Contact us if you have a story on 07973175511 or email hello@cm-media.co.uk
We are a London Living Wage employer
Do you have a story for our news team? Call 0207 231 5258 you can Whatsapp us on 07494 070 863.
Khan’s policing deputy has accused the last government of throwing the metropolitan p olice “under the bus”
By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter
Sadiq Khan’S policing deputy has accused the last Tory Government of throwing the Metropolitan Police “under the bus” and “whipping up hatred” in London.
Speaking at City Hall on Wednesday, Sophie Linden, the deputy mayor for policing and crime, also told London Assembly members that she believed the new Government will be more supportive of the Met.
Susan Hall, the Conservative chair of the Assembly’s police and crime committee, said Ms Linden’s remarks were “completely outrageous” and “utterly wrong”.
Ms Linden had been fielding questions on the policing of protests in London, which continues to place a huge burden on Scotland Yard’s budget and number of available officers. Some £13.4million alone was spent between January and March
this year on Operation Brocks, the Met’s response to demonstrations related to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Commenting on the new Labour Government, the deputy mayor told the committee: “I genuinely think that we will no longer have a Government that is whipping up division, whipping up hate, and also throwing the Metropolitan Police under the bus – when they are trying their best, and using all of their experience and expertise to police London, and doing so effectively.”
The remarks appeared to allude to former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, now a contender for the Tory leadership, who claimed in November last year that the Met were taking a biased approach in dealing with protests over the Israel-Gaza War.
Writing in the Times, Ms Braverman said there was “a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters”.
Editor: Kevin Quinn
Reporters: Herbie Russell; Isabel Ramirez
Sports Editor: John Kelly
Sports reporter: Kiro Evans
Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland
Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston
Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips
Advertising: Clarry Frewin
Design: Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen
Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758
Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd
Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany
Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn
Published weekly at: Community Matters Media Ltd, Unit A202, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG.
News and Sport: 020 7231 5258
Advertising: 0020 7232 1639
News/Advertising: hello@cm-media.co.uk
Finance: em@cm-media.co.uk
Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk
At Wednesday’s meeting, Ms Linden said the Met have been “policing the protests extremely well in London, and really trying their best to have the balance between the right to protest, the right to free speech, and also protecting communities when they feel fearful”.
But Ms Hall, who recently stood against Mr Khan in the London mayoral election, said it was “completely and utterly wrong” to say that the last Government stirred up hatred or failed to support the Met.
She added: “I had many conversations with [former Home Secretary] James Cleverly, latterly, and he was very supportive, so I think actually coming out with comments like that, when there’s nobody here to defend it, and to say that’s wrong, is completely outrageous”.
The Conservative assembly member pressed the deputy mayor on how much extra funding City Hall will be requesting from the new Government to help cover
the cost of policing the protests, which disproportionately affect London and the Met’s resources.
Ms Linden said Mr Khan had already made clear that he believes the Government’s grant to the Met – intended to reflect the increased costs which come with policing the UK’s capital – is underfunded by some £240million.
“We’re just about two weeks into the new Government,” the deputy mayor said. “We will obviously be having discussions with them, and funding will be part of those discussions, of course.”
She told the committee that since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict on October 7 last year, some 51,799 officer shifts were connected to protests or vigils, as of June 9.
“That’s a huge number of police officers being abstracted from their local neighbourhood policing, abstracted from communities,” she said.
Community Matters Media has been running independent newspapers since 1987, and now boasts the weeklies: South London Weekly, Southwark News and Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender, as well as the lifestyle magazines The South Londoner and Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker
You can view all our content on www.southlondon.co.uk and sign up to newsletters to stay informed about news, lifestyle & events, people, sport and history. We believe in community and in balanced, independent and responsible journalism. As a south London business, we also work to support fellow local businesses. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that community-led, independent newspapers can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.
Sophie Linden, deputy mayor for policing and crime
brunel museum to close until summer 2025 for refurbishment to restore historic engine room
EXCLUSIVE
By Herbie Russell
roThErhiThE’S faMouS Brunel Museum will close until summer 2025 as part of a landmark refurbishment that will restore and reveal new parts of the historic Engine room.
The £1.85 million makeover will take place from September 2024 until summer 2025. Visitors can also expect a brand-new welcome pavilion and new ramps and lifts to make the site more accessible.
The Brunel Museum celebrates the story of the Brunel family who were at the heart
of the Industrial Revolution.
As part of the refurbishment, the Engine House and the Grade II* listed Tunnel Shaft will be restored to their former glory and a new gallery created.
Many parts of the Engine House are currently closed to the public but the makeover will open them up meaning a tripling in exhibition space.
A collection of images known as the Thames Tunnel watercolours will also go on display for the first time.
Produced during the construction of the Thames Tunnel, many were drawn, painted and hand-signed by the Brunels themselves.
They were acquired by the museum in 2017 and have been waiting to find their permanent home in the restored Engine House.
Before closure, the Museum is celebrating with a range of activities over the summer.
The refurbishment is made possible by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Stuart McLeod, Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support the Brunel Museum to help it transform its spaces and experience for future visitors - whether from the local schools, the wider community or further
afield.
“Not only does it restore two historic buildings, but it will also create an accessible space where people can come to discover the stories of one of the most important historic families to revolutionise our cities.
“Investing in heritage such as this means that a wider range of people can be involved in heritage. This is a mandatory outcome for all of the projects we support.”
Rotherhithe was once home to great theatre
Edwardian drinking fountain set to be restored after it ran dry in Blackfriars
EXCLUSIVE
By Herbie Russell
an Edwardian drinking fountain in Blackfriars is set to be restored, supplying Londoners with fresh water after running dry for years.
The drinking fountain in Christ Church Garden was built in 1900, paid for by the famous philanthropist Passmore Edwards.
The restoration will “encourage public engagement” with the Grade-II Listed monument, according to a report drawn up by Southwark Council.
The prevalence of water-borne diseases like typhoid and cholera prompted an explosion of public drinking fountains in
the 1850s.
Passmore Edwards, a successful publisher and journalist turned MP, recognised the need to introduce more and funded three.
They included the Christchurch fountain and two more in Hoxton Square, Islington and Leyton Square, Camberwell.
The Christchurch fountain is subsiding due to its dilapidated granite base and the water has not run since 2019.
Southwark Council plans to dismantle the structure, replacing damaged parts, before returning the intact fountain.
The planning application was submitted on Friday, July 5.
Tower Bridge master’s former house set to have escape room
EXCLUSIVE
By Herbie Russell
an Edwardian house once occupied by Tower Bridge’s bridge masters is set to become an escape room.
Under the plans, Bridgemasters House, built in 1906, would have its ground floor and basement converted into adventure games rooms.
Escape rooms are puzzle games, popular for birthdays and corporate events, which see participants crack codes and uncover clues to escape an area.
The ground and basement levels are already home to a ‘commercial unit’, according to planning documents submitted
to Southwark Council. The plans involve adding signage to the external façade, building a plant room at ground level and making the basement wheelchair accessible.
The ‘proposed works will have little impact upon the existing fabric especially at ground floor level where the majority of fabric was added in 2015,’ according to an agent working for the applicant.
In planning documents, the person behind the plans is named as K. Yang. However it is unclear whether this is part of a larger, commercial enterprise.
Bridge masters, responsible for the bridge’s engines and machinery, occupied the bridge’s south abutment until the early 20th century. They and their families later moved to Bridgemasters House, on the south side of the bridge.
Bridgemaster’s House on Tower Bridge Road
The Christchurch drinking fountain
A sketch of the proposed Brunel Museum masterplan
People inspecting the plans ahead of the refurbishment
EXCLUSIVE
By Herbie Russell
a MainSTaY Millwall pub will be restored despite a developer’s attempts to turn it into flats.
Rotherhithe’s China Hall buzzed on matchdays but faced disaster after new owners took over.
The developer, Hamna Wakaf, removed the bar, cut beer lines, and subdivided the ground floor into two apartments.
But following a planning inspector’s decision on July 19, the developer must now reinstate the 300-year-old pub.
Local campaigners, who fought hard against the conversion, have celebrated the decision.
Michael Robertson, who gave evidence at the planning inquiry, said: “On matchdays, you couldn’t get in. It was one in, one out because it was so popular.
“In the Surrey Docks Wetherspoons, you couldn’t go in wearing a Millwall shirt. But the China Hall fully embraced club colours. Grandparents and grandkids would go in together. It worked like a dream.”
In a joint statement, he and fellow local campaigner Steve Cornish said they looked forward to the 300-year-old pub being “enjoyed… for generations to come.”
Hamna Wakaf had planning permission to extend the pub floorspace but overstepped the mark.
When a case officer visited the site,
millwall mainstay pub china hall to be restored after flat conversion halted
they said the owners had started an “unauthorised” stripping of the pub’s interior.
The officer issued a notice ordering the owners to restore the pub.
Hamna Wakaf hit back by appealing the decision, arguing a pub was not a viable business venture for prospective landlords.
But the pub’s history as a mainstay for the local community, loved by local sports clubs, proved key to the inspector’s decision to back the boozer.
The inspector’s report said: “The pub welcomed Millwall fans on match days, being full to capacity and employing its own security.
“It had a close association with the Surrey Quays branch of the In2Touch
rugby league, which played their games in the park opposite and described the China Hall as their local pub from 2004 until its closure.
“It catered for players of the Southwark Park Cricket Club and the Southwark Park Bowls Club, and local darts teams.
“The variety of the activities reported demonstrates the pub served a broad spectrum of local residents.”
In a joint statement, local campaigners Michael Robertson and Steve Cornish said: “We’d like to thank council officers and their legal representatives for their outstanding energies, due diligence, and tenacious amplification of the China Hall’s cultural significance to Rotherhithe and Bermondsey. A legacy of which can now hopefully be enjoyed as public
realm for generations to come.”
The pub was formerly run by the muchloved Norris family with Michael ‘Micky’ Norris at the helm. He sadly passed away in June 2023.
Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said: “This is a huge win for our planning enforcement team and local residents who worked together to save The China Hall as a functioning pub. “Pubs are specifically protected by planning policy and for good reason. I’m thrilled that such an important piece of Rotherhithe’s history and community has been protected.
“It serves as a warning that it is never acceptable for works to go ahead before a planning application has been approved.”
shooting
His compassion touched everyone’: Tributes pour in for man killed in Peckham
By Herbie Russell
TriBuTES haVE poured in for Jesse Lloyd-Smith - a man who was fatally shot in Peckham.
The twenty-year-old was shot on East Surrey Grove on Wednesday, July 10.
People have shared tributes remembering ‘his kindness, thoughtfulness, and compassion’ on a GoFundMe page.
The family is taking donation so they can ‘grieve away from home’, according to the page, with over £5,000 already raised.
A post to the GoFundMe page says: ‘All those that know Jesse, will know that he was the most incredible, intelligent, caring, and loving soul who lit up every room he entered.
‘His kindness, thoughtfulness, and compassion touched everyone around him and he did not deserve to have his life cut short so abruptly, in such a tragic way.’
Another commenter said: ‘My sincere and heartfelt condolences to Jesse’s family. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Jesse and his mum and in that time it was clear to see what a
loving family they were.
‘Jesse was remarkable young mankind, caring, well mannered and having a genuine love for his dogs. A loss at such a young age and under such circumstances is truly heartbreaking.
My prayers are with Jesse’s family and friends. May Jesse rest in eternal peace.’
There have been no arrests and police are still appealing for witnesses and information. Information, images or footage can be
provided at Public Portal – https://mipp. police.uk/operation/01MPS24W66PO1 – and if you would prefer to speak to a police of�icer regarding this incident, please call 020 7175 2206. Alternatively anyone who has information or footage can call 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting CAD 6886/10Jul. To remain 100 per cent anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppersuk.org.
South Londoner charged with Walthamstow murder
By Isabel Ramirez
a Man from Surrey quays has been charged with the murder of a woman in walthamstow.
Shaine March, 45 (02.09.78), is accused of murdering Alana Odysseos, 32. He was due to appear in custody at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, July 23. In the early hours of Monday, police
were called to an address in Lynmouth Road, Walthamstow. They had received reports of an injured woman and found Alana suffering stab wounds. She died at the scene. March and Alana were known to each other.
An investigation was launched led by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. March was charged in the early hours of Tuesday, July 23.
The China Hall pub on Lower Road, Rotherhithe
Local campaigners and residents Steve Cornish and Michael Robertson celebrating outside the China Hall
Victim Jesse Lloyd-Smith
the studio in pecKham where eX-prisoners can maKe music
EXCLUSIVE
By Isabel Ramirez
PEoPLE who have just come out of prison can now make their own music for free at this studio in Peckham.
Making Waves, based at Peckham Levels, is designed to support participants to shift their lives away from crime.
Funded by GLA’s Violence Reduction Unit, the programme offers one-onone studio time once a week with a professional producer where they can do everything - from learning to make beats to recording their own tracks.
The hope is that it will reduce the risk of custodial sentences in an already overcrowded prison system. It is run by Finding Rhythms, a charity that uses music to empower people to improve their lives. Since 2013, they have worked with over 1,000 people and produced 100 albums of original music.
Up until a few months ago, their work consisted of mainly going into
prisons and working with people there. But now they have a permanent base to cater to people who are out and lack support.
Isaac, 31, who recently left prison after serving five years, has just finished the course.
