South London Weekly - December 19th 2025

Issue 133 ∙ 50p ∙ December 19 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

NEW CATFORD HOTSPOT

See page 11

CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Mayor told that London bus speeds are worst seen in 40 years

‘SLOW COACH’

See pages 15-16

See page 12

EAGLES BOSS TAKES POSITIVES See sport

BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR CHrISTMAS NOW

ARTEFACTS

VIRTUAL REALITY

360º VIDEO MAPPING

METAVERSE AREA

INTERACTIVE KIDS AREA

CAFÉ PARISIEN

EXPERIENCE THE WONDER OF THE TITANIC THIS FESTIVE SEASON DOCK X, CANADA WATER, LONDON

LEGEND-OF-TITANIC.COM

corner corner, canada water, LONDON MINECRAFTEXPERIENCE.COM Experience MOD LLC. is the producer of the experience and is solely responsible for all aspects thereof. © 2025 Mojang AB. TM Microsoft Corporation.

THE LAST DAYS OF

pompeii THE IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION

discover the secrets of the city frozen in time METAVERSE AREA

ARTEFACTS

VIRTUAL REALITY

excel, immerse ldn POMPEII-EXPERIENCE.COM

360º PROJECTIONS

TICKETS

Issue 133 ∙ 50p ∙ December 19 2025 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

CHRISTMAS SHOWS

See pages 15-16

See page 11

NEW CATFORD HOTSPOT

EAGLES BOSS TAKES POSITIVES See sport

Mayor told that London bus speeds are worst seen in 40 years

‘SLOW COACH’ See page 12

4 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-13 ARTS Page 15

PETITION: FUNDING CUTS FORCE SCHOOL TO SCRAP INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME

By Maxine Riike Brigue A SOUTH London parent has launched a petition urging the government to reverse the International Baccalaureate (IB) funding cuts that have forced the area’s only state school offering the programme to drop it.

EVENTS Page 16 HISTORY Pages 17 FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Page 18-19 CLASSIFIED Pages 19 PUBLIC NOTICES Pages 20-23 SPORT Pages 25-28 Our next issue will publish January 2 2026

Contact us if you have a story on 07973175511 or email hello@cm-media.co.uk

We are a London Living Wage employer DO YOU HAVE A STORY

for our news team?

Call 0207 231 5258 You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

In October, the government sent a letter to headteachers saying that, from next year, they will no longer provide the additional £2,400 per pupil needed to teach the course — forcing Bexley Grammar School to shut the programme.

The IB Diploma Programme — an internationally recognised alternative to A-Levels — is currently offered in approximately 20 state schools in England but the cuts may force more schools to drop it.

After attempts to secure funding, Bexley Grammar School announced it will end the programme next academic year, making the current Year 12s the last cohort to study the IB. In response to the news, Jaya Bose (pictured) — a parent at Bexley Grammar — started a petition to reverse the decision.

Bose told us: “My son’s cohort, because he’s 16, has already started the IB. But there has been zero consultation, zero communication, zero advance notice in terms of preparation or giving people the time to think and respond.”

The 46-year-old said she started the petition to help raise awareness about the changes.

Jaya said: “We feel there is a bit of a thematic kind of move towards taking away access to good quality education that pushes children to aspire for something bigger.”

The IB requires students to take six subjects — including Maths, English, science and a language. To deliver this qualification, schools currently receive Large Programme Uplift funding from the government, which adds an additional 20% to the standard funding rate per student.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, total public spending on education last year was £116 billion — which is an almost 11% fall from 2010-11.

Jaya added: “You’re essentially playing

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporters: Issy Clarke, Evie Flynn Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Will Scott Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin; Frewin Mandy Stong Design: Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly at: Community Matters Media Ltd, 1 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN. News and Sport: 020 7231 5258 Advertising: 0020 7232 1639 News/Advertising: hello@cm-media.co.uk Finance: em@cm-media.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk

with kids’ futures and careers. There are kids who have gone into these schools with the IB in mind. I know my son did.

“There are years and years of hard work that goes into having the aspiration. And, for that to be completely taken away without any discussion…I still can’t get my head around it.”

Jaya started the petition in October with the support of about 50 other parents and since then it has garnered more than 6,900 signatures.

“The ideal outcome would be that this decision gets reversed, right? I don’t think that will happen so an acceptable outcome would be to reach a middle ground. The decision-makers need to listen to the people who are affected by this.”

Kamil Arendt, a software engineer with a son in Year 12 at Bexley Grammar, also supports the petition. He said: “By removing this relatively small, targeted funding, the government is essentially making this education path financially unviable for the approximately 20 state schools that currently offer it.

“The added cost pressure is very likely to result in the programme being rolled back over the next few years.

“The IB Diploma would then effectively become an exclusive privilege of the private sector. I believe that every bright,

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

COUNCIL PAINTS DISABLED BAY ROUND CAR

See pages 2

Issue 132 ∙ 50p ∙ December 12 2025 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

CHRISTMAS MARKETS PALACE LEADER MAKES MARC AT COTTAGE

MAKING A SPLASH IN WOOLWICH See page 16

See sport

New Leisure Centre set to open on New Year’s Day See page 7

curious student, regardless of their family’s income, deserves the opportunity to pursue the broad, interdisciplinary IB curriculum.”

In 2006, the Labour government first offered funding for the IB diploma to state schools. However, the recent decision has left the future of the IB diploma in state schools uncertain.

Julie Blair, a SEN case officer, has two sons at Bexley Grammar — one in Year 12 and another in Year 9. She said: “My youngest son is in Year 9 and I feel that it would be so wrong for him not to have the opportunity to access the IB programme given that his education so far at Bexley Grammar has been working towards this.

“We live in a global society and the IB programme gives our young children the opportunity to access a globally recognised international programme and compete with their international peers for global opportunities in the higher education and employment sectors.”

The MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Louie French, is campaigning to reinstate the funding, having raised the issue in Parliament and written to the Education Secretary.

French said: “Labour’s reckless decision to axe IB funding for state schools will jeopardise the education of thousands of

children across the country.

“The government should be giving more state school pupils the choice of studying [the IB], not axing the successful curriculum. The government needs to listen.”

The Department of Education said the ending of this funding will free up £2million a year — equivalent to free school meals for 5,000 students.

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said: “Less than 20 state-funded schools and colleges – including only one in the north of England – currently offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and the funding incentive introduced by the previous government largely benefits nondisadvantaged students.

“Removing it enables us to prioritise opportunity for the overwhelming majority of our young people, alongside subjects we know drive economic growth.

“We are determined to improve the life chances of students in all corners the country, including the brightest – from a new maths programme that helps the most able disadvantaged pupils make the most of their talents, to a laser focus on reading and a new assessment in Year 8 – our reforms will ensure that every young person, wherever they grow up, leaves education ready for life and work.”

The South London Weekly is an independent newspaper covering all of south London and beyond Community Matters Media has been running independent newspapers since 1987, and now boasts the weeklies: South London Weekly, Southwark News and Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender, as well as the lifestyle magazines The South Londoner and Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker.

You can view all our content on www.southlondon.co.uk and sign up to newsletters to stay informed about news, lifestyle & events, people, sport and history.

We believe in community and in balanced, independent and responsible journalism. As a south London business, we also work to support fellow local businesses.

A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that community-led, independent newspapers can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.

FOR ALL THE LATEST SOUTH LONDON NEWS AND SPORT: WWW.SOUTHLONDON.CO.UK Community Matters Media Ltd is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk

NEWS 5

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET BESIDE TOWER BRIDGE IS JUST PICTURE PERFECT

By Michael Holland

ST KATHARINE Docks just across the water by Tower Bridge enchanting Victorian Christmas Market, is open daily through the festive season, until January 4.

Perfectly positioned along the waterside, the market features a carefully curated selection of seasonal booths presenting festive food, warming drinks, and distinctive gift ideas.

Loaded with festive decorations and selfie-scenes, the setting with iconic backdrop of the bridge and the historic marina it is prime for picture-perfect moments and is the ideal spot for capturing family memories.

Aboard the Floating Pontoon a Christmas Jazz Series is taking place, but this does cost £22.38, with the next and last one on Thursday December 18th. Headlining the series Olivia Swann is accompanied by live musicians, bringing festive favourites and jazz classics to the dock from 6.30pm.

Beyond the market, visitors can view the maritime-themed Christmas lights that adorn the entire estate, transforming St Katharine Docks into a twinkling water wonderland.

Alongside the ceremonious Christmas Tree (outside Dickens Inn), this year sees

the return of the captivating, larger-thanlife walk-through illuminated boat, perfect for a marvellous Instagram moment.

For those craving a larger feast, indulge

in delectable seasonal menus at the docks’ established restaurants and bars, where you can snuggle under a blanket and relish food and drinks overlooking the

SANTA’S HQ RETURNS TO SURREY QUAYS THE MAN BEHIND BERMONDSEY GLASSBLOWING News Page 11

serene waters and majestic yachts.

For more information please visit www. skdocks.co.uk/events/st-katharinedocks-christmas-market/

Smithfield Market The Legendary Christmas Meat Auction is back!

AS SEEN ON TV

By Jessica Khan SANTA’S HEADQUARTERS has returned to Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, bringing an immersive Christmas workshop that lets children step into the elf world and help prepare for the big day.

Young visitors will receive their own Elf-in-Training high-vis vest and hard hat before joining an Elf & Safety briefing and a “Wake and Shake” warm-up led by Santa’s team.

Head Elf Suzie Sprinkles will then guide children through tasks including Pass the Presents, Sort the Mail, Sneaking Practice and Musical Santa Statues.

The centre also offers dedicated

10 am on Wednesday 24th December 2025 at Smithfield Market SEND sessions - quieter morning workshops created for children who may prefer a gentler sensory environment.

Santa’s HQ is free to attend with no booking required and runs from 11am–1pm and 1:30pm–4pm until Christmas Eve Wednesday 24 December.

More information is available at www.canadawater.co.uk/santa

venue – Grand Avenue (Under the clock)

Smithfield Market, London EC1A 9PS 0207 248 4488 info@glawrence.co.uk

6 NEWS

By Issy Clarke A ROAD bordering Bermondsey and Rotherhithe where 'countless' drivers make an illegal U-turn every day has been branded ‘dangerous’ by concerned local councillors and businesses.

West Lane off Jamaica Road has been the scene of ‘non-stop’ U-turns by drivers since the option to make a right-hand turn off Southwark Park Road towards Rotherhithe Tunnel was taken away three years ago.

The road, home to a handful of local businesses, never used to see much traffic because it leads to a residential area.

“Every time the traffic lights at Southwark Park Road turn green a full row of traffic comes down onto West Lane,” said Amy Downes who runs Nono, a coffee shop and bakery there.

"I would say 90 per cent of them do a U-turn. Throughout the day it tends to be one or two every few minutes, but during rush hour its non-stop.

“Just from observing you can see how dangerous it is because cars are racing to get out the way and quickly get through the next set of green traffic lights."

The local Liberal Democrat councillors for North Bermondsey have said the junction is "highly dangerous" and are calling on the council to restore the righthand turn from Southwark Park Road.

They say there is money from the Community Infrastructure Levy to fund the improvements, but suggested the council had said there was no plan to restore the right-hand turn.

Lib Dem councillor Rachel Bentley said: “It seems astonishing that despite local councillors putting money towards an oven-ready solution, the council is not acting to make what is currently a highly dangerous junction safer for everyone.

"The siutation is chaos and doesn't

CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT ‘DANGEROUS’ BERMONDSEY JUNCTION WHERE ‘COUNTLESS’ CARS MAKE ILLEGAL U-TURNS EVERY DAY

In blue: the U-turn drivers take to get on the right side of Jamaica Road towards Rotherhithe Tunnel. In red: The old right hand turn work for drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists...

TfL know this, Southwark Highways know this but they’re refusing to sort it.”

Belinda, of Glue Wine Bar on West Lane, said that while there had not been an accident she had “lost count of the times we have witnessed pedestrians escaping by a hair’s breadth from being mown

down by cars doing sudden U-turns in West Lane.

"Cars will try to do U turns as soon as they have crossed Jamaica Road - even using the pedestrian crossing or bike turning to gain an advantage.

“From 3-8pm there is a permanent queue of cars in both directions from

Paradise Street to Jamaica Road.

“It takes on average 12-15 minutes for a car entering West Lane to exit it. At times cars cannot pass each other in West Lane due to cars being parked on both sides, resulting in traffic backing up and blocking Jamaica Road.”

She suggested the volume of traffic

on West Lane was partly down to more people needing to use the Rotherhithe Tunnel following the introduction of charges to use the Blackwall Tunnel, and the charge to drive through the new Silvertown Tunnel.

Southwark Council was contacted for comment.

Police hunting for man after DULWICH CHEESE SHOP FINED OVER £150K ‘chemical assault’ on rail AFTER MICE FOUND 'NIBBLING' PRODUCE staff member at Blackfriars Police recently obtained clearer CCTV footage of a man they believe can assist with their investigation

By Issy Clarke POLICE HAVE released a CCTV image after a member of rail staff was left with chemical burns and forced to undergo eye surgery after he was ‘squirted with a chemical substance’ at Blackfriars station earlier this summer.

At around 6pm on 17 May 2025 the victim was on duty at the ticket gates when four men got off a train from Sevenoaks and barged through the barriers.

Police said one of the men was stopped by rail staff while the

others ran away, and he quickly became abusive to the victim and his colleagues.

The three men then returned to the ticket barriers and one of them pulled a Lucozade Sport bottle out of his jacket and squirted a clear liquid onto the victim’s face.

All four men then fled the station, and the victim felt immediate pain in his eyes and lost vision.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated for chemical burns on his face and in his eyes.

BTP Detective Constable Victoria Callaghan said: “This was a horrific attack that has left the victim requiring eye surgery for his long-term injuries.

“An investigation into the serious assault was launched immediately and we have been exploring all lines of enquiry over several months. As a result, we have recently obtained clearer CCTV footage of a man we believe can assist our investigation.

“If you know who he is, please contact us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 529 of 17 May 2025.”

Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

By Evie Flynn SOUTHWARK COUNCIL says it has secured a fine of over £150,000 against Heritage Cheese, operating in both Dulwich and Bermondsey, after their investigation found 'widespread mice infestation mice', plus dirty equipment and poor hygiene.

During a routine hygiene inspection in May 2024, council officers visited the premises at 1B Calton Avenue in Dulwich and reported finding a 'widespread mice infestation'. The officers said that staff were cutting and selling cheese and ham

on site despite mice droppings found on floors, shelving and food preparation surfaces.

According to the council's report, a piece of ham was found to be 'nibbled by mice and contaminated with droppings'.

Officers deemed the food unfit for human consumption and it was destroyed on site. The business, they said, agreed to voluntarily close due to the imminent risk to public health.

In June 2024, the council reported more food safety failures at another Heritage Cheese site, Unit 1, Tower Workshops, near Tower Bridge in Bermondsey.

Officers said they found more mice droppings on shelving and crates, no hot

water supply, poor hygiene, and dirty equipment being used to cut food.

Staff at Heritage Cheese were unable to confirm durability dates for a large quantity of unlabelled cheese, and the council reported that they destroyed around 30kg of cheese.

The premises also closed voluntarily after officers identified an imminent risk to health.

The company was sentenced at Croydon Magistrates' Court on 24 November and did not attend proceedings.

According to Southwark Council's press release the judge imposed fines of £150,000, plus a £2,000 victim surcharge and £2,979.60 in prosecution costs, all to be paid within 28 days.

The council has said it will continue to monitor the company's operations.

