South London Weekly - July 3rd 2026

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KHAN BACKS BURNHAM BUT WARNS HIM NOT TO FREEZE OUT LONDON

By Kumail Jaffer

Local Democracy Reporters

ANDY BURNHAM “gets it” when it comes to devolving power to mayors and ensuring London’s success will benefit the whole UK, Sir Sadiq Khan has said.

However the Mayor of London says he won’t be afraid to challenge him if decisions are not in the capital’s interests.

Mr Burnham – who looks set to enter Downing Street within weeks – has long been a proponent of the Government shifting powers away from Whitehall and towards local elected leaders.

Last week the Makerfield MP laid out plans to ensure mayors are given greater control over social housing, welfare and education budgets, instead of those powers staying with ministers.

City Hall figures were initially concerned that Mr Burnham’s agenda would also involve shifting investment away from

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London and the South East towards the North of England, with the Mayor of London stressing it was “crucial that the new Labour leader invests in every part of the country”.

However, in an exclusive interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) last Thursday, June 25, Sir Sadiq appeared confident that Mr Burnham’s political journey means he “gets it” and that he’s looking forward to working with the former Greater Manchester Mayor.

“I’ve worked with him in the Cabinet, in the Shadow Cabinet, as a Metro Mayor and even on the football pitch,” the Mayor of London said. “He can see the difference we can make working together. I’m looking forward to working with Andy as the new Prime Minister.”

Sir Sadiq has long been an advocate for City Hall receiving more decision-making and financial powers from the Government – including demanding more jurisdiction over licensing, taxation revenue retention

and housing arrangements.

The Mayor of London has struggled to break ground on the issue during his time in office, despite recent wins over strategic licensing and the overnight tourist levy in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026.

In a thinly veiled message to Mr Burnham, he stressed that the capital succeeding means the whole country will prosper.

“My message is the same one that I gave to David Cameron, to Theresa May, to Boris Johnson, to Liz Truss, to Rishi Sunak and to Keir Starmer – when London succeeds, the rest of the country succeeds.

“I will work with you when it’s in our capital city’s interest, but I will challenge you when it’s not in our city’s interests. We contribute four out of every £10 in taxes raised by the Government. We could contribute even more if there’s more devolution of powers and resources.”

Mr Burnham’s first major policy speech,

given in Manchester on Thursday June 25, revealed his wish to see the “biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times”.

This would include tens of thousands of government jobs being moved out of London to other UK regions, including a ‘Number 10 in the North’.

It could also see combined authorities allowed to keep 100 per cent of any increase in business rates that they generate to attract investment into their areas.

Steve Reed, the Housing Secretary, said Mr Burnham’s plan could help the capital’s housing crisis as it would ensure there is less migration from other cities to London, which “pushes up our housing costs and pushes up housing demand”.

Mr Reed also said that the former Greater Manchester Mayor “understands very clearly that when local areas get more control over decisions that affect them, they are better decisions”.

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THEATRE PECKHAM CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH FREE AUGMENTED REALITY TREASURE HUNT

By Gabriel Stewart

THEATRE PECKHAM is inviting local residents to see Southwark in a whole new light with a free augmented reality adventure to celebrate it’s 40th anniversary.

The project, created in partnership with US-based immersive technology company Replayar, will turn Peckham, Camberwelll and Southwark into a giant ‘playable district’.

It will blend theatre, storytelling and augmented reality to encourage residents to expore local streets and landmarks while uncovering stories from the Theatre’s four decades at the heart of the community.

Founded in 1986 by Teresa Early MBE, Theatre Peckham is a multi-award winning learning theatre and a creative home for new work, rooted in South East London.

Dr Suzann McLean MBE, chief executive and artistic director of Theatre Peckham, said “For 40 years, Theatre Peckham has been shaped by the people, stories and places around it.

“We wanted to find a way to celebrate that history while also looking to the future. This experience allows people to discover Theatre Peckham’s story by exploring the neighbourhood that helped create it.”

“In this adventure, there are no rewards

for staying at home and no virtual shortcuts. To unlock the experience, participants must physically visit locations across Peckham, Camberwell and Southwark, encouraging real-world exploration, discovery and connection.

“Players can only unlock the experience by showing up, exploring their community and sharing the journey with others.”

Players will follow a digital map to collect 40 virtual tokens hidden across the area, these will unlock old photographs, videos, memories and stories celebrating the theatre’s history.

Jay Huddy, Replayar Co-Founder, said: ‘Replayar is deeply honoured to partner with such a remarkable cultural institution, and to introduce new generations to Theatre Peckham through immersive augmented reality.

