAyS for more ThAn

“2023/24 has been the wettest winter in a decade, causing unprecedented levels of groundwater to enter the sewer system. The sewer system was historically designed to work in this way, relieving pressure caused by very wet weather to prevent sewage backing up into people’s homes.

“The Thames Tideway Tunnel, a £4.5 billion investment, is nearing completion. This project, combined with previous upgrades we’ve made to our London sewage works and the building of the Lee Tunnel, will capture 95% of the volume of untreated sewage currently entering the tidal Thames in a typical year.

“We have published plans to upgrade over 250 of our sewage treatment works and sewers to treat the high volumes of incoming sewage and reduce the need for overflows during wet weather. In London, we have started the £100 million

upgrade of Mogden sewage treatment works, which will increase capacity and reduce the number of storm discharges from the site, and we’re also spending £145 million upgrading Beckton sewage works.”

He added: “We’ve put transparency at the heart of what we do, and we were the first water company to publish a real time data map on our website, which in its first year has been viewed over 350,000 times.”

The Financial Times reported this week that Ofwat is drawing up plans to create a special “recovery regime” for Thames Water and other financially stressed UK water companies in a bid to avoid nationalisation.

Companies with “recovery regime” status could potentially receive fewer or no regulatory penalties to encourage them to invest in infrastructure improvements instead, people close to Ofwat and the water

companies are reported to have said.

The water firms would also be given more “realistic” targets for reducing sewage and water leaks and outages, in exchange for more regulatory oversight for a period of up to five years.

Commenting on the newspaper’s report, the mayor said: “I’d be against any disinvestment from cleaning up our rivers.

“I understand Thames Water is a special case. But let’s be frank, Thames Water have leveraged up this company with a huge amount of debt, taken money out of the company, shareholders have received dividends.

“I don’t see why the taxpayer should be bailing them out in relation to bigger bills or do I think we should be sacrificing [the] quality of waterways because of the problems they’ve got themselves into. Ofwat is doing what

they can with the limited powers they have.”

He added that Brexit, and the fact that the UK is no longer bound by EU directives on water quality, was also not helping to improve the state of London’s rivers.

As part of a broader effort to “rewild the capital”, Mr Khan has separately announced a £30m fund, which his team said would “bring the natural world back to Londoners and adapt our city to the increasing impacts of climate change – with a particular focus on supporting groups run by disadvantaged Londoners and those from ethnic minority backgrounds, who often have less access to green spaces and who are more vulnerable to climate changes”.

City Hall said the money will pay for trees, wildflower meadows, supporting waterways, parklets and other new green spaces.

Two bridges over the Thames will close in June temporarily

By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter

Two PedeSTrian bridges over the river Thames in South west london will temporarily close as part of major £6.6million repairs.

Richmond Council is carrying out works at the Grade II listed Teddington Lock footbridges, which were built in 1889 to connect Teddington to Ham, in phases.

The council has confirmed the bridges will close over one weekend in June to allow a temporary ramp to be installed as part of the second phase of the works.

The bridges will shut to the public at 8pm on June 14 and reopen at 6am on June 17. Local businesses The Flying

Cloud, The Anglers, Tide End Cottage and The Boat Shop will stay open as usual.

A council spokesperson said: “We will be working 24/7 to ensure all the necessary works are completed so we can reopen the bridges on June 17. Over the weekend there will be lots of activity and some noisy works during the day and night. This is the only option to keep the closure to the weekend, avoiding disruption to commuters and schools during the week.”

The repairs aim to make sure the crossing can keep being used safely for many years to come. The scheme was launched after an inspection of the suspension and lockcut footbridges, which are next to each other, in 2019 identified repairs that were needed.

The Teddington Lock footbridges were built in 1889

The numBer of ‘no fAulT’ evicTionS in london hAS increASed 52 Per cenT in The lAST yeAr

By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter

The nUmBer of ‘no fault’ evictions in london increased 52 per cent in the last year – more than five times the rate seen in the rest of england and wales, a city hall analysis reveals.

Sadiq Khan said the data showed how the Government’s failure to ban the evictions – also known as section 21 notices – had been a “huge betrayal”.

Section 21 notices are used by landlords to evict tenants with two months’ notice and without any reason

needing to be given.

According to the latest Government data, there were 11,880 of these ‘no fault’ eviction claims in London in the year to the end of March 2024, up 52 per cent from 7,834 in the year to March 2023.

This rise compares to an increase of nine per cent in the rest of England and Wales over the same period, City Hall said.

“The Government’s failure to pass the Renters (Reform) Bill before the dissolution of Parliament today is a huge betrayal of London’s 2.7m private renters, who are left with the threat of

eviction hanging over their heads,” said Mr Khan.

“These latest stats from City Hall are shocking and the unacceptable delay to this vital bill will leave even more renters in the capital at unnecessary risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.

“I’m doing all I can to build a better, fairer London for everyone by supporting tenants, but I cannot act alone. Renters’ rights must be a national priority and ‘no fault’ evictions banned for good.”

The Conservatives pledged to deliver the ban in their 2019 manifesto, with Housing Secretary Michael Gove

promising as recently as February this year that the ban would be in place before the next election.

The Renters (Reform) Bill, intended to deliver the ban, was first introduced in the House of Commons in May last year.

But its progress was delayed by several Tory MPs who wanted to strengthen protections for landlords, who they feared would sell up.

Following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a July 4 election, it emerged that the necessary legislation would not be passed during the ‘wash up’ period before Parliament was dissolved.

Deputy PM Oliver Dowden told the

Local Democracy Reporting Service last week: “As happens at the end of the Parliament, when you announce a general election, there are large amounts of legislation on the books. We’ve only got two days to conclude it all.”

He added: “It just hasn’t been possible to get this legislation through in the ‘wash up’ period.”

He said the Government had a strong record on housing overall, with 2.5 million new homes built nationally since 2010.

In total, more than 30,000 renting households in London have faced a ‘no fault’ eviction claim since 2019.

Landlords will be required to buy a £923 licence to rent out properties

By Robert Firth

Local Democracy Reporter

landlordS will be required to buy a £923 licence to rent out properties in certain areas of lambeth under a council plan to tackle poor quality homes and reduce antisocial behaviour.

People letting a single property to less than three households in Knight’s Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East and Streatham St Leonard’s will be required to purchase a licence from September.

Lambeth is the latest of a string of councils in inner South London to introduce a licensing scheme for landlords who rent out flats to one or two households. Southwark Council expanded its

licensing scheme for such properties to cover a total of 19 wards in November 2023.

In Lewisham, landlords renting out properties to less than three households will require a licence from July 1.

Lewisham’s scheme is expected to cover an extra 20,000 properties in the borough, where a quarter of residents are private renters.

The four areas of Lambeth were chosen for the scheme’s launch because properties in these wards have nearly double the national average of serious hazards. Around 8,600 properties in the four wards are expected to fall under the new selective licensing regime, which will run for five years until 2029.

The Labour-led council intends to outline plans to roll out the scheme to

a wider area of the borough in autumn. Under the proposals, the regime would be extended to all wards in the borough except Vauxhall and Waterloo and South Bank.

National legislation only allows councils to introduce licensing schemes in areas where there is sufficient proof of bad housing. The council was unable to find enough evidence of poor quality housing in Vauxhall and Waterloo and South Bank to support the introduction of the scheme there.

Landlords owning properties with an energy performance rating of C or better will receive a £50 discount on the proposed £923 licence cost. Those who are part of an accredited landlord association will get £75 off. Landlords owning more than one flat in a block will also get a discount.

