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HOME OFFICE DEPORTING TFL STAFF UNDER NEW VISA RULES ‘UNFAIR AND SHORT-SIGHTED’ WARN ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS
By Kumail Jaffer Local Democracy Reporter
THE HOME Office has been urged to reverse “unfair and short-sighted” rule changes on the sponsorship of foreign workers which could lead to dozens of Transport for London (TfL) employees being deported.
More than 60 transport staff who came to the UK on skilled worker visas could be deported following increased salary thresholds for visa sponsorship and the removal of key transport roles from the eligible list.
It is believed that many workers took the jobs on two-year graduate visa schemes believing they could move into skilled worker positions in the future, according to the RMT trade union.
Hina Bokhari, who leads the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Deporting vital Tube staff because of sudden last-minute rule changes is unfair and short-sighted.
“London relies on the skills and commitment of these people – we need a fair immigration system that values workers’ contributions and supports our public services, not one that ruins lives and damages our economy.”
Green Party Assembly Member Caroline Russell told the LDRS “It’s sickening that TfL workers who gained a skilled worker visa in good faith have had their secure employment removed by the Government at the stroke of a pen.
“London has a proud heritage of skilled workers coming to support its transport system, and that shouldn’t be brought to an end. The Government should withdraw these cruel changes that are going to ruin lives by sending away the workers London depends upon.”
TfL are obliged to comply with the changes, which took effect on July 22 and will remain
in place until at least the end of 2026. It said it was working with at-risk employees to explore other routes to be able to work in the UK after their visa expires.
Eddie Dempsey, the RMT General Secretary, told the LDRS: “It’s completely wrong to punish workers by deporting them when they have built their lives here and are making a daily contribution to keeping London moving.
“Our members took these jobs in good faith, on the understanding that they could progress and continue building their futures here. Now the new government rules risk shattering these workers’ lives and leaving gaps in employment for London Underground.
“Every country needs a practical and fair immigration policy but this is neither of those and ends up treating vital transport workers disgracefully. RMT will not rest until we have a just outcome for our members and will be supporting them as best we can throughout.”
TfL currently offers a £31,000 starting salary for graduates and advises candidates who would require sponsorship “to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship” prior to applying.
Trainee station staff are believed to earn between £35,300 and £41,800, the latter of which is just £100 above the new sponsorship threshold.
‘I
HAVE DONE EVERYTHING ASKED OF ME’
An anonymous testimony from an at-risk employee, seen by the LDRS, reads: “I love my job, my fellow RMT colleagues and helping passengers every day. I want to see how far I can go in TfL, get promoted and learn new skills. I volunteer for overtime when I can as I only live a short distance from my workplace. I have done everything asked of me. I turn up to work on time, I pay my taxes and I feel settled in this country, looking forward to building my life here with my family.
“I do not want charity. I just want a fair chance to work, live and stay here, helping to keep our great capital moving because at heart, I am a Londoner just like everyone else. But now that could all be ripped away from my family and I.
“What did I do wrong? What did any of my 60 colleagues facing the same fate, do wrong? I have seen them go above and beyond their normal work duties, even preventing vulnerable members of the travelling public from committing suicide on the network.
“Getting the news that my job was now not on a list which would make me eligible to stay in the country, has taken an enormous toll on me and my family. It was like a nuclear bomb going off in our household as it affects us all.
“Come what may, I will continue to get up early, do my job professionally, and support
passengers every day for as long as I can. I hope TfL can find me a new visa so my family and I can stay. I also hope the Home Secretary will reflect on the fact these changes affect people like me who see their long-term future in Britain. This is my home, let me stay.”
A TfL spokesperson told the LDRS: “Due to the recent changes in salary and skills thresholds for visa sponsorship, some colleagues currently working at TfL on a visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship when their current visa expires. We are working with all colleagues affected by the changes, as their current visa approaches expiry, to understand whether they have other routes to work in the UK available to them and to support them where possible.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Immigration White Paper sets out a comprehensive strategy to restore order to our immigration system. It links immigration policy with skills and visa frameworks to strengthen the domestic workforce, reduce dependency on overseas labour, and boost economic growth. Under this approach, every sector will be required to implement a workforce strategy focused on training British workers, or risk losing access to the immigration system, as part of wider efforts to reinforce the integrity of the points-based system and end dependence on lower-skilled international recruitment.”
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‘THE GUY IS A GENUINE HERO’
Biopic will examine what it means to be a hero in modern Britain
EXCLUSIVE
By Issy Clarke
ROY LARNER, 54, heroically tackled knife-wielding Islamist terrorists to the ground during the 2017 London Bridge attacks while crying out: “F*** you, I’m Millwall!”.
Despite sustaining severe stab wounds and saving countless lives in the process, Larner was never formally recognised for his bravery. Two racist incidents –one before and one after the attack – are widely speculated as the reason why he was denied compensation or a George Medal for bravery.
Now, an acclaimed director hopes that his new film about Larner will help to resuscitate the Millwall fan’s marred reputation and get the powers that be on his side.
Dougie Brimson, the creator of the Green Street football hooligan movie, who is the brains behind the biopic of Larner, said the film will examine “what it means to be a hero and how we perceive heroes”.
He said: “The guy is a genuine hero. I’m a veteran and to me he’s a proper hero because he did something which was out of the ordinary.”
Like Roy’s biography of the same name, the movie is called ‘The Lion of London Bridge’ and will open with the dramatic events which unfolded on 3 June, 2017. The script has been written by Brimson and will differ from Roy’s book, which focused heavily on his life leading up to the attack.
“The thrust of the story will be really what happened after the incident and the injustice that was served on him” said Dougie. “Because it’s a side of the story that I don’t think the general public are aware of, and I think they should be.”
He added that Roy was “very much a victim of what happened” and said the film would “get viewers on Roy’s side”.
“We want to let people answer the question – was it fair what happened to him? I believe it wasn’t, but I have left it up to the viewer to make their own opinions.”
When asked if the film would touch on the racist incidents, for which Larner has since apologised, Dougie said: “We’re not shying away from anything. It’s a warts and all movie.”
Although the script is now complete, the film does not yet have a specific release date, as it is awaiting funding before it can start shooting.
Brimson refused to share what the budget for the film was, but revealed he had covered half of the costs incurred so far himself. “I’m just so passionate about this story and I think it needs to be told.”
The film will hopefully have a cinema release and initial screenings will be held around Bermondsey. “We want the locals to see the film first – because it’s about one of their own” said Brimson.
“Millwall is a very important factor in this film, and it’s something else we’ve tried to portray. That kind of loyalty and friendship and sense of community, but also the sense of protectiveness that surrounds Roy from within that community.”
Brimson was tight-lipped when asked if he had lined up any potential filming locations around Southwark, but said his preference was to keep filming as “real as possible – because we want people to recognise the locations and places.”
Roy will be played by Leo Gregory, who played Bovver in Brimson’s critically acclaimed 2005 movie Green Street.
“Leo and Roy speak on WhatsApp every day – they’ve gotten quite close” said Brimson.
He added that Roy and Leo have a “strange likeness”.
“I’ve known Leo a long time – it’s remarkable how he picks up on people. To all intents and purposes, it will be Roy on screen.”
Speaking to the News, Roy Larner, with whom Brimson consulted closely while developing the script, described feeling “let down and brushed aside by the powers that be” after the attack, but said he was amazed that his story had gone “worldwide”.
He said: “I’ve had some bad times. I nearly died on a London street saving people's lives. I was angry, I was let down by the people who are supposed to be looking after you, like the MPs. I needed help and it didn’t come.
“It is amazing that the story has gone worldwide. I’m up for the George Cross as well, and hopefully that will come. And Millwall football club give me free season tickets, which wasn’t the worst thing… I think the film will hopefully show how you do something good and you’re let down, cast aside – but in the end, it all comes good.”
Women's cricket in Bermondsey See page 10
23 August | 11.00–17.00
Roy Larner
Left - Leo Gregory (L) with Roy Larner (R)
Below - Dougie Brimson (centre left) and Roy Larner (far right) together at a recent Millwall match
By Issy Clarke
A SOUTH London publican who has made a real name for himself in Peckham fears that his dream pub in Tulse Hill will be whipped away unless he can get the cash together to buy the freehold.
The future of the Queen of the South pub, which is run by the owner behind the Prince of Peckham, hangs in the balance after a major pub chain which owns the freehold allegedly ordered him to either buy the land – or leave the premises.
The Queen of the South on Norwood Road was opened in 2023 by Clement Ogbonnaya, who runs the hugely successful Prince of Peckham pub on Clayton Road.
After the success of the Prince of Peckham Clement told us, before taking on Queen of the South, his ultimate aim was to open five more community pubs in as many years.
First stop was Tulse Hill and taking over the long-closed White Hart pub and transforming it into the Queen of the South was a popular move. Chuffed to being open in Tulse Hill, Clement told us at the time: “Like Peckham, Tulse Hill is a community-driven area, which is integral to our business model. At the core of
everything we do is a goal of providing an inclusive space for the local community.
“Ultimately, we want to give Tulse Hill residents a home away from home, and something they can call their own.
“Tulse Hill is the area my wife grew up in and where I owned my first property. Through selling it, I was able to fund the opening of Prince of Peckham, which started my journey into pub ownership.
This feels like coming full circle.”
But in a video posted on his Instagram two weeks ago, Clement revealed that Young’s Pubs, which became the freeholder of the Queen of the South after taking over the City Pub Group in 2024, had issued him with a deadline to either purchase the freehold – or risk losing the premises.
But in an update posted to his Instagram last Wednesday, 6 August Clement revealed his bid to buy the freehold had been rejected during a meeting with representatives from the pub company earlier that day.
While he did not disclose the figure he offered to buy the freehold, the crowd funder is seeking to raise £100,000 in total.
On Friday he told us: “Today was our deadline to meet with the pub company and tell them what our intentions are.
“We gave them our second offer – which
PRINCE OF PECKHAM OWNER URGES PUNTERS 'SAVE OUR QUEEN’ IN
is actually our final offer – which they rejected” he continued, adding: “It looks like we could lose this pub.”
Reflecting on the possible future of the site, Clement said in the video: “Is it going to become flats? Is it going to become a Tesco? Who knows.
“But what I do know is what Queen of the South represents (which) far supersedes what they want this place to be. This is about community, this is about togetherness. You survive alone or you thrive together.”
Young’s was quick to tell this newspaper that they had “not had any conversations with any other potential bidders” apart from Clement and keeping pubs was ‘an important part of their ethos.’
Calling on viewers to “Save our Queen”, Clement urged punters to donate to a crowd funder to keep the pub open, which has raised £5,671 so far towards a target of £100,000.
The pub’s crowdfunder page said the freehold of the pub had been “recently bought without our knowledge or consultation to a large, multi-millionpound pub group.
“They’ve given us an ultimatum: buy it back within a tight deadline, or risk losing Queen forever. As an independent team, we simply don’t have the resources
to compete with corporate buyers — not without help.”
“This isn’t just about saving a pub. It’s about protecting a vital, inclusive space that belongs to the community.”
In Peckham and Tulse Hill Clement says he works collaboratively with local businesses and charities to create the pubs as a hub where people can come together and create positive change.
His is one of just a few public houses in Southwark which is used as a warm hub for those struggling to pay their energy bills.
In both establishments he aims to create an events-led space, with activities programmed for every day of the week, giving local creatives a chance to showcase their talent. They run traditional pub activities like quizzes and comedy shows, but have been keen to put on art exhibitions, dance performances, wellbeing classes and panel discussions.
Clement said he had been overwhelmed by the response to the fundraiser, stating on Instagram: “The biggest joy that has come out of this whole experience is the way you have all rallied around us.. the love, the championing of what we have been doing for the last eight or nine years has been incredible. If we were to lose this pub tomorrow, what we have
Opening date for London Bridge Wetherspoons pushed
By Issy Clarke
OPENING date for
done is unite a community. I think the journey to acquire more pubs really begins now.”
“It’s about more than a pub, this is about a community, this is about displacement, about gentrification and representation. David can beat Goliath. Survive alone, thrive together.”
A spokesperson for Young’s said: “We recognise the significance of the Queen of the South pub in Tulse Hill as an important part of the local community and have been engaging with Clement Ogbonnaya to reach an agreement that will ensure its continued operation under the current management.
“We remain in exclusive negotiations with Clement regarding the freehold of the pub and have not had any conversations with any other potential bidders regarding the site.
“At Young’s, ensuring pubs remain vibrant parts of their local communities is an important part of our ethos. Following our acquisition of City Pub Group in 2024, it was always our intention that this pub remain independent to best serve its community, and we sincerely hope that a solution can be reached that will enable the pub to continue to thrive.”
Clement said that he was waiting to hear confirmation on whether his offer had been finally rejected or not.
back to September
Clement Ogbonnaya, founder of the Prince of Peckham and Queen of the South pubs
The inside of the Queen of the South Prince of Peckham
By Cameron Blackshaw
Local Democracy Reporter
REFORM UK’S first directlyelected London councillor has outlined a bold vision for the city he says is backed by Nigel Farage, calling for outer boroughs to split from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Alan Cook won the Bromley Common and Holwood by-election on July 24 in what he believes was a major step in showing the rest of the city the strength of the Reform vote as well as exposing what he deems Conservative weaknesses.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It’s not just a win, it’s a huge win. I’ve pushed over the first Tory domino, so to speak. There’s nowhere that is Tory controlled now that we can’t win.”
Having taken up his first post in public office, Alan aims to “make a bit of a nuisance” of himself at Bromley Council by scrutinising the actions of the Torycontrolled local authority.
Alan said: “What I do want to do is find out how the council runs, operates and works, and I want to treat it as a business.
“I don’t think dogma and political ideology has a place in local government. I think they should just purely be run as a business looking after the core services.”
BROMLEY GLA SPLIT
Alan said Reform’s leader Nigel Farage was “really enthusiastic” about his proposal to have Bromley split from the GLA.
The move would have massive implications for both the borough and the rest of the city but Alan believes that the people of Bromley would benefit from some independence from the capital and the Mayor’s office.
He said: “It’s big changes like that which will really make a difference to the people here by not sending money to [Sadiq] Khan for his pet and vanity projects which we do not want to pay for.”
Referring to policies enacted by the GLA such as ULEZ, he said: “They may reflect well and work in inner London, in the inner city with high rises and high density and high traffic, but they will not work and actually be counterproductive in places like Biggin Hill.
“It’s just rolling fields. You can go and take a picture and you won’t see a single house or a single car, and yet there’s ULEZ there. It’s a travesty. It’s so wrong in that area to inflict that on those people.”
Although Alan is not yet sure what the best way to implement the split from the GLA would be. He knows that Bromley would have to either go it alone or combine with other London borough councils that would want to split as well.
He said: “Our history is with Kent, but Kent’s already a large, £2 billion council. I think we’d be better off as a unitary council by ourselves or with Bexley, or with Bexley and Havering. Even though they’re on the other side of the river, the demographics are very similar so I think
By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter
ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE councillor in London has joined Reform UK, claiming his former local party was plagued by “toxic internal politics”, though his old party claims he was deselected. Mark Justin was elected to Wandsworth Council to represent Nine Elms in 2022, when Labour took control of the authority from the Tories for the first time in 44 years.
Reform’s first directly-elected London councillor Alan Cook with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Credit: Stuart Mitchell.
THE RISE OF REFORM
The first elected South London councillor wants Brexit for Bromley
that would work really well.”
WOULD IT REALLY BE THAT SIMPLE?
All 32 London boroughs are unitary authorities already but the GLA can override them, or have the final say, on some issues. The GLA is responsible for transport, major planning, police and crime, fire and rescue, and housing policy, so Bromley would need to take control of those functions for itself if it were legally able to split from the GLA.
Legislation would likely be required to override the Greater London Authority Act of 1999 which established the GLA and came after a referendum of Londoners who backed it.
