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By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter
A TRIAL which saw high-tech “damp and mould sensors” installed in homes across London has demonstrated that the technology could be scaled up to help tenants tackle poor conditions in their properties, according to an official evaluation of the project.
The £120,000 pilot scheme, led by City Hall and the London Office for Technology and Innovation (LOTI), supported 16 boroughs with the installation of 155 environmental sensors across their council housing stock.
The idea behind the project was that the sensors would monitor temperature and humidity conditions and provide an ‘early warning system’ to prevent damp and mould from building up.
The devices were highlighted by mayor Sir Sadiq Khan during his re-election campaign last year, and were mentioned in his manifesto.
He said at the time: “If this pilot is successful, I want to roll out thousands of mould sensors all across London, to ensure tenants can hold their landlords to account.”
An evaluation of the scheme, conducted by LOTI and highlighted by the mayor in answer to a recent question from the London Assembly, found that the sensors “allowed councils to identify at-risk properties earlier, shifting from reactive to proactive management”. This in turn “reduced the likelihood of severe cases, costly repairs, and tenant relocations”.
In addition, the devices allowed for a “more efficient use of housing officer time”, as “remote
COULD HIGH-TECH ‘DAMP AND MOULD SENSORS’ TACKLE THE PROBLEM?
monitoring reduced unnecessary inspections and repeat visits, enabling housing teams to focus on high-priority cases”.
Asked whether these positive results mean Sir Sadiq will now provide further funding to ensure “thousands” more sensors can be installed across London, the mayor’s office did not directly respond.
They insisted however that he was
“committed to expanding” the sensors’ use and would “promote” the technology, in the hope that boroughs and housing associations choose to invest in the devices.
A City Hall spokeswoman said: “The mayor is committed to expanding the use of damp and mould sensors across London, to improve housing standards and ensure tenants can hold their landlords to account.
“He provided £10,000 funding to support the [pilot] project through the winter and will continue to work with boroughs and housing associations to promote this cuttingedge technology to help create a better, fairer London for everyone.”
Aside from the pilot scheme’s more positive results, the sensors’ evaluation report admitted that the devices only provided a “partial picture”, because they “lacked data on other critical factors like boiler usage or ventilation”.
In addition, gaining access to residents’ homes in order to install the sensors is said to have “proved challenging, as many residents were reluctant to engage, hard to contact, or unavailable”.
A Hackney Council representative told LOTI: “It’s been hard to get the damp and mould sensors in… Some people just don’t want to engage with the council, the response is ‘leave me alone’, people say they don’t know when they’re going to be home, just not playing ball.”
The fact that the project didn’t initially cover most of the winter months was also a “limitation” for the pilot scheme, the evaluation noted.
“Due to delays to the start of the project, delivery largely took place during the warmer months, from around April to December, when damp and mould issues were much less prevalent,” according to the report. “This meant councils struggled to make relevant inferences in the timeframe or test the sensors during peak damp and mould conditions.”
However, the extra £10,000 from Sir Sadiq’s office meant that the project was in fact able to continue through the winter months, up to the end of the financial year in March 2025.
£27m pumped into London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s ‘bootcamps for jobs’
By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter
SIR SADIQ Khan has welcomed £27 million in Government funding for ‘skills bootcamps’ to help “fast-track Londoners into good jobs” while growing the capital’s economy.
The bootcamps will take the form of flexible courses focused on 11 ‘priority sectors’ identified in the mayor’s recently-launched London Growth Plan, including the green, digital and creative industries, along with areas like healthcare, construction and hospitality.
Londoners aged 19+ are eligible to access the training, which lasts anywhere between two weeks and three months.
Employers involved range from big names like Tesco and Transport for London to smaller businesses and public sector bodies like Hackney Council.
According to City Hall, Londoners who complete the programme are guaranteed a job interview, with guidance on professional working environments to help fully prepare them for new roles.
Course structures vary to suit learners already in work, as well as unemployed Londoners and those returning to work after a break.
Bootcamp graduates can progress in a range of occupations, including carpentry, arboriculture, early years, pharmacy, logistics, cyber security and adapting homes to make them greener.
The scheme has been running for some years now, but this latest wave will see a 25 per cent annual uplift in funding, and a 42 per cent increase since the Department for Education first allocated the programme’s funding to City Hall in 2022.
Sir Sadiq’s office said that the cash increase will enable the mayor to support more than 7,700 new learners.
“My skills bootcamps will play an important role in helping fast-track Londoners into good jobs in sectors that are key to London’s long-term economic success,” said Sir Sadiq.
“This additional funding will help even more Londoners to access free accessible training and gain the skills they need to succeed. This is even more important given the high cost of living.
“Our goal is to drive economic growth in every corner of our city, raise living standards and ensure more Londoners can access good high-paid jobs, as we work to deliver the London Growth Plan and continue building a fairer and more prosperous London for all.” For the first time this year, most of the courses can include Level 2 qualifications – equivalent to a grade 4/C at GCSE – as well as the previously provided Levels 3-5, equivalent to A-Levels up to higher national diplomas.
Skills providers and employers can apply to get involved from now until May 27. City Hall covers 90 per cent of training costs for small and mid-size enterprises to upskill their staff, and 70 per cent for larger employers.
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Glory Uhunarabona in her family bathroom where mould has steadily grown over eight years
London Marathon 2025
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LONDON MARATHON: ROAD CLOSURES, ROUTES AND RUNNERS
Whether you’re spectating or running, here’s a comprehensive guide to his year’s TCS London Marathonmand how it will effect Southwark and surrounding areas
By Evie Flynn
THIS YEARS marathon is on Sunday 27th April and is expected to bring more than 50,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators to the streets of London.
It’s the world’s biggest annual one-day fundraising event and has raised more than £1 billion for charity since it was founded in 1981.
The 26.2 mile route stretches across five boroughs: Greenwich, Southwark, City of London, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster.Starting in Blackheath / Greenwich Park, the route passes through Charlton, Woolwich and Greenwich town centre towards Deptford.
The course then travels through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey before, crossing Tower Bridge to Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs.
Passing through the City of London, runners cross the finish line 26.2 miles (or 42.2km later) on The Mall in Westminster.
ROAD AND TRANSPORT CLOSURES IN SOUTH EAST LONDON:
There are road and travel restrictions in place on the 27th April to protect the public and runners.
Spectators are warned that parts of the route ate extremely busy, and you may have to wait for up to 90 minutes to board trains at certain stations.
Charlton:
At the beginning of the course, runners will take one of three routes: Charlton Way (red start), Shooters Hill Road (blue start), and St. John’s Park (pink start).
Charlton Way and Shooters Hill Road are are due to close at 4am and due to
RUNNER SHOUT-OUTS:
An amazing group of Southwark and South East London runners will be running for incredible charities on the 27th. We wish them the best of luck!
JANE LINDSEY (MILLWALL LIONS FOOD HUB):
Jane has been an avid Millwall supporter for over 25 years and will be taking on the marathon to raise funds for the Millwall Lions Food Hub, where she also volunteers.
One of her lifetime goals has been to complete a marathon, entering the ballot every year but always receiving a ‘not this time.’ However, last June she received the long awaited ‘you are in!’
She said: “Not being a runner, I was absolutely terrified by the thought of what I had been offered. However, since June I have trained, starting with the Couch to 5K and continued with the
re-open again at 2:30pm.
St John’s Park will close a bit later, at 7am and open again at 2:30pm.
Other roads closed from 7am in Charlton are as follows:
• Charlton Park Road (7am-2:30pm)
• Shooters Hill Road (7am-2:30pm)
• Old Dover Road (7am-2:30pm)
• Little Heath (7am-2:30pm)
• Charlton Park Lane (7am-2:30pm)
• Artillery Place (7am-2:30pm)
• John Wilson Street (7am-2:30pm)
Woolwich:
• Woolwich Church Street (7am-3pm)
• Woolwich Road (7am-3pm)
• Trafalgar Road (7am-4pm)
Greenwich:
• Creek Road (7am-4pm) Roads in Greenwich will be closed
running so that when the time came to actually ‘train’, I would be ready!”
Donate to Jane’s GoFundMe: gofundme. com/f/jane-v-london-marathon
MARTIN ALLCHURCH AND KAY KAPSALIS (BACKCARE):
Martin Allchurch is a 41-year-old lifeguard and swimming instructor who works at Forest Hill Pools in Lewisham. He is running the marathon alongside an old friend Kay Kapsalis, from Dartford.
from 7am-4pm on Sunday 27th April.
Foot Tunnel:
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel will be open south to north on Marathon day, but it will be busy with queues anticipated.
It will be closed north to south between 10:30 and 12:30.
Alternative arranagements are in place on the DLR services from Island Gardens.
Cutty Sark DLR:
Cutty Sark Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station will be entry only on Sunday 27th April. Passengers will not be able to get off trains or leave the station.
Only northbound services will operate.
Kay has pancreatic cancer, which has spread to her back, but running the London Marathon “has always been on her “bucket list”.
Martyn said that “when she (Kay) got offered a place to take part, I started training with her to give her moral support... a slot came up for me so now I am running too!”
They are both raising money for Backcare. To donate, visit: www. peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/ kayandmartynrunlondon
LAMBROS SIOLOS (BEDE FOUNDATION):
44-year-old firefighter, Lambros Siolos, is a keen marathon runner and will be raising money for Bede Foundation in Bermondsey.
Running the London marathon will mean he will have completed his goal of running all six of the major marathons.
He’s already ran Berlin, Chicago, Boston, New York and Tokyo and
Deptford:
• Evelyn Street (8am-4pm)
• Rotherhithe:
• Surrey Quays Road (8am-4pm)
• Salter Road (8am-4pm)
• Brunel Road (8am-4pm)
Residents of the Rotherhithe Peninsula will be able to exit the area whilst event road closures are in place.
This is in conjunction with Bacon’s College on Timber Pond Road, who will provide free, secure, overnight parking on its premises for local residents.
This car park will operate from 4pm on Saturday 26th April to 6:30pm on Sunday 27th April.
Residents can leave their vehicle parked and return on foot at any time during the closure period to collect the vehicle and exit the peninsula.
When exiting the college, the route
found the Bede foundation as a way to participate for London.
He said: “I’m less than two weeks away and the hard preparation is almost over. Obviously I feel a bit tired but that’s normal. I’m looking forward to the start. I always think positive.”
To support Lambros, visit: www.justgiving.com/page
JACK SAMMOUTIS (BALLER’S ACADEMY AND SOUTHWARK MAYOR CHARITIES):
Jack, a footballer and coach at the Baller’s
out is via Timber Pond Road, Poolmans Street, Needleman Street, Surrey Quays Road and Lower Road.
Bermondsey:
• Jamaica Road (8am-4pm)
• Tower Bridge (8am-8:30pm)
Parking restrictions:
If your car is parked somewhere on the route on the 27th April, it will be removed.
Organisers have asked drivers to assist them by parking your vehicle off the route on the evening of Saturday 26th April.
Removals will start at 4am on Sunday 27th April.
If your vehicle is relocated by contractors, visit trace.london to find it.
River services:
Thames Clippers will be running services from central London to Greenwich Pier. It’s just a short walk from Greenwich Pier to the start of the race at Blackheath / Greenwich Park.
WHERE TO WATCH:
Lower Road, SE16 (mile 8-9):
Lower Road, in between Canada Water and Surrey Quays station has no barriers. It’s easy to spot people and to get close up.