The first stage of the scheme covering Knight’s Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East and Streatham St Leonard’s was approved at a Lambeth Council cabinet meeting last Thursday (May 16).

Around a third of Lambeth’s 144,985 homes are privately rented and government and council data suggests 9,446 of these could have a serious hazard. Officials believe that around 39,851 properties in the borough could be included in the new selective licensing regime.

Approximately 5,000 privately rented homes in the borough are already covered by two other licensing schemes. Since 2018, all properties rented to five or more unrelated people sharing a kitchen or

bathroom have required a licence under nationwide rules. In addition, an existing council-run scheme requires some landlords who let properties to three or four households sharing amenities to obtain a licence.

Cllr Mahamed Hashi, the council’s cabinet member for safer communities, said: “This scheme will see more support for vulnerable residents, improved premises conditions [and] help reduce overcrowding. Ultimately, it will lead to better housing for our residents.

“Whilst most landlords provide good quality, safe accommodation, there are some who take advantage of their tenants or don’t know what their responsibilities are. Licensing will help us crack down on rogue landlords and take decisive action against housing offences.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan

what’s on

GiSSA TickeT for BoyS from The BlAckSTuff

With aNy play about the workingclass there will be an Us and Them narrative and in James graham’s version of alan Bleasdale’s Boys from The Blackstuff it is the ‘sniffers’ from the Dole Office - who literally talk down to the out of work - sent to spy and arrest any unemployed people trying to put food on the table by doing cash-inhand jobs, writes Michael Holland. Those that took this kind of work became not only the enemy of the State but also their fellow jobseekers who blamed them for their cheap labour driving down wages and for taking a vacancy that could have been a legal job for someone. But if the table needs food put upon it then needs must… Chrissie (Nathan McMullen) exclaims, ‘I need money not an ideology.’

This is 1982, there are riots, manufacturing is in decline, unemployment was almost as its 1980s’ peak and Thatcher was out to get the unions; Liverpool’s staunch Socialist history was under attack. The focus of Boys From The Blackstuff is

five unemployed tarmac layers who will now do anything to earn money. We find them in night security, plastering and in Yosser Hughes (Barry Sloane) stomping intimidatingly around Liverpool 8 asking everyone and anyone to ‘Gissa job, I can do that.’ His boasts of being able to do anything sees him build a wall - cash-inhand - that instantly gets him the sack.

‘You can’t sack me cos I don’t really work here,’ he says to the site manager before nutting him.

I could very much relate to the decline and closure of the docks when

containerisation meant big ships could not moor up in the shallow waters by Tower Bridge and even if they could, no container lorries could get into the small 19th century streets of Shad Thames that were designed and built for horse and carts.

One year after the Boys last stint of legal work the rot has set in. There is a feeling of emasculation, a lack of pride and a sense of desperation amongst them as they turn on each other. At the centre is George(Philip Whitchurch), the eldest and the voice of reason who has watched

Nearly 40 years since first staged, the menier chocolate factory Theatre brings Jerry’s girls, the revue show that showcases some of Jerry hartman’s greatest musical numbers, writes Christopher Peacock...

A chance to give new audiences a sample of some of the biggest hits from Broadway’s post golden era of musical theatre.

Even those not familiar with the stage musicals Hello, Dolly! or La Cage Aux Folles are likely to pick out some of the most famous melodies due to their film versions and the use of their numbers in commercials over the years. The revue show presents the numbers in a mix of stage and backstage settings, peeking behind the curtain quite literally.

Cassidy Janson, Jessica Martin and Julie Yammanee make up the cast, reproducing the hits with impressive

his city slowly crumble. Liverpool’s decline becomes George’s decline. But behind every unemployed man is a strong woman and there are plenty here.

There is a tremendously emotional scene between Chrissie and Lauren O’Neil when she accuses him of giving up on work: ‘All I’ve got is half a tin of Spam in the fridge and a hole in me left shoe,’ she cries while berating him. And there are comic turns with the Dole Office ladies conducting monotonous, form-filling, tick-box interviews with the Boys. Plus, comedy is injected into the sad reality

vocal performances while being expertly guided by a six-piece band.

Jerry’s Girls does not disappoint on the musical front.

Together, director Hannah Chissick and choreographer Matt Cole do not look to push this simple form too far, allowing the singing to take precedence so Jerry Herman’s music and lyrics can shine and show off their musicality and wit.

Before the show we were made aware that Cassidy Janson was performing simplified routines due to an injury but on the whole you wouldn’t have known as she hit her marks and body lines and was full of energy.

The choreographed routines are where you feel there is room for improvement and tightening up, and lots of the prop work felt a little laboured.

For those that are fans of Jerry Herman and know all of the numbers back to

of having to hide when bailiffs and debt collectors come a-knocking.

Yosser Hughes’ ‘Gissa job’ phrase fell into common parlance and is used today by people who know not where it originated. It is used hilariously when he accosts a milkman on his rounds: ‘Gissa job! I can do that; I can milk a cow.’ And to the the lady at the school crossing, ‘I can hold a lollipop, gissa job!’ But to old George, the veteran of dock strikes and marches who hands out advice to anybody who asks, like a Citizens Advice Bureau, Yosser admits, ’I couldn’t do your job…’

But no humour is added to the student telling Yosser that he is ‘scared’, or when social services take his kids, nor at the funeral of a dear friend. These are the seminal scenes. Death is done in slo-mo; James Graham gets the mood just right. Amy Jane Cook’s set truly evokes the the feeling of a city carved up by corrugated iron sheets hiding the wasteland of slum clearance projects that ran out of money. I’m not sure if it was done intentionally but when Dixie(Mark Womack), moonlighting as a security guard, was asked to turn a blind eye to some Monkey Boots going surreptitiously out the dock gates, it took me back to a time when any Bermondsey boy who had a family member working in the Surrey Docks was wearing Monkey Boots off the Polish ships.

Perhaps younger members of the audience who did not live through those times, or see the iconic, BAFTA-winning 80s’ TV series, will not understand this play as much as those that did, but it would not impact on their enjoyment of this wonderful piece of work that we should thank Liverpool’s Royal Court for.

National Theatre until 8th June.

Booking: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ productions/boys-from-the-blackstuff/ Boys From The Blackstuff transfers to the Garrick Theatre from June 13thAugust 3rd.

front it is a thoroughly enjoyable two hours of show tunes. Laughter trickled around the audience at the start of quite a few songs as you could tell they knew what was coming up. You could also tell where the show had its origins as a small cabaret night in an informal setting, but even for those not too knowledgeable of Herman’s work the show still works as a great vehicle for highlighting the strength of his writing. The band were exceptional and as light entertainment goes a revue show is the perfect fit.

Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark St, London SE1 1RU until 29th June.

Box Office: 020 7378

National Black Stuff Barry Sloane as Yosser in Boys from the Blackstuff at the National Theatre (c)

Photo by Alastair Muir

Heading south - our pick of upcoming Summer events

Cockpit Summer Open Studios

Cockpit Summer Open Studios is an opportunity for the public to meet some of the celebrated craftspeople in their studios in Deptford –surrounded by their tools, materials and works-in-progress. Enjoy a rare, authentic glimpse behind the scenes of a working makers’ studio and buy direct from craftspeople.

Dates: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June 2024, 12pm-6pm

Tickets: £5-£16

Cockpit Deptford, SE8 3DZ www.tickettailor.com/events/ cockpit/1132044

Salons in the Queen’s House: Timehri Travels

Drawing on ideas of identity and belonging, artist Remiiya Badru gives an insight into her research fellowship at Royal Museums Greenwich, revealing the connections she’s discovered between contemporary and historical artefacts. During this talk, she will also share the creative process behind her model ship, Timehri, discussing her journey of discovery, recovery and memory around the River Thames.