REFORM’S FIRST LONDON VICTORY
Cllr Cook recounted the events of his victory night, claiming at first that the other councillors, particularly Conservative ones, were initially friendly towards him. But once it was becoming clear that a Reform win was on the cards, he claims the atmosphere turned sour.
He said: “They wouldn’t look me in the eye. They knew that this had happened, and for it to happen here in the Tories’ backyard which has always been a sort of true blue area.”
London does now have six Reform councillors, however Alan’s is the only seat
to have been won with an election. The rest have been through sitting councillors defecting from other parties. There are two Reform councillors on Barnet Council, one in Waltham Forest, one in Wandsworth, and one in Westminster.
Alan said that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was “really happy” with the byelection victory. He added: “Nigel really wanted this. He wanted this win. It’s his back garden and where he grew up.”
Alan continued: “I’ve got a good relationship with Nigel, Richard [Tice] and the other MPs, but what I didn’t really want to do was to call on them to come down. I thought, let’s make sure this is a homegrown win.
“Conversely, the Tories threw everything at it. Even on polling day they brought their big gun down. The biggest gun they have which misfired and they still lost.”
The “biggest gun” he referred to was Tory leader Kemi Badenoch who joined the party’s candidate Ian Payne to campaign in Bromley.
Alan views the Conservatives as a “zombie party lost to the country” and thinks many Tory MPs are “liberal democrat socialists” that have strayed too far from the party’s traditional roots.
“If they can’t win a provincial by-election here, when they send the leader of the party down, it sort of tells you that there’s
a brand problem,” he said.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Alan says he is from Sidcup but moved to Bickley in his early teens and has lived in the area ever since. He has worked in the city for several years in IT for several different financial companies.
He got involved with the Brexit Party in 2019 before joining the Tories as he considered it a “natural home” because of his politics. But Mr Cook left the Tory party after disagreeing with other party members over how migrant boats crossing the English Channel should be dealt with.
He claimed that Conservatives were not willing to back plans to intercept the boats and send them back to Calais as “it wouldn’t look good internationally”, and so he left the party.
He eventually joined Reform and stood for them in last year’s general election in Bromley and Biggin Hill, coming third and receiving 17.5 per cent of votes cast.
He described the “uniparty” of the other large UK political parties as “global socialists” and he felt Reform were offering the “only choice” away from this. Mr Cook said that a vote for Reform was a “patriotic, nationalistic vote”. “Do you support and love your country or not?” he said.
Another London Tory defects to Reform
Wandsworth Conservatives told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) Councillor Justin was unsuccessful in his attempt in December to seek reselection as a Tory candidate for the borough’s upcoming local elections in 2026. Announcing he has now quit the Tories, Councillor Justin vowed to stand as a candidate for Reform when residents head to the polls in May.
Councillor Justin said: “I’ve officially
resigned the Conservative whip on Wandsworth Council and joined Reform UK. The Wandsworth Conservatives are out of touch, riddled with toxic internal politics and more focused on saving careerist agendas than serving local people.I have no regrets and look forward to standing for re-election in Nine Elms in 2026 as a Reform UK candidate. I’m proud to join a younger, motivated team at Reform UK with real support from
the residents of Nine Elms. The work continues.”
He becomes Wandsworth’s first Reform councillor. The authority also has 34 Labour councillors, 21 Conservative councillors and two Independents. Reform claims Councillor Justin’s move is another signal of the party’s growing momentum in the capital, as it now has six London councillors and expects to gain more in the coming weeks.
LOCAL ISSUES
Alan said he had identified concerns Bromley residents had shared with him during his campaign, and he was keen to work on these following his election. Crime and speeding were two major issues he said kept coming up on doorsteps. When it came to speeding, Alan wasn’t in favour of imposing 20mph speed limits on Bromley roads unless they were outside schools. He also wasn’t keen on building more speed bumps to curb speeding. He said: “I certainly wouldn’t want one outside my house. When a flatbed or a lorry goes over them, the noise they make with everything bouncing around the back is horrible.”
He suggested increasing the frequency of police carrying out random speed checks. However, he was keen to better understand what resources the council had available to it before making a concrete suggestion.
Alan added: “I’m not going to go to the other councillors and say ‘what’s the norm here?’ I’m very analytical and my whole career has been about solving other people’s problems.”
He has already begun to communicate with Bromley residents about their concerns via email and has said: “I will be at every meeting I can possibly attend.”
Councillor
Mark Justin
LIFE AT ONE BERMONDSEY PRIMARY WHERE EIGHT SCHOOLS AROUND IT HAVE CLOSED IN THREE YEARS
Galleywall Primary head says the upside is
parents can come from greater distances and get in, so have the freedom to be a little more picky where they send their kids
By Ruby Gregory Local Democracy Reporter
IT’S A Friday lunchtime in July, and the playground at Galleywall Primary School in Bermondsey is packed full of kids playing and having fun.
The school, which opened under City of London Academies Trust in 2016, is preparing for the end of the academic year and everyone is in good spirits as the summer break is about to begin.
Come September, the school will open its doors again, but next year will feel slightly different as there will be one less Reception class full of kids. This is because Southwark is one of a growing number of inner city London boroughs which has seen a sharp decline in pupil numbers at its schools in recent years, and is forcing some of them to close because they simply can’t afford to stay open anymore.
In Southwark, the number of schools to have closed since 2022 has now jumped to eight.
Charlotte Sharman Primary School in Elephant and Castle and St Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary in Peckham became the seventh and eighth schools to shut, after Southwark Council made the “difficult” decision to agree to close them during a Cabinet meeting in June.
Other boroughs, including Hackney and Islington, have also seen several schools close down for good, despite efforts from campaigners and the local community to keep them open.
Various factors, including Brexit, the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and an overall lack of affordable housing in London are causing families to move to outer London boroughs or outside of the capital completely.
Yet despite the bleakness of it all, Galleywall’s Head Teacher Martin Blain believes there’s still a positive that can come from it for families. Mr Blain told
the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “One thing that is challenging us is the numbers of children in Southwark going down.
“We’ve had to reduce our number just because that is the number there is, but I just feel if I was a parent living a mile a way, normally you wouldn’t get into a school like this, you can’t be too far but these days you actually could, you could come a greater distance so you could be a little more picky.”
He added: “You could find a school which looked like it was doing exactly what you wanted to do and apply from a greater distance and get in, so in some ways this is a big advantage for parents but at the moment it’s just a bit of a challenge.
"We’re mostly full, most year groups are full, it’s just the ones that are coming through which are the ones where there’s that gap in numbers.”
Mr Blain went on to say because most of the places are now allocated on distance, rather than having siblings there for instance, the school is seeing more families coming from further afield due to there being capacity. He explained: “We’ve got people that come in at all different levels, what we’ve seen is as we’ve worked with them year-on-year, we’re able to achieve better things.
“So the aim is that this will be a school with the highest of outcomes but with a very, very mixed intake so to me that is the ideal of what a school should do; we’re not selective in any way, whoever applies, gets in.”
In January 2025, the school was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and was praised
by inspectors for looking after its pupils well and creating a happy and inclusive space.
Inspectors picked up on the school’s “high-quality cultural enrichment” and said performances at St Paul’s Cathedral along with projects on puppetry workshops help to enrich the curriculum. Inspectors said: “The school wants its pupils to be aspirational. Its commitment to providing pupils with the best possible experience permeates the excellent curriculum.
“Pupils respond to this by working hard in lessons. They succeed highly across all subjects and achieve exceptionally well in writing by the end of Year 6.”
Mr Blain said the school has “a lot to
celebrate”, and added: “If you look on our website and the weekly newsletters, there’s a lot of things that we’ve done and I’m very proud of that because it’s hard work for the staff but it’s incredibly beneficial for the children.
“Some of them wouldn’t necessarily go to a museum, their parents may not think of it or they might not have the resources to do it, but we are providing all of this stuff so when they leave by the end of Year 6 they will have a really good experience about living in a London suburb or inner city London and doing everything there is to do within the area.”
Galleywall Primary School is located on Galleywall Road, Bermondsey, and is for ages 4 to 11.
Old Mercato Metropolitano venue is now set to become a Sainsbury’s Local
By Issy Clarke
A PLANNING application has been submitted to convert a venue formerly occupied by Mercato Metropolitano on Walworth Road into a Sainsbury’s Local.
The space, which is just off the Walworth Road and is part of the Elephant Park development, was formerly occupied MMY Factory, a foodie venture launched by Mercato Metropolitano, in 2019.
When it opened, it was hoped that the new foodie space would help put the new Elephant Park on the map and encourage people to visit the area, while giving a boost to local traders.
A spokesperson said at the time the new venue would ‘play a major role in establishing this part of the Elephant Park masterplan as a new food hub for London’.
The founder of Mercato told the News at the time that MMY Factory would “provide a place for an ongoing dialogue between local people, farmers, chefs, retailer and artists, and we cannot think of a better place to build upon this community with a new approach to urban retail than Elephant Park.”
Mercato abandoned the venture in early 2024, and the space has since been occupied by EPK Social, which retained a number of the independent
traders from MMY Factory Elephant and Castle is currently in the middle of a 15-year regeneration programme, which has seen entire estates demolished to make way for new housing and office developments –including Elephant Park, the 2.5 billion project to transform the site of the former Heygate Estate into thousands of new homes and commerical spaces.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Mercato Metropolitano on Newington Causeway is set to be demolished to make way for 900 new homes spread across four skyscrapers.
A decision on the planning application for the new Sainsbury’s is expected by September.
The school was rated Outstanding' by Ofsted in January
Martin Blain, headteacher of Galleywall Primary School
Galleywall Primary School in Southwark
Peckham Youth Club spruced up by nursery builders with a community conscience
By Evie Flynn
A YOUTH club in Peckham had all its vital repairs done free of charge by a South London construction company, whose team used leftover materials after they finished building a brand new nursery in nearby Dulwich.
SB Construction Company, owned by South London-born Brendan O’Sullivan, has been working on building a new East Dulwich branch of N Family Club – a chain of private nurseries. As part of an ongoing partnership, the N Family team asked Brendan to select a local community project to support after the build.
Over the course of a week, they filled a skip with rubbish, painted, tiled, pruned outdoor areas, and completed essential guttering and electrical repairs at the Bradfield Club in Commercial Way.
SB Construction and N Family Club put aside materials from their own construction work and sent their team in to complete the repairs.
Although the materials and some budget came from the nursery project, a lot of the labour and additional resources were also covered by SB Construction.
The Bradfield Club is a vital community space offering activities and support for
children, young people, and adults in Peckham.
“Being a South London boy myself, it’s nice to come and do something for the community,” Brendan said. “A lot of my friends still live in Peckham and Daniel and the team at the Bradfield Club couldn’t say thank you enough.”
Daniel Campbell, who has managed the Bradfield Club since 2020, said the
repairs carried out by the SB team have been essential. “We’re in an old building with high running costs,” he explained.
“When someone like Brendan comes along and ticks so many things off your list, it really helps. He’s an angel in disguise.”
Daniel himself used to attend the club as a young man, later joining as a youth worker before getting the manager’s
job. He said: “The works have been so important because they are in spaces that are heavily used. It feels like it’s from the heart and that we are in safe hands with Brendan and the team.”
As a registered charity, the club relies on fundraising and grants to fund the range of activities it runs and pay staffing costs. Daniel explained that this often means that repairs to the building
are de-prioritised. He said each summer, volunteers from financial firms or big companies come to help paint the walls at the club, or do small maintenance tasks. This year, Daniel told us that this isn’t needed, due to the hard work and commitment of Brendan and their support from N Family Club. They not only ticked off all the jobs on Daniel’s list, but went even further, bringing in external contractors and constantly suggesting further improvements. “Initially what were small building jobs turned into bigger things,” Daniel said. “Brendan kept suggesting things and he helped us get a sign, a skip and someone to do our tiling.”
N Family Club has locations all across London, in Camberwell, Beckenham, Brixton, Greenwich and further afield. They have used SB for their construction work for the last four years and continue to insist that they help local community after each new build.
The next project for N Family is a nursery in Blackheath, where Brendan will be selecting another community project to help.
If you, or someone you know, runs a charitable or community initiative in Blackheath, get in touch with SB construction by sending an email to info@sbcdb.co.uk.
Brendan and Daniel
THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES FOR WOMEN'S CRICKET IN BERMONDSEY
Read how one woman started a women's and girls team in Southwark Park which is going from strength to strength
By Abigail Finney
WHEN FLORA Jungman joined the Southwark Cricket Club (SPCC) eight years ago, she was the only woman.
This struggle was nothing new as each time she joined a club it was the same thing, a group of mainly white men. And as a black woman from Paris, she certainly felt a little at odds with the situation.
Flora had never stepped foot on a wicket until she was an adult. She had always been sporty, and decided to pick up the game in order to try it out. Learning the ropes of cricket while playing with men proved to be a major mountain to climb.
“The physical difference or the speed of the ball when we receive it, it's very different. So when you're very new to it, well, even if you’re not very good, it’s difficult. You know, [the ball is] 60 miles per hour.”
It was clear to her that there needed to be a space for women to play with other women, rather than being left standing out in a flurry of men. She contacted the chairman of the club and SPCC's first women’s team was put into motion.
But how did she do it? Well, she told us that it was a giant undertaking to say the least. Creating a cricket team on top of her already busy schedule caused her to have more than a few late nights and she set into marketing mode straightaway.
In order to have a team, you need to find
players, she said. So social media posts, posters, calling friends, Flora tried it all.
Her hard work paid off, and it was obvious that there was a demand for women’s cricket in the area.
“Today, we have a squad of 32 and girls from the age of 16 to 55,” Flora said. “There are over ten different nationalities, which is great and also from some countries where cricket is not a thing.”
It was important to Flora that anyone could join the SPCC, no matter ability level, income, or gender.
Unlike many clubs, SPCC doesn’t have a membership fee. However, there are costs that come along with playing. The Southwark Park Pitch costs £120 per game and the team also has to supply balls and tea for both teams.
The costs add up, and the money has to come from somewhere, so to cover everything, the women’s team must pay a flat fee of £5 for away games and £12 for home games. But, if a player cannot pay the team works to cover the cost, to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate.
“I think sport is beyond, well should be beyond, where you come from. It's always something different,” Flora said.
“It's about the mind, it's about, the skills, the tactical, the technical. It shouldn't be related to how much money you have in your bank account.”
The issue that comes with making the
club an option financially is keeping up with facilities. Located in the south of Southwark Park, the field and wicket are a public space. Each time the team practises they have to take a few minutes to ask people to leave the area and pick up loose trash that’s been left behind.
A bigger issue is the holes in the field and the state of the wicket. Large holes are scattered throughout the outer edges of the field, causing worry for injury. Typically, the ground would be completely flat, but seeing as the club is in a park it’s nearly impossible.
Before the club's season began, the council decided to spruce up the wickets. However, the situation is now worse rather than better.
“I don’t know what they’ve done,” Flora said. “It’s worse than when we left it last year. There’s sand all around it.”
The lack of grass surrounding the wicket has not only made practising difficult, but also managing home games. This season marked a major milestone in the women’s team’s journey.
The SPCC women’s team has received a special exemption from the Surrey Cricket Foundation, allowing them to join a hardball league in 2025. Prior to this, the team was not allowed to play due to having a wicket with synthetic turf. However, the club cannot afford the high maintenance costs that come along with a natural wicket, so until now the team had
been limited.
Even before joining the league, the team was succeeding. Last year, the ladies team participated in several competitions, including the Belhurs CC charity softball match, where they narrowly lost by one run. A key achievement was securing third place at the ‘Super Smash It’ festival at the Kia Oval.
In an inspiring moment, the team hosted its first home game just last month, marking a huge stepping stone. Despite the relentless heat glazing the field, it was a joyful day that was celebrated with a picnic postgame.
While Flora works hard for the women's team, she also helps SPCC's youth team. While the group is mainly boys, two girls also come every week. Diya Berry, 9, and Mia Bellos Freire, 10, play just as well as the boys, and they enjoy proving it.