Cllr Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, said: “These were extremely serious breaches that put the public at risk.

"Our officers found unacceptable hygiene conditions, contamination of food, and a complete disregard for basic food safety standards. Businesses serving food in Southwark must meet their legal responsibilities and where they fail to do so, we will not hesitate to take action.”

Residents concerned about food hygiene at any premises in Southwark can report issues at www.southwark.gov.uk/ foodsafety.

NEWS 7

FURIOUS LANDOWNER BILLS LIME £8,000 AFTER E-BIKES 'DUMPED' ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

By Evie Flynn

A ‘FURIOUS’ Bermondsey Street landowner has hit Lime with a near £8,000 bill after hauling ten e-bikes dumped on his land back to the company’s north London depot.

Russell Gray, director of Shiva Ltd, drove the bikes to the Millwall depot on Thursday (11 January) and said he slapped the company with a £7,690 bill after a year of unanswered complaints.

He told us the bikes had been abandoned on Shiva's private driveway, causing disruption to the business and missed deliveries of important building materials.

Shiva's offices are in between Bermondsey Street and Crucifix Lane, with driveways leading to the office from both roads.

Russell said that because Lime bikes are in high demand during rush hours and Bermondsey Street is a popular nightlife destination, some people may leave bikes in driveways to reserve them for later.

He said: “We've had enough - Lime seems to think they have carte blanche to leave their bikes wherever they want, and the council lets them. We deal with the consequences.”

However, the council say that they have no power regarding parking on private land and that issues or complaints should be taken up with Lime.

Russell said he spent 11 months complaining to Lime, requesting that

they remove the bikes. In response, the company told Russell they would 'grey out' the area so it can't be used as a 'parking' zone for Lime users, meaning riders wouldn't be able to end their ride on his private land.

However, the problem continued and prompted Russell and his team to draw up a schedule of prices so they would start charging bike operators, giving them 14 days to pay.

They subsequently turned up at the depot last week, presenting Lime with a bill totalling £7,690, made up of £500 in return fees, £200 in removal and notification fees, and the remainder in storage costs.

The depot manager took the invoice from Russell, but gave no indication of whether the money will be paid.

This incident was not Shiva’s first dispute with Lime, after they returned two dumped bikes to the depot in January this year.

They initiated County Court proceedings after Lime ignored requests for £380 in storage fees and instructed the bailiffs, which they are currently waiting on.

Simultaneously, Russell said another e-bike provider that operates across London, were also hit with an invoice charge from him, but paid the £1,360 when challenged. Russell said: "The court proceedings were mainly to get it driven up Lime's agenda, so they thought hang on, these guys are serious and we better do something."

The number of bikes building up became a problem for storage. Russell said: "We told Lime that if you don't come and pick them up, we're going to deliver them back at a cost of £50 per bike.

"We're not looking to make money at all, but we are looking to stop the nuisance."

Russell said some boroughs, like Westminster and Hackney, Lime Bikes are required to be parked in designated bays after the ride has ended, but Southwark Council currently have no agreement with Lime in place.

This system has caused anguish in the borough, particularly around hotspots like London Bridge and Bermondsey Street. Including a photo on social media a couple years ago of a pile of bikes at the crossing on the south side of London Bridge.

Once alerted, Lime quickly cleared the bikes and continued to monitor the area.

Commenting on the pile-up, Jack McKenna, Senior Public Affairs Manager at Lime said: “We are working closely with Southwark Council, partners and other

Russell issuing a Lime manager with the invoice at the company's Millwall depot operators to address industry parking challenges, as demand grows significantly in busy areas and public transport hubs."

Back in June this year, TfL fined Lime and Forest £30,000 in a bid to tackle these pile-ups on the main roads in the city which they coined 'Red Routes'.

In Southwark, the council leader in 2023 wrote to e-bike providers claiming that the council would remove e-bikes that block roads and pavements and charge the operators.

This followed residents’ concerns that the bikes were causing a hazard after being ‘hacked’ and ‘dumped.’

When asked in a cabinet meeting in July 2023 whether any bikes had been removed, the then council leader Kieron Williams said they hadn’t.

We also asked why the council haven't stepped into to eradicate Shiva's problem and James McAsh, the Cabinet Member for Clear Air, Streets and Waste, said:

"The council does not have any powers regarding parking on private land. This issue is a matter for Lime.

"If a Lime bike is causing an obstruction, this should be reported directly to the operator so it can be dealt with promptly" He continued: “E-bikes are well-used across the borough. They bring benefits in terms of health and environmental impact, so long as users ride them safely and park them sensibly. The council is working with providers to expand the provision of e-bike bays on the public highway to deal with obstructive parking."

A Lime spokesperson said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by the landowner and have engaged with them to reach a resolution. Lime takes responsible parking extremely seriously, and we work closely with all London boroughs and private landowners to ensure any Lime vehicles are dealt with appropriately."

What's On 25/26

Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com •

THE WESTBROOK BLAKE

Mike Westbrook Band

Sat 20 Dec

Mon 22 - Tue 23 Dec

Sat 31 Jan - Sun 1 Feb

Courtney Pine & Zoe Rahman Sat 14 Feb

Sun 21 Dec

Sat 1 Mar, 7.30pm

8 NEWS

NEW ALDI OPENS ON OLD KENT ROAD

By Evie Flynn AN ALDI store opened up at 840 Old Kent Road on 12 December, with Olympic rower Moe Sbihi and Pilgrim’s Way Primary School cutting the ribbon.

The new store has provided 30 jobs for people in the local community and the first 30 customers were given free bags of fruit and vegetables by the gold medallist.

Aldi has supported Team GB athletes with monthly fresh-food vouchers since 2015.

Moe won a gold medal in Rio 2016 and bronze in London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.

He went to Pilgrim’s Way Primary School after the opening to deliver an assembly

to pupils about the importance of eating healthy and cooking fresh food with their families.

Pupils from Pilgrim’s Way Primary School were given a chance to win a £20 voucher to spend at the Old Kent Road store through a poster competition.

Moe selected the winning poster and the pupil was given their voucher during the assembly.

Moe said: “I’ve had a fantastic time opening the new Aldi this morning. It was an honour to officially open the store and welcome customers inside for the first time.

“It was great to speak with the children at Pilgrims’ Way Primary School about the importance of eating healthily and how

it can be fun to plan and prepare meals as a family. Hopefully I’ve also managed to inspire the pupils to keep active and try different sports.”

The new store has large chillers for fresh meat and a ‘food to go’ section at the front of the store.

One of the store managers Spencer Gallagher said: “It’s been a wonderful morning here at the opening of Aldi Old Kent Road. It was lovely to welcome our new customers into store, and I look forward to meeting more of the community in the coming weeks.

“I’m also thrilled that we’ve been able to support Pilgrims’ Way Primary School through our partnership with Team GB.”

Luxury chocolate shop opens THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH PUB ANNOUNCES first London store in Dulwich CLOSURE DESPITE HOPES IT HAD BEEN SAVED

By Issy Clarke

AN ARTISAN chocolate shop and cafe has opened its first London branch in Dulwich.

Handmade chocolates, hot chocolate, ice cream and baked goods are among the treats on offer at Chococo, which can be found at at 7 Croxted Road.

The ground floor contains the shop and cafe, while the basement has a seating area and can be hired out for private tastings and birthday parties.

The chocolate company already has five stores in the UK, but it has chosen Dulwich as the location for its first London branch.

Claire Burnet, co-founder and brand owner of Chococo, said: “We’re thrilled to open our first London store in Dulwich. We are joining a wonderful local community of independent retailers who have been very welcoming.

“Our mission remains unchanged since we founded Chococo back in 2002: to craft a range of exceptional chocolate-inspired products and experiences that are ‘choc full of soul’ – bringing joy, respecting

people and the planet, and celebrating the very best of sustainable British creativity.”

Local MP Helen Hayes was at the opening of the new shop on Saturday 6 December and said: “I am delighted to welcome Chococo to West Dulwich and I wish Claire and her team every success.

“It was wonderful to see so many local residents visiting the shop and café and to sample the delicious chocolates on offer. Chococo is a fantastic addition to the brilliant community of small independent businesses in West Dulwich.”

Chococo was founded in Swanage, Dorset in 2002 by Claire and Andy Burnet. They now have five stores across the UK in Swanage, Winchester, Exeter Horsham and now Dulwich.

The company specialises in making sustainable chocolate and uses ethically sourced ingredients and plastic-free packaging.

THE OPENING HOURS ARE: Weekdays: 8am – 5pm Saturdays: 9am – 6pm Sundays: 9.30am – 4pm

Ribbon cutting – Helen Hayes MP and Claire Burnet, co-founder and brand owner of Chococo The shop in Dulwich

By Issy Clarke A PUB in Tulse Hill run by the landlord behind the Prince of Peckham is closing down, months after its future was thrown into doubt when a major pub group purchased the freehold.

A statement posted to the Queen of the South Instagram account on 13 December said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce Queen of the South will no longer be trading.

“We were unable to raise the funds needed to buy the pub freehold, and the business hasn’t performed at the levels required in the face of rising business rates, utilities and staff costs.”

Earlier this summer owner Clement Ogbonnaya appealed to punters, urging them to ‘Save Our Queen’ after Young’s Pubs purchased the land, throwing the future of the pub on Norwood Road into doubt. Clement said he feared his offer to buy the freehold was not going to be accepted and that it could be turned in flats or a Tesco.

But things seemed to have looked up after Clement came to a deal with the pub group, who accepted his offer to buy the freehold if he could raise £500,000.

In August Clement created a crowdfunder and invited the community to buy shares in the business.

The statement went on: “It’s been an incredibly challenging three-plus years.

We are extremely proud that we were able to take a building which had been abandoned for almost a decade – an eyesore on the Tulse Hill landscape – and create a beautiful, much-needed pub for a community that hasn’t had the spotlight it deserves.

“We had some laughs and some great times. We want to thank everybody who contributed to the pub in one way or another.”

Clement opened the Queen of the South in 2023, his second venture following the huge success of the Prince of Peckham.

He previously told this paper he had always wanted to open a pub in Tulse Hill because it was where his wife grew up and where he bought his first property.

Clement sees his pubs as about more than about drinking booze – in both of his locations he works collaboratively with local businesses and community groups to create a space where people can come together and bring about positive change.

The Prince of Peckham 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 as 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.

NEWS 9

By Issy Clarke

BISHOP OF SOUTHWARK TO STAND DOWN NEXT SUMMER

THE BISHOP of Southwark has announced he will be retiring next summer after 14 years in the role a year after suffering horrific facial injuries following a taxi collision in central London.

Bishop Christopher’s last day in office will be 4 August 2026 – the date of his 70th birthday.

His last service will take place at Southwark Cathedral at 12 pm on Saturday 18 July.

A letter addressed to the Diocese of Southwark, Bishop Christopher – whose full title is The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun – said: “I have had the privilege of serving this Diocese for over twenty years in two episcopal roles, and of sharing the cure of souls with the many excellent clergy who hold my licence.”

The Bishop of Croydon, The Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, who covered for the Bishop last year, will serve as Acting Bishop of Southwark when he stands down – a huge Diocese which covers 317 square miles and includes East Surrey as well as south London.

Last October, the Bishop suffered terrible injuries when he was involved in a taxi accident in central London. The car lurched to a halt, throwing him forward into the front of the taxi.

He broke every single bone in his face, which had to be carefully pieced back together by skilled surgeons from the specialist maxillofacial team at King’s College Hospital.

He got back to work serving the community in July of this year, after taking several months to recover from the surgery.

Bishop Christopher will hand over to

Bishop Rosemarie at his final service at Southwark Cathedral. He praised his successor’s work covering for him last year: “A year ago when I was convalescing, greatly encouraged by your prayers and good will, Bishop Rosemarie convened the College of Bishops with authority and grace in an uncertain time.”

He added he was “confident that

she will lead a senior team that is well prepared for this change – it is a brilliant and effective team.”

Revd Rosemarie Mallett said: “This Diocese has been enormously blessed

by Bishop’s Christopher’s reflective leadership style and pastoral care.

Under his guidance, we have developed our vision and strategy to ensure that we prioritise our parishes and the people

we serve.

“Most of all, he has helped us, though all the changes and challenges, to always remember to speak well of and to each other, and to walk together even if we don’t always see eye to eye – and it is these values that we will continue to honour as we move into the next phase of our diocesan life.”

Bishop Christopher has had a long

career in the church. He was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England 43 years ago in 1983.

In 1989 he became a Chaplain and Minor Canon at St Paul’s Cathedral. After that he was the Rector of St Dunstan & All Saints in Stepney. Between 1997 and 2001 he was Area Dean of Tower Hamlets.

In April 2005 he was consecrated Bishop in Southwark Cathedral, taking up his appointment as Area Bishop of Woolwich and Urban Bishop for the Diocese of Southwark.

As well as serving as the head of Southwark Cathedral, Bishop Christopher has also been the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for the Middle East.

This means he has coordinated several religious pilgrimages to the Holy Land and has worked for peace and justice for the Christian, Muslim and Jewish peoples of Israel and Palestine.

“It is an immense privilege to work closely with Bishop Christopher and to see at first hand how he inhabits his episcopal role,” said Diocesan Secretary Nicola Thomas.

“He brings great wisdom and insight and, as a result of his leadership, the Diocese of Southwark remains strong and united as a Christian presence in every community in south London and east Surrey.”

The Bishop of Woolwich, The Rt Revd Alastair Cutting said: “It has been an honour and a joy to serve alongside Bishop Christopher. His personal and institutional hospitality are legendary and his prayer and care for people has been inspirational for me in my own seeking to be a better disciple of Jesus and shepherd of His people.”

Danielle & Jimmy would like to thank everyone that contributed to the OAP dinner.

Special thanks to Waitrose (Pat) L.W.C (Leanne) Green King (Chris) And thanks to our amazing staff that go above and beyond always.

THE OLD BANK

10 NEWS © Google Street View

By Ruby Gregory

CGI drawing showing the redevelopment proposals for the former Blackfriars Crown Court site in Southwark

Local Democracy Reporter A FORMER crown court in Southwark is to be demolished and replaced with student accommodation and social housing after the plans were approved by councillors last week.

© Southwark Council planning documents

The applicant, iQ Student Accommodation, had submitted plans to redevelop Blackfriars Crown Court and build accommodation for 600 students as well as 71 new homes which will be entirely social rent.

During last night’s meeting, Southwark Council’s Planning Committee approved of the proposals and voted to grant planning permission.

The building on Pocock Street was originally constructed in the post-war period for use as a printworks HM Stationary Office. It was later refurbished to become Blackfriars Crown Court until it closed in December 2019.

Since then the building has stood vacant, thought it has reportedly been used as a location to film court scenes for Netflix’s Top Boy. During last night’s meeting, an iQ representative told the Committee: “About 12 months ago in 2024, we acquired this site with a clear ambition to deliver high-quality and well managed student housing, and much needed affordable housing in the heart of Southwark; supporting both the borough’s high educational institutions and also the wider community alike.

“Our residential-led plans respond to Southwark’s urgent housing needs.

They are deliverable and with your permission we’re ready to get going on site and begin construction work

Blackfriars Crown Court closed in December 2019

71 NEW SOCIAL RENT HOMES WILL REPLACE BLACKFRIARS CROWN COURT

immediately.”

Under the proposals, the student accommodation is set to be contained in one block that would be part six and part nine storeys tall.

The student accommodation would have 190 studios, 100 ‘premium studios’, 60 accessible studios and 40 shared ‘cluster’ flats for groups of five and seven people.