Date: Wednesday 12 June 2024, 1pm-1:30pm

Tickets: Free Romney Road, SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/ queens-house/salons-queenshouse-timehri-travels

Open Gardens Festival

Taking place over two weekends in June, the Open Gardens Festival sees 41 private gardens across south-east London open their garden gates for the afternoon. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy a host of inspiring gardens, ranging from tiny cottage-style courtyards, grand formal spaces, walled gardens and community allotments to private woodlands and riverside plots with panoramic views. On Saturday 22 June, the gardeners at Lydia House in Blackheath will host a Jazz in the Garden concert, too. Audiences are encouraged to bring a blanket, relax on the lawn and enjoy the music performed by talented musicians from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Tickets are £15 per person.

Dates: Saturday 8 and Sunday 9, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June 2024, 2pm-6pm. Tickets: One weekend £14, two weekends £20, single garden £5, kids go free. Various addresses www.communityhospice.org.uk/support-us/events/open-gardens-festival

Time and Tides

Enjoy a world premiere of Esther Bersweden’s new composition, Time and Tides, by Eltham Choral Society, which was founded over 100 years ago and performs a wide-ranging repertoire of mainly classical choral music. Time and Tides is an exploration of Greenwich conducted by Max Barley with a mixed choir of over 80 voices. Also on the programme for the evening is Haydn’s Nelson Mass.

Date: Saturday 6 July 2024, 7:30pm

Tickets: £8-£15

St Alfege Church, SE10 8NA www.ticketsource.co.uk/elthamchoral-society

There and here

Luca Silvestrini’s Protein sees annual event celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees, migrants and people seeking sanctuary come to Woolwich Works. Enjoy artist and refugee-led arts, craft and dance workshops, live music and a communal lunch. Special performances include excerpts from Protein’s Border Tales and community projects featuring members of Islington

Off The Chest: Poets in the Lounge

Bringing their explosive brand of poetry to Deptford Lounge once again, Off The Chest is back. Join Ella Dorman-Gajic and Iftikhar Latif for a night of open mic poetry where audience members can share themselves in an intimate and friendly setting. Plus, expect feature sets from two top poets as well as music from Off The Chest’s in-house DJ.

Date: Thursday 13 June 2024, 7pm

Tickets: Pay what you decide, £5-£8 Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin Street, Deptford, SE8 4RJ

https://www.thealbany.org.uk/shows/off-thechest-4/

Centre for Refugees and Migrants and Creating Ground with students from London Contemporary Dance School.

Date: Saturday 22 June 2024, 11am

Tickets: Advance price £5

The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, SE18 6HD www.woolwich.works/events/there-and-here-protein-2024

History

dulWich code-BreAker PorTrAyed in The imiTATion GAme film GeTS A Blue PlAQue

By Isabel Ramirez

a ww2 code-breaker, who decrypted nazi war secrets and was critical to the success of d-day, will receive a blue plaque.

Joan Clarke, who was played by Keira Knightly in The Imistation Game, has been honoured by English Heritage with the plaque at her childhood home in West Dulwich.

More than Alan Turing’s love interest, as in The Imitation Game (2014) starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Clarke was a gifted mathematician in her own right.

She was part of a team of cryptanalysts working in Hut 8 at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

They decoded more than a million intercepted German naval messages transmitted on the Enigma machines and so enabled Allied ships to consistently avoid German U-boats.

As a result of their work, they were able to critically reduce the number of Allied ships destroyed by the German navy –from around 100 a month to only two in November 1941.

The plaque will mark the semi-detached Edwardian house, 193 Rosendale Road, that was Clarke’s family home while growing up.

It was while living there that Clarke won a scholarship to study mathematics at Newnham College, Cambridge in 1936.

She returned to her West Dulwich pad during the university holidays and on family visits whilst working at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, which was the wartime headquarters of the Government Code and Cipher School.

Dr Susan Skedd, Blue Plaques Historian at English Heritage, said: “Joan Clarke spent her formative years in this house, during which time she went from being a promising student, with a love of mathematics to becoming a remarkable code-breaker at Bletchley Park and later at GCHQ.”

The Hut 8 team continued to rise to new

By Isabel Ramirez

thiS year marks its 80th anniversary - but what is d-day and where can you honour it this year in Southwark?

challenges when, in 1942, a fourth rotor was added to the naval Enigma machines, making the codes much tougher to crack.

German U-boats were briefly able to attack Allied shipping convoys once more, however, the new code was broken when Clarke deduced that the fourth rotor used the same cypher as the three-rotor system and the steady flow of deciphered

messages resumed. In the run-up to D-Day, Hut 8 worked closely with Hut 10 to decode the weather signals sent by the Germans and to support the increasing number of SOE operations and bombing raids preparing the way for the invasion on 6 June 1944.

Following the war, Clarke continued to work for GC&CS which moved to

WHAT IS D-DAY?

On 6 June 1944, 156,000 Allied troops landed by sea and air on five beachheads in Normandy, France.

It was the largest seaborne invasion in history.

D-Day marked the start of Allied operations which would ultimately the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War. A total of 4,415 Allied soldiers were killed during the battle, along with up to 9,000 German troops.

As for the name, when a military operation is being planned, its actual date and time are not always known - therefore the term ‘D-Day’ is used to mean the date on which operations would begin, whatever date that was.

This Thursday (6 June) will mark 80 years since the operation began that freed France and western Europe.

It is a significant milestone, given it is likely to be the last with surviving veterans still in attendance.

WHERE CAN I CELEBRATE IT IN SOUTHWARK?

Bermondsey

Head down to the War memorial to lay a wreath.

This Saturday, the Bermondsey and North Bermondsey branches of The Royal British Legion are holding an 80th Anniversary Service of Remembrance for D-Day, at the Bermondsey & Rotherhithe War Memorial.

During the Service, there will be an opportunity to lay wreaths, flowers, and tributes on the Memorial. The Deputy Mayor of Southwark will be present to pay her respects.

RAF Eastcote in north-west London, where it was renamed Government Communications Head Quarters (GCHQ).

Always modest about her achievements, she shared nothing about her post-war work for GCHQ, most of which will remain secret until documents are declassified.

Her confidentiality also explains the lack of photos there are of her.

The plaque is being awarded in time for the 80th anniversary of D-Day this year, Thursday 6 June.

This is not her first blue plaque. In 2019, she was honoured with one outside her former house in Oxford.

The English Heritage London Blue Plaques scheme is supported by David Pearl and members of the public.

All are welcome to attend. when? Saturday 8 June, 11 am where? Bermondsey & Rotherhithe War Memorial, West Lane, SE16

For more information contact Gary Magold at gary.magold@hotmail.com or 07752 311082.

elephant & castle

The Imperial War Museum is hosting a week of activities to mark the occasion, including tours, talks, and film screenings.

From Monday 3 June - Monday 10 June there are tours of the Aerial Theatre.

In the 90-minute tour led by IWM experts, you will learn about everything that took place in the skies over Normandy in 1944 - from strategic bombing campaigns to airborne assaults, and fighter-bombers.

On Thursday 6 June, there will be a

special screening of the classic war film - The Longest Day and for the rest of the week the museum will host various talks from historians to broaden your knowledge of the pivotal day.

Look out for the special tours of HMS Belfast to discover the crucial role its crew played on D-Day; from firing some of the first shots of the naval bombardment to treating the wounded and clearing the beaches.

These tours will be happening daily until Sunday 9 June and start at £43.45 (or £18 for members).

Go to iwm.org.uk to book your place at any of the events.

