Southwark News - January 25th 2024 by CommunityMattersMedia

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Issue 1669

Established: 1987

50p

January 25 2024

southwarknews.co.uk

lionS Secure StriKer deal See Page 4

See page 11

Budget interVieW

See page 2

BiShoP callS for ceaSefire on middle eaSt ViSit

‘KeeP our coVid memorial Wall’

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See sport

Issue 1669

Established: 1987

50p

January 25th 2024

southwarknews.co.uk

lionS Secure StriKer deal

Bereaved families want assurances that wall of 200,000 hearts will be preserved

See page 14

high court Battle Win for aySen

helP uS KeeP memorial to coVid VictimS

See page 3

dog reScued from icy laKe See page 8

triButeS to ProPerty ‘don’

4 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-15 opinion Pages 16-17 Arts Pages 18 Family ANnouncements Page 20-21 CLASSIFIED Page 21 Public notices Pages 22-24 SPORT Pages 25-28

Budget Summary: council finances are ‘robust’ for next three years By Herbie Russell

Southwark Council has unveiled the contents of its budget which it says will keep finances “robust” for the next three years.

It comes amid a concerning national picture which has seen one in five council bosses say their authorities are likely to go bust in the next fifteen months. But Cabinet Member for Finance Stephanie Cryan said thanks to “savings and efficiencies” Southwark Council will continue to remain solvent. She said the budget would continue protecting vulnerable adults and children despite social care cuts worth £6.5 million. The finance chief also said the budget “continues to invest in and protect mental health, leisure centres, parks and libraries”. The final budget will be voted on by councillors after it is debated at Council Assembly in February.

Key Points

Finances are ‘absolutely robust’

Since 2021, five local authorities have declared themselves effectively bankrupt but Cllr Cryan has said Southwark’s finances are “absolutely robust”. • She said: “I feel confident that we are not in the Birmingham or the Thurrock territories. We are absolutely robust and we will continue to be so.” • Cllr Cryan said this was only possible through the council’s “savings and efficiencies…over the last decade.” • This includes spending £3.25million less on adult social care and £3.2million less on children and families’ support over the next financial year.

Government funding sighted’, claims council 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.

‘short-

Southwark Council has claimed the government’s £172million funding settlement is “short-sighted”. • The government’s financial settlement will increase London boroughs’ core spending power by 5.3 per cent, according to London Councils. • However, rising inflation and increasing

•

demand for services mean London councils are still left with a funding shortfall of £500million, according to the capital’s local authorities. Since 2010, core spending power increases (roughly 25 per cent) have failed to keep up with inflation (roughly 50 per cent).

£6.5million less to be spent on Adult Social Care and Children’s Services

Southwark Council is reducing adult social care and children’s services funding by £6.5million but says “the needs of our residents are still being met”. • £3.25million less is being spent on adult social care and £3.2million less on support for children and families • Cllr Cryan said this is made possible by focusing more on early intervention and residential care, thereby sidestepping the costs associated with people “bed-blocking”. • £1million less will be spent on children by reducing the number of children in care. • Cllr Cryan said this was not a case of simply getting children off the council’s books. “Not at all… we’ve done such a lot MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

Page 30

Issue 1668

Established: 1987

50p

January 18 2024

southwarknews.co.uk

EDWARDS CALM OVER TRANSFER STALEMATE See page 3

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 on a Thursday at: Community Matters Media Ltd Unit A202, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG. News and Sport: 020 7231 5258 Advertising: 020 7232 1639 News: news@southwarknews.co.uk Advertising: hello@cm-media.co.uk Finance: em@cm-media.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk

‘Station’s lift closure stops us getting out’ See page 7

GOODPIE!

Manze’s Deptford Pie and mash shop announces it will close in 2025 after 110 years of Cockney cooking see page 9

‘Thank you for saving my life before I was born’ See page 11

Blue Plaque nominations and how to vote

of good work in that early prevention… that it prevents those children going into care”.

Income Generation

Southwark Council has found several ways of increasing income, including raising fees and charges and renting out council offices. • Fee rises include the garden waste charge going from £60 to £80 per annum, raising planning fees, increasing the price of leisure services and commercial property rents. • Southwark Council aims to raise over £1million by renting out its Tooley Street offices by 2026. • The total budget proposals include additional income generation worth £7.6million.

Protecting key services

Cllr Cryan said the budget “continues to invest in and protect what people want”, including mental health support, cost of living support, leisure centres, libraries, parks and street cleaning. • £11million more is being invested in Cost of Living support, bringing total

•

investment to £35million since 2021, Cllr Cryan said. Cllr Cryan committed “to upgrade leisure centres and make them more energy efficient”.

Housing Revenue Account

Southwark Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) - money used to repair council housing and fund major works - has a forecasted overspend of £16.7 million for 2023/24. • The council has announced a ‘recovery plan’ which will see a 6 per cent reduction of revenue expenditure. • Major housing projects on the Bells Gardens and Lindley estates in Peckham have already been shelved, which would have created 127 new council homes. • Cllr Cryan blamed central government. She said the 2012 Welfare Reform Act, which meant councils had to reduce rent levels by 1 per cent each year from 2016, had “dismantled” the the HRA’s self-sustaining model. • She said Southwark Council remained committed to building 11,000 homes by 2043.

The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper. It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn. Former reporters for Southwark News, they bought the title in 2002, after the founder Dave Clark died suddenly from cancer four years earlier. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that a community-led, independent newspaper can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.

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Southwark News is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk

NEWS 5 Firefighters head across the lake to rescue Ponzo. Credit: LFB

dog traPPed in icy dulWich laKe reScued By firefighterS

Ponzo after being rescued.

By Herbie Russell FireFiGhterS haVe rescued a dog that got trapped on an icy lake in Dulwich Park.

Ponzo bounded onto the frozen lake but ran into trouble - getting soaked through and freezing cold this morning (Friday, January 19). The pooch managed to swim to an island but got stranded there, prompting her worried owner to ring the brigade for help. Firefighters broke through the ice, paddling to Ponzo in an inflatable boat, and returned the dog to its owner. Station Commander Pat Ackroyd, who was at the scene, said: “The owner absolutely did the right thing by calling us out. The ice was really thick and crews had to work hard to smash through it to create a path for the boat

to reach Ponzo. “Once rescued, she was checked over and wrapped in a blanket before being given back to her grateful owner.” The RSPCA has taken the opportunity to remind people of the dangers of keeping dogs off leads near water, particularly in sub-zero temperatures. RSPCA Pet Welfare Specialist Dr Sam Gaines said: “Our advice at the RSPCA

Camberwell’s 1950s bus inspector’s kiosk gets cleaned up for art By Isabel Ramirez A 1950S bus inspector’s kiosk in Camberwell, which was abandoned and ‘used as a giant rubbish bin’ for over ten years, has been cleaned up for artists to do exhibits.

Camille, who is a restoration specialist living in the area, was taken by the structure on Camberwell Road and wanted to revive it. “I was fascinated by this box,” she told us, “and the fact that it had been abandoned and starting to be used as a giant rubbish bin.” “I thought it had great potential, and there was something humorous about the size of it.” As a former bus terminus shelter, it was introduced to postwar London in the 1950s, but for over ten years it has laid vacant. After receiving some TLC, it is now a public art installation, Camberwell Kabinett. As well as being a space for people to display their art, Camille said when it was cleaned up, locals started to ‘treat it differently.’ “People are happy that it has been cleaned and to have something taken care of for them to see,” she explained. “Many people have stopped and expressed interest, saying they would like to exhibit their art or perhaps they know someone who does.”

She continued: “Sometimes people still throw rubbish in it, but generally, the community has reacted extremely positively. Camille added that some street artists have also drawn on it and tagged it of their own accord. In terms of people who want to get in touch about art exhibitions, they should make contact here. The Camberwell Kabinett is on Camberwell Road, opposite Lamb House, on the Elmington Estate.

is to keep dogs away from frozen ponds, lakes or rivers which can pose a danger and make sure their paws do not get impacted with snow. “It is best to walk dogs away from frozen water or keep them on the lead if it’s unavoidable. If your dog ventures onto the ice, never follow them onto it, instead call them to come back to you right away, but if they get stuck call fire

Lionesses pull off Ella-va cup shock Sport page 25

and rescue services for help. “Owners should never try to risk rescuing their pet themselves as they could get themselves into a dangerous situation.” Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Charlie Pugsley, added: “Even if ice appears thick from the bank, it becomes thinner very quickly. Keep away from

the edge of the open water, especially slippery banks.” The Brigade was called at 8.21am and the incident was over for firefighters by 9.17am. Three fire engines from Forest Hill and West Norwood fire stations and two fire and rescue units from Lewisham and Croydon fire stations attended the scene.

6 NEWS

‘PleaSe PreSerVe our coVid memorial’

By Herbie Russell

Volunteers (left to right): Fran Hall, Lorelei King, Michelle Rumball

BereaVeD FamilieS are urging the government to protect the National Covid Memorial Wall - a South Bank monument decorated with over 200,000 hearts commemorating people who died during the pandemic.

Volunteers, many of whom were denied the right to hold their loved ones’ hands as they passed away, say the wall is “a visual representation of the UK’s catastrophic loss”. A government commission has recommended preserving the memorial but Westminster - which looks onto the Wall from across the Thames - hasn’t given it the rubber stamp. The National Covid Memorial Wall was established in March 2021 - the brainchild of campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice and the activist group Led By Donkeys. But currently, its survival and funding depend on a group of roughly ten volunteers, who visit the wall every Friday to repaint the hearts weathered by the Thames’ spray. Among those is Fran Hall, 63, who has been braving sub-zero temperatures to spruce up the memorial. Her husband Steve died from Covid-19 just three weeks after their wedding day. “If we weren’t here every week repainting it, the wall would not exist… there needs to be a decision made and it needs to be made at government level,” she said. Fran says the hearts have “taken on the identity” of the people who died because families were “denied” the “normal rituals of grief and mourning” like proper funerals. “People reference their heart as if it’s their person,” she said. “They say: ‘My dad’s on the wall, I want to go see my mum, I’m taking flowers to my brother.’” But the group says they haven’t received explicit backing from the government or St Thomas’ Hospital, which owns the wall, meaning the memorial’s future is uncertain. In many ways, the wall has always been on shaky ground. When roughly 1,500 volunteers descended on the South Bank to paint hearts in March 2021, they were

A volunteer repainting one of the hearts

Volunteers tending to the National Covid Memorial Wall

defying warnings of £10,000 fines and three-month jail stints. But in September last year, the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration recommended “preserving existing memorials, including the National Covid Memorial Wall”. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer only said her department would “consider” the “valuable recommendations”. Among those who regularly visit the wall is Lorelei King, 70, whose husband Vincent died from Covid-19 while living in care on March 31, 2020. An actor from Los Angeles, she met “very handsome”, “very funny”, “manly man” Vince while working on a BBC Radio play.

Lorelei jokes that she thought he was “such an arseh*le” when they first met. But she soon learned he was “the most loveable person”. She says she’ll never forget that she “couldn’t be with him when he died, that I was obeying the rules and didn’t go to visit him”. Lorelei says she’s “grateful” that she got to spend some time with Vince’s body before “men in hazmat suits came to take him away”. She added: “I’ve seen how much this wall mean to people.” Then there’s Michelle Rumball, 52, whose mum Violet, “a loving, quiet, familyorientated” grandmother-of-thirteen, died from Covid-19 on April 9, 2020.

Asked what it was like losing her mum during the pandemic, she said: “Awful because we couldn’t see her. “She died on her own. Nobody was allowed to see her. The last time I saw her she was being wheeled into an ambulance.” Michelle added: “If you’ve not been bereaved by Covid nobody tends to understand what you’ve gone through.” There is a political side to the group’s campaign. Michelle and Fran were among the four women who were kicked out of the Covid inquiry after waving signs during Boris Johnson’s testimony. A chilling message was written across their placards: “The dead can’t hear your apologies.”

Fran said the Covid inquiry, set up to examine the UK’s response to, and the impact of, the pandemic, had been “disappointing”. “The questioning is restricted, very restricted. The number of seats for bereaved people is very restricted,” Fran said. “I had high hopes for it and I would say those hopes are diminishing.” A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: “The government is in the process of reviewing the recommendations made by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration and will respond to the report in due course.” A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “The National Covid Memorial Wall is a poignant tribute to the devasting impact that Covid-19 has had on people’s lives across this country. Lambeth Council would be keen to join discussions about making it permanent and agree this would be a fitting decision.” Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital were approached for comment.

Russell last summer. She continued: “Once the Mayor’s long-awaited feasibility study comes out, I’m eager to dig into the details in planning here.” The news came as a pleasant surprise for John McGeachy, Campaigns Manager for Age UK - who has been advocating for more public toilets in Southwark for a while and said he ‘wasn’t aware’ of there being any funding. “To find out there is money is brilliant and it’s great if Southwark is considered,” he told us. “It’s really welcome news because we know people are not making the journeys they want to because the lack of toilets is preventing them from making the journeys in the first place.” According to research conducted by Age UK London last year (2022), 90 per cent of Londoners have

considered public toilet provision before making a journey and over 52 per cent said they sometimes reduce the amount they drink before leaving home. The Loos for Southwark campaign, made up of mainly pensioners in the borough, demanded action after the council voted against a ‘public toilet strategy’ when asked at last month’s council assembly. Currently, there are 44 public toilets in Southwark – including 33 maintained by the council, but the group maintain there are not enough. Their main request is that the council set up a Community Toilet Scheme – whereby businesses sign up granting public access to the toilets in their buildings within chosen times. As well as increasing the number of available toilets, this would also limit the cost of new toilets having to be built.

Southwark underground stations ‘could be considered’ for public toilets

By Isabel Ramirez

Caroline Russell AM

Southwark unDerGrounD stations could be considered for public toilets after £3 million funding for public toilets on the underground was secured.

Last week, Caroline Russell AM, Leader of the City Hall Green Group, won the funding for public toilets on the Transport for London (TfL) network, after years of campaigning. Caroline commented: “Public toilets aren’t just a matter of convenience – for many Londoners, knowing there are clean, safe, and accessible toilets on the Tube can be the difference between saying yes to the event, going to the shops, or simply visiting friends.” Asked if Southwark would be considered, she said: “While I believe every Tube station should have a public toilet accessible to passengers,

stations in Southwark present a particularly urgent need for new TfL toilets, as they sit just at the end of the network’s largest ‘loo desert’.”