Students would also have access to communal spaces including a lounge, flexible study rooms, a cinema and

karaoke room, a games room, a gym, private dining rooms and laundry facilities.

At its tallest, the housing block would be six storeys and would be 100per cent social rented – consisting of 23 onebeds, 34 two-beds, 6 three-beds and 8 four-beds.

A publicly accessible café unit as well as flexible commercial floorspace is also set to be built on site. iQ plans to build 376 long-stay cycle parking spaces, which includes a private

hire scheme offering 14 bicycles.

During the public consultation stage, the plans received two objections from the public. The objections raised concerns over a lack of affordable housing, the concentration of student housing in the area, as well as the impacts on privacy, daylight and sunlight.

A planning officer responded to the objections in a council report, and said: “The inclusion of student housing within the proposed development has

Self-storage, right round the corner Because weekends weren’t made for storage runs — book in minutes and access anytime with Pocket.

Drummond Rd, Biscuit Factory, SE16 4DG

BOOK NOW

•

Flexible booking, no long-term tie-ins

•

Access any time, day or night

•

5 mins from Bermondsey tube

been assessed as part of the overall land use strategy and is considered appropriate for the area.

“The commercial element comprises a café and an additional flexible-use space designated under Class E. This flexibility allows the space to respond to evolving local needs and ensures activation of the ground floor along the newly proposed Link Street.”

They also said the 40 per cent affordable housing offer was “very good”.

NEWS 13

© Lewisham Council

Featuring pub, landscaped garden and smaller spaces which can be used for workshops or smaller bookings

By Ruby Gregory Local Democracy Reporter A FORMER constitutional club in South East London has been restored and has reopened as a new pub following a major refurbishment.

A former constitutional club in South East London has been restored and has reopened as a new pub following a major refurbishment.

The Catford House, formerly the Catford Constitutional Club, was forced to close in 2019 as it was suffering from structural and safety problems.

Since then, work has been under way to transform the locally listed building into a new, accessible space for the local community.

The new venue, which opened on November 19, features a refurbished pub hall, a landscaped garden, a newly installed lift and smaller spaces which can be used for workshops or smaller bookings. The venue can also be hired for private parties and will host popup events, fitness classes, workshops, exhibitions and more.

The project was supported using funding from Lewisham Council and a £1.8million contribution from the Mayor of London’s Good Grown Fund.

Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA), a not-for-profit organisation is managing the new venue and has a track record of successfully running other local spots such as The Woolwich Front Room and the Woolwich Common Community Centre.

Claire Pritchard, CEO of GCDA, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Our vision is to create a pub with purpose, a 21st century social club, where good food and good conversation go hand in hand with community action.

At a time when so many public spaces are disappearing, we want The Catford House to remain open and accessible to

CATFORD HOUSE NOW OPENED

all.

“We hope The Catford House becomes a blueprint for what’s possible when communities take charge of their own spaces and futures. GCDA’s approach is about working with communities, not just in them — listening, learning, and building together. This is just the beginning.”

The new venue is supporting businesses from the area by sourcing from suppliers such as as Mont58 Coffee and Catford Rhum Arrange. The Catford House has

also partnered with Portobello Brewery, operators of the nearby Catford Bridge Tavern, to help stock the bar.

Maya Haiman-Eilon, who co-founded Mont58 Coffee with her husband, Shai, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be supplying coffee to Catford House. As a local independent roastery, it means so much to partner with another business that’s investing in our community.

“We can’t wait for Catford to enjoy great coffee in such a fantastic new space.”

Cllr James-J Walsh, Lewisham

Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning said: “The opening of The Catford House is an important step forward. More than a pub, it’s a space for everyday life, to meet friends and family, enjoy food and drink, learn new skills, support local creatives and feel part of a safer, more vibrant Catford.

“That’s why we chose a cooperative, not-for-profit operator to manage this venue for us. This transformation led by the council, with support from the GLA

[Greater London Authority], brings a historic building back into public use.

“GCDA, as the new housekeepers, will now help shape its future alongside our residents. The Catford House shows our ongoing commitment to regeneration that puts local people first.”

The Catford House has the following opening times: Monday to Thursday: 5pm to 11pm Friday: 3pm to 12am Saturday 12pm to 12am Sunday: 12pm to 11pm

leader of the opposition Councillor Matt Hartley. The Greenwich Conservative Leader said: “The Superloop SL15 route is so obviously extendable to Woolwich.

“It needs to go to Woolwich. There is actually, I would say, a limited utility from a Clapham Junction to Eltham route without the Woolwich link.

“Mottingham is so poorly served by public transport. We need north/ south public transport links, including bus routes, and adding a Mottingham Station stop will only be a small detour and it could be our only chance realistically to get something in the near term to improve public transport for Mottingham.”

Cllr Hartley said the motion was “particularly important” because of a proposed Eltham to Beckton bus route that TfL revealed plans for before the Silvertown Tunnel opened, but which has not yet materialised In a rare showing of cross-party agreement, the council’s Acting

Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, Cllr Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, seconded the motion despite having “one or two quibbles” with some of its details He said: “We think that this is such an important thing that we all need to get behind and we’re working on plenty of other ways as well to improve north/ south connections, not just with the 129 extension, but amendments to other bus routes and also looking to improve active travel routes north/ south of the borough.

“I’m incredibly glad that everyone is able to come here together today so we can get behind this ambition to close the loop and connect Eltham, Woolwich, and improve connections for Mottingham as well.”

In response, TfL said the SL15 consultation, which ran from October 20 to November 30, had now closed.

The authority said “feedback is hugely important to us” and it was now analysing the consultation responses

with a view to publishing the results soon.

TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning, Geoff Hobbs, said: “We know buses are an important lifeline for millions of Londoners each

year, and the proposed SL15 express bus service between Clapham Junction and Eltham aims to encourage more Londoners to choose more sustainable and affordable public transport options.”

Calls have been made to include Woolwich in a new express bus to Eltham

By Cameron Blackshaw

Local Democracy Reporter GREENWICH COUNCIL has called on TfL to extend a proposed new South London Superloop route to Woolwich

Plans for the SL15, which will run between Clapham Junction and Eltham via Tulse Hill, West Dulwich and Catford, were unveiled in October.

TfL have been inviting residents to share their views on a proposed new Superloop bus service between Clapham Junction and Eltham stations, serving a limited number of stops in Streatham, West Dulwich, Forest Hill and Catford, primarily following the A205 South Circular Road.

At a Full Council meeting on December 3, Greenwich councillors unanimously supported a motion that called on the city’s transport authority to extend the SL15 to Woolwich as well as add a stop at Mottingham Station in both directions.

The motion was proposed by the

14 NEWS

By Kumail Jaffer Local Democracy Reporter SLOWER BUS speeds are sparking a dramatic decline in ridership in London which will have a knockon effect on the Mayor’s active transport goals and Transport for London’s (TfL) revenue, the London Assembly has been told.

Average bus speeds on the capital’s streets in 2024/25 were just 9.17mph – down from 10.27mph four years ago, according to data obtained by City Hall.

In October – the latest month for which data was available – the mean speed of a London bus was just 9.06mph.

Meanwhile, passenger numbers fell for the first time since the pandemic last year, from 1.869 billion to 1.842 billion.

Earlier this month the London Assembly Transport Committee heard that the “endless traffic” bus drivers are forced to navigate has seen commuters look to alternative transport methods.

Paul Lynch, Managing Director of Stagecoach London, said: “We are used to difficult traffic conditions in London – it’s our bread and butter. However, conditions have worsened over the last few years to a point where somebody who works for me in charge of our service performance and has been around for 40 years operating buses in London says it’s the worst he has ever seen.

“The biggest single impact, of course, is on the customer, on the people using the buses, it’s making them less attractive and less reliable for them. It’s got to be one of the reasons why bus passenger numbers are declining at the same time that bus speeds are..

“There’s work by London TravelWatch, our organisation and others, which shows there is a direct relationship between bus speeds and bus patronage.

And unfortunately we’re experiencing that in London now.”

The latest TfL annual ‘Travel in London’ report shows a decline of 1.5 per cent in bus journeys compared to last year, with three per cent more journeys on the London Underground and 10 per cent more on the Elizabeth line.

In the document, officials revealed that average bus journey time was 34.3 minutes, higher than the 34.1 minute target.

The migration will hit the transport body’s wallet significantly if the trend continues, according to Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of London TravelWatch.

He also said those on lower incomes and with reduced mobility, who tend to opt for buses over other forms of transport, may not end up paying their travel fare at all.

“Increasing average journey times makes bus travel less attractive”, he told London Assembly members, “It means reduced patronage, which in turn means

LONDON BUS SPEEDS ‘WORST WE’VE SEEN IN 40 YEARS’

“Much cycle infrastructure that has been installed has inhibited bus journeys and contributed to deteriorating journey times,” said Lord Moylan

reduced income to TfL. “It also means increased cost to TfL because you need more buses to run a given level of service, and that is obviously of concern to the travelling public more generally to the extent that it bites upon TfL’s ability to invest in the transport service network more generally.

“And ultimately, if it means buses are less attractive and people are using them to a lower degree, it’s it is bad for London because buses are an effective use of road space, and it’s going to have an impact on keeping London moving.

“For every ten percent reduction in journey speeds, there’s a six percent reduction in demand.”

His organisation found that to meet the Mayor’s target of 80% of all trips in London being made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041, then we need a 40 per cent increase in bus journeys.

TfL’s own analysis suggests numbers need to increase from 5.1 million daily bus journeys currently to nine million by 2041.

They also found that if buses in London increase their speed by an average of 1mph, it could save up to £200 million per year and generate additional revenue

of £85 million from increased passenger numbers as a result.

Some boroughs have it worse than others, with average speeds of under 7mph seen in the City of London, Camden and Westminster.

Meanwhile, the highest average speeds were seen in the outer boroughs of Bexley, Hillingdon and Havering, all of which were over 11mph.

Following the meeting, Elly Baker, who chairs the Transport Committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The meeting about bus journey times was a real eye-opener for the Transport Committee.

“Bus journey times have been increasing since 2020, and since 2022/23, TfL has not met its target for bus journey times. This investigation should help us put together some strong recommendations to help the buses catch up and shorten the journey times for all Londoners.”

Bus safety campaigner Tom Kearney added: “The Transport Committee Session confirmed some well-evidenced facts – that bus operators can only make a profit by meeting TfL’s contracted timetable targets, and that drivers have no control over the many issues on London’s roads that cause them to miss

those targets.

“Since TfL financially incentivises operators for timely performance but does not financially incentivise them for safety, it would suggest that TfL has long prioritised the convenience of users and profits of operators over the safety and welfare of drivers and those compelled to share the road with them.”

TfL have pledged to implement their Bus Action Plan which they say will result in quicker passenger journeys.

This includes the creation of 25km of new bus lanes by this month, 1,900 traffic signals that prioritise buses and making 85km of existing bus lanes operational 24/7.

However, they were warned that recent moves towards promoting active travel had inhibited buses from carrying out their duty at speed.

Kevan Stagg, Chair of the Unite London & Eastern Passenger Committee, said: “There’s been a lot of own goals. You’re looking for space for pedestrians, so we’ve narrowed roads. Cyclists – once again we’ve narrowed it. Now, quite often if you’re behind a push bike, you can’t overtake it as a bus driver because there just isn’t enough room.”

This was a sentiment similarly expressed in the House of Lords last

week during a debate on walking and cycling paths. Lord Moylan, who has previously served on the TfL board, told peers: “At this time of year, the thoughts of many of us turn away from active travel and towards the bus. Much cycle infrastructure that has been installed has inhibited bus journeys and contributed to deteriorating journey times.”

Transport minister Lord Hendy, who was Transport Commissioner under Mayor Boris Johnson, responded: “He and the Mayor of London directed me, as the commissioner of transport, to take out more road space for the benefit of cyclists than probably anybody has ever done in London.

“It certainly is the case that on some occasions that design has reduced bus service speeds, with a detrimental effect on overall journey times.

“The answer is to give local transport authorities the powers, the money and the training to do the job correctly.

“Another thing that has been mentioned here before is the additional money for training for local transport authority officers so that the design of cycle lanes, as part of the general highways network, is a benefit to cyclists without being too much of a detriment to other traffic, especially buses.”

sets a vital precedent to protect the borough’s remaining family homes. The proposal would have turned 15 Surrey Grove, Carshalton, from a three-bedroom family house into a four-room HMO for elderly residents, adding two groundfloor bedrooms, both en-suite, to the existing layout.

It would have replaced one of the borough’s few remaining family homes on a street largely occupied by families and older residents, close to the busy St Helier Hospital.

Planning officers had recommended approval after a pre-application consultation with the property owner, Mohammed Khan, arguing the HMO would not worsen parking or safety because a three-bedroom family home could generate similar car ownership and activity. They noted the street was outside a controlled parking zone, which “suggests there is no high parking demand”, and highlighted that the Highways Team had raised no objection.

Councillors, however, disagreed strongly. Lib Dem Councillor Patrick Ogbonna, whose The Wrythe ward

includes Surrey Grove, stated bluntly: “I have been there, I know the road.

There is nowhere to park on that road.”

Council ‘sets precedent’ by rejecting HMO after huge local backlash

By Harrison Galliven

Local Democracy Reporter SUTTON COUNCIL has gone against its own officers’ advice and rejected plans to convert a family home on a narrow residential street into an HMO, following a “huge” wave of objections from neighbours who warned it would cause “a lot of headaches”.

Councillors dismissed the controversial application last week, saying the decision

NEWS 15

BRIXTON’S NANDO’S TO GO AS HOTEL PLAN IS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT

Nando’s has existed at the site for a number of years – but it won’t be returning Google Street View

By Ruby Gregory

Local Democracy Reporter A 1960S office building in the heart of Brixton is to be redeveloped into a 341-room hotel and co-working office space, but a Nando’s and gym will be lost in the process.

Lambeth councillors gave the plans the go-ahead earlier this week, meaning Blue Star House, an 11-storey building located at 234-244 Stockwell Road, will be refurbished with extra storeys to be added.

At its tallest, the new building will be part-15 and part-16 storeys which means it will be even more noticeable along Brixton’s skyline. Lambeth Council’s Planning Applications Committee unanimously approved of the plans during a meeting on Tuesday December 9.

The developer, Derwent London, has described Blue Star House as having “a dated appearance which does not contribute positively to the area”.

They went on to state: “It is no longer suitable for modern office use for numerous reasons including low floor to ceiling heights, narrow column grids and poor energy efficiency standards.”

Derwent London bought the site, located opposite O2 Brixton Academy, for £38.1million in January 2020.

The current site is home to a wellknown Nando’s which has existed there for a number of years as well as an on-site gym however, both are set to be lost and won’t be replaced.

According to a council document, planning officers said there is no policy in place to protect restaurants, while the loss of the existing gym would be “acceptable” because the area has a number of other

CGI drawing showing the development on Stockwell Road Lambeth Planning documents

CGI showing how the new development will look west towards the site on Brixton Road

Lambeth Planning documents

gyms “within walking distance” of the site.

The site is also home to other organisations including the NHS, Housing for Women, Trees for Cities, Double Act and Repowering London. It is unclear from council documents whether they have been included in the redevelopment plans and can return when the new site is ready.

As well as the added storeys that will be built on top, the proposals will see the partial demolition of existing single storey buildings fronting Stockwell Road and Stockwell Avenue. In their place, Derwent London intends to build a hotel lobby which would include a café and access to the hotel.