Jamaica Road, SE1 (mile 11-12):
From Surrey Quays station, you can quickly make your way to Jamaica Road, by taking a left at the top of Lower Road. Although it is only 800m for spectators to walk, it’s another 3 miles away on the runners course so it’s a great way to see people twice in 30 minutes.
Tower Bridge, SE1 (mile 12-13):
If you head to Tower Bridge early enough, you will have a great spot on the bridge for photo opportunities.
Academy, is running to raise funds for community programmes for families in Southwark, in partnership with the Southwark Mayor’s chosen charities. These initiatives include sessions for young people, inclusive sports for individuals with disabilities, and mobility and walking sports for older adults.
As part of his fundraising efforts, Coach Jack will be running the London marathon this year to help the Academy reach their goal.
To donate to his page, visit: https:// www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ ballersacademy?utm_term=kwwz2y5RE.
JAMES BELL (GUY’S CANCER CHARITY):
A dad from Camberwell is running and raising money for Guy’s Cancer Charity, in memory of his younger brother Tom. Tom died from bowel cancer on 27 August 2023, after being cared for by staff at Guy’s Cancer
Martin and Kay
Jack Sammoutis
Lambros Siolos
Jane Lindsey
Centre. He was 41 years old. Bowel cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Early diagnosis is crucial, as is recognising the early-onset symptoms.
To donate to James, visit: justgiving. com/page/james-bell-1724748009118.
James Bell:
KEHINDE AND LEEANNE (BLACK WOMEN RISING):
Leeanne said: “This incredible organisation offered me unwavering support throughout my own breast cancer journey in 2020 and 2021, providing a safe space to share, heal, and connect with others who truly understood what I was going through.”
Kehinde said: “When I got cancer in 2022, I just wanted to be healthy. I made a vow that if I survived, I wanted to be the strongest version of myself I could be and I would be the voice I didn’t have.”
To donate to their page, visit: .justgiving. com/page/bwrlondon2025?utm_ mediam=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_ campaign=016
Kehinde and Leeanne are running this year to raise funds for Black Women Rising Black Women Rising UK is the flagship programme for charity The Leanne Pero Foundation, based in Peckham, which offers culturally sensitive support, information and advice, for women of colour who have had a cancer diagnosis.
Kehinde and Leeanne
KEVIN CAN’T BE STOPPED
Sixty-six-year-old
Kevin Downey has said many times that he will hang up his running trainers, but after 35 marathons, he’s running his 36th London Marathon after all this year!
By Evie Flynn
HE’S BEEN running in the London Marathon (nearly) every year since the 1980s, missing it only three times in the last 39 years and raising nearly £200,000 for charity.
This year he is raising money for UK Home 4 Heroes, a charity set up by Jimmy Jukes, for veterans who have found themselves homeless or suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“I know I did say I wouldn’t run again after number 35, but I was offered a place in this fantastic charity (Homes for Heroes) and just couldn’t turn it down.”
Kevin has raised money an incredible £180,000 for numerous children’s charities over the years.
He said: “I always run for local charities close to my heart”. He also raises money for local children, such as Rotherhithe girl Maisy Keetch who suffers from
Epidermolysis Bullosa.
Last year he made £5.5k for the MPS Society, in honour of fellow Millwall superfan Harvey Brown. Now, 15, he suffers from the ultra-rare Morquio syndrome, which affects skeletal growth.
Kevin got into running after his daughter Laura was born, as a way to keep fit and it spiralled from there.
“She was born premature. That’s why I started doing the marathons – to raise money for the baby’s unit at St Thomas’ Hospital.”
He’s also ran for Children with Cancer multiple times.
“On the course I always stop off at the Farriers Arms to see my lovely friends for a bottle of Peroni” he said, which is well deserved.
Kevin has incredibly raised over £3,000 for Homes for Heroes already
To make a donation, visit his page: justgiving.com/page/kevin-downey-36
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• Dedicated Sixth Form study areas and social spaces
Apply now for September start, or get in touch to arrange a tour!
For course options & to apply, scan the code, see www.southbankua.org.uk/sixth-form or call 020 7277 3000
SBU Academy Sixth Form, Trafalgar Street, SE17 2TP
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COULD YOU HELP POLICE WITH ‘FINAL
PIECE OF THE PUZZLE’ - AND HELP IDENTIFY OLA’S
KILLERS?
Shot and stabbed in Peckham ten years ago today - Crimestoppers have now put up a £20,000 reward
By Kevin Quinn
TEN YEARS on from the day 21-yearold Ola Raji was brutally murdered in Peckham, Crimestoppers put up a £20,000 reward in a bid to catch his killers.
The family of this innocent man, who was fatally shot and stabbed while cycling home after watching a football match, have appealed for the public’s help to get justice.
The heartache felt by his close-knit family continues, as police have not caught anyone for the attack on Ola on the night of Tuesday, 21 April, 2015.
In a desperate plea for witnesses Ola’s sisters not only spoke of their own personal grief, but the need for people to come forward to protect Peckham as a whole.
Ola’s sisters, Zainab Raji and Ruki Ware, said: “This is a painful reminder of ten years of loss – our family is not going to get that time back.
“When we get together, there is always that sense of something missing. There are children who never get to know their Uncle, who would still be so young even now. The laughter we share is that little less loud. There is a smile absent in the photographs.
“But this is not just about our family. It’s about safety on the streets of Peckham
and the wider south London area. There is no doubt the people who did this once could carry out similar attacks again.
Maybe they already have.
“We are getting closer to the truth – for example, we now know about phone calls Ola received shortly before the attack.
“Just the smallest piece of evidence from any witnesses or those with knowledge of what happened could be enough to put those responsible behind bars and make the streets safer for the entire community.”
Ola had spent the evening at a friend’s house watching a Champion’s League football match between Bayern Munich and Porto.
Later, while cycling on the East Surrey Grove estate, near Commercial Way, he was stabbed and shot in a senseless attack by two men.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Ola later died in hospital.
Detectives continue to investigate the possibility that Ola’s attackers left the scene on foot via a cut through from Cator Street, into Sumner Road, before turning into Rosemary Road, heading in the direction of the Surrey Canal Path.
The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for Ola’s murder.
Police are particularly interested in
Ola with a child on his shoulders
speaking to witnesses described as:
A female driving a black Vauxhall Corsa in the area between 9:45pm and 11pm on April 21, 2015, and two males who returned to an address in Pear Court, off East Surrey Grove, at 11:10pm that night.
Police have admitted that the investigation into the murder of the 21-year-old student was initially ‘not acceptable’ as it was beset by problems highlighted in a damning report two years ago.
In the report police admitted that three residents overlooking the crime scene were never interviewed.
In 2023 Scotland Yard’s Specialist Crime Professional Standards Unit, which examined the murder inquiry, recommended that the murder probe be re-launched.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila, who is now leading the investigation, said: “Ola was an innocent man, in the wrong place at the worst time. His murder has devastated his friends and family, and those in the local community.
“Ten-years on, we continue to appeal for anyone who has any information to come forward.
“Were you out in Peckham that night? Were you also watching the football that night, or were you near Commercial Way? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything that struck you as being unusual?
“No piece of information is too small and could be the final piece of the puzzle that leads us to identify Ola’s attackers.”
Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager at Crimestoppers, said: “As the family of Ola Raji continue their heartfelt appeal for justice ten years after this tragic murder, we want to remind people that his attackers have still not been caught.
“This is deeply unsettling for his loved ones and the local community. That is why, as part of this 10th anniversary appeal we are offering of up to £20,000 for information received to our charity Crimestoppers, that helps lead to the conviction of Ola’s attackers.
“We know that there may be several witnesses who have information but for whatever reason talking to the police is not an option.
“We are an independent charity, separate from the police, and we are unable to identify anyone who contacts us.”
Anyone with information can call 101 or message @MetCC on X, giving the reference 2597/16APR25. Information, including photos or videos, can also be easily uploaded to the dedicated appeal page.
To provide information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They are an independent charity, separate from the police. They won’t ask for your name and can’t trace your call. The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers and not to the police. A reward code must be asked for when calling the charity on 0800 555 111. If you contact Crimestoppers via the online form anonymously, the ‘keeping in contact’ facility must be used, and a reward code must be requested on your initial contact with the charity.
Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder. A further two individuals were arrested for perverting the course of justice. However, no further action was taken against these individuals, and no criminal charges were ever brought.
‘Garages to be converted into genuinely affordable homes’
By Issy Clarke
A SET of garages in Peckham are set to be converted into affordable homes for local people.
The project would see 12 new homes built on Scylla Road in Rye Lane ward by Southwark Council in partnership with London Community Land Trust (London CLT), a community-led affordable housing scheme.
London CLT has established similar affordable housing schemes in Tower Hamlets and neighbouring Lewisham.
The model they have put forward would see homes put up for sale with the price of each property tied permanently to local incomes.
The model aims to provide genuinely affordable homes on the site which will always remain within reach for local people – delivered by and for the local community.
Welcoming the news of the agreement, Rye Lane Councillor David Parton said: “It is incredibly exciting to be one step closer to having these new community-owned homes in Rye Lane, and Labour
councillors will work closely with London CLT to ensure local residents are part of every step of the process.
“Amidst a housing crisis we need more genuinely affordable homes for local people in our area. Labourrun Southwark Council are already building more new council homes than any other London Borough –including 120 brand new council homes at Flaxyard in Peckham.
“With this Community Land Trust now progressing on Scylla Road, it is clear Labour are delivering genuinely affordable homes for local residents.”
SOUTHWARK COUNCIL is set to make a decision next week on whether a R&B, Soul, Alternative Rap and Reggae festival in Southwark Park can take place this summer.
The park is increasingly being used for major festivals, as the council seeks ways to plug holes in its leisure budget so it can fund free community events like the Bermondsey Carnival.
Cloud X festival and Reggaeton, a twoday ticketed event planned for the first weekend of July in Southwark Park, has received more responses in favour of it going ahead than against.
Forty-four responses have been received so far online, with 15 indicating they do not want the event to go ahead and 22 saying that they do.
The proposal made by Cloud X Sound Limited could see the southern-side of the park closed for ten days.
A resident and member of Friends of Southwark Park spoke to the News about previous events that had taken place in the park (unrelated to Cloud X). She said: “When they’ve had concerts in the park, my windows shake. The reason we are worried is the main stage is in front of the elderly residents and church.
“We are not saying we don’t want them to do it, it’s just the fact they say they have to close the park to residents.”
However, it is not only the noise that these residents are concerned about. The choice of location for the festival has also been a bone of contention between residents and organisers.
Another woman aged 75, said: “Not only is there the schools and doctors, but on the south side we have a wild life area and a 1 o’clock club for young mothers and their babies.
“If the council allow this festival to go ahead. It is going to have a very bad knockon effect on the community. Parents will not be able to take their children though the park the schools, they will have to walk them near the main roads.”
Southwark Council have carried out a consultation with local residents between 7th February and 7th March.
While Cloud X have made clear that the
DECISION TO BE MADE ON WHETHER TWO-DAY FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE IN SOUTHWARK PARK THIS SUMMER
event will only be using the south side of the park and that the rest of the park will remain open, some people are concerned about potential damage to the grass.
One resident claimed: “We have just had the Oval done because the last event destroyed it. It had rained and lorries got stuck on the said Oval and the cricket part of it was destroyed as well. It cost a lot of money to get it repaired, what for, this event to destroy it again?”