"Why don't boys and girls play together?" Mia asked. "There's always the boys, then the girls. Why not just see who is the best of the best?"
This ideology has carried Mia and Diya through the season. The boys sometimes complain about having girls on their team, the girls said, not seeming discouraged whatsoever. As we sat on a picnic blanket one of her teammates came by and sprayed the girls with a water gun. Matching their energy, they flew up from the ground and gave chase before they sat back down and were digging back into
their pizza.
While Mia is determined to be a swimmer when she grows up, Diya is set on becoming a professional cricket player.
"The last time I went to a cricket match I got four signatures on my bat," she raved. "They're my favourite cricketers."
Flora likes to make sure she's around so the girls can have a grown woman to look up to. They always ask her were she went if she misses a practice.
Both girls plan to continue cricket in the autumn and are quite excited about it. While the team accepts girls, there is no team once they turn 12. Sophie Dorleta did Dynamos and Juniors, but aged out of both. However, there is no age category for ages between 12-18. So, in order to play she had to join the women's team.
A 12-year-old playing with women who are in their 20s, 30s and 40s is obviously quite difficult. She went to a practice, but felt really out of place.
Her mother, Maria Dorleta, has been absolutely crushed to see her daughter not be able to play. On the other hand, other clubs are far away and can come with a high price tag. For now, she has no idea what to do.
While SPCC is growing, there are still bumps in the road and the club is slowly smoothing them over. SPCC plans to continue to advocate for accessibility within the sport, even when that comes with challenges.
Photo courtesy of SPCC
EXCLUSIVE
By Issy Clarke
A STREAM in Rotherhithe has been reduced to a 'pile of green sludge' by the record-breaking levels of heat this summer - with residents claiming it could have been avoided if the council had listened to their pleas earlier this year.
A dry spring followed by scorching hot weather in June and July has emptied the Albion Channel, which runs between Canada Water and Surrey Water, turning the pleasant stream into a dried-up stretch of mud and grass, choked by reeds and seemingly devoid of wildlife.
It is not the first time hot weather has led water to evaporate from the canalthe channel previously dried out during the hot summer of 2022.
Residents have been calling on the council to install a pump to channel water from either Surrey Water, which is located at one end of the channel, or Canada Water Dock at the other end, into the stream to prevent similar scenes from occurring again.
In 2022, normal water levels were restored after Southwark Council reached a deal with British Land to pump water from Canada Water Dock, which British Land controls, and the aquifer beneath Deal Porter Square, into the stream.
"The last two summers have been so wet so it wasn’t a problem - but the minute we get long dry spells, the water just evaporates" said Rotherhithe resident Darren Bryant, who walks past the canal most days. It has also filled
ROTHERHITHE STREAM REDUCED TO 'A STINKING PILE OF GREEN SLUDGE' DESPITE RESIDENTS' PLEAS
the area with the unpleasant stench of rotting vegetation "like the smell when you clean your pond out", he added.
In May the council said it had earmarked £200,000 to be spent on revitalising the channel in the autumn - which, while welcome, was not the speedy response residents had been hoping for.
"[At the time] I thought - that's good news, but what about now? It can't wait until the winter" said Mr Bryant.
"It is now completely dry and it's just a pile of green sludge at the bottom. It is really depressing because it could so easily be fixed if the council had acted on this three months ago."
Martin Blain, headteacher of Galleywall Primary School
The other concern is for the wildlife residing in the waterway. The channel is home to ducks, coots and moorhens, who are struggling to survive with their chicks due to the lack of water.
Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said: “Albion Channel is
a valued local landmark in Southwark, we recognised this by recently issuing £200,000 in CIL funding towards improving and maintaining the Channel.
“This is part of a wider £425,000 allocated funding for works which will start in the autumn after the nesting season, and will include over 10 weeks of works on the clearance of overgrow to help water flow freely from Canada Water via the weir.
"We are also working with British Land to help the flow of water from Canada Water, and bring Albion Channel back to its best.”
12 NEWS
By Kumail Jaffer
Local Democracy Reporter
SIR SADIQ Khan has been accused of failing to honour a manifesto promise to maintain a police front office counter in all 32 London boroughs.
In Southwark there was a great sigh of relief that it's only remaining front counter at Walworth Police Station was saved from the axe but 18 across the Capital will close including Plumstead, Wimbledon, Lavender Hill, Mitcham and Twickenham in South London.
In his manifesto prior to last year’s election, the Mayor of London pledged to “ensure the Met is able to effectively respond to the public, including maintaining a 24-hour police front office counter in every borough.”
However, the Metropolitan Police have now confirmed that 18 out of 37 counters will be closed, with a single one in Wood Green in Haringey reopening – leaving just 20 open across the capital.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist today told the London Assembly that the move will save the force £7million in its bid to fill a £260million funding gap.
He justified the closures by suggesting crime reporting at station counters has significantly reduced to just five per cent “as people have shifted to the use of phones and online means.”
Twist added: “At some front counters, we see less than two and a half crimes a day reported. At the busiest, in Charing Cross, we see 15 crimes.
“The average is four crimes a day reported across three shifts, which are often staffed by two people.
“We’ve made deliberate choices to protect neighbourhood policing and services that matter most to Londoners.
“Whilst we are shrinking overall, we are changing the shape of our organisation to better serve the public and meet increasing demands for policing.
“This is about making the Met more accessible and visible in neighbourhoods at a time when the organisation is shrinking – and to do so, we need to cut the pie a bit differently.
“We are making the decision to reduce an underused resource to allow us to continue to strengthen neighbourhood policing teams.”
The Mayor of London was not present for the extraordinary plenary session at City Hall regarding the closures today, instead sending Deputy Mayor of London for Policing and Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz to face questions alongside Assistant Commissioner Twist.
Conservative Assembly Member Thomas Turrell asked if it was “irresponsible” for the Mayor to have made the commitment in last year’s manifesto.
Comer-Schwartz said: “The Mayor’s manifesto is clear about the importance of restoring visible neighbourhood policing and building safer, more confident communities in London.
“The Mayor has shown a dedication to keeping Londoners safe.”
The 14 full-time counter closures included Edmonton, Harrow, Kensington and Chingford, while four which were already operating on reduced hours will also be shut.
Twist said the move will also save 3,752 hours of police officer time per month. Non-specialist staff currently have to backfill front counter shifts that can’t be resourced by Public Access Officers.
The Met took into account front counter demand, accessibility and geographic spread, and operational alignment to custody suites and investigative teams when deciding which ones to close.
Twist confirmed that Khan’s front counter pledge, which was also included in the New Met for London plan, was broken
MAYOR KHAN HAS BEEN LAMBASTED FOR NOT KEEPING HIS MANIFESTO PLEDGE
Walworth Police station saved, but 18 front counters will close
due to a lack of funding.
“We could not have forseen that two years ago, when New Met for London 1 was written, the scale of the gap was going to be as big as it was at the end of 2024,” he said.
“Savings have to be made somewhere –this is the least worst option. Looking at the overall financial picture, which is really challenging – if we can save £7million by reducing a service for which demand has reduced significantly over the last decade, that seems like the right thing to do.”
He said Londoners will still have the option of using stations which have their front counters closed to make a phone call.
Conservative leader Susan Hall accused Khan of being a “coward” by sending his Deputy Mayor to face the London Assembly, adding: “He made a promise that he would have a 24/7 police station in every BCU, he has always said he will keep them open.”
Later, Comer-Schwartz, who admitted she found out about the scale of the cuts “in June or July”, could not give give a guarantee every borough will retain at least one police station.
Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Hina Bokhari responded: “It begs the question really, what is the point of having a deputy mayor for policing and crime if you are not going to intervene on behalf of Londoners when these massive changes are being proposed.”
Reform UK Assembly Member Alex Wilson told the Local Democracy
Reporting Service: “Having a visible and accessible counter in each borough was a manifesto pledge – it’s a sorry situation to do this for the amount of money this will save.
“London is lawless – yet Sadiq Khan’s response is to close half of London’s Met Police front desks.
“He says he hasn’t got the money to keep them open. That’s not true. He spends £1.4 billion a year on Net Zero and just £1.11 billion a year on crime.
“Saving these front desks would cost just 0.36 per cent of his climate budget each year.”
Conservative London Assembly Member Keith Prince told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s apparent they have not thought this move through – it’s not just crime that’s reported at front counters, some see them as places of safety.
“The Mayor not being here underlines the contempt with which he holds the Assembly.”
In a statement, the London Liberal Democrats said: “As a result of these closures, the Mayor has betrayed Londoners and broken his manifesto pledge to keep a police counter open in every borough.
“This will come as a real kick in the teeth for local communities in the midst of growing public concern about crime.
“These police counters are essential not only for victims reporting a crime but also to provide much needed visibility and reassurance for local residents.
“Despite the fact the Metropolitan Police have continuously warned about financial pressure, the Mayor has failed to act.”
A Met spokesperson said: “Just five per cent of crimes were reported using front counters last year, with only one per cent of these being made during the night. At the busiest front counter in London on average 15 crimes are reported a day – less than one an hour – and in the least busy, only 2.5 crimes are reported a day.
“Londoners tell us they want to see more officers on our streets. The decision to reduce and close some front counters will save £7million and 3,752 hours of police officer time per month allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.”
THE MET POLICE CONFIRMED THE FOLLOWING POLICE STATION FRONT COUNTERS WILL BE SHUT:
1. Kentish Town (Camden) 2. Tottenham (Haringey) 3. Edmonton (Enfield) – replaced by Wood Green** 4. Harrow (Harrow) 5. Bethnal Green (Tower Hamlets) 6. Dagenham (Barking and Dagenham) 7. Chingford (Waltham Forest)
Kensington (Kensington & Chelsea) 9. Hammersmith (Hammersmith & Fulham) 10. Twickenham (Richmond)
Lavender Hill (Wandsworth)
Wimbledon (Merton)
13. Hayes (Hillingdon)
14. Plumstead (Greenwich)
A further four currently reduced front counters will close.
15. Barking Learning Centre (Barking and Dagenham)
16. Church Street (Westminster)
17. Royalty Studios (Kensington and Chelsea)
18. Mitcham (Merton)
THE 20 POLICE STATION FRONT DESKS WHICH WILL REMAIN OPEN
1. Charing Cross
2. Acton
3. Romford
4. Brixton
5. Lewisham
6. Bromley
7. Sutton
8. Islington
9. Wembley
10.Colindale
11. Stoke Newington
12. Ilford
13. Forest Gate – Stratford will remain as temporary front counter until Forest Gate reopens
14.Kingston
15. Hounslow
16. Walworth
17. Bexleyheath
18. Croydon
19. Wood Green – currently closed as front counter but proposed to re-open
20. Pinner – is a volunteer site opening limited hours and will remain.
At the meeting at Lower Road
Susan Hall
Walworth Police Station
Sadiq Khan out on a police patrol in Covent Garden
London Assembly webcast
MP LASHES OUT AT MET FOR DELAY IN FINDING NEW POLICE HUB IN ROTHERHITHE
EXCLUSIVE
By Issy Clarke
THE MET is still no closer to finding a police hub in Rotherhithe, six months after officers were instructed to leave their base in Seven Islands Leisure Centre.
Local officers were asked to leave their old hub in the leisure centre, which has been earmarked for council homes on March 26 by Southwark Council, as exclusively revealed by Southwark News.
But despite being given 12 months’ notice of the council’s plans to redevelop the leisure centre, the force ‘failed to prepare’ for its closure, and officers are now based 45 minutes away at Southwark Police Station, on Borough High Street, and the station is closed to the public.
This is despite the Met’s rules which state that neighbourhood officers must be stationed within 20 minutes' walking distance of the area they patrol.
It is understood that alternative local spaces were offered, including one inside Surrey Quays shopping centre, but were found to be unsuitable by the Met. It has been alleged by MP Neil Coyle that other sites have not been visited since turning down the space inside the shopping centre.
In a scathing critique of the Met’s delay in finding a new police base, Coyle claimed: “Despite concerns being expressed very clearly and directly, it is another disappointment that [the Met] just hasn’t looked at any.
“[They] appear to think it’s ok for the police to outsource locating a new unit to the council which is inappropriate and does nothing to assure me that [they] understand the policing needs of Rotherhithe.”
A spokesperson for the Met responded that the force had not been offered any alternative sites since March 2025, adding: “The Met continues to police Rotherhithe. Emergency officers are not affected by the move and neighbourhood teams continue to police their wards.”
The spokesperson said: “Previous suggestions from British Land were unfortunately not suitable for operational purposes, and were only offered on a temporary basis, which does not provide stability for our officers."
“We continue to work with Southwark Local Authority to find a long-term location that could provide a suitable and financially sustainable base that works with our £260m funding gap."
The loss of Seven Islands and the move to the former Southwark station on Borough High Street, which is closed to the public, places into sharp focus the future of the permanent police hub originally promised by developer British Land when the Canada Water Masterplan was approved in 2020.
Emma Bond, the Borough Commander for Lambeth and Southwark, recently told the News that the force remained committed to establishing a base once the development was finished, stating: "There is going to be a space within the new build for a police hub, but I don't know where that will be and what that looks like." She added that the location of the new base was "still being discussed with the local authority."
However, when we asked British Land when a potential future space could be available by, a spokesperson said proposed changes to the planning application to comply with building safety regulations meant they were "unable to confirm further details or construction timescales at the moment".
The 27,000-strong population of Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks is
expected dramatically to increase with the construction of the Canada Water masterplan – double by some estimates, with accompanying concerns that this could lead to a spike in crime.
Rotherhithe’s former police station on Lower Road shut down in 2017 and staff covering Rotherhithe, Surrey Docks and South Bermondsey moved to the space within Seven Islands Leisure Centre.
It meant Walworth was and is the only police station in the borough to have a front counter open 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. In 2017, then-Inspector Jim Cole of Southwark Police said cash saved from the sale of Rotherhithe Police Station would go ‘towards keeping officers equipped with modern technology, allowing them to spend more time working in the local community’. A spokesperson for British Land said: "British Land is currently proposing amendments to the masterplan for the Canada Water development through a Section 73 (s73) application, which allows for changes
to the original planning permission granted in 2020. The adjustments to the development will ensure that the project complies with the new building safety regulations and adapts to rising construction costs.
"We are in ongoing discussions with the Metropolitan Police about the delivery of a Canada Water ‘hub’ for local services as part of the Canada Water masterplan, but the s73 application means that we are unable to confirm further details or construction timescales at the moment."
LATEST FIGURES: MAYOR SAYS KNIFE CRIME IS DOWN 19 PER CENT, WHILE THEFT AND ROBBERY ARE DOWN BY 13
By Kumail Jaffer
Local Democracy Reporter
SIR SADIQ Khan has admitted there is a “long way to go” when it comes to fighting crime in London, despite a drop in some serious offences like robbery and burglary.
The Mayor of London boasted of “record funding” for the Metropolitan Police from City Hall as new analysis showed an annual fall in knife crime, residential burglary, personal theft and personal robbery.
The figures, compiled by the Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime, showed theft from a person declined from 25,272 between April and June 2024 to 21, 937 in the same months this year – a 13 per cent decrease. Robbery of personal property went from 7,106 to 6,209, a 13 per cent change, while residential burglary dropped 10 per cent from 7,974 to
7,144.
The Mayor’s office also said there was a 19 per cent reduction in knife crime, though this could not be independently verified as the data is not yet publicly available. Overall, the number of crimes reported across the board in London fell from to 236,972 to 234,523.
However, further analysis of the Met Police figures shows that other offences, such as possession of weapons, rape and drug trafficking all increased in the same period.
Sir Sadiq said: “The latest figures show robbery, theft, residential burglary and knife crime are down in London, but there’s still a long way to go before I’m satisfied. Backed with record funding from City Hall, the Met is putting highvisibility policing at the heart of fighting crime.”
But he has come under attack from critics after recent analysis showed a huge surge in knife crime during his
time as mayor.
The number of offences surged by 58 per cent in just the three years between 2021 and 2024, their analysis showed.