The proposals went on to state: “The building would also be extended to the rear, with a nine-storey new-build element fronting both Bellefields Road and Stockwell Avenue proposed, that would include a stepped-design addressing Bellefields Road.”

Of the 341 hotel rooms, 35 are planned to be wheelchair accessible, while an “element” of the office space will be “affordable”.

During the public consultation stage, the plans received five objections. One objection argued that Brixton doesn’t need another hotel while another said it was out of character with the surrounding area. Another objection stated: “Current building is full of companies and workers and there is a real shortage of office space in Brixton – where will they go. The companies currently in Blue Star House employ a lot of people and shouldn’t be evicted.”

In their response, planning officers said the loss of the office use was justified because of viability evidence, and said there is office space elsewhere in Brixton.

Another objection stated: “The proposal is too tall – the height of the proposed building would cause it to loom over Brixton High Street and the surrounding area, dominating the skyline unnecessarily.”

Planning officers said the height of the building had been “fully assessed and justified” and referred to two assessments which had been carried out for design and access and townscape, heritage and visual impact. Nanda Manley-Browne and Cllr

Two men jailed following ‘senseless’ assault which left a grandfather dead

By Issy Clarke

TWO MEN have been jailed following the fatal assault of a 63-year-old grandfather described as a ‘real family man’ following a brawl outside a Wetherspoon pub in Lewisham earlier this year.

Paul Tallant, 43, of Churchbury Road, Eltham, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 25 July.

A second man – Danny Donovan, 40, of Marshalsea Road in Borough – had a knife in his hand during the incident and pleaded guilty to affray and possession of a knife.

At Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, 11 December Tallant was sentenced to 10 years and six months’ imprisonment.

Donovan was jailed for two years and

two months.

Charlie Prodromou was assaulted by Tallant following a disturbance at The Watch House pub, Lewisham on Saturday, 1 March.

Police were called at 8:39 pm that evening to reports of a serious assault.

Charlie and Tallant had been involved in a dispute with staff inside the premises.

Shortly afterwards, outside the pub, Tallant punched Charlie twice in the head, causing Charlie to fall to the ground.

Officers responded with paramedics and found 63-year-old Charlie Prodromou with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to hospital where he later died.

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Magee, of the Met’s Specialist Crime unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with Charlie Prodromou’s loving family and friends, who have shown so much strength over

John-Paul Ennis, Ward Councillors for Brixton North Ward, wrote to say they were in support of the plans.

They said: “The development offers significant community benefits. The creation of over 100 permanent jobs, alongside hundreds more during

construction, represents a positive step for local employment.

“The inclusion of affordable, flexible desk space will further support Brixton’s small businesses and startups, many of which struggle to access suitable workspaces.”

Danny Donovan From Met Police

Victim: Charlie Prodromou From Met Police

Paul Tallant

From Met Police

the last few months.

“Charlie’s death was a senseless loss of life and he is missed by many. He was a real family man, and leaves behind three children and five grandchildren.

“We hope today’s sentencing of both defendants provides a sense of justice and relief to Charlie’s loved ones.

“This incident was a shocking event that happened in the heart of Lewisham. I’d like to reassure the local community that we continue to do everything possible to

prevent further violence on our streets.”

After assaulting Charlie, Tallant was arrested near Lewisham High Street a 8:46 pm – just a few minutes after police had been alerted to the incident.

Local officers noticed he matched the description of the suspect.

He was charged with murder on Sunday, 2 March.

Donovan was charged on Thursday, 20 March with affray and possession of a knife.

NEWS 17

GLASSBLOWING IN BERMONDSEY Inside the Bermondsey Street studio that transformed British glass art

The Team in the studio

By Evie Flynn PETER LAYTON Glassblowing, a handmade glass-art studio and gallery on Bermondsey Street, is filled with dazzling glass-blown treasures and even a working hot shop, where you can watch the pieces take shape in real time.

© Alick Cotterill

Approaching their 50-year anniversary, London Glassblowing has become a leading force in UK glass art since founder Peter Layton, now 88, introduced the craft from America in 1968.

Despite its flat reception in the UK art scene, Peter established London Glassblowing in 1976. They were originally based in an old towage works on the Thames in Rotherhithe, a relic from when Rotherhithe was a bustling commercial dock, and later in Leathermarket Gardens.

The team then settled in their home on Bermondsey Street 16 years ago and have since nurtured some of the world’s leading glass artists, selling their artistic creations and providing a studio space known as a ‘hot shop’ for them to work at the back of the shop.

The team at London Glassblowing aim to bridge the gap between an artist and a customer through allowing visitors to witness the glass-blowing first-hand at the back of the studio.

Historically, secrets of traditional glassblowing were handed down from father to son behind closed doors. Peter scrapped this approach and created a collaborative space and the first ‘open house’ on the glassblowing scene.

During opening hours, customers can watch the molten glass enter the furnace on a hollow blowpipe, before being shaped and cooled on a steel table.

Once the piece is finished in the hot shop, it is taken to the cold shop for cutting, grinding and polishing, making the pieces ready for the shelves and ultimately someone’s home.

The Bermondsey Street studio has roots across the pond, where Peter was teaching ceramics at the University of Iowa in the late 1960s. He participated in a workshop on the emerging American studio glass movement, which was taking the ‘swinging sixties’ by storm.

Despite specialising in ceramics, the discipline immediately captured Peter’s attention. He said: “I was seduced by the immediacy of the material, and the spontaneity and risk-taking required by the process. Here was a medium where quick wit and spontaneity were vital, where every aspect of the process was an adventure.”

However, Peter faced resistance when he returned to Britain to share his new-found love for blowing hot glass.

Glassblowing remains a comparatively young art form, especially when set against more traditional disciplines like painting, sculpture or pottery.

Many British galleries in the 1970s feared that glass required specialist lighting their clients didn’t possess in

Peter & Tim in the studio

their homes. Opening a glass studio in this period was therefore a risky endeavour and Peter funded his venture by part-time teaching ceramics in various art colleges in London.

But the studios were a roaring success, and Peter still works with glass in South London 50 years later.

Throughout his career, he has created commissioned works for the National Gallery, Tate Modern and the Royal Academy of Art. Peter is currently in the process of handing over the running of the shop to his daughter, Sophie, and her husband, Tim, ahead of his 90th birthday in 2027.

Sophie has built a successful artistic career of her own, studying at Camberwell School of Art and earning a degree in Fine Art Printmaking from the University of Brighton in 2009.

She is represented by Eames Fine Art Gallery, one of London Glassblowing’s Bermondsey Street neighbours, and her work often depicts scenes of London Bridge and Bermondsey.

It’s unique for a gallery to have a

working studio and hot shop at the back of the shop, where the public can watch the glassblowing. Sophie said: “The life blood of this company is the studio and the community of glass artists who come and use the hot shop.

She described the studio as having a ‘cyclical nature’, with the artists working in the hot shop and then their items being sold in the gallery once completed.

In 2025, it has become increasingly hard for retail units to operate, yet Sophie and the Gallery Director Gena Johns remain highly optimistic about the thriving Bermondsey Street.

Sophie said: “To be a retail outlet you need to be extraordinary. To be able to watch a craft happening in central London is extremely niche, with customers developing an emotional attachment to a piece.

“There is a long way to go with glass as it is a young material, however, it is also functional. We all have glass in our homes and having people appreciate it as art is exciting.”

“For us to still be here is a testament,”

Gena added. “Don’t be scared to come in and see how we work, we are always changing with a new exhibition every month.”

Sophie, Gena and the team are ready to welcome anyone into the gallery, whether they are looking for a new piece of art, or if they are intrigued about how glassblowing works.

Sat at the heart of Bermondsey Street, Sophie said customers often “stumble across us” whilst they are browsing the food and drink spots. London Glassblowing also benefits from the artistic spirit of the White Cube Gallery and the Fashion and textile Museum opposite.

Sophie said 2026 is being referred to as the “golden year”, as London Glassblowing is celebrating their 50-year anniversary next year and will be holding a year-long celebration of exhibitions and events.

Marking a start to the celebrations, Christmas has come to the gallery up until 23 December, it will feature collections

by Peter Layton, Tim Rawlinson and will showcase the much-loved Heirloom

Christmas baubles.

As a tradition, some customers return every year to choose a signed glass-blown bauble for their collection. This year, they will be in golden colours and a special 50th year golden box.

This will culminate in a landmark anniversary exhibition in June 2026 to celebrate the gallery’s legacy and showcase prominent artists who have passed through its doors.

London Glassblowing will also continue its extensive work experience programmes and institutions, where they nurture artists at the beginning of their career.

In 2027, the celebration continues, as Peter Layton turns 90, which will make him one of the oldest glassblowers in the world.

If you are searching for a Christmas gift, smaller items in the shop start from £19, such as perfume bottles and Christmas baubles. www.londonglassblowing.co.uk London Glassblowing, 62-66 Bermondsey St, SE1 3UD

18 NEWS F.A.A.

F A ALBIN & SONS

020 7237 3637

Family Run Funeral Directors

RotheRhithe 52 Culling Road, London, SE16 2TN OuR OThER bRaNCh addRESSES aRE: welling 4 Welling Way, Welling, KENT, da16 2Rj T: 020 8856 7514

deptfoRd 164 deptford high Street, LONdON, SE8 3dP T: 020 8694 1384

sidcup 163 Station Road, Sidcup, KENT, da15 7aa T: 020 8308 0015

eAst london 378 barking Road, Plaistow LONdON, E13 8hL T: 020 7476 1861

MottinghAM 54-56 Mottingham Road, London, SE9 4QZ T: 020 8857 0330 cRAYfoRd 30-32 Crayford high Street, Crayford, KENT, da1 4hG T: 01322 533012

wAlwoRth 88 brandon Street, LONdON, SE17 1Nd T: 020 7313 6990

Serving the people of Bermondsey & Rotherhithe for over 200 years

www.albins.co.uk

ARTS 19

what’s on THE SHOW begins with Dick on board the Empire Windrush on his way to make his fortune in London Town. It is a long and lonely voyage so he befriends the ship's elderly cat. Dick has some anxieties about leaving Jamaica but Fairy Bowbells has his back to ease his mind, writes Michael Holland.

The Rat Nigel Fartage creates a toxic stench wherever he goes Theatre Peckham’s Wonderland show full of heart and humour

GEOFF AYMER has kept the spirit of Lewis Carroll’s classic fantasy novel to deliver a musical with a modern twist about identity and courage, writes Barbara Buchanan.

captivating Cheshire cat ,grinning, giggling, flicking his tail and hopping and around the stage in mischievous poses as the stressfree dude. He croons that no problem is ever worth becoming manic about in a magnetic soul song.

Hatter (Alexander Joseph) with gold chain and Del Boy jacket, lined with every type of tea from oolong to breakfast brew, creates a raucous tea jam. The Young Company’s fluid reggae moves, punctuated with back flips and cartwheels, give the party a special energy.

Oscar Sinclair morphs into the capricious chess-loving Queen of Hearts dressed in a cropped red quilted jacket and Jean Paul Gautier crinoline cage. He struts around and pouts, threatening to cut off everyone’s head in a scary The Devil Wears Prada way.

Ruth Badila’s chessboard stage works well with the silver foil lift elevated on a podium in front of a backdrop of white drapes, where a kaleidoscope of scenes is projected.

This musical is full of humour and heart with original songs by Jordan Xavier and skilful choreography by Shakeil Edwards.

Director Suzann McLean has channelled the talent and energy of the Young Company to deliver an audience-friendly show with the message that the answer lies within, not on your smartphone.

Theatre Peckham, 221 Havil Street, London SE5 7SB until 23rd of December.

Booking and full details: www.theatrepeckham.co.uk or 020 7708 5401.

Susie McKenna's script ensures the heart and soul is in SE London, while director Pete Rowe captures the early travails of the Windrush Generation.

On docking, Dick (Durone Stokes) is a little lost so Fairy Bowbells (Lisa Davina Phillip) turns the cat into human form so he has a friend. That means the welcome inclusion of cool dude Uncle Vincent (Wayne Rollins) who likes to get down and groove just as much as he likes to lay down and catnap.

Of course there is a baddie and she comes in the form of Queen Rat (Natasha Lewis) who wants to rule London, so doesn't like another cat on the block and does her best to get rid of Dick by fitting him up to look like a thief. She even has a rat in her crew called Nigel Fartage who creates a toxic stench wherever he goes.

Alice Fitzwarren (Fergie Fraser) is the kind face and love interest who knows Dick is a good man, so she and Auntie

Sarah the Cook (Justin Brett - who has all the best costumes and arrives with all 'buns glazing'...), and her father Alderman Fitzwarren (Ben Fox) find a way to fight the badness that besets Dick's journey.

This is panto with all the necessary tropes but with more than the usual message of good winning over evil.

This has Dick being told to 'go back to where you came from', as well encountering signs on lodging houses that tell him, ' No dogs, Irish or Blacks', plus, white people looking down their nose at Alice and Dick's inter-racial relationship. Everything is on the table here and is dealt with through song, dance and more people on the side of good to make sure the battle is won for a happy ending.

Best old joke of the night was given to Alderman Fitzwarren: 'I've been very lonely since I lost my wife... What a card game that was!' Boom Boom!

Dick Whittington and his Catford Cat is aimed directly at its wonderful South London audience and, just like Uncle Vincent, we lapped it up.

Broadway Theatre until December 31st Booking and full details: www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/events/ dick-whittington-and-his-catford-cat

This will uplift the darkest of winter nights YOU’D BE forgiven for shivering at the prospect of outdoor theatre in winter, but The Globe’s musical version of Pinocchio will warm your heart. It is a magnificently magical and highly entertaining wintertime treat for all ages; a feast for the eyes and ears, writes Mary Bradshaw...

Under Sean Holmes’ inventive direction, it is reassuringly Globeworthy, too, with a chorus of commedia dell’arte types in monochrome, onedimensional wooden cut-outs forming the backdrop of what resembles a ginormous puppet theatre, and a healthy dose of jibes at the Globe’s stock audience.

Written by Charlie Josephine and Jim Fortune, tonight’s adaptation of an old morality tale is one about boyhood, fatherhood, and daring to love. It captures those strange and cheekily subversive undertones of the traditional fairy tales we know and love (get ready for child-snatching Coachman (Steven Webb), and slightly bonkers Fox and Cat (Kerry Frampton and Lucy McCormick)).

Pinocchio has more than his fair share of near misses and scrapes (he even ends up inside a whale at one point), but his infectious innocence, curiosity and warmth win out. These attributes aren’t chastised, but transform the adults around him.

Hostility and bitterness in the small Italian town soften into tenderness and community (aided by pizza).

Pinocchio’s unabashed love helps Geppetto (Nick Holder) transform from ‘maker’ to ‘father’, and sorts out Blue Fairy’s minor identity crisis (Lucy McCormick).

@Johan Persson

The show opens with Alice in a shopping mall at Christmas, lost in a TikTok social media world. When her brother Stefan turns up and asks her where the family's shopping is, she’s clueless. He confiscates her phone. The security guard emerges with their trolley and tells them to leave before they’re locked in.

Alice (Carma Hylton) takes the lift and is transported into a land where inanimate objects like doors and chairs talk. She has to survive on her wits to navigate a world of weird and wonderful insentient and amorphous beings.

Hylton effortlessly changes gears from the falsely confident Alice to a thoughtful adolescent who has to draw on her own resources to confront a series of nonsensical problems.

Her transformation begins when she encounters the hubbly bubbly smoking caterpillar (Oscar Sinclair) who entreats her to “pause and ponder” and “ponder and pause”. He tests her with riddles from his GCSE enigma scroll, encouraging her to draw on her grey matter: “No problem is impossible, think it through and bit by bit you’ll get the clues”.