The longest ‘loo desert’ is the 12 stops between Morden and Elephant and Castle on the Northern line, according to a report authored by

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH HM GOVERNMENT

Reach out for help:

how drug and alcohol recovery services could work for you or a loved one

en Bristow, from Reading, realised he had a problem with drinking and had tried to get help in his 30s. He became serious about confronting his issues with alcohol when he was 40; with the help of his GP. Now aged 47, Ben, pictured below, has been sober for three years and eight months and has completely changed his life after seeking help. “I was a bit of a nightmare, getting drunk all the time. I wasn’t arrested or fighting or anything like that. I was just a pain in the backside, so I’m very lucky my family supported me,” he says. It all changed for Ben when his girlfriend left him. “We had a big bust-up and she told me I was a very heavy drinker. I broke my hand after punching a wall and ended up in hospital. “My GP was informed – when I went to my check-ups, we spoke about my drinking and he directed me to a local drug and alcohol recovery centre,” he explains. Any health professional, including your GP or practice

If you are worried about a family member or friend, or think you may be dependent on drugs or alcohol, support could be just one phone call away nurse, can help you to access the free expert services closest to you. With the help of his key worker and by going to SMART recovery sessions, Ben managed to reduce his drinking then, at the same time as the centre was taken over by the service provider Change Grow Live, he reached a turning point. “I thought ‘I’ve lost too much, too many friends and too many jobs’. I’ve had quite a few long-term relationships and most of those have been destroyed through my drinking. And that’s what’s changed. I was like, ‘I have got to get my life back together’.” Ben says the future is a lot brighter for him. He goes out on walks,

enjoying nature and life and now volunteers three days a week at the centre, and hopes to become a key worker in the future. “I wouldn’t have got sober without their help, and I wanted to give back what I’d learned to help other people in similar situations.” He’s candid about his journey to recovery and the work it has taken to become sober: “You cannot, I believe, recover without being honest with yourself and those around you. You’ve got to realise where you’ve gone wrong. Be very honest with yourself.” The centre that helped Ben is just one example of the many great treatment services run by different providers. If you are worried about yourself or someone else not only is getting help vital, it’s also free and it works.

How to get support If you, or someone you know, is experiencing problems with using drugs or alcohol, it’s important to know that treatment is available, treatment works, and you can access it easily. n Call FRANK anytime on 0300 123 6600 for confidential advice and information, including how to access treatment services; you can also check out talktofrank.com n Your GP is also a good place to start if you or someone you care about wants to get help. They can discuss your problems with you and get you into treatment. n If you’re not comfortable talking to a GP, you can approach your local drug and alcohol treatment service yourself without a referral, or a friend or family member can contact the local service on your behalf. You can find details of treatment services on your local You can call FRANK authority’s website. anytime on 0300 123 n In addition to treatment services, there 6600 for confidential are mutual aid groups that offer support advice and information. from a community of people in recovery. Scan the QR code to find These include Alcoholics Anonymous, out more. Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery UK – and for families and friends Al Anon and Families Anonymous. n Drug and alcohol problems can be a hard subject to discuss, especially if you think your friend or relative has a problem. Try to stay open-minded and remember that, with the right help and support, most people overcome problematic use before any serious harm is caused.

8 NEWS

PecKham BuSineSS forum’S firSt chairPerSon iS local Salon oWner gloria douglaS

Uni wants to block off area to stop ‘vagrants’ and drug use

By Isabel Ramirez

a loCal hair salon owner, who has been in the business for twenty years, has been named as the first chairperson of the Peckham Business Forum.

Gloria Douglas, a resident and owner of Satizfaktion on King’s Grove, was chosen out of seven candidates for the role. Peckham Business Forum was set up eighteen months ago by local charity Tree Shepherd, in conjunction with Mountview, Southwark Council and GLA, to create a local voice for businesses in Peckham. Their work so far has ranged from creating a coordinated stakeholder voice amidst a background of regeneration to supporting challenges local business owners face from sustainability to landlord issues. Sandra Ferguson, CEO of Tree Shepherd, said getting a chair is a ‘milestone’ for the forum. “Since we started working in Peckham, we have been identifying members and leaders,” she told us. “Gloria has been in business for nearly 20 years, she is well-known in the community and can guide the forum through both her professional and personal experience – which is a huge asset to the organisation.” Not only a hair salon, Satizfaktion has become somewhat of a hub for locals; its cafe is well-used as a space for community groups. The Southwark Labour Party also has their meetings there. The forum’s upcoming projects, which will be chaired by Gloria, include responding to and influencing development in Peckham – especially the regeneration of The Aylesham Centre, as well as supporting the removal of graffiti and making the high street a

By Herbie Russell KING’S COLLEGE london University wants to build an extension to stop “vagrants” from “using drugs” and “sleeping” around the Greenwood theatre.

safer, nicer place to be, and, looking at how to stamp out crime – through the Safer Business Network. Gloria Douglas, Chair of Peckham Business Forum adds, “There are so many changes happening in Peckham, I’ve seen it myself over the last twenty years as a business owner here. “Sandra and the team have galvanised the community with their ambition and vision

for a united voice, working with businesses locally to develop trust, identify the challenges and set the groundwork. Already, Peckham Business Forum is a trusted group as it is run by businesses for the businesses of Peckham. I’m delighted to be Chair, and I look forward to getting started to raise the bar of business excellence.” For more information visit: www.treeshepherd.org.uk

According to planning documents submitted on behalf of the university, its staff are “constantly” removing syringes and needles which are a “hazard to staff ”. The Greenwood Theatre is a building owned by the Charitable Foundation of Guy’s Hospital and leased to King’s College which uses it for lectures and productions. In a document drawn up for its client, planning consultancy JacksonBCS wrote: “The external lobby is used by vagrants and those using drugs as a shelter and for sleeping.

Labour candidate for Peckham and Camberwell promises to be ‘accessible’ to constituents

By Herbie Russell LABOUR’S PARLIAMENtARy candidate for Peckham has promised to be an “accessible” MP if she wins the seat at the next election.

Miatta Fahnbulleh pledged to open a constituency office and said if people stop her in the streets she “gives out” her phone number. Addressing an audience at the Walworth Society’s meeting at St Peter’s Church on Thursday, January 18, she said she would “open a constituency office so there’s a hub for the Labour party locally”. “I will make myself very accessible. If people stop me in the street I give out my phone number” she said. “And I do that because I genuinely want to have a conversation.” Incumbent Harriet Harman has previously been criticised for not having a permanent space where constituents can visit her. This is despite the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament saying that MPs have a “special duty” to their constituents. However, Fahnbulleh was also quick to praise her predecessor’s record,

Two officers injured after police car collides with traffic lights in Walworth

By Herbie Russell

Miatta Fahnbulleh speaking at a Walworth Society meeting at St Peter’s Church on January 18

saying she was “staggered” by how she’d changed people’s lives for the better. “I’ve been staggered by the number of people who have a story of how she’s changed their lives,” she said. Fanhbulleh, who recently left her role as CEO of the New Economics Foundation, said her top two priorities were housing and employment. Of the latter, she said: “Too many

“KCL’s staff are constantly having to clean the lobby and remove hypodermic syringes, needles, and other drug related items, which is obviously a hazard to the staff.” It concludes that the “only effective way” of solving the problem is to enclose the external lobby behind walls. The Greenwood Theatre is just yards away from the Manna Centre, a centre for homeless people, which is facing a £75,000 deficit amid rising demands for its services. Behind it is Wolfson House, a 274-bedroom student accommodation and one of the cheaper student halls available to the university’s students. The Theatre was built in 1975 following a donation from Sir James Mantle Greenwood, a local advertising businessman.

two poliCe officers have been injured after a police car hit a set of traffic lights in Walworth.

people are in low-paid, precarious work.” Fahnbulleh previously spent three years working in 10 Downing Street’s strategy unit and another three leading devolution and local economic growth in the Cabinet Office. She suggested her time spent near the levers of power presented some important advantages. “I’ve worked in the heart of government

and see how dysfunctional it is,” she said. Fahnbulleh added: “I’ve seen politicians enter the bubble of Westminster and get lost… and I don’t think that’s going to happen to me.” Fahnbulleh will fight for the newly formed Peckham seat at the next general election which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated will be “in the second half” of 2024.

At around 5.30am on Sunday, January 21, a marked police car was involved in the collision on Walworth Road, at the junction with Amelia Street. The car was responding to an emergency call at the time of the collision. Two officers who were in the car were treated for minor injuries. Footage shared on WhatsApp appeared to show a heavily damaged police car and debris strewn across the street. Police said enquiries to establish the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.

NEWS 9

excluSive

nunhead Women’S SnooKer Star gearS uP for World chamPionShiP By Herbie Russell A WORLD-CLASS Nunhead snooker star is headed for the World Championship China where she’ll test her skills against the world’s best players.

Connie Stephens, 28, is ranked 24th on the planet. But with a lack of money in the women’s game, she’s asking fans for a financial boost while she looks for a sponsor. While her ranked equivalent in the men’s game can expect earnings of nearly £100,000 a year, Connie works at a shoe shop to fund her passion. “It’s all of my own back at the minute,” she explained. Having just returned from a Belgian tournament, where she lost out to world number one Nutcharut Wongharuthai, her cue is primed for the next challenge. That will be the World Championship in Dongguan from March 11 to 17 - the world’s biggest women’s snooker event. Connie, a regular at Shades Sports Bar in Deptford, said: “Watching Ronnie O’Sullivan from a young age, and with my parents into snooker, I’ve been hooked since the age of ten!” Connie’s dad introduced her to snooker and would often take her to the British Legion snooker club in Clapham. Aged fifteen, she first beat her Dad 4 – 1 on frame scores, with the first on the

Missing: Jennifer Townsend Connie Stephens at the tournament in Belgium. black. Connie’s next goal is to reach a quarterfinals at a major tournament but she’ll come up against tough competition in China. “The Chinese players and the Thai players have academies over there. It’s like their school curriculum,” she said. “You’ve got eleven-year-olds knocking in 50 breaks!” Connie, who once attended the nowclosed St Francesca Cabrini Primary School, trains five hours a day. She said whereas there used to be more tournaments in the UK, the women’s game’s growing popularity has made jetsetting a necessity. “It’s gone a lot more international

because there’s a lot a more international players,” she explained. Asked if she ever plays for money against unsuspecting pub-goers, she laughingly said: “A lot of people know me in Nunhead but if I go to other places… I’ve done it before! “Because men generally think: ‘She’s girl I’ll beat them easily.” That’s the mentality at the end of the day. When we beat them it’s nice!” Connie says games are intense. But off the table, she’s formed close friendships with fellow British players Emma Parker, Mary Talbot and Reanne Evans. To contribute to Connie’s fundraiser go to www.gofundme.com and search for Connie Stephens

Appeal to find ‘vulnerable’ missing woman Jennifer By Herbie Russell poliCe are appealing for the public’s help to locate a vulnerable woman missing from Lewisham.

Jennifer Townsend, 63, was last seen on December 4 at her home by a family member. There are concerns for Jennifer’s welfare including her mental health and police are keen to locate her.

The last known sighting of Jennifer was on January 13 when she was captured on CCTV walking along Oxford Street in central London. She was wearing a blue backpack and pulling a black wheeled trolley or case. Jennifer has no known contacts in the area, but police believe she remains in and around this location. Those with information that could help police �ind Jennifer are asked to call 101 and quote ref: 24MIS001351.

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10 NEWS

rooftoP chaSeS, SWan catching and an infamouS addreSS - the life of the ‘don’ of local ProPerty

By Isabel Ramirez

the owner of the famous estate agents Field and Sons on Borough High Street - one of the oldest Southwark businesses - has died aged 86.

Duncan Field, was the last member of his family to run the agency which was started in 1804. In 1875, the Field family bought 54 Borough High Street and the business has been based there ever since, despite changing hands in recent years. At the time no one else wanted the building because of its association with a famous murder. That year, Henry Wainright, whose brother rented 54 Borough High Street at the time, brought the dismembered body of his mistress there from Whitechapel by cab. He had murdered and dismembered her body a year prior, and had been hoping to bury her in the cellar, but he was arrested and later hanged at Newgate Prison. Duncan’s daughter Vanessa told us: “It was big news in Victorian England. Dad always said they got the building very cheap.” Duncan started working at the agency in 1963 when he was 26. In 1977, he took over the company. Anyone who visited the office would remember its original features - which were reportedly very important to him. “Dad was a huge lover of history and he was all about preserving it,” Vanessa said. Reminiscing on her father’s fun yet eccentric ways, she said he used to carry a cane ‘with a sword in it.’ “Once there was a burglar and Dad chased him across the roof of the office and the thief managed to get away, luckily,” she joked. During his time as a valuer, he was known for backing small business owners in the face of big corporations. Vanessa commented: “We will remember him for being a true champion for the underdog. When the Jubilee Line was extended in Southwark he

Duncan Field, commercial real estate legend represented the small property owners to get the valuation they deserved.” A ‘highly respected’ pillar of commercial real estate, a few of the most notable deals Duncan brokered included the Menier Chocolate Factory and Sam Wanamaker’s Globe Theatre on the South Bank. Vanessa said on the latter: “He was a great friend of Sam’s and was heavily involved in getting the land for the theatre.” Another of his daughters, Anyta, said: “He had studied estate management at Cambridge and then went to Manchester to expand his knowledge.” But it seems his knowledge of buildings went far beyond the book. Vanessa said an employee once told her that if they went to visit an old building to value, Duncan would go up to the old bricks and sniff them, much to everyone’s confusion. “He could tell exactly what the building used to be by the smell of the bricks,” she explained. He was a recipient of Freedom of the City, an honour, for being a member of the

livery company, Dyers. Vanessa continued: “He used to love doing the swan tagging” referring to the annual ceremony where mute swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, ringed, and then released. Duncan carried on his family tradition of also being active in the community and he contributed a lot of his time to the Southwark Chamber of Commerce, organising numerous road show meetings to help startup businesses in the borough, as well as working with United St.George the Martyr Charity and the Surrey Dispensary Charity. In 1999, Duncan sold the business but continued to work as a consultant for years after, sharing his wealth of knowledge with the new owners and staff. He retired in 2005. He continued to live upstairs in a bedsit having dinner at The Bunch of Grapes pub in the evenings, until 2014 when he moved to Sussex full-time. Nigel Gouldsmith, director at Field and Sons today, told us Duncan was a ‘tough

negotiator’ and commented that the borough had lost ‘an absolute figurehead.’ “I can remember the first time I walked into his office and it was like stepping back in time,” he said. “There was paperwork everywhere. Nigel continued: “His knowledge of the area was utterly encyclopedic. He probably didn’t even need to know where his paperwork was because it was all in his head.” “When Duncan would walk in with his big bushy beard - younger agents might have thought he would be easy to walk over at first but he was the opposite. “He was the absolute Don of the Southwark market.” Nigel commented that in 2015, the business was briefly sold to Dexters. But then around a year later Nigel and Ben Locke acquired the Field and Sons commercial business back and kept the name. In light of Duncan’s passing, Nigel added: “We’re very proud to continue that name he was very happy that we kept it.”