If any war veterans or their relatives from Southwark have memories or stories from D-Day please feel free to get in touch isabel@southwarknews.co.uk

Keira Knightly portraying Ms Clarke in The imitation Game

Joan Clarke’s childhood home 193 Rosendale Road, dulwich - with the plaque. (english Heritage)

British Commando troops land on the Normandy beaches during d-day 6 June 1944

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON OLD PARADISE STREET

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate deliveries and a Pit Lane for development related works the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be to temporarily: -

(1) ban vehicles between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday from entering Old Paradise Street between the junctions of Newport Street and Norfolk Row.

(2)

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Lambeth High Street, Black Prince Road, Newport Street and Old Paradise Street and vice versa as indicated by traffic signs.

3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

4. The

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON NORWOOD ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate resurfacing works and the installation of cycle lane wands and a splitter island the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth after consulting Transport for London (TfL) intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be to temporarily: -

(1) ban vehicles from entering Norwood Road between the northern Kerb-line of Brockwell Park Gardens and the southbound kerb-line of Croxted Road.

(2) Suspend on both sides of Norwood Road, the Rosendale Road bus stops.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available: -

(1) Northbound, all vehicles via, the (A205 Tulse Hill) gyratory, northbound on the (A204) Tulse Hill, eastbound on (A22) Morval Road, and south-eastward on (A2214) Dulwich Road to rejoin Norwood Road; (2) Southbound, (a) all HGV vehicles north westbound on Dulwich Road, westward on (A2214) Brixton Water Lane, southward on (A23) Brixton Hill, eastward on (A205 South Circular) Christchurch Road, north and eastward on the (A205 Tulse Hill) gyratory to rejoin Norwood Road; (b) all non-HGV vehicles, southeastward via (A2199) Croxted Road, westbound on (A205) Thurlow Park Road, the (A205 Tulse Hill) gyratory to rejoin Norwood Road.

3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

4. The Order would come into force on 17 June 2024 and would continue for a maximum duration of 5 months, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner.

Dated 7th June 2024

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 16A

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS PRESCOTT PLACE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable a special event to take place in Prescott Place, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, subject to the agreement of Transport for London, intend to make an order the effect of which would be to ban vehicles from entering or waiting (including waiting for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle) in Prescott Place on Saturday 22nd June and Sunday 23rd June 2024.

2. Alternative routes would be available for affected vehicles via Clapham High Street, Clapham Manor Street and Cresset Street and vice versa.

3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs. In practice it is anticipated that the order would have effect between 8am on Saturday 22nd June and 2:30am on Sunday 23rd June 2024.

Dated 7th June 2024 Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE SHRUBBERY ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable new water main connection works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, subject to the agreement of Transport for London, intend to make an order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban vehicles from entering that length of Shrubbery Road which lies between Streatham High Road and the party wall of Nos. 9 and 11 Shrubbery Road.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via (i) Streatham High Road and Gleneldon Road; (ii) Streatham High Road, Pinfold Road, Farm Avenue, Sunnyhill Road, Streatham High Road and Gleneldon Road and (iii) Gleneldon Road, Valley Road, Sunnyhill Road and Streatham High Road.

3. The ban would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

4. The order would come into force on 24th June 2024 and would continue for a maximum duration of 3 months (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice it is anticipated that the works would be carried out between 24th and 27th June 2024, but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during that time, the Order may have effect at other times within the maximum period of 3 months. Dated 7th June

Transport for London Public Notice

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A24 GLA SIDE ROAD (WOODBURY STREEET, LONDON BOROUGH OF WANDSWORTH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF STOPPING) ORDER 2024

1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable pit lane operation works to take place on Woodbury Street.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from stopping on Woodbury Street between its junction with A24 Tooting High Street and the extended north-western property boundary of Nos.1 - 3 Woodbury Street.

The Order will be effective at certain times from 7:00 AM on 25th June 2024 until 7:00 PM on 25th December 2025 or until the works has been completed. The prohibitions will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibition will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

Dated this 7th day of June 2024

Paul Matthews Co-ordination and Permitting Area Manager Transport for London

Transport for London Public Notice

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

THE A205 GLA ROAD SUNDERLAND ROAD (LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF STOPPING) ORDER 2024

1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable gas works to take place at A205 Sunderland Road.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from stopping on either side of Sunderland Road between its junctions with Waldram Park Road and Stanstead Road.

The Order will be effective at certain times from 7.00 AM on the 24th June 2024 until 7.00 PM on the 19th July 2024 or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of:

(1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

Dated this 7th day of June 2024

Claire Wright

Coordination and Permitting Area Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

Notice of application for a Premises Licence

Notice is hereby given that Pottery Café Ltd has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at 153, Northcote Road, London SW11 6QB for the sale of alcohol Monday to Sunday, 10:00 to 21:30.

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 1st July 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.

Transport for London Public Notice

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

THE A2 GLA ROADS (ROCHESTER WAY RELIEF ROAD AND EAST ROCHESTER WAY, THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH AND THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC, STOPPING AND 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT) (NO.2) ORDER 2024

1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it intends to make the abovenamed Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable highway maintenance works to take place on the A2 East Rochester Way.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from:

(1) entering, proceeding or stopping on the eastbound carriage way of the A2 Rochester Way Relief Road and East Rochester Way between its junctions with the unnamed off-slip road connecting the Eastbound carriageway of Rochester Way Relief Road with Westhorne Avenue and the administrative boundary of the London Borough of Bexley and Kent County Council;

(2) entering or proceeding on the Unnamed on slip road connecting Westhorne Avenue to the Eastbound carriageway of the A2 East Rochester Way Relief Road;

(3) entering or proceeding on the Unnamed on slip road connecting Rochester Way and Rieeld Road to the Eastbound carriageway of the A2 East Rochester Way;

(4) entering or proceeding from the Lodge Lane on slip road connecting Lodge Lane to the Eastbound carriageway of the A2 East Rochester Way;

(5) entering or proceeding from the Bourne Road on slip road connecting Bourne Road/Southwold Road to the Eastbound carriageway of the A2 East Rochester Way; (Black Prince Interchange);

(6) entering or proceeding on the Unnamed on slip road connecting Upton Road to the Eastbound carriageway of the A2 East Rochester Way;

(7) entering or proceeding on the westbound carriageway of East Rochester Way between the administrative boundary of the London Borough of Bexley and Kent County Council and its junction with the Unnamed Off Slip Road connecting the north-westbound carriageway of East Rochester Way with Blendon Road and The Drive;

(8) entering or proceeding on the Unnamed On Slip Road connecting Blendon Road to the westbound carriageway of East Rochester Way;

(9) entering or proceeding from the Unnamed Off Slip Road connecting Blendon Road to the westbound carriageway of East Rochester Way;

(10) entering or proceeding on the Unnamed Off Slip Road connecting Southwold Road to the westbound carriageway of East Rochester Way;

(11) entering or proceeding from the Unnamed On Slip Road connecting Southwold Road to the westbound carriageway of East Rochester Way;

(12) exceeding a speed of 40 MPH on East Rochester Way between the extended common boundary of Nos. 12 and 13 Lakeside Close, East Rochester Way and the administrative boundary of the London Borough of Bexley and Kent County Council.

Works will be phased such that some restrictions will apply only at certain times.