He told us: “It was amazing. When you’re in there most of the time you’re thinking or writing. So I already had all of my bars written down.
“I made about 25 songs.”
As part of the sessions, they also receive mentoring and the chance to gain a Prince’s Trust qualification to add to their CV.
The dad-of-one said it gave him a ‘purpose’ when he was first released and unemployed.
“When I came out I was put into a hostel. I had to stay there for eight weeks.” He said whilst he was there he saw ‘about five people’ go back to prison.
“There’s not much help in terms of getting a job other than going to the job centre.
“If it wasn’t for me coming here once a week, having some social interaction with people that are not
judging me - it could have gone that way.”
Since being out he now works as a personal trainer in a gym, after getting a fitness qualification in prison. After just five weeks, he already has six clients. In terms of music, Isaac used his last session with Tom - the producer - to set up a Spotify account so he could release his own tracks.
Tom, who is also an artist himself, said this was the ‘most fulfilling thing’ he had ever done.
He explained: “I’ve been teaching them to write songs, vocal coaching, anything music-related that could help them release their creativity.”
Before working for Finding Rhythms, he said he was working with a lot of people who ‘didn’t appreciate’ it.
“But these guys do,” he continued, “It feels good to see people progress and make some amazing music with them.”
To find out more about the Making Waves project and how to refer someone, visit https://www.findingrhythms.co.ukYou cannot self-refer to this initiative.
Tom (the producer) with Isaac, Finding Waves participant
walworth woman transforms aylesbury estate demolition debris into artwork
EXCLUSIVE
By Isabel Ramirez
a woMan in walworth has collected over 100 pieces of rubble from the aylesbury Estate demolition and made art to ensure the residents’ history is not forgotten.
For the last six years, artist Harriet Mena Hill has made it her mission to tell the stories of people caught up in the regeneration of Walworth’s famous estate. She told us her ongoing project, Aylesbury Fragments aims to “keep shining a light” on what is happening.
The Aylesbury Estate regeneration, conducted by Notting Hill Genesis, began in 2015 and is due to be completed by 2036. The estate was first built by Southwark Council in the late 1970s. It’s estimated that at one point 11,000 lived there, making it one of the biggest public housing sites in Europe. However, over the next 40 years, it fell into such disrepair that the council approved plans to demolish and rebuild it.
Today, as blocks are knocked down and people are moved out in phases, the remaining flats are plagued with issues.
Harriet’s focus on the estate began in 2018 when the developer brought her in to do some workshops with young people living there. “The idea was to create a space for them to tell their stories and share.
“We did it with the older residents as well and created a book of their memories.”
These days she is on-site ‘at least three times a week’, researching and taking photos for her projects.
Harriet, who has lived in the area for 35 years, said: “I found some of the concrete
waste from the demolition of the buildings that young people I worked with lived in.
Then I just started collecting the fragments and painting on them.”
There are now over 100 pieces of rubble with detailed paintings of the blocks that are left, including Wendover which now stands almost derelict awaiting a bulldozer.
The youth centre on the estate.
“These paintings are a testament to the resilience of a community living through something extraordinary.”
Marking a time in modern history, the Museum of London reportedly bought one a few years ago to add to an exhibition.
Although she comes at it from an artistic point of view, Harriet did comment that the situation the residents had been left in was ‘unacceptable.’
“In a sense, there has been a lot of support to residents along the way - but they are living in absolutely horrific circumstances.”
Whilst down at the estate Harriet said she had been told ‘several times’ by the
Safer Neighbourhoods Team not to go there alone.
“They said it’s unsafe,” she continued, “yet young people are living there. If it’s not safe for me, it’s not safe for them.”
Next month she will be presenting her project down in Somerset at Wells Cathedral. Fourteen of the fragments will be presented in the style of ‘The Stations of the Cross’ to depict the housing crisis.
In addition to her many projects, a group of older residents who had been moved into Lebanon Street requested her help in making an archive so their legacy isn’t forgotten. Many of them had come onto the estate as children.
She is about to begin recording an audio of their individual experiences. “The idea is to keep shining a light on it,” she said.
The exhibition will be visible to the public from August 3 - August 30 at Wells Cathedral, Cathedral Grn, Wells, BA5 2UE. The full collection can also be viewed online at www.harrietmenahill.com.
Motorbike ‘linked’ to Dalston shooting that critically injured girl aged 9 has ‘been in Peckham and Crystal Palace’
By Herbie Russell
PoLicE TracinG a motorcyclist after a shooting that critically injured a nine-year-old girl believe the vehicle has been in Peckham and crystal Palace.
Officers searching for a gunman who opened fire at a Turkish restaurant in Dalston on May 29 have released images of a suspect.
Four people were injured including the girl who had come for an ice cream and may never “move properly or speak again”.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, lead for policing in Hackney,
said: “I am making a renewed appeal for information relating to the shooting in Hackney, on Wednesday 29 May, which left three men injured and a 9-year-old girl in a critical condition.”
Three photos of the suspect riding a Ducati Monster with a white body, red chassis and red wheels have been released.
In 2021, it was stolen from a Wembley property and at the time of the shooting, was displaying the registration plate DP21 OXY.
Detective Chief Superintendent Conway said: ”We believe the motorcycle has been in the Peckham and Crystal Palace areas.
“Anyone who saw this motorcycle or
who can help us identify the rider is urged to contact us immediately.
“Whoever this person is, they are dangerous and must be removed from our streets.”
Three men – aged 37, 42 and 44 –who were sitting outside the restaurant were also shot. They have since been discharged from hospital.
Police are investigating whether the shooting was linked to a gang war between Turkish-originating crime syndicates.
The parents of the girl shared the following statement: “We are devastated about what has happened, our daughter remains stable but in a critical condition.
“She only went there for ice cream and now we do not know if we will ever get our daughter back to being the smart, funny girl that she was before and whether she will be able to ever speak or move properly again.
“We need our child back and we are all praying for her full recovery, please respect our wishes for privacy for ourselves and the rest of the family at this difficult time.”
There have been no arrests.
Police enquiries continue.
Artist, Harriet Mena Hill
Aylesbury Fragments
south london parents fear plans to cut staff at state nurseries will put vulnerable Kids in danger
By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter
SouTh London parents have raised concerns vulnerable children won’t be safe if planned cuts at state nurseries go ahead.
They warned children living in temporary accommodation and with complex needs will be hit hard if significant cuts to staffing at Balham and Eastwood nursery schools, funded by Wandsworth Council, go ahead.
Frustrated families said they have been left in the dark since being told about the proposals by the Wandsworth Federation of Maintained Nursery Schools earlier this year, despite battling for answers.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that 13 jobs are proposed to be cut across two of the three nurseries making up the federation – Balham and Eastwood – affecting qualified teachers and support staff.
The beloved nurseries are rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and support children aged two to four. They offer funded specialist places for children with a high level of special educational needs and disabilities.
Parents of children at Balham Nursery School, which opened in 1935, told the LDRS they are worried it might not survive if the cuts go ahead, while there are no local alternatives to its provision. They said they have struggled to receive any communication
from senior leaders about the plans and were refused a group meeting to discuss their concerns.
Rochelle Brooks-Ford’s three-yearold son goes to Balham Nursery School. The 39-year-old single mum lives in temporary accommodation at Nightingale Square, in Balham, with her two children.
She said: “We’re already in survival mode, most of us parents living in Nightingale Square… so it’s really unhelpful to have the extra added pressure of not knowing what’s going to happen with the nursery and having to battle and battle to even be heard or to have someone communicate clearly and honestly with us.”
Ms Brooks-Ford’s son needs speech and language therapy, as he has selective mutism, and she is worried the nursery will not be able to support him properly if the cuts go ahead.
She said: “I absolutely despair for how things are going to survive after the cuts because… the staff are amazing, but they’re doing their best to give their energy and attention to all the kids and I just can’t imagine how they’re going to manage to do that [with] the cuts.”
She added: “There are a lot of kids at the nursery who have got undiagnosed additional needs – there is that need for the additional attention – so it’s just insane to me that they’re going to take that away because that’s when accidents happen.”
Ms Brooks-Ford said she was
impressed when she first visited Balham Nursery School as staff had made a doll with a feeding tube for a child that had one. “It’s these kinds of details that the nursery does to include and embrace kids who have needs that make a difference,” she said. “How are they going to be able to continue to do things like that?”
Teachers and support staff at the nurseries, who are members of the NEU and NASUWT unions, have carried out strike action since March in opposition to the cuts – particularly over safeguarding concerns for the children. They have walked out for 15 days in total.
Emily Oliver’s three-year-old daughter has attended Balham Nursery School since September. The 41-yearold mum said the proposals would see it ‘cut to dangerous levels’ and stressed the importance of the early specialist intervention it provides for children with complex needs. “If they
do not have safe provisions at Balham Nursery School, then we will all pay down the line,” she told the LDRS.
Ms Oliver said the nursery does not advertise its ‘life-changing’ provision, and that if it did basic marketing it would see demand rise. She added she has contacted other local nurseries to ask about their availability and found they were all oversubscribed. It comes as childcare support is expanded in phases across England, with all working parents of underfives set to be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare a week from September 2025.
Parents are calling on the council to give the nursery more time to address funding challenges and take advantage of this huge expansion in childcare support without losing experienced staff. Ms Oliver said: “It just seems insane to be reducing the nursery right at this moment when we have this once-in-a-generation expansion
and also when we have a change in administration.”
Parents are desperate to have a meeting with senior leaders at the nursery, staff and the council before the end of term have been in touch with Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan to arrange this.
A Wandsworth council spokesperson said: “Our maintained nursery schools in Wandsworth provide high-quality education. We are determined to protect them so they can continue to provide for our children. Unfortunately, the number of children attending nurseries has fallen in recent years which has had a real impact on finances.
“This isn’t unique to Wandsworth – there is a challenge across London from early years through to secondary school education. The effect of Brexit, the pandemic and the ongoing costof-living crisis has resulted in many families leaving the capital. We are focused on securing the futures of our nursery schools across Wandsworth. Failure to act now will have a greater long-term impact for staff, parents, and more importantly children.
“In this particular case, governors initiated a statutory staff consultation with a set of proposals to restructure staffing arrangements. We are confident that the staffing levels suggested provides the capacity to safeguard children and retain a highquality service that parents quite rightly expect.”
Parents at Balham Nursery School, Balham
Balham Nursery School, Endlesham Rd, Balham
© Charlotte Lillywhite
Google Maps
residents of a Quiet west dulwich street woKe to find Knives and nos canisters in their front gardens
By Robert Firth
rESidEnTS of a quiet dulwich street woke to find knives and nitrous oxide canisters in their front gardens after an all night party at a house on their road.
Hundreds of young revellers descended on the property on Tulsemere Road in West Dulwich in the early hours of July 6, causing some people living on the suburban street to suffer a disturbed night’s sleep.
Neighbours said the party was only closed down after around 25 police officers created a human wall in front of the house, stopping party goers from reentering the house. One neighbour, who spoke anonymously, said he was kept up until 4:30am due to the disturbance.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “A lot of residents stayed up because we were worried about our properties and cars. We spent the whole night peering out from our curtains.
“There was a line of six or seven cars in the road and the doors open and people taking nos [nitrous oxide] in the street. I had never seen anything like that. A couple of neighbours had knives on their front porches [the next morning].”
He added: “People were taunting the police and any time the police did anything they got their phones out and stuck them in their face. There was a two hour period of shutting down the party.
“They got two police vans and there were around 25 officers in front of
the house. They didn’t arrest anyone and they didn’t touch anyone and they created a perimeter around the front of the house.”
Another resident described the atmosphere as hostile. Speaking anonymously, she said: “The whole back garden on the property was full of people and it was really aggressive. It took 25 officers to remove 200 people from our road. Neighbours are now finding knives in their front gardens.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love a rave. But they know that if they outnumber the police, they can do anything.”
According to Land Registry documents, the property where the party took place was bought by Alastair James Alderton in October 2021 for £750,000. The LDRS approached Mr Alderton, a fund manager who lives locally, for comment but he did not reply. Lambeth Council, which deals with noise complaints in the area, said it had issued a community protection notice warning.
A council spokesperson added: “We are monitoring this location and have been in dialogue with the owner to ensure that this type of event doesn’t happen again. We are liaising with the local residents to provide assurance, and we will continue to support the police with any follow up actions.”
The Metropolitan Police was approached but hadn’t provided a comment on the incident at the time of publication.
man Jailed for life for murder in elephant and two sent down for false imprisonment
By Herbie Russell
a Man has been jailed for life for the murder of riches obi in Elephant and castle.
Jurick Croes, 38, repeatedly stabbed Riches Obi, 25, at a property on Harper Road, in November 2020.
Two others, Raichell Felomina, 40, of no fixed address, and Suvenca Martis, 35, of Sydenham Hill, were jailed for a total nineteen years for false imprisonment.
Police said they would “never fully understand” why Obi was attacked but suspected his mother and the three defendants were involved in a moneymaking scam.
Police arrived at the 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 before 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, 38, fled to Colombia following the murder but was extradited to the UK.
Jurick Croes, of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey Friday, 12 July where he was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, less time served [877 days] for murder, and nine years for false imprisonment – to be served concurrently.
Raichell Felomina was sentenced at the same hearing to seven years and six months for false imprisonment. She will be eligible for release after five years and four months and liable for deportation on release.