The anaysis published last month by Policy Exchange showed Knife crime soared by 86 per cent in London in a decade.
The Mayor's analysis came just days after the Met Police laid out proposals to close almost half of police station front counters in London.
Critics of the plan said the move would have a “devastating” impact on Londoners while only saving £7million, compared to the £260million funding gap the Met Police currently have.
Last month Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the force was “getting smaller but more capable” and was focused on “driving down crime on issues that matter most to Londoners”.
The Mayor of London has pledged a
PER CENT
policing blitz on London’s 20 most blighted town centres for shoplifting, robbery, knife crime and antisocial behaviour this summer.
Sadiq Khan on a visit to Tottenham
Computer-generated image of the Canada Water Masterplan
Man charged after quadruple stabbing
By Issy Clarke
A 31-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with murder following the quadruple stabbings on Long Lane, which led to the deaths of father and son, Terry and Brendan McMillan.
Hassan Cevik, 31, of Mount Pleasant Lane, Hackney, has been charged with the murder of Terry and Brendan and with grievous bodily harm in relation to a third man, aged 47.
Cevik was arrested after being taken to hospital, and appeared before Croydon Magistrates' Court this week.
Officers were called at 1:00 pm on Monday, 28 July to reports that four people had been stabbed at a business unit in Long Lane, Bermondsey SE1. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and police, 27-year-old Brendan died at the scene. His 58-year-old father Terry from Chislehurst, Bromley, sadly died shortly afterwards in hospital.
Cevik was discharged from hospital on Saturday, August 9 and charged on Sunday, August 10 with two counts of murder, Section 18 grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. Terry, who lived in Chislehurst with his wife Sheron, where they raised their two children, started his career as a humble postie, but rose to be a successful
businessman. His son Brendan, 27, who worked at Terry’s company, was educated at Colfe’s School in Greenwich. In a tribute his old school’s rugby club described him as “one of the kindest, funniest, most genuine people you could ever meet.”
15-year-old
boy charged with stabbing teen
By Issy Clarke
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy has been charged with grievous bodily harm after a stabbing in Camberwell on Sunday, which left a 17-yearold in hospital recovering from injuries initially feared to be ‘lifethreatening’.
Police were called to Tindal Street, off Langton Road, on Sunday, 10 August shortly after 1:00 pm to report of a 17-year-old boy with a stab wound. He was rushed to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. He remains in hospital for treatment but police have now said he is stable.
Officers arrested two boys, aged 14 and 15, on suspicion of grievous bodily harm the following day. The 15-year-old boy was charged on Monday, 11 August with grievous bodily harm. The other boy was released without charge. Enquiries are ongoing. Please call police on 101 with the reference 3350/10Aug if you have any information which may help.”
PLUMSTONIAN TO ETONIAN
The south east London schoolboy who secured fully funded place at Eton
College
By Evie Flynn
FROM WOOLWICH Polytechnic
to the halls of Eton, gifted student
Judah Cummings has a funded place at the prestigious Sixth Form fit for princes, inspiring boys from South East London to follow in his footsteps.
Judah, 17, from Plumstead in Greenwich, attended Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys, but his life changed course when he achieved the Orwell Award: a Sixth Form scholarship at Eton for boys whose opportunities have been limited by circumstance.
Woolwich Poly, like many South East London schools, faces the challenges common to areas with high economic deprivation. But Judah’s journey, from Plumstonian to Etonian, can serve as an inspiration to other South East London boys striving for more.
The 17-year-old joined the historic Eton College last September, an institution that has educated 20 British Prime Ministers and members of the royal family, including Princes William and Harry.
He has just completed Year 12, studying Physics, Economics and Further Maths. Due to his academic ability and exceptional GCSE performance at Woolwich Poly, Judah took A Level Maths two years early in Year 11 and achieved an A*.
During term time, Judah boards alongside 50 other boys and during the holidays, he comes back to London where his mother (a primary school teacher) and his father (an electrician) live with Judah’s older sister and two younger brothers. Despite coming from a working class
background, Judah had no problem fitting in with the other boys at the £63,000 per year school, describing the other boys as “very welcoming and very warm.”
Life at Eton has broadened Judah’s horizons in ways he hadn’t anticipated.
“The way I talk and present myself has got better since joining Eton,” he explains.
“There are amazing speakers who come in to give talks, and loads of societies to join.”
Judah has made the most of all Eton has to offer, becoming part of the economics, politics and sport societies. He’s learnt how to play the piano and was even selected to be part of the prestigious Eton Society: a body of 20 prefects selected by students and teachers.
“I feel like my election to the Eton Society was really significant,” Judah says. “I’d only been at the school for under a year at that point.”
Not just academically gifted, Judah is also a keen sportsman and was selected to play for Eton’s First XI football team.
“Football was a big part of my life prior to joining Eton and it helped me a lot with settling in,” Judah tells us. “I had to go to Eton a week early for pre-season, so by the time term started I had met lots of the boys.
“There was so much other stuff going on, including football training three times a week and other things to do that I found it easy to settle into the boarding aspect.”
He’s also noticed other odd quirks about attending a boarding school versus Woolwich Polytechnic. During the winter months, lessons stop from 1pm-4pm, allowing the boys to use the daylight hours for extra-curricular activities, before resuming in the late afternoon.
Judah first learned about the Orwell Award through his aunt, a former head of Sixth Form, who encouraged him to apply after one of her former students had successfully received the award.
The application process was long and challenging at times, but worth it, according to Judah: “You have to apply quite early, write a personal statement, share your reasons behind the subjects chosen and then thirty boys are shortlisted for interviews and tests at Eton,” he explains.
“You then have to go to Eton for a couple days and we were interviewed by the head of each subject we chose and then I found out about my place in mid-December.”
Twelve boys receive the award each year, and means they don’t have to pay a penny towards tuition fees.
The next step in Judah’s already flourishing academic career is University and he has got big plans to eventually work in the finance sector. “I plan to apply to Cambridge to study economics,” he says “I might also apply to America as well, I’m still on the fence.”
These big dreams for his future are made possible through Eton, where he can receive tailored support previously unavailable: “Anything you want to do there will be someone who can help or someone’s that done it before who can offer you some insight.”
“I think it’s been a really successful year, I’ve settled in really nicely and managed to make the most out of all the opportunities provided for me there.”
Judah manages to come back to Woolwich often enough, given the opportunity most weekends, and school holidays, which are longer than typical state schools. He has even been invited back to Woolwich Poly, which itself is rated outstanding by Ofsted, and has been asked to help the next cohort of boys who want to apply for the Orwell Award, following in Judah’s footsteps.
We asked Judah if he had any advice for South East London boys who are academically gifted, but see barriers to University within their own life. “You just have to go for it,” Judah urges. “If you work hard, you’re motivated and disciplined, you can achieve whatever you want.”
To be eligible for the Orwell Award, boys in the UK need to meet the following criteria:
Attending a UK state school whose lack of achievement may have been held back due to personal circumstance
Based on academic potential and against specific criteria e.g refugee status, Looked After Child, first generation of his family to go to university, if he is in receipt of the Pupil Premium or if he currently attends a school Ofsted has identified as ‘requiring improvement’ or in ‘special measures’ Applications for September 2026 entry are now open. The deadline for applications is 21 September 2025. Students need to be entering Year 11 to apply.
To apply, visit: www.etoncollege. com/admissions/scholarships-andawards/orwell-award/
Photo courtesy of SPCC
Judah Cummings
Brendan McMillan Instagram / ocrfc
By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter
ONCE HIDDEN behind walls, a Victorian psychiatric hospital in South London has been transformed into a “unique new village” helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
Springfield Hospital, in Tooting, is now home to two new world-class mental health facilities, a 32-acre public park – the biggest to open since the 2012 Olympics – hundreds of homes, a care home, shops, cafés and a gym as a redevelopment project continues.
Once the long-awaited transformation is complete, the 82-acre site will have a total of 1,288 new homes, including 33 per cent affordable housing, integrating mental health facilities with the community. Construction is expected to last until 2028.
Springfield Village is a far cry from the site’s days as the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum, which opened in 1841.
The asylum was extended and remodelled in the 19th century, before being renamed Springfield Hospital in the 20th century. For decades, it continued to lay isolated from the community it served, reflecting outdated attitudes to mental health from years gone by.
Determined to move away from this, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust brought forward a masterplan to redevelop the hospital, integrating it with the community, which was approved in 2012.
The idea is that mental health facilities and the patients accessing them are visible and involved in the village as more people move in.
The trust formally appointed STEP – a partnership between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures and Kajima Partnerships – as master developer of the project in 2019.
Most of the old hospital buildings were demolished, with £150million mental health facilities built on either side of a new public square at the heart of the development. The Trinity building opened to patients in 2022, with Shaftesbury opening in 2023.
Some of the old hospital buildings, including the Grade II listed main hospital building, have been converted into new homes, keeping the buildings’ original features.
Developers building homes across the site are Sir Robert McAlpine, Barratt, City & Country and London Square.
When the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) toured Springfield Village, members of the team who made the ambitious project a reality said it has transformed care for the trust’s patients, while helping to break the stigma they can face.
They said the development has mental and physical wellbeing at its heart to improve the lives of residents and visitors, with Springfield Park opening up the site to the public in ways it has never been before.
The park has a pavilion café, amphitheatre, fitness trail, play areas, youth shelter, sensory gardens, ponds and 700 new trees.
Harriett Gladwell-Philips, project lead for STEP, told the LDRS the redevelopment is one of the “most complex projects” she has ever worked on – with construction affected by Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms Gladwell-Philips said: “We came through Brexit disrupting supply
SOUTH LONDON’S LATEST VILLAGE WAS BUILT FROM WHAT WAS ONCE A LUNATIC ASYLUM
chains, then Covid restrictions, plus the challenges of working on a live NHS site that needed to keep delivering care throughout the build programme.
“Some days it felt like whack-a-mole – you’d solve one problem and three more would pop up. But that’s what made it so rewarding – we worked through those issues together with the NHS trust to deliver something special.
“As an example, parts of the old Victorian former asylum building were in danger of being added to the Historic England’s At Risk register when we started. Now it’s been transformed into unique apartments with period features restored and surrounded by restored historic gardens.”
She added: “At Springfield, we’ve put the mental health facilities at the heart of the community, not hidden away as has been the case historically. It’s a considered place-based approach that tackles multiple challenges at once.
“Modern healthcare, affordable
housing, green space, all woven together into a real integrated community – it delivers benefits greater than the sum of its parts.”
Richard Coe, Project Director at Kajima Partnerships, spoke of how the company developed a model to fund the mental health facilities by building and selling homes, which could be repeated across the UK.
He said: “We focused carefully on maximising the value of NHS surplus land while ensuring strong value for money in the construction of the new mental health facilities, supporting infrastructure, and the 32-acre public park. It took rigorous planning and a strong collaborative effort – but ultimately, we delivered. We’re proud to have made this ambitious project a reality.”
Mr Coe added: “As a bit of a history buff, I’ve always been fascinated by this site. In the 1840s, it was the Surrey County Pauper Lunatic Asylum
– a place that, despite its intentions, reflected the stigma and isolation surrounding mental health at the time.
To see it transformed into an open, inclusive community is incredibly moving. We’ve respected its history, but we’ve also reimagined its future –and for me, that’s deeply meaningful.”
Ian Garlington, Better Communities Programme Director at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, also told the LDRS residents moving into the “unique new village” are contributing to a “place that supports recovery and inclusion”. He said it is “building a healthier future for everyone, not just those within the hospital walls”.
Mr Garlington said: “This has been genuinely transformative. Instead of being tucked away behind hospital walls, we’re now right at the heart of a vibrant community. Staff can grab lunch at a local café, patients can take a walk through the park or pop into
a shop. It’s small things like these that help break down the stigma around mental health. Our patients and their carers are no longer cut off from everyday life. For patients and staff, having a supportive community around them makes a real difference to their wellbeing.”
He added: “We’ve put time and care into being good neighbours. We offer free mental health first aid training, run community events throughout the year, and work closely with local schools, businesses, and charities.
“We want Springfield Village residents to feel that having the NHS next door is a real asset. That’s how you tackle stigma – not just through campaigns, but through everyday contact, openness, and shared spaces. This kind of integration also helps us address deeper inequalities – it’s part of our commitment to reducing health disparities and being actively antiracist in everything we do.”
Springfield Park. Credit: South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
Homes at Springfield Village in the converted former main hospital building. Credit: Chris Renton/STEP
The Shaftesbury building in Springfield Village. Credit: Chris Renton/STEP Health NHS Trust
DELAYED PLANS TO OVERHAUL ONE-WAY TRAFFIC SYSTEM ON THE SOUTH CIRCULAR SCRAPPED
High construction costs an increased travel times for buses & cars were given as reasons for dumping the scheme
By Charlotte Lillywhite
Local Democracy Reporter
PLANS TO overhaul a notorious one-way traffic system in South London have been scrapped.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed it is not moving ahead with proposals to remove the congested one-way traffic system in Wandsworth town centre, which have been hanging in the balance since they were announced in 2014, due to high costs.
The scheme would have seen traffic diverted onto Armoury Way from Wandsworth High Street, which sits on the South Circular. The high street would have become two-way and restricted to buses, cyclists and local traffic only, slashing congestion in the town centre and providing more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Work was originally due to begin in 2017 but was pushed back until 2021, before being delayed further due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
TfL and Wandsworth Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in 2022 they were still working on submitting a business case to the Department for Transport (DfT) for funding needed for the project to go ahead.
But the authorities have now confirmed the plans have been scrapped altogether. They are instead investigating “viable options” to improve the town centre, including its streets, pavements, accessibility, transport and connections.
Helen Cansick, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, told the LDRS:
“After detailed discussions with the Department for Transport and Wandsworth Council we’ve decided not to go ahead with the original scheme
due to the high construction costs and forecast increased travel times for buses and other road users on the major road network.
“We continue to work closely with Wandsworth Council on options to improve Wandsworth town centre, aiming to create a place that works for all residents, businesses and visitors. We’re working on proposals that will improve cycling and walking infrastructure, buses and safety in the local area and will share these in due course.”
The council is running an online consultation to gather people’s views on the town centre and what could be done to improve it. It will hold drop-in events in September and October to collect further feedback, with the dates to be announced in due course.
When the consultation launched in July, Labour councillor Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Wandsworth Town is a thriving town centre with a major road running through the middle. This does affect how people use the area, so we’d like to hear from residents and businesses about what would make this a better place to live and work. Together with TfL, we want to know how we can make it easier to move around the town centre so we can make improvements that work for everyone.”
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, added: “Creating safer, more welcoming streets is at the heart of our mission to make London a healthier, more liveable city. We have a real opportunity to work together to transform Wandsworth town centre into a place where walking and cycling are easier and more enjoyable. I encourage everyone to get involved and help shape the future of their area.”
See page 32
Bad news for Palace fans
Wandsworth town centre and (above) an artist impression of what it could have looked like.
Credit: Wandsworth Council
Brockwell Hall is now open again thanks to a transformative £7.7 million investment from Lambeth Council, including £3.9 million funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and support of the Brockwell Park Community Partners. Be among the first to experience the timeless charm of this historic venue, which is beautifully restored to blend heritage with modern elegance. Whether you're planning a private celebration, a corporate or community event or simply want to explore, Brockwell Hall offers the perfect setting for any occasion. Book your event today and become part of the next chapter in Brockwell Hall’s rich history.
Established in 1813, Brockwell Hall is a stunning Grade II* listed Georgian Mansion House set centrally within the grounds of the historic Brockwell Park, surrounded by over 125 acres of abundant nature, with panoramic views of the City. Offering a variety of multipurpose spaces, Brockwell Hall is the ideal location for celebrations, conferences, and community events, with the capacity to accommodate up to 200 guests.
Contact us: venues@lambeth.gov.uk
@venuelambeth
what’s on
THE NATIONAL Theatre's War Horse has been galloping around the globe for almost two decades so anything said now has already been said about this magical show, but I'm going to say it all again because it deserves it, writes Michael Holland...