The Order will be effective at certain times between 16th June 2024 and 15th June 2025, every night from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibitions will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of:

(1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

At such times as the prohibitions are in force alternative routes will be indicated by trafc signs. for southbound trafc from A205 interchange; A205, A20, M25/ A2 junction 2 to normal route of travel. for southbound trafc from Falconwood; Rieeld Road, Bexley Road, A205, A20, M25/A2 junction 2 to normal route of travel. for northbound trafc from Falconwood; Rochester Way, A205, A20, M25/A2 junction 2 to normal route of travel. for southbound trafc from Danson Interchange; A221, A207, Albion Road, A220, Black Prince Interchange, A2, A205, A20, A2/M25 junction 2 to normal route of travel. for southbound trafc from Black Prince Interchange; A2, A205, A20, A2/M25 junction 2 to normal route of travel. for southbound trafc from Upton Road; Townley Road, Albion Road, A220, Black Prince Interchange, A2, A205, A20, A2/M25 junction 2 to normal route of travel.

Dated this 7th day of June 2024

Claire Wright Co-ordination Manager Transport for London

and restoration), Condition 6 (finishes to the iron work to Gasholder 1), Condition 7 (final colour scheme to Gasholder 1) and Condition 8 (cross-bracing and balustrade between columns 23 and 24) of planning permission ref: 22/00418/VOC [Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 20/00901/VOC (Variation of conditions 4 (Method Statement), 5(Footings) 6 (Iron Work) and 7(Colour Scheme) of planning permission 19/02281/FUL (Temporary dismantling of ground tier cross-bracing and balustrade between columns 23 and 24 to facilitate construction. Restoration of No. 1 Gasholder including cleaning and restoration of the guide frame components and hand rail, fabrication of replacement components where the original components are missing or degraded beyond repair, re-painting and other alterations to surround residential building within its circumference in association with planning permission 17/05772/EIAFUL) granted on 04.05.2020. Variation sought: Partial removal of perimeter handrail and clarification of removal of ladders and extraneous equipment from the Gasholder frame.], granted on 30/06/2022. Variation sought: 24/01430/VOC

5 Dorchester Drive London SE24 0DQ Erection of a two storey plus basement dwellinghouse and alteration to the front boundary wall including a new entrance gate.

(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 24/01523/LB, but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 24/01522/FUL) 24/01523/LB

Dated this Friday 7th June 2024

Rob Bristow

Director - Planning, Transport & Sustainability Climate and Inclusive Growth Directorate

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

SCHOOL STREETS SCHEME – VARIOUS ROADS

EXPERIMENTAL ROAD CLOSURES AND PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE ZONES

(NOTE: This notice is about closing the roads or parts of roads specified in paragraphs 4, 5, 6, and 7 to this notice to all motor vehicles at certain times of the day by introducing pedestrian and cycle zones, initially as an experiment. The road

zones will operate in those roads at the times specified in this notice on

will only operate during those hours in school term-time. Objections may be made to the

zones being continued on

1.

2.

3.

and

holders who fall into the above criteria and have a bona fide reason to enter that pedestrian and cycle zone, by application to the Council.

4. The pedestrian and cycle zone in (a) Hopton Road, the south-eastern arm, between the western arm of Hopton Road and Rutford Road; (b) Polworth Road, between Farnan Road and Rutford Road; and (c) Rutford Road, the whole length, will operate Monday to Friday inclusive, between the hours of 8.15 am and 9.15 am and between 3 pm and 4 pm.

5. The pedestrian and cycle zone in Cancell Road, between Elliott Road and Eythorne Road; will operate Monday to Friday inclusive, between the hours of 8.30 am and 9.30 am and between 2.45 pm and 3.45 pm.

6. The pedestrian and cycle zones in the following roads or length of roads will operate Monday to Friday inclusive, between the hours of 8.15 am to 9.15am and 2.45pm to 3.45pm, (a) Maplestead Road, the whole length; (b) Palace Road, between the south-eastern entrance to Coburg Crescent and a point 11 metres south-east of the north-western entrance to Coburg Crescent; (c) Paradise Road, the whole length; (d) Russell Grove, so much as is public highway; (e) Studley Road, between Levehurst Way and Paradise Road; (f) Upper Tulse Hill between Claverdale Road and Ostade Road; and (g) Vauxhall Street, between Tyers Terrace and the vehicular entrance to Baddeley House, Vauxhall Street.

7. The existing pedestrian and cycle zone in Smedley Street will be extended to include the whole length of Smedley Street and will operate Monday to Friday inclusive, between the hours of 8.15 am to 9.15am and 2.45pm to 3.45pm.

8. Any vehicle that is already in those roads or length of roads listed specified above before the pedestrian and cycle zone commences will be permitted to leave.

9 The Order is intended to create a pleasant environment that feels safer in the immediate vicinity of a school or nursery and help reduce road danger, discourage travelling to school by car where alternative means of travel are available, and encourage walking, scooting and cycling to school, thereby achieving positive health outcomes for the school community.

10. If you have any enquiries about this matter, please send them by email to: schoolstreets@lambeth.gov.uk.

11. A copy of the Order and other documents giving detailed particulars about it (including maps) are available for inspection online at: at: https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth or www.lambeth.gov.uk/traffic-management-orders and at the offices of Lambeth Council’s Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays inclusive (except on bank/public holidays), until the Orders cease to have effect. A copy of the Order and the other documents are also available on request, by email to: Trafficorders@lambeth.gov.uk or by telephoning 020 7926 0209 to arrange an inspection.

12. The Council will consider in due course whether the provisions of the Order should be continued in force indefinitely by means of a permanent Order made under section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Any person may object to the making of the permanent Order within a period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the experimental Order comes into force or, if the Order is varied by another Order or modified pursuant to section 10(2) of the 1984 Act, beginning with the date on which the variation or modification or the latest variation or modification comes into force. Any such objection or any representation must be made in writing and all objections must specify the grounds on which they are made (quoting reference School Streets 5), and can be made using our consultation portal at https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth or sent by post to Barbara Poulter, Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), London Borough of Lambeth, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ or by email TMOReps@lambeth.gov.uk. Any objection or representation received may be communicated to, or be seen by, other persons who may have an interest in this matter.

13. If any person wishes to question the validity of the Order or of any of its provisions on the grounds that it or they are not within the powers conferred by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or that any requirement of that Act or of any instrument made under that Act has not been complied with, that person may, within 6 weeks from the date on which the Order is made, apply for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 7th June 2024

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

5.

7.

8. The current charge for Motorcycle permits are as follows: Permit type Motorcycle

3 months6 months12 months £23.97£35.23£57.75

9. The emissions-based charging bands for motorcycle permits will be as follows: Permit type Motorcycle

3 months6 months12 months

£££

A 25.5837.5961.62

B 27.4240.3066.06

C 29.5343.4071.14

D 31.9546.9676.98

E 34.7351.0483.67

F 37.9255.7491.37

G 41.6061.15100.23

H 46.0567.69110.96

I 51.4475.61123.94

J 57.9885.21139.68

K 65.9296.89158.82

L 75.61111.13182.16

M 87.48128.57210.76

10. If you have any enquiries, please contact Lambeth Council on email: parkingfeesreview@lambeth.gov.uk

11. A copy of the Order and other documents giving detailed particulars about the Order are available for inspection online at: www.lambeth.gov.uk/traffic-management-orders. and at the offices of Lambeth Council’s Parking, Network Management & Fleet team, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays inclusive (except on bank/public holidays), until the last day of a period of six weeks beginning with the date on which the Order was made. To arrange inspection please telephone 020 7926 0209 or email: Trafficorders@lambeth.gov.uk

12. If any person wishes to question the validity of the Orders or of any of their provisions on the grounds that they are not within the powers conferred by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or that any requirement of that Act or of any instrument made under that Act has not been complied with, that person may, within 6 weeks from the date on which the Orders are made, apply for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 7th June 2024

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

Transport for London Public Notice

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

THE GLA ROADS AND GLA SIDE ROADS (LEWISHAM) RED ROUTE TRAFFIC ORDER 2007 A205 GLA ROAD (UNNAMED SERVICE ROAD) (ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINTS) VARIATION ORDER 2024

1. Transport for London, hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Order under section 6 of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984.