Suvenca Martis was sentenced to six years and six months for false imprisonment and five years for perverting the course of justice which
totals 11 years and six months minus three years and four months served on remand. She will also be liable for deportation on release.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb said: “We will never fully understand why Riches Obi was attacked and killed in his own home in such a brutal way, but it is thought that the three suspects were involved in some way in a money making scam with the woman they targeted.
“We don’t know if he attempted to intervene, but we do know he was subjected to a sustained assault that ultimately ended his life.
“The identification and arrest of Martis was the result of complex enquiries and forensics. Her arrest led us to identify Felomina and Croesh who attempted to avoid capture by fleeing the country.
“This case clearly demonstrates that international borders do not stop UK Law Enforcement from reaching out to capture criminals. We utilsed every international co-operation tool available to us in order to bring them back to the UK to face the consequences of their actions.
“My thoughts today are with Riches’ family. They have waited many years to see justice done and it is my sincere wish that they may now find a way to move forward and cherish their memories of Riches without the spectre of this despicable crime hanging over them.”
State of the house on Tulsemere Road on July 6, 2024 after the party
Knife near property of Tulsemere Road resident on July 6, 2024 - the day after the party
Convicted: Jurick Croes
Convicted: Suvenca Martis
Convicted: Raichell Felomina
Victim Riches Obi was stabbed to death in Elephant and Castle
•
• Six comfortable 2-room flats and one studio flat, all with en-suite facilities
•
•
•
•
A Sheltered home for the elderly in the heart of Herne Hill
why are walworth’s essential services becoming chicken shops and kebab houses?
By Herbie Russell
“MY GEnEraTion is fighting a losing battle,” Peter says. “i think about what a thriving city London used to be. now it’s just a complete and utter mess.” Peter wisby is 85-years-old. he has just been told that his former local bank branch will become a German doner Kebab house.
Peter is among an estimated 5 million people in the UK who still rely on cash. For years, his regular routine meant driving his mobility scooter down to his local Barclays where he would send money to his daughter in Kent. When that branch closed, he was forced to drive thirty minutes to an outlet on Tower Bridge Road. In January 2023, that closed. The branch on Walworth Road could have been a last resort. But a recent planning application shows the former bank will soon have its booths replaced with rotating pillars of reconstituted meat. A pattern appears to be forming in Walworth. A few weeks before that, we reported that the local Post Office was set to become a Popeyes chicken shop.
WINDS oF ChaNGE - WaLWoRTh RoaD
The Walworth Road is no stranger to change. The once-bustling East Street Market, founded back in 1880, is locked in a battle over its soul amid fears that efforts to tackle declining footfall will signal ‘gentrification’.
While the council-backed East Street Community CIC wants to introduce live music, theatre and trendy pop-ups, some long-established traders fear the changes will “price out locals”. There are also worries that the Elephant and Castle regeneration next door will overshadow local business.
Now, another concerning trend - where essential services are becoming fast food restaurants - is being seen as another troublesome juncture in the high street’s bumpy history. The 950-metre-long road already has around ten such outlets and replacing the Post Office and Barclays would mean another two. Jeremy Leach, Chair of the Walworth Society, a local campaign group that lobbies to protect local interests, said: “Things look a bit bleak at the moment when you think about where the Walworth Road is
headed as our local high street.”
Why aRE ESSENTIaL SERVICES BEComING TaKEaWayS?
So why are essential services swapping their tills and shelves for burgers and buns? As is often the case, changes at both local and national levels have combined to create a swirling retail revolution on this high street - and not necessarily the one people wanted.
paNDEmIC aND ThE CoST oF LIVING
Nationally, in-person services along high streets have been declining for a long time. It began in the ‘90s with the proliferation of out-of-town shopping centres, was sped up by the internet, and encountered a near extinction event with the Covid-19 pandemic. The cost-of-living crisis, meanwhile, has forced people to keep an even closer eye on their finances, making online shopping a more appealing office.
ChaNGES To pLaNNING LaW
However, according to Selwyn Atkinson, an expert planning consultant, a more
F A ALBIN & SONS
Maccreanor Lavington unveiled images of its proposed 360-home scheme for Elephant & Castle back in 2014
A KFC on the Walworth Road which sits opposite a subway
By putting some tables and chairs in their shops, they can often convince local planning officers that their new businesses are restaurants rather than takeaways
recent change to national planning laws explains why some of these units are now becoming fast-food restaurants.
He explains that, during the pandemic, the government changed the law around converting businesses to other uses. The aim was to ensure businesses could be “flexible” to changing shopping habits. But he admits this may have had “unintended consequences”, allowing takeaways to take over high streets.
Under the old planning system, financial and professional services, health services, retail and restaurants were under different categories. This meant business owners seeking to change their units from one to another had to seek planning permission from local authorities.
But in September 2020, the government changed the law so these different categories were lumped together under a new Class E category, allowing developers and business owners to switch between them without seeking planning permission.“One unintended consequence could be an increase in the number of fast food restaurants selling unhealthy foods,” Selwyn says. “Because fast food restaurants have low overheads they are a popular business attraction.”
Technically, this new Class E excludes takeaways. But Selwyn explains that fast food business owners have exploited a “loophole” By putting some tables and chairs in their shops, they can often convince local planning officers that their new businesses are restaurants rather than takeaways. The plans for both Walworth’s new kebab house and chicken shop include tables and chairs
but you imagine most customers will use the takeaway service.
ThE ELEphaNT aND CaSTLE REGENERaTIoN
But changes to national planning policy only tell part of the story. A few hundred metres down the road from the Walworth Road, a once-in-a-generation regeneration of Elephant and Castle is taking place. Southwark Council has said the fifteen-year, £4 billion programme, bankrolled in partnership with multiple private developers will bring 5,000 new homes, 10,000 jobs and “an enriched cultural scene” to the area.
But there are fears that the regeneration will hasten Walworth’s decline. Jeremy Leach, chair of the Walworth Society, said: “There was this idea that the economic impact of the Elephant and Castle regeneration was going to be good for Walworth. But essential services like banks have disappeared and much of the new retail investment, other than fast food outlets, seems to be gravitating towards the Elephant and away from the Walworth Road.”
We may be seeing the beginnings of that gravitational pull towards Elephant and Castle. The Post Office has said it will relocate locally but it remains to be seen where exactly. In April, locals bemoaned the announcement that their 111-yearold Marks and Spencer would close. There are rumors that it will move to the Elephant when the shops open there in 2026. It remains to be seen whether a takeaway will take over the vacated unit.
“Essential services need to be within
walking distance,” says Jeremy. “The Elephant sounds really close but it’s quite a lot further for many people in Walworth to get to”.
Southwark Council says it is aware of fears that the Elephant and Castle regeneration will hit Walworth. A spokesperson for the Labour-run council said: “To help encourage investment and growth, we are developing our town centre action plans, which will consider the impact of redevelopment schemes like Elephant & Castle, and supporting businesses through our Thriving High Streets Fund.”
Why IS ThE CommUNITy CoNCERNED?
Locals aren’t only worried about the loss of essential services, but the types of businesses replacing them. Jeremy Leach said that fast food restaurants are already causing a nuisance.
“Outside McDonalds is chaotic with delivery bikes all over the pavement but the shops and the delivery companies take no responsibility for the riders,” he said. “It is quite hard to walk along the street there at times and if you’ve got more takeaway businesses that don’t manage their deliveries this could make it even more of a problem,” he said. There are also fears that the proliferation of fast-food restaurants could impact children. There are eight primary schools within a ten-minute walk of the soon-to-be Popeyes chicken shop taking over the Post Office. Secondary school students at Ark Walworth, a prime target for the enticing smell of sizzling chicken as they walk home from school, are also taught nearby. These students already have to resist the urge to stop off
at roughly a dozen fast-food outlets on their way home. Chicken shops can also be effective locations for gangs looking to groom children into their country line operations.
Local authorities do have levers they can pull to stop unhealthy food outlets springing up around schools.
In November 2022, Southwark Council refused planning permission for a Pizza Hut in Borough because it was too close to Friars Primary School. London planning policy dictates that hot food takeaways should be within 400 metres of school boundaries. However, local authorities are more limited when businesses exploit the ‘restaurant’ loophole as they may not fall under the A5 takeaway category which London planning policy is designed to restrict.
WhaT CaN LoCaL aND NaTIoNaL GoVERNmENTS Do?
One of the biggest drivers of essential services closing down is their lack of profitability. As people move to online services, in-person branches become less appealing.
This declining footfall was exacerbated by Covid. The government says it is working to tackle this. In regards to Post Offices for example, the government has provided over £2.5 billion in funding in the past decade alone, often in the form of subsidies that aim to make Post Offices more appealing to current and prospective postmasters. But some MPs say this is not enough.
Andrew Western, Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston, told the Commons earlier this year that subsidies for Post Office in isolated communities
had “declined over the past decade, from £210 million in 2012 to £50 million per year in recent years”. This lack of support could be attributed to the fact that there is a misconception that closing essential services only affects rural communities. Andrew Western added that “it is not necessary to be rural to be isolated”. There are also measures being taken to move services provided by banks and similar services to other, accessible areas. The Walworth Road library, for example, is supporting local people by providing non-cash-related services previously served by Barclays. Shared Banking Hubs are also seen as a possible solution. However, these are usually offered in partnership with Post Offices so when the latter close, people are left with little option.
While the government must take steps to mitigate this problem, the situation in Walworth is complex and requires the community to speak up collectively. One approach is to establish Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), similar to those in Bermondsey, where people can advocate for joint objectives. However, since there aren’t particularly wealthy business owners in the area, securing commitment to a BID is challenging. Local business owners often express that having strategic conversations with the council is difficult, as forums tend to be one-sided, with the council simply disseminating information. Planning is largely a devolved responsibility, with decisions made at the local level. To effectively support people like Peter, there is a sense that the community may have to pull together and make itself heard.
Local resident Peter Wisby has described the situation as a ‘mess’
The Post Office on the Walworth Road © Maccreanor Lavington
pharmacies become inhaler recycling depots in NHS first
BErMondSEY
Harfleur Chemist: 107 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 4TW
Ling’s chemist Barn Twist Ltd: 269
Old Kent Rd, London SE1 5LU
London SE13 6RN
wELLinG
Bellegrove Pharmacy: 225 Bellegrove Rd, Welling DA16 3RQ
caTford
Bonamy Pharmacy: 355 Rotherhithe New Rd, London SE16 3HF
GrEEnwich
Duncans Pharmacy: 193-195
Greenwich High Rd, London SE10 8JA
P E Logan Pharmacy: 209 Trafalgar Rd, London SE10 9EQ
wooLwich
woolwich Late night PharmacyTravel/Yellow fever and Phlebotomy clinic: Lower, Ground Floor, Equitable House, 10 Woolwich New Rd, Thamesmead West, London SE18 6AB ThaMESMEad
first care Pharmacy: Thames Reach, London SE28 0NY
By Herbie Russell
PEoPLE can now recycle their old inhalers at south east London pharmacies as part of a first-of-itskind nhS scheme.
Twenty pharmacies have signed up
Officer pleads guilty to sexual assault while off-duty in December 2022
By Herbie Russell
a SouThwarK police officer has admitted sexual assault during an off-duty incident in december 2022.
Detective Constable Jose Poonsawat pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 12.
Poonsawat had been serving Central South Command Unit which covers Southwark and Lambeth.
He was released on court bail to appear for sentencing on Friday, August 23.
The serving officer had been accused of sexually touching a woman without her consent during an off-duty incident on December 16, 2022,
He was investigated by officers from Bromley and the Met’s Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences team.
Commander Seb Adjei-Addoh, who leads policing in Lambeth and Southwark, said: “My thoughts are with the victim who has displayed courage in reporting this sexual assault.
“Officers are quite rightly held to account for wrongdoing by the courts.
“In this case DC Poonsawat has pleaded guilty and now awaits sentencing.”
Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, the misconduct process will begin.
for a six-month pilot scheme aiming to reduce greenhouse gases emitted when inhalers are poorly disposed. Donated inhalers will be sent to specialist facilities to recover and repurpose a substantial portion of the harmful gases.
The scheme, organised by the South
East London Integrated Care System, NHS England and Greener NHS, is the only nationally-funded inhaler recycling pilot in England.
Laura Stevenson, Pharmacist at King’s College Hospital who was nominated for the HSJ Towards Net Zero Award
2023 and submitted the initial project bid, said: “Medicines make up 25 per cent of the NHS carbon footprint, which is a staggering statistic!
“The climate crisis is a health crisis, and we need to take decisive action to ensure we minimise our environmental
Vantage Pharmacy: 108
Conisborough Cres, London SE6 2SP
SidcuP
roadnight Pharmacy: 88 Station Rd, Sidcup DA15 7DU
olins Pharmacy: 3 The Oval, Sidcup DA15 9ER
STrEaThaM
copes Pharmacy: 570-572 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 3QQ
crYSTaL PaLacE
Sefgrove chemist Travel clinic and Yellow fever centre: Westow Hill, Norwood, London SE19 1TQ
croYdon
Paydens Beckenham: 399-401
Croydon Rd, Beckenham BR3 3PR
orPinGTon
Princess royal university hospital: Farnborough Common, Orpington BR6 8ND
Eldred drive Pharmacy: 25 Eldred Dr, Orpington BR5 4PE
cray hill: 88 Cotmandene Cres, Orpington BR5 2RG
impact; returning your inhaler to your local pharmacy or hospital can play a huge part in this. We can reach Net Zero by 2050 with these important actions and we need your help to do it, recycle your inhalers and help us create a greener NHS.”