Aymer’s dialogue is skilfully crafted with memorable phrases such as the Mad Hatter’s preferred words for ‘crazy’ as “mentally unshackled”.

Chesh (Siphiwo Mahlentle) plays a

© Ahmed Kamara

@Mark Senior

It is an absolute joy to watch the expertise of the three puppeteers as they deftly glide the delightful life-sized wooden Pinocchio across the stage. They are hypnotic. And who knew puppets could dance so well? Lee Braithwaite is excellent as Pinocchio’s boyish voice, too, full of wonder and worry.

A melange of swing, rock, blues and pop whisks this musical along. The harmonies are honey-sweet, and the lyrics catchy, funny, and crisp for the most part, but at times a little hard to catch.

This wonderful production by a slick, talented cast, will uplift the darkest of winter nights (just wear a coat).

Pinocchio runs at The Globe Theatre with matinee and evening performances until 4 January Booking and full details: www.shakespearesglobe.com/whatson/pinocchio/

20 EVENTS CLASSIFIED

Events

Beauty and the Beast panto at the Churchill Theatre Panto magic returns to Bromley as Beauty and the Beast takes over the Churchill Theatre until 4 January. It stars TV and theatre favourite Samantha Womack as the Enchantress and Hi-de-Hi! star and panto legend Su Pollard as Mrs Potty.

They will be joined by Britain’s Got

Talent star Jamie Leahey as Silly Billy, panto dame Ben Stock as Dame Betty Bouffant and musical theatre actress Sheri Lineham as Belle. Belle finds herself trapped in a cursed castle and held captive by a beast. To her surprise, the castle is full of magical characters placed under a spell by a magic

enchantress. Can Belle see beyond the monster and fall in love with her captor before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose?

Date: Now until 4 January Time: Various performances at 1:30pm and 5:30pm

Disney on Ice at the O2: Head to the O2 on Boxing Day until 4 January for a performance of all the Disney classics, live on ice. All your favourite Disney heroes and stories are coming to the ice, from Moana and Maui to Anna and Elsa from Frozen. There will be The Little Mermaid, Mickey Mouse, Beauty and the Beast and Tangled. Costumes are welcomed and encouraged.

Location: Churchill Theatre, 108 High Street, Bromley, London BR1 1HA Tickets: From £20 https://trafalgartickets.com/churchilltheatre-bromley/en-GB/event/ pantomime/beauty-and-the-beasttickets

Watch the Nutcracker Ballet at Blackheath Halls: Date: Friday 26 December - 4 January Time: Numerous shows at 9:30am, 1:30pm or 5:30pm Location: O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX Tickets: £45, available https://www.theo2. co.uk/events/detail/disney-on-ice-presentsfind-your-hero-2025

Let’s All Dance Ballet Company returns this December with a festive performance of The Nutcracker. From Monday 22 December to Tuesday 23 December, families can enjoy this enchanting ballet, perfect for children of all ages. The show will transport the audience to the magical Land of Sweets, where they’ll meet the Mouse King, the Snow Queen, and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Date: Monday 22 December - Tuesday 23 December Time: Various times Location: Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Rd, Blackheath, London SE3 9RQ Tickets: £17, available https://www.blackheathhalls.com/whats-on/ the-nutcracker-2025/

HISTORY 21

History

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST Wellers fruit stall © Welller family 2010

Tower Bridge Road had some beautiful Edwardian shop fronts, some of which are still there, but hidden behind the detritus of modern life

By Debra Gosling I AM so thankful for the internet but oh my, has it changed our shopping habits! The markets down The Blue, Tower Bridge Road and East Street are just shadows of their former glory. It’s all very well sitting with an iPad having the pick of the world’s goods at your fingertips but it kind of takes the magic away from Christmas. It used to be an experience that wakened the senses, lifted the spirit.

The shops used to be packed with customers buying cards and wrapping paper, streamers, tinsel and paper hats.

There was always lots of parties at home, so stocks had to be built up for when the family descended to eat, drink and be merry (or have a fight, depending on what kind background you came from...) Choosing gifts was a delight as people looked through elegant bowfronted windows at the goods on offer.

Tower Bridge Road had some beautiful Edwardian shop fronts, some of which are still there but hidden behind the detritus of modern life. A lot of The Blue’s very elegant shopping facades were lost during the Second World War. But oh, the stalls! Lit up on a dark afternoon displaying all manner of goodies. Many of the goods on offer were nestled in foil that reflected the coloured fairy lights, giving everything that magic

Tower Bridge Road Southwark Library

feeling. There was a certain kind of energy as people shuffled around inspecting what was on offer while the stall holders busied themselves re-stocking the display. Everybody wanted the best for their Christmas table, so besides the unfortunate turkey the fishmongers tempted with sides of salmon and pints of prawns. Dewhurst’s would sell out of sausages and sides of beef. Plenty of fruit and veg was essential and the stalls would be packed high with only the best from Borough Market of Covent Garden.

Not so long ago there were still hot

chestnut stalls - nibbling on these little powerhouses of goodness gave us a bit of energy before we all struggled home with oranges, potatoes, pineapples, walnuts and apples.

Of course, someone had to carry home the tree too - and the bright red poinsettia. Flo Weller in The Blue could supply everything you need from her flower stall, which would be turned into an alpine garden for the season. The invigorating smell of fresh pine trees is the smell of Christmas!

Unlike today, kids weren’t inundated

with presents and had to be happy with what they got. As recent as the 1940s many children were poverty-stricken with hand-me-down clothes and old, mended shoes. Their thin Christmas stockings would hold a tangerine wrapped in foil, walnuts, sweets and an apple. Girls would get a rag doll or a ludo card and dice while boys received a popgun or a catapult to terrorise the street with on Boxing Day. Sometimes if they were really lucky they’d get a football, but more often than not had to be content with a football bladder; this was just the

inside bit that they’d inflate and kick around.

Many went to church while others went to that other sacred place: the pub.

Of course, some overdid the Christmas cheer, ending up sampling the delights of the police canteen as they sobered up in the cells!

Up until the 1930s charity always descended upon Bermondsey to ensure that those light of pocket had a special time. At the Dock Offices in Lower Road the Docks Police entertained two hundred deprived kids. The children were given a huge spread, which was hungrily devoured, before being entertained with a pantomime where they sung their little hearts out.

Afterwards, a dock constable dressed up as Santa Claus and distributed not just sweets and toys but also boots and socks to the ragged little waifs in his charge.

Not one went home empty-handed. In the late 1940s Bermondsey kids were treated to a Christmas entertainment at Grange Road baths. Boards were put over the swimming pool and the place was decorated with balloons and streamers. More pantomimes were put on and hundreds of kids risked a soaking as they stamped their feet to songs and competitions.

It’s a great shame that all of this has gone - but never mind, deck your halls with boughs of holly and get out your Slade record. It’s Chriiiistmassss!

22 PUBLIC NOTICES

Friday, December 19th 2025

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE GLA ROADS AND GLA SIDE ROADS (ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA) RED ROUTE CONSOLIDATION TRAFFIC ORDER 2008 VARIATION ORDER 2026 THE GLA ROADS AND GLA SIDE ROADS (SOUTHWARK) RED ROUTE CONSOLIDATION TRAFFIC ORDER 2007 VARIATION ORDER 2026 1. Transport for London, hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Orders under section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

2. The general nature and effect of the Orders will be to vary the existing controls and descriptions in the Orders.

3. The roads which would be affected by the Orders are the various TfL Main Road and Side Roads in the London Boroughs of Southwark and Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

4. A copy of the Orders and a statement of Transport for London’s reasons for the proposals can be inspected by visiting our website at https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/tro and selecting the relevant borough and reference the Traffic Order relates to or by appointment during normal office hours at our office at the address below. To arrange an appointment please email trafficordersection@tfl.gov.uk. Copies of the documents may be requested via email at trafficordersection@tfl.gov.uk, or by post at the following address quoting reference SNO/REGULATION/STOT/BS/TRO, GLA/2026/0034 and 0039.

5. All objections and other representations to the proposed Orders must be made in writing and must specify the grounds on which they are made.

Objections and representations must be sent to Transport for London, Streets Traffic Order Team, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ or by emailing trafficordersection@tfl.gov.uk quoting reference NMR/REGULATION/STOT/BS/TRO, GLA/2026/0034 and 0039, to arrive before 16th January 2026. Please note due to hybrid working access to post is restricted and requests for documents and confirmation of your objections or representations may be delayed. Objections and other representations may be communicated to other persons who may be affected.

Dated this 19th day of December 2025 Margaret Waite Head of Network Performance, Network Performance Delivery Transport for London, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A302 GLA ROAD (WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD, LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH) (TEMPORARY BANNED TURN) ORDER 2025 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above-named Traffic Order under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specified in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable digital advertising unit reinstatement works to take place on the A302 Westminster Bridge Road.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle except pedal cycles proceeding north-westwards on the A302 Westminster Bridge Road from turning left onto the south-westbound carriageway of Westminster Bridge Road at its junction with the A3200 Addington Street.

The Order will also close the north-west to south-westbound cycle track on the A302 Westminster Bridge Road between Waterloo Railway Bridge and a point opposite the western building line of No. 200 Westminster Bridge Road. Marshals will be on site to assist pedal cycles to dismount and use footway.

The Order will be effective between 9:00 PM on 5th January 2026 and 5:00 AM on 6th 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 traffic signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for fire 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 traffic signs via Addington Street, York Road (northbound), IMAX Roundabout, York Road (southbound) and Addington Street to normal route of travel.

Dated this 19th day of December 2025 Andrew Ulph Co-ordination Manager Transport for London, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003 Pho Trading Limited has applied to London Borough of Lambeth Council for a premises licence for Pho, 65a – 67 The Cut, London SE1 8LL as follows: To permit the sale of alcohol between the hours of 10:00 and 23:00 daily, plus 30 minutes dispersal. Full details of the application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG or via on the Licensing Authority’s website: www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing Representations should be made in writing to the Licensing Authority either by post to the above address or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov. uk and must be received no later than 8 January 2026. It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application. To do so could result in an unlimited fine.

To place a notice, please email hello@cmmedia.co.uk

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE Francesco Marzano has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Italian Bistro, 32 Streatham High Road, London, SW16 1DB The nature of the variation is as follows: We would like to be able to serve alcohol to our customers with or without hot food. We will also be selling late night.

We are also applying to be able to sell late night refreshments between the hours of 23:00 and 00:00 from Monday to Sunday 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 12/12/2025 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).

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE Derivaldo Dos Santos Ferreira has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for a Premises Licence in respect of the following premises: DELICATHE GOURMET LTD, Unit 15A–17, Brixton Plaza, 416–416A Brixton Road, London, SW9 7AY The licensable activities applied for are as follows: • Sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises only.

Days and hours of licensable activities: • Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 to 23:00 The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth Town Hall, Basement Rooms 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 representations 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 09/01/2026.

It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with a li-censing application. A person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).

LICENSING ACT 2003 SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENSING NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NEW LICENCE NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT: Lien Thi Nguyen has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for a SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENCE, to carry out the following treatments: Manicure, Pedicure and Nail Extensions at the premises: Tannail.London, 173, Streatham High Road, London, SW16 6EG 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 09.01.2026 It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM FORMALISATION OF CERTAIN BUS LANES AND MOVING TRAFFIC REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS THE LEWISHAM (PRESCRIBED ROUTES) (VARIOUS ROADS) (NO. 4) TRAFFIC ORDER 2025 THE LEWISHAM (BUS PRIORITY) (NO. 2) TRAFFIC ORDER 2025 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Lewisham Borough Council (“The Council”) on 19th December 2025 made the abovementioned Orders under the powers of sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Act”), as amended.

2. The general effect of the Orders will be to formalise certain bus lanes and moving traffic requirements and prohibitions on roads in the London Borough of Lewisham as detailed below:(a) prohibit all vehicles:(i) proceeding in a north-easterly direction on RANDLESDOWN ROAD from turning left into FRANTHORNE WAY; and (ii) proceeding in a south-easterly direction on PERRY RISE from turning left into PERRY HILL; (b) prohibit all vehicles, except buses, proceeding in a north-westerly direction on HITHER GREEN LANE from turning right into DUNCRIEVIE ROAD; (c) prohibit all vehicles proceeding in a westerly direction on MORENA STREET from proceeding into BROOKDALE ROAD in any direction other than left; (d) prohibit all vehicles, except buses, coaches, dial-a-ride buses, taxis and pedal cycles from being in the bus lanes specified in the Schedule to this Notice on the days and times specified in the said Schedule; (e) revoke “The Lewisham (Prescribed Routes) (No. 2) Traffic Order 2021” only insofar as it relates to the prohibition of right turn from MORENA STREET into BROOKDALE ROAD; (f) revoke “The Lewisham (Local Road) (Bus Lanes) (No. 4) Traffic Order 1997” and “The Lewisham (Local Road) (Bus Priority) Traffic Order 2000” only insofar as they relate to the provision of lengths of bus lane referred to in the Schedule to this Notice; and (g) revoke any Order made or having effect as if made by the Council under Section 6 of the Act only insofar as it imposes any prohibition specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above.

3. Copies of the made Orders, which will come into force on 20th December 2025, plans and Statement of the Council’s Reasons for making the Orders may be viewed either though the lewisham.traffweb.app website or obtained by emailing a request to trafficorders@lewisham.gov.uk quoting reference ‘PTO 1096’.

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

SCHEDULE 1. BROCKLEY RISE and STONDON PARK, the west and north-west side, from a point 17 metres south of the southern kerb-line of Agnew Road to the common boundary of Nos. 124 and 126 Stondon Park (northbound with-flow lane), operating Mondays to Fridays (inclusive) between 7am and 10am; 2. WESTWOOD HILL, the north-east side, from a point 28 metres north-west of the common boundary of No. 4e and Nos. 6 to 10 Westwood Hill to a point 42 metres south-east of that common boundary (south-eastbound with-flow lane), operating Mondays to Saturdays (inclusive) between 7am and 7pm.

Dated 19th December 2025.

Zahur Khan, Director Public Realm, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU. Licensing Act 2003 Premises Licence Application Take notice that I, Santhiraseharam Koneswaran have made an application to Lewisham Council acting as the Licensing Authority, for a Variation of a Premises Licence in respect of Londis, 343-345 New Cross, London SE14 6AT The details of the application are as follows: Sale of Alcohol for consumption Off the premises 23:00 – 02:00 Monday – Sunday Currently Licenced for: Sale of Alcohol for consumption Off the premises 06:00 - 23:00 Monday – Sunday The application and the Licensing Authority’s public register can be inspected at: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, Licensing Authority, 4th Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU by appointment between Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm; or at www.lewisham.gov.uk.

The last date by which responsible authorities or other persons may make representations to the Licensing Authority in relation to this application is: 9th January 2026 Any representations must be made in writing to the above address or by emailing licensing@lewisham.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited.

JANET MARY WILLIAMS Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Ground Floor Flat, 22 Woodland Road, London, SE19 1NT, who died on 07/08/2025, must send written details to the address below by 20/02/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified.

Shauna Telford c/o Amphlett Lissimore Solicitors, Greystoke House , 80-86 Westow Street, London, SE19 3AF. Ref: ST/Lury/0213096

Notice of application for the grant of a Premises Licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Notice is hereby given that South London Arts Group Limited has applied to Lambeth Council for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Premises to be known as Club Cheek,Arches 302304 Barrington Road, London, SW9 7JJ. The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of alcohol (on the premises) 12:00 – 01:00 Monday to Thursday, 12:00 – 06:00 Friday and Saturday and 12:00 – 00:00 Sunday.