Southwark Park Cricket Club Oval has seen a £25,000 investment so that league cricket matches can return to the park from May, the measures that will be in place to protect it will be discussed ahead of the decision scheduled for April 30th.
Cloud X Sound Ltd was built around a London-based record label and set up by LGBT and POC founders, David Dabieh and Ben Cross.
The founders of the festival are both proud South Londoners. David grew up on the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle and now lives opposite Southwark Park
itself on Lower Road, while Ben grew up in Tulse Hill and he now lives in Nunhead.
To raise awareness, Southwark Council has sent letters to 3,572 properties around the park, posting on public notices around the park and holding consultation meetings with local residents.
Organisers have pledged to use tracks to protect the grass and during a recent meeting Cloud X and Southwark Council set out their noise and waste management processes, which includes noise monitoring points and dedicated litter pickers, as well as security on site.
The festival also outlined initiatives to give back to the local community, such as fundraising through compulsory guest list contributions and to allocate 100 free tickets a day for residents. Bar operators and security also aim to have at least 25% of their staff from Southwark.
The festival was originally meant to be three days, but the organisers revised their plans, proposing a two day festival instead: Saturday 5th July will host CLOUD X Festival
Map displaying where the festival good take place:
and Sunday 6th July will be Reggaeton Festival.
There is also a reduction in size with fewer stages. Now there is an anticipated capacity of up to 5,000 for Cloud X and 10,000 for Reggaeton.
THE RESIDENTS WHO OBJECTED HAVE MADE THE FOLLOWING DEMANDS:
• Introduce noise level controls
• Local residents should get free access
• The event should end by 6pm
• Use the other side of the park (by cricket cage) and move the noise away from residents
• Move away from lake area
• Move to the North end
• Friday and Saturday only
• Better control on parking and cleaning up post-event
• Monetary compensation to residents
The earliest possible date the council will make a final decision on whether to grant an events licence will be Wednesday April 30.
A Southwark Council spokesperson said: “Summer festivals welcome thousands to our parks to celebrate and to be together, including many of our own Southwark residents.
“Before any large events the council conducts extensive consultation to inform whether or not they can be permitted - the consultation for Cloud X festival is ongoing.”
The News contacted Cloud X Sound Ltd but did not receive a response.
Summer in the Park returns to Greenwich & Bexley
By Lily Erwood
A COLLECTION of free festivals hosted in parks and squares across Bexley and Greenwich is set to return this summer.
Local families can expect live music and theatre performances, dance and craft workshops, and a wide range of street food across numerous events.
Venues hosting the Summer in the Park picnics include Danson House, Maryon Park, Gallions Park, and Greenwich Park.
Hosted by Arts Trust, who aim to provide positive, accessible activities for young people, each event is free to attend.
SUMMER IN THE PARK PICNICS
The first of the series of picnics will take place from 11am – 4pm on the 22nd June, in Bexley’s Danson House.
Maryon Park Picnic: from 1pm –6pm on Sunday 29th June
Gallions Park Picnic: from 1-6 on
Saturday 5th July
Kids can improve their plate spinning and tight-rope skills with circus workshops held on the 22nd June, 29th June, and Saturday 5th July.
Greenwich Park Picnic: held on Saturday 12th July and Sunday 13th July from 10am – 6pm
Attendees of the Greenwich Park picnic will receive performances from Aiden Grimshaw, Jamie Grey, She’Koyokh and the Askew Sisters.
Families are encouraged to bring their own refreshments, blankets and chairs to enjoy alongside open air theatre and music performances.
Each Summer in the Park picnic will take place outdoors and the events are not ticketed.
FREE ROLLERSKATING LESSONS AND SILENT DISCO
The flagship Silent Disco ‘SkateJam’ and Street Food festival will return
at a larger scale this year, taking place over four Sundays from May to August in Cygnet Square.
Beginners of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join in. Free skates are provided and professional skaters will be overseeing the operation!
This grassroots initiative won the 2025 London Sports Community Impact Award, recognised for its work in contributing to a 25% drop in youth-related crime during programme weekends, as well as enhancing fitness and reducing social isolation.
THE KEY DATES TO ATTEND THE FREE SKATING EVENTS ARE: Sunday 18th May from 4pm - 8pm Sunday 15th June from 4pm - 8pm Sunday 27th July from 4pm - 8pm Sunday 24th August from from 4pm - 8pm
Campaigners launch legal challenge against Lambeth Council over Brockwell Park festivals
By Issy Clarke
CAMPAIGNERS FIGHTING to protect
Brockwell Park from large-scale private events have launched a legal challenge against Lambeth Council.
Protect Brockwell Park issued the council with a pre-action letter giving notice of their intention to launch court proceedings on April 9.
Campaigners are challenging the council’s decision in March to grant a certificate of lawful development, which allows largescale private events to take place in the park without needing planning permission.
The group, which argues the park is ‘under threat’, first launched a petition last summer, demanding an end to what they call the ‘fencing off and damaging’ of the public space. The petition attracted nearly 3,000 signatures.
Since then, residents, and regular park users - who say their concerns are being ignored - have been crowdfunding to support their cause.
So far, the campaign has raised more than £30,000 to cover legal costs.
Bridgerton star and Lambeth resident Adjoa Andoh even waded into the controversy, taking to X on March 11 to voice her support for the campaign, commenting: “We are a poor borough but shame on you @lambeth_council for not
protecting the park better.”
They claim the park has suffered from repeated damage due to major events such as Mighty Hoopla and City Splash. Issues they highlight include HGVs driving across the grass, an influx of 180,000 festivalgoers over just six days, and events held in heavy rain. Other concerns include polluting generators
running around the clock, security lighting disrupting the park’s natural darkness, and the impact of waste and overflowing toilets.
The group’s crowdfunding page states: “We have repeatedly raised our concerns with Lambeth Council, but our voices have fallen on deaf ears.
“Lambeth has ignored petitions that
events like the Mighty Hoopla saying when heavy rain hit last year putting the much-loved festival in jeopardy the community lobbed heavily to make sure it went ahead. This and festivals like City Splash, which Lambeth says is “much loved by our Black communities and beyond”, help “cross fund south London’s flagship free community festival, the Lambeth Country Show.” Locals are also eligible for some free tickets for these paid festival events through a ballot.
Last year the char of the Friends of Brockwell Park called for a Glastonburystyle break year. The festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, usually takes a break every five years, otherwise known as a ‘fallow year’.
have garnered thousands of signatures, local residents’ distress, and the adverse ecological impact on the park over the years.
“The Council has also failed to properly follow correct procedures and properly consult with local residents.”
Lambeth Council have pointed out that the LGBTQ+ community really get behind
Last year, roughly 130,000 revellers descended on Brockwell Park for six days of festivals in just ten days. But City Splash Festival, which occurred alongside heavy rainfall, saw the ground churned up into what locals described as a mud bath. Mighty Hoopla narrowly escaped cancellation but only after organisers laid additional ground covers and layers of wood chips.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “The council has received a pre-action protocol letter in relation to a judicial review claim for Brockwell Park, and are currently considering this.”
@richardwillq)
By Harrison Galliven Local Democracy Reporter
CRYSTAL PALACE supporters are beginning to doubt whether the long-promised Selhurst Park redevelopment will ever happen, as the project faces fresh delays and a ballooning price tag now expected to top £200 million.
Croydon Council first granted the club planning permission in principle to overhaul the Main Stand seven years ago. Yet, despite early groundwork starting last summer, the main construction has yet to begin.
Originally due for completion by 2021, the scheme has been plagued by rising costs, planning hurdles and funding uncertainty. Recent reports by Bloomberg and The Athletic revealed that the project, once expected to cost £100m, is now likely to exceed £200m.
Sources close to the project say inflation in building material prices and complicated funding talks are to blame. While Palace’s Chairman Steve Parish hoped to avoid taking on full debt by mixing loans with shareholder cash, ongoing uncertainty around US investor John Textor’s stake has added more delays. Despite the club’s insistence that the project is still alive and that talks between shareholders are ongoing, fans are growing frustrated. With little visible progress, many now question whether the expansion will ever happen.
After the reports were published, X, user James wrote: “It would be cheaper and better to find some land and build a new stadium. This is just ridiculous, all the delays.” Another fan, Michael Tulley, added: “The old stand will have fallen down by itself before anything starts happening.”
Last summer, Palace moved its
FANS GROWING FRUSTRATED AFTER STADIUM REBUILD FACES MORE DELAYS
temporary offices behind the Whitehorse Lane executive boxes and spent £1m on water tanks to drain a flooded basement on the Holmesdale Road stand—but major works have yet to take place. The project aims to boost the stadium’s capacity from 25,486 to over 34,000 and bring other long-awaited improvements to the ground. Land has already been purchased from the neighbouring Sainsbury’s, and the club plans to knock down nearby council flats on Wooderson
Close to make space.
However, the following saga between the club, the council, and Wooderson Close residents delayed the project even more. While the club and local authority were eventually able to rehouse all of the council tenants, the club cannot proceed with demolition until it has reached an agreement with the last privately owned house on the close. The club must also find land elsewhere in the borough to build replacement
homes, as required by planning rules.
Alongside the land issue, questions about the project’s design and how it will affect the rest of the ground are also being asked. The original plan was to build around the Main Stand before knocking the 100-year-old original down.
However, according to The Athletic, a new option being considered is to fully demolish the stand first and rebuild from scratch. While this could speed up the project, it would temporarily slash
stadium capacity and cut match-day income from the 6,000 fans currently seated there.
If the club opts to demolish the Main Stand first, a smaller temporary seating area could be added. However, finding a new space for its profitable match-day hospitality and displaced season ticket holders would pose a significant challenge. While the club has yet to comment on the project’s current status, it says it remains committed to the plans.
Mayor and councils urged to create more allotments
By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter
SIR SADIQ Khan has been urged to work with councils to create more allotments across London, as waiting lists to access them remain staggeringly high.
In a new report published on Wednesday, the London Assembly‘s environment committee has asked the mayor to conduct a review of food-growing sites across the capital, arguing that having more of them will provide people “with a connection to nature and a source of healthy food”.
It comes as data shared with the committee reveals a marked disparity between the number of allotments in inner and outer London. While Ealing has 60 separate allotments for example, Kensington and Chelsea has none.
Even in boroughs where allotments do exist however, it can take several years on a waiting list before getting access to one. Research by Greenpeace in 2023 found that in total, 30,500 Londoners were on waiting lists for allotments.
Camden Council found in 2022 that the average wait for one in the borough was 12 years, though an FOI request by MyJobQuote the previous year estimated it was considerably longer, at 17 years and six months – meaning it had the longest average wait in the country.
The ‘allotment gap’ between inner and outer London is partly explained by the fact that the statutory requirement for councils to provide allotments was ended
in 1963 for inner London boroughs.
Despite its complete lack of allotments, Kensington and Chelsea has developed a community kitchen garden scheme since 2009, which now has over 50 sites and gives over 700 residents the opportunity to grow food, according to the committee’s report.
“In a city where more than half of households now live in flats – often with limited access to personal gardens – community food growing sites offer Londoners access to land to grow food,” said the committee’s chairman, Zack Polanski.
“Food growing has a number of clear benefits – it teaches us how to be more sustainable, builds a sense of community and reduces the impact on the environment, with less need for outsourcing food into London.”