Serial south London sex offender given life
sentence
By Herbie Russell
a LaMBETh man has been jailed after admitting 28 offences committed across three police force areas.
Louis Collins, 29, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday, July 16 and will serve a minimum of elevenand-a-half years.
Police described Collins as a “dangerous predator” and urged any other potential victims to step forward.
Officers were called to Marble Hill Park in Twickenham at 8am on August 21, 2023, after reports that a woman had been raped.
Police spoke with the woman and reviewed local CCTV footage from the area of the attack.
Collins was arrested the same day at an address in Lambeth and was charged two days later with thirteen offences relating to the attack.
Detectives continued to carry out enquiries to build their case against him.
Working with colleagues from British Transport Police and City of London Police, they linked Collins to a further six incidents of violence and sexual offending in the same month.
He was charged with a further 15 offences, totalling 28 offences against eight different victims.
Other offences took place in the City, Clapham Common, Earl’s Court, Willesden and West Brompton.
Jailed: Louis Collins
Detective Inspector Simon Sherlock, from the South West Command Unit, said: “Collins is a dangerous predator and the length of his sentence reflects the level of risk he poses to the public.
“Our thoughts today are with the women he subjected to sexual violence, and I would like to thank them for their bravery and help with our investigation.
“By working with our colleagues at British Transport Police and City of London Police, we are able to link Collins to a number of offences, and he has now been held to account.
“The Met is working hard to tackle violence against women and girls, and we are committed to identifying offenders and bringing them before the courts.
“While there is no evidence at this time to suggest further offending by Collins, I would urge anyone who may be a victim to please come forward and speak with us. If you do not want to contact officers, there are a number of charities and organisations that can offer you support.”
Harfleur Pharmacy, Tower Bridge Road, is one of the pharmacies taking part
baKerloo line eXtension: bermondsey mp and council leader urge government to bacK scheme
By Herbie Russell
HIGH-PROFILE SOUTHWARK
politicians have called for the Government to back the Bakerloo line extension in the weeks since the election.
Southwark Council Leader Kieron Williams and local MP Neil Coyle called on the Labour administration to deliver the infrastructure, estimated to cost between £5 billion and £8 billion by Transport for London (TfL).
The project would create 9,700 jobs, ‘unlock’ the construction fo 20,400 homes and slash journey times into central London, according to a report commissioned by Central London Forward.
Speaking at the London Assembly’s transport committee earlier this month, Cllr Williams said that “the Bakerloo Line extension would give a £1.5 billion uplift to our economy.
“If we’re not investing in that kind of infrastructure for the long term, London won’t keep track with the rest of the world.”
Speaking in the House of Commons last week Bermondsey & Old Southwark Labour MP Neil Coyle said: “I flag to the new Government and new ministers that the Bakerloo line extension would bring 20,000 new homes at least, and benefit not just transport infrastructure and homes but jobs across the country, and boost our economy.
Transport for London estimates the project would cost between £5 billion and £8 billion
“I hope to see the Bakerloo line extension delivered under the new Government, offering new hope and new ambition for Britain from a Government who finally say to people not what they cannot have but what we are seeking to achieve for our country and for our people’s future, including today.”
Redriff Primary School
Salter Road, London SE16 5LQ www.redriff.southwark.sch.uk 020 7237 4272
Teaching assistants/ aspiring Teachers/ inclusion Teaching assistant/aspiring SEn specialist
Would you like to join an exciting and enthusiastic primary school that is accredited by the National Autistic Society?
Would you like to work with a highly skilled team that provides outstanding education to its children and invests in their staff?
Would you like the opportunity to receive Makaton foundation training, Elklan speech and language training and a 7 part full SEN induction in your first year? would you like to provide care and support in teaching for some fantastic children across our ‘outstanding’ school are you someone who provides the highest possible standards of support to enable children with complex needs to access participate and achieve fully in school and community life?
We are looking for someone with experience or an interest in:
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs
• Other Special Educational Needs including Downs Syndrome
Redriff Primary School (City of London Academy) is an outstanding school that has been accredited by the National Autistic Society and is a leading centre of excellence for autism. We are looking for Teaching Assistants with a background, experience or an interest in working with children with complex needs in a resource base or in mainstream classrooms. You will support children’s learning needs, social inclusion and independence. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic self-motivated and respond well to the needs of the children. You will work closely in a collaborative team led by the Assistant head for Inclusion and Resource Base Manager and receive a full induction and detailed training programme including Makaton foundation and Elklan speech and language awards. We are an enthusiastic and friendly team and part of an outstanding school. These posts are suitable for those pursuing a career in working with children and families, aspiring teachers or future school direct candidates. The role is also suitable for people with aspirations of working within the field of Educational Psychology or in other specialist settings
Starting salary will be on City of London Academies Trust payscale grade JE2, scale points 2-5. FTE salary is £27,306-£28,545. Actual annual salary is £21,319-£22,286. This position is fixed term for 1 year with the possibility of being extended.
Please see our latest Ofsted report from November 2023 here , where it is highlighted that “Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Everyone looks out for each other and behaviour throughout the school is calm and positive.” And “Staff are highly skilled at identifying and meeting pupils’ needs,
including those with SEND. Throughout the school, staff use a range of approaches consistently to support pupils’ learning. For example, staff use different communication systems which enable all pupils to share their answers, points of view and emotions.”
The successful candidate will have a minimum of a C grade in GCSE Maths and English and good IT skills. Although not required, it is beneficial to have experience of working with children with special educational needs.
A qualification in working with children, especially those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities is desirable but not essential. He/she will be eager to apply evidence-based practice approaches and support the school’s achievement of various national accreditation programmes.
If you are interested in an informal discussion about the post, please email Rosa Eldred via office@redriff.southwark.sch.uk For more information about the school and to download an application pack, please see our website www.redriff.southwark.sch.co.uk. Visits are warmly welcomed. Please contact the school office to arrange a visit.
City of London Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks and a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the standards which flows from City of London Academies Trust vision and values.
Redriff Primary School is based in the heart of an evolving community in South East London and we value the diversity of our workforce. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team.
The role is covered by part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.
City of London Academies Trust supports Equal Opportunities Employment.
City of London Academies Trust Company Registration No. 04504128.
Closing date for applications: 31st August 2024, please note we reserve the right to interview upon receipt of applications
The proposed route for the Bakerloo Line extension
BELOW: Neil Coyle MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (left) and Council Leader Kieron Williams (right)
tfl is creating a podcast inspired by controversial new overground names
By Isabel Ramirez
TranSP orT for London (TfL) is doing a podcast series on those who inspired the new London overground names.
Each of the six lines will be renamed this autumn to make it easier for customers to navigate London's transport network.
This significant change, which will include a major update to London's world-famous Tube map, was announced in February 2024 following engagement with customers, local communities, historians and industry experts.
The news divided opinion when it first broke, with some saying it was a waste of money and would make it ‘more confusing.’ It includes the Windrush line -Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction - which stops at Peckham Rye, Surrey Quays and Canada Water.
In order to provide some context to the plans, the new series of TfL's official podcast Mind the Gap is back with six new episodes.
This follows a successful run last year with the 160-year anniversary of London Underground series.
Hosted by railway historian and broadcaster, Tim Dunn, each episode will delve into the history and meaning behind the new names.
It starts with Mildmay, which runs between Richmond and Clapham Junction to Stratford.
Mildmay is a small, charitable NHS foundation that was first set up in 1866 to support the cholera outbreak in east London. In 1988, Mildmay became Europe's first hospice to support and treat patients affected by AIDS.
Along with the help of the late Princess Diana, who visited the hospital 17 times, Mildmay was able to help change the public perception of HIV/AIDS. Today the hospital still supports patients with HIV and AIDS, and also provides services and support for people who are homeless.
WhaT aRE ThE SIX NEW oVERGRoUND LINE NamES?
• The Lioness line: Euston to Watford Junction. The Lioness line, which runs through Wembley, honours the historic achievements and lasting legacy created by the England women's football team that continues to inspire and empower the next generation of women and girls in sport. It will be yellow parallel lines on the map
• The Mildmay line: Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction. The
Episode one of the new podcast is out now on all major streaming platforms. Go to spotify.com to listen. Further episodes will be released throughout the summer.
Mildmay line, which runs through Dalston, honours the small charitable hospital in Shoreditch that has cared for Londoners over many years, notably its pivotal role in the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, which made it the valued and respected place it is for the LGBTQ+ community today. It will be blue parallel lines on the map
• The Windrush line: Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon. The Windrush line runs through areas with strong ties to Caribbean communities today, such as Dalston Junction, Peckham Rye and West
Croydon and honours the Windrush generation who continue to shape and enrich London's cultural and social identity today.?It will be red parallel lines on the map
• The Weaver line: Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford. The Weaver line runs through Liverpool Street, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney - areas of London known for their textile trade, shaped over the centuries by diverse migrant communities and individuals. It will be maroon parallel lines on the map???
• The Suffragette line: Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside. The Suffragette
line celebrates how the working-class movement in the East End fought for votes for woman and paved the way for women's rights.?The line runs to Barking, home of the longest surviving Suffragette Annie Huggett, who died at 103. It will be green parallel lines on the map
• The Liberty line: Romford to Upminster. The Liberty line celebrates the freedom that is a defining feature of London and references the historical independence of the people of Havering, through which it runs. It will be grey parallel lines on the map
Council fines Thames Water £500k for delayed roadworks
By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter
ThaMES waTEr has been fined more than £500,000 in just over two years by wandsworth council for completing roadworks late.
More than 320 roadworks carried out by the water company took longer than the agreed deadline, the authority has revealed, causing disruption to residents.
The council said it expects the vital services Thames Water provides to run smoothly, and that the frequency of overrunning roadworks is ’cause for concern’. It is demanding the company improve services in the coming months, after revealing it collected more than £500,000 in fines from April 2022 to midJuly this year.
More than 150 separate roadworks took longer than agreed in 2023/24, with £180,000 in fines issued, according to the council. This compares to 170 instances in 2022/23, with fines totalling £290,000 dished out. Since April this year, the council has fined Thames Water more than £30,000 for late works.
The cash the council collects from Thames Water is used to fund highways improvements across Wandsworth, including repairing potholes and pavements.
Labour council leader Simon Hogg said:
“We know that Thames Water has an important job to do. That’s why it’s crucial that they get the work done in the time they commit to.
“When work overruns the advertised timescales, the disruption to local residents,
schools, transport services and businesses can be extremely challenging. The fact we had to issue fines exceeding £500,000 in a little over two years shows the scale of the problem. We are calling for Thames Water to improve time management processes across Wandsworth so the ‘hand back’ of work is much more punctual.”
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We’re sorry when our roadworks cause disruption and delays to customers and motorists. Our teams are working hard to provide reliable water and wastewater services to 16million customers across the region. This involves carrying out works in the public highways to install, maintain, repair and replace our water mains and sewers. We always aim to work collaboratively with councils to minimise disruption when work takes place.”
Mayor beside London Overground map
Wandsworth Town Hall
mayor Khan agreed to new homes on london's green belt
By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter
Sadiq Khan has granted permission for 300 new homes to be built on London’s green belt, arguing that the project will deliver a “clear public benefit”.
The scheme off Forest Road in Feltham will also involve the restoration of the dilapidated 222-year-old Hanworth Park House, with the new homes built on surrounding woodland.
Ordinarily, building of new properties on green belt land would be refused by the mayor, as his London Plan stresses the need to “protect and enhance” the capital’s open spaces. It states that all proposals that would “harm” the green belt should be rejected, “except where very special circumstances exist”.
But in exclusive comments to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Khan said the project’s benefits would outweigh any harm.
In a report presented to him, City Hall officers had pointed out that the scheme would deliver much needed affordable housing, as 120 of the properties will be marketed at a social rent.
Hanworth Park House, a Grade II-listed building which has been derelict for several years, will not only be restored as part of the project, but extended and converted to become a community hub – including a museum, education centre, cafe, exhibition space and artisan studios.
The mayor said: “London’s housing crisis needs urgent action and I’m determined to do everything in my power to help.
“I’ll always prioritise brownfield land for new housing development, but there are circumstances where on balance
there will be a clear public benefit case for building new homes on sites designated as green belt. In this case the plans will enhance local green spaces and protect local heritage assets.
“I’ll never shy away from the difficult decisions needed to get homes built in our city, as part of my plan to build a
fairer, more prosperous London for all.”
The scheme had already received nearunanimous approval from Hounslow Council’s planning committee last year, along with the support of the local Labour MP, Seema Malhotra.
The news came on Wednesday morning as the Government prepared for the
King’s Speech, which is expected to include reforms to England’s planning system.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she wants to make it easier for homes to be built, including on poor quality areas of the green belt, which Labour calls ‘grey belt’ land.
Kingston Council to set aside £23million to buy property for homeless families
By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter
KinGSTon counciL is set to put aside £23million to buy properties for homeless people to slash the number of families being placed in hotels.
The homes will be used as temporary accommodation for homeless families, as the stretched authority revealed it is receiving on average 50 more housing applications every month compared to March last year.