2. The general nature and effect of the Order will be to:

(1) reduce the length of the Parking and Disabled Persons vehicles bay on the unnamed service road (linking A205 Stanstead Road to A205 Catford Hill hereafter referred to as the unnamed service road) adjacent to No.36 Catford Hill by 4 metres from its north-western end;

(2) install a 24/7 bay with a length of 6 metres on the unnamed service road and adjacent to No.36 Catford Hill for the charging of electric vehicles only maximum 1 hour no return 2 hours;

(3) increase the length of the Double Red Lines No Stopping At Any Time on the service road and adjacent to No.36 Catford Hill by 4.5 metres southeastwards.

3. The road which would be affected by the Order is the unnamed service road linking A205 Stanstead Road to A205 Catford Hill.

4. A copy of the Order, a statement of Transport for London’s reasons for the proposals, a map indicating the location and effect of the Order and copies of any Order revoked, suspended or varied by the Order can be inspected by visiting our website at https://haveyoursay.t.gov.uk/tro and selecting the relevant borough and reference the Trafc Order relates to or by appointment during normal ofce hours at our ofce at the address below. To arrange an appointment please email trafcordersection@t.gov.uk. Copies of the documents may be requested via email at trafcordersection@t.gov.uk, or by post at the following address quoting reference NMR/REGULATION/STOT/RC/TRO, GLA/2024/0103

•Transport for London Streets Trafc Order Team (NMR/REGULATION/STOT) Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road London, SE1 8NJ

5. All objections and other representations to the proposed Order must be made in writing and must specify the grounds on which they are made. Objections and representations must be sent to Transport for London, Streets Trafc Order Team, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ or by emailing trafcordersection@t.gov.uk quoting reference NMR/REGULATION/STOT/RC/TRO, GLA/2024/0103, to arrive before 28th June 2024. Please note due to hybrid working access to post is restricted and requests for documents and conrmation of your objections or representations may be delayed. Objections and other representations may be communicated to other persons who may be affected.

Dated this 7th day of June 2024

Andrew Rogers Planning & Performance Manager (South) Transport for London, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London,

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE AND ONE-WAY TRAFFIC SYSTEM THORNE ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable telecommunication maintenance and repair works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, with the agreement of Transport for London have made an Order the effect of which will be to temporarily:a) ban vehicles from entering or waiting (including waiting for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle) in that length of the eastbound carriageway of Thorne Road (towards South Lambeth Road) which lies between Guildford Road and South Lambeth Road; and b) impose a one-way traffic system for vehicles in that length of Thorne Road which lies between Guildford Road and South Lambeth Road in a westward direction (towards Guildford Road).

2. An alternative route will be available for vehicles affected by the ban described in paragraph 1(a) above, via Guildford Road, Lansdowne Way and South Lambeth Road.

3. The ban and one-way system described above will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

4. The Order will come into force on 17th June 2024 and will continue for a maximum duration of 1 month or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner. In practice it is anticipated that the closure and one-way traffic system will only have effect between 17th and 19th June 2024, but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during this time then the Order may also have effect on subsequent days within the maximum duration of 1 month.

Dated 7th June 2024

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

SPArklinG SmiTh leAdS Surrey revenGe Kia Oval side dramatically collapse but Somerset can’t respond

By Ben Kosky

Jamie SmiTh’S sparkling knock of 87 from 38 balls laid the foundations for Surrey’s third straight Vitality Blast win as they took revenge on Somerset, their conquerors in last year’s semifinal, last weekend.

The Surrey batter struck his second successive Blast half-century, sharing a partnership of 111 from 56 with Ollie Pope prior to an astonishing collapse triggered by Somerset’s Ben Green (four for 32).

Green – who took three wickets to help seal Somerset’s semi-final success en route to the 2023 title – claimed three in a single over at the Kia Oval as the home side lost their last six for 11 runs and slumped to 163 all out.

But Somerset failed to build partnerships in response, with Sean Abbott and Tom Curran taking three wickets apiece as the defending champions were rolled for 106 in the 16th over.

Surrey made a spluttering start after being inserted, with only seven on the board when opening pair Laurie Evans and Dan Lawrence were both caught in the deep by Tom Lammonby.

Jason Roy soon followed them, swatting Riley Meredith to the

midwicket fence and trying to repeat the stroke next ball, with Lammonby pouching the top edge to complete his third catch.

But Smith was immediately into his stride, heaving Craig Overton for the first of his seven sixes and combining power with clean striking of the ball as he launched a ruthless assault on the Somerset attack.

Pope was able to build at a more relaxed pace while his partner raced to a half-century from 22 balls, drilling Roelof van der Merwe for another maximum and Surrey looked strongly placed at 139 for three with seven overs left.

But van der Merwe began the Somerset fightback by bowling Pope

(40 from 32) before Green – whose first two overs had cost 27 – captured three wickets in the space of five balls, including a slow yorker to end Smith’s hopes of a maiden T20 century.

Meredith (three for 34) uprooted Abbott’s off stump before Jake Ball bowled last man Spencer Johnson to round off Surrey’s collapse with six deliveries still unused.

However, the Australian left-armer boosted his side’s hopes with three tight overs at the start of Somerset’s reply – including the wickets of both Tom Banton, caught down the leg side and Will Smeed, who hit 20 from 12 before dragging onto his off stump.

Tom Abell also departed, caught at long on mistiming a drive off Abbott,

but Tom Kohler-Cadmore launched Gus Atkinson for successive sixes – the second of them a top-edged hook that was coolly plucked out of the air by a steward at the Vauxhall End.

Looking dangerous with 25 from just 10 balls, Kohler-Cadmore’s innings was abruptly ended by Abbott’s pinpoint throw from the leg side to run him out with a direct hit almost parallel to the stumps at the bowler’s end.

Surrey continued to take wickets at regular intervals, with Abbott recording three for eight in his eight overs and Curran, who sealed victory by having Ball caught at mid-on, three for 16.

Surrey host Sussex Sharks this Friday (June 7) at 6.30pm.

Stars’ Gregory has Southern Vipers in a spin

By Ben Kosky

leG-SPiNNer DaNi gregory

demolished Southern Vipers’ middle order as South east Stars triumphed by six wickets at the kia oval to cement their status as charlotte edwards cup frontrunners.

Gregory’s spell of three for 23 reduced the defending champions to 73 for six before Alice Monaghan (44 from 33 balls) and Rhianna Southby (25 from 22) counter-attacked with an unbroken partnership of 69 from 50.

That enabled Vipers to post 142 for six, but their total was not enough as Paige Scholfield (50 from 34) and Sophia Dunkley both struck halfcenturies to usher Stars over the finish line with 11 balls to spare.

Dunkley (53 from 42) was caught attempting to hit the winning runs, but Phoebe Franklin secured Stars’ fourth victory in five games, while Vipers now face a battle to qualify for the knockout stage. Put in to bat, Vipers were soon in difficulties as the relentless accuracy of left-arm seamer Alexa Stonehouse kept them under rein and Charli Knott departed cheaply, clipping Franklin to midwicket.

Stonehouse removed Ella

McCaughan, caught at cover, but captain Georgia Adams (19 from 12) lifted the tempo with successive boundaries as she and Georgia Elwiss (22 from 25) took their side to 61 for two in the ninth over.