Mr Polanski, who is also deputy leader of the Green Party, added: “Through our investigation we heard from a number of community food growing groups who highlighted to us the barriers that prevent more Londoners growing food. Access to land was a key issue, which is why we are calling on the mayor to carry out a review of available land for potential further food growing sites.
“We are also calling on the mayor to commit ongoing funding to Londonwide food growing networks to help improve the access for Londoners to grow their own food.
“London is a huge city, with great resources – it would be inspiring for Londoners to be supported properly to
grow more food.”
Approached for comment on the committee’s report, a spokeswoman for Sir Sadiq said: “Current policy on food-growing will also be considered as
part of the ongoing London Plan review, ahead of publication of the next draft plan in 2026.
“The mayor is also committed to creating a new fund which will enable
councils and communities to bid for funding to develop green spaces, including those where they can grow food. The mayor will review this report and respond fully in due course.”
A CGI aerial image of the Selhurst Park redevelopment plans.
PLANS TO BUILD 31-STOREY APARTMENT BLOCK ON SITE OF FORMER COLLEGE
By Cameron Blackshaw Local Democracy Reporter
PLANS HAVE been submitted to build a large high-rise development on the grounds of a former college on the border between Greenwich and Lewisham.
Housing developer RER London submitted the cross borough planning application to both Greenwich and Lewisham Councils last month.
The plans involve demolishing the former Deptford Campus of Lewisham College by Deptford Bridge DLR Station and using the land to build several highrise apartment buildings, the tallest of which would be 31 storeys.
This 31-storey block would become the tallest building in the immediate Deptford area, the current one being the 27-storey Distillery Tower which is located just opposite the newly proposed development site on the other side of Deptford Bridge road.
The new large-scale development dubbed ‘Deptford Bridge’ would contain 903 residential units, with 597 of them located in Lewisham and 306 in Greenwich. Of these 903, 840 would be private units, 40 would be social rent and 23 would be shared ownership.
As well as the residential offering, the proposal also includes plans for
A visualisation of the view of some of the new tower blocks while approaching Deptford Bridge on the DLR from the south
of Deptford Creek. Developers have said that a key objective of the Deptford Bridge
F A ALBIN & SONS
from
development is to promote public access to and use of the creek.
Some parts of the former Lewisham
College buildings on the application site are currently used for educational purposes by Goldsmiths College of Fine Arts, which has a temporary lease until January 2027. The new proposal includes provision for Goldsmiths if the university wishes to make use of space within the new Deptford Bridge development.
Developer RER London hopes that Deptford Bridge will be both “an exciting new destination for local people” and that it will make “a significant contribution to housing shortfall in the area”. The proposal, which was submitted and validated by both councils at the end of March, has garnered 12 objections from residents across both boroughs as of April 16.
several retail and leisure units at the ground and first floor levels of the site, many of which would be located
along the waterside
View of Deptford Creek
an apartment in the newly proposed Deptford Bridge development
housing estates and new industrial developments including storage and distribution centres.
Designated an opportunity area in 2016 by the London plan, the unique composition and location of the Old Kent Road marks it out as one of the last large-scale areas with potential for major regeneration and mass house building within Southwark and inner London as a whole.
Computerised visualisations, created by Southwark Council, show the future Old Kent Road dominated by over a dozen tower blocks over 20 storeys high, including a 38-storey skyscraper in place of Topps Tiles.
Save OKR campaigners are not the only ones who believe the plans are difficult to grasp.
Southwark Law Centre, the 35% Campaign, and Southwark Group
‘Redevelopment can feel inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be unchangeable’
Development Management Policies, 93 per cent of households in the borough were found to have income levels that required affordable housing.
Jerry Flynn, from the 35% campaign, which lobbies for more social housing, said: “These are low numbers, really. I think everybody really wants to see social rent.
“It’s going to take an awfully long time. It’s half a lifetime and It’s not clear who this really is for.”
The area has the highest proportion of children and young people in the borough – with 25% of the population under 18 – but under the plan, Flynn points out, there will only be a minimum of 20 per cent ‘family homes’ with three bedrooms or more.
of Tenants’ Organisation have all participated in the workshops, helping to support residents in making sense of the plans and responding to the consultation.
Locals engaging with the plans are understandably concerned about the scale of them - but also the direction the regeneration is going in. Is it in the interests of the existing community or just a large-scale gentrification project?
In the current iteration of the plans, Southwark Council says of the 20,000 homes to be built, 7,000 will be affordable and 5,000 for social rent. There are currently over 18,000 people on Southwark’s social housing waiting list including 4,000 people in temporary accommodation.
In data released by Southwark Council in the Southwark Plan 2022
Flynn also highlights that in other cases developers have used ‘viability assessments’ to build less affordable housing than promised.
What will developers say is possible amid rising costs and global economic turmoil in two, five or even 10 years from now?
Benita Meli, from the Bonamy and Bramcote Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said that already she was seeing the impact on current residents and worried about what would happen to the area’s community over the coming year.
Since the AAP began, there has been a lot of disruption caused by building work, with potentially two decades more to come.
“People rely on Surrey Quays and Peckham. While this is going ahead, they have no access because of road closures so appointments have been cancelled,” Meli claimed.
planning activities, told us: “For many, there is a recognised need for change in the area.
“In a theoretical way, I think people are enthusiastic. They know that the area needs change. They want to see more jobs, they want to see more housing.
“The reality on the ground is kind of different. That’s partly because it takes a long time and there’s a lot of disruption and along the way which sort of gets dismissed as if it’s irrelevant and unimportant.
“A lot of small businesses get squashed, rents go up, they can’t afford to be in the area and then that affects what is in the area and how it changes.
“There really needs to be something that benefits the people who are here now.
“Will the people who are kids now see the new park that’s planned? Well, almost certainly not.”
We put Save Old Kent Road’s concerns to Southwark Council. Councillor, Helen Dennis, the Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, replied: “The council’s consultations on plans for the Old Kent Road are designed to ensure that local residents and businesses have ample opportunity to give their views and engage with us in shaping the future of their community.
“The plan has been through three rounds of previous consultation and after each stage, we have amended plans in order to address concerns.
“To date over 2,200 comments have been received and the council has attended over 170 meetings with local groups and individuals to discuss their views.
“The disruption together in the area, it’s not going to be just one or two months.”
Having lived in a high rise in the area, Meli said that rising maintenance bills and council tax were already pricing people out of the area. She anticipated further ‘dispersal’ and ‘breaking up communities’, as a result of the plan.
Lianne Leung, a local artist who is also a part of the Save OKR campaign added: ‘All the way down that road, it’s a hub for a lot of different communities, not just artists and people who are here for music but also the Latin community and also the African community.
“It’s such a large space for all these different subcultures to exist and it’s very much an existing community that we can’t just bulldoze over.”
There are also questions around whether the plan is too weighted on private housing and leisure, rather than infrastructure.
In the AAP document, the council writes: “Our plan is to promote the Old Kent Road as a place in which shops, cafés, pubs, cinemas and parks are all within a short 15-minute walk of people’s homes and jobs.”
But do people want this type of new destination? In the plan, there is just one new healthcare centre proposed, despite an anticipated doubling in size of the population of the area by 2042. Although, as the council points out, the north of the area will also be served by the new Harold Moody Health Centre.
But is it enough?
Susan Crisp, who is involved in the Southwark Planning Network, which is a group of citizens engaged in local
“At the last round of consultation, 183 representations were made. Of those, 79 per cent supported or partly supported the ambition to provide 20,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs - while 83 per cent supported the proposals for new and improved open spaces and 75 per cent supported the approach of good quality design and retention of heritage.
“The council is committed to ensuring local people and businesses benefit from regeneration.
“Genuinely affordable housing is front and centre. Over 50 per cent of the homes built or under construction are affordable including over 1,000 social rented homes.
“The council has also approved 120,000sqm of workspace of which roughly 10 per cent is affordable and will support businesses based in the borough. The Mayor’s plan for a ‘Bakerloop’ Express bus down the Old Kent Road will also be paid for by development in the area.
“The current plans for the Old Kent Road set out our intention to create three new parks, and the area is directly benefiting this year from £2.6m of Local Community Infrastructure Levyfunding from developers which will be invested in parks, play areas and green spaces including Brimmington Park, Leyton Square, the BMX track on Bird in Bush Road, and Bramcote Park.”
Resources provided by the Save OKR campaign can be accessed through their Instagram @saveoldkentroad.
The survey to respond to the Old Kent Road AAP can be accessed via this link: https://engage.southwark.gov.uk/enGB/projects/old-kent-road-aap
Southwark Council confirmed there was a ‘soft deadline’ for the consultation, meaning that responses would continue to be accepted after the stated deadline had passed.
Surrey Canal c 1920 (from the collections of Southwark Archives)
Southwark, Lewisham, Wandsworth, Bromley and Bexley councils come down hard on offenders
By Noah Vickers
Local Democracy Reporter
MORE THAN half of London’s councils have revealed that they will increase fly-tipping fines to £1,000, in a bid to cut litter levels across the capital.
At least 17 boroughs which previously charged fixed penalty notices (FPNs) of £400 have confirmed that they are, or have already, increased the fine by 150 per cent.
It comes as BBC London reports that some boroughs are also increasing the number of environment officers patrolling the streets to deter offenders.
According to data from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), London saw the single largest number of ‘fly-tipping incidents’ of any English region in 2023/24.
Of the 1,152,617 incidents across England, 444,519 (about 39 per cent) were recorded in the Greater London area.
Since 2023 Southwark residents
were among a number of boroughs to allow residents to report fly-tipping as well as graffiti and potholes through a ‘FixMyStreet’ online app and web service.
Users can use the online service, available on desktops, Google Play or the App Store, to send photos of street maintenance issues to Southwark Council.
Cllr Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks, Streets & Clean Air, said: “Our new online tool is the most direct way to report anything to us that needs fixing, cleaning or clearing on Southwark’s estates and streets. In a short few clicks, you can easily alert the council to an issue and receive an update once it’s been resolved.”
Southwark Council said the platform has performed well in other boroughs, saving money, reducing response times and easing pressure on call centres.
The new app comes after an East Dulwich mum created a similar app aimed exclusively at tackling dog muck.
Lawyer Jenifer Swallow, 46, and her
sons Thomas, 10, and Jacob, 11 created ‘Turd Alert’ because they were sick of stumbling across dog mess each time they left the house.
Bexley Council reportedly issued nearly 1,500 fines for illegal fly-tipping offences a year before increasing the fine to £1,000 last summer.
The authority also gave out over 950 fines for littering in the same time period. Conservative Councillor Cameron Smith said at a Bexley Council meeting last November that £232,000 of funding was being used to add 526 new litter bins to the borough.
The capital’s worst affected boroughs for fly-tipping were Croydon (35,470 total incidents), Camden (34,786), and Hackney (33,464). The least impacted were Islington (1,347), the square mile of the City of London (2,315), and Kingston-upon-Thames (2,935).
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The ability for councils to increase the maximum fly-tipping FPN from £400 to £1,000 was granted under Rishi Sunak’s Conservative
THE FOLLOWING BOROUGHS TOLD THE BBC THIS WEEK THAT THEY ARE, OR HAVE ALREADY, INCREASED FLY-TIPPING FPNS TO £1,000:
• Bexley
• Brent
• Bromley
• Camden
• Ealing
• Enfield
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Harrow
• Hillingdon
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Lewisham
• Redbridge
• Richmond
• Southwark
• Tower Hamlets
• Wandsworth
Government in 2023.