Simon Hughes, former MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: “Duncan was a larger-than-life character, based in one of the historic business buildings in Borough High Street, fount of all knowledge about properties and their history in Bermondsey and Southwark and a great contributor to our Chamber of Commerce and greater respect for our business community. “I was very grateful for his friendship and robust advice over many decades.” Duncan leaves behind his wife, Shirley, his brother, Brian, his sisters Trisha and Mary, his children Richard, Anyta, Vanessa and Katie, four step-children, Kate, Alex, Buzz, and Gavin, and all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His funeral is to be held on Thurs 25 January, 12pm, Wealden Crematorium. Horam, East Sussex, TN21 OFX. Afterwards at the Wellshurst Golf Club, at BN27 4EE. Anyone wishing to attend should contact his brother at jrbfield@googlemail.com

NHS boss will answer questions at a free talk in Elephant next month nhS BoSS Amanda Pritchard is giving a free talk in Elephant and Castle about the future of the health service - and residents are being invited to ask their burning questions.

The Chief Executive of NHS England, and formerly Chief Exec of Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospitals will take the floor at London South Bank University (LSBU), on Wednesday 7 February. She will address the theme: ‘What sort of health service will England need by 2030?’ - and talk about the challenges the NHS faces, the impact of new technologies, digitally enabled care, and the steps being made to future-proof our health service and support its workforce. Following the lecture, there will be an opportunity to ask about any related topic.

Chairing the talk will be LSBU Chancellor Sir Simon Hughes, who told us this is an ‘excellent opportunity’ for people to get their questions answered. The former MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark told us: “She knows more than anyone what we need and as a non-political figure she can tell us what’s going on. “This is meant to be for the community as much as it is for students. I encourage people to come and listen to her - and if they have any questions they want answered about the state of the health service or its future, then this is an excellent opportunity. “I’m so pleased she agreed to attend I had her in mind for a while as a guest speaker, given that the NHS is such a hot topic right now.” The university trains a quarter of newly registered nurses in London, as well as a number of other clinical roles within the NHS. As such, Hughes said

Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England

excluSive By Isabel Ramirez

the theme is particularly important to the LSBU community. Asked what he would be asking Ms Pritchard himself, Hughes said: “My

main questions will centre around mental health care at home and why we couldn’t have a service like that for physical care - with district nurses and

visits. “I know many people who have suffered from mental health issues and would have benefitted hugely from regular visits.” He added that another topic will be ‘how we hold on to the medical staff we train,’ commenting: “Many finish their training here and then move elsewhere to work, often due to the pay being higher.” This event is open to all members of the public, (including LSBU Group students) free of charge, and will be followed by refreshments and a chance to talk together. The annual lecture is the first of its kind as part of the Chancellor’s Public Lecture Series at LSBU. This lecture will take place on Wednesday 7 February at 6 pm, at the Southwark Campus, in the Hub, London Road, Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6LN. Reserve a spot on eventbrite.co.uk

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Getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines ahead of winter are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe. If you have your winter vaccines, you’re more likely to have milder symptoms and recover quicker if you do catch the viruses. If you are eligible, you may have received an invitation from your GP. Please respond and book for your vaccine. Pharmacies across Southwark are offering free flu and COVID-19 jabs to anyone who is eligible. Check if you are eligible and book your appointment by visiting www.nhs.uk/seasonalvaccinations or find a walk-in pharmacy at selondonics.org/southwark-walk-in-clinics

NEWS 13

sauna rather than later?

Plans afoot for a community sauna with cold plunge in local park

Exclusive

By Isabel Ramirez A communal sauna with ‘cold plunges and chill-out area’ could be coming to a park in Denmark Hill, if early plans come to fruition.

Community Sauna Baths - a company proving a success up in east London is proposing to bring their venture to Ruskin Park as early as this autumn. The initial plans - which are currently in the consultation phase - propose saunas, cold plunges and a chill-out area to be installed near the depot. The sauna will be able to be booked on a reservation basis and if it’s anything like the one in Hackney - punters will have to be quick. Charlie Duckworth, director of Community Sauna Baths, told us: “The response in Hackney has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are consistently sold out. “We think sauna has a really positive impact on communities.”

In terms of pricing, if the same as Hackney, off-peak entry for a one-hour session is £8.50 whilst peak entry is £15. Mr Duckworth said if it went ahead there would be several concession rates and free sessions available, “to make it as inclusive and affordable to as many people as possible.” He continued: “It is crucially important for us that locals and park users want the sauna, and that it serves their needs - so we are just figuring that out at the moment with meetings and consultations to follow but we very much hope we can set up.” Asked why Ruskin Park, he said: “There’s been a huge demand from users for a south London site. Twenty per cent of our users have a south London postcode, which means tens of thousands of people have been travelling across London to sauna.” He said the hope was to change this by bringing one south of the river. “Ruskin is an iconic, well-connected south London park and is a park I have grown up by and loved,” he explained, “so

Pictures from Community Sauna Baths in Hackney.

Southwark Council has said it will send out 8000 letters to Dulwich Village residents about the proposed Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), after it faced criticism for allegedly missing some houses.

for me it’s the perfect location.” Being in Denmark Hill, its connection with the nearby King’s College Hospital and the Maudsley was also taken into account. “Its connection with the hospital also makes sense for us,” Mr Duckworth said, “given our focus on health and wellbeing, our free NHS sessions and our growing social prescribing work, which enables health providers to prescribe sauna for health conditions.” “Timewise, all things going well and with local buy-in, we hope to be open for autumn this year.” This won’t be the first public sauna in the borough. Since the 1950s there has been one in the basement of the Finnish Church in Rotherhithe - and it turns out it is a hit with locals. Mervi Mattila, the manager, said: “It is a very big thing in Finnish culture, in the past people had their weekly wash in the sauna, did laundry in the sauna and even gave birth in the sauna.” “Most Finns have a sauna in their house, and public saunas in Finland can be found

Bishop of Southwark calls for Gaza ceasefire after Middle East visit

everywhere, even in blocks of flats.” They offer private and public slots public slots cost £10. “Our sauna is popular, at the moment all of January is booked up, and February is filling fast.” Mervi added that local people have now found the sauna and commented: “Of our users, over 70 per cent are locals.” In terms of the plans for Ruskin Park, a Lambeth Council spokesperson said that whilst there were no plans in place, they were keen to explore the options. “We are currently examining the potential for working with not-for-profit organisations to create community saunas, using disused sites that are currently inaccessible to the public in and around our parks. “There are currently no plans in place for Ruskin Park. “But we are keen to explore the options for Lambeth as saunas provide physical and mental health benefits. There is the potential here to make these benefits available to our residents in a way that is accessible, regular and affordable.”

The Bishop of Southwark has called for an “immediate ceasefire” to the war in Gaza following a visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun said “military action will only intensify this humanitarian catastrophe” and the conflict risked the West Bank “spiraling deeper into violence”

Bishop Christopher Chessun (left) meeting with Israeli attorney Daniel Seidemann with view of of the Jordan Valley and mountains of Moab from the Mount of Olives The Bishop spoke with the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, priests from Ramallah and Jerusalem, and civil society organisations during his stay from January 14 to 18. Over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, since Hamas fighters killed 1,139 people on October 7. The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun said: “The desperate and devastating cost of

Exclusive By Isabel Ramirez

A view of Jerusalem

By Herbie Russell

Council to send over 8000 CPZ letters to Dulwich Village after houses were ‘missed’

the war in Gaza was evident in every conversation – and it is abundantly clear that the heaviest price is being paid by the most vulnerable. “I’m clear that continued military action will only intensify this humanitarian catastrophe and make the prospects for peace more distant. “As a religious leader, I add my voice to those calling for the release of the hostages and prisoners, and an immediate ceasefire

to end this appalling suffering.” The Bishop also said Christians faced “ongoing discrimination, harassment and abuse” in Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for a ceasefire in November. Bishop Christopher is urging churches in Southwark Diocese to pray for and raise funds to support community projects in Jerusalem, Zimbabwe and Southwark.

The authority’s lead on the proposal also pledged to extend the consultation period. At a cabinet meeting this week, (Wednesday 17 January) a group of residents brought up their concerns over the current consultation for a CPZ in their area. Southwark Council was previously set on introducing one borough-wide but scrapped the proposals last November. However, the Labour-run authority is still considering CPZs in Dulwich Village, Nunhead and Queen’s Road – albeit smaller, more ‘focused’ zones than first planned. On 11 December, a consultation was launched on a controlled parking zone in Dulwich Village. Bridget Furst, who lives there, expressed her worry that not everyone was informed in good time. Addressing Cllr James McAsh - who has spearheaded the proposals - at the meeting, she said: “This important consultation was launched just before the Christmas holidays with children off school and everyone busy. She then referenced the way it had been advertised as being ‘haphazard’, claiming it consisted of “scattered hand-delivered booklets to some but not all houses on every road.” “I didn’t receive one,” she claimed, “other people here didn’t and I only managed to look at the booklet yesterday when a friend lent me hers.” Ms Furst said she was ‘very concerned’ that ‘a significant number’ of residents had not received the information and therefore had not had a fair chance to take part. The consultation was set to close on Sunday (21 January) but it has been granted a seven-long extension bringing it to 28 January. As well as granting the extension, Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Streets and Clean Air said: “We will also write to every resident, every house which is about 8000 households in those areas. And we’re going to write to them using a different service to the one we used before. He added: “That’s not to say the one before was wrong, but it means that maybe if they were missing out some, perhaps these will miss out different ones or hopefully miss out no one at all.”

NEWS 15

mP ProPoSeS neW laW to Ban ZomBie KniVeS and macheteS after Surge in Violent crime By Isabel Ramirez

the mp for Dulwich and West Norwood is proposing a law to ban ‘Zombie-Style’ knives, machetes and ‘Ninja swords’, following a surge in their use for violent crimes.

Helen Hayes MP, Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood, put forward a Ten Minute Rule Bill – called the Offensive Weapons Bill – in the House of Commons on Tuesday 23 January. This Bill would ban the possession of ‘Zombie-Style’ knives, machetes and ‘Ninja swords’. These lethal weapons are increasingly being used in serious violence, including being linked to the murders of Ronaldo Scott and Keelen Wong in Helen’s constituency in September and October 2023. However, loopholes in the law mean many weapons are not effectively covered by existing bans. Despite growing calls for a meaningful ban including from actor Idris Elba and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the Government has yet to introduce the necessary legislation. In 2016, when Theresa May was home secretary, the Government said that work was underway to create laws to tackle these dangerous weapons and has

re-announced these plans regularly since then ‘while failing to take meaningful action.’ The latest government reannouncement was in August 2023. The Government has repeatedly

promised to implement a ban through “secondary legislation when parliamentary time allows.” However, research by the House of Commons library has found that there were 21 days in 2023 when Parliament rose early

Hickson, who’d campaigned against the plans, said they were “delighted”. However, they warned there was more work to be done if the space is to return to being a valued community space. In a joint statement, they said: “Together, with local residents and groups, we’ve been campaigning strongly for the former Kino Bermondsey cinema to be kept as a site of cultural and community value so the withdrawal of this application to change its use is very welcome.” When Bermondsey Square got planning permission in 2005 it was on the condition that the unit would remain a “cinema and arts club / exhibition space”.

The cinema opened under the name Shortwave Cinema in 2009 before changing hands and becoming Kino in 2017. However, Kino closed in January 2023 after negotiations over a rent reduction with Oval Real Estate broke down, opening the door for its conversion. Oval Real Estate argued a cinema wasn’t financially viable and even council officers admitted it was “unlikely” another cinema occupy the space given it only has enough space for one screen. But planning officers appeared to have hardened their position since. In an online notice, a council officer wrote: “The application was withdrawn at the request of the officer on 18/01/24 following the advice of the case officer the application was unlikely to be approved on the basis of insufficient justification for the loss of the cinema use.” The ward councillors said: “While we are delighted our campaign alongside residents has paid off, it is vital we continue our work with local people to bring the best possible community use to this building, and restore the value that the former Kino cinema brought.” Cllr Dalton has previously suggested it could become a venue similar to Morocco Bound – a nearby bookshop and community hub hosting jazz nights, poetry readings and book clubs.

‘Delight’ as developer backtracks on plans to replace Bermondsey cinema

Kino Cinema in Bermondsey closed its doors in 2023w

By Herbie Russell BERMONDSEy FILM buffs have received a boost after a developer reeled back its plans to remove a “much-loved” local cinema.

Oval Real Estate, which owns Bermondsey Square, had submitted plans to convert the defunct Kino Cinema into a shop, restaurant or sports facility. But the developer has withdrawn its application after a council officer warned that their plans were unlikely to be approved due to “insufficient justification for the loss of the cinema”. Labour ward councillors Sam Dalton, Sunil Chopra and Emily

with enough time remaining to debate secondary legislation. This includes 7 days after the Government announced their latest plans for a ban in August 2023. This Bill would end the delay and

implement the ban on so-called ‘Zombie’ knives and other large hunting knives. By including ‘Ninja swords’ in the ban, Helen’s Bill would also close significant gaps in the government’s proposals. Helen Hayes MP said: “Every life lost to serious violence is a tragedy. It is absolutely devastating for the family and friends of the victims and the entire community. There is fantastic work happening across Dulwich and West Norwood to support young and tackle serious violence. However, this work needs to be backed up by action from the central Government. “No one needs a hunting knife or zombie-style knife in London – these are dangerous weapons and the appalling injuries they can inflict mean their victims have little chance of survival. Despite their increasing use in serious violence across the country, the Government has failed to take the action needed to take these weapons off our streets. “We know a proper ban on Zombie knives and similar weapons is needed, but the Conservatives delayed action whilst arguing amongst themselves. My new Bill would outlaw large hunting knives for good.” Helen’s speech was broadcast on https://www.parliamentlive.tv/ on Tuesday 23 January.