We are transported back to a market town in the West Country where estranged farming brothers are trying to outbid each other for a horse at auction; Ted Narracott (Karl Haynes), the drunken gambler of the two, pays far too much for the animal that is not even bred for farm work, and uses the mortgage money to close the deal! Wife Rose (Jo Castleton) is not happy but son Albert (Tom Sturgess)sees himself riding the thoroughbred across the downs, so quickly makes the beastJoey - his own.
Brother Arthur (Gareth Radcliffe) mocks Ted for his foolish purchase and lures him into a bet that the horse is not able to plough a field. The task of getting a racehorse to wear a collar and pull a plough is left to Albert and he has a week to do it or they lose Joey.
Of course, with much anxiety and hard work the pair manage to do the impossible and that would be the perfect end to a lovely story. But this only takes us to news of Britain declaring war on Germany, which ends the first half.
Joey is commandeered by the army for war duty and Albert, too young to enlist, is left bereft. But not for long as he runs away to lie about his age and get to the front in order to search for Joey. All he has to take with is a drawing of Joey done by one of the officers. Albert shows everyone he meets and asks if they've seen his beloved horse.
This adaptation of Michael Morpugo's
FROM DEVON TO DEVASTATION AND BACK AGAIN
book by Nick Stafford keeps people as secondary characters while never holding back on showing the horrors of war and how horses were just as much fodder for the German cannons as were the soldiers.
And the magnificent mechanical marvels that are the horses are without doubt the stars of the show. Each one has three puppeteers bringing them to life and skillfully create emotions through movement. It does not take long before they become invisible as
you become mesmerised by the steeds. Those puppet-masters too are the stars and need to be name-checked: Joey: Rianna Ash - Chris Milford - Samuel Parker: Topthorn: Tom Quinn - Michael Jean-Marian - Michael Larcombe; Joey as a foal: Eloise Beaumont-WoodClara Lioe - Jordan Paris.
Excellent direction from Tom Morris and Katie Henry (revival director), who had a truly wonderful cast putting everything they had out there for them.
I was particularly taken with Sally
Swanson's performance as The Singer, her soulful folk was delivered in a creamy smooth timbre that carried the story onwards.
War Horse is the perfect play because it appeals to all ages and has earned every one of its awards and accolades.
New Wimbledon Theatre until 16th August.
Booking and full details: www.atgtickets.com/shows/war-horse/ new-wimbledon-theatre/
We left uplifted and breathless amidst the debris
A WEDDING day in which not all goes entirely to plan inevitably promises a certain amount of comedy, and the portrayal of an ex-mining Nottinghamshire family gearing themselves up for an afternoon and evening of ‘big-day’ moments for little sister Sylvia provides that, writes Eleanor Thorn...
Beth Steel’s Till the Stars Come Down arrives with something of a buzz in the air in the West End, with its prestigious history of theatrical success from the National, under the continued directorship of Bijan Sheibani.
Two rows of audience on stage at rear and sides create an in-the-round effect despite the classic architecture of the theatre. We are onlookers to the most intimate dressing-room, corridor and back-door moments of events, spared of any aisle-walking slapstick, though the play does have its share of such humour.
It is the East Midlands workingclass speak that holds our attention, and the show-stealing arrival of curler-adorned Aunty Carol (Dorothy Atkinson) into the mix who hilariously lowers the tone: “So excited she’s
pissing glitter”, being one of the milder examples of quotes.
Sylvia (Sinéad Matthews), Hazel (Lucy Black) and their more elusive 4-times-married-now-single sibling Maggie (Aisling Loftus) are brought together for the occasion. Sylvia, rather than being upset at her dress not fitting, is actually relieved, little imagining her sense of foreboding could be a sign of worse to come - her father fainting being a minor detail. In a moment of the magic realism that makes fleeting appearances, Sylvia dances on the chair with joy and, like in her dream, her fingertips meet to momentarily halt the passage of time. Lights become stars and we see ourselves as part of the wider universe… Drenching rain,
too, is provoked with the meeting of fingertips. Little Sarah's toy space shuttle and dreams of going to the moon tie in nicely.
Social observations (some rather clichéd) abound, as does commentary connected to the influx of Poles to the coal-mining area: groom Marek (Julian Kostov) is one, as was my theatre-companion for the evening, a connection that took us by surprise, and gave us further reason to reflect. Were we laughing at or with this family and their wedding woes? Was it their way with language? Their outlook on life? Their ability to hurl knickers to the crowd, shag on stage or go heavy on the vodka? The interval left us slightly uncomfortable.
A theatrical revival of pub culture
FIRST PERFORMED in 1989, Jim Cartwright’s play Two invites audiences into an evening at a classic British boozer, where two actors take on the roles of both landlord and landlady — and a whole cast of regulars, visitors, and late-night dreamers.
From the old woman whose only respite from caring for her bed-bound husband is a nightly drink at the pub, to Maudie and her philandering boyfriend Moth who can’t resist chatting up everyone else in sight, the pub plays a central role in the lives of these characters - whether full of potential or full of regret, united in love or trapped by circumstance, the shared space sits at the heart of their lives.
Cartwright wrote the play at a time when the steady loss of traditional British pubs was really taking hold. From the 60s to the 80s, the pub was the beating heart of countless local communities across Britain. Friends and neighbours would gather to socialise, debate, rant, flirt, laugh, and bond, but in the late 80s' pub culture came under threat and the decline began. An estimated 69,000 British pubs operating in 1980 had reached 60,000 by 2000, and with the trend continuing and the damage of the pandemic, that number is now closer to 45,000 – a drop of 35%.
Greenwich Theatre’s new production is designed to celebrate these threatened third spaces where communities can unite. At a time when not only pubs but theatres, libraries, event spaces and more are also closing or at risk of closure, when we live under a government with no dedicated arts minister, when the uniting community force of local newspapers is being replaced by the isolating echo chambers of social media, when even parks and open spaces are at risk of development, now is the time to stand up and champion the importance of shared experience.
All is redeemed from the moment the second half begins: the gear shifts up more than a notch as the mayhem whips up: Explanations of sibling rivalry (between Dad/Grandad Tony – Alan Williams – and Uncle Pete –Philip Whitchurch); illicit love interest (Hazel’s husband John – Adrian Bower – and Maggie as well as Aunty Carol and Tony); irresistible dishonesty from teenager Leanne (Ruby Thompson) with severe consequences - a beatenup, hospitalised groom and a blooddrenched bride; Hazel’s unhappy marriage, Sylvia’s detecting of the lie, Maggie’s unexpected forthrightness - enough to explode these Three Sisters (think Chekov) in irretrievable directions. It is after the interval that the skill of the actors really begins to shine.
But it is the note of hope in Hazel’s final agonising cry as big-sisterin-chief that leaves us uplifted and breathless amidst the debris.
Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HT until 27th September.
Booking and full details: http:// tillthestarscomedown.com/
For this theatrical celebration, Greenwich Theatre is creating an immersive space - The Clock and Compass - at the heart of their historic building, welcoming audiences to buy a pint, play classic pub games and relive the experience of a 1980s pub, with the show unfolding around them.
James Haddrell, Artistic Director, says: “Jim Cartwright’s voice remains one of the most recognisable in British theatre, with shows like The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Road showcasing his unmistakably lyrical blend of poetry and the harsh realities of everyday life. Two is a moving, comic picture of a classic British pub and those who pass through it, and the prospect of staging it in a new space specially created at the heart of our historic theatre is an exciting one for us, immersing the audience in the lives, the struggles and the hopes of these unforgettable characters and celebrating the spaces that play a crucial role in holding communities together.”
There will be a Gin Tasting Masterclass in partnership with Greenwich Gin on selected dates during the run.
The Café-Bar, Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8ES from 21st August - 12th September. Tues-Thurs: 7pm Fri-Sat: 8:30pm Sunday: 5pm. Admission: £22.50 (includes a drink voucher). Booking and full details: greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/two/
© Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Wimbledon The cast of War Horse. Matthew Lawrence, Rafe Young, Felicity Donnelly (Joey).
© Manuel Harlan
Events
Heading south - our pick of upcoming late summer events
Crypt
Open Day,
St Alfege Church:
The ‘hidden spaces’ tours at St Alfege Church allow you to explore and discover places usually closed to the public and hear about the colourful lives of those who served and worshipped there. You get a chance to visit the crypt’s vault and get a 360-degree view of the church and its suspended ceiling, which was the largest in Europe when it was built in the 18th century.
Date: 16 August. Time: 11:45am
Location: St Alfege Church, 3 Greenwich Church Street London SE10 9BJ
Tickets: £9, book here: https://www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/hidden-spaces-tours-of-st-alfege-churchgalleries-crypt-tickets-219897478277?aff=ebdso porgprofile
Fashion Illustration Workshop:
Bring your fashion idea to life at a beginnerfriendly illustration session led by fashion designer and educator, Silja Manninen. You will learn simple but effective techniques for figure drawing, styling, rendering garments and creative collage in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Perfect for budding designers and creative hobbyists alike—no experience needed. Materials are provided, but feel free to bring your own favourites.
Date: 20 August 2025
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Location: Firepit Art Gallery, Unit 5 Ground Floor, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 0XX
Tickets: £15 per person
Greenwich Fair:
Greenwich Fair is back as part of Greenwich and Docklands International Festival with family-friendly street theatre, circus, dance, and game installations, with the best view of London on the top of Observatory Hill. Events include Lady Garden, helping you explore the enchanting world of flowers and contribute towards a unique flower arrangement. Epiphytes is an all-female circus company that takes inspiration from the life of trees to put nature centre-stage.
Date: 23 August
Location: Greenwich Park, General Wolfe
Piazza by Statue of General James Wolfe, Observatory Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8XJ
Time: Events from 13:00 - 19:00
Tickets: Free, no booking required
Boppin’ Bunnies:
This parent and baby music event, Boppin’ Bunnies, returns for another show this summer and will showcase their mastery on a variety of instruments. Attendees can participate on any of the following: Violin, Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Guitar, Ukulele. The music is complimented by everyone singing together, designed to be fully interactive with percussion instruments for babies, toddlers and adults to use together.
Date: 23 August
Time: 10:45 - 11:25
Location: Woolwich Works (Ropekeepers Studio), 11 No.1 Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HD
Tickets: £5 per adult, £10 per child, £5 per sibling
Bat Walk at Woodlands Farm:
A guided night walk around Woodlands Farm, equipped with bat detectors to hear the different species that live at the farm. Also, there will be a chance to learn more about the farm and the other night wildlife along the way. Participants are advised to wear long trousers, bring a torch with them and wear insect repellent. Suitable for children aged 6 and above.
Date: Wednesday 20th August and Friday 5th September
Location: The Woodlands Farm Trust, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, London, DA16 3RP Time: Meet in the farmyard at 7:30pm Tickets: £5 per child, £7 per adult. Book here: https://the-woodlands-farm-trust. sumupstore.com/product/bat-walk
THE FASHIONABLE MEN OF BERMONDSEY WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR ONE
The company was initially making just ties, but then carried on to all the other luxury products
By Debra Gosling
THEY WERE just names on an old postcard I bought at a collector's fair, but they were special; these men were all casualties of The Great War. They had worked for Welch Margetson, a firm in Long Lane that produced high quality menswear to be sold in classy West End shops.
George Pollard was just twenty-one when he died at Thiepval in 1916. He was an office clerk with the company and would have walked the short distance every day from his house near the Bricklayer's Arms to Long Lane. He was one of seven children and had two older brothers, Bill and Harry, as well as John, the youngest who, thankfully, was too young to join the conflict. It is unknown whether George's brothers survived, but how awful, if they had all not returned?
Whether Sidney Fern met up with George at Thiepval will never be known; they were from different regiments, but it is likely. They both died there within a day of each other. Sidney's father Fred also worked at Welch Margetson as a collar cutter and Sidney had been a porter there.
Joseph Fitzgerald was another who had brothers, all living in Cherry Garden Street – did they come back? So many young men cut down before they even got to their prime. Joseph was the errand boy in the collar department; they must have missed his cheeky banter when he dropped off and collected work. Now it was silent. He fell at Doiran, aged just twenty.
It is a little unclear what happened to Frank Bridges; there are so many with the same name who died it is hard to tell which one he is. He lived in Waterloo Street, Camberwell and was on the marketing side of the firm. Younger brother Ernest was a factory assistant, and must have made it home as his name is not on the memorial. The company itself was in business from 1824 to 1963. Joseph Welch was an expert shirt maker of his time and by 1876 the company had a large factory in Londonderry. There were also eight department stores throughout England. The store in the City of London obviously stood out as having the best in high quality menswear for all those bowler-hatted, rich City gents. Any upper class male calling in could expect to see whole departments devoted to socks, ties, sock suspenders, braces,
dressing gowns, pyjamas and even umbrellas. Bertie Wooster would have approved!
Much of the work undertaken was outsourced to home workers. Imagine how lovely it must have been for little children to see all the colours, fabrics and patterns taking up the space in the parlour. Lots of paisleys and stripes and flowers for them to sort out before Mum ran them all up into swanky ties, cravats and silky neck scarves (known locally by the Costers as chokers).
The art of correct gentleman's dress has been watered down to jeans and a quick squirt of Lynx today, but there remain a few sharp dressers around, mainly to be seen in a tailored suit and vintage accessories. It used to be de rigueur to wear a collar and stud, tie, cufflinks, sleeve braces, trouser braces, sock suspenders, a waistcoat, pocket watch, hat, scarf and gloves! Good grief, how did anyone ever make the bus?! Welch Margetson was a big part of the gentlemen's fashion scene, such as it was.
The company arrived in Bermondsey in 1890, initially making just ties but then carrying on to all the other luxury products. They had various other sites in the City of London but of course, all
good things come to an end. In 1950 the factory was rebuilt; all the local firms were having a bit of a makeover after the damage from the war. Two years beforehand, Viyella had bought out Welch & Margetson but it took another twenty years or so before the silky socks and slippers walked out of Long Lane for good. The building is still there, now named Blue Lion
Court, so at least there is a reminder of all those lovely things that now fetch smart prices on Ebay. It is sad however, to think of those four young men who sacrificed themselves for their country and how they never got the chance to saunter along the Tower Bridge Road, a pretty girl on their arm, in a nice tie and matching handkerchief.
The lost memorial
Welch Margetson pyjamas
Welch Margetson Slippers
Welch margetson ties
The Welch Margetson factory
© Debra Gosling
Welch Margetson trade mark
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 A202 GLA ROAD (CAMBERWELL NEW ROAD, LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 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 Thames Water mains maintenance and repair works to take place on A202 Camberwell New Road.
3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from turning left from entering, exiting or proceeding on the westbound carriageway of the A202 Camberwell New Road between its junctions with Brixton Road and Harleyford Street/Kennington Park Road.
The Order will also allow all vehicles to turn right from the A202 Camberwell New Road onto Brixton Road.
The Order will be effective between 10:00 AM on 20th August 2025 and 8:00 PM on 24th August 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.
5. At such times as the prohibition is in force an alternative route will be indicated by trafc signs for eastbound trafc via Brixton Road, Kennington Park Road (northbound), Kennington Lane, Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road (southbound) to normal route of travel.
Dated this 15th day of August 2025
Andrew Ulph
Co-ordination Manager
Transport for London, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
Notice of application to vary a Premises Licence.
Notice is hereby given that Meenesh Patel has applied to Wandsworth Council to vary the premises licence at Nisa Local, 4 Buckhold Road, London, SW18 4GP as follows
This application seeks to vary the opening hours and hours for sale of alcohol – off sales from Monday to Sunday 0700-2300 to Sunday to Thursday 0700-0000 (Midnight) Friday & Saturday 0700-0200
Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 8th September 2025 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey,SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk
The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk
It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.