A new report by council officers said homelessness levels and demand for temporary accommodation has ‘reached a point of crisis’ in Kingston, with nearly 1,000 families in temporary housing. This has pushed the council to put together a strategy to buy more temporary homes to cope with the rising demand on its services.
The report recommends the corporate and resources committee approves a budget of £23.4m – £9.8m in 2024/25 and £13.6m in 2025/26 – to buy around 50 homes by March 2026 to be used
as temporary accommodation. The authority plans to apply for grants from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to support these costs.
It also recommends the council investigate setting up a company, that it would own, to buy around 150 more homes to move families out of temporary accommodation. These properties would be offered to people under shorthold assured tenancies at rents set to the local housing allowance rate, which determines the maximum support available for private renters. These plans would need further sign-off before going
ahead, with a report expected in autumn.
It comes as the number of homes the council leases from private landlords, to be used as temporary accommodation, falls as more landlords are selling up.
At the same time, the report said, more families are being evicted or finding themselves unable to afford spiralling rents. The authority now receives an average of 80 housing applications from homeless people each month, compared to 30 in March last year.
This has left the council heavily reliant on placing homeless people in hotels or B&Bs, according to the report, which cost more to book. The authority overspent on temporary accommodation by £5.8m in 2023/24, and spent a net total of more than £9.3m.
The council previously responded to a Freedom of Information request, submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), which revealed it has placed increasing numbers of families with kids in B&B or hotel accommodation in recent years –from zero in the 2018/19 financial year to 24 in 2021/22, 88 in 2022/23 and
Temporary housing families by could be sent to Dover and Luton by Lambeth
By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter
hoMELESS fa MiL iES could be sent to dover and Luton under Lambeth council’s plan to reduce its spend on hotels.
Lambeth Council is in advanced negotiations to take on new build developments in the Kent and Bedfordshire towns as temporary housing. Council documents claim the accommodation will provide ‘high quality, family-sized accommodation within a reasonable travelling distance of the borough’.
The coastal town of Dover is around a two-hour drive from Brixton, where Lambeth Council’s town hall is located. Direct trains from London Victoria station to Dover take around the same time. A car journey from Brixton to Luton meanwhile takes around an hour and forty minutes. The quickest trains from St Pancras International can take just less than half an hour to the commuter town. There are over 4,500 Lambeth families currently in temporary housing. As of June 2024, 78.3 per cent of placements were nightly paid private accommodation, such as hotels.
On average, the council spends around £14,000 per year housing a family in nightly paid accommodation. Lambeth believes this type of temporary housing is expensive and wants to reduce its reliance on it.
One of the ways the council intends to do this is to increase its supply of different kinds of temporary housing, like the developments in Dover and Luton. Known as private sector leased (PSL) accommodation, this type of housing is leased off the private sector for years at a time.
The council says it is cheaper and usually of better quality. Lambeth has already acquired leases on a number of developments to use as temporary accommodation, including 82 flats in a new build development near East Croydon station.
151 in 2023/24.
Families who left B&B or hotel accommodation in 2019/20 had spent an average of 24 days there, while this rose to 227 days – more than seven months – in 2022/23 and fell to 52 days in 2023/24.
The report said the council’s proposed strategy to buy around 200 homes, in total, could save it roughly £3m a year. It added: “The proposed recommendation will secure more suitable accommodation and provide a more sustainable alternative for local people in need of temporary accommodation.
“It will deliver better outcomes for households and particularly those with children by improving their quality of life until they can move to more suitable accommodation. It will also reduce dependency on expensive nightly paid accommodation, thereby reducing pressure on the council’s housing budget.”
The committee were set to make a final decision on the recommendations at the time of going to press.
Danny Adilypour, Lambeth’s deputy leader for housing, investment and new homes, told a housing scrutiny committee on Tuesday (July 16) that the Labour-run council had three goals to deal with the temporary accommodation crisis.
He said: “The first is the need to work on that homelessness prevention strategy. The second is to increase our supply of alternative, longer-term ta [temporary accommodation] provision so we can reduce our reliance on expensive nightly paid ta and thirdly increasing our ability to move on from ta into the private rented sector where that’s appropriate.”
Alex Clarke, the council’s assistant director of housing needs, told the committee that it could take five years for the strategy to pay off.
He added: “For those households that are in temporary accommodation, we want to find accommodation which is of a better quality, [and] which is of a lowest cost to the council. But most importantly we want to move away from using nightly paid accommodation, which is very expensive for the council, [and] very low quality [for] residents.”
A concept image for the restored Hanworth Park House and accompanying new homes
A concept image for the restored Hanworth Park House and accompanying new homes
what’s on
a deep-fried drama seasoned with real life
i En TEr Ed the dorfman auditorium to see a set comprising a lounge where sports on TV would be shouted at, a front door where people come or go in different stages of distress, an upstairs bedroom where breakdowns would be had or arguments fought out, and the main attraction being a kitchen and its central island where chicken wings would be cooked for a competition. i was looking forward to this, writes Michael Holland.
As something in a big pot on the hob slowly simmered the theatre filled with a nicely diverse crowd to watch The Hot Wing King, a Pulitzerwinning play by Katori Hall. When the performance begins we are introduced to four friends: Cordell (Kadiff Kirwan), unemployed and worried about not contributing to the home that he shares with partner Dwayne(Simon-Anthony Rhoden) who pretends he is okay with the way things are; Big Charles (Jason Barnett) and Isom (Olisa Odele), an OTT character who commandeers most of the comedy, mainly with his outrageousness.
As they banter between themselves we pick up that they are the New Wing Order preparing to compete in the
annual hot wing contest whose $5000 prize they have never won. But this year they have a new secret recipe that they have high hopes for.
Gradually, as they stir sauce (clockwise with herbs added after every 12 rotations), chop vegetables at a timed competition speed, we get some of the their backstories but as we get nearer to the battle of the hot wings we discover that Cordell and Dwayne have secrets, that Isom uses his flamboyancy to mask insecurities.
The heat rises.
EJ(Kaireece Denton) and his wayward father TJ(Diane Walcott) enter this deep-fried drama and season it with real life suicide, gun crime, drugs and robbery. This input of mayhem forces Cordell and Dwayne to seriously reevaluate their lives and make big decisions - predominantly for the old adage of ‘blood is thicker than water’. Will Dwayne side with his family and will Cordell return to his?
Hall’s dialogue sizzles as the friends wisecrack and show their love for each other, although the Tennessee-street talk whizzed by much of the time, leaving me to rely on audience laughter to gauge the hilarity of what was said.
There was a lot of hilarity. Thankfully, in the serious moments,
Baker’s Wife at the Choclate Factory
whaT a ‘bouffée d’air provençale’ the music and lyrics in Stephen Schwartz ’s The Baker’s wife offers its audience, writes Eleanor Thorn...
After seven years in Paris anything French carries a wave of nostalgia for me, and from the moment we stepped into the theatre, to the final notes, this was one big dive into all things French: the chink of ball hitting ball on the village pétanque piste, the temptation to sniff the fresh lavender à table, the net curtains and fading paint on every wall around the village square in which we found ourselves… We’d been transported into Sainte-Cécile - Or at least into a theatre the other side of the Channel.
when characters re-bonded, the lines were delivered slower, allowing us to absorb and enjoy the play more. It became a work that people relate to when they see dysfunction.
The author deserves an award for making the main players gay when there was really no need, but in a play that comes down to men having to come to terms with who they are, their sexuality has to be dealt with too. And making them black and gay can also be seen as brave.
The Hot Wing King did sometimes feel a bit sitcommy, and there was far too much unconvincing eavesdropping to move the narrative forward for my liking, but it was enjoyable watching these six men deal with their problems while they tried to make the best hot wings in Memphis.
The comedy was good, the drama real and all the issues that rose up in that 24 hours were all tidied up nicely. I’m just glad that Jerry Springer didn’t come out at the end to finish off with a final homily.
Dorfman, National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX until 14th September. Times: Mon-Sat 7.30pm; Wed & Sat matinees 2.15pm. Admission: £20 - £64. Booking: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
The opening spiel about taking one’s seats was all ‘French, followed by a heavily accented “Mobile Off”. Joyously welcomed into this other world, a little cut off from civilisation, we awaited the arrival of the new baker, In France, bread is important. No baker, no bread, just a community beside itself with desire for bread.
But here we are in a timeless village with wonderful music and songs, and a script reinvented by Joseph Stein from the 1938 film. “Small events can be big, can change your life, even,” we’re promised, and so we know that something, even if only small, will happen…
Debates between strait-laced teacher, moneyed mayor with his three ‘nieces’, priest craving a peaceful life (“But you can’t choose your neighbours”) are as exciting as life gets until the longawaited baker arrives, newly-wedded to a woman more than half his age, both excited about their “new life, a sweet life” - though he a little more love-struck than her.
Morning madness then comes with the irresistible aroma of fresh, warm bread that has drooling villagers in a rugby-like scrum at the door. The breaking of bread goes into surreal slow motion, like slowed footage of a rugby line-out: crotchety neighbours
united in desire, singing “Daily bread” with gospel church joy.
The barmy air, the bread and the beauty of the baker’s wife drive handsome villager Dominique to distraction; he serenades baker and wife at their balcony but once baker’s back turned, offers temptations too great for Geneviève and off she takes before the next batch is in the oven.
The village is breadless again, for the baker can bake no more. United by their ongoing desire for bread, bickering villagers, “victims of that woman’s lust”, congregate and vow to bring her back whether it be through logic, a sense of religious obligation or mayoral authority.
The second half could be entitled ‘reflections on a marriage’ and being out with my husband for the first time in a while with our daughter home alone for the first time, this seemed very apt. Villagers warming to the plight of the cuckold bring comfort and hilarious cheer: he’s the “luckiest man” as the drudgery of marriage hasn’t had a chance to set in.
Clive Rowe, as Aimable, lives up to his name in delivering a marvellous solo, full of pathos, that results in us all falling a little bit in love with this bigbellied not-young-any-more baker.
Ensuing wine-infused reflections shared amongst the women of the village on the café terrace lead enemies to become friends. The ‘bouleversement’ of the baker’s arrival and his wife’s return, with the rippleeffect on the lives of the people of Sainte-Cécile makes for an incredible tonic and you’ll leave the show feeling a little more romantic. Fluid and inventive changes of scene, superb singing by a joyful and convincing cast make this musical a must before a holiday in Provence this summer.
The Baker’s Wife is running until September at the Menier Choclate Factory, SE1
Tickets are between £65.25 - £53.25 menierchocolatefactory.com
The Company of The Bakers Wife
@Helen Murray
National Jason Barnett Kadiff Kirwan Simon Anthony Rhoden The Hot Wing King National Theatre
Heading south - our pick of upcoming summer events
Horrible Histories
It’s history with the nasty bits left in… The latest in the Horrible Histories series of stage shows is coming to Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College for the whole family to enjoy. Would you be wooed by Richard the Lionheart? Are you ready for a date with King Edward I? Would you be shaken or stirred by Richard III? See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary Queen of Scots. Singalong with crazy King Charles and move to the groove with party Queen Victoria. This show is made up of some of the craziest and funniest bits from the Barmy Britain series of shows, and it’s recommended for ages 5 and over.
Dates: Sunday 11 to Wednesday 14 August Tickets: £18 Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN ornc.org/whats-on/horrible-histories
Finding Awe collage workshops
Look around, listen closely for sounds, find joy in the feelings that arise and the details that you see. NOW Gallery has invited artists and designers Common Exception and Coco Lom to present a workshop exploring connection and collage, to coincide with John Booth X CAN’s exhibition, Up in Smoke. Walk + Awe will take participants on an “awe walk” around Greenwich Peninsula, exploring the Design District’s unique buildings, landscaping and hidden corners, and drawing in response. On return to NOW Gallery, amid the Up in Smoke exhibition, you will create a series of collages inspired by the shapes, patterns and colours encountered, guided by Coco Lom and Common Exception. Mix, match and be mesmerised by collage.
Date: Saturday 10 August 2024, 2pm. Tickets: £5, all materials are provided NOW Gallery, The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0SQ. nowgallery.co.uk/events/finding-awe-collage-workshops
The Formula 1 Exhibition
An immersive experience taking you on a journey through the world of Formula 1 is coming to London. Packed with contributions from F1’s best teams and drivers, the exhibition lifts the curtain on this story of sport. Tracing the influences of Enzo Ferrari and Ayrton Senna to the impact of Netflix’s Drive To Survive series, the exhibition combines a mix of historic and modern-day race cars, previously unseen film and interviews, artefacts and interactive elements, including racing simulators. The exhibition includes six rooms offering an insight into the speedy story of Formula 1 – you’ll find almost 100 helmets, and also Romain Grosjean’s car from his 2020 crash in Bahrain. For those with a need for speed, this exhibition is for you.
Dates: Opens Friday 23 August 2024. Tickets: Adults (17+) £35.50, child £20 ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL. f1exhibition.com/london
Greenwich Park Revealed showcase
Greenwich Park Revealed is a four-year initiative, with a £12 million investment, that has rejuvenated Greenwich Park by revealing, restoring, protecting and sharing its unique heritage for present and future generations. This showcase will be an exhibition of archaeological finds, photos, timelapse footage of projects, activities and much more. The landscape comprises the Grand Ascent (giant grass steps), and a formal banked layout (parterres) lined with sweeping tree avenues. It provides a symmetrical formal layout linking the Thames to Blackheath Gate and beyond. However, over time, the original sharp landscape features have eroded. The Greenwich Park Revealed initiative reintroduces features, restores damaged tree avenues and transforms the public space.