Hounslow Council meanwhile confirmed in a press release on Thursday that they will also be making the change, bringing the total to at least 17 of London’s 33 local authorities.
Hounslow’s cabinet member for public safety, regulatory services and enforcement, Raghwinder Siddhu, said: “It makes our borough look unsightly, the fly-tips are potentially hazardous, and otherwise it is the law-abiding residents that must pay to clean it up.”
The Labour councillor added: “It is simply not acceptable for people to do this. It would be much easier to either
take it to the dump or throw it in a bin.
“So, you either look for a bin, or look over your shoulder, because if you flytip or litter in Hounslow, you will risk being caught and you will be fined.”
According to the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, fly-tipping is defined as the illegal deposit of any waste on land that does not have a licence to accept it.
Allison Ogden-Newton, from Keep Britain Tidy, told BBC London: “Fines going up is a really good idea because we need a disincentive to the criminals that are carrying out this act, but we also have to catch them, which is no small matter.”
She added: “We’ve been asking for a review of the sentencing guidelines, because although sentences could be much harsher for those that are convicted of fly-tipping, magistrates tend not to issue severe fines and even prison sentences, which they can, because they perceive this to be a victimless crime.
“Anyone who is living in a community that is regularly fly-tipped knows this is not a victimless crime.”
Human remains found in bags of gravel during a community clean-up, as children played metres away
By Kevin Quinn
HUMAN REMAINS were found in gravel near a Lewisham playground last week as children played metres away.
Horrified residents made the grim discovery during a community clean-up event at the playground on Saturday, April 13.
Police were called at around 2.08pm after members of the communityled Church Grove project raised the alarm, when a jaw and fragments of
an arm were spotted in bags of gravel delivered to the Church Grove estate.
A crime scene was in place as investigations continued. While the Met said the remains were of “interest” they added that they believe them to be ‘non-recent’.
A new play area for local families was being created when a witnesses said the body parts were uncovered while residents were spreading gravel — with one person reportedly seeing a jaw fall from a bag.
No arrests have been made, and
detectives are continuing to work to identify the remains.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “On Saturday, 12 April police were called at 14:08hrs to Church Grove, SE13 following reports that human remains had been unearthed in a garden.
“There have been no arrests at this stage and officers are working to establish an identity, although the remains are thought to be nonrecent. Enquiries are ongoing and a crime scene remains in place.”
Parents living nearby were left shaken by the incident, with one mother describing the horror of children playing just feet away from the remains.
“Tiny kids were playing right next to literal bits of human arm,” she told The Sun. “You see this stuff on the news, but it was right outside our front door.
“It’s so much more immediate, you just never think something like this will happen so close to you. We are extremely shaken, I think the whole
community is.”
Her husband added: “It was just crazy, it is usually very wholesome vibes here. We all pitch in and grow our vegetables in the shared eco garden — it’s just mind-boggling, completely shocking.”
Church Grove is home to a community housing project run by the Rural Urban Synthesis Society, which is committed to creating sustainable, communityled neighbourhoods and affordable housing across London.
Crimscott Street site in Bermondsey hit by fly-tipping in 2016
‘180 HOMELESS FAMILIES HAD TO ACCEPT FLATS WITH PRIVATE LANDLORDS OR FACE BEING LEFT ON THE STREETS’
By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter
OVER 180 homeless Lambeth families had to accept flats with private landlords or face being left on the streets by their local council last year.
Figures revealed through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show 187 households from the borough had their housing support ended by the council after it found them a property in the private rented sector in 2024. There has been an eight-fold increase in the number of families the council has stopped providing accommodation to after giving them
a mandatory offer of housing with a private landlord since 2022.
Just nine families had their main housing duty ended by the Labourrun council after it gave them private rented accommodation in 2022 and only 23 in 2023. None of the households the council ended its main housing duty to after finding them a place in the private sector were placed outside of Lambeth.
Private sector discharges—where councils waive their legal obligation to provide accommodation to homeless individuals by finding them a property with a private landlord—have been criticised by housing campaigners for creating a ‘cycle of homelessness’.
Eviction from privately rented homes is one of the leading causes of homelessness, according to housing charity Shelter. Short contracts, ‘no fault’ evictions and unaffordable rents contribute to people struggling to keep a roof over their heads, according to the charity.
The government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, which is expected to come into law in summer, will ban no-fault evictions, which are also called section 21 evictions.
As of March 2025, a two-bed privately rented flat cost an average of £2,191 in Lambeth according to the Office for National Statistics. In comparison, the maximum weekly rent for a two-bed
council home in 2024/25 was £199.09 per week, equivalent to £796.36 per month except those months where a fifth payment cycle falls within a calendar month.
Over 2,000 families had their housing support ended by London councils through private sector offers in 2023, according to research by Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) published in April last year. The number of households pushed into the private sector through such offers has increased by 159 per cent since 2017 according to the housing support group.
HASL’s research, which was based on FOIs to London boroughs,
found that a fifth (21 per cent) of private sector offers were not accepted by families. Under law, councils can end their housing duty and evict people from temporary accommodation if they refuse an offer. Households moved into private sector accommodation are no longer considered homeless and may lose priority for social housing. HASL has previously expressed concern that councils are using private sector discharge offers as a tactic to make their waiting lists shorter. Lambeth Council was contacted for comment but hadn’t replied at the time of publication.
Residents block off street to stop council workers replacing their parking spaces with seating
By Robert Firth
Local Democracy Reporter
South Londoners opposed to a £650,000 plan to replace parking spaces with seating down their street have blocked access to council workers set to start on the controversial project.
Residents and businesses on Amesbury Avenue in Streatham fear the package of proposed changes to their street will ruin local shops and make the area a magnet for antisocial behaviour.
On Monday (April 21), locals sealed off the road with fake crime scene tape to stop Lambeth Council employees from entering and making a start on
the controversial street scheme. It was the second time in a month residents have blocked council employees from Amesbury Avenue.
Berhe Tsegay, who runs a laundrette on the street, said reducing the amount of parking for customers on Amesbury Avenue would ‘destroy’ his business.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) on Tuesday (April 22): “If this project goes ahead, my business will be completely destroyed. We have customers from the local community. How are they going to carry their items if there’s no parking for vehicles?”
The 59-year-old said plans to replace some parking spots with planters
and seating, known as ‘parklets’, were unnecessary. He added: “There’s a park two streets away from here. We don’t need a parklet. It will attract alcoholics. If the council wants to help, they could do lots to improve the outside lights and to do maintenance to council flats [on the street].”
Tony McDermott, a resident of the street for 40 years, claimed locals had tried to raise concerns with the council about the plans but had been met with a wall of silence.
He said: “This is going to cost £650,000. It’s a lot of money to spend especially when Lambeth Council are supposed to be skint. We’ve been asking them from day one to communicate with us and they have turned their back on us.”
The 62-year-old said he thought the proposed parklet would attract alcoholics, while leaving customers of businesses on the road with nowhere to park.
Lambeth Council told the LDRS that the proposed scheme would turn the ‘neglected shopping parade’ into a ‘better place to spend time and do business’.
The council added that it had spent five years consulting residents on changes to Amesbury Avenue.
But Petra Kjell Wright, a resident on the street, said the Labour-run council’s claims to have created plans informed by locals’ wants and needs didn’t add up.
She said: “It has been sold as a scheme that will work for local businesses, but what the local businesses are saying is [that] with Lambeth’s proposal they will lose trade. It’s going to make it more difficult for them. They don’t think they are going to survive. It will make it more difficult for them to accept deliveries. There will be less parking for customers.”
Ms Kjell Wright added: “We have tried to come up with a solution that would
work better for the area. It would tick lots of Lambeth boxes as well. We want to work with the council. But if this is not settled in an amicable way, we will be out on the streets again.”
A council spokesperson added: “Local people are rightly passionate about their neighbourhoods and we have held many discussions about this improvement project. Our proposals both align with our strategic priorities and local people’s feedback.
“There has been a huge amount of work completed to engage the community in the design [of] the scheme and we are confident that a positive outcome that delivers for the local area will be the end result.”
Members of Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL)
Amesbury Avenue resident Tony McDermott
Berhe Tsegay
GIANT 29-STOREY TOWER RECOMMENDED FOR REFUSAL
By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter
PLANS TO build a ‘disaster’ 29-storey tower at the bottom of Battersea Bridge have been recommended for refusal, in a major setback to the controversial scheme
Wandsworth Council officers said developer Rockwell’s proposals to replace the six-storey Glassmill office building on Battersea Bridge Road should be rejected.
The council’s Planning Committee will soon meet to vote on Rockwell’s proposals to build the 29-storey tower with 110 flats on the site – including 54 affordable homes, which would be offered at social rent. The block would have workspace for small businesses and a community hub for local charities.
Council officers recommended the committee reject the plans in a new report, ahead of the highly-anticipated meeting. They said the scheme goes against policy as the site lies in a midrise building zone in the Wandsworth Local Plan for 2023 to 2038, where only a maximum of six storeys, or 18 metres above ground, is considered appropriate. They added the scheme would only meet 5.6 per cent of the borough’s annual need for homes, when considered in the context of homes already built and in the pipeline, which would be a ‘relatively modest contribution’.
The report ruled: “The proposal, by reason of its excessive height and scale, within an established local spatial character that is predominantly lowrise, while also being located within a low-rise policy zone, would represent an unacceptable and incongruous transformative change within the location that would significantly harm the spatial character of the same location. The significant harm identified has not been outweighed by material considerations
that indicate otherwise.”
Officers’ concerns echo those raised by objectors to the scheme since it first emerged in early 2024. Residents have slammed the scale of the proposed tower and said it would spoil the skyline, cause traffic mayhem and unacceptably tower over surrounding homes – particularly 6 Hester Road, an affordable housing block run by Peabody, which faces the site.
Officers said in their report that they did not consider the new flats would significantly harm the transport network, and that 6 Hester Road would not receive an unacceptable reduction in sunlight.
Rob McGibbon, Editor of The Chelsea Citizen, launched a Change.org petition in June opposing the plans, which has gained more than 4,970 signatures so far.
Mr McGibbon, who lives in Chelsea, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I am entirely against this development. It is the wrong project, in the wrong location and proposed by the wrong company. There is united opposition across the board with good reasons on every level. It is essentially a toxic tower that would be a catastrophe in every conceivable way.
“The tower is quite simply far too big for this site. It will destroy a precious and irreplaceable historic riverside vista. Granting planning permission will also set a dangerous precedent for other developers to move in and build high-rise blocks to make a buck.
“On other equally serious matters, I am also deeply concerned about the lack of clarity that Rockwell Property has presented in its planning application. Too much detail is missing. They are leaving so much to confusion and open for convenient change.”
Other residents told the LDRS the tower would not serve the needs of existing or future residents. Caroline Gardiner described the development as a ‘slap in the face’ to the community and said it
would cause major disruption, before and after construction, increasing congestion levels and putting strain on other nearby bridges. She said redeveloping the existing Glassmill building with a more sensible scheme would be better for locals and the environment.
Ms Gardiner said: “Why are we being lumbered with a building that we don’t want, and that’s ruining the lives of the people who are already here?”
Christina, another resident, who did not wish to give her surname, told the LDRS she was particularly worried about construction work that would be needed to build the tower, and extra footfall it would bring, near an already congested and dangerous crossing at the bottom of Battersea Bridge.
“Building there in particular is an accident waiting to happen,” Christina said. She added: “I think [the Glassmill] should be redeveloped sensibly and thought about and done in a considered way.”