Appeal after ‘phone robbery’ at Waterloo Underground Station

By Herbie Russell DeteCtiVeS haVe released CCtV images following a reported robbery at Waterloo Underground Station.

Police said shortly after 2.30pm on Monday, January 15, the victim was heading towards the Jubilee Line platforms when they were approached by three men. A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “The men asked the victim to see their phone, before threatening the victim with violence and assaulting them. “As the men went through the

victim’s phone to get their pin number, they were approached by a bystander. The men then left the scene with the victim’s phone.” Officers would like to speak to the men in the images as they believe they may have information that could help their investigation. Anyone who recognises them, or has any other information, is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 314 of 15/01/24. Alternatively, people can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

British Transport Police would like to speak to the men pictured in connection with a phone robbery

16 NEWS

reSident WinS high court Battle that could hinder deVeloPer’S PlanS for WalWorth eState

Aysen Dennis has agreed to leave her Wendover Block home with a ‘heavy heart’

The Aylesbury Estate

By Herbie Russell AN AyLESBURy Estate resident has won a court case that could hinder Notting Hill Genesis’s (NHG) plans to build a 26-storey all-private tower on her old home.

Aysen Dennis’s victory in the high court today (January 17) could force NHG to “revisit” its plans to demolish 327 social rent flats on Phase 2B to make way for new apartments. She has a personal connection to the flats earmarked for demolition, as one of them was her home for thirty years until she moved out into one of the estate’s newly built blocks. NHG said they were “disappointed” by the decision and that they would “consider our options” regarding their next move. The developer added that their outline planning permission to build roughly 3,600 homes on the Aylesbury Estate remained in place. Southwark Council granted NHG

outline planning permission to demolish and redevelop the 2,700-apartment council estate in 2015. Aysen and other campaigners have long argued the redevelopment amounts to “social cleansing” - mainly because the 1,600 social rent homes are roughly 800 fewer than existed previously. Unable to stop the regeneration, community members fought to impose certain conditions on NHG - including restricting the new blocks’ heights to twenty storeys. However, in 2022 NHG inserted the word ‘severable’ into its original planning permission, which Aysen’s lawyers say allowed it to “chop and change” what was agreed. Those lawyers say this amendment allowed NHG to submit plans to build a 26-storey tower on Phase 2B - taller than what was originally agreed. In court, Aysen’s team argued that the amendment was ‘material’ and therefore should have obtained a fresh planning permission to be permitted.

Following a high court hearing on Tuesday, November 28, a judge has ruled that the amendment was “material” and that it must be quashed. Alexandra Goldenberg, a solicitor at the Public Interest Law Centre, said: “NHG will now have to revisit that application as this puts into question how the redevelopment will be brought forward and could lead to NHG having to submit an entirely new planning application.” The application in question would have meant demolishing the 373 flats, of which were 327 social rent when planning permission was granted last year. The development was to provide 614 new homes but with just 163 at social rent, in towers ranging from five to 26 storeys. An NHG spokesperson said: “This is bad news for residents as it delays the desperately needed construction of brand new, high-quality homes.” Southwark News spoke to Aysen Dennis, who lived on Wendover block

Firefighters tackle ‘electrical fault’ office fire near Southwark station the lonDon Fire Brigade has extinguished an office fire near Southwark station.

Firefighters were called to the blaze on Boundary Row at 1.27pm on Tuesday, January 16. Part of a room in the basement of a three-storey office building was damaged by the fire which was extinguished by 2.41pm. There were no reports of any injuries. Crews from Lambeth, Soho and Dockhead fire stations attended the scene. The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire on Boundary Row in Southwark. “Part of a room in the basement of a three-storey office building was

damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries. “The Brigade was called at 1327 and the fire was extinguished by 1441. Crews

the community as we complete this ambitious project.” Walworth’s Aylesbury Estate was built by Southwark Council in the late 1970s. Once completed, it was one of the biggest public housing estates in Europe. Over the next 40 years, it fell into disrepair, leaving Southwark Council to decide whether to refurbish the estate or demolish and redevelop it. In 2014, Southwark Council made the controversial decision to demolish and rebuild the estate in partnership with private developers including NHG. Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes & Sustainable Development, said: “We are reviewing the High Court’s ruling on this judicial review, which rested on a highly technical planning argument that previously had no precedence in law. “It is disappointing that this decision will mean delays to building new homes for residents, but our plans to replace the original homes that were badly built in the sixties are still in train.”

By Isabel Ramirez

two saw Tinie Tempah join a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur, named Puli, as he let a graffiti artist and a massive living jungle wall take over his Victorian house in Peckham. As well as south London the episode also ventured to Essex, to meet a couple with a fraction of the budget, who were trying to extend without spoiling their distinctive 1960s home. The episode aired at 8 pm on Friday 19 January on Channel 4. Catch up on all the episodes so far at channel4.com.

Peckham home featured on a property series hosted by rapper Tinie Tempah

a peCkham home, owned by a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur, was featured on a property series presented by rapper, tinie tempah.

By Herbie Russell

on Phase 2B for 30 years before recently moving out. Celebrating her victory, she said: “It’s great. From the beginning, I knew the council was turning a blind eye to the developers making more profit. “Instead of social cleansing, we want council housing.” In the long term, 65-year-old Aysen hopes her victory will halt the £1.5million redevelopment and force Southwark Council and NHG to refurbish the estate instead. An NHG spokesperson said: “While we are disappointed by the Court’s decision to uphold this Judicial Review in relation to the legal technical matter in question, the outline permission for the Aylesbury regeneration remains in place, as does our commitment to delivering the highquality affordable housing and spaces so needed in this area. “We will consider our options regarding this decision, while continuing to work with Southwark Council to ensure we can best meet the needs of

from Lambeth, Soho and Dockhead fire stations attended the scene. “The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.”

Extraordinary Extensions is a renovation show on Channel 4 following brave homeowners as they extend their abodes with jawdropping results. Ambitious architectural aims and some big budgets mean these projects won’t all be plain sailing. Still, each programme will see the miraculous, and sometimes emotional, stories of diverse designs coming to life. Hosted by artist and property developer Tinie Tempah, will once again travel around the country to meet the people realising their dreams by expanding their homes upwards, downwards or outwards. Now in its second series, episode

L- R: Puli and Tinie Tempah

NEWS 17

tWo determined South london BoyS ‘dedicated a year to their goalS’ and made a film aBout it excluSive

By Isabel Ramirez tWO yOUNG men from south London, who devoted a year to trying to achieve their dreams, documented it all to show that ‘the youth of today are not lost.’

New Year’s Resolutions are one thing but have you ever dedicated an entire year to something you love? Well, in a bid to motivate their generation, these two south London boys have done just that - and they have got the film to prove it. Braulio Chimbembe and Collin Skhoyimue, both 20, star in ‘Change Makers’, a documentary that follows their life for a whole year, as they try to achieve their goals. The pair met at the London Nautical School in Blackfriars and although they were on different paths, they bonded over their determination to be successful in their fields.

Collin who grew up in Kennington, is a footballer, currently playing semiprofessionally for King’s Lynn Town FC with dreams to ‘make it pro.’ “My team is in the National League North, so I’m one step away from that,” he explained. Friend and co-star Braulio, who also produced the film with his company 42 Entertainment, said his goal is to create a platform which allows him to tell his own stories. After going to the BRIT School and Rada Youth Academy to realise his dreams of being an actor and filmmaker, he got a role in The Odyssey at the National Theatre - a longtime dream of his. But even after securing that, Braulio said he found it hard to break into the industry. “A lot of the people casting for roles will go to agencies first. “I haven’t had the best luck when it comes to agencies - you see that in the film.” Collin also fell on hard times. “I was injured and needed surgery. At one point

Collin Skhoyimue and Braulio Chimbembe, both 20.

By Isabel Ramirez 106 yOUNG Police Cadets from Southwark received their Jack Petchey Foundation Awards for outstanding contributions to their units.

I was told I’d never play again.” He said that knowing the ‘odds were stacked against him’ is what drove him to continue. On social media, Collin shares tips about life and football, with some videos racking up hundreds of thousands of views. Social media was also where he turned after his surgery. “In football, a lot of people show the highs - but I didn’t see anyone online showing the reality of a young person trying to make it, whilst going through so many injuries. “But a lot of players struggle with it.” The documentary itself shows the highs and lows of their individual paths. “We were both at a neutral point when we started - we could never have predicted what would happen,” Braulio said. Collin explained: “The goal of the documentary was to show people that if you dedicate a year of just focus and being consistent to achieving that goal with no limitations on yourself - you can genuinely make it happen.

Phone snatchers operating on Camberwell’s Elmington Estate

“And if it doesn’t happen, you can make significant progress. I want people to see if we can do it - they can.” Despite committing a year to their crafts - they are by no means done. But what does the final destination look like? As well as playing football at the ‘highest level’ (Collin) and thriving as an independent actor and producer (Braulio), they said being role models is their true aim. Braulio commented: “It’s to inspire. We want to show that the youth of today are not lost and there is hope for others.” The film premiered at a private screening at PeckhamPlex on Thursday (18 January). They plan to take the documentary to schools, charities and organisations that specifically work with young people to inspire them. They added that they won’t be posting it on social media until they’ve had a chance to do that. If you have an organisation that would benefit from this film, contact them on Instagram @42.ent

Evelina wins award

By Herbie Russell eVelina lonDon Children’s Hospital has received Centre of Excellence status for the care it offers people with muscle and nerve conditions.

The Elmington Estate

By Herbie Russell poliCe haVe warned that phone snatchers are operating on the Elmington Estate in Camberwell.

Local officers advised people to “look up and look out” and consider registering their phones’ serial numbers with crime prevention organisations. The Met said suspects “often dressed in dark colours and riding bicycles” had stolen phones on Jago Walk and Edmund Street.

On X, formerly Twitter, @ MPSCamberwell wrote: “Please Be advised! Phone snatchers are operating on the Elmington estate. “There has been a number of reports of Smart Phones being snatched out of the hands of people walking through the estate, most recently Jago Walk and Edmund Street. “The suspects are often dressed in dark colours and riding cycles. Please ‘look up and look out’ for would be suspects when using your phone in public.”

Over a hundred local Police Cadets receive Jack Petchey awards

Police said registering their phones’ serial numbers with crime prevention organisations to make their property harder to sell in second hand phone shops Officers routinely check the serial numbers of recovered phones against their database so they can return them to the victims. You can find your phone’s serial number (IMEI) by dialing *#06# on the dialling screen. Register your phone’s serial number so it’s accessible to police here.

The Waterloo hospital was one of 24 centres to be given the award by the leading charity Muscular Dystrophy UK. Neuromuscular conditions like muscular dystrophy, myopathies and Charcot-MarieTooth disease cause symptoms including loss of sensation, pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. Thirteen-year-old Finlay O’Donoghue has been treated for muscular dystrophy at Evelina since the age of four, meeting with cardiologists, endocrinologists and physiotherapists eight times a year. His grandmother Jen Gordon said: “When you first hear that your child has a condition you’ve never heard of before it’s daunting. “Very quickly, within that first year, all of the different departments that Finley was under gave me every bit of information and didn’t mind me asking twice, three times, until I got it.” She added: “They make me feel comfortable, and make Finley feel he is special to that person at that time.”

The live event, at The Kensington Great Hall, celebrated Achievement Award winners aged 11-25 from Southwark - winners received medallions and framed certificates from the Foundation along with a £300 grant for them to spend to benefit their unit. In addition, six adults were awarded Leader Awards for demonstrating outstanding ability to motivate young people. They each received a medallion and a framed certificate. Since funding started, Southwark has received over £2m from the Jack Petchey Foundation. Alimat Mudasir, 14, who attends Police Cadets Metropolitan Southwark 02, was awarded for her ‘exceptional progress’ in the unit. A spokesperson said: “She has been nominated as a reserve for Gravesend 2023 and is a remarkable volunteer who can retain information well. “Despite her self-doubt, Alimat is predicted to attain a high rank in the near future.” Alimat decided to spend her £300 Jack Petchey Achievement Award grant on t-shirts for her unit. Young people who are part of the Volunteer Police Cadets volunteer an average of 3 hours a month in support of local policing and community-inspired social action - which can include assisting policing operations and events such as Test Purchasing, trying to buy items that they are too young to buy legally, weapons sweeps of their local community spaces, crime prevention initiatives and helping at large scale events. Sir Jack founded the Jack Petchey Foundation in 1999 to recognise the positive contributions young people make to society and to support them in achieving their potential.

Alimat Musadir, 14.

18 OPINION

Comment We need mothers to come forward and share their maternity care experiences

hiS month marks the launch of Southwark Maternity Commission formed by Councillor Evelyn Akoto, Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

The Commission has been set up to assess the local inequalities in the access, experience and outcomes for maternity services, specifically for those parents from ethnic minorities and/or socially disadvantaged backgrounds, in particular, for those from a Black ethnic background. The Commission will assess the implementation of national recommendations for maternity services to reduce inequalities in access, experience and outcomes, and will identify additional areas for improvement in Southwark. I fully support the establishment of this commission and look forward to reading the commission’s final report, recommendations and action plan to support change in Southwark to reduce the drivers

of inequality in maternity care and maternal morbidity. One of the most pressing concerns is that black women are most at risk during childbirth and the most recent data shows that black women are 3.7 times more likely than white women to die. This is totally unacceptable and must be tackled urgently. This is of particular concern in Southwark, where there is a high proportion of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic residents. In Southwark, 25% of residents are from a Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic background compared to 4% across England and Wales. When I was chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in 2020, we produced the report ‘black people, racism, and human rights’. This report showed: • 78% of black women do not believe that their health is equally protected by the NHS compared to white people.