Dates: Monday 12 to Monday 26 August 2024. Free Greenwich Park, SE10 8QY www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/greenwich-park-revealed-showcase-120824
Holiday Arts and Gardening Club
Take part in drama, food making, drawing, gardening, playing and working together, in the Albany’s theatre and garden this summer with their Arts and Gardening Club. This activity is free for young people eligible for free school meals and Lewisham Homes residents. You will need to fill out a form on the link below to apply. Week 1 (5-8 August) is for ages 7-9 and week 2 (12-15 August) is for ages 10-12. Lunch will be provided every day.
Dates: Monday 5 to Thursday 15 August 2024, 10am to 2pm
Free for young people eligible for free school meals and Lewisham Homes residents The Albany, Douglas Way, SE8 4AG www.thealbany.org.uk/projects/holiday-arts-gardening-club-2024
History
the forgotten history of the rotherhithe hippodrome that captivated londoners for over fifty years
By Herbie Russell
ThE daTE was december 16, 1897, and heartthrob william Terriss had just entered the adelphi Theatre through the stage door. Murder was just around the corner, though he didn’t know it then.
After an inauspicious start to life which had begun with a failed stint in the Merchant Navy, the 50-year-old stage actor could now look back on a glittering career on the boards. With Christmas just days away, he was preparing to treat visitors to a performance of Secret Service.
In a shocking incident, Terriss was stabbed to death by a deranged, jealous actor whose own career had fallen flat. The murder horrified Victorian society and was immortalized in the pages of the tabloid press. A brand new theatre in Rotherhithe was also keen to recognize the great man.
The Terriss Theatre, later renamed the Rotherhithe Hippodrome, opened on October 16, 1899. It was located at the corner of Lower Road and Culling Road, where the Rotherhithe Evangelical Church stands today, next door to Albins funeral home. Its arrival had been hotly anticipated.
for
A company called Messrs Walter Wallis & Co had bankrolled the endeavor and employed Australian architect Mr. W.G.R Sprague to design it. Sprague had already masterminded The Coronet in Notting Hill and would go on to design London’s Aldwych and Sondheim theatres.
ERA, a theatrical newspaper, wrote excitedly about a 4,000-capacity venue coming to the southeast banks of the Thames. When it was built, it instead housed 2,087 spectators, including seated stalls for 754. Nonetheless, the theatre didn’t disappoint.
The stunning building, with its imposing pillared frontage, cream and gold Louis XV-style interior, and beautiful ceilings, would have been a sight to behold. Inside, the absence of pillars offered the entire audience, rich or poor, unimpeded views of the stage. It had nine dressing rooms, a 70 x 32 ft deep stage, and eight exclusive boxes seating 60 people.
“This ceiling, which has been made the subject of special study by Mr. Sprague, would evoke admiration wherever seen for its elaborate moldings and soft tones,” an 1899 edition of ERA wrote.
Its first-ever production was The White Heather, which had already shown at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It was a hugely popular play, in which the climactic scene
featured an underwater fight between two divers wearing metal helmets.
In 1907, the theatre was renamed the Rotherhithe Hippodrome and became a variety theatre under the new ownership of Walter Gibbons and Charles Gulliver. By 1908, projection facilities had been installed, allowing films to become a staple part of the variety program, reflecting the evolving tastes of the entertainment-seeking public.
The venue’s shift towards film was solidified when Associated British Cinemas (ABC) took over in October 1930, converting the theatre into a fulltime cinema. Despite this transition, the Hippodrome maintained its status as a local cultural hub, drawing audiences for its film screenings. However, the advent of World War II brought significant challenges.
The theatre operated as a cinema until August 31, 1941, when it was taken over by an independent operator. There appears to have been a period of theatrical inactivity. In the lead-up to Christmas 1941, the building hosted an Aid for Russia Fund event which “drew a full house,” according to Kinematograph Weekly.
The venue then reverted to use as a variety theatre from September 1943.
This return to live performances was short-lived due to the devastating impact of bombing in 1943 when the theatre suffered extensive damage. The oncebuzzing auditorium showed flashes of life. According to a 1946 edition of The
Stage newspaper, there was an attempt to sell it off, but the building attracted no bidders.
The prospects for the bombed-out shell were always bleak and, in 1955, it was finally demolished.
William Terriss
The Rotherhithe hippodrome, pictured post-war surrounded by rubble (1954). Source: Southwark archives
an illustration of the Terriss Theatre
a programme
‘The Red heads’ at the Rotherhithe hippodrome September 4th, 1916
Our
Visit
Registered
PUBLIC NOTICE
London Borough of Lambeth
NOTICE OF DESIGNATION OF AREAS FOR SELECTIVE LICENSING Section 80, Housing Act 2004
1. The London Borough of Lambeth (“The Council”) in exercise of its powers under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 ("the Act") hereby designates for selective licensing the areas described in paragraph 5 CITATION, COMMENCEMENT AND DURATION
2. This Designation shall be known as the “London Borough of Lambeth Designations 1 of an Area for Selective Licensing 2024”. All privately rented residential accommodation situated within the designated areas must be licensed with the Council unless subject to statutory exemption as set out in paragraph 6.
3. The Designation is made on 22nd May 2024. The Designation fall within a description of designations for which confirmation is not required by Secretary of State, and come into force on 2nd September 2024
4. The Designation shall cease to have effect on 1st September 2029 (not more than 5 years) or earlier if the Council revokes the scheme under section 84 of the Act. AREA TO WHICH THE DESIGNATION APPLIES
5. This designation shall apply to the following areas of the London Borough of Lambeth. The Designation covers the area coloured green on the map in annex A below. The following wards are included:
• Knights Hill • Streatham Common & Vale
• Streatham Hill East
• Streatham St Leonards
APPLICATION OF THE DESIGNATION
6. This designation applies to any house1 which is let or occupied under a tenancy or licence within the area described in paragraph 5 unless:
a. the house is a house in multiple occupation [HMO] that falls within the nationally prescribed category of HMO that is required to be licensed as a ‘mandatory HMO’ under section 55(2)(a) Part 2 of the Act2;
b. the house is a house in multiple occupation that falls within the prescribed category of HMO that is required to be licensed under the London Borough of Lambeth Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses of Multiple Occupation made on 9th December 2023 under Section 56 of the Housing Act 20043;
c. the tenancy or licence of the house has been granted by a registered social landlord4;
d. the house is subject to an Interim or Final Management Order under Part 4 of the Act;
e. the house is subject to a temporary exemption under section 86 of the Act; or
f. the house is occupied under a tenancy or licence which is exempt under the Act or the occupation is of a building or part of a building so exempt as defined in Paragraph 5(f): Exempted tenancies or licences, Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions) (England) Order 2006 SI 370/2006. EFFECT OF THE DESIGNATION
7. Subject to sub paragraphs 6(a) to (f) every house in the area specified in paragraph 5 that is occupied under a tenancy or icence shall be required to be licensed under section 85 of the Act.6
8. The London Borough of Lambeth will comply with the notification requirements contained in section 83 of the Act and shall maintain a register of all houses registered under this designation, as required under section 232 of the Act.5
If you are a landlord, managing agent or a tenant, or if you require information regarding this designation, or to apply for a licence, further information and assistance is available from the Council’s Private Rented Property Licensing Team by telephone on 020 7926 8591 or by email to PRSlicensing@lambeth.gov.uk, or by writing to Private Sector Enforcement and Regulation Service, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ
The Designation may be inspected at the above address during office hours. All landlords, managing agents or tenants within the designated area should obtain advice to ascertain whether their property is affected by the Designation by contacting the Council’s Private Rented Property Licensing Team.
Upon the Designation coming into force any person having control of or who manages a licensable property without a licence or allows a licensed property to be occupied by more households or persons other than as authorised by a licence, is liable to prosecution and upon summary conviction is liable to an unlimited fine pursuant to the provisions of section 95 of the Housing Act 2004. A person who breaches a condition of a licence is liable upon summary conviction to an unlimited fine. The Council, as an alternative to initiating a prosecution, may pursue one or more of a range of other enforcement actions including the imposition of a financial penalty of up to £30,000 and/or taking management control of the unlicensed property. Further, where an offence has been committed an application may also be made by the Council and/or tenant under the provisions of section 96 and 97 of the Housing Act 2004 for a Rent Repayment Order to pay back up to 12 months’ rent, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. No notice under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 may be given in relation to an assured shorthold tenancy of the whole or part of an unlicensed house so long as it remains an unlicensed house.
Signed:
Venetia Reid-Baptiste, Corporate Director, Resident and Enabling Services on behalf of London Borough of Lambeth on 22nd May 2024
1 For the definition of "house" see sections 79 and 99 of the Act
2 Section 55 of the Act defines which Houses in Multiple Occupation are required to be licensed under the Act. See also The Lic ensing of Houses.in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Descriptions) (England) Order 2005 (SI 2006/371)
3 Additional Licensing covers HMOs that are not within the scope of Mandatory HMO Licensing where tenants share one or more ‘basic amenities’ i.e. a WC, personal washing facilities or cooking facilities. ‘Section 257’ HMO buildings would need a selective licence unless; an individual flat was itself multiply occupied which would need an additional or mandatory HMO licence depending on the number of persons accommodated or, where the building or part of a building is of three or more storeys that have been converted into three or more self-contained flats and where both the building and self-contained flats it contains are under the same ownership or considered by the council to be effectively under the same control.
4 Section 79 (3) of the Act. For the definition of a Registered Social Landlord see Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996
5 Section 232 of the Act and paragraph 11 of SI 373/2006
Annex A: Map below showing selective licensing designations with the designation boundaries marked in blue and the designation areas marked in green
LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE
Healthy Eaters Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a premises licence, in respect of the following premises:
Healthy Eaters, 26 Market Row, London SW9 8LD
which would authorise the following licensable activities: Supply of alcohol:
Monday-Sunday 11:00 - 00:00 in and off the premises
Late night refreshment: Monday-Sunday 23:00 - 00:00 in and off the premises
The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd floor Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the licensingauthority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing
A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application. Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 15/08/2024
It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
Notice Under The Town and Country Planning Acts
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water maintenance and repair works to be carried out, Lambeth Borough Council, subject to the agreement of Transport for London, intend to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban vehicles (including cyclists) from entering in that length of Glasshouse Walk which lies between Albert Embankment and Goding Street.
2. The ban would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
3. Alternative routes would be available for affected motor vehicles via Glasshouse Walk, Tyers Street, Black Prince Road, Kennington Road, Lambeth Road and Albert Embankment.
4. Alternative routes would be available for affected cyclists via (i) Glasshouse Walk, Vauxhall Walk, Tinworth Street and Albert Embankment; and (ii) Albert Embankment, New Spring Gardens Walk and Goding Street.
5. The Order would come into force on 11th August 2024 and would continue for 1 month, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice it is anticipated that the Order would have effect on 11th August 2024 between 8am and 4.30pm, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect on subsequent dates within that maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 26 July 2024 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
2. The ban will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
3. The Order will come into force on 5th August 2024 for a maximum duration of 1 month (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that works will be carried out between 5th and 16th August 2024, but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during that time, the Order may also have effect on subsequent dates within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 26 July 2024 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE – GLASSHOUSE WALK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council is considering applications as set out below under the following categories;
MIXED
Written representations should be made within three weeks of the date of this advertisement to the Director of Planning, PO Box 734, Winchester SO23 5DG. Any comments made are open to inspection by the public and in the event of an appeal may be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Confidential comments cannot be taken into account in determining an application.
Application plans can be viewed online at www.lambeth.gov.uk/searchplanningapps – search using the reference number at the end of each application listing.
2 Flodden Road London SE5 9LL Replacement of all double-glazed Upvc casement windows with double glazed Upvc casement windows. 24/01798/FUL
51 Lillieshall Road London SW4 0LW Alteration/repositioning the terrace steps to the rear garden, including the installation of retaining walls (Flat A). 24/02027/FUL
County Hall Riverside Building Westminster Bridge Road London Lambeth SE1 7PB Installation of new partition walls and double doors within an existing bin store area. 24/02083/LB
62 Sunnyhill Road London SW16 2UL Excavation to provide basement together with a part-1 and part-2-storey rear extension. 24/02057/FUL
Keybridge House 80 South Lambeth Road London SW8 1RG Variation of conditions 9 (Operational and Customer Management Plan), 10 (Opening Hours) and 18 (Retains active frontages) of planning permission ref : 21/04616/VOC (Variation of condition 21 (Floorspace) of planning permission ref. 19/01531/FUL (Use of the ground floor of Block B for flexible uses B1, A1-A4, D1, D2 uses (1,017 sqm) and use of the ground floor of Block C for flexible uses B1, A1-A4, D1, D2 uses (396 sqm) and use of the Basement -1 level for flexible uses comprising B1, A1-A4, D1, D2 uses (5,922 sqm).) Granted on: 11/02/2021
Variation sought: To amend Condition 21 to remove the requirement for a minimum quantum of office (B1) floorspace on the site and therefore to delete the last sentence of the Condition, as worded below: Notwithstanding th GIAs for the uses hereby permitted a minimum of 1457sqm of Class B1 floorspace shall be provided on site) granted on 19.05.2022.