Regulated entertainment in the form of plays, films, indoor sporting events, live music, recorded music, performance of dance and anything similar (indoors only) 10:00 – 01:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 – 06:00 Friday and Saturday and 10:00 – 00:00 Sunday. Late night refreshment (indoors) 23:00 – 01:00 Monday to Thursday, 23:00 – 06:00 Friday and Saturday and 23:00 – 00:00 Sunday.

Opening Hours 10:00 – 01:30 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 – 06:30 Friday and Saturday and 10:00 – 00:30 Sunday.

Nonstandard timings in the form of New Years Eve and Bank Holidays. See full application for details. Any representations regarding the abovementioned application must be received in writing by Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, Third Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, Brixton, London, SW2 1EG or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk no later than 07/01/2026 stating the grounds for representation.The register of Lambeth Council and the record of the application may be inspected at the address of the council, given above, during normal business hours or on the council’s website - www.lambeth.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. A person is liable to an unlimited fine on conviction should such a false statement be made.

Poppleston Allen The Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG

Notice of application for the grant of a Premises Licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Notice is hereby given that Yashmin Properties Limited has applied to London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Premises 30 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5SG. The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Regulated Entertainment in the form of Recorded Music (Indoors Only) 11:00 – 02:00 Friday to Saturday, 11:00 – 01:00 Thursday and 11:00 – 00:00 Sunday to Wednesday; Provision of Late-Night Refreshment (Indoors Only) from 23:00 until 02:00 Friday to Saturday, 23:00 – 01:00 Thursday and 11:00 – 00:00 Sunday to Wednesday; The Retail Sale of Alcohol (For consumption on the premises only) from 11:00 until 02:00 Friday to Saturday, 11:00 – 01:00 Thursday and 11:00 – 00:00 Sunday to Wednesday; Opening Hours 10:00 - 02:30 Friday to Saturday, 10:00 – 01:30 Thursday and 10:00 to 00:30 Sunday to Wednesday. Please see the application for full details. Any representations regarding the above-mentioned application must be received in writing by the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG or via email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk no later than 12/01/2026 stating the grounds for representation. The register of and the record of the application may be inspected at the address of the council, given above, during normal business hours or on the council’s website www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. A person is liable to an unlimited fine on conviction should such a false statement be made.

Poppleston Allen The Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE Notice is hereby given that PLK Chicken UK has applied to Bromley for a Premises Licence to permit Late Night refreshment on and off daily from 11pm until 3am (closing to the public at 1am with deliveries only between 1am and 3am) at Popeyes, 12-13 Market Square, Bromley BR1 1NA. A register of licensing applications can be inspected at: www.bromley. gov.uk or at The Licensing Service, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH email licensing@ bromley.gov.uk. Any person wishing to submit representations to this application must give notice in writing to the licensing authority at the address shown above, giving in detail the grounds of objection by 3 January 2026. Copies of all representations will be included in the papers presented to the Licensing Panel and will therefore pass into the public domain.

Representations must relate to one of the four Licensing Objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

It is an offence liable on conviction to an unlimited fine to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application.

BA LAW info@balaw.co.uk LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE VARIATION OF A PREMISES LICENCE Notice is hereby given that Bridge 2024 Operations Limited has appliedto the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for the VARIATION of the following: This is an application to amend the terminal hours for all current permitted licensable activities (save for Recorded Music, no change) on Thursday nights to Saturday nights only to 06:00 (following day) and such other times and conditions as set out in the application. for the premises situated at: 151-153 King’s Road, London, SW3 5TX. A register of licensing applications is held by the Licensing Authority and can be inspected at http://www.rbkc. gov.uk/licensing or in person at The Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX, tel. 020 7341 5152, by appointment with the Licensing Team between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. Any person wishing to submit comments to our application must give notice in writing to Licensing Authority address shown above, giving in detail the grounds of objection by 12/01/2026 Keystone Law Limited The Council will not entertain representations where the writer requests that his identity remains anonymous.

Copies of all representations will be included in the papers presented to the Licensing SubCommittee and will therefore pass into the public domain. Representations must relate to one of the four Licensing Objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. In the case of an application for a provisional statement, please note that representations will be restricted once a statement has been issued. It is an offence liable on conviction to a fine under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application.

Date: 15/12/2025

View all weekly and archive public notices at www.southlondon.co.uk/category/public‐notices/

PUBLIC NOTICES 23

Friday, December 19th 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK CYCLE FUTURE ROUTE 12 - ROTHERHITHE TO PECKHAM PHASE 1 ILDERTON ROAD AREA The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (CFR12 Ilderton Road area) Order 2025 The London Borough of Southwark (Free parking places, Loading places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping restrictions) (CFR12 Ilderton Road area) Order 2025 The London Borough of Lewisham (Charged-for parking places) (Amendment No.6) Order 2025 The London Borough of Lewisham (Free parking places, Loading places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping restrictions) (CFR12 Hornshay Street) (Amendment No.6) Order 2025 The London Borough of Lewisham (Prescribed routes) (No.5) Traffic Order 2025 1.

Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 18 December 2025 it has made the above Orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended (‘the 1984 Act’), pursuant to arrangements made with the Council of the London Borough of Lewisham under section 9EA of the Local Government Act 2000, in accordance with regulation 7 of the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012.

2.

The effect of the London Borough of Southwark Orders are to accommodate kerb-line changes (footway ‘build-outs’) for the installation of a segregated two-way cycle track on the north-west and western side of Ilderton Road – between a point 55 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Old Kent Road and its junction with Hornshay Street – and a ‘build-out’ on the southern side of Hornshay Street – between the north-eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road and a point 34 metres north-east of that kerb-line):-

3.

(a)

in HORNSHAY STREET on the south side (on the side of No. 301 Ilderton Road) within existing Controlled Parking Zone ‘OKR’, remove an existing 10 metres ‘shared-use’ (‘OKR’ permit-holders’ and Pay by Phone) parking place;

(b)

to amend by relocating or reducing existing ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions (double yellow lines ‘DYLs’) (i) in ILDERTON ROAD on the north-west and western side that would be affected by the ‘build-out’ or on both sides of Ilderton Road that would be affected by the new crossings detailed below in item 4, and (ii) in HORNSHAY STREET on the southern side that would be affected by the ‘build-out’;

(c)

add new ‘DYLs’ with contiguous ‘at any time’ loading restrictions (double kerb blips ‘DKBs’) (i) in ILDERTON ROAD on both sides between a point 11 metres south of the southern kerb-line of Manor Grove and a point 7.5 metres north-west of the north-western kerb-line of Hornshay Street (a combined total of approx. 112.5 metres) to accommodate the removal of an existing ‘zebra’ pedestrian crossing, and 5 metres added on the north-west side 97 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of the private road: Patterdale Road, (ii) a combined total of approx. 9 metres added to either side of the UNNAMED ACCESS ROAD to the Tustin Estate development, and 10 metres added to the south side of HORNSHAY STREET 11.5 metres east of the eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road (to replace removed parking);

(d)

to add new ‘DKBs’ on all existing ‘DYLs’ (i) in ILDERTON ROAD on both sides between a point 55 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Old Kent Road and a point 11 metres south of the southern kerb-line of Manor Grove – except for the lengths of existing ‘DYLs’ on the south-east side from a point 33 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Wagner Street to a point 82 metres south-west of the southern kerb-line build-out of Hornshay Street and wherever there is not a loading place, a bus stop or relocated bus stop, or ‘zebra’ or ‘toucan’ crossings (including the controlled area of those crossings, more commonly referred to as ‘zig-zags’), and (ii) in HORNSHAY STREET on both sides between the north-eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road and a point 34 metres north-east of that kerb-line; and

(e)

Southwark Council also makes the following change to the map-based schedule of the Traffic Management Orders in ILDERTON ROAD south-east side, to add an existing inset loading bay 16 metres in length that operates ‘at any time’ every day of the week (max stay 1 hour, and no return within 2 hours) 99.5 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Wagner Street and for the use of loading and unloading only - as an administrative exercise to more closely match what is in the street - please note that there will be no physical changes to the street at this location.

The effects of the London Borough of Lewisham Orders are: (a)

in HORNSHAY STREET on the south-west side approx. 48.5 metres east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road (i) to remove an existing ‘shared-use’ (‘EN’ Residents’ and Pay by Phone) parking place 5.5 metres in length, and (ii) to accommodate the removal of the parking place with the addition of 5.5 metres of new ‘DYLs’ with contiguous ‘DKBs’;

(b)

to add new ‘DKBs’ on existing ‘DYLs’ in HORNSHAY STREET on all sides between a point 34 metres east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road and a point 9 metres south-west of the southern kerb-line of Lovelinch Close, except for any carriageway designated to existing parking (with the exception of the removed parking place as described in 3a above) and except the lengths of existing ‘DYLs’ between a point 56.5 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road on the north-western side of Hornshay Street and a point 73.5 metres north-east of that kerbline, and between a point 61.5 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road on the south-eastern side of Hornshay Street and a point 98.5 metres north-east of that kerb-line; and

(c)

install a new mandatory westbound cycle lane in the carriageway, bounded on the southern side of HORNSHAY STREET from a point 58 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line of Ilderton Road and a point 30 metres north-east of that kerb-line.

NOTES: (1) ‘DYLs’ refer to 'at any time' (operational every day of the week) waiting restrictions and ‘DKBs’ refer to 'at any time' loading restrictions. (2) All measurements are in metres and are approximate. (3) Parking charges are listed on www.southwark.gov.uk/parking; and www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/parking 4.

Copies of the Orders, which will come into force on 22 December 2025, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Sustainability & Leisure, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH, by appointment only. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 077 3132 4742 for booking details.

5.

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

Dated 19 December 2025 Polyvios Polyviou Head of Highways and Sustainable Transport Policy - Highways, Environment, Sustainability & Leisure

STAY INFORMED ABOUT BUILDING PLANS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. Visit: publicnoticeportal.uk

Keeping you informed.

24 PUBLIC NOTICES

Friday, December 19th 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

Notice Under The Town and Country Planning Acts

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – WYVIL ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable London Square Development to carry out development works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from waiting, including for the purpose of loading and unloading in the following lengths of Wyvil Road: (a) the south side, from the eastern property boundary of Frank House westward for a distance of approximately 10 metres; (b) the north side, from the eastern flank wall of No. 22a Wyvil Road westward for a distance of approximately 12 metres.

2. The Order will come into force on 5 January 2026 and continue for a maximum duration of 2 months.

Dated 19 December 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – LAMBETH HIGH STREET 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Pure Construction Logistics to carry out development related works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit waiting by vehicles including for the purpose of loading or unloading in Lambeth High Street from the northern boundary of No. 46 Lambeth High Street, southward for a distance of 26 metres.

2. The Order will come into force on 23 December 2025 and will continue for a maximum duration of 2 months.

Dated 19 December 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – JEFFREYS ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from: (a) entering Jeffreys Road at its junction with Clapham Road; (b) travelling in Jeffreys Road other than in a south easterly direction between its junction with Clapham Road and the common boundary of Nos. 3 and 5 Jeffreys Road.

2. The Order would come into force on 17 January 2026 and continue for a maximum duration of 1 month or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner.

Dated 19 December 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – WATERLOO ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable gas mains replacement works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit: (a) vehicles from entering or proceeding in Waterloo Road in a southbound direction from its junction with Stamford Street and York Road and its junction with Baylis Road; (b) cyclists travelling in a south eastern direction in Waterloo Road from proceeding past the junction of Exton Street; (c) vehicles travelling on Station Approach, Holmes Terrace or Pear Place from turning right into Waterloo Road; (d) vehicles from entering or proceeding in Exton Street in a direction other than from west to east; (e) vehicles entering Exton Street at its junction with Cornwall Road; (f) vehicles from entering or proceeding in Alaska Street from its junction with Waterloo Road, north eastward for a distance of 50 metres.

2. Alternative routes for vehicles affected by the prohibitions in (a) 1(a) would be via York Road, Addington Road and Westminster Bridge; (b) 1(b) would be via Exton Street, Cornwall Road and The Cut; (c) 1(c) would be Waterloo Road, York Road, Addington Road and Westminster Bridge; (d) 1(d) would be via Cornwall Road, Stamford Street and Waterloo Road Roundabout; (e) 1 (f) would be via Waterloo Road, Exton Street and Cornwall Road, or Cornwall Road, Stamford Street and Waterloo Road Roundabout.

3. The Order would come into force on 19 January 2026 and continue for a maximum duration of 3 months (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner. In practice it is anticipated that the works will be complete by 15 February 2026 but if the works cannot be completed during that time then the Order may have effect at subsequent times within the maximum period of 3 months.

Dated 19 December 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS – TRINITY RISE 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable FCS Cleaning to carry out tree cutting, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of Trinity Rise which lies between No. 136 Trinity Rise and its junction with Tulse Hill. Cyclist access would be maintained in both directions on Trinity Rise on the opposite side of the road to the works.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Trinity Rise, Norwood Road, Christchurch Road, Hardel Rise and Tulse Hill.

3 The Order will come into force on 5 January 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works would take place on 5 January but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during that time then the Order may have effect at subsequent times within the maximum period of 1 month.

Dated 19 December 2025 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council is considering applications as set out below under the following categories; ADV = ADVERTISEMENT CONSENT FUL = FULL PLANNING PERMISSION LB = LISTED BUILDING CONSENT P3MA – PRIOR OF APPROVAL P3MA RG4 – APPROVAL UNDER RG4 VOC = VARIATION OF CONDITIONS Written representations should be made within three weeks of the date of this advertisement to the Director of Planning, PO Box 734, Winchester SO23 5DG. Any comments made are open to inspection by the public and in the event of an appeal may be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Confidential comments cannot be taken into account in determining an application.

Application plans can be viewed online at www.lambeth.gov.uk/searchplanningapps – search using the reference number at the end of each application listing.

The Sun 47 Old Town London SW4 0JL Display of 1x internally illuminated lettering sign, 2x non-illuminated written text signages including 2x internally illuminated menu cases and 1x non-illuminated fixed panel to existing fascia sign. 25/03806/ADV 64 Braxted Park London SW16 3AU Erection of rear hip-to-gable roof extension and side dormer together with the installation of 4 rooflights. 25/03799/FUL Kings Avenue Primary School Kings Avenue London SW4 8BQ Replacement of existing flat roof coverings with a new insulated warmroof system, replacement of existing windows with new double-glazed aluminium units on a like-for-like basis within existing openings.

Associated roof-level and external works include the renewal of flashings, rainwater goods, and making good of adjacent surfaces.

25/03468/FUL 154-166 Clapham High Street And 162 Stonhouse Street London SW4 Alteration to ground floor rear elevation involving the installation of one external electrical cupboard including 2 no. steel doorsets and repositioning of existing two louvres.. 25/03807/FUL County Hall Riverside Building Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7PB Extension of Glass Lift from 6th floor to 7th floor including loft overrun and entrance lobby access.