Licensing Act 2003 Application for a Premises Licence Name of Applicant: Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd.Address: Sainsbury’s, 3A Graphite Square, Worgan Street, London, SE11 5EE. Licensing Authority: London Borough of Lambeth Council. Licensing Authority Address: Licensing Team, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG (where a record of the application may be inspected during normal office hours). Licensing Authority Website: www.lambeth.gov.uk.The applicant has applied to the Licensing Authority for a premises licence for the above premises for the following licensable activities: To allow for the sale of alcohol between the hours of 0700 and 2300 daily for consumption off the premises. Any person or responsible authority (as defined by the Licensing Act 2003) may make representations to the Licensing Authority no later than 4 September 2025. Any representations made to the Licensing Authority must be in writing to the address above or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk
It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence is an unlimited fine.
Dated: 7 August 2025. Winckworth Sherwood LLP, Arbor, 255 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 9AX Ref: AGS/26508/02258/RPB
Solicitors and authorised agents for the applicant
Transport for London Public Notice
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE A2 GLA ROAD (BLACKHEATH ROAD, ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC, STOPPING AND BANNED TURNS) 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 highway improvement works to take place at A2 Blackheath Road in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from:
(1) turning right into Blackheath Hill from Lewisham Road; (2) turning right into Lewisham Road from Blackheath Road; (3) turning right into Greenwich South Street from Blackheath Hill; (4) turning left into Blackheath Hill from Greenwich South Street; (5) turning left into Lewisham Road from Blackheath Hill; (6) turning right into Lewisham Road from Blackheath Road; (7) turning left into Blackheath Road from Greenwich South Street; (8) entering, exiting, proceeding or stopping on Lewisham Road between its junctions with Blackheath Hill and Friendly Place;
(9) stopping in the Loading, Unloading and Disabled Persons’ Vehicle Bay outside Nos. 107 to 109 and 111 Blackheath Road;
(10) stopping in the Loading, Unloading and Disabled Persons’ Vehicle Bay outside Nos. 3 to 9 Blackheath Hill;
(11) stopping at the southern kerbline of Blackheath Hill between its junctions with Lewisham Road and Plumbridge Street;
(12) entering, exiting, proceeding or stopping on Greenwich South Street from its junction with Blackheath Hill to outside No.143 Greenwich South Street.
Works will be phased such that some restrictions will apply only at certain times.
The Order will be effective at certain times from 8.00 AM on the 18th August 2025 until 11.59 PM on the 31st January 2026 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 prohibitions are in force alternative routes will be indicated by trafc signs for Lewisham Road Closure via Greenwich South Street, Greenwich High Road, Deptford Bridge New Cross Road, Amersham Road, Lewisham Way, Loampit Hill and Lewisham Road to normal route of travel. for Greenwich South Street closure via Blackheath Hill, Shooters Hill Road, Sun in the Sands Roundabout, Blackwell Tunnel Southern Approach, Woolwich Road, Trafalgar Road, Romeny Road and Greenwich high Road and Blackheath Road or reverse to normal route of travel. for trafc travelling in a westbound direction via Blackheath Hill, Blackheath Road, Greenwich High Road and Greenwich South Street to normal route of travel. for trafc travelling in an eastbound direction via Blackheath Hill and Shooters Hill Road or reverse to normal route of travel. for Blackheath Hill for Greenwich South Street via Belmont Hill, Lee Terrace, Lee Road, Blackheath Village, Goffers Road, Shooters Hill, Blackheath Road, Lewisham Road and Lewisham High Street to normal route of travel.
Dated this 15th day of August 2025
Andrew Rogers
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 WARDON LTD has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Charcoal Grill Centre, 10 York Road, London, SW11 3QA for Late Night Refreshment – Indoors and Outdoors –Monday to Sunday – 23:00 hrs to 03:00hrs
Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 8th September 2025 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk
The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk
It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.
MARIA DA ASCENSAO
Deceased
Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 15 Stockwell Park Road, London, SW9 0AP, who died on 13/11/2023, must send written particulars to the address below by 16/10/2025, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests notified.
James Hadley c/o Kingsguard Legal, The Manse, 33 New Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1PA. Ref: JH/9001
GRANT of a PREMISES LICENCE
Name of applicant: Oaks Retail Ltd Premises: Londis 309 Baring Road, London SE12 0DZ. Licensable Activities; Sale of Alcohol Monday to Sunday 00:00 – 00:00 Off Sales, late night refreshments 23.00 to 05.00 Hours. Licensing authority: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, 9 Holbeach Road, London, SE6 4TW. Email: licensing@lewisham.gov.uk (The full application may be viewed at the above offices during normal office hours or at www. lewisham.gov.uk) Any person or responsible authority may make representations to the above address no later than 1st September 2025. Any representations must be in writing. It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application. The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for this offence is unlimited.
LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM THE LEWISHAM (PRESCRIBED ROUTES) (SCHOOL STREETS) (NO.*) TRAFFIC ORDER 202*
1. The Council of the London Borough of Lewisham, propose to make the above mentioned Order under Section 6 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended), the effect of which will be to:- (a) prohibit motor vehicles from entering or proceeding in the entire length of Faulkner Street, SE14, between its junction with Briant Street and its junction with Kender Street, at any time; and (b) amend “The Lewisham (Prescribed Routes) (School Streets) (No 11/21) Traffic Order 2023 so as to revoke the prohibition of entry and the pedestrian and cycle zone in Faulkner Street, only insofar as it relates to such prohibitions.
2. Exemptions apply for pedal cycles proceeding in Faulkner Street and for emergency service vehicles being used in an emergency.
3. Copies of the draft Order, plans and Statement of the Council’s Reasons for proposing to make the may be obtained by emailing a request to trafficorders@lewisham.gov.uk quoting reference ‘PTO-1088’.
4. Comments on the proposals for or against, together with the reasons for which they are made should be sent in writing to trafficorders@lewisham.gov.uk or Lewisham Transport Policy & Development, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU, quoting reference ‘PTO-1088’ to arrive not later than 21 days from the date of publication of this notice.
5. All written representations received concerning Traffic Regulation Orders are public documents that may be inspected by any person on demand.
Dated: 15 August 2025
Zahur Khan, Director Public Realm, 5th Floor, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU
LICENSING ACT 2003
APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE
Scottie’s Jerk Center has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Scottie's Jerk Center, 118 Acre Lane London, SW2 5RA which would authorise the following licensable activities:
Sale by retail of alcohol Sunday to Thursday 11:00 - 23:00
Sale by retail of alcohol Friday & Saturday 23:00 - 00:00
Late night refreshments Friday & Saturday 23:00 - 00:00
The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth Town Hall, Basement Room B08 & B09, 1 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW, or via the licensing authority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing
A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application.
Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 07.09.2025
It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).
SUZANNE MARGARET MARY SIMON Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 998 London Road,Thornton Heath, CR7 7PJ; 16 Gateley Road, London, SW9 9SZ, who died on 28/08/2018, must send written particulars to the address below by 16/10/2025, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests notified. Kalpa Prajapati c/o Grant Saw Solicitors LLP, Grant Saw House, 8 Tranquil Passage, Blackheath Village, SE3 0BJ.
Ref: CMW/S4881/1/SIMON
VICTOR STANLEY RICHES Deceased
Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Flat 14, Charles Dickens Court, 25 Pembury Road, London, SE25 4UR, who died on 08/10/2024, must send written particulars to the address below by 16/10/2025, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests notified. Sandra Diane Smith c/o Taylor & Emmet LLP, 20 Arundel Gate, Sheffield, S1 2PP. Ref: SGI/215152
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1982 (as amended) APPLICATION FOR A SEX ESTABLISHMENT LICENCE SW8 LIMITED HAS APPLIED TO THE LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH FOR THE RENEWAL OF A SEX ESTABLISHMENT LICENCE IN RESPECT OF THE FOLLOWING PREMISES: FIRE NIGHTCLUB, 39-44d PARRY STREET, LONDON SW8 1RT Authorisation is sought to utilise this premises as a sex shop/sex cinema/ sexual entertainment venue. Further details about this application may be inspected at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the authority’s website, at www. lambeth.gov.uk/licensing/ Any person wishing to object to this application must give notice in writing of their objection, stating in general terms the grounds of the objection. Objections may be sent to the above address, or emailed to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 29/08/2025. For further information, please contact the Licensing Section on 020 7926 6108 or by email to licensing@ lambeth.gov.uk.
Please email hello@cm-media.co.uk to place a public notice
2.
the junction of Norwood Road and a opposite the common boundary of Nos. 49 and 50 Brockwell Park Gardens; (4) to ban the left turn from Rosendale Road into Norwood Road.
3. Phase 2 (1) to suspend the northbound lane and ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places n Norwood Road, between a point opposite the common boundary of Nos. 217 and 219 Norwood Road and a point opposite the common boundary of Nos. 197 and 199 Norwood Road and to suspend northbound Brockwell Park Gardens bus stop Q. (2) to ban vehicles from entering, parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Brockwell Park Gardens between the junction of Norwood Road and the common boundary of Nos. 52 and 53 Brockwell Park Gardens.
(3) to ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Brockwell Park Gardens
(a) the south-east side, between the junction of Norwood Road and the common boundary of Nos. 48 and 49 Brockwell Park Gardens; (b) the north-west side, between the junction of Norwood Road and a opposite the common boundary of Nos. 49 and 50 Brockwell Park Gardens; (4) to ban the left and right turn from Norwood Road into Brockwell Park Gardens.
4. Phase 3 (1) to suspend the southbound cycle lane and ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Norwood Road, the south-east side, between the common boundary of Nos. 199 and 201 Norwood Road and the common boundary of Nos. 217 and 219 Norwood Road.
(2) to ban vehicles from entering, parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Brockwell Park Gardens, between the junction of Norwood Road and the common boundary of Nos. 52 and 53 Brockwell Park Gardens.
(3) to ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Brockwell Park Gardens, (a) the south-east side, between the junction of Norwood Road and the common boundary of Nos. 48 and 49 Brockwell Park Gardens; (b) the north-west side, between the junction of Norwood Road and a opposite the common boundary of Nos. 49 and 50 Brockwell Park Gardens; (4) ban the left and right turn from Norwood Road into Brockwell Park Gardens.
5. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available: Phase 1- the A2199- Croxted Road, the A205- South Circular Road and the A215 Northwood Road and vice versa. Phase 2 and 3- Trinity Rise, the A204 Tulse Hill, the A2214 Brixton Water Lane, the A2214 Dulwich Road and Norwood Road and vice versa.
6. The bans will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
7. The Order comes into force on 18 August 2025 and continues for a maximum duration of 6 months, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner.
Dated 15 August 2025
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON VICTORIA RISE
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate water repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, after consulting Transport for London (TfL) intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be In Victoria Rise: (a) to ban vehicles from entering Victoria Rise (except for access) south of the junction of Wandsworth Road. (b) the southbound lane, to ban vehicles from entering, parking, waiting, loading, and unloading between the southbound building line of No. 37 Clapham Common North Side and the junction of Clapham Common North Side.
(c) Both sides, suspend parking places between the southbound building line of No. 37 Clapham Common North Side and the junction of Clapham Common North Side.
2. Alternative southbound route for affected vehicles would be via (A3036) Wandsworth Road, Cedars Road, and (A3) Clapham Common North Side.
3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order would come into force on 29 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner. In practice, the works are expected to be carried out between 10pm on 29 August 2025 and 5am on 1 September 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect at a subsequent time within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON FERNDALE ROAD AND PULROSS ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate new water main connection works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the general effect of which would be in:
2. Ferndale Road:
(1) to ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading between the junction of Pulross Road and No. 232 Ferndale Road.
(2) to suspend temporarily two-way working and introduce south-westbound one-way working with a pedal cycle exemption, between the junction of Pulross Road and No. 232 Ferndale Road.
(3) to suspend the south-westbound lane and the south-east footway between the common boundary of Nos. 179 and 181 Ferndale Road and the north-eastern edge of the north-eastmost railway bridge in Ferndale Road; (4) to introduce a prohibition of entry except for pedal cycles from a point: (a) outside the north-eastern building line of No. 234A Ferndale Road; and, (b) outside the north-eastern crossover of No. 177 Ferndale Road.
3. Pulross Road, the north-east side, suspend the car club bay and electric vehicle bay adjacent to the flank wall of No. 47 Bellefields Road.
4. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Ferndale Road, (B221) Bedford Road, (A2217) Acre Lane and (A23) Brixton Road:
5. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
6. The Order would come into force on 26 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON BYTHORN STREET AND FERNDALE ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate bridge investigation works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be: (1) In Bythorn Street, the entire length, to ban vehicles (except for access by residents) from entering, waiting, loading and unloading and to suspend parking. (2) In Ferndale Road between Nos. 192 to 210 Ferndale Road (except for access by residents) from entering, waiting, loading and unloading and to suspend parking.
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Ferndale Road, Allardyce Street, Santley Street, Concanon Road, (A2217) Acre Lane, (A23) Brixton Road and Ferndale Road.
3. The bans will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order would come into force on 30 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed whichever is the earlier. In practice, the works are expected to be carried out between 11pm on 30 August 2025 and 5am on 1 September 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect at a subsequent time within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 15 August July 2025
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON GUILDFORD ROAD AND ST. BARNABAS VILLAS
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate ducting works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth made an Order, the general effect of which will be in:
2. Phase 1 (1) to ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Guildford Road, between the junction of Thorne Road and the common boundary of Nos. 20 and 22 Guildford Road. (2) Alternative route for northbound cycle diversion via St. Barnabus Villas, Lansdowne Gardens and Thorne Road.
3. Phase 2 (1) to ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Guildford Road, between a point opposite
4.
5.
Road.
(4) introduce a prohibition of entry for vehicles heading north on Guildford Road past a point opposite the southern boundary of No. 36 Guildford Road.
(5) introduce a prohibition of entry for cycles heading north at the junction of Guildford Road and Lansdowne Way
6. Phase 5 (1) to ban vehicles from parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Guildford Road, between a point opposite the northern boundary of No. 36 Guildford Road and the southern boundary of No. 50 Guildford Road.
(2) introduce one-way southbound working on
(4) introduce a prohibition of entry for cycles heading north at the junction of Guildford Road and Lansdowne Way.
7. Phase 6 (1) to ban vehicles from entering (except the southbound cycle lane), parking, waiting, loading, and unloading and suspend parking places in Guildford Road, between a point opposite the northern boundary of No. 50 Guildford Road and the southern boundary of No. 90 Guildford Road.
(2) introduce a prohibition of entry for cycles heading north at the junction of Guildford Road and Lansdowne Way.
8. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available:
(1) Phase 1, northbound cycle diversion via St. Barnabus Villas, Lansdowne Gardens and Thorne Road.
(2) Phases 2 and 3, St. Barnabas Villas, Lansdowne Gardens and Thorne Road.
(3) Phase 4, (a) Guildford Road, Lansdowne Way, South Lambeth Road, Thorne Road and Lansdowne Gardens.
(b) Lansdowne Gardens and Thorne Road.
(c) Cyclists via Lansdowne Way, Lansdowne Gardens and Thorne Road.
(4) Phase 5 (a) Guildford Road, Lansdowne Way, South Lambeth Road, Thorne Road and Lansdowne Gardens.
(b) Cyclists via Lansdowne Way, Lansdowne Gardens and Thorne Road.
(5) Phase 5, St. Barnabas Villas and Lansdowne Gardens.
9. The bans will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
10. The Order comes into force on 18 August 2025 and continues for a maximum duration of 3 months, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON POMFRET ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate Telecom repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth made an Order, the general effect of which will be to ban vehicles from entering, waiting and loading and and suspend parking bays in Pomfret Road, from the north-western kerb-line of Coldharbour Lane, north-westward for 20 metres.
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles will be available via the (A2217) Coldharbour Lane, Luxor Street, Flaxman Road and vice-versa.