However, Vipers then lost four wickets for just 12 as Adams pulled Alice Davidson-Richards’ long hop to the diving Stonehouse in the deep and the next three fell to Gregory, including Elwiss who was bowled swinging across the line.

Bowling in tandem with left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, whose four overs cost just 21, Gregory appeared to have put Stars firmly in control – but Monaghan and Southby had other ideas.

Southby drilled Dunkley for the first six of the innings in the 18th over, while Monaghan – dropped at long-on off the same bowler on 13 – capitalised to hammer 22 from Franklin’s final over, including two maximums and keep the visitors in contention.

But, although Dunkley and Bryony Smith initially began slowly with the bat – taking 16 balls to find the boundary – they kept their wickets intact, bustling along to 47 in the powerplay overs.

Smith pulled Freya Davies over midwicket for six as she advanced to 31 from 25, departing to the first postpowerplay delivery when she hoisted namesake Linsey into the hands of long-off.

The captain’s dismissal did little to derail Stars’ momentum and Scholfield straight-drove Mary Taylor to the rope before steering the seamer’s next delivery through the slip area for four more.

Scholfield took advantage of some sloppy fielding to dispatch Nancy Harman for another two fours, but it was Dunkley who won the race to her half-century, thrashing Smith for a midwicket boundary to get there from 38 balls.

Her partner followed suit from 33 deliveries and, although Davies had her caught behind before Knott (two for 29) dismissed Dunkley and DavidsonRichards with successive balls, it made no difference to the outcome.

South East Stars (143-4) beat Southern Vipers (142-6) by six wickets

Surrey (163) beat Somerset (106) by 57 runs

Jamie Smith led Surrey’s total

neW BlueS BoSS deliverS firST meSSAGe

Enzo Maresca has been confirmed as Poch’s successor

By John Kelly

enZo mareSca said it was a “dream” to join chelsea after his five-year contact to succeed mauricio Pochettino as Blues head coach was confirmed this week.

Maresca, 44, won the Championship title with Leicester City last season, his only full campaign as a boss.

Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Maresca will be joined on his staff by former Blues goalkeeper Willy Caballero, Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Marcos Alvarez, Javi Molina and Roberto Vitiello. Ben Roberts will

join as goalkeeper coach and and will also have the role of head of global goalkeeping.

Maresca is the fifth manager of owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd ¬Boehly’s reign, after Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and ¬Pochettino in just two years. There is also the option of a further year in Maresca’s contract, a departure in policy after Pochettino was given only a two-year deal.

Pochettino and the club surprisingly parted ways after a positive conclusion to the campaign, including a sixthplace finish in the Premier League and reaching the final of the EFL Cup and

semi-finals of the FA Cup.

But Pochettino was believed to have wanted more control, rather than just be seen as the head coach of the team that had to manage the players that were signed by the club.

The Blues have spent more than one billion pounds on players in the last two years and there were times last season when the team was inconsistent and in the bottom half of the table until February. But Pochettino appeared to have turned around the team and club’s fortunes - as well as his own - only for the club to act swiftly after the end of the campaign and then by speaking

to and hiring Maresca. The Italian will officially start the job on July 1. Chelsea were also linked with moves for Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi, and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim.

"To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach. It is why I am so excited by this opportunity,” Maresca said.

"I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud."

Top-flight boss explains Fulham switch

By John Kelly

goncalo SanToS said he wanted to work with “one of Portugal’s best coaches” after he walked away from being a first-team manager to join marco Silva’s backroom team ahead of next season.

Santos, 37, led Casa Pia to a ninthplace finish in Portugal’s top flight, the Primeira Liga, after taking over in February when they were sixteenth.

Santos and Silva spent time together as players at Estoril.

Santos started his coaching career with Real Sport Clube in Portugal’s third tier before a season in charge

of Estoril’s under-19 side.

Santos then joined Casa Pia as assistant manager last summer before taking over from Pedro Moreira and sparking an improvement.

In an interview with Portuguese outlet Record, Santos explained why it wasn’t a backward step to move from being a manager to a coach.

“I finished my playing career three years ago and came to the first league after two years as a coach, but I also realise that I haven’t finished my training,” Santos said. “I don’t have UEFA Pro level [coaching badge] and that’s a handicap, not being able to sit on the bench. So I’m going to finish my training and the decision

was very much influenced by that.”

Santos said the opportunity to work with Silva - who has also managed Hull City, Watford and Everton in England - was too good to turn down.

“Yes, of course. Marco Silva is someone I respect and admire a lot. After everything we’ve been through together at Estoril, the club’s most beautiful history, he’s someone I’ve followed throughout my career and with whom I identify as a coach,” Santos said. “This invitation will give me the chance to work with one of Portugal’s best coaches. Apart from José Mourinho, who opened the doors to the world for us, I think Marco is perhaps the best

Portuguese coach at the moment, on a par with Rúben Amorim.

“He’s the only one who’s been at four different Premier League clubs, stabilised and very well regarded in England. He’s going to give me the chance to grow and learn and I’m going to the best league in the world, because after the Premier League there’s nothing else.”

Santos did admit he had been tempted to stay with Casa Pia. He said: “Yes, because you feel things are going well. When public opinion and the feedback from everyone who works with you is very positive, you feel the urge to lead a process. I had that opportunity during my time at Casa Pia, but it was my decision.”

Maresca has modern coaching influences after he joined the City Group initially in 2020 as manager of their Elite development Squad. He led the side to the Premier League 2 title in 2021.

After a brief period back in Italy with Parma in Serie B, Maresca returned to City as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants in the summer of 2020.

The Foxes came looking for him last summer, and he had Leicester top of the league for most of the season before they held off McKenna’s Tractor Boys to win the title by a point and return to the top flight.

enzo Maresca led Leicester City to the Championship title last season

© Action Plus

Goncalo Santos

Millwall manager Neil Harris is hoping for a less stressful campaign

By Paul Green

neil harriS says the main aim for millwall next season is to avoid any of the relegation drama which overshadowed most of the previous campaign.

Harris returned to the club for a second spell in late February with the Lions in serious danger of dropping out of the Championship.

He successfully steered the club to safety thanks to a big improvement in form at The Den and some memorable wins on the road, including a 2-1 triumph at eventual promotion winners Southampton in his first game back.

But skirmishing with the drop zone isn’t an experience he wants to endure again, instead preferring to rediscover the kind of cup success which was a big feature of his initial tenure in the hotseat.

Harris said: “I think the fans would love to see a bit of stability and an exciting cup run if possible. We haven’t had one for a few seasons.

“The ideal for me is that we would certainly want to be better than we were last year.

“That doesn’t just become about league position because ultimately 13th in the Championship is an excellent league position for Millwall Football Club.

Year of stability will do nicely for Harris STeAdy doeS iT

“The club has been very lucky over the last ten years to have had huge success in League One and then in the Championship. We want to continue that.”

Five straight wins secured Millwall’s eventual respectable final placing in the table, although Harris is keen to point out there are many things to consider when assessing what constitutes a decent season.

The boss said: “How do you define success? Is it going on league position? Sometimes it is.

“Is it done on bringing younger players through and developing our own players?

“There is part of that as well, which I would like to do next year.

“For us there is a lot of elements as to how we are going to measure success next year.”

Harris added: “For me it is to make sure it isn’t like last year where for most of it the club has been looking over its shoulder. We don’t want to be doing that next year.

“We want to be stable, we want to be moving forward and then carry on building the blocks that we started in the last 13 games from day one this season.

“I want to see the team progress and ultimately we want to be better.”

Exciting Queen's Park Rangers attackers target first team after new deals

By John Kelly

kieran PeTrie is targeting a place in Marti Cifuentes’ first team after signing a new contract with Queens Park rangers.