(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/03842/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 25/03841/FUL) 25/03842/LB 31 Cleaver Square London Lambeth SE11 4EA Replacement of the rear extension with a single storey ground floor rear/side extension with a courtyard, together with the reinstatement of original spine wall and door at first floor level. (Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/03813/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 25/03812/FUL). 25/03813/LB Brockwell Hall Brockwell Park 63 Brockwell Park Gardens London Lambeth SE24 9BN Variation of condition 42 (Opening Hours) of planning permission ref : 20/03258/RG3 (Alterations to Brockwell Hall and the Stables Building including the change of use and relocation of usesacross ground to second floor to provide offices, meeting rooms, volunteer space, function and events space and a café. Erection of a single storey extension and provision of level access to the building, installation of a lift within the main house and a terrace in relation to the café. Provision of additional public toilets, associated landscaping works and new refuse store. Relocation of offices to a new single storey building adjacent to Norwood Lodge along with storage and park maintenance facilities) granted on 22/03/2022 Variation sought : To request the change of the hours to the following: Plays, Films, Indoor Sporting Events, Live Music, Recorded Music, Performances of Dance and Entertainment Similar to Music/Dance Friday to Saturday 09:00 - 00:00; Sunday - Thursday 09:00 - 23:00.

London Brough of Lambeth may wish to extend timings to 09:00 - 02:00 on New Years Eve annually.

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday 23:00 - 00:00.

London Brough of Lambeth may wish to extend timings to 23:00 - 02:00 on New Years Eve annually.

Sale by Retail of Alcohol Friday & Saturday 12:00 - 00:00; Sunday - Thursday 12:00 - 23:00 London Brough of Lambeth may wish to extend timings to 11:00 - 02:00 on New Years Eve annually.

25/03327/VOC 37 Carson Road London SE21 8HT Replacement of existing windows on the rear elevation Window 1: Replace with a single fixed pane of glass (non-opening).

Window 2: Replace with UPVC frame and reposition the opening section higher up.

Window 3: Replace like-for-like in style and design, but upgrade to double glazing for improved insulation.

Window 4: Replace like-for-like in style and design, but upgrade to double glazing for improved insulation to Flat 3.

25/03639/FUL 3 Eagle House Mews London SW4 9JY Replace existing rooflights with 4 new rooflight to the side elevations and the installation of an external cable box to the front elevation. Installation of a mist system to the ground floor and the removal of existing glass partitions with the installation of timber handrails and metal balustrades at first floor level. 25/03826/LB 34 Ferndale Road London SW4 7SF Erection of 2 rear dormers together with the installation of 1 rooflight to front roof slope and removal of existing rear rooflight. 25/03592/FUL 6 Canterbury Crescent And 49 Brixton Station Road, Brixton London SW9 8PQ Refurbishment and extension of 6 Canterbury Crescent and development of 49 Brixton Station Road to provide a residential-led mixed use development comprising residential dwellings, flexible commercial, workspace, enterprise and community hub and market trader infrastructure, together with servicing, car parking, public realm and associated works.

Information for the purpose of consultation (floorspace measured as Gross Internal Area): - 3 buildings on the 49 Brixton Station Road site at 20, 18 and 6 storeys in height - Residential dwellings: 288 - Office (E)(g)(i): 3, 806sqm including 1,431sqm of affordable workspace - Enterprise and community hub: 134sqm - Retail (E): 217sqm - Market waste facilities (Sui Generis): 543sqm - Market storage facilities (B8): 555sqm 25/03722/RG4 31A Spenser Road London Lambeth SE24 0NS Erection of a single-storey ground floor rear and side extension with roof lights, together with the reinstatement of the front porch through the removal of the additional door, the replacement of the front door with new timber door, and the provision of a covered bike store with new railing. 25/03837/FUL 71 Clapham Common South Side London SW4 9DA Variation of Condition 2 (Operating Hours) of planning permission 24/02274/FUL (Alterations to existing shopfronts of nos. 71 and 72 Clapham Common South Side, with the erection of a rear extractor duct and installation of external seating area) granted on 11.04.2025.

Join over 150,000 USERS to find out who’s applying for what and where in your community.

The Public Notice Portal is a free to use, online service that will tell you who is applying for what and where. Plus, if you register, we’ll tell you about any plans for your community, helping you to stay informed.

Variation sought: to extend the permitted operating hours of the restaurant from 21:30 to 23:00 daily. 25/03655/VOC 46 Acre Lane London Lambeth SW2 5SP External works, involving resurfacing of the car park with the replacement/new concrete paving, the provision of car parking spaces and refuse store, the renewal of timber sash windows, masonry repairs to the stone cornice to the front elevation and roofing works including replacement of the covering and flat roof sections, and the installation of a new entrance doors to the side elevation.

publicnoticeportal.uk

Internal works to the ground floor involving fire door renewals, , MEP and M&E works across the buildings, remodelling including en-suite facilities , the relocation of reception area and office to conference room and new partition wall to create of a communal area, conversion of bathing facilities into communal kitchen, the removal of the computer suite to create two stores, alteration to the main office to create the main entrance lobby space, along with other associated works. (Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/03397/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 25/03396/FUL). 25/03397/LB 39 Holmewood Gardens London Lambeth SW2 3NA Erection of two rear dormer windows, with the installation of two front roof lights, plus two roof lights to the rear outrigger and solar panels. 25/03584/FUL 70 Clapham Manor Street London SW4 6DZ Replacement of two first floor front timber sash windows with like for like to Flat B. 25/03831/LB Unit 18 To 19 16 Porteus Place London SW4 0AS Application for Prior Approval for the change of use of two commercial units (Class use E) to two residential dwellings (Class use C3).

25/03789/P3MA

Keeping you informed.

The Farside Bar And Kitchen 144 Stockwell Road London SW9 9TQ Application for Listed Building Consent for replacement of existing first and second floor windows with double glazed timber windows (Associated Full Planning Permission with reference number 25/03809/FUL received). 25/03810/LB 516 Brixton Road London Lambeth SW9 8EN Advertisement Consent for Temporary Display of a Non-Illuminated, Static Shroud Advertisement 25/03790/ADV Dated this Friday 19/12/2025

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

Supported by Google News Initiative and the News Media Association

To place a notice in this paper and online, please email hello@cm‐media.co.uk or call 020 7232 1639.

Deadline is 3pm on Wednesdays

STAY INFORMED Join over 150,000 USERS to find out who’s applying for what and where in your community.

The Public Notice Portal is a free to use, online service that will tell you who is applying for what and where.

Plus, if you register, we’ll tell you about any plans for your community, helping you to stay informed.

Visit: publicnoticeportal.uk

Keeping you informed.

Supported by Google News Initiative and the News Media Association

Just five minutes walk from our original location, Vine Bar offers comfortable seating for larger groups. Think fire pit, cosy seats, where you can enjoy all your favourite wines by the glass or bottle with guidance from our WSET-trained team.

We take bookings and would love to host your celebration - whether it’s a private party, a relaxed evening walk-in, or picking up bottles to take home.

With group bookings and private hire available, we’ve created the space you asked for same great selection, just more room to enjoy it.

Open Wednesday to Sunday 5pm to 11pm

1 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN P: 020 3872 9928 E: info@vine-bermondsey.com Insta @vineflowersandwine W: www.vine-bermondsey.com

SPORT 27

LYNN BAG TWO FESTIVE GIFTS

Alice takes home gold

By Sports Reporter TOKEI CLUB’S Alice Vandermosten has taken home gold at the English Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships - the highestranked event in the UK calendar.

Frankie Hanratty with Terry Pearson, left, and Jimmy Moore

By Sports Reporter LYNN ABC enjoyed a superb day at the South London Belt Tournament held in Mitcham and hosted by Balham Boxing Club last Sunday, as the club returned home with two impressive victories.

First into the ring for Lynn was Sahil Arubi, competing in the junior under-67kg category against Finlay

Win some, Lewes some

By John Kelly DULWICH HAMLET took one step back after a step forward the previous weekend as they conceded three late goals in a 4-1 defeat to Lewes in the Isthmian League Premier Division at Champion Hill.

The hosts made a good start when Joseph Adewunmi gave them the lead in the 23rd minute.

The visitors were level just thirteen minutes later through Charlie Walker.

That’s the way it stayed until the 81st minute when Jack Burchell made it 2-1.

Lewes then added two more as Walker got his second two minutes from time and substitute Devonte West scored the fourth in the fourth minute of stoppagetime.

Mark Daey’s side have now won seven and lost seven league games this season and are eighth in the table, four points off the play-off places.

Dulwich host eleventh-place Ramsgate this Saturday at 3pm.

Seton of Honour and Glory ABC. Arubi produced a composed and disciplined performance to take a unanimous points decision. The win was particularly noteworthy given Seton’s status as the reigning national novice champion at the weight.

Arubi boxed intelligently throughout, playing to his strengths and controlling the bout to secure a comfortable and deserved victory on

Sahil Arubi with coaches Chahida Azougagh, left, and Elwin Ollivierre the judges’ scorecards.

The success continued with Frankie Hanratty in the open class under57kg division. Hanratty faced Priyesh Kanji of Southall ABC and once again delivered a polished display, earning a second unanimous points win for.

Fresh from a standout showing at last week’s WBC International Tournament, Hanratty picked up where he left off, impressing with his skill, movement and ring control.

His performance drew praise from spectators, with several in attendance describing it as the finest display of boxing they had seen on the day.

With the South London Belt Tournament concluded, Lynn have closed for the Christmas period. The club returns in the New Year, buoyed by recent successes and looking ahead with confidence to even bigger achievements in 2026.

Peckham Town Women aim to be trailblazers tackling playing costs

By Sports Reporter PECKHAM TOWN are aiming to be the cheapest and best for women’s football in South London - with costs at some clubs for players having soared to £1,000 a season. Peckham’s

target is £250 a season, a significant difference compared to other local teams where the average is £400500.

Michael Heylligar, the manager of the women’s team, said the club “want to create an opportunity where money isn’t a factor in playing sport”. He added: “I’m very working class and I’m very proud of it. My first football boots were rugby boots, like proper up-to-your-ankle boots. The fact that people were charging that amount upset us.”

The club is working on securing sponsorships and external funding.

Every penny goes back into the club and, unlike other teams, not into paying the coaching staff. The current club sponsor is Hollywood Bets and they are in talks with

Puma.

Peckham play in the London Women’s Saturday League and the Greater London League from August 2026. The current cost is £20 per player per month to cover the training pitch and equipment.

“If we had sponsors tomorrow, we would still be a free club and the coaches would still be voluntary and the money would go to bettering the experience for the girls and women,” Heylligar added.

It’s not just funding that marks a rejuvenated women’s team at Peckham, the restructuring itself marks their ambition. Their youth set-up, starting with trials in March and April 2026, is completely new, providing pathways for development into the women’s team. In addition, their new links with Crystal Palace and London City Lionesses provide opportunities for talent to develop and even go on to their respective set-ups.

Heylligar is ambitious for the side.

“If we get a committed squad, we’re laughing,” he said. “What I want is

100 per cent effort. And once we get that we’ll win. We’re good enough but a lot of players don’t believe in themselves, which is a massive issue.

“All the coaching staff coming and structural changes was a shock to them. We’re saying what we’re doing. We said we’re going to change the culture.”

Assistant manager Charlie Treamer also has personal reasons for dreaming big at Peckham Town.

“It’s been my local club since forever, really,” Treamer said.

“There has always been a drive to support my local team. The culture of Peckham and Dulwich allows me to be myself.”

Meanwhile, the women’s first team have a charity match on December 21, marking their first game at Peckham Town’s home ground, The Menace Arena (SE21 7EU). They are aiming to challenge the men’s highest attendance of 350.

Peckham are open to partnering with charities in the local area for the event.

The competition was held at the University Of East London Docklands campus with nearly 1,000 competitors fighting on six mats.

The Tooley Street club’s Vandermosten was invited after picking up medals in BJJ competitions over the previous few months.

One of Tokei’s BJJ coaches, Thomas Fletcher, provided mat-side coaching to Vandermosten, with agreed codewords so that her opponents and their coaches were unaware of the advice being offered. Several friends from the club were tasked with observing the other competitors to provide crucial tactical intelligence.

This approach paid off with Vandermosten’s opponent in the semifinal being observed to be repeatedly practising double-leg takedowns in the warm-up area. Vandermosten was prepared and able to neutralise her opponent’s attacks. Vandermosten then took a controlling grip and used her judo skills to throw her opponent with an inner-thigh throw (uchi mata) before securing a pin and finishing the contest with an arm-bar submission In the final, however, it was a very different matter.

Vandermosten’s opponent clearly was equally wellprepared. It was a cautious initial engagement with both fighters going to the ground. Vandermosten still managed to eventually take control after passing the guard, after switching from left to right and then setting up her arm-bar submission. She became Tokei’s first BJJ English Open champion.

Tokei BJJ club train in a purpose-built dojo off Tooley Street on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with judo on Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Saturday as well as other martial arts throughout the week. They are a club with a sizeable proportion of more mature male and female players returning to the sport. New players are always very welcome.

Alice Vandermosten with coach, Thomas Fletcher

28 SPORT Yeremy Pino sees his effort hit the woodwork

Pep revenge after FA Cup final loss

By Paul Green at Selhurst Park OLIVER GLASNER felt Crystal Palace could take a lot of positives from Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City.

The Eagles began the game on the front foot and were unfortunate not to break the deadlock early on when Yeremy Pino burst through and hit the bar.

City took the lead against the run of play four minutes before the interval courtesy of goal machine Erling Haaland’s header.

Gianluigi Donnarumma got a vital hand to the ball before Jean-Philippe Mateta and then four minutes into the second period Adam Wharton saw a low angled drive graze the post.

Phil Foden’s 69th-minute effort and

a last-minute penalty from Haaland sealed what in the end looked a comfortable City win, although the Eagles boss put that down to fine margins.

“For me the result doesn’t reflect the performance,” Glasner said. “We have to accept City were better in the boxes and they were more efficient than we were.

“They took their chances and we missed them. That’s why we lost the game.”

Asked if he was in any way frustrated by what had happened, the Selhurst chief replied: “No, completely the opposite. I think that was our fifth game against City since I’ve been here.

“We lost four and we won the cup final. I think this was by far the best performance we have had against

them. It was the most competitive – it felt like this, but the result doesn’t show it.

“But we are always talking about our performances, of our progress and so many parts of the game I watched were excellent. We kept them to two finishes in the first half.

“One was a direct free-kick, then Haaland’s header and then we go 1-0 down.”

Glasner added: “It means the whole team must have defended really well, but not just defending around their own box but on the other side we were creating three or four big chances.

That was excellent.

“But again if you want to win you need to take them in the right moments.

“I think this is what we are missing

from the top teams in the Premier League, but It just shows the progress of the team.”

Palace went into the game chasing a third straight Premier League victory following back-to-back wins on the road at Burnley and Fulham.

And although they were ultimately unsuccessful in collecting another maximum return, the manager felt the display was actually better than what he had seen at Turf Moor and Craven Cottage.

Glasner said: “We are always talking about the performances and I think it was a better performance than our last two away wins at Burnley and Fulham.

“They were efficient [there] and today not. When you play the top teams in the world - not just in the Premier League but in the world - and

you want to beat them, you need to be top in every single part of the game.

“I think in nine out of ten parts we were excellent, but in the most important one – finishing - we were not good enough and that is why we lost.”

The manager also confirmed Daichi Kamada faces an unwanted spell on the sidelines ahead of the hectic festive period after injury forced him off midway through the second half.

Glasner said: “It is the hamstring, so we have to assess him.

“He will have a scan [on Monday]. It was just an incident where he landed and overstretched his knee, which means the hamstring got the full stretch and extension.

“I expect we will miss him for a few weeks but I think he did very well.”

performance, so I’m pleased,” Jones said.

“It’s a really big point because of the level of performance. There’s a tinge of disappointment that we didn’t win it, because we’ve had a big chance in the first half and we should have been level.