HARRIET HARMAN

MP for Camberwell & Peckham • While deaths in childbirth in the UK have fallen since 2010, there are significant variations in these statistics based on race. Asian women, mixed ethnicity women and black women are all more likely to die than white women during childbirth, with black women being most at risk. • The NHS’s Maternity Transformation Programme, “Better Births” which began in 2016 made no specific commitments in relation to women from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds and there are no targets to end this disparity. • The Joint Committee on Human Rights proposed that a target must

be introduced to end the disparity in maternal mortality between Black women and white women. Those are shocking statistics, particularly as so many black women play such a crucial part in providing NHS services. Those figures are based on the experiences and expectations of black women in a society where black people are not treated equally. To remedy this situation the NHS must set a clear target to close the gap in the ethnic disparity of maternal outcomes. We must address the differential delivery of care that is the experience of too many black women. We must have regular and publicly accessible monitoring of the ethnic disparity in maternal mortality rates.

This monitoring is important, so it is particularly disappointing that King’s which serves a very diverse community does not publish its maternal mortality disparity data. We must work to close the wider health and social inequalities that exist in our society. I hope everyone who has experienced maternity care in Southwark to come forward and share their experience to help the commission. Whether you are a frontline professional, or have had a recent pregnancy in Southwark, or have supported a family member with a pregnancy, sharing your experience will help to inform the commission as it works towards it’s vital aim in reducing the ethnic disparity in maternity care across Southwark.

Rising costs are making it even harder to raise children in London

n my role at the London Assembly, I have been working hard to address the cost of living crisis facing many across London. I have written before about the impact of rising housing costs, food inflation and soaring bills – and what the Government should be doing about it.

Another serious issue is becoming more prevalent. It’s now harder to raise children in our city because of costs. Recently, the Assembly exposed how childcare costs are up to a third higher in London than the rest of the UK, with severe staff shortages and rising demand pushing family budgets to the brink. Parents are forking out between 25 and 33 per cent more in the capital than the rest of the UK. Costs are causing serious concerns amongst parents and impacting major life decisions such as whether to have more children, or for some, children at all. On top of this, a lack

of affordable childcare means that parents – often women – stay home to care for children, holding back their careers as well as the contribution they make to London’s economy. The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is doing what he can to lessen the impact of the cost of living crisis. You may have seen that Sadiq Khan has extended the free school meals scheme across London for another year. This means that all primary school children get a warm, nutritious meal at school each day, so they can learn on a full stomach. This will save families more than £1000 for each child – helping to support stretched family finances. This is on top of the free holiday meals that less well-off families get thanks to the Mayor. City Hall has given out more than 10 million nutritious meals since the scheme was introduced last Easter – because we know that hunger doesn’t stop just because term has. Everyone, regardless of whether or not

you have children, will benefit from the Mayor freezing TfL fares this year – helping all Londoners get to work, school or just to have a night out. This applies to pay as you go and single fares. So if you’re touching in and out on the tube, tram or bus, the cost will stay the same. Disappointingly, the Government announced just before Christmas that the fares that they control – travelcards, price caps and national rail fares – will go up by 4.9%. But, given that record numbers – about 80% of Londoners - now use pay as you go, the Mayor’s change will help thousands of people from our area. City Hall can help protect Londoners from the worst of the cost of living crisis. As an Assembly Member, I’ll keep on advocating for schemes like these so that all residents benefit.

MARiNA AHMAd

GLA Member for Southwark & Lambeth

NEWS 19

The National Covid Memorial Wall is a symbol we all understand and need to be kept permanently

hether it be due to the loss of loved ones, the hardships of lockdown, or its economic fallout, the Covid-19 pandemic is a trauma we all share. We must remember it fittingly.

The National Covid Memorial Wall already does that. Stretching over 0.5km long, and decorated with over 200,000 bright-red hearts to represent the dead, it’s a striking reminder of the pain we suffered. Despite being established in March 2021, almost three years later, it’s never received the government’s official approval. Funded and decorated by volunteers, there’s no telling whether it’ll still be there in five or ten years. If those volunteers can no longer tend to it, the Thames spray will eventually mean it fades away. It shouldn’t have taken this long for central government to decide whether to back its right to exist. Millions of lives have been irreversibly changed by the pandemic - some would say worsened by government’s management of the crisis. The least it can do is allow us a fitting tribute. There are also very practical reasons for keeping it. Why spend millions on establishing a brand new monument? Presumably, it would be some sort of monolith designed by an artist of the government’s choosing. We already have The National Covid Memorial Wall, a monument that has sprung up organically and truly belongs to the people. So we urge the government, St Thomas’s Hospital and other authorities to get around the table and discuss properly how we can retain this remarkable symbol of a struggle so many endured.

Southwark Council’s finances look stable for now

he budget isn’t an easy read - £3.25million less will be spent on adult social care and £3.2million less on support for children and families - but at least Southwark isn’t insolvent.

It seems crazy to be thankful that our local authority isn’t going bankrupt but it really is good news. Declining funding for local councils over the last fifteen years has plunged them into the perilous situation where one in five council bosses say their authorities are likely to go bust in the next fifteen months. Southwark, on the other hand, has reassured us in our interview this week that its finances are robust and there are no fears of financial collapse. This should mean our streets remain clean, our rubbish collected, and basic support services provided, for years to come. For all the criticism the council comes under, it deserves a big pat on the back for keeping its finances afloat. It has endured violent headwinds in recent years - inflation, a pandemic and government instability - while continuing to keep the coffers from running dry. Having said that, the Housing Revenue Accounts, separate from the main fund, do look precarious and will need carefully to be managed to avoid disaster over the next few years. And yet, contrary to what Labour councillors might argue, it’s hard to see how a Keir Starmer government would change this. The Labour Party is refusing to commit to more public spending, even though that seems to be the only route out for under-the-cosh London boroughs. If Westminster doesn’t have the political will to give our councils the helping hand they need, Southwark will have to make more cuts in years to come.

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CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across 1 Saint with a delicate hue was too sparing (7) 5 Spacetravellers’ path (5) 8 Destroy by fire among drab urns (4) 9 Underwater process in which one would hate to be involved (8) 10 Like a ghost, or a person who has seen one, no doubt (5,2,1,5) 13 Heroic aspect of Italianate pictures (4) 14 Many are drawn (4) 17 Representative samples, or only the illtempered parts? (5,8) 19 Consignment of broken hemp tins (8) 20 Very interested in fake entombments (4) 21 Forbidding behind (5) 22 Where one lives totals about half the resort (7)

Clues Down 2 Oversensitive about asking for money? (6) 3 Uninterrupted by end of run on inverted pots 4 Delights on the way in? (9) 5 A shot goes astray leads to curses (5) 6 These are one’s betters in race (7) 7 Given free medical attention? (7) 11 Coal dealt out of order, but still distributed (9) 12 Topless sex, over a hundred uses free from, blame (7) 13 Move tie strongly, arousing feelings (7) 15 One who considers slender half of the kernel (7) 16 Tinsel can be twisted into these openings (6) 18 Name of a man called Peter (5)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across 1 Hotheads (7) 5 Group (5) 8 Scowl (4) 9 Football official (8) 10 Rash acts (13) 13 Set period (4) 14 Belonging to us (4) 17 Bad organisation (13) 19 Beekeeper (8) 20 Boring tools (4) 21 Indications (5) 22 Literary compilers (7)

Clues Down 2 Quantity (6) 3 Kind of rifle (7) 4 Officer of the law (9) 5 Sheepish cry (5) 6 Lively girls (7) 7 Cutting tool (7) 11 Stretched (9) 12 Direction indicator (7) 13 Sampling (7) 15 Piece left over 16 Fisherman (6) 18 Measures of area (5)

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Across: 4 Scores 8 Candles 10 Cluster 11 Tonic 12 Trips 13 Crab Apple 16 Despaired 19 Throw 20 Claim 22 Inching 23 Sunspot 24 Sonnet Down: 1 Acetic 2 Anon 3 Black and white 5 Countenancing 6 Retailer 7 Stress 9 Scoop 14 American 15 Strips 17 Sings 18 Demote 21 Alps

QUICK CROSSWORD

Across: 4 Pamper 8 Errands 10 Hitting 11 Imbue 12 Purse 13 Overstate 16 Canisters 19 Allot 20 Naked 22 Ingrown 23 Stencil 24 Dressy Down: 1 Merino 2 Grab 3 Intersections 5 Antipersonnel 6 Primrose 7 Ragged 9 Sheba 14 Epilogue 15 Varied 17 Nouns 18 Saddle 21 Kick

20 ARTS

what’s on

in Southwark

Outside In Mural at Boutcher School

Rotherhithe artist Ed Gray, one of London’s chief chroniclers of the capital’s life and people, has been spending a lot of his time tutoring and mentoring local children at Bermondsey’s Boutcher School, writes Michael Holland.

‘This is my third project as Boutcher’s artist-in-residence working with years 4, 5 and 6, whose ages range from 8-10 years old, and it was funded by the Dyers Guild,’ he tells me as he prepares to leave his studio and the painting he is currently working on of Remembrance Sunday at the West Lane War Memorial, to make his way to the

Grange Road school for the unveiling of his students’ latest end of term work A mural called Outside In. ‘We wanted to celebrate the beautiful Peace Garden just outside the main school hall and visible through a long series of windows. I took inspiration from the windows and created canvas panels to mirror them,’ he says while showing me photos of the pupils’ progress throughout the project. I could see their development in the images taken over just a few sessions. ‘We spent a few weeks drawing plants and insects in the garden which we collaged into larger studies and

eventually enlarged onto the 1m×1.5m canvases to create a mural that is 9m long by 1m high.’ What did the young people put into the artwork? ‘Pupils painted their own section of the mural and with four pupils working on each panel they had to be very aware of what they were each doing… They included all the urban wildlife and as a group we played around with scale and viewpoints to create drama within the mural.’ Which artists did you use as examples for this kind of art? ‘We took inspiration from Henri

Rousseau, Georgia O’Keefe, Henri Matisse, Philip Guston and Jacob Lawrence. The students learnt about observational drawing, scale, composition and painting techniques such as colour mixing and brush use. Most importantly we focused on idea development and cooperation.’ Are you happy with what they have achieved? ‘Absolutely! The long term results are a beautiful mural celebrating the school and its urban flora and fauna, plus, their increased confidence in creativity and problem solving.’ What next for Boutcher? ‘We’re working now on a new project

involving sculpture and animation with years 3, 4 and 5.’ Headteacher Eilidh Verhoeven said: ‘It’s a privilege to have Ed Gray, a working artist, sharing his passion, knowledge and skills with our children. They learn so much more than art skills - history, science and maths to name just a few.’ Can people get to see the mural displayed? ‘The public are welcome to visit the school to view the new mural in the main hall by appointment with the school office.’

Kostyantyn was a vet in his own country, but not all qualifications travel well so he is living in cramped accommodation and working in the slaughterhouse with Dan who once had a girlfriend and still lives with his mum. An unlikely pairing. Nina(Kateryna Hryhorenko) has an easy time of playing the downtrodden, stay-at-home wife while carrying one baby in her arms and two in her womb, as Eden (Liv Jekyll) has a right old time as she deftly goes from once being Dan’s girlfriend in a very carnivorous, takeaway burger-driven relationship, before becoming a militant animal rights activist who pours blood over the industry’s employees and smashes up the killing machines, forcing management to close the factory for repairs and clean up operations, and not pay their zero-hour contract workers. Who is the baddie here? Actually, the evil in the piece was made manifest in the form of Jordan El-Balawi playing the school bully and the ruthless

boss. He had just the right face and attitude for those girls who like bad boys to fall for, but who the rest of us can see is just a nasty piece of work but one that seems to work as they banter their way through each day. So, between these five people I was hoping they would make me feel guilty about the braised hearts I’d had for dinner and contemplate giving up meat. No. I was more concerned with why Kostyantyn had left his pregnant wife and child and pretended he had work as a vet here, then never rushed back to be with his family when the Russians invaded! There was so much wordy overkill on the slaughterhouse environment it was hard to find it all believable. And Dan being driven to kill himself when he seems such a happy man was plain confusing. If anyone should have ended their life my money would have been on Kostyantyn, especially when the video backdrop showed Russians invading Ukraine. Ultimately, the strong initial premise was diluted with too many other distracting worthy causes. In the end I

didn’t know if it was about animal rights, turning vegan, racism, war or suicide. And when you see there are over twenty people in the programme with a bio who never set a foot on stage like the five hardworking cast, and the script shoe-horns in every cause that the funders support, you start to think the money hasn’t been spent in the right place. Alas, Smith and Jones’ sterling work was overwhelmed

with the worthiness and their stars were dimmed. Southwark Playhouse Borough, The Little, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD until 3rd February. Times: Monday to Saturday at 8pm; Tuesday and Saturday matinees at 3.30pm. Admission: £10 - £18 Booking: 020 7407 0234 https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Slaughterhouse Blues Patch Plays is dedicated to staging productions with animal ethics and the environment at their root, hence Grace Joy Howarth’s Blood On Your Hands being set in a slaughterhouse besieged by animal rights activists, writes Michael Holland.

It opens with a blur of movement where we see bloodied knives and Meat is Murder placards followed by quick-fire scenes showing us Kostyantyn(Shannon Smith) trying to make a life in the UK while his wife struggles with a child and twins on the way in a Ukraine with the Russians lurking at the border, and Dan (Phillip John Jones) breezing through life with only himself to look after. Concise direction from Anastasia Bunce, Lucy Corley and Alex Kampfner meant a lot of the story was told quickly and silently through expressionism and symbolism to depict the horrors of war, of abattoir work, and sleeping on floors with strangers,

https://www.edgrayart.com/

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Challenging immigration decisions including deportations & appeals Rishi Sunak wrongful media hype on immigration is about people coming through on boats and the Rwanda Bill, setting out to the British public, this is what UK immigration is all about.

• Check the reasons on the letter why they had refused the application. Need us to advise and help on the appeal, please send us a copy of the refusal letter and also the latest application ﬁled to info@icslegal.com.

• We do ﬁnd media plays a huge role to the British society and fail to put forward, those who illegally enter the UK are just a small in numbers in contrast to how much immigration contributes to the UK’s ﬁnancial wealth and the value that it brings.

What happens post appeals, removals and deportation cases? There has been a rise in removing individuals, both considering under the removal directions or raising a deportation order.