Variation sought : To include an electric indoor go karting use (Sui Generis) to conditions 9,10 and 18. 24/01937/VOC
2 Cavendish Parade Clapham Common South Side London Lambeth SW4 9DW Installation of an extraction flue system to the ground floor retail above the rear extension. 24/01954/FUL
Adjacent 1 Chaucer Road London SE24 0NY Demolition of the existing garage and erection of a 2 storey dwelling house together with provision of refuse and cycle storage. 24/02145/FUL
16 Dulwich Road London SE24 0PA Replacement of 3 single glazed timber sash windows with double glazed timber sash windows to the front elevation to the lower ground floor flat. (Flat
from Nursery Road into Shannon Grove; (3) Suspend the prohibition of vehicles restriction on Shannon Grove to allow two-way access/egress from Nursery Road.
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles will be available via (a) Ferndale Road, Pulross Road, Bellefields Road, Stockwell Road, Stockwell Park Walk, (A23) Brixton Road, (A23) Brixton Hill, Effra Road, St. Matthew’s Road, (A23) Brixton Hill, (A23 Brixton Road, Brighton Terrace, Bernay’s Grove, Tunstall Road and Shannon Grove; (b) Shannon Grove, Tunstall Road, Bernay’s Grove, Brighton Terrace, (A23) Brixton Road and Ferndale Road. as indicated by traffic signs.
3. The bans will 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 comes into force on 4 August 2024 and would continue for a maximum duration of 2 months (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner. In practice it is anticipated that the works will take place between 4 August and 5 August 2024, or the first back-up dates of 18 August and 19 August 2024 or second back-up dates of 25 August and 26 August 2024.
Dated 26 July 2024
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate development works the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth made an Order, the general effect
3.
or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner.
Dated 26 July 2024
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE BABINGTON ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable sewer cleaning works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban vehicles from entering that length of Babington Road which lies between the common boundary of Nos. 67 and 69 Babington Road and the common boundary of Nos. 101 and 103 Babington Road.
2. Alternative routes would be available for affected vehicles via (i) Ambleside Avenue, Mitcham Lane and Conyers Road; and (ii) Conyers Road, Fairmile Avenue, Gleneagle Road and Ambleside Avenue.
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 12th August 2024 and it would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice it is anticipated that the Order would have effect between 11 am and 8 pm on 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th August 2024, but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during that time, the Order would also have effect on subsequent dates and times within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 26 July 2024 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE – HAZELBOURNE ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water new water main connection works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, subject to the agreement of Wandsworth Council, intend to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban vehicles from entering that length of Hazelbourne Road which lies between the party wall of Nos. 39 and 41 Hazelbourne Road and the party wall of Nos. 61 and 63 Hazelbourne Road (access to and from Minnie Kidd House would be permitted).
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Balham Hill, Gaskarth Road and Westlands Terrace and vice versa.
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 14th August 2024 and would continue for a maximum duration of 2 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 take place between 14th and 21st August 2024, but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during that time, the Order would have effect at subsequent times within the maximum period of 2 months.
Dated 26 July 2024 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – CLAPHAM COMMON NORTH SIDE AND VICTORIA RISE
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water main maintenance and repair works, 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:(a) ban vehicles proceeding in Victoria Rise from exiting Victoria Rise at its junction with Clapham Common North Side; (b) impose a one-way system in that length of Victoria Rise which lies between Clapham Common North Side and a point 8 metres north of Clapham Common North Side, in a north-westerly direction (towards Wandsworth Road); (c) ban vehicles entering that length of the southbound carriageway of Victoria Rise which lies between Clapham Common North Side and a point 8 metres north of
•
•
• Affordable, all-inclusive fees
• Pleasant communal dining area with large well-tended garden
• Optional programme of activities and events
• Strong links to the local community
By Fred Atkins
SurrEY wErE routed by 86 runs by the Kent Spitfires in the Vitality Blast at canterbury at the weekend as the hosts ended a disappointing campaign on a high note against the quarter-finalists.
Kent’s 217 for five was their highest ever score against Surrey, with Tawanda Muyeye hitting 61 from 31 and Daniel Bell-Drummond 58 from 36.
They then produced the kind of stifling fielding display their fans have been longing to see all summer, skittling the South Group winners for 131 in 16 overs.
Matt Parkinson claimed 3-23 and Jas Singh 3-27.
This may have been the deadest of dead rubbers, with Surrey already guaranteed to finish top and Kent certain to come bottom, but it remains the oldest rivalry in cricket and after being put in, openers Bell-Drummond and Muyeye made an electrifying start.
Muyeye became only the third Kent player, after Carlos Brathwaite and Marcus Stoinis, to have cleared the Frank Wooley Stand in a Blast match when he hit Will Jacks for six over long on and Bell-Drummond was just as aggressive before he holed out to Matt Dunn, Tom Lawes taking a brilliant running catch on the boundary, to end a stand of 108.
Lawes then bowled Muyeye, but Sam Billings blasted 37 from sixteen before Dunn had him caught on the cow corner boundary by Cameron Steel.
Steel then got Marcus O’Riordan for six thanks to a full-length diving catch by Jamie Overton and Tom Rogers, promoted up the order after some recent pyrotechnics, played on to Dan Lawrence for a duck.
Kent went nineteen balls without a boundary until Jack Leaning hit Chris Jordan for successive fours in the eighteenth and he finished the innings with a six off Jordan to set the third highest Kent score at Canterbury.
The WASP predictor had Surrey at just 20 percent at the start of the chase but this seemed low as Will Jacks and Dom Sibley put on 36 from the first sixteen balls.
Nathan Gilchrist, however, cleaned up Jacks for 20 and Sibley swiped Singh to Leaning on the square leg boundary for eighteen.
Dan Lawrence made seventeen before pulling Leaning to Harry Finch and Finch then caught Rory Burns in the deep after he miscued O’Riordan for 21. The scoreboard pressure began to tell and Surrey struggled for boundaries. Parkinson duped Laurie Evans into a swipe and was caught by for four
surrey routed by rivals in dead rubber
Gilchrist at backward point, Leaning bowled Overton for two and Jordan made just six before he pulled Parkinson to Muyeye.
When Sam Curran hit Parkinson to Leaning at long on for, the game was effectively up. A lifter from Singh had Lawes caught behind for five and Kent’s biggest ever Blast win over Surrey was confirmed when Dunn pulled Singh to O’Riordan at mid-wicket.
“It was obviously not a good night
for us, but full credit to Kent,” Surrey’s Jordan said. “We won the toss and bowled first because we felt like it was a very good wicket but obviously they took advantage in the powerplay and got off to a flyer.
“We kind of dragged it back but they finished off the innings well and then everything has to go right in our innings. They fielded well, they bowled well and they deserved the win.
“There’s a couple of ways you can
Kia oval side had already secured home Blast quarter-final
go about [the chase]. You assess how they’re getting their runs, the gaps they’re hitting. I thought they played some really good shots tonight and put us under pressure, credit it to them, they got a very good total and defended it well.
“You could probably put it down to scoreboard pressure but I thought we started really well in the powerplay, going at tens, but then everybody got out. When they took a shot on they probably
middled it a bit more than us and got it over the boundary and every time we took a shot we kind of toed it and it went to hand. It happens like that because I thought we were right in it.
“We’re definitely looking forward to the quarter-final. We’ll debrief after this loss but it doesn’t take the shine off what’s been a brilliant campaign to get a home quarter-final.”
Surrey host Durham in the last eight on September 3 at 6pm
Wankhade’s third century powers Dulwich to victory
By John Lewis
anoThEr SuPErB century by apoorv wankhade, his third of the season, powered dulwich to a 98-run victory over walton on Thames in division 1 of the aJ Sports Surrey championship last weekend.
Dulwich were put into bat on a difficult pitch, but James Schofield and Ahmed Khan saw off the threat of the Walton pace bowlers, and the score advanced steadily with the assistance of a glut of wides and no balls. Both batsmen had reached 21 out of a total
of 60 when Schofield became the first wicket to fall after facing 54 balls. Chris Purshouse joined Khan but was forced to retire hurt with a hamstring injury with the score on 72. This brought in Wankhade, and the pair took the score to 97-1 off 27 overs at lunch. After the break conditions had become easier, and both batsmen were able to take advantage. They had taken their partnership to 104 off 20 overs when Khan was bowled for 70, his first halfcentury of the season. He had faced 134 balls, but had batted responsibly to stave off any threat of a collapse while conditions were at their most difficult, and had set the stage for the assault to come.
Skipper Ollie Steele thus joined Wankhade with the score on 176-2
after 41 overs. The pair added 101 for the third wicket in just 12.3 overs before the latter fell for 106, having faced just 90 balls. He hit six fours and eight sixes, and took his aggregate for the season to 640 runs at an average of 64. Steele was now joined by newcomer Will Jenkins, who smashed two more sixes in scoring 15 off six balls. The score reached 301 off the last ball of the 55th over, whereupon Steele declared. The skipper had also played aggressively in making 42 not out from only 38 balls.
Walton had 61 overs to score the runs or bat out time, but the innings started in a frenzy when acting skipper Sam Gorvin took 22 runs off Harvey Booth’s second over with a slew of leg-side boundaries. But off-spinner
Kaif Ramzan, unusually opening the bowling, took the first wicket in his second over and followed up by dismissing Gorvin with the last ball of his third. Gorvin had made 34 off 20 balls, in a score off 46-2 off six overs. The third wicket pair were even more explosive, and had reached 90 off just 9.3 overs when Ramzan took his third wicket. Felix Watson-Smyth struck in the next over, and the two spinners imposed some restraint to see Walton to tea at 115-4 after 15 overs. Booth was recalled straight after the interval and his extra pace accounted for the next two wickets as Walton declined to 151-6 in the 23rd over. With victory slipping out of reach keeper Jayden Clark now shepherded the tail in a search for batting points. Leg
spinner Khan replaced Ramzan, and took the next three wickets to reduce them to 197-9. The last wicket pair had gained the runs needed for a third point when Jenkins dismissed Clark for 43, off 79 balls. Walton had been bowled out for 203 after just 37 overs. Khan bowled a typical miserly spell of 3-24 off nine overs, while Ramzan had 3-43 off ten and Booth bowled a second spell of 2-26 off six to finish with 2-50 off eight.
Dulwich gain 24 points from this match, and remain in second place. This weekend, they have a crucial fixture at home to Normandy, who are just ten points behind in third place. Dulwich won the first meeting between the sides, and will be hoping to complete the double.
Surrey’s Will Jacks
Dulwich 301-3 dec (55) beat Walton on Thames 203 (37) by 98 runs
By John Kelly
chriSToPhEr nKunKu insists he is “feeling better” as he aims to build on the glimpses of promise he showed last season and consign his injury problems to the past.
A lot was expected of Nkunku when the forward joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig for £52million last summer, but he could only manage fourteen appearances in a frustrating campaign.
Just two of them were starts, both in the Premier League. But despite his lack of action he still showed what he could be capable of with three league goals. It doesn’t sound like much but it is one every 146 minutes.
Nkunku, 26, has had the benefit of an uninterrupted pre-season to build his fitness and work on his sharpness. He is currently with the squad on their United States tour. Blues supporters first saw his talent and ability in the US last summer when he scored three goals.
“I am feeling better after the difficult season last year. I am feeling better,” Nkunku said.
“I had a nice break during the summer. I needed it. I worked a little bit before coming here, but it was important for me to break after this year, for my head also. It was good.
‘Now I am working in every training session to stay fit and to go forward in a good way. Pre-season is very good and the team is good. We are practising the hard work to be fresh and ready to play some friendly games.”
Nkunku was signed by Mauricio Pochettino but the Argentine head coach lasted only a season before a parting of the ways this summer.
Chelsea moved early in the managerial market - with several clubs on the lookout for new bosses as well as speculation over the futures of others - as they secured Enzo Maresca from Leicester City, paying £10million in compensation to the Foxes.
Pochettino led Chelsea to the EFL Cup final and FA Cup semi-finals when they were unlucky to lose both. The Blues lost only one of their last fifteen Premier League games, winning their last five to finish sixth and qualify for the Conference League play-off round.
Maresca is under no illusions he has to win something this season, after guiding Leicester to the Championship title in his first full campaign as a senior head coach.
Nkunku has been impressed with what he has seen from the Italian so far.
chris of life
He said: “The new head coach brings very good ideas to play. We are all happy to practise every training with him. Now it is just the beginning. We need to learn and to fix in every training the way he wants us to play.
Kamarl heads back to Ravens
By John Kelly
“We are on this way to learn. If everybody has the idea of the coach to play, we will produce good football this year.”
Nkunku explained what a large part of the focus has been on. He said: “We are playing with the ball already a lot. As he told us the first day, he wants us to be
on the pitch to practise football training directly. His idea is to keep the ball, so we are practising that now.”
Chelsea have a daunting start to the season as they face champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.
“It’s the time for us to know each other more, to be every day together, to train
together, to spend some time together,”
Nkunku said.
“It’s also important to have some friendly games, to have more minutes in the body to be fresh for the start of the season, and to see our fans. I am looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea have signed United States international defender Caleb
Wiley from MLS side Atlanta United. Wiley, 19, has signed a six-year contract with the option of a further year.
Left-back Wiley made his debut for Atlanta in 2022 and racked up 83 appearances, scoring six goals. Wiley made his international debut in 2023 and has two caps. He is currently with the Olympic side in Paris.