“It’s taken a looping header for them to take the lead. We had that glorious chance. It was calm at halftime and we said just keep believing, keep doing it and can we step on? Can we have that one extra pass? When we demonstrated any bit of quality, I

thought we looked like we could score and we did.

“We then had to dig in because we ran out of steam and ran out of athletic game-changers, but I’m really proud because we’ve had to go through a lot over these last few weeks.”

Jones added: “We know they like to play, they’re a good, fluent footballing side.

“We stuck to our principles in terms of being aggressive and going up against them and denying them.

“It’s so easy to sit in because we haven’t had good performances lately,

but that’s not our DNA, so we went out and were aggressive.

“We got the press right and, just for a few bits of quality in the first half, we should have got a goal.

“In the second half, when we got things right, we got the press right and the aggression right, we had more possession, we had more territory and finally broke the deadlock, so I’m really pleased” Charlton have had a number of injury issues and have dropped out of the play-off picture in the Championship.

“We are going through unprecedented times,” Jones said.

“The fans have been outstanding.

They’ve stayed with us, we’ve asked them to stay with us because we will come through this and be a different animal in two, three or four weeks time and we’ll go back to being the animal we were.

“But right now, we just have to be disciplined and pick up the points we need to pick up because we can’t just drift.”

Charlton host Oxford United at The Valley this Saturday at 3pm.

JUST IN TYME AS CHARLTON STOP LOSING RUN

By John Kelly

CHARLTON ATHLETIC ended a five-match losing streak with a “big performance” as they drew 1-1 against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s last weekend.

Substitute Tyreece Campbell scored his first goal of the season in the 67th minute.

Christoph Klarer had given the hosts the lead in the 28th minute and Demarai Gray hit the woodwork twice for Blues.

“It’s a big point and a big

© Action Plus

EAGLES BOSS TAKES POSITIVES

SPORT 29 EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott IT’S LATE in the game at Selhurst Park, and Jack Howland is playing with a maturity far beyond his years.

The nineteen-year-old winger was introduced with Millwall trailing 1-0 in their EFL Cup tie against their south London rivals and instantly provided the attacking spark the Lions needed.

It was only Howland’s second senior appearance, yet he looked at absolute ease against Premier League opposition.

“My strong point is my technical ability,” Howland told this paper. “The way I see it, why not just go and show people what I can do.

“I'm good with the ball at my feet, so I'll take the ball, and I'll try and do what I can to get the team up the pitch and hopefully create and score goals.”

In the 86th minute, he spins his defender and is away - driving on goal before curling an inch-perfect pass around the corner to put Thierno Ballo in one-on-one. The Austrian winger flubbed his lines, but Howland would have his chance to make his mark on the game shortly after.

His beautifully curled added-time corner was buried into the net by Ryan Leonard to send the game to penalties and the away end into delirium.

While Crystal Palace won the shootout 4-2, Howland had made an indelible impression on both Millwall’s fanbase and the hierarchy alike.

More than three months on from his impressive cameo in mid-September, he was rewarded with a new, long-term contract. “[Director of football] Steve Gallen pulled me for a chat after training, probably a month ago, maybe a bit longer,” Howland said. “He just said, 'Look, we're really happy with the progress that you've made since I came into the first team at the start of preseason.’ He just said that he wanted to offer me a new deal as a reward for that.

“I'm really happy with it. It just makes it feel a little bit better that I've been here since I was so young as well. To come up through every age group and then get a proper professional contract as well is a great feeling.”

Howland’s history with the club makes it an even more special success story for the academy.

He first signed for Millwall as an eightyear-old, spotted playing for a local futsal team.

“It's through the coach that I used to have when I was playing for my futsal team, he used to play for Millwall,” Howland said. “So he had connections through that.

FROM SURREY TO THE DEN Jack Howland on his eleven-year journey to Millwall’s first team - and why the spotlight does not faze him “There were a couple of other boys in a similar age group to me when I was very young who were also signed by Millwall.

They're not here anymore, but there were quite a few of us from that particular futsal team that were at Millwall for a little bit.”

What makes Howland’s path to the academy even more unusual is that he is based in Surrey, well outside Millwall’s traditional catchment area.

“I went to a school literally five minutes from my house,” he said. “I used to have to finish school, get home as quickly as possible and get to training straight away.

“It was sometimes quite difficult for my parents to get me there. It was probably about an hour. Because it's rush hour around that time, sometimes it would take a bit longer.

“There were quite a few occasions I remember panicking and rushing, trying not to be late because you can get quite a lot of traffic coming up from that way.”

Regardless, Howland’s talent buffered him through the choppy waters of academy football, surviving the increasingly ruthless contract decisions that the staff had to make.

“They'd decide if they want to retain or release you at the end of every season,” he said. “I think there were probably a couple of seasons along the way where I thought, 'Well, maybe I'm not too sure if I'm going to get kept or not.'

“But then I also had some really positive ones where I was pretty certain that I was going to be kept. I experienced both really.”

Howland continued to progress through Well Hall and was given a two-year

scholarship to continue his footballing education at the club past the undersixteens.

“It's when you open your eyes and think, ‘Wow, I could really make my dream come true now. I'm already playing football full time,'” he said. “It just motivates you a bit more to really crack on and work as hard as you can so that you can achieve your dream.

“Playing-wise, it was all okay for me. It was quite natural. I didn't get as much game time as a first-year scholar as I would have liked, but that's pretty normal. It's just how academies do it, really. “ Howland continued to grow as a footballer, and he first made the step up to the under-21s in October 2023, his second year as a scholar.

He split his time between the undereighteens and under-21s during the 2023-24 campaign, before signing his first professional contract in summer 2024 and moving full-time to the under-21s.

“I think I handled it pretty well,” he said. “It felt quite normal to me. I was coming off the back of a really good season in my second year of scholar, so the transition didn't feel too difficult for me.

“But there are a lot of big differences compared to the under-eighteens. Being in and around the first team all the time, seeing that. You don't realise how much stuff they do behind the scenes that you don't see on a match day. It's really helpful to look at it from a learning perspective.”

Howland praised his coaches, Kevin Nugent and Paul Robinson, for helping make the transition as seamless as possible.

second half in which neither side looked like they could find the breakthrough.

“Tight game. Probably wasn’t a classic to watch, to be honest, but we haven't had a clean sheet in a while, so I think that's really positive,” Jackson said.

“That was important today. We tried to take the game to them. I think we had a lot more possession, a lot more passes than we have of late and that was another thing that we spoke about - that we wanted to really try and dominate the game that way.

“Probably haven't ended up creating enough for as much possession and final third entries that we had, but they're a good team. They made it difficult, they were happy to sit in and let us have the ball and try and play on the counter.

“So that becomes difficult to break down as well at times, but probably didn't do enough in that regard, maybe didn't make

enough saves. We had big control in the game, which we haven't necessarily had of late, so there was some good stuff.

“Obviously, we want more. We want to try and win the game here and I think we looked like the team that anyone was going to, but it's probably a fair result.”

Wimbledon travel to Northampton this Friday for a 7.45pm kick-off.

“It's got one day less prep, but it'll be about recovery after this. Speaking to the lads, especially the ones that haven't been too well, we’re just trying to freshen them up a little bit.

“That's what we tried to do today with the team selection - just get as fresh and 11 as we could out there. And we'll see what the week brings.

“But it's one day less prep, Friday night's a good time to play and I’m looking forward to that one.”

Struggling Dons in Stags stalemate

By John Kelly JOHNNIE JACKSON was pleased with AFC Wimbledon’s first clean sheet in eight games but the Dons are still without a League One win in six games since October after last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Mansfield Town at Plough Lane.

Dons goalkeeper Nathan Bishop denied Stags forward Lucas Akins in the opening minute.

Steve Seddon then smashed a volley off the crossbar as the hosts went closest to an opener.

Ryan Sweeney thought he had scored in the 21st minute but referee Elliot Bell decided he had committed a foul in the build-up.

Ryan Johnson headed Seddon's corner just wide at the end of the half before a

Jack Howland against Coventry City

“They're great,” he said. “They're really helpful. They focus a lot on the basics and what it takes to get into the first team and the baseline that it requires. They're really good at implementing that into the under21s players.

“But they also give you a lot of freedom and creativity to express yourself and do what you can on the pitch to get that opportunity to go in the first team, because that's what's going to catch eyes.”

Asked where they helped improve his game the most, Howland said: “I think it's mainly your game intelligence really, knowing when to be doing certain things and where to be at certain times during the game. They're really good at getting that into you.”

Howland also learned from seasoned first-team players dropping down to play with the under-21s.

“When the more experienced ones are coming back from injury or anything, they're really helpful,” Howland said. “The communication to you as well. It's really helpful.

“When they do drop down, and they're playing with you, it's helpful to see what it would be like if you were to be playing with them.”

Asked to pick out who he found particularly helpful, Howland said: “Billy Mitchell played with us when he was injured a bit last year, Danny Mac this year as well - they've been great with us. They've been really helpful, and they're very good at what they do.”

Howland clearly took it all on board, and

ahead of the season, he was name-dropped

by Alex Neil as one of the younger players Millwall wanted to look at in pre-season.

A week later, he was given the call-up to the first team pre-season training camp in southern Spain in July.

He explained how he found out he was going on the plane.

“We played the first pre-season game against Palace in the week,” he said. “I'd been training with them the whole time.

They had a training group that was playing in those games that they had already from that week. So you had an idea.

“Then we went away on the weekend, and they just sent out the players who were travelling the day before, a couple of days before maybe. But you knew from the training group already really.”

Howland played several pre-season friendlies and looked comfortable playing at the senior level, scoring against AFC Wimbledon.

His performance in those games earned him greater first-team consideration and a debut when he started against Coventry City in the EFL Cup Second Round on August 26.

“We were doing shape the day before,” he said. “Then the gaffer was putting the players in their positions, and I found out that I was starting.

“I was quite surprised, because we'd played Newport County in the round before.

I was on the bench that game, I didn't come on. Then we drew Coventry, who are doing really well in the Championship. Then he said that I was starting, and then I was just quite surprised.”

Howland played the full 90 minutes as Millwall beat Coventry 2-1 to progress to the next round, one of only three defeats the Sky Blues have suffered this season.

“I didn't think that I'd be playing the whole game against Coventry,” he said. “Then when we made our last sub, and I was still playing, it was just like getting through the final fifteen, 20 minutes.

“It was nothing that I had really experienced playing in the academy age group before. It was tough, but it was good.”

Howland was pleased with how it went.

“It went really well,” he said. “I learned a lot from those games, and I was also just really proud as well because all my family were there at the game. That was good, but also just to see what it's like, see the difference.

It was really helpful for me, and I've learned a lot from it.”

With their first FA Cup tie of the campaign coming next month, Millwall fans will not have to wait long to see Howland in action again, and the precocious teenager has shown enough to suggest there is plenty to be excited about.

QPR charge stutters

By John Kelly

QUEENS PARK Rangers’ playoff charge hit a bump after Middlesbrough made it four wins from four under new head coach Kim Hellberg with a 3-1 Championship victory at the Riverside Stadium.

David Strelec and a sixth goal in six games from Morgan Whittaker had Boro two up at the break.

A penalty from Tommy Conway five minutes into the second half meant that Nicolas Madsen’s 70th-minute spot-kick was only a consolation for the Hoops, who dropped down to ninth.

“They deserved their win,” Hoops boss Julien Stephan admitted.

“They were better and stronger than us, so that's why they won. It's just a challenge for us now to see the improvements when we play against them at home. That’s what I said to the players at the end of the game in the dressing room. ”At the end of the season, I’m sure [Middlesbrough] will finish in the play-offs at least.

“For us, we have to be okay with our situation and not forget that we took six points this week. Six points out of nine is a good week for us.”

QPR host former boss Marti Cifuentes when Leicester City - who are above them on goal difference - visit Loftus Road this Saturday (3pm).

Community matters

INSIDE

Sport SouthLondonWeekly.

Southwark

FROM SURREY TO THE DEN

PAGE 27

ENZO’S BLUES ARE LIFTED

Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen punches the ball away

Chelsea fans sing boss’s name as side beat Cardiff to reach EFL Cup semi-finals

By John Kelly

© Action Plus

CHELSEA SUPPORTERS sang boss Enzo Maresca’s name as the Blues scored two late goals to finally see off League One leaders Cardiff City 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

Alejandro Garnacho gave Chelsea a 57th-minute lead at the Cardiff City Stadium before Brian BarryMurphy's side threatened an upset as David Turnbull headed past Filip Jorgensen with fifteen minutes left.

But Pedro Neto scored eight minutes from time before Garnacho

sealed it in the 92nd minute after Maresca had named an entirely different XI from their 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League.

Maresca had caused surprise after that game by saying it had been “the worst 48 hours” of his time at the club and then refusing to clarify whether his comments were aimed at the owners, the fans or the media.

Maresca was in much better form in Wales as he aims to clinch a second major trophy in charge at Stamford Bridge. He clearly enjoyed the backing of the away support.

"Absolutely. It was a great

moment. I appreciate it and I'm always thankful,” Maresca said.

"I've said many times in press conferences, the support has always been there.

"Any supporters in the world, when you don't win, they are not happy. So in some moments, when we didn't win games, they have not been happy, but that's normal.

"Overall, the fans have always been there.

"I just said that these are the kind of games that I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip, to slide, because they are

tricky games."

Garnacho had come on at halftime for Tyrique George before Maresca sent on Neto for Jamie Gittens in the 66th minute.

"They brought me on and I tried to help the team,” Garnacho said. “Me, Pedro and the rest of the players did that. We are really happy.

"As a group we are doing really well. Sometimes you have to start games and sometimes you have to help from the bench. We don't focus on this, we just try to help the team.

"We'll try to compete for everything and the semi-final is the next one so we'll try to win."

Coburn back in early Jan EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott ALEX NEIL is targeting an early January return for Josh Coburn.

Coburn, 23, suffered a quad injury in the October international break, ruling him out for months.

"Josh is going well,” Neil told this paper.

“He's exactly where we expect him to be in his rehab. He got scanned the other day to re-scan his injury.

"Josh will probably be just into the new year. If I can get him available for the FA Cup game [January 10], I'd be delighted with that. Maybe a week later. But he's right on schedule, where he should be."

Neil also confirmed Will Smallbone, who was six appearances into his loan spell before picking up a hamstring injury in late October, would be a longer-term absence.

"Will Smallbone was never going to be [back in] January," Neil said.

Billy Mitchell, out since early November with a hamstring tear, could be in line to make his return against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

"Yeah, potentially," Neil said. "But right now, as it stands, Bill's not played in God knows how long. Even this season, he's been sporadic.

"So when he does come back, we can't just flog him in the middle of the pitch. He's going to break down within two games."

Asked if anyone else might return before the end of the year, Neil said: "Potentially Lenny."

Neil also addressed recent injuries, saying that Dan Kelly’s hamstring issue was a “longer-term one”, while Casper De Norre will be out until after the new year.

Josh Coburn

THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%

ARTEFACTS

VIRTUAL REALITY

360º VIDEO MAPPING

METAVERSE AREA

INTERACTIVE KIDS AREA

CAFÉ PARISIEN

EXPERIENCE THE WONDER OF THE TITANIC THIS FESTIVE SEASON DOCK X, CANADA WATER, LONDON

LEGEND-OF-TITANIC.COM

BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR CHrISTMAS NOW

corner corner, canada water, LONDON MINECRAFTEXPERIENCE.COM Experience MOD LLC. is the producer of the experience and is solely responsible for all aspects thereof. © 2025 Mojang AB. TM Microsoft Corporation.

THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%