“Turning the streets of Peckham into a living map celebrating 40 years of creativity and community has been a labour of love and we can’t wait for people to step outside and discover Theatre Peckham’s story where it actually lives.”

The South London theatre has also announced the appointment of Matt

Hemley, Editor of The Stage, as its newest patron to mark the multi-award-winning South London theatre’s 40th anniversary year.

Hemley said: “It’s an honour to become patron of Theatre Peckham, an organisation local to me that does outstanding work for both its community and the wider industry.

“I am particularly pleased to support its quest to ensure representation and diversity are embedded in the arts so that anyone, no matter their background or where they are from, is able to enjoy

everything theatre has to offer.”

Participants will be able to access the augmented reality experience by visiting Theatre Peckham on 27 June, 3 and 4 July using the special and free to use Replayar app Theatre Peckham will also run its annual Academy Showcases on the same dates which will see scores of local children and young people take to the stage to celebrate a year of creativity, learning and personal development.

More information can be found at www.theatrepeckham.co.uk.

Theatre Peckham, in the old Southwark Town Hall

The treasure hunt will take residents across Southwark

4 NEWS

By Evie Flynn and Molly Hunt

THE OWNER of Khan’s Bargains and the director of Copeland Park have confirmed there was only minimal damage after last night’s blaze on Rye Lane and thanked the local community for its support.

More than 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines rushed to Rye Lane at around 9pm last night after the London Fire Brigade received more than 40 calls reporting the fire.

Akbar Khan told the News that the blaze started in the first-floor stockroom of his shop at 135 Rye Lane, but fortunately did not spread into the main store.

Fifty people were evacuated from Khan’s and the fire spread rapidly to nearby events venue Copeland Park.

The London Fire Brigade said that the fire was contained just at approximately 23:50pm.

Despite the damage, both businesses were back trading this morning, crediting the support of the local community.

Akbar said: “I couldn’t believe I would be trading today. I was up all night until 7am with the fire, until the firefighters told me the shop was safe.

“Straight away we came in and started cleaning. We’ve put up plywood to block off the part where the fire was so no one goes there.

“The community support is the only reason we started trading today. They gave me energy and made me forget about what I had lost. I think 200 people came to support me. I’m so thankful.”

Tim Wilson, director and co-owner at Copeland Park, has confirmed that the most of the site is now open.

Akbar said: ‘I couldn’t believe I would be trading today. I was up all night until 7am with the fire, until the firefighters told me the shop was safe’

He said: “Thankfully the emergency response team have been incredibly. Visually it’s very worrying but the fire brigade put it out and it looks like there is only localised damage to the upper floor of Khan’s.

“All the other businesses seem to be generally operating, although there are a few more investigations that need to happen.

“The people of Peckham have been incredible. Thank you all for your emergency responses, calls and well wishes to Copeland Park and surrounding businesses.”

Nearby shops, including Little Sister Rock and Peckham Soul, have now reopened and are trading as normal.

The fire started at around 8:50pm last night (Thursday 25 June) when Akbar’s neighbour alerted him to a fire on the roof of his shop.

He said: “We rushed upstairs to the stockroom, but there was too much smoke. We couldn’t use our fire extinguisher, so I had to call the fire brigade.

“I was so scared, but I wasn’t worried about what was burning. I was worried about human loss. That was my main

RYE LANE FIRE

Khan’s Bargains and Copeland park survive blaze with ‘localised damage’

concern.

“The minute I saw the smoke, I emptied the whole building.”

Akbar first came to the UK from Afghanistan in 1999, where family had a retail business in Kabul.

After arriving in London with little spoken English and few qualifications, he started off trading on a Rye Lane market stall before opening Khan’s bargains a year later.

The store is now one of the largest in Rye Lane, and Akbar plays a prominent role in Peckham’s business and heritage communities.

Khan’s Bargains occupies part of the former Holdron’s Arcade building, a landmark in Peckham’s ‘Art Deco quarter’. It was originally designed by modernist architects TP Bennett and Sons in 1935 as an extension to Holden’s.

Akbar was commended in 2019 for his restoration project on the shop alongside Peckham-based architect Benny O’Looney.

Their restoration uncovered a 1930s hidden art deco roof which was originally supplied by Lenscrete, and is made from precast concrete with a glass lenses.

Benedict, who has been collaborating with Akbar Khan for many years trying to restore parts of the building, said: “Could this be an opportunity for some wider restoration work on Rye Lane?