Residents also slammed Rockwell’s methods to generate support for the scheme ahead of the council’s planning meeting. A total of 1,923 objections have been published on the authority’s planning portal so far, along with 1,887 letters of support – with many of these
support letters following the same template and uploaded in batches.
Rockwell has canvassed in Battersea to collect letters of support, while a thirdparty website for the development invites people on its homepage to sign a template letter to be uploaded to the council’s website in their name, or to generate their own reasons for supporting it, without detailing its height.
Rockwell previously told the LDRS that gathering voluntary letters of support through canvassing and advertising is standard industry practice, with each letter showing ‘genuine backing’ for the plans.
But residents believe these tactics undermine the letters’ credibility and the council’s planning process. They questioned how well informed people were about the scheme when signing up to support it through a third-party website, or what information they were given when canvassed.
Mr McGibbon added: “This project has disaster written all over it and Wandsworth Council’s Planning Committee should have the courage to dismiss it instantly.”
Nicholas Mee, Managing Director at Rockwell, said: “An underused brownfield site could deliver 110 urgently needed
new homes – with half reserved as genuinely affordable, social rent options. These could accommodate around 190 people in a borough where over 11,000 residents are still waiting for a place to live. The proposal exceeds Wandsworth’s own targets for affordable housing. Turning it down delays real solutions in favour of inaction.
“One Battersea Bridge has the support of more than 1,500 local residents and over 100 local businesses. They understand that building homes means fewer families in temporary accommodation — and a stronger, more resilient local economy.
“The Spring Statement made it clear: delivering new housing is a national priority. The committee now faces a clear choice – to be builders or blockers. It’s time to make the right decision and deliver affordable housing for Wandsworth.”
The council’s Planning Committee will vote on the scheme on April 24, before it is referred to the Greater London Authority (GLA) for consideration.
The latest on One Battersea Bridge comes just days after plans for an even bigger tower block in Battersea moved forward. A planning application has been submitted for a 35-storey tower next to London Heliport containing 143 flats.
Residents Christina and Caroline Gardiner by the Glassmill building, in Battersea
Another CGI of the latest proposals for One Battersea Bridge
CGI of the latest proposals for One Battersea Bridge
what’s on
REVIEW: SISTERS - BROCKLEY JACK
WHEN I saw the G-Plan furniture and the wallpaper only manufactured now for productions of Abigail’s Party, I knew this was the 70s and thought I was in for a treat. I wasn’t, writes Michael Holland.
This was touted as a ‘Rare Revival’ of David Storey’s Sisters, but I was left feeling that it needed a rare edit to bring it in under two hours.
Storey is said to be the Chekhov of the North, and Uncommon Theatre has been set up ‘to support working-class performers and creatives’, so I thought this was a heavenly match made in the chip shop. I found, sadly, that it was a series of supposedly working-class problems thrown together and performed in northern accents: prostitution, crooked cops, domestic abuse, violence and mental health problems.
Mrs Donaldson (Sarah Dorsett) welcomes Adrienne (Joanne Arber), who is making a surprise visit to the house. She is the sister of Carol (Laura Kaye), and they haven’t met for many years, despite family miscarriages, weddings, and deaths failing to reunite them.
When Carol enters, there is an awkward hug, some tentative attempts at reconciling, and some reminiscing. They say ‘belligerent’ three times in the first ten minutes, so I assumed this was important to the plot. It wasn’t. It was a lack of imaginative writing, plus, not a
word that the working class uses much.
Two younger women: Beryl (Catherine Joyce) and Joanne(Madelyn Morgan) appear and give the impression that they are boarders. Then Geography Teacher Terry(Oliver Lyndon) and the police officer Cracker make themselves at home. Everyone continually asks Adrienne how long she is staying for. Carol’s husband, Tom(Christopher Tomkins), marches sullenly in and out and makes more awkward conversation and asks Adrienne how long she is staying for.
We were an hour in, and I was now very much hoping this would be going somewhere else to take us out of this oddness.
As it slowly dawns on the audience that this is a brothel, and the first act ends in a welcoming party, I had high hopes for the second half. I shouldn’t have.
In the hangover haze of the morning after, Adrienne finally catches on that Tom is a pimp who beats her sister and had drunken, unwanted sex with her during the night, which was allapparently - a reason to buy herself in as Tom’s business partner. Don’t ask. It was that kind of night…
Again, the sisters’ conversation threw up a battle of a word; this time the famously non-working-class word ‘extricate’, which they strangely bounced about between them.
Characters are given some backstory but none to endear them to us when we realise their situations are of their own choosing. There are brief snatches of excitement but nothing to bother the bored, and they all work hard at making something of this difficult
ARTHUR MILLER GETS A FIRST AT THE GLOBE
SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE
announced the cast of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, directed by Ola Ince. The Crucible is the first modern classic to be staged at the Globe Theatre and runs from 8 May to 12 July.
Consumed by paranoia, superstition and a ruthless sense of justice, a climate of fear and mass hysteria sweeps through the town of Salem, Massachusetts when rumours grow that a group of girls are practicing witchcraft.
What lies are the townspeople prepared to tell themselves in order to survive?
Revolutionary, award-winning American playwright Arthur Miller’s seminal, political history play about Salem in 1692, and McCarthy’s 1950’s America, is a timeless warning to us all.
The cast comprises Sarah Belcher as Ann Putnam / Sarah Good, Sarah Cullum as Martha Corey / Ruth Putnam / Cover, Gavin Drea as John Proctor, Joshua Dunn as Cheever, Steve Furst as Reverend Parris, James Groom as Willard / Cover, Joanne Howarth as Rebecca Nurse, Molly Madigan as Mercy Lewis / Cover, Aisha-Mae McCormick as Susanna Walcott / Cover, Stuart McQuarrie as Thomas Putnam / Judge Hathorne, Sarah Merrifield as Tituba, Scarlett Nunes as Betty Parris, Glyn Pritchard
as Francis Nurse, Phoebe Pryce as Elizabeth Proctor, Hannah Saxby as Abigail Williams, Gareth Snook as Deputy Governor Danforth, Jo StoneFewings as Reverend Hale, Howard Ward as Giles Corey, and Bethany Wooding as Mary Warren. Director Ola Ince says: “I’m very excited to share Arthur Miller’s historic epic in the unique immersive space of the Globe Theatre. Combining The Crucible’s big ideas about power, freedom, and gender with the strength of this phenomenal cast is absolutely thrilling!”
The Crucible is designed by Amelia Jane Hankin, with music composed by Renell Shaw. Lindsay McAllister is Assistant Director, Kevin McCurdy is Fight Director, Ebony Molina is Movement Director, Raniah Al-Sayed is Intimacy Director, and Annemette Verspeak is Text and Voice coach.
Shakespeare’s Globe, Bankside, SE1 9DT from May 8th - July 12th. Tickets: £5 - £80. Booking and full details: https://www. shakespearesglobe.com/
script, but this fledgling theatre group needs to choose better next time and produce a play that the working class would want to see.
I was happy to extricate myself at the very welcome end where some of the confusion was clarified.
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2DH until 26th April
Box office: www.brockleyjack.co.uk or 0333 666 3366 (£1.80 fee for phone bookings only)
Tickets: £17, £15 concessions. (16+)
RIVER VOICES
‘RIVER VOICES’ is a collaborative art project bringing the Rotherhithe community together to reimagine John Minton’s painting ‘Rotherhithe from Wapping’, but reimagining it as Wapping from Rotherhithe. John Minton (1917-1957), an English painter, illustrator, set designer, and teacher, struggled with depression and alcoholism. This led to tragically committing suicide, aged just 39. ‘River Voices’ was created by
Verona Mock, a master’s student at the London Metropolitan University, to create a series of drawings and photographs reimagining Minton’s painting, along with some studies of the Minton original from students at Lewisham College. It brings together those who fit in and those who don’t fit into society, proving a point of acceptance and equality to all.
Heading south - our pick of upcoming spring events
VE Day commemoration and market at Severndroog Castle
Severndroog Castle will be hosting celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE day. There will be storytelling, free guided walks with a local historian, choirs and a visit from The Royal British Legion. Volunteers will all be wearing 1940s fashion so they encourage visitors to dress up too!
Date: 4th May. Time: 10am-3pm
Tickets: no need to book and the event is free
Location: Severndroog Castle, Castle Wood, Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3RT, United Kingdom https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/events/may-producers-market-and-ve-day-commemoration
Woolwich Singers Spring Concert at The Tramshed
Community choir, Woolwich Singers, are putting on their annual spring concert. They will be performing a mixture of old and new songs, with a chance to join in, enter the raffl e and enjoy a drink at the bar.
Date: Friday 23rd May
Time: 7pm-9pm
Tickets: General admission is £10, concession is £7
The Tramshed, 51-53 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6ES https://www.tramshed.org/woolwich-singers
Broadway Bingo in Catford
Broadway Theatre’s drag bingo night with THAT GIRL is back for its second year! Expect a night of bingo, live music and prizes and “the usual campery, cattiness –and added cake.”
Date: 7th May. Time: 8pm
Tickets: £7.00
Broadway Bar, Broadway Theatre, Rushey Green, Catford,London, SE6 4RU https://www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/events/broadway-bingo
Urban Village Fete
It’s the Urban Village Fete’s 10th birthday! Celebrate at the Greenwich Peninsula with live DJs, independent markets, creative experiences, and street food. War Child is also their 2025 Fete charity partner and there will be donation opportunities on the day.
Date: 18th May
Time: 11am-7pm
Location: Greewnich Peninsula, Soames Walk, London SE10 0SQ https://www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk/whats-on/urban-village-fete
Ministry of Sound
revive iconic 00s ‘Smoove’ night
See Artful Dodger, Masterstepz, Maximum and more at Ministry of Sound’s returning flagship Friday night event. The club night brings sounds of UK garage, dancehall, hip-hop, R&B, and afrobeats.
Date: Friday 2nd May
Time: 10pm-5am
Tickets: from £12.64
Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, London SE1 6DP
https://www.ministryofsound. com/tickets/smoove
Opera Gala Night 2025
The Opera Gala night at Blackheath Halls is back for a glittering evening of operatic favourites. It’s all to raise money for the 2025 community opera. Performances will include: Opera Patron soprano Ailish Tynan and the Blackheath Halls Youth Choir with more to be announced.
Guests will receive a glass of Prosecco on arrival and a light supper. You can book an entire table for 10 people or individual seats at a table of your choice.
Date: 4th May 2025. Time: 6:30pm-9pm. Tickets: £65
Location: 23 Lee Rd, Blackheath, London SE3 9RQ
Southwark Pensioners’ Centre
Supporting older people in Southwark for over 35 years.
Offering advice, support, activities, rooms for hire and a voice for older people
Contact us on 020 7708 4556 or info@southwarkpensioners.org.uk
Or pop into 305 -307 Camberwell rd, Camberwell Green, SE5 0HQ
Transport for London Public Notice
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE GLA ROADS AND GLA SIDE ROADS (KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA) RED ROUTE CONSOLIDATION TRAFFIC ORDER 2008 A3220 GLA SIDE ROAD (PENYWERN ROAD) VARIATION ORDER 2025
1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that on 22nd April 2025 it made the above named Order, under section 6 of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984. The Order will come into force on 28th April 2025.