3. The bans will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order comes into force on 21 August 2025 and continues for a maximum duration of 1 month, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner. In practice, the works are expected to be carried out between 09:30 and 15:30 on 21 August 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order will also have effect at a subsequent time within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON FOUNTAIN PLACE
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate Telecom maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be in Fountain Place to ban vehicles from entering, parking, waiting, loading, and unloading from outside Nos. 33 to 37 Fountain Place and Nos. 31A to 35A Fountain Place. Access would be maintained for residents.
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Eythorne Road, Crawshay Road, and Braham Road and vice versa
3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order would come into force on 28 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner. In practice, the works are expected to be carried out between 09:30 and 15:30 on 28 and 29 August 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect at a subsequent time within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON WOODLAND ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate the operation of a cherry picker, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be to ban vehicles from entering, proceeding, waiting, loading, and parking in Woodland Road, from the north-western kerb-line of Cawnpore Street, to the northern property line of No. 128 Woodland Road.
2. Alternative routes would be available via Cawnpore Street, Gipsy Hill, Woodland Road and vice-versa.
3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order would come into force on 26 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month, or until the works have been completed
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 16A
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS – STREET PARTIES
BARNWELL ROAD, CARSON ROAD, CLAVERDALE ROAD, DURBAN ROAD, EASTMEARN ROAD, FERNDENE ROAD, GREENHURST ROAD, GUERNSEY GROVE, HAVERHILL ROAD, KAY ROAD, LOWDEN ROAD, MEDWIN STREET, PENTNEY ROAD, PYRMONT GROVE, STRATHBROOK ROAD, SUNSET ROAD, THURLBY ROAD, THURLOW HILL, AND UFFINGTON ROAD.
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to enable residents/ communities to hold special events, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth made an Order the effect of which will be to ban vehicles from entering: -
(a) Barnwell Road, the entire length on Saturday 6 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Barnwell Road, Railton Road, Effra Parade and Dulwich Road and vice versa).
(b) Carson Road, between the junction with Thurlow Park Road and No. 41 Carson Road on Sunday 7 September 2025; (alternative routes would be available for affected vehicles northbound via Carson Road, Rosendale Road, Eastmean Road, Dalmore Road, and (A205) Thurlow Park Road; southbound Carson Road, (A205) Thurlow Park Road, Rosendale Road and Carson Road).
(c) Claverdale Road, between the junction of Elm Park and Upper Tulse Hill on Saturday 13 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Claverdale Road, Upper Tulse Hill, Athlone Road and Tulse Hill and vice versa).
(d) Durban Road, the entire road on Saturday 6 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Durban Road, St. Gothard Road, St. Cloud Road and Hubbard Road and vice versa).
(e) Eastmearn Road, between Rosendale Road and Dalmore Road on Sunday 21 September 2025; (an alternative routes would be available for affected vehicles via Tulsemere Road, Idmiston Road, and Rosendale Road and vice versa).
(f) Ferndene Road, between Poplar Walk and Herne Hill Road on Sunday 28 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Poplar Walk, and Denmark Hill and vice versa).
(g) Greenhurst Road, between the junctions of Cheviot Road and Truslove Road on Saturday 13 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Greenhurst Road, Cheviot Road and Lamberhurst Road and vice versa).
(h) Guernsey Grove, between Nos.1 and 41 Guernsey Grove on Sunday 7 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Rosendale Road, Hawarden Grove and Croxted Road and vice versa).
(i) Haverhill Road, between the junctions of Cambray Road and Burnbury Road on Saturday 13 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Haverhill Road, Cambray Road, Radbourne Road and Burnbury Road and vice versa).
(j) Kay Road, the south-western arm, between the junction of Kimberley Road and No. 50 Kay Road on Saturday 20 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Kay Road, Kimberly Road and Landor Road and vice versa).
(k) Lowden Road, between the junctions of Herne Hill Road and Poplar Walk on Sunday 14 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Lowden Road, Poplar Walk, Oakbank Grove, Braxted Park and Herne Hill Road and vice versa).
(l) Medwin Street, the entire road on Saturday 23 August 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Medwin Street, Ferndale Road, Allardyce Street and Santley Street and vice versa).
(m) Pentney Road, between the junctions of Hydethorpe Road and Emmanuel Road on Saturday 6 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Pentney Road, Hydethorpe Road, Scholars Road and Emmanuel Road and vice versa).
(n) Pyrmont Grove, the entire road on Saturday 20 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Royal Circus, Chartham Grove and Canterbury Grove and vice versa).
(o) Strathbrook Road, between the junction with Fontaine Road and the common boundary of Nos. 24 and 26 Strathbrook Road on Sunday 7 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Strathbrook Road, Fontain Road, Heybridge Avenue, Braxted Park and Strathbrook Road and vice versa).
(p) Sunset Road, between the junction with Ferndene Road and the common boundary of Nos. 2 and 2B Sunset Road on Sunday 14 September 2025; (alternative routes would be available for affected vehicles via (a) Sunset Road, Ferndene Road and Herne Hill Road; (b) Sunset Road, Denmark Hill, Deepdene Road and Ferndene Road).
(q) Thurlby Road, between the common boundary of Nos. 9 and 11 Thurlby Road and the north-western boundary of Nos 30 and 32 Thurlby Road on Saturday 30 August 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Thurlby Road, Uffington Road and St Julians Road and vice versa).
(r) Thurlow Hill, between the junctions of Lovelace Road and Birbeck Hill on Saturday 20 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Thurlow Hill, Lovelace Road, Birkbeck Place and Birkbeck Hilland and vice versa).
(s) Uffington Road, between the common boundary of Nos. 13 and 15 Uffington Road and the common boundary of Nos. 41 and 43 Uffington Road on Saturday 6 September 2025; (an alternative route would be available for affected vehicles via Uffington Road, Thurlby Road and St Julians Farm Road and vice versa).
2. During the periods of road closure specified in paragraph 1 above, any parking places situated within the lengths of roads will be suspended.
3. The bans will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs on the dates and times specified above.
4. The Order comes into force on 23 August 2025 and continues until 28 September 2025.
Dated 15 August 2025
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON RATHGAR ROAD AND RIDGEWAY ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate bridge inspection works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be to introduce banned right turns from: (a) Rathgar Road into Loghborough Road. (b) Ringway Road into Loghborough Road.
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be via Coldharbour Lane, Barrington Road and Loughborough Road and vice versa
3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order would come into force on 28 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner. In practice, the works are expected to be carried out between 10pm on 28 August 2025 and 6am on 29 August 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect at a subsequent time within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON CRESCENT LANE
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate telecom repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be in Crescent Lane to:
(1) prohibit any vehicle from entering, proceeding, waiting, loading or parking from the south-eastern kerb-line of the (A24) Clapham Common South Side to the north-western property boundary of No. 1 Crescent Lane. (2) suspend one-way working and permit two-way traffic between the Clapham Common South Side and Abbeville Road. (3) introduce a prohibition of entry from a point outside the south-eastern boundary of No.5 Crescent Lane.
2. Alternative routes would be available via the (A24) Clapham Common South Side, Elms Road, Abbeville Road and vice-versa.
3. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order would come into force on 27 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON FERNDALE ROAD
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to facilitate bridge investigation works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order, the general effect of which would be in Ferndale Road, between the junction of Pulross Road and No.234 Ferndale Road, to ban vehicles from entering, waiting, loading, and unloading and to suspend parking.
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via (a) Pulross Road, Bellefields Road, A203 Stockwell Road, Stockwell Green, Landor Road, Bedford Road and Ferndale Road, and (b) Bedford Road, A2217 Acre Lane, and A23 Brixton Road.
3. The bans will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
4. The Order would come into force on 25 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 1 month (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed whichever is the earlier. In practice, the works are expected to be carried out between 10pm on 25 August 2025 and 6am on 26 August 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect at a subsequent time within the maximum period of 1 month.
Dated 15 August July 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON CRANWORTH GARDENS
1.
2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles
3.
4.
Dated
LONDON
TEMPORARY
1.
2.
3.
Dated 15 August 2025
and northbound bus lane on Kennington Road.
6. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall, from time to time, be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.
7. The Order would come into force on 31 August 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 2 months, or until the works have been completed whichever is sooner. In practice, the works are expected to be carried out between 31 August 2025 and 1 September 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect at a subsequent time within the maximum period of 2 months.
Dated 15 August 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
and a mansard roof), along with other associated alterations.
(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/02449/LB) 25/01781/FUL
5 Beaufoy Walk London SE11 6AA Demolition and replacement of north elevation wall. Relocation of 2 fans on east elevation.
(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/02303/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 25/02302/FUL) 25/02303/LB Brockwell Park Dulwich Road London SE24 0PA Temporary use of part of Brockwell Park for a Christmas Tree Market from 1st November 2025 until 5th January 2026, involving temporary infrastructure including fencing, lighting, sales kiosk and other temporary structures and ancillary equipment. 25/02370/RG4
747 Wandsworth Road London SW8 3JF Replacement of existing windows with new double glazed timber sliding sash style windows to front elevation. 25/02533/FUL
69 Thorparch Road London SW8 4RH Retrospective application for the replacement of the kitchen extraction with louvre.
25/02081/FUL
The Southbank Centre Belvedere Road London SE1 8XX Temporary installation of a red carpet covering, marketing cubes, digital screen, and implementation of a festival trail in association with the BFI London Film Festivals 2025 & 2026 at Southbank Centre. Listed Building Consent is sought for a graphic display on the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre Square Doors, Riverside Doors and Festival Terrace doors, and display of a digital screen mounted near to the east-side external wall.
(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/02428/LB, but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 25/02427/FUL) 25/02428/LB
Land West Of Lambeth Palace Road London SE1 7LB Erection of 2no. substations with perimeter fence and iron gate, associated cabling and landscaping. (Re-consultation due to revised address, OS map and drawings/documentation). 25/01375/FUL
26 Groveway London SW9 0AR Application for Listed Building Consent due to the impact on neighbouring listed building (No.24 Groveway) as a result of proposed application for the proposed erection of a 5 storey front extension to the existing house (No.26 Groveway) along with other associated alterations.
(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/02449/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 25/01781/FUL.) 25/02449/LB
170 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7RW Display of 1 x internally illuminated fascia and 1 x internally illuminated static projecting signs - (Basement). 25/02444/ADV
11 Clapham Common South Side London SW4 7AA Display of 1x fascia sign. 25/02496/ADV The Southbank Centre Belvedere Road London SE1 8XX Temporary installation of signage comprising of graphic/artistic displays, digital screen, any associated sponsorship displays, commercial displays and wayfinding signage in association with the BFI London Film Festival 2025 & 2026 at Southbank Centre. 25/02407/ADV
16 Braxted Park London SW16 3DW Erection of a single-storey ground floor rear extension with a green roof and a two-storey side extension incorporating a
and ancillary works. 25/02460/FUL Dated this Friday 15th August Rob Bristow Director - Planning, Transport & Sustainability Climate and Inclusive Growth Directorate
By Matt Somerford
THE OVAL Invincibles put their indifferent form behind them at Edgbaston as they racked up the third-highest Hundred score in the history of the women’s competition to beat Birmingham Phoenix by a comfortable 22 runs on Tuesday.
The Invincibles’ 174-5 was also the second-highest total this season – men or women – behind the 176-5 they themselves conceded to London Spirit on the opening day.
Having elected to bat, the Invincibles set their stall out early, Lauren WinfieldHill and Meg Lanning breezing to 54-0 in the 25-ball powerplay. Lanning’s dismissal for 36 off 19 merely brought in Alice Capsey, who was barely inconvenienced by the loss of WinfieldHill and Marizanne Kapp, raising a 28ball half-century as Paige Scholfield also motored along at the other end.
The two of them treated Aussie legend and Phoenix captain Ellyse Perry with something approaching disdain while Hannah Baker avoided the worst of the onslaught, finishing with a creditable 2-24 from her 20 balls.
When Phoenix batted, Aussie starlet Georgia Voll, who had conceded 20 from her five balls as a bowler, got off to a flyer but the experience of Marizanne Kapp and Amanda-Jade Wellington started to tell.
Emma Lamb and Perry gamely attempted to keep up with the spiralling rate but Wellington had her compatriot smartly held by WinfieldHill behind the stumps for 29 off 16
BRILLIANT CAPSEY FIRES INVINCIBLES PAST PHOENIX
to effectively put the game beyond Phoenix’s reach.
Ailsa Lister and Amy Jones battled hard, the Scottish batter in particular impressing with an unbeaten 18-ball 33 including four fours and a six, but the Phoenix ended up well short and
By ECB Media
A BRILLIANT unbeaten 69
from Liam Livingstone saw Birmingham Phoenix chase down Oval Invincibles’ total of 180-8 with two balls to spare in a tense finish in the men’s Hundred competition at Edgbaston.
South African Donovan Ferreira blazed a spectacular 63 from 29 balls for the Invincibles but was upstaged by the Phoenix skipper who hit five sixes in his match-winning 27-ball innings.
Inserted by the home side, Invincibles lost Will Jacks second ball and reached 31-2 after the 25-ball powerplay.
The score quickly became 34-3 after the loss of Sam Curran before the Invincibles recovered through Jordan Cox and Sam Billings to reach 70-3 at halfway, losing Billings soon after.
Enter Ferreira, who started positively, depositing Tim Southee for a maximum over wide long-on to bring up the Invincibles’ 100 after 65 balls.
Cox fell for 44, but Ferreira continued unperturbed, reaching his half-century off 24 deliveries with another huge six.
The Invincibles finished strong, the penultimate set from Mousley conceding 25, including two sixes and
well beaten.
Meerkat Match Hero Capsey said:
“It’s nice to get a win on the board after two close losses. The openers were brilliant. One of our reflections after the first two games was that we bat so deep we can take some more
calculated risks.
“They took the game on so nicely and it made my job pretty easy – to keep the momentum going and keep putting pressure on. The pitch played better than I thought it would and came on pretty nicely.
By John Kelly
Gaspar Mico scored the
goal
the 22nd minute to maintain new boss Mark Dacey’s
perfect start.
The Hamlet began their campaign with a 4-0 victory against Dartford at Champion Hill last weekend. Lonit Talla opened the scoring before Luke Wanadio scored a hat-trick in front of a 2,067 attendance. Dulwich top the table and travel to Ramsgate this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.
two lots of five wides, while Rashid Khan (16) contributed two maximums of his own as the Invincibles closed on 180-8.
The Phoenix run chase started slowly, Aussie left-armer Jason Behrendorff bowling the first 10 balls straight through and conceding just five.
Saqib Mahmood then took the big wicket of Ben Duckett with his third ball, but Will Smeed wrestled some of the initiative back with back-to-back sixes.
Smeed (51 off 29) was bowled by Nathan Sower one ball after reaching his fifty to see the score 91-3, Jacob Bethell then went 20 runs later. Livingstone responded by smashing
By John Kelly
DILLIAN WHYTE has been warned it won’t be a “long night” by rising star Moses Itauma ahead of their heavyweight contest in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this Saturday. Whyte, 37, is aiming to become the first boxer to beat Slovakia-born Itauma (12-0), whose family moved
Khan for 26 in five balls and combined with Mousley to leave three needed from five.
Mahmood then removed Mousley and Louis Kimber with successive balls, but Benny Howell drove the hattrick ball through cover to secure the win.
There was an edge to the contest with Tom Curran appearing to celebrate in the direction of Livingstone after he dismissed Jacob Bethell for eight, when Livingstone was on sixteen.
"I have no idea why Tom started to spray me," Livingstone said.
"He is one of my good friends and he called me a fat slob or something so I thought 'let's hope you don't go for a few if you come back at the death' and
“Getting over the line was the main thing and now we go back to the Oval –we can take a lot of confidence and we love playing there.”
The Invincibles host Welsh Fire this Saturday at 2.30pm, in a doubleheader with the men who start at 6pm.
to Chatham when he was a young child.
Itauma’s ambition is to fight undisputed heavyweight legend Oleksandr Usyk.
"Dillian is a big name, good opposition," Itauma said. "It's for me to go in there and do the job. I've got to box to a game plan. If I box to the game-plan, it shouldn't be a long night.
he did so I'm kind of happy with that.