Versatile attacker Petrie, 19, started his career at Arsenal before a year at Swansea City.

Petrie joined the R’s in June 2022 and has been a regular for the Development Squad.

"I had a difficult season with injury last year but QPR have backed me all the way,” Petrie said.

"They have put their faith in me and see what I can bring to the team. There is a pathway for me here and a

lot of people I can learn from.

"My aim for next season is to push on. I want to progress.

“This is an amazing club, not least in terms of the culture and the morals we have - we like to play football and it suits my playing style.

"I want to get people off their seats. I want to take people on, score goals and make assists.

"I'm excited for the future. My main aim is to get closer to the first team."

Another forward capable of playing in a number of positions, Lorent Talla, has signed his first professional deal at Loftus Road.

Talla, 19, who is already a full international with Kosovo, made his

QPR debut in the 3-2 defeat to AFC Bournemouth in the third round of the FA Cup last January.

"This feels amazing," Talla said. “I had a good season last year and I just want to keep getting better and keep pushing on.

"The aim now is to impress for the first team in pre-season and go from there.

"I obviously want to play my part and prove myself in the Development Squad, too, but the aim is definitely to push for a place in the first team.

"I'll continue to work hard, believing in my ability and believing in myself."

Tall added: ”Making my debut for the first team was a dream come true and

‘Let’s make our presence felt once more’ says Lions boss

By Paul Green

neil harriS is challenging his millwall side to keep outpunching the championship big guns next season.

Leeds United’s play-off final defeat to Southampton means the Lions will twice go headto-head again with their old rivals in what is always a special fixture.

Saints will be joined in the top flight by Leicester City and Ipswich Town, as Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley make an instant return to the second tier.

Next year will be the Lions’ eighth consecutive season in the Championship and Harris is determined his squad make their presence felt once again at the right end of the table after last season’s relegation scare.

He said: “I think the three teams that have gone up were three exceptional teams, four if you include Leeds who just missed out.

“Leeds will obviously be a very good side next year as always.

“I’m sure the three teams that have come down from the Premier League are going to be competitive with their parachute payments which will make them extremely fortuitous in the budgeting sense.

“Then you look at the teams who have come up as well. Derby County for example is a big, big club at Championship level, let alone down in League One where they have just come out of.”

Harris added: “It is going to be a competitive league as always. I’m sure Norwich and West Brom will be stronger for their play-off defeats this year.

gave me a taste for it.

"But that was just the start - it's gone now and I want to push on next season. I want to play my part.

"I can't wait for pre-season and the season ahead. I really want to prove myself."

QPR chief executive Christian Nourry said: "Lorent has worked extremely hard to make this step and has serious potential as a No.10.

"Upon my arrival, he was rapidly identified as a player with the necessary attributes to push on. But the hardest work is still ahead of him."

Meanwhile, Albania attacker Steven Bala is leaving the club after his time with the Development Squad.

“We as always are going to have to outpunch with where we are going to be budget wise as a club.

“Certainly since I took over 10 years ago it has done that every season and we will be playing through that again.

“This year I think has been a tough year for everybody probably until the last few weeks of the season where with three games to go we’ve retained our status and everyone can relax a little bit.

“There is always going to be tough periods during the season.”

Southwark SouthLondonWeekly. Community matters

Sport

INSIDE SMITH SIGNS AS NEW ERA BEGINS

AdAm mAkeS move on eve of The euroS Palace quartet could make Three Lions squad for Germany

By Kiro Evans

gareTh SoUThgaTe lavished praise on adam wharton after his england debut - raising hopes the Crystal Palace midfielder could make the cut for euro 2024.

Wharton has had a meteoric rise since joining the Eagles from Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window, but he has handled it all in his elegant stride. His performance against Bosnia and Herzegovina this week was the latest evidence of his class and temperament. After coming on in the 62nd minute of the friendly, just after the hosts had gone 1-0 up through Cole Palmer’s penalty, Wharton completed 35 out of 36 attempted passes in the 3-0 win.

Southgate will cut his 33-man provisional squad down to the final 26

for the tournament in Germany after Friday's friendly against Iceland at Wembley.

“Adam Wharton showed what he has been doing at the end of the season and in training," Southgate said. “I like what he's done with us in the first few days. He sees pictures early and can play forward. It is very early for him but lovely that he looked as comfortable as he did.

"It’s a big step up from where he was at the beginning of the season but I like the fact he sees pictures early, he plays forward.

“Obviously he’s got quality on the ball but it’s the ability to receive and play the ball forward that’s really caught our eye.”

Palace attacker Eberechi Eze is also hopeful of making the final squad after he again impressed on his full

Chelsea win the Tos

By John Kelly

chelSea were this week closing in on a deal for Tosin adarabioyo after fulham officially confirmed the defender’s exit.

Adarabioyo, 26, was in the last year of his contract and a number of clubs were chasing the free agent this summer.

Newcastle United were reportedly close to agreeing his signing towards the end of the season.

The Blues confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new head coach this week after agreeing a £10million compensation package with Leicester City.

A defender was high on Chelsea’s list of transfer targets after Maresca’s predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, was forced into numbers defensive changes last season, mostly through injuries. Pochettino’s side conceded 63 league goals in 38 games last season, the most in the top eight.

Addicks get new Mann

By John Kelly

debut, his third cap. Eze played 62 minutes before being replaced by Jack Grealish.

Palace defender Marc Guehi also played 62 minutes, while Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson was an unused substitute.

Palmer’s goal was his first on his third England appearance. It was his 28th goal in 51 appearances for club and country since last August.

“Of course, it’s a difficult decision for us,’ Southgate said when asked about cutting seven players.

"A team that didn’t have many caps when we started, it showed people feel comfortable in an England shirt pretty quickly which was lovely to see.

"It is a decision where we understand the significance for all of the players. So we are giving it the respect and consideration it deserves to make fair,

right decisions.

"Clearly, I would imagine Eberechi has caught the eye with the way he started the game, the way he glides past people and the power he shows.

Conor Gallagher was an important performance for us given how important Declan’s [Rice] role is.

"We know what he can do without the ball but his work with the ball has improved. He played with real maturity.

"A first goal for Cole Palmer. He showed moments of what he is about. It was his first start for us and there is more to come as he feels more comfortable with the group and we feed him the ball as he needs it.

"He can play in a couple of other positions and has had a fabulous season. There is no reason he can’t he can’t have a big impact with us."

charlTon aThleTic are expected to complete the signing of goalkeeper will mannion from cambridge United when his contract expires at the end of June.

Mannion, 26, has been offered a new deal by Charlton’s League One rivals but he hasn’t signed it.

The Addicks currently have stoppers Harry Isted and Ashley MaynardBrewer on their books but it is an area manager Nathan Jones has been determined to strengthen this summer.

Mannion made fourteen league appearances last season, becoming manager Garry Monk’s first-choice after he took over in March and guided the U’s to safety.

Mannion started his career at AFC Wimbledon before joining Hull City and then having spells at Plymouth, Aldershot, Kidderminster and Pafos in Cyprus.

Adam Wharton has had a meteoric rise since joining the eagles

ALl ABoUT LoCAL

Argo House is a swift cycle ride or a gentle stroll to South London’s cultural highlights: Tower Bridge, the River Thames and the South Bank, Peckham, Deptford, Borough and of course Bermondsey. A few minutes more finds you in London Bridge, St Katharine Docks or Canary Wharf. Walk to work, or a farmers’ market; to weekend brunch or after-work drinks. Run the riverside or reach for a restaurant. Arthouse Kino or cutting edge sports complex. Bike if you like, roll to a South Bank gallery.