2. The general nature and effect of the Order will be to remove the 9 metre Loading bay on Penywern Road on the side of Nos. 262 and 264 Earl Court Road and transfer authority status to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
3. The road which would be affected by the Order is the A3220 GLA Side Road –Penywern Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
4. A copy of the Order, a map indicating the location and effect of the Order and copies of any Order revoked, suspended or varied by the Order can be inspected by visiting our website at https://haveyoursay.t.gov.uk/tro and selecting the relevant borough and reference the Trafc Order relates to or by appointment during normal ofce hours at our ofce at the address below. To arrange an appointment please email trafcordersection@t.gov.uk. Copies of the documents may be requested via email at trafcordersection@t.gov.uk, or by post at Transport for London, Streets Trafc Order Team, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ quoting reference SNO/REGULATION/STOT/BS/TRO/GLA/2025/0223.
5. Any person wishing to question the validity of the Order or of any of its provisions on the grounds that they are not within the relevant powers conferred by the Act or that any requirement of the Act has not been complied with, that person may, within six weeks from the date on which the Order is made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.
Dated this 25th day of April 2025
Henry Cresser Performance & Planning Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
Transport for London Public Notice
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE A200 GLA ROAD (JAMAICA ROAD, LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPING ORDER 2025
1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.
2. The purpose of the Order is to enable resurfacing works to take place at A200 Jamaica Road.
3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from:
(1) proceeding in a westerly direction on Jamaica Road from its junction with Southwark Park Road and Keeton’s Road;
(2) stopping on the southern kerb line of Jamaica Road between its junctions with Southwark Park Road and Keeton’s Road.
The Order will be effective from the 28th April 2025 until 16th June 2025 every night between 8.00 PM and 6.00 AM 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 trafc signs.
4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of:
(1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes;
(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.
5. At such times as the prohibition is in force an alternative route will be indicated by trafc signs via Southwark Park Road, Grange Road, Tower Bridge Road, Tooley Street and Jamaica Road to normal route of travel.
Dated this 25th day of April 2025
Andrew Ulph
Co-ordination Manager Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
Transport for London Public Notice
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE A232 GLA ROAD (HIGH STREET, LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF STOPPING) ORDER 2025
1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.
2. The purpose of the Order is to enable water connection works to take place at A232 High Street.
3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from stopping on High Street between its junctions with Sherwood Way and The Grove. The Order will be effective at certain times from 8.00 PM on the 28th April 2025 until 5.00 AM on the 30th April 2025 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 trafc signs.
4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of:
(1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes;
(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.
Dated this 25th day of April 2025
Andrew Ulph
Co-ordination Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
Transport for London Public Notice
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE A205 GLA ROAD (DULWICH COMMON, LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPING AND SUSPENSION OF BUS LANE) ORDER 2025
1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.
2. The purpose of the Order is to enable resurfacing works to take place on the A205 Dulwich Common/ Lordship Lane in London Borough of Southwark.
3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from:
(1) entering, exiting, or proceeding on Dulwich Common between its junction with Croxted Road and Lordship Lane, local access will be maintained between Croxted Road and No.2 Dulwich Common;
(2) entering or proceeding in an easterly direction on Thurlow Park Road/ Dulwich common between its junctions with Norwood Road and Croxted Road, local access will be maintained;
(3) stopping on Lordship Lane between its junction with Underhill Road and Nos.499 and 501 Lordship Lane;
(4) stopping on Dulwich Common between its junction with Lordship Lane and No.2 Dulwich Common.
The Order will also permit all vehicles to use the South-East bound bus lane on Lordship Lane between its junctions with Melford Road and Underhill Road. Works will be phased such that some restrictions will apply only at certain times.
The Order will be effective at certain times from 10:00 PM on 6th May 2025 until 5:00 AM on 6th November 2025 or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibitions will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.
4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of:
(1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes;
(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.
5. At such times as the prohibitions are in force alternative routes will be indicated by trafc signs. For Dulwich Common westbound via Lordship Lane, Grove Vale, Dog Kennel Hill, Grove Lane, Champion Park, Denmark Hill, Herne Hill, Norwood Road and Croxted Road to normal route of travel. For Dulwich Common eastbound via Norwood Road, Norwood High Street, Elder Road, Central Hill, Westow Hill, Crystal Palace Parade and Sydenham Hill to normal route of travel.
Dated this 25th day of April 2025
Matt Standell Performance and Planning Manager Transport for London, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
Notice of application for a Premises Licence.
Notice is hereby given that Foley Fest Community Interest Company (CIC) has applied to Richmond Council for a new premises licence (time-limited) at Cardinal Vaughan School Playing Fields, Whitton Dene, Whitton, TW7 7LT for Time-limited event on Saturday 19/07/2025 Sale/Supply of Alcohol – 1200hrs to 2100hrs Regulated Entertainment – Live Music, Recorded Music and Performance of Dance –1200hrs to 2100hrs
Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 14th May 2025 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 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
TPMR RETAIL LTD Has applied to Wandsworth Council for a premises licence at: T&M Express, 627 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, London, SW18 4SX to provide the following licensable activities: Sale of Alcohol for consumption Off the premises: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday (8:00 AM To 23:00 PM) Sunday (08:00 AM To 22:00 PM)
Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing 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 to: licensing@merton.gov.uk
By: 12 May 2025
The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of The Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00am and 4.00pm. 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.
Licensing Act 2003
Notice of application for a Premises Licence. Name of applicant: Domestique Coffee Limited
Address of premises: 31 Station way, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8SD
Application details: for the sale and consumption of alcohol on and off the premises, with the possibility of occurring 7 days a week between 0700 - 2300.
Full details of the application can be inspected on the licensing register at www.sutton.gov.uk or in person at address below.
Deadline for representations: 15th May 2025. Representations must be made in writing to licensing authority by post: Licensing team LB Sutton, Civic Offices, St Nicholas way, Sutton SM1 1EA or by email licensing@sutton.gov.uk It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. the maximum penalty on conviction of such
MAGIC WAND SAVES HAMLET
Boss: ‘This club deserves better - it needs to be driven and ambitious
By John Kelly
WANADIO secured ten-man Dulwich Hamlet’s Isthmian League Premier Division status with a last-minute winner to beat Canvey Island 2-1 at Champion Hill last weekend.
Bradley Sach gave the visitors an eleventh-minute lead before Amaru Kaunda’s leveller on 68 minutes.
Kreshnic Krasniqi was sent off in the 79th minute after a second yellow card before Wanadio’s last-gasp effort sent the majority of the 2,668 in attendance into ecstasy.
Bradley Quinton was appointed in January after the dismissal of Hakan Hayrettin.
“There’s been a lot of rollercoasters but the objective was to keep this club where we are and obviously progress for next season,” Quinton said. “And that’s the
ambition and what we need to do and focus on.
“It was a privilege to be a part of. The boys really dug in and put something in that I think this club will be proud of. It deserves to be a lot higher than where it is but emotionally, you know, sometimes you need to do what you’ve got to do and this is what we’ve done over the last couple of weeks. We’ve had tremendous amounts of injuries, players not available for selection, players coming in and out,
and obviously not doing what this club expects, and we needed to fix that and I think that’s what we’ve done.
“I was proud of the boys. Emotionally a lot for me, it was something to really, really be proud of, what I’ve done for this club and I feel passionate about this club being local as well, it means a lot.
“It’s hard to take and hard to accept at times [struggling in the league], but emotionally, and this is what things are about, people’s livelihoods and the time they put in behind the scenes, it’s passionate. This club deserves so much better. And that was my chat to the boys after the game and emotionally before the game with everything that this club does behind the scenes. It’s a huge, huge club and shouldn’t be where they were.
“But we deserve everything what we got in that game. Whatever was thrown at us, we didn’t hide and we delivered.
And I’m proud for the fans, I’m proud for
the club, I’m proud for all my players who really delivered in terms of the conditions of what was thrown at them.”
Quinton was asked about the difficulties and pressure of the job.
“I’m local, I’m committed,” he replied.
“But what’s been thrown at me this season is something that some managers would never even want to be part of.
But I think it’s something that made me stronger. I think it’s made me understand the club more. And I think emotionally, it’s been hard. But as you’ve seen from me, you know, week-in, week-out, I don’t hide.
“I think this is such a learning curve and it makes me stronger in my managerial career. What I’ve had to deal with and manage, and different players being available and not available, injuries, etc.
“But we have stood up and I think the fans appreciate what we’ve done. I think the club appreciate what we’ve done as
Surrey striving for ‘perfect game’ as they remain winless
Sussex 435 & 132-0:
By Bruce Talbot in Hove
CHAMPIONS SURREY are still looking for the first win of the season in the Rothesay County Championship after they drew with Sussex at Hove.
Surrey’s hopes of putting pressure on their hosts on the final day evaporated when they lost their last seven wickets for 100 runs in the morning session.
They still took a first-innings lead of 55 after being dismissed for 490, but Tom Haines followed his first-innings 174 with an unbeaten 69 (nine fours) and Dan Hughes contributed 49 to an unbroken first-wicket stand of 132. Haines took his aggregate for the season to 449 and is averaging 89.8.
Surrey needed early wickets to
put pressure back on Sussex but the openers wiped out the arrears in the seventeenth over, by which time
Surrey had to employ spin at both ends because of the poor light with skipper Rory Burns bowling three overs and Dan Worrall and Dom Sibley sending down some exploratory leg breaks.
Bad light stopped play at 3.25pm and there was never any chance that the players would return. In the end the loss of 83 overs during the first three days to bad weather and a pitch which hardly deteriorated ended up frustrating both teams.
Surrey took fifteen points and Sussex fourteen and both sides remain unbeaten after three matches.
Surrey began the day on 390-3 with ambitions to go past Sussex’s 435 and make it an awkward second innings for their hosts.
But they lost momentum straight away. Ollie Robinson’s third ball of the day stopped in the pitch and Dan Lawrence gave mid-wicket an easy catch without adding to his 107, which came off 111 balls with ten
fours and a six.
Robinson settled into a probing spell of 11-2-42-1 and Jayden Seales gave good support on a pitch that offered more seam movement than had been evident in the previous two days under low cloud cover and with the floodlights in use. And after conceding 162 runs during the afternoon session on the third day and incurring the wrath of coach Paul Farbrace Sussex were much more disciplined in the field.
Seales bowled at decent pace from the sea end and was rewarded with wickets in successive overs. Ben Foakes fenced at a ball of good length for 60 then Ryan Patel (29) fatally chased a widish one.
Left-arm spinner James Coles finished things off with the last four wickets. Jordan Clark heaved across the line before the left-arm spinner picked up the final three wickets in six balls.
Atkinson inside-edged a full toss onto his off stump, Matthew Fisher was bowled trying to guide his second
delivery down to third man and Coles completed his maiden five-for when he fired one down the leg side and Ollie Sykes got a thin edge to John Simpson, who took his fourth wicket of the innings to ensure Sussex took maximum bowling points, an unlikely outcome at the start of the day.
“It was a tough four days on a very good pitch,” Surrey coach Gareth Batty said. The weather intervened which stopped our momentum, especially on the third day, but there were some solid performances and we’re probably getting to a nice place where players are starting to hit their straps.
“[The pitch] was what we expected, people started doing it to us at the end of last year - very flat, docile, placid surfaces. We’re a couple of bits of ammunition who might help us take 20 wickets down at the moment but that’s no excuse, we’ve had our opportunities but you just need to play the perfect game to get a result. That perfect game is what everyone is striving for - we certainly are.”
a manager and as a coaching staff. To be able to deliver a performance like that when you go down to ten men is a credit to the boys, a credit to the staff.