Our minds manipulated with wrongful narratives Yet, in all our minds, we believe that asylum seekers are what our entire immigration is about. There is not enough said about those who work in our societies and public bodies like the NHS, who serve the community and provide us with a competitive work force. • We then have enterprises and businesses coming to the UK, invest funds from £50,000.00 onwards, to build scalable, viable and innovative businesses, working with our STEM industry and create jobs. It’s exciting time, and we at ICS Legal are privileged and thrilled to work with highly talented individuals, entrepreneurs and skilled workers, who bring far more than what the UK Government speaks about. • “Statistics are becoming the norm in the public servant’s decision process, leading

to some wrongful decisions.” This is what a recent conservative MP spoke about and creating a market disadvantage to us. Wrongful immigration decisions The fact that the Home Oﬃce have driven to meet targets, is leading to a high number of visa refusals. • If you have been refused under the point based system, then there would be a right to conduct an Administrative Review. • Sponsor Licence applications that been refused, are not classed as immigration decisions but you can legally challenge

these. Appealing an immigration decision When you receive the decision letter, the Home Oﬃce will explain why they had refused the application. We know that it can be quite upsetting when receiving the decision, but rest assured, matters in most cases can be resolved by appealing the immigration decisions. • In most cases, you would be given a right to appeal within 14 or 28 days against the decision.

• In most cases, if you have been refused or had your immigration appeal rights exhausted, then you would be asked to leave the UK. • Where you have been served a deportation order, then you must consider legally challenging this. This is because a deportation order is an effective remedy to prevent re-entry ban to the UK. Read more here: https://icslegal.com/deportation under-immigration-rules-removal-from-the-uk. Speaking to ICS Legal Immigration Lawyers You can reach us on 020 7237 3388 and ﬁnd more information on www.icslegal. com. Stay connected with us with all the latest legal changes on immigration, nationality and human rights policies.

22 FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Maureen Marks 17th February 1944 – 30th December 2023

With great sadness, the family of Maureen Marks announce her passing on Friday, 29th December; 2023. Maureen was a cherished Mum, Nan, Great Nan, Sister, Aunt, Niece, Cousin & Friend. She will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her. A celebration of her life will take place on Wednesday, 31st January 2024 with her final journey departing from F A Albin & Sons, at 12.30pm (Address: Arthur Stanley House, 52 Culling Road, London, SE16 2TN) to a 2.30pm service at Falconwood Crematorium (Address: Crown Woods Way SE9 2AZ), followed by a reception at Sidcup Conservative Club, Oxford Road, Sidcup, DA14 6LW. If you would like to send flowers, can you please ensure that these all reach F A Albin & Sons by 12pm.

As a family, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind messages and condolences since her passing. We would also like to thank Bermondsey Radio for the beautiful tribute by dedicating their recent show to her. The Stars have called you Home….. The stars have called you home, love. Up high, so far away. I think they missed your brilliance, they couldn’t let you stay. You’ve shone that light of yours, love on all the lives you’ve touched. We’ve known your joy for years and years, I guess they thought ‘enough’. They need your light up there now. This world grows ever dark. Your passion will rain down like love, dripped into every heart. The stars have called you home now, we’ll miss you every day. And every night we’ll scour the skies to watch you, where you lay. And when dark clouds are gathering and air’s too cold to breathe. The life you lived will warm our bones, and your star will help us see.

CLASSIFIED 23 FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Memorial In Loving Memory of

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24 PUBLIC NOTICES LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (GERVASE STREET, NEPTUNE STREET, REDCROSS WAY, TANNER STREET, VERNEY ROAD) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

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

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Gervase Street, at it’s junction with Old Kent Road (b) Neptune Street, between Lower Road and Moodkee Street (c) Redcross Way, between Park Street and Southwark Street (d) Tanner Street, between Riley Road and Maltby Street (e) Verney Road, at it’s junction with St James Road

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Old Kent Road, Asylum Road (2b) as indicated by the signs displayed (2c) as indicated by the signs displayed (2d) as indicated by the signs displayed (2e)

The existing ‘one-way’ working in Gervase Street, between Old Kent Road and Asylum Road, will be made ‘two-way’ for access and egress purposes.

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

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

The works will be in operation for (2a) 19th – 22nd January (2b) 25th January – 7th February (2c) 21st – 22nd January (2d) 23rd – 24th January (2e) 19th – 26th January

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

LICENSING ACT 2003 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT WE, BBB FRANCHISE LTD, APPLIED ON 18.01.2024 TO WANDSWORTH COUNCIL IN RESPECT OF THE PREMISES KNOWN AS: Boom Battle Bar, Units 3B.01, 11 Barley Walk, Unit 3B.02, 9 Barley Walk, Unit 3B.03, 8 Barley Walk, SW18 1UL. FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE FOR THE FOLLOWING: List of licensable activities 1.Opening Times: 2.The retail sale of alcohol (On the premises): 3. Late Night Refreshment (Indoors): 4. Recorded Music 5. Live Music 6. Indoor Sporting events

Days Monday - Sunday Monday - Sunday Monday - Sunday Monday - Sunday Monday - Sunday Monday - Sunday

Hours 08:00 – 00:00 10:00 – 23:30 23:00 – 00:00 10:00 – 23:30 10:00 – 23:30 10:00 – 23:30

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by end of consultation date :15th February 2024, stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine. LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (AVONMOUTH STREET, BURRELL STREET, DATE STREET, HOLYROOD STREET, MARMONT ROAD, THE CUT, CRYSTAL PALACE PARADE ) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC/CYCLE LANE CLOSURE)

Dated this 25th January 2024 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 81079841 (2b) LCND00925H (2c) SLS000812394230135 (2d) LBSCR13324 (2e) UKP11229

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Avonmouth Street, between Newington Causeway and No’s 6 Avonmouth Street (b) Burrell Street, between Chancel Street and it’s blocked end (c) Date Street, between No’s 26 (d) Holyrood Street, between Shand Street and Magdalen Street (e) Marmont Road, between No’s 93 and Hardcastle House (f) The Cut, between between No’s 39a (g) Crystal Palace Parade, cycle lane between Westwood Hill and Old Cople Lane

Notice of application for a Premises Licence. Notice is hereby given that Mr. Antony Mariyathas Savarimuthu has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Chicken city, 70 Mitcham Road, London, SW17 9NA for Late Night Refreshment Sunday to Thursday 23.00 to 02.00 and Friday & Saturday 23.00 to 04.00. Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 15th February 2024 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we SUSITA LATINO'S SHOP LIMITED Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of 57 CAMBERWELL CHURCH STREET, LONDON, SE5 8TR The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are Days

Start time

Finish time

The supply of alcohol:

Monday to Sunday

12:00

23:00

The provision of regulated entertainment: (Recorded music)

Monday to Sunday

12:00

23:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday

12:00

23:00

A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above (or by email via licensing@southwark.gov.uk) and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below. Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. Date of application: 18th January 2024

The alternative route for affected traffic will be s indicated by the signs displayed

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

The works will be in operation for (2a) 12th – 23rd February (2b) 14th – 15th February (2c) 12th – 15th February (2d) 15th – 16th February (2e) 12th February – 2nd March (2f) 5th – 8th February (2g) 12th – 17th February

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

Dated this 25th January 2024 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 23114386 (2b) LBSCR13387 (2c) 000032070138-001 (2d) LBSCR13386 (2e) 30956274 (2f) SLS00081327271-0090 (2g) 35384739

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PUBLIC NOTICES 25

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended) PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 (as amended)

The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/ You can use facilities at your local library or 'My Southwark Service Points' to access the website. How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked 'confidential' will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Chief executive's department, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX. Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; EIA - environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council - there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ - major planning application; STDCA - development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building;

SWEDISH SEAMANS CHURCH 120 LOWER ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE16 2UB (Ref: 23/AP/2100) Change of use of the former church hall and ancillary areas (Class F1) to a multi-purpose hall for the local community and ancillary areas (Class F2), change of use of the lounge associated with the former church use into a kitchen/living room for the existing large HMO (Sui Generis) to the front of the site, together with associated works including bin and bicycle storage and a new access gate to the front elevation. Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Louise Dinsdale 07513137967) 14-16 STONEY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 9AD (Ref: 24/AP/0083) Resubmission of 23/AP/2490 Alterations to the shopfront facing Clink Yard and Dirty Lane, to include a new entrance to the side elevation. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Chloe Rimell 0207 525 1397) 143 PECKHAM RYE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 3UL (Ref: 24/AP/0100) Listed building consent ( Proposed) lower ground floor single storey rear extension, erection of new single storey rear extension, floor plan redesign and all associated works at 143 Peckham Rye, SE15 3UL Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948) 14-16 STONEY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 9AD (Ref: 24/AP/0066) Display of three temporary hoarding designs incorporating branding and illustrations along Stoney Street and Dirty Lane. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA

(Contact: Chloe Rimell 0207 525 1397) MINERVA HOUSE 5 MONTAGUE CLOSE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 9BB (Ref: 24/AP/0058) Display of hoarding advertisement (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Alex Lambert 020 7525 1353)

Construction of rear extension, raising existing paving levels to the rear and removal of external shed for paving pathway and the installation of externally mounted Air Source heat Pump (ASHP) to the rear of property. (Within: Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876)

143 PECKHAM RYE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 3UL (Ref: 24/AP/0099) Erection of lower ground floor single storey rear extension and all associated works. Reason(s) for publicity: (Contact: Anna Poulose )

20 TOWNLEY ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8SR (Ref: 24/AP/0145) Construction of single storey rear infill extension and external alterations to rear elevation. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: William Tucker 07925 637 210)

20 DARWIN STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 1HB (Ref: 23/AP/2833) Construction of a fenced off area to the front elevation for bin storage. (Within: Yates Estate And Victory CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Alex Lambert 020 7525 1353)

38 JAVA WHARF 16 SHAD THAMES LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2YH (Ref: 24/AP/0135) Proposed removal of non load bearing internal walls and new kitchen layout (Within: Multiple CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876)

GROUND FLOOR FLAT 372 OLD KENT ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 5AA (Ref: 23/AP/3416) Change of use from residential to mixed commercial use (Within: Multiple CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Quyen Phan )

GROUND FLOOR 88A TOOLEY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2TF (Ref: 23/AP/3562) Conversion of existing basement and ground floor to provide a Class A3 (food and drink use) and Class A5 (hot food takeaway) unit. (Within: Tooley Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Winnie Wing Lam Tse 020 7525 0554)

38 JAVA WHARF 16 SHAD THAMES LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2YH (Ref: 24/AP/0136) Listed Building Consent for removal of non load bearing internal walls and new kitchen layout (Within: St Saviours Dock CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Sandy Ng 020 7525 5000) 2 WOODHALL AVENUE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7HL (Ref: 24/AP/0105)

Dated: 23 Jan 2024 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date. STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

Notice of application for a Premises Licence

RUSKIN WALK PERMANENT ‘ONE-WAY’ TRAFFIC OPERATION The London Borough of Southwark (Prescribed routes) (Ruskin Walk) Traffic Order 202*

Notice is hereby given that WE ARE THE FAIR LTD has appliedto Richmond Council for a new premises licence at WE ARE THE FAIR LTD, OLD DEER PARK, TWICKENHAM ROAD, RICHMOND TW9 1PG for: SALE OF ALCOHOL: SAT 10:00 – 22:30, SUN 10:00 – 22:00 REGULATED ENTERTAINMENT: SAT 10:00 – 23:00, SUN 10:00 – 22:30 OPENING HOURS: SAT 10:00 – 23:30, SUN 10:00 – 23:00 THIS LICENCE WILL ONLY PERMIT A MAXIMUM OF 2 EVENT DAYS PER YEAR, TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS ONLY.

1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that it proposes to make the above order under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended. 2. The effect of the (Prescribed routes) Order would be to implement on a permanent basis:(a)‘one-way’ north-westbound traffic operation, except pedal cycles, in that part of Ruskin Walk which lies between a point 36.5 metres north-west of the north-western kerb-line of Half Moon Lane and the south-eastern kerb-line of Herne Hill; and (b) ‘no entry’, except pedal cycles, for vehicles proceeding in Herne Hill at its junction with Ruskin Walk. NOTES: Measurements are in metres and are approximate. 3. For more information about these proposals please contact Tobias Allen of the council's Highways – Transport Projects team Highways@southwark.gov.uk. 4. Copies of the supporting documents (this Notice, the proposed Order, and a statement of the Council's reasons for making the Order) may be found online at www.southwark.gov.uk/trafficorders; paper or digital copies of the plan showing the location and effect of the Order and the supporting documents may be requested by emailing traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk, or inspected by appointment only at: Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH - from the date of this Notice until the end of a period of six weeks from the date on which the Order is made. Email traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk (or call 020 7525 3497) for booking details. 5. Anyone wishing to make any representations either for or to object to the proposals, may send a statement in writing to: Traffic Order Consultations, Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, P.O. Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX or traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk quoting reference ‘TMO2324-018 Ruskin Walk’ by 15 February 2024. Please note that if you wish to object to this proposal you must state the grounds on which your objection is made. 6. Under requirements of current access to information legislation, any letter, form or e-mail sent to the Council in response to this Notice may be subject to publication or disclosure, or both, including communication to other persons affected. Dated 25 January 2024 Dale Foden - Head of Service, Highways

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Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 17/02/2024 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.richmond.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine

26 PUBLIC NOTICES Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A2 GLA ROAD (OLD KENT ROAD, LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) ORDER 2024 1. Transport for London having consulted with the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3. 2. The purpose of the order is to allow electrical connection works to be undertaken on the A2 Old Kent Road. 3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from; (1) turning right from Old Kent Road into Peckham Park Road; (2) proceed in a southerly direction on Peckham Park Road from its junctions with Old Kent Road and Green Hundred Road, local access will be maintained. The Order will be effective between 08:00 AM on the 10th February 2024 and 6:00 PM on the 25th February 2024 or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs. 4. The prohibition will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes. (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London. 5. At such times as the prohibitions are in force an alternative route will be indicated by trafc signs via Old Kent Road, New Cross Road, Amersham Road, Parkeld Road, Lewisham Way, New Cross Road, Queens Road, Peckham High Street Buller Close to normal route of travel. For cyclists Old Kent Road, Commercial Way, Bird in Bush Road, Green Hundred Road to normal route of travel. Dated this 25th day of January 2024 Claire Wright Co-ordination and Permitting Area Manager Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