Bees close on Lion deal
By John Kelly
BrEnTford arE close to signing Millwall defender Josh Stephenson on a five-year deal.
The Bees are in advanced talks for the eighteen-year-old defender.
Stephenson captained the Lions to the Professional Development League Cup last season when Larry McAvoy and Chris Perry’s side also reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup before losing to Leeds United.
Stephenson will initially join Brentford’s B team. He is technically gifted and can also play in midfield. He scored five goals and registered eleven assists last season. Millwall have seen a number of talented young players leave them in recent seasons, including
Samuel Edozie and Darko Gyabi to Manchester City, and Zak Lovelace to Glasgow Rangers.
ProMiSinG dEfEndEr Kamarl Grant signed a new deal with Millwall - and then re-joined Bromley on loan until January.
Grant, 21, signed for the Ravens on loan in February and helped Andy Woodman’s side to a first-ever promotion to the Football League.
Grant played every minutes of their play-off campaign. He started the final against Solihull Moors alongside former Lions centreback Byron Webster, who scored the iconic wining penalty in the 4-3
shootout victory. Millwall have signed right-sided genre-backs Japhet Tanganga and Shaun Hutchinson this summer, pushing Grant down the pecking order.
Christopher Nkunku scored three goals in 439 minutes of Premier League action last season
© Action Plus
© Brian Tonks
© Brian Tonks
Kamarl Grant
Josh Stephenson
FRIENDLy
Nottingham F - 2 Wood 17’, Hudson-Odoi 53’ Millwall - 1 Emakhu 76’
Date: Tuesday 23 July 2024
By John Kelly at the Pinatar Arena
MiLLwaLL wErE beaten 2-1 by Nottingham Forest in their first preseason friendly in Spain on Tuesday evening.
Forest went in front on seventeen minutes when former Lions striker Chris Wood’s shot deflected in off Joe Bryan.
Millwall didn’t test Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner in the first half as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side mostly controlled possession.
Lions goalkeeper Lukas Jensen made his first save just before the break when he stretched out his right leg to block rightback Erik Moreira’s low shot.
Forest – who were in Murcia four days before Millwall and drew 1-1 with Sunderland last Friday – made 10 changes at half-time but it was a first-half substitute, Callum Hudson-Odoi, who doubled their lead in the 53rd minute. Ryan Yates found Hudson-Odoi in space on the edge of the box and he beat Jensen with a low finish into the bottom-right corner.
Millwall pulled a goal back in the 76th minute when substitute Aidomo Emakhu finished under goalkeeper Matz Sels four minutes after coming on.
And Murray Wallace almost levelled late on but was denied by Sels’ fingertip save.
For the second game in front of supporters this pre-season, Neil Harris made four changes to his side from the one that started in the 0-0 draw at Gillingham.
Summer signing Japhet Tanganga replaced Kamarl Grant as the former Tottenham defender was reunited with last season’s centre-back partner Jake Cooper.
Casper De Norre came into midfield in place of George Honeyman. Zian Flemming and Tom Bradshaw started up front for Kevin Nisbet and Tom Leahy.
Forest started to exert their dominance after an even first ten minutes. That was mainly down to their two central midfielders, Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare. That’s what you would expect from a duo that cost a combined £50million. The Lions tried to get close to them but a quick flick around the corner here, a one-two there turned pressure into space for Forest to attack into.
Millwall went behind after Bryan was unlucky not to make the block, Wood’s effort looping over Jensen after Nico Dominguez had nodded down a cross.
a c lass a part Back to Bromley
By Kiro Evans
K a M ar L Gran T has re-joined Bromley for a second loan move to hayes Lane.
The young Millwall defender was part of the Ravens side who earned their first ever promotion to the EFL last season by winning on penalties in the play-off final against Solihull Moors.
Lions fall short to premier League opponents in Spain
Tanganga looked like he was going to have a chance to test Turner only for a foul to be given against Cooper from Saville’s free-kick from the left.
Forest continued to control possession after the water break midway through the half. The only worry for Espirito Santo in the first half was a knee injury to £35million summer signing Elliot Anderson. Hudson-Odoi replaced Anderson on the left side of Forest’s three-man attack.
Hudson-Odoi had the last shot of the half but he got closer to hitting Bartosz Bialkowski – who was watching from the plush seats – than to the Lions’ goal.
Hudson-Odoi made no mistake from his next opportunity as Millwall were too
easily opened up.
Millwall finally threatened on 63 minutes. They had had little joy from wide areas until Romain Esse found Duncan Watmore’s run from the left. Esse’s pass was perfectly weighted and Watmore was in and he lifted his shot over Sels but onto the top of the crossbar. The 900 or so Lions supporters here got their first chance to see summer buy Macaulay Langstaff when he came on for Bradshaw in the 72nd minute. They were more familiar with the finish from Emakhu, who clinically slotted home from Bryan’s pass.
Millwall had one more chance but Sels denied Wallace a stunning equaliser when he just managed to tip over the
defender’s 20-yard shot in injury-time.
Millwall: 4-4-1-1: Jensen; McNamara, Tanganga (Wallace, 46), Cooper, Bryan (Harding, 86); Esse (Nisbet, 81), Saville (Massey, 81), De Norre (Leonard, 72), Watmore (Emakhu, 72); Flemming (Honeyman, 46); Bradshaw (Langstaff, 72).
Forest: 4-2-3-1: Turner (Sels, 46); Moreira (Williams, 46), Boly (Abbot, 46), Murillo (Milenkovic, 46), Toffolo (Omobamidele, 46); Sangare (Yates, 46), Danilo (O’Brien, 46); Dominguez (Elanga, 46), Gibbs-White (Aina, 46), Anderson (Hudson-Odoi, 42; Wood (Hwang, 46).
The 21-year-old will now head back to south London until January 2025 and will be hoping for plenty of game time in League Two.
Grant was last week one of eight Millwall youngsters to agree to new contracts as Millwall moved to secure their future stars.
Academy prospects Tom Leahy and Kyle Smith, who along with Grant appeared in the pre-season clash against Gillingham, also put pen to paper.
Chin Okoli and Sha’mar Lawson are the other under-21 players who signed new deals while, in the under18s, Alfie Massey, Frankie Baker and Jack Howland have also committed their future to the club by signing their first professional contracts. The trio are all stepping up into the under-21s following the under-18s’ success last season, reaching the FA Youth Cup semi-final and winning the Professional Development League Cup.
Meanwhile, Kevin Nugent’s under21s won back-to-back Professional Development League titles but fell short in the play-offs in May.
Lions retire Sarkic number QPR defender: Boys Dunne good
By Kiro Evena
MiLLwaLL wiLL retire the number 20 shirt of Matija Sarkic as part of a range of tributes to the late goalkeeper.
The Lions and the whole footballing community were left devastated by Sarkic’s sudden death at the age of 26 last month.
With Millwall’s first home game of the Championship season fast approaching, the club have unveiled a number of ideas to honour him.
Along with retiring his number, plans are underway to paint a mural of Sarkic that will be displayed on the Cold Blow Lane concourse.
The save of the season prize for the 202425 campaign will also be named after the goalkeeper and known as the ‘Matija Sarkic Award’.
For the game against Watford on August
10, Matija’s parents Bojan and Natalie, brothers Oliver and Danilo, and partner
Phoebe will be guests at The Den.
Fifteen minutes before the 12.30pm kickoff, a video tribute in memory of Sarkic will play on the big screen with his family watching on from the side of the pitch.
Both captains will carry wreaths while both teams and officials will wear black armbands. A minute’s applause will also take place.
By John Kelly
JiMMY dunnE felt queens Park rangers could be “proud” of their performance despite a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham hotspur at Loftus road last weekend.
Marti Cifuentes’ R’s conceded five minutes before half-time as Yves Bissouma put Ange Postecoglou’s side ahead.
Dane Scarlett added a second in the 87th minute as QPR lost for the first time in preseason.
Dunne explained what they were trying to do in the contest against their Premier League visitors.
“We kept them at bay a little bit and we showed in moments how good we are and created a few chances,” Dunne said.
“It’s a shame we didn’t put a few in the net as we had all the fans there supporting us but we gave them a good showing and
something to be proud of.
“We have been working on different areas of our game up to this point in pre-season.
“We have been working on building out from the back and our press, and I think the things we have focused on we did really well against Spurs.
“That’s where we are taking our positives from.
“The way we finished last season, with a lot of structure and consistency, is the reason why the fans are a little more optimistic going into this season.
“Having been here a few years, this is definitely the most stable we have felt.
“We have a clear way of playing, the fans definitely feel we are giving them entertainment and they are enjoying coming to games.
“We didn’t want last season to end. Nothing has stopped in some ways for us, we are still looking to progress the things
we were working on last year. It’s a new season but in some ways, it’s the same for us.”
QPR have been in relegation fights in the last two Championship campaign, finishing 20th in 2022-23 and eighteenth last season.
Cifuentes took over from the sacked Gareth Ainsworth last October and after the Spaniard led the side out of the relegation zone in February, they finished the season as one of the league’s form teams.
“The last two seasons ended with an escape for us,” Dunne said. “We want to be at the other end to that. We are strong enough to be able to compete and I think it would be a shame if we spend so much time trying to escape from the bottom rather than competing at the other end.
“You can’t build on a shaky foundation and I think we can build up on what we have now, and that is why we are excited.”
man of the match: Danilo
Aidomo Emakhu dragged Millwall back into the game with his goal
Matija Sarkic
Kamarl Grant is heading to League Two Bromley on loan
Sport INSIDE
nott Quite enough
Lions boss assesses Millwall’s
pre-season defeat
By John Kelly at the Pinatar Arena
nEiL harriS felt nottingham forest’s Premier League quality and extra few days in the Murcia sun made the difference after Millwall’s 2-1 defeat at the Pinatar arena on Tuesday evening.
Forest took the lead in hot conditions in the seventeenth minute when Chris Wood’s shot looped up from Joe Bryan’s attempted block and over goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.
First-half substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi made it 2-0 eight minutes into the second half after the Lions’ defence parted in front of Jensen who couldn’t keep out the low shot to his left.
Aidomo Emakhu pulled a goal back minutes after coming on when he cleverly placed a low
finish under Matz Sels in the 76th minute.
Murray Wallace was inches away from what would have been a superb equaliser only for Sels to tip his 20-yard drive over the bar.
There were water breaks in each half, though the temperature cooled after the break. There were around 700 Millwall supporters at the game and they showed their appreciation for their side’s efforts after the final whistle.
“I thought the application and attitude of the players was tremendous,” Harris told our paper. “Some of our defensive work was really good and some of our football, at times, was excellent to break the lines and get through them. We just missed that last part around the box until the goal.
“I thought in the first 15 minutes we were the better team. But then
29
Forest stepped up a gear. They showed they had been here a week – we’ve been here 48 hours. I think it showed after the 20-minute mark, certainly after the drinks break. They just showed their Premier League quality – the speed of their play, the quality of their touch was exceptional. We had to dig in and hang in there.
“I was disappointed with the manner of the goals, certainly the second goal was disappointing, an individual error, which is expected at some moments in pre-season.
“But then we finished the game really strongly. The biggest thing is it looks like the players have come through unscathed, which is the priority.”
There were some feisty tackles in the game as both sides didn’t hold back. One challenge from George Saville sparked words with Nuno
Neil Harris saw positives in Millwall’s performance in Spain
Espirito Santo, though the Forest boss told the Lions midfielder he was just trying to impart instructions to one of his players.
Harris wasn’t surprised the game was often fiercely contested.
“Forest and Nuno know what to expect from my Millwall team and they came ready for the battle,” Harris said. “They picked a very strong side – no disrespect to the rest of the squad – with a physical presence and size. They made it difficult for us.
“We want to be competitive, we’ve got 700 Millwall fans here. It’s an opportunity for us to set our stall out for the season. We want to be a good football side but we have to have the Millwall traits as well that have made us such a powerhouse, successful football club outside the Premier League for such a long time.”
City eye swoop for Eagles star Eze
By John Kelly
ManchESTEr ciTY are considering a transfer move for crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.
City could lose Kevin De Bruyne, 33, this summer and have identified Eze, 26, as a potential replacement.
De Bruyne has admitted that he could be tempted by a move to the Saudi Pro League, saying he would be able to earn “an incredible amount of money”. De Bruyne is on £400,000 a week at City.
Eze made three substitute appearances for England as Gareth Southgate’s side reached the final of Euro 2024 where they lost to Spain.
The Eagles have already lost one star attacker in this transfer window, after Michael Olise left for Bayern Munich in a £60million deal.
Former Millwall and Queens Park Rangers attacker Eze is coveted by a host of clubs. Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a move for him last summer and again in this window.
Eze has three years left on his contract and it has been reported it contains a release fee clause of at least £60million, more with potential add-ons. He had an impressive 2023-24 campaign which included eleven goals in 29 Premier League games.
Meanwhile, Palace have reportedly agreed personal terms with Marseilles and Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr. The Eagles have offered Sarr a four-year contract and are now trying to agree a fee with the French club.
Marseilles signed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Spurs this week on an initial loan and he has been given Sarr's No. 23 shirt next season.
Sarr scored 34 goals in 131 games in four seasons with Watford.
The Eagles have also been linked with a £25million move for Arsenal winger Emile Smith Rowe.