“The hope is that not only the recovery after the fire but the restoration of the building can continue.”

Akbar said that the next step will be getting power back on and liaising with their insurance company to assess the damage.

Station Commander Craig Abbott, who attended the scene last night, said: “Firefighters worked hard in arduous conditions to bring this fire under control.

“A single storey extension to a department store on the first floor of a commercial building was destroyed by the fire. Around 50 people left the building before the Brigade arrived. There are currently no reports of any injuries.

“A significant amount of smoke was produced by the fire and local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed.

“Traffic in the area was also impacted and members of the public were advised to avoid the area.”

Firefighters pictured at the scene

The blaze pictured during the night

Image showing minimal damage to the outside of Copeland Park

Akbar Khan in his store

© Molly Hunt

© Benedict Looney

FIREFIGHTERS ATTEND MORE THAN 730 INCIDENTS IN ONE DAY DURING HEATWAVE AMBULANCE SERVICE DEPLOYS 400 EXTRA CREWS

By Molly Hunt

LONDON FIRE Brigade received more than 1,000 emergency calls within 24 hours last week sending crews to 737 separate incidents during extreme weather.

Around 400 of the calls received were related to flooding across the capital following heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday June 23.

As we reported last week, one house in Walworth was left destroyed by a lightning strike during the storm, with the family lucky to manage to escape to safety without injury.

As the temperature continued to rise, the brigade put in plans to ensure firefighters remain ready to respond to emergencies linked to the weather.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulboune said: “Due to the heightened risk during this hot weather period, we have ensured that our specialist Terrain Support Vehicles are ready to tackle any fires in the open, and our water rescue capability is prepared for

any emergency involving London’s 370 miles of waterways.”

It was the first time in the history of the current weather warnings system that red warnings have been issued for extreme heat for three consecutive days in the UK.

With many schools across the capital closed due to rising temperatures, the Brigade is called on parents, teachers and guardians to make sure young people know how to stay safe around water.

Since 2020 there have been 112 accidental drownings across the capital.

Assistant commissioner Goulbourne added that while it is tempting for children and young people to cool off in rivers, lakes and reservoirs, this can be incredibly dangerous. “Open water can have strong currents, hidden debris, slippery edges, and sudden drops in depth - all of which could prove fatal.”

The brigade advises that if anyone is planning to swim outdoors this summer to only do so in designated areas where there are lifeguards present.

By Myfanwy Fleming- Jones

THE LONDON Ambulance Service brought more than 400 additional ambulance crews onto the roads as temperatures rose into the high 30s.

Paramedics treated increasing numbers of patients suffering from fainting, breathing difficulties and heatrelated illness.

Chief executive, Jason Killens KAM said: “This is an exceptional heatwave and the red alert means there is a risk to life, even for people who are normally fit and well.”

Last month’s heatwave saw the service handle more than 8,000 emergency calls in a single day - the highest demand since the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alongside the extra crews, the service increased welfare checks on patients waiting for ambulances, prioritising those in the most urgent need.

The London Ambulance Service is continuing to urge the public to take precautions during the hot weather as some is expected, including drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding direct sun

between 11am and 3pm, and keeping homes as cool as possible.

People are also being asked to check on neighbours, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to heatrelated illness.

Officials have also warned that health risks can continue after temperatures drop, with sudden changes increasing the likelihood of respiratory and cardiac complications.

The public is reminded to call 999 only in life-threatening emergencies. For urgent medical advice, people should use NHS 111 or contact their GP.

London Ambulance Service deploys more staff amid heatwave

Artful Dodger to headline Bermondsey Carnival

THE FULL LINE-UP REVEALED

By Alex Orr

THE FULL line-up for Bermondsey Carnival has been released with something for everyone.

Southwark’s oldest community event, which will take place from 1pm to 9pm

on Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August in Southwark Park, will be headlined by UK garage duo Artful Dodger. Alongside main support act DJ Lisa Loud, Artful Dodger will lead a diverse bill across two stages, heralded as the carnival’s biggest programme yet.

Artists such as Ten Tonne Ska, Meaka Monroe and Carpet Head will feature on the Main Stage, while the BSC x PEEK Tent will champion artists local to SE16, including Rafe, Ted White, Abby T and Jamie Watts. There will also be a funfair, kids’

entertainment, Millwall Community Trust football and a range of local traders and vendors.