January 25th 2024

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK DISABLED PERSONS PARKING PLACES – B32 The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (DPPP B32) Order 2024 The London Borough of Southwark (Free parking places) (DPPP B32) Order 2024 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 25 January 2024 it has made the above Orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended. 2. The effect of the orders would are:(a) to provide new disabled persons parking places (DPPPs), 6.6 metres in length (unless otherwise specified), which would operate at any time and may be used without time limit by vehicles displaying a valid disabled persons 'blue badge', at the following locations:ANSDELL ROAD north-east side o/s No. 17 Ansdell Road; BOWEN DRIVE north-east side o/s No. 27 Bowen Drive; BRUNSWICK QUAY south-east side, side of No. 21 Brunswick Quay; ELFINDALE ROAD south-west side, side of No. 79 Herne Hill; FINCH MEWS north-west side, side of No. 19 Moody Road; GOODRICH ROAD north-east side, side of No. 239 Upland Road; IVANHOE ROAD south-east side o/s No. 13 Ivanhoe Road; IVYDALE ROAD south-east side o/s Nos. 287 and 289 Ivydale Road; LEDBURY STREET south-west side, o/s No. 8 Ledbury Street; LYNDHURST GROVE north-west side o/s No. 33 Lyndhurst Grove; MINA ROAD north-west side o/s No. 76 Mina Road; QUEBEC WAY north-east side o/s No. 12 Quebec Way (Bay House); STUDHOLME STREET south-east side o/s No. 2 Studholme Street; UPLAND ROAD north-west side o/s Nos. 222 and 224 Upland Road; VAUGHAN STREET south side o/s Nos. 46 and 48 Vaughan Street; and WAVENEY AVENUE south-west side o/s Nos. 21a and 23 Waveney Avenue; NOTES: (1) The measures in 2 (b)-(h) are made so as to accommodate the provision of the new DPPPs in those locations referred to above. (2) ‘permit’ refers to parking places for holders of valid parking permits within the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) listed, ‘shared-use’ refers to parking places in which holders of a valid permit for the CPZ listed or ‘pay’ paid ticket holders are permitted to park within the permitted hours. (3) All measurements are in metres ‘m’ and are approximate. (4) Parking charges are listed on www.southwark.gov.uk/parking (b) in CPZ ‘M1’ MINA ROAD split and reduce in length existing 'permit' by 6.66m (a total of 87.5m remains) north-west side o/s No. 76 Mina Road; (c) in CPZ ‘P’ ELFINDALE ROAD reduce in length existing 'shared-use' by 6.66m (14m remains) south-west side, side of No. 79 Herne Hill; (d) in CPZ 'PR' LYNDHURST GROVE split and reduce in length existing 'permit' by 6.66m (a total of 57m remains) north-west side o/s No. 33 Lyndhurst Grove; (e) in CPZ ‘Q’ IVANHOE ROAD split and reduce in length existing 'permit' by 6.66m (a total of 82.5m remains) south-east side o/s No. 13 Ivanhoe Road; (f) in CPZ ‘R’ FINCH MEWS reduce in length existing 'permit' by 6.66m (21.5m remains) north-west side, side of No. 19 Moody Road; (g) in CPZ ‘S’ (i) reduce in length existing 'permit' by 6.6m in BRUNSWICK QUAY (9.5m remains) south-east side, side of No. 21 Brunswick Quay, and in VAUGHAN STREET (9.5m remains) south side o/s Nos. 46 and 48 Vaughan Street and (ii) reduce in length existing 'shared-use' by 6.66m in QUEBEC WAY (5.5m remains) north-east side o/s No. 12 Quebec Way (Bay House); (h) in CPZ ‘T’ (i) in LEDBURY STREET split and reduce in length existing 'permit' by 6.66m (a total of 84.5m remains) south-west side o/s No. 8 Ledbury Street, and (ii) STUDHOLME STREET reduce in length existing 'permit' by 6.66m (37m remains) south-east side o/s No. 2 Studholme Street; and (i) to remove existing ‘unlimited stay’ DPPPs that are no longer needed from the following locations: o/s No. 51 HINDMANS ROAD, and o/s No. 72 RODWELL ROAD. 3. Copies of the Orders, which will come into force on 29 January 2024, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH, by appointment only. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 3497 for booking details.

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4. Any person desiring to question the validity of the Order/s or of any provision contained therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order/s may, within six weeks of the date on which the Order was made, make application for the purpose to the High Court. Dated 25 January 2024 Dale Foden - Head of Service, Highways

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK WINDSOR WALK ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (Windsor Walk) Order 2024 The London Borough of Southwark (Prescribed routes) (Windsor Walk) Traffic Order 2024 The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting and loading restrictions) (Windsor Walk) Order 2024 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 25 January 2024 it has made the above orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended. 2. The effects of the (Charged-for parking places) Order are in WINDSOR WALK within Controlled Parking Zone ‘L’:(a) on the south-east side (i) opposite Nos. 18 to 20 (The Fetal Research Institute) remove 29m of existing 'shared-use', and (ii) o/s Denmark Hill Station reduce existing 'shared-use' by 14m (32.5m of the parking bay remains); and (b)on the north-west side o/s No. 16, reduce existing 'shared-use' by 4m (38m of the parking bay remains). 3. The effects of the (Prescribed routes) Order are to:(a)introduce a ‘no motor vehicles’ restriction in that part of Windsor Walk which lies between the north-western kerb-line of Champion Park and a point 40m north-west of that kerb-line (the entirety of which will provide a two-way route for pedal cycles only); and (b)removes the now redundant compulsory right turn and the banned left turn for all vehicles from Windsor Walk at its junction with Champion Park. 4. The effects of the (Waiting and loading restrictions) Order are in WINDSOR WALK:(a) on both sides remove all redundant DYLs from the extent of the proposed cycle route (as described in item 3a preceding); (b) extend the existing DYLs (i) throughout the turning head (north of the Windsor Walk cycle route) and add new DKBs to cover the extent of this turning head, and (ii) on the north-west side o/s No. 16; and (c) on the south-east side opposite Nos. 18 to 20 (The Fetal Research Institute) add new DYLs to accommodate kerb-line buildouts and the reduction of parking as described in item 2a preceding. NOTES: (1) ‘shared-use’ refers to parking places in which holders of a valid permit for Controlled Parking Zone ‘L’ or ‘pay’ paid ticket holders are permitted to park within the permitted hours. (2) There would be limited exemptions to the restrictions in item 3 preceding to preserve the structure of the bridge. (3) ‘DYLs’ refer to 'at any time' waiting restrictions and ‘DKBs’ refer to 'at any time' loading restrictions. (4) All measurements are in metres ‘m’ and are approximate. (5) Parking charges are listed on www.southwark.gov.uk/parking 5. Copies of the Orders, which will come into force on 29 January 2024, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH, by appointment only. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 3497 for booking details. 6. Any person desiring to question the validity of the Order/s or of any provision contained therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order/s may, within six weeks of the date on which the Order was made, make application for the purpose to the High Court. Dated 25 January 2024 Dale Foden - Head of Service, Highways

SPORT 27

‘The Midnight Train’ signs deal to fight ‘The Gentleman’ By John Kelly

riCharD riakporhe has signed a deal to fight Chris Billam-Smith in a WBO cruiserweight title showdown.

‘The Gentleman’ Billam-Smith, 33, is the belt-holder with one defence, but his only professional defeat in 20 fights was against ‘The Midnight Train’ Riakporhe, 34, in 2019. BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom revealed that the Vitality Stadium, AFC Bournemouth’s ground in Billam-Smith’s home town, and Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park are being considered as venues. A fight date is set to be announced once it is known when a cut suffered by

Richard Riakporhe

Billam-Smith in his first defence against Mateusz Masternak has fully healed. “That’s a fight that both fighters have signed to fight. It’s a mandatory fight and it’s guaranteed to happen next. Another huge fight in British boxing,” Shalom said on Sky Sports. “We’re looking at dates at both Selhurst Park and the Vitality stadium. “They’ve both signed to fight each other. Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe will fight each other next and we’re waiting on Chris to update and then we can announce the date. “It’s something that Richard has worked towards a long time as people know. It’s a rematch for Chris Billam-Smith, so it means a lot to him, the only loss on his

record. “A special fight in a division that’s really thriving but also two guys that people really enjoy watching for different reasons. “Chris Billam-Smith is a fan favourite and guy that always delivers entertainment and then Richard Riakporhe has phenomenal freakish power and it’s just going to be an incredible moment, an incredible fight for both of them with so much on the line. “I think Chris Billam-Smith will be a completely different fighter to the one that fought against Masternak. Richard needs to not read too much into it. A big fight that both fighters have both signed for. “To have an all-British world title fight as a rematch is massive.”

By John Kelly

millwall lioneSSeS pulled off a shock in the Capital Women’s Senior Cup by knocking out Queens Park Rangers after a dramatic tie ended in a penalty shootout at St Paul’s last weekend.

Following a 1-1 draw at full-time, Ella Bailey scored the Lionesses’ sixth spotkick against the National League side. Maizie Garwood put Alex Russell and Adam Rowland’s side ahead in the first half before Ellie Searle equalised from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute. Both sides missed one of their regulation spot-kicks before Wiktoria Gmterek saved QPR’s sixth attempt and Bailey held her nerve to send the hosts through. Millwall created the first chance but Ellen Napper couldn’t reach Shannan Drewe’s excellent cross. On 31 minutes, Napper put Clementine Young through and after her shot hit the crossbar Garwood was there to put the home side in front. Gmterek produced a superb save just before half-time but was beaten after the break. However, Gmterek and Bailey proved the heroines for their side as they ensured progression to the quarter-finals, where they will be away to another National League side, AFC Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Dulwich Hamlet Women are out of the same competition after

Bailey and Gmterek heroines in QPR win Ryley Scott sacred the opener

Millwall celebrate their nailbiting win also drawing 1-1. Their game against Tottenham Hotspur Women FC WSL Academy at Cheshunt went to penalties with Spurs edging it 5-4. Both sides are back in L&SEWFL Premier Division action on Sunday. The Lionesses travel to Ashford United for a

3.15pm kick-off. Dulwich have a chance to go top of the table when they take on Ebsfleet United away at 2pm. Dulwich Hamlet men’s scheduled game away to Potters Bar last weekend was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Saturday. Fisher, who are eleventh in the Premier Division, host Faversham Town at St Paul’s in Rotherhithe. Both games kick off at 3pm. In the Kent County Football League Premier Division, Bermondsey Town lost 2-1 to Ashford at St Paul’s. Kai Bichard scored for Town but the visitors took the points thanks to goals from Kieran Shrimpton and Jorden Mbola. Stansfeld (Oxford & Bermondsey) also lost 2-1 at home. Cameron Macmillan got the hosts’ goal. Bermondsey are fifteenth and Stansfeld (0&B) thirteenth in the sixteen-team league.

This Saturday, Bermondsey travel to The Menace Arena to face Peckham Town. Stansfeld (O&B) are away at New Romney. Both games start at 2pm. Meanwhile, Stansfeld will be celebrating a reunion at their SCEFL Premier Division game against Kennington at Foxbury Avenue on Saturday, February 24. There will be some stellar names from the past for fans to meet, including Alan Easter, George Parker, Ian Rooney, Brian Almond, Donald Almond, Eddie Relph, Kevin Sterling, George Sterling, Colin Lush, Bernie Shaw, Terry Arnold, Richard Longuet and Paul Johnson.

Whitnell nets crucial Stans win By John Kelly

StanSFelD moVeD up to seventeenth place in the SCeFl Premier Division table after beating bottom side Welling town at Foxbury Avenue last weekend.

The visitors went in front through Billy Robins in the fourth minute, but the Stans hit back when Mayo Olufeko levelled on 34 minutes and Tommy Whitnell scored the winner seven minutes after half-time. It was only Stansfeld’s fourth win in 24 league games this season. Stansfeld were the only local SCEFL club in action at the weekend. They travel to Lordswood in the league this

Photo by Thomas West

lioneSSeS Pull off ella-Va cuP ShocK

The match in Hertfordshire has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 13 with a 7.45pm kick-off. Hakan Hayrettin’s side, who are aiming to cling on in the play-off race in the Isthmian League Premier Division, host Haringey Borough at Champion Hill this

Saturday at 3pm.

By John Kelly

“Seeing Jon on ONE, it was like, ‘yeah, I want to work towards that’,” Freddie said. “I’ve got to prove a lot, I’ve got to prove a lot - but I’m here to prove it. I’m not shying away from anything. I’ll accept anything along the way. “But seeing Jon achieve his dreams growing up, it just showed me I wanted to do the exact same thing. I wanted to be better than Jon. “It gives me motivation each day to keep striving for the best.” Jonathan defends one of his titles, his Muay Thai bantamweight belt, against Brazil’s Felipe Lobo on February 17.

millwall lionesses: Gmterek, Jones, Chapman, Payne, Huseyin, Garwood, Burr, Seely, Napper, Young, Drewe. Substitutions: Bailey, Butler, Bennett, Giordani, Bethelme.

Haggerty Jr has lots to prove debuts in ONE

FREDDIE HAGGERty says he has to “prove a lot” as he aims to follow in brother Jonathan’s footsteps when he makes his ONE Championship debut this weekend.

Freddie, 18, takes on Thailand’s Dankalong Sor Dechapan in a strawweight contest on ONE Friday Fights 49 at the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on Friday. Kent Road’s Team Underground fighter Freddie has seen Jonathan become a two-sport ONE world champion after making his debut in the organisation in 2019.

28 SPORT

Case for the defence EXCLUSIVE

By Kiro Evans DANNY MCNAMARA said he’s ready to compete with Japhet Tanganga to hold onto his spot in Millwall’s defence.

Capital Punishment Lions lose

Having gone eleven games without starting a match, the 25-year-old has been named in the line-up in the last three matches and excelled against Leicester City and Middlesbrough. McNamara has had to fill in at right centre-back due to injuries in defence and said he’s excited by the challenge to try and fend off the Tottenham loanee. He told our paper: “It’s football. I think every season I’ve played for Millwall, there’s been a player that’s come in who plays in my position. So it’s good to have that healthy competition. “If you don’t have that, you can get complacent. It’s exciting and I can’t wait for the challenge ahead.” McNamara also believes it has been a “smooth transition” to his new position in the Lions’ back three. He added: “I’m really enjoying it. As long as I’m playing, I don’t really care where I’m playing to be honest with you. Playing right-sided centreback is a position I feel suits me really well. “For me it’s been a smooth transition from playing right-back. Playing the right side of the three I feel like I can dictate the game, see the game in front of me and I feel like I’ve slotted in well there.”