“We needed it, it’s been a bit of a disappointing start to the tournament.
“It’s nice to lead from the front and hopefully that gives the boys a bit of momentum and a bit of confidence.
“I was trying to be there at the end, it’s something I haven’t done a lot of in my career, so it was in the back of my mind, but we still needed to take some risks.
“It’s massive. There’s no hiding in this competition. If you lose a couple of games, you’re right up against it. Hopefully this gives us a bit of confidence going forward, it’s an incredible win from where we were. It’s nice to be on the board and get that first win.”
"This is my first headline show, it's in Saudi Arabia against Dillian Whyte and I'm only 20 years old.
"Just having that comes with pressure, but I love a bit of pressure. I acknowledge it, but I don't feel it. I know it's there, but I don't let it sink in - only because it does me no favours.
“I’m ready to perform Saturday night."
DULWICH HAMLET made it two wins from two in the new Isthmian League Premier Division season as they won 1-0 at Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday night.
only
of the game in
ECB Images
Amanda-Jade Wellington of Oval Invincibles is congratulated by team mate Lauren WinfieldHill after taking the wicket of Ellyse Perry of Birmingham Phoenix
PALACE RULE WEMBLEY
By John Kelly
Eagles claim second major trophy in 85 days after beating Premier League champs Liverpool
OLIVER GLASNER revealed he showed a video to the players of their glorious FA Cup triumph before Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 on penalties in the Community Shield at Wembley.
Having never won a major trophy in their history before their 1-0 victory over Manchester City in May, the Eagles claimed their second in 85 days against Arnie Slot’s Premier League champions.
Goals from Liverpool’s debutants Hugo Ekitike and Jeremy Frimpong were each cancelled out by a JeanPhilippe Mateta penalty and a secondhalf strike from Ismaila Sarr. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was the penalty hero as he saved from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott,
Eberechi Eze and Borna Sosa also missed for Palace, before 21-year-old substitute midfielder Justin Devenny drove the winning penalty past Alisson.
“I showed the players a video before we went to Wembley about the happiness of the fans after winning the FA Cup,” Glasner said.
"We call it the emotional reward: standing in front of the fans, having this feeling – you can’t buy it with any money in the world.
“The players deserved it and our fans deserved it in the same way, because they’re always supporting us from the beginning to the end, even when we were down.
"They were always pushing the team forward and it’s a great connection. In the end we all were rewarded – and
this is what then stays forever."
Glasner explained the preparation that Henderson did before the game and also revealed Devenny put his hand up to take the fifth spot-kick.
“We know that he is a great goalkeeper,” Glasner said. “There’s a lot of work behind it.
“For example, the day before the meeting in the hotel with the analysts, his goalkeeping coach, he went through all the penalty takers from Liverpool and was well prepared.
“He has the confidence, I think, that he can save the penalties. He showed it.
“But also, on the other side, I’m really delighted that Justin Devenny took the decisive penalty at 21-years-old.
“We didn’t talk [about who’d take the penalties] before – never – because you don’t know who’s on the pitch after a few subs. It was clear that JP,
Ebere and Ismaïla would take the first three. Then we were looking for the fifth one and Justin said, ‘I’ll take the fifth one’, with a lot of confidence –and I think he showed it.
“This is how we want it to be. Take responsibility. Never be scared, or be worried or concerned that you could make a mistake, because this is football.
“There are really many positive things today.”
Liverpool had over £250million worth of new signings in their starting line-up. Meanwhile Glasner named the same starting XI as he did against Pep Guardiola’s side.
"These emotions are fantastic,”
Henderson said. “You'd think obviously they were 2-1 up and we were out the game, but the lads stuck by it.
"The manager said we'd get a chance
in the second half on transitions, we did. We stuck by it, defended great, and we deserved that in the end."
Henderson clearly enjoys his days out at Wembley, after he saved City attacker Omar Marmoush’s penalty in the FA Cup final.
"I love it, I love the big moments, I love being in that pressure moment,” Henderson said. “I really enjoyed that today, the homework we did for the penalties was great, so thanks to everyone behind the scenes that helped me with that.
"It's incredible, we turned up today, they're the favourites, they've got unbelievable players, they're a great team and we knew it would be difficult.
"We had to defend them, we had to work so hard but you know what, two trophies in three months is incredible – and let's write the next bit of history."
Harv at it: New signing gives Addicks ‘deserved’ victory
By Paul Green at The Valley
NATHAN JONES said his side
“thoroughly deserved it” after Harvey Knibbs grabbed a dramatic stoppage-time winner to ensure Charlton Athletic began life back in the Championship with a 1-0 Valley victory over Watford on Saturday afternoon. The game appeared to be heading for a stalemate until a late Conor Coventry corner was nodded back across goal by Lloyd Jones to substitute Knibbs, who made no mistake with a clinical finish from close range.
Watford had seen a big penalty shout ignored just a couple of
minutes earlier, but it was summer capture Knibbs who settled an even contest in the fourth minute of added-time.
Jones accepted the Hornets should have been awarded a spot-kick after Thomas Kaminski appeared to upend Nestory Irankanda.
But the Charlton boss was quick to point out his side had also been denied twice for second-half fouls, most notably for what looked a blatant 55th-minute foul by Jeremy Ngakia on Josh Edwards and a later claim by substitute Isaac Olaofe.
Jones said: “The Kaminski one is a penalty for them, but we should have had two.
“Josh Edwards’ is stonewall – he
touched it and gets taken out. And then Tanto is in the box and gets pulled back, which knocks him off balance.
“Three penalties should have been given today, but we should have had two and they should have had one.
“So if you want to have an argument then fine, get the footage up, have a look and that’s exactly the tale of it.”
Jones also felt his side merited their three points after Hornets goalkeeper Egil Selvik produced some top saves, notably from Jones twice and also Sonny Carey.
“Realistically, we limited a very good side to one shot on target, we had twelve with five on target,” Jones said.
“The [Watford] keeper I thought was excellent. That’s the level.
“The save from Lloyd Jones is outstanding and then he stood big for Sonny Carey.
“It’s a wonderful day and we deserved that.”
The win will certainly be a memorable one for Knibbs, who came on with ten minutes left to replace Edwards on his first appearance since sealing a £2.1million switch from Reading.
“That’s why he cost the money, that’s why we pushed all summer for that,” Jones said. “We took our recruitment very seriously in terms of everything we did and I thought we were excellent.
“The new boys today were outstanding. Harvey and Charlie [Kelman] have played zero football really because of the protracted transfers.
“But in terms of everyone I’m really happy with everyone’s performance today and we will get better.”
Jones added: “Any kind of win would have been perfect. It took us about ten minutes to settle. They played a bit of possession football and we didn’t get the press right.
“Then once we got to grips with the game I thought we were excellent.
“We created chances, their keeper has made some excellent saves.
“I thought we were excellent and thoroughly deserved it.”
while Mohamed Salah fired over the bar.
Shoot-out heroes Dean Henderson, left, and Justin Devenny, right, celebrate with Jean-Philippe Mateta
LENNY THE LION BANISHES EXILES
By Will Scott at Rodney Parade
ALEX NEIL thought Millwall were “worthy winners” as they beat Newport County 1-0 in the first round of he EFL Cup.
The League Two outfit started strongly against a heavily-rotated Lions side, but Millwall grew into the game and eventually found the breakthrough when Ryan Leonard turned home Aidomo Emakhu’s cut-back in the 60th minute.
The Lions came close to doubling their lead a number of times as their grip tightened on the match in the final 30 minutes, with Emakhu forcing three fingertip saves from Exiles goalkeeper Jordan Wright.
Neil was pleased with how his side improved over the 90 minutes.
“I thought it was a hard game,” Neil told our paper. “Coming away from home was always going to be difficult.
“Newport didn’t disappoint us. I thought they fought for every ball, the crowd got right behind them. It was a difficult match for us.
“I thought the first probably 20, 25 minutes, we needed to compete and earn the right to play. We probably didn’t do that as well as we would expect ourselves to do.
“I thought we settled down after that. Our use of the ball from that point onwards to half-time was good. I thought we looked dangerous. There were some runs that we should have made that we didn’t make. We weren’t as clean as we should have been.
“I thought the second half was much improved. We were really dangerous. The goalkeeper made three or four great saves from Aidomo alone, made some great saves from Macca [Macaulay Langstaff]. We got into some really dangerous areas.
“Lenny gets the goal, and I thought we deserved to win the game. I certainly think that we were the better team throughout the game. We had the best chances in the game, but we were made to work for it, which is what you would expect.”
Centre-back Kamarl Grant made his first-team debut for Millwall after spending the past eighteen months on
Much-changed Millwall get past League Two challengers
loan at Bromley.
Asked how he thought he played, Neil said: “Good. I thought he grew into the game.
“I thought we grew into the game as a team, though. I thought in the first half, our defence was a little bit too deep at
times. The midfield became too big.
“That was part of the problem with not picking up second balls. The game was stretched, and we needed to compress the game and make sure we work in tighter spaces.
“But second half, we did all that, and I
thought we ran out worthy winners.”
Meanwhile, Millwall have rejected two bids for Emakhu from Wycombe Wanderers this summer.
The Irishman made 25 league appearances for the Lions last season, six of which were starts, and recorded two assists.
Neil thinks Emakhu will play a vital role for his side this campaign.
“Aido’s our player,” Neil said. “We want him to be our player. He’s going to be really important for us this year, and that remains the case.”
South London brigade march through to EFL Cup second round
By John Kelly
NATHAN JONES made eleven changes but Charlton Athletic still strolled through to the second round of the EFL Cup with a 3-1 win against Stevenage at The Valley on Tuesday night.
Miles Leaburn opened the scoring before Ibrahim Fullah doubled the advantage and Luke Berry headed in the third after the break.
Lewis Freestone scored a late consolation for the League One side. It was eighteen-year-old midfielder Fullah’s first senior start.
“It won’t be his last, that’s for sure,” Jones said about his goal. “The kid’s a fantastic footballer - energetic, confident, and with
great qualities. He’s not naturally a wingback but we asked him to do a job, and he did that really well. I’m proud of him.”
Jones added: “The main thing was to win and be in the hat for the next round.
We made eleven changes, which shows the strength and depth of the squad. Stevenage are a good side and have started the season really well, so I’m really happy with the result.”
Alistair Smith scored the winning penalty as AFC Wimbledon edged past Gillingham 4-2 following a 1-1 draw in normal-time at Priestfield.
Antwoine Hackford gave Wimbledon the lead on 32 minutes before Ethan Coleman levelled seven minutes from time.
Jonny Williams missed his spot-kick for Gareth Ainsworth's hosts, before
Dons stopper Joe McDonnell saved Josh Andrews’ effort.
Smith had his first attempt saved by Jake Turner but a retake was ordered and he made no mistake.
Bromley pulled off one of the shocks of the first round by beating Ipswich Town 5-4 on penalties for their first-ever win in the competition.
Deji Elerewe nodded home after Omar Sowunmi headed a deep corner across goal before Ipswich levelled through halftime substitute Ben Johnson.
Ravens goalkeeper Sam Long was the shoot-out hero after he saved George Hirst and Ali Al-Hamadi’s spot-kicks.
Blues keeper Christian Walton saved Ashley
effort,
Youthful Hoops sent packing
By John Kelly
QUEENS PARK Rangers boss Julien Stephan is still looking for his first win after the R’s blew a twogoal lead as they were knocked out of the EFL Cup 3-2 by Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
After a 1-1 draw against Preston North End at Loftus Road in the Championship at the weekend, QPR led 2-0 at half-time after goals from Daniel Bennie and Rayan Kolli.
Brendan Wiredu pulled a goal back two minute into the second half before striker Owen Oseni levelled six minutes later and bagged the winner twelve minutes from the end.
Stephan, who made eleven changes to his side and sent on sixteen-year-olds Kalen Brunson and Ashley Trujillo and seventeen-year-old Teddy Tarbotton, said: “It was a special game, a very special game, and I said to the players at the end that I was very proud of being their coach because they gave everything from the beginning until the end.”
Charles'
before Marcus Ifill sent Andy Woodman’s side through.
Ryan Leonard scores the only goal against Newport County
Sport
INSIDE
BRILLIANT CAPSEY FIRES INVINCIBLES PAST PHOENIX
CAS CLOSED
Decision
‘has shattered hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters’
By John Kelly
CRYSTAL PALACE said
“sporting merit is rendered meaningless” after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the Eagles’ appeal against demotion to the Conference League this season.
A day after their thrilling penalty shoot-out victory against Liverpool in the Community Shield at Wembley last Sunday, Palace found out CAS had upheld Uefa’s decision to relegate them from the Europa League for breaching multi-club ownership rules.
Nottingham Forest have taken Palace’s place in Europe’s secondtier competition.
Palace are continuing to take legal advice.
“At a time when we should be
celebrating our victory in the Community Shield at Wembley, the decision by Uefa and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless,” Palace said in a statement.
“When we won the FA Cup against Manchester City on that momentous day in May, our manager and players earned the right to play Europa League football.
“We have been denied that opportunity.
“It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power.
“This growing and unhealthy influence has shattered the hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters, and does not bode well for aspirational teams all over
Europe competing to progress when rules and sanctions are unevenly applied in the most flagrant way.
“Multi-club structures hide behind the charade of a ‘blind trust’ while clubs such as ours, who have no connection to another club whatsoever, are prevented from playing in the same competition.
“To compound the injustice, clubs that appear to have huge informal arrangements with each other are also allowed to participate and even possibly play against each other.
“While we respect the CAS tribunal members, the process is designed to severely restrict and, in our case, make it almost impossible to receive a fair hearing.
“The denial of all disclosure requests to obtain correspondence
‘Sky’s the limit’ for Blues star
By John Kelly
CHELSEA MIDFIELDER Moises Caicedo is targeting more glory after a wildly successful 2024-25 season.
Eagles learned their Euro fate 24 hours after lifting the Community Shield at Wembley
Caicedo, 23, helped the side win the Uefa Conference League and then the Club World Cup - and was named the Blues’ player of the year and players’ player of the year.
Ecuador international Caicedo was also named the third-best player after the tournament in the United States, where Enzo Maresca’s side stunned European champions Paris SaintGermain 3-0 in the final.
Chelsea are now expected to challenge for the Premier League title. The Blues start their campaign with a London derby against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.
“For sure I am going to try and play even better than last season,’ Caicedo said. “I have hunger for more. I have always said I don’t have limits - the sky is the limit. I am going to work hard to keep achieving a lot of things for this amazing club.
“I just want to start the season really well. It will be an incredible and tough season also, because we know the Premier League is always tough, but we are going to do well.”
Chelsea are also back in the Champions League. Caicedo will experience the competition for the first time.
He said: “It’s a dream come true and I am looking forward to it. It’s an amazing feeling when you are watching on TV. You can feel it is different. Everybody in the whole world is watching you. It’s another level, and now we are there, we want to do really well.”
Caicedo revealed Maresca’s claims that Chelsea are a better side with him in it spurs him on.
between the relevant parties, the refusal to allow witness testimony from those involved, and the general lack of formality and respect for law mean decisions cannot be properly challenged, leading to pre-determined outcomes.
“UEFA’s decision has wider implications for the governance of the sport. A combination of poorly conceived regulations and their unequal application means our brilliant fans will be deprived of the chance to watch this team compete in the Europa League for the first time in our history.
“Although we continue to take legal advice on the next steps, we will compete in the Conference League with the same determination and will to win that characterises this incredible club.”
“I appreciate that and it’s a motivation for me,’” Caicedo said. “It’s why I train every day even harder.”
Caicedo took the opportunity to spend time in Ecuador after the World Cup triumph.
“People stopped me in the street, it was crazy, they were happy to see me, I could see on their faces,’ Caicedo said.
“It was incredible seeing my country and how happy people were watching me win the Club World Cup. My family also are proud of me, and I enjoyed being there a lot.”