“But first and foremost, it’s about keeping this fantastic club in the league. This club should never be anywhere near it [relegation]. And we’ve had to deal with that, and we’ve had to build on that, and hopefully we can build on what we’ve got for next season. It starts now and we need to be focused on what this club needs to be. Community. It needs to be driven. It needs to be ambitious. It needs to be [players feeling] privileged to be playing for this club and playing for this shirt. This pink and blue shirt means a lot to the club.
“And I think that’s what I’m about - and that’s what sport should be about.”
The Hamlet’s last game of the season is against Chatham Town at Champion Hill on Saturday at 3pm.
Fish clinch play-offspot
By John Kelly
FISHER VIRTUALLY guaranteed a SCEFL Premier Division playoff spot after a battling 0-0 draw at Whitstable Town on Easter Monday.
Fisher moved three points above sixth-place Rusthall with a game to play, but Ajay Ashanike’s side have a better goal difference, meaning it would require a dramatic swing on the final day.
For Fisher to lose out, Punjab United in fifth have to beat Erith & Belvedere at home, and then Rusthall defeat champions Faversham coupled with a Fish loss at home to fifteenth-place Hollands & Blair, with a nine-goal swing across the two latter fixtures. Fisher will almost certainly be back at Whitstable next Tuesday for the semi-final.
Fisher’s game in Rotherhithe this Saturday kicks off at 3pm.
Photo by Rob Avis
Bradley Quinton achieved his objective, Inset - The players celebrate
Haines 69*, Hughes 49* Surrey 490: Lawrence 117, Pope 103, Sibley 82, Foakes 60; Coles 5-108 Sussex (14 pts) drew with Surrey (15 pts)
LUKE
By John Kelly
CHELSEA BOSS Enzo Maresca said his decision not to go and celebrate with the away end at Craven Cottage was to allow his players to bask in the glory of their stoppage-time London derby win over Fulham that revived the Blues’ Champions League hopes.
After their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town when Maresca said the “environment” at Stamford Bridge was to blame for his side falling two goals down, it looked like it was going to be another difficult afternoon in the relationship between the head coach and Blues fans when the visitors trailed for 63 minutes to Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute opener.
But nineteen-year-old Tyrique George gave Chelsea hope with his first league goal seven minutes from time before Pedro Neto spun to finish in the 93rd minute and spark wild scenes on the Blues bench. Maresca was booked for his exuberant celebrations and will serve a one-game touchline ban.
Maresca went straight down the tunnel after the final whistle as his players celebrated with their fans.
Maresca was asked about that afterwards.
"I was very happy, first of all because it's a nice feeling to win the game at the end but I think it was a moment for the players because they deserve to share that moment with the fans,” Maresca said. “So this is the reason why I left the pitch immediately and then when we scored the second one I celebrated and this is the reason why they gave me a yellow card.
"But for sure I think it was a nice moment for the players and for the fans to share that moment. It’s important and I said already many times, the players need to feel the support."
With Arsenal looking favourites to finish second to Liverpool, there are realistically five teams fighting for the other three Champions League spots.
"Personally, the goal from Pedro doesn't change my view from the season,” Maresca said. “I said three or four days ago, and I will repeat, Chelsea in the last two years has never been in a Champions League spot and this season we spent the whole season there. So [the] win doesn't change my view.
"It's already a good season and can become very good if we finish in a Champions League spot, no doubt. But for sure [it] was an important win because first of all it's a derby, second it gives us the chance to be there and probably was the most difficult win and the reason why is because [Chelsea’s rivals] all played [on Saturday], so for us it was a must-win game. And I think after we conceded the goal is the reason why we struggled a bit more because for the players it became more difficult and second half we were much better."
PEDRO NETS LAST-GASP DERBY WIN
Joy for Enzo - as Fulham boss says loss ‘very harsh’
Maresca added: “It was a fantastic goal from Pedro, from Tyrique but I think all the team today was very good, Trevoh [Chalobah] was good, Levi [Colwill] was good, the one in the middle, Moi [Caicedo], Enzo [Fernandez], Cole [Palmer] was better, so happy for all of them.
"Very happy for Tyrique, him and Josh Acheampong, both from the academy, we decided to promote them because they are good talent, they have to work hard. Pedro's goal, we all know that Pedro is better in the right side but we have also Noni [Madueke], we have also Jadon
[Sancho] so I try to decide game by game but Pedro is doing well since he arrived here."
Captain Reece James played the first 45 minutes but his replacement, Malo Gusto, limped off a minute from time with Tosin Adarabioyo coming on.
Maresca said: “Very happy because [James] played 90 minutes two days ago and played again 45 so for us as a team it's an important moment because we can start to think about him every three days. And this is fantastic for us because he's our captain, he's a main player, fantastic player,
so it's good news.
"Unfortunately it's not a good one [for Gusto], a muscle problem and you can see against Ipswich, second half he was inside, changed the game, today he was inside, changed the game, how important is Malo for us and unfortunately it looks like a muscle injury."
Cottagers boss Marco Silva acknowledged his side dropped off after the break, but felt they didn’t deserve to lose.
"We were not able to play the second half very well, like we did the first,” Silva said.
"We did it well first half, the quality, the
capacity to keep the ball and to find the right moments to do it.
"Unfortunately for us, we wanted to start the second half in the same way and were not able to connect some passes. Our build-up was not at the same level.
"They started to play in our half. I really believe the result is very harsh for us but the second half was not our level and we lost the game."
Chelsea host Everton on Saturday at 12.30pm.
Fulham travel to Southampton for a 3pm kick-off.
Charlton smash Chairboys to keep top-two hopes alive
By John Kelly
CHARLTON ATHLETIC boss Nathan
Jones revealed he challenged his team to chase more goals at half-time in their 4-0 demolition of automatic promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers last weekend.
The Addicks took an eleventh-minute lead when Lloyd Jones beat goalkeeper Will Norris and made it 2-0 in the 24th minute through Luke Berry’s shot from fifteen yards.
Matty Godden scored the third on 58 minutes and Karoy Anderson added the fourth four minutes later.
Charlton kept eighteen-goal Wycombe striker Richard Kone quiet as they cut the gap to the Chairboys to two points.
The only disappointment was Chuks Aneke’s straight red card after he clashed with Luke Leahy in added-time.
Charlton will move to within one point of Wrexham in second with a win at their rivals this weekend.
“I thought we were excellent,” Jones said.
“It was a real frenetic start from both sides but then once we got the goal I thought there was only one side that was going to win it. We got the goal, got the second one.
They are a very, very good side, they have the [second] top-scorer in the league. I
thought Lloyd Jones was magnificent again to curtail him.
“At half-time we said, ‘what sort of a team do we want to be? Do we want to be a team that defends a two-goal lead and makes it edgy or do we just go after the game?’ We went after the game.
“It’s a magnificent performance because we come to second place, we win 4-0, we keep a clean sheet against one of the highest scorers, one of the top strikers in the league – it’s a wonderful performance and under the pressure we were under as well.”
Jones added: “Some of the goals were magnificent. You will not see a better strike
anywhere in English football today than Luke Berry’s. Then there is a goalkeeping error [for Godden’s goal] but we have to press and work hard and get after them. We’re away from home, we’re two up and we’re going after the game.
“Then it is a wonderful ball and a wonderful header to really seal the win and it didn’t flatter us in anyway because I can’t remember our goalkeeper making a save.”
Jones’ side equalled a club record by registering a 20th clean sheet of the season in the league.
Jones added: “We came here last year and they’d kept three [clean sheets] in 35
or 36 games. We only kept two in the final sixteen games, which was good enough to get us to the position we finished last year but I knew it wasn’t going to be good enough to get us where we want to be this season. We had to first of all sort that out, which we did and we have.
“Then every single week is an evolution process in terms of getting better in possession, scoring more goals, being more clinical, being more confident, being more accomplished with the ball and we are a work in progress, we’re just over a year in - I think we’re in a good place.”
The kick-off this Saturday at the Racecourse Ground is at 5.30pm.
Pedro Neto, left, and Levi Colwill celebrate
Sport INSIDE
GLASNER: VILLA HAVE UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
Lukas Jensen to miss ‘a fair chunk of next season’
By Will Scott
LUKAS JENSEN tore his achilles and will miss a “fair chunk of next season”, Alex Neil said after Millwall’s 3-1 win against Norwich City on Easter Monday.
Jensen, 26, has made 43 appearances this season, but sustained the injury ahead of the Lions’ 4-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers on Good Friday.
Back-up goalkeeper Liam Roberts is also out with a hip flexor injury, meaning nineteen-year-old academy goalkeeper George Evans has been called upon in the Lions’ past two games.
When asked how long term he expects Jensen’s injury to be, Neil said: “As long term as a ruptured achilles takes, which is not pretty soon. “It’s going to be a fair chunk of next season.”
Midfielders George Honeyman and Billy Mitchell also missed the Lions’ win against the Canaries, after the duo started against Blackburn.
Honeyman has made 43 appearances this season, while Mitchell has made 22. Both of their contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. Neil does not think either will be available for the final two games of the campaign.
By John Kelly
OLIVER GLASNER believes Aston Villa have been handed an unfair advantage in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday after the Premier League rejected Crystal Palace’s request to have their midweek fixture against Arsenal moved.
Unai Emery’s Villa lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Tuesday night, with the Eagles heading to the Emirates for an 8pm kick-off on Wednesday night.
That gives them just two full days to recover and prepare for the 5.15pm kick-off on Saturday as they chase a
first-ever FA Cup title.
The Gunners played at Ipswich Town on Sunday, meaning they couldn’t play Tuesday. The game on Wednesday had also been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports.
“Yes, we wanted it [moved], but sometimes you are shouting against the wind and nobody hears you,”
Glasner said. “I don’t want to complain about fixtures but I think it’s not the best choice from the Premier League.
“Villa play [Tuesday] and we play [Wednesday] – fair would be if both teams were playing on the same day, on Tuesday or on Wednesday. At this stage of the season it can influence if you have two or three days to rest.
But we have to accept it and I’m pretty sure we will be top fit on Saturday.”
Glasner rejected the idea he was going to make wholesale changes against Arsenal given the quick turnaround to the weekend.
“My approach is clear: nothing changes [against Arsenal]” he said. “It’s the players’ approach, and I spoke to them. If someone believes they have to save their energy for Saturday then it would be quite easy, but they said ‘no’ and want to show our style, identity and who we are by giving our best.
“We could put out the under-21s so we can train for the Villa game. But that is not what we want.”
Glasner was leaning on previous experience. He said: “When I was a younger manager in Austria I played a midweek cup tie against a nonleague team and we had a derby at the weekend. I changed eleven players for the cup game but we were awful but everything went how we planned and we went through to the next round and every player was fit for the derby. But we went on to lose the derby 2-0 and I said I would never do it again.”
Palace defender Chris Richards returns for the Villa showdown after serving a one-match ban for his red card in the 0-0 draw against AFC Bournemouth at Selhurst Park last weekend.
“Billy felt his calf, that’s why I took him off at Blackburn,” Neil said. “Then George yesterday, right before we went into eleven versus eleven work in terms of preparation for this game, he stretched for a ball and just felt his hamstring and unfortunately both couldn’t make it.”
When asked if they could feature in Millwall’s last two games of the season, Neil said: “I think they’re going to struggle.”
41 Championship
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, left, and Unai Emery will meet again at Wembley