Danny McNamara has made 19 appearances this season

Fighting Fit Edwards ready for new defender to kick on

QPR midfielders Ilias Chair and Chris Willock celebrate the opening goal

London derby with miserable display at Loftus Road

FA CUP THird round QPR - 2 Chair 27’, Armstrong 85’ Millwall - 0 Casadei 16’, Pereira 39’, Cannon 61’

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE P

Date: Saturday 20 January 2024 Attendance: 17,184 Man of the match: Billy Mitchell Referee: Lewis Smith

By Kiro Evans WOEFUL MILLWALL deservedly lost to Queens Park Rangers as the Lions delivered their flattest performance in many weeks.

Sinclair Armstrong and Ilias Chair grabbed the goals which saw QPR to their first win in eight and left them just three points away from safety. The unexpectedly poor performance from the visitors came after a positive few weeks where, even when Millwall weren’t winning, they were at least providing encouraging signs that this was a team heading in the right direction. But the Lions were not even close to the standards they had been setting in recent weeks and lacked physicality and fight. Far from being a fiery London derby, the opening exchanges of this match offered little in the way of aggression or needle, apart from QPR manager Marti Cifuentes getting himself booked by the referee after just three minutes. Millwall were the better side in possession but often saw their moves break down before the final third. QPR were more haphazard going forward and yet carried more threat. They would find the breakthrough after

GD Pts

66 59 58 54 45 43 42 41 40 40 40 38 37 37 33 33 33 32 32 32 27 24 22

27 minutes when a moment of quality shone into a poor match. Chris Willock, who only started the game after Paul Smyth was injured in the warm-up, skilfully cut inside Joe Bryan and delivered a lovely curling ball to the back post. Chair got the slightest touch on the ball and it was enough to carry it just over the line. QPR continued to be the stronger, sharper and more confident side after they scored but Millwall would have a big chance after the hour. After a scramble in the box, the

ball fell for Billy Mitchell on the edge of the area but his effort was cleared off the line by Reggie Cannon. Armstrong, without a Championship goal in 21 appearances, would then wrap up the game five minutes from time. A shot from 20 yards out by Jack Colback proved too hot to handle for Matija Sarkic and the ball spun away from his grasp. Armstrong smashed it home from a yard out to send Loftus Road into euphoria and give the relegation-battlers a huge three

points in their fight for survival.

By Kiro Evans

coach said: “I wouldn’t put an exact date on it. It could be next week. It was obviously a bit of a whirlwind and Japh only had his first sessions with us on Thursday and Friday last week. And the closer you get to the game, they’re quite light days. We weren’t able to expose him to much. “But we got him on the pitch and now it will be about sitting with him, getting a couple of good load-in days into him and if we get to a point by the end of the week where we feel he’s capable of starting, I definitely wouldn’t rule that out. I don’t think it’s going to be a long process to get him to a point where he starts again.” The loan deal represents something of a coup for the Lions with Tanganga boasting 50 Premier League

appearances for Spurs and European experience. But he has played limited football over the past year and last started a game of football in February 2023. Millwall defender Jake Cooper revealed his excitement at playing with a defender of Tanganga’s standing. He told our paper: “He seems like a great character, first and foremost. He’s obviously got experience at the highest level so we need to get the most out of him. “Hopefully he can get up to that fitness as soon as possible and we can get him out there performing at his highest level. It will be exciting to see him play for us and see how he can perform for the remainder of the season.”

JOE EDWARDS is hopeful new boy Japhet Tanganga can get up to speed quickly and start making a big impact for Millwall soon.

Japhet Tanganga made his debut against QPR

W D L

1 Leicester City 28 21 3 4 34 2 Ipswich Town 28 17 8 3 16 3 Southampton 28 17 7 4 21 4 Leeds United 28 16 6 6 24 5 WBA 28 13 6 9 13 6 Coventry City 28 11 10 7 13 7 Hull City 28 12 6 10 4 8 Norwich City 28 12 5 11 3 9 Watford 28 10 10 8 7 10 Sunderland 28 12 4 12 6 11 Middlesbrough 28 12 4 12 1 12 Preston North End 28 11 5 12 -12 13 Bristol City 28 10 7 11 0 14 Cardiff City 28 11 4 13 -4 15 Plymouth Argyle 28 8 9 11 0 16 Swansea City 28 8 9 11 -6 17 Blackburn Rovers 28 10 3 15 -12 18 Millwall 28 8 8 12 -7 19 Stoke City 28 8 8 12 -7 20 Birmingham City 28 8 8 12 -10 21 Huddersfield Town 28 5 12 11 -18 22 QPR 28 6 6 16 -15 23 Sheffield Wed 28 6 4 18 -24

The defender signed on loan until the end of the season from Tottenham Hotspur last week in Millwall’s first move of the January window. The 24-year-old came off the bench in the final 20 minutes of the defeat to Queens Park Rangers last Saturday. Tanganga played very little football in the first half of the season on loan at Augsburg but Edwards thinks the centre-back can get back up to fitness sooner rather than later. Asked about when Tanganga could be match fit, the Lions head

QPR: 4-2-3-1: Begovic (c); Cannon, Cooke, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Field, Colback; Willock (Adomah 84′), Dykes, Chair (Larkeche 90+4′); Armstrong (Dixon-Bonner 89′). Millwall: 3-4-3: Sarkic; McNamara, Harding, Cooper (c); Norton-Cuffy (Tanganga, 67′), Mitchell, Honeyman, Bryan (Wallace 67′); Watmore, Flemming, Nisbet (Longman 56′).

SPORT 29

Style It Out

Jake Cooper has been at Millwall since 2017

EXCLUSIVE By Kiro Evans AIDOMO EMAKHU has sustained an ankle “niggle” while already out with a shoulder problem, adding to his injury woe.

Cooper keen on Millwall combining attacking play with consistent results EXCLUSIVE By Kiro Evans JAKE COOPER wants Millwall to “back up” their style change with regular results.

The Lions have received praise in recent weeks for the progressive football they have shown under Joe Edwards and impressed fans with their attacking style. But despite playing well against Leicester City and Middlesbrough earlier this month, they had nothing to show for their efforts and lost both games. And then last Saturday saw Millwall produce their worst performance in some time in defeat to Queens Park Rangers. Cooper believes patience could be

crucial as Millwall look to combine picking up with results while being pleasing on the eye. He told our paper: “Probably from the fans’ perspective they’re seeing a lot of change and it will be difficult for them to be patient with it, but we’re positive with what we’re doing. We’ve brought in a great player in Japhet Tanganga which gives the club a lift and hopefully we can get the best out of him and maybe add in other areas we can improve in. Hopefully the fans will see that that the club is trying to do that and we as a team need to produce results for the fans to give them that enjoyment of watching us play. “That’s what we’ll be aiming to do. You have to back up the change of style and the change of personnel with results and that’s what we need to do.”

Emakhu’s Injury Setback

The Lions will need goals from all over the pitch if they are to be successful but Cooper unusually has not been chipping in with his normal contributions from set-pieces. The 28-year-old defender last scored in a match against Sunderland on February 4, 2023, and is approaching a whole calendar year without a Millwall goal, something he has not ever done in his eight years at the club. Cooper, who has hit the crossbar on multiple occasions this season, said: “It’s difficult but you just have to believe it’s going to come. We’ve been good from set plays but we still want to be better and I’d like to be more involved. “I tend to draw players away but it is time now for me to step up and I do feel responsible for that. All I can say

is that a goal is coming.” Cooper celebrates his 29th birthday next month and was asked if he had yet given any thought to his career once he hung up his boots. “I’m still unsure as a lot of professionals are,” he said: “But I’m doing a degree in Sports Fitness and Coaching so that’s something I can use in many fields if I want to do coaching or sports science or go down that kind of route. You need a degree for most things but it’s quite enjoyable and something different to wrap your brain around. “I’ll be aiming to stay in the game somewhere and somehow. So yeah it’s just about grinding through that when I get the chance and hopefully I can play as long as I can anyway and see what happens after that.”

By Kiro Evans

off positions and will have the chance to make up ground on their rivals with many not in action due to the FA Cup fourth-round. Like Millwall, the Lancashire side too will have to lift themselves from the disappointment of the weekend before. Preston impressed away at Leeds United and took an early lead through Will Keane before Dan James equalised. It looked like the sides were heading towards a draw at Elland Road before Leeds won a penalty in stoppage time that Joel Piroe converted. That goal meant Preston have now lost their last three away games and six of their last eight in all competitions. Their chances of getting back on track at The Den largely depends on which Millwall side turns up.

The 20-year-old has missed the last three Millwall games after dislocating his shoulder in training earlier this month. There had been hopes he might return for the home game against Preston North End this Saturday but Emakhu’s latest setback will see him definitely miss that match and possibly the game after against Hull City. The Irish forward rolled his ankle while rehabilitating from his shoulder issue, leaving him in a protective boot that some fans had spotted during match days. Lions boss Joe Edwards told our paper: “As part of his rehab, he was doing a session where he rolled his ankle and it just picked up a bit of swelling. It’s definitely not a serious injury that Aidomo has picked up but the boot enables you to take weight and pressure off any injury that you do have, so that’s all that was.”

Aidomo Emakhu had been in good form before his shoulder issue

Lions need response in Preston clash at The Den MILLWALL will be looking to bounce back from their wobble when they host Preston North End on Saturday.

Zian Flemming hit a wonderful strike when these two sides met in October

Three defeats in a row in all competitions has sucked away some of the optimism that had built over Christmas, when the Lions had won three on the bounce. But they will still believe they have quality to find their feet again and show the talent that was absent during last week’s dreadful defeat at Queens Park Rangers. They take on a Preston side who won six of their first eight Championship matches this season but have struggled for consistency ever since. Ryan Lowe’s side will start the match just five points off the play-

Will it be the team who dominated Middlesbrough for half an hour or the side that laboured to defeat against QPR? Whoever it is, the game could feature two new Lions signings from the start. Having been substituted on for the final 20 minutes at Loftus Road, Japhet Tanganga will be pushing for his first start. New striker Michael Obafemi will also be hoping he’s the man who can fire Millwall to some goals if he makes his debut. Preston have failed to beat Millwall in their last nine attempts since a 3-1 victory at The Den in February 2019. Back in October, Zian Flemming scored a stunning equaliser to help the Lions to a 1-1 draw at Deepdale in the first game after Gary Rowett’s departure as manager.

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

Page 25

oBa the line Lions secure second January signing as Michael Obafemi joins on loan

By Kiro Evans Joe eDwarDS believes michael Obafemi can bring more “explosiveness” to Millwall’s attack.

Days after getting the loan deal of Japhet Tanganga done, the Lions have pounced again for a Premier League player in Obafemi. The striker has officially moved on loan from Burnley for the rest of the season as Millwall look to add more goals to their side. Obafemi has plenty of Championship experience and enjoyed his best goal-scoring campaign in the 2021-22 season, when he netted twelve times in 32 appearances for Swansea City. Millwall fans may be familiar with the 23-year-old with Obafemi having played against the Lions three times and he scored against them last season during the memorable 2-2

draw when Swansea conceded two own goals in stoppage time. Edwards also has personal experience of facing the Irish international and recalled him scoring against Chelsea, where Edwards was first-team coach, in a 2-0 win for Southampton in 2019. That was one of four Premier League goals Obafemi has scored across 34 appearances. Millwall boss Edwards told our paper: “Our strategy for this window was to try and get players who can improve us and who can come and make a real impact. And in particular the area I wanted to add to the squad was athleticism. And when I say that I’m talking about pace and power. “Michael ticks both boxes for me and similar to Japh you’re looking at a young player who’s played Premier League football and had moments where he’s done well

Michael Obafemi has joined on loan from Burnley there. He’s scored against us when I was at Chelsea. He’s a young player who has already shown what quality he has so he’s definitely going to improve what we’ve already got. “The speed and the power and the explosiveness he’s got is something I felt was probably lacking in our squad and other teams in the league have strengthened in recent periods and I think he helps on that front.” Edwards said that, similar to the signing of Tanganga, things moved quickly for Millwall once Obafemi was found to be a realistic target. “This one was actually really similar and it hadn’t been on the radar for the whole month,” Edwards said. “But when we became aware that he was available on loan, it became apparent really quickly that he had a real desire to come and join us which is the biggest thing when you’re trying to recruit in January.

Visit www.newsatden.co.uk for all the latest Millwall news online

“A lot of talks go on but what you really need is a player that wants to do it and Michael was certainly very keen to be a part of what we’re doing here which was a huge plus. And similar to Japh it ended up unfolding pretty quickly after that.” Edwards was also asked if Millwall are done with their business for the month with the transfer window closing next Thursday. The Lions head coach said: “I wouldn’t confirm that we’re done for sure. It’s the same sort of idea [as the first two signings] that if anyone is on the radar and available and we think would add and improve to what we’re doing, I wouldn’t say we’re done. But what I would say is that the idea of what we wanted to do at the beginning of the window, I’m definitely pleased with the two we have gotten done. “We just have to see how it goes over the rest of the week.”

‘THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN’ SIGNS DEAL TO FIGHT ‘THE GENTLEMAN’ edwards mulls over esse loan excluSive By Kiro Evans Joe eDwarDS has said he won’t rule out a loan move away from Millwall for teenage ace Romain Esse.

The eighteen-year-old has only played 28 minutes across the Lions’ last twelve games in all competitions despite injuries providing openings in the squad. Esse began the campaign by hitting the winner away at Middlesbrough but he has since become a peripheral figure and has only started two games this season. Asked about the prospects of him going out loan this month, Millwall head coach Edwards said: “I haven’t really considered it at the moment, no. As I said it has been a difficult one and I know Romain would have liked more game time than he’s got. “I’ve been speaking to people like [first-team coach] Adam Barrett who was here through the summer and the start of the season when Romain had a strong pre-season and then got some game time. I think his training and his performances when he’s come on has probably just dropped off a little bit, which is absolutely normal for a player of that age trying to break into the Championship. So from my point of view, no drama. “We’re constantly talking, the coaches and myself with Romain, trying to help with his game on the training pitches and, from my point of view, trying to assess what the game needs when I’m making subs and how and when he can impact. “If we got to a point next week where we felt something was there on the table that was doable and worked really well for all of us, then I’d be open to consider it. But, at the same time, I would be very clear that I’m also very keen to still keep working with Rom on a daily basis and hopefully get him to a place as quick as possible where he can impact for us. It’s kind of watch this space and take it one week at a time at the moment.”

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