Attendance at the carnival has grown year on year since 2023, going from 2,700 visitors to 8,000 in 2025, with the vast majority coming from

Bermondsey and surrounding areas. The event’s partners include Southwark Council, Millwall FC & Community Trust and FA Albin & Sons. Entry is free but those who plan to go are asked to RSVP on bermondseycarnival.com

SUMMER MUSIC SERIES RETURNS TO BROCKWELL PARK

Five outdoor events will bring reggae, jazz, blues, salsa and more to Herne Hill

By Molly Hunt

A SOUTH London music series is set to return this summer, as Mambista brings five evenings of live outdoor music to the Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses in Herne Hill.

Running on selected Sunday evenings from June to September 2026, the Mambista in the Park programme will transform the historic greenhouse setting into an open-air venue, combining live music, food and drink with the unique atmosphere of one of South London’s most cherished green spaces.

Hosted at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, the volunteer-run horticultural and community hub, the series will showcase a diverse range of musical styles including reggae, dub, Afrobeat, gypsy jazz, salsa, soukous, blues, ska and jazz.

EVENT LISTINGS

Ducato Piotrowski Trio | Sunday July 5, 6.30pm Gypsy Jazz • Jazz Manouche • Hot Clubstyle Swing

An evening of Gypsy Jazz, Gypsy Swing, Jazz Manouche, Hot Club-style Jazz, or whatever you want to call the music invented by Romani Jean “Django”

Reinhardt (1910–1953) and French jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli (1908 – 1997). Guitarist extraordinaire Ducato Piotrowski was born into this tradition in Poland to a Roma family, and carries its flame with remarkable passion and virtuosity. He has performed everywhere from the Pizza Express Jazz Club to the Royal Festival Hall.

Grupo Lokito | Sunday, July 26, 6.30pm Soukous • Salsa • Congolese • Cuban Grupo Lokito fuses two great musical styles in a glorious cocktail of Congolese and Cuban sounds. Led by Wonder Woman aka Sara McGuinness. Grupo Lokito guarantee hip-swinging mayhem with their enticing dance moves, evocative songs and sensuous rhythms. Previous appearances include the South Bank Centre, The Sage Gateshead, WOMAD, African Oyé, and the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Errol Linton | Sunday, August 16, 6.30pm Chicago Blues • Brixton Blues • Reggae Errol Linton is the real deal. UK Blues Challenge winner 2023. His is the harmonica tearing through ‘Lookout Man!’ on Joe Bonamassa’s Grammynominated album Royal Tea, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

From a packed Glastonbury Acoustic Stage to featuring in BBC Two’s Arena

A previous year’s Mambista summer series. Credit Brockwell Community Greenhouses

documentary Two Generations of the Blues (Blues South of the River), and live sessions on Cerys Matthews’ BBC Radio 2 Blues Show - not to mention opening for Bo Diddley, Dr. John and The Blind Boys of Alabama - Errol has done it all.

Expect Chicago blues shot through with reggae swing, soulful harp and a well-oiled band well-versed in rocking the house.

Michael ‘Bammi’ Rose | Sunday, September 6, 6.00pm Jazz • Reggae • Ska Respect is due to the elders. Michael ‘Bammi’ Rose was an original member of the genre-busting Cymande, and has performed alongside Aswad, Jazz Jamaica, Paul Simon and Miriam Makeba. A mainstay of Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra for over

20 years, Bammi tours the UK with Jools throughout the summer before bringing his patented selection of vintage, joyous jazz, ska and reggae to the Greenhouses for what promises to be an unforgettable season finale

Tickets for all events are available through the Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses website.

Credit: Bermondsey Carnival

Grupo Lokito fuses Congolese and Cuban sounds, credit Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses

Blues artist Errol Linton, credit Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses

NEW TOWN RISKS

‘Thamesmead will be unsuitable failure without infrastructure’

By Kumail Jaffer Local Democracy Reporters

THE TWO ‘New Towns’ planned for London will only succeed if they are paired with transport, high-quality green spaces and optimal amounts of social housing, ministers have been told.

Up to 36,000 homes could be delivered at new settlements in Thamesmead, Greenwich, and at Crews Hill and Chase Park, Enfield.

The two sites were among seven New Towns confirmed for mass development earlier this year as part of a national strategy to tackle the housebuilding crisis. However, ministers must ensure the New Towns in London are well served with public transport links, green infrastructure, and a diverse array of affordable homes from “day one” of residents moving in, the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee has urged.

Meanwhile Enfield Council has said it will strongly oppose the New Town planned in the borough.

In a new report released today (Wednesday July 1), the cross-party group of Assembly Members said the initiative, while welcome, risks becoming a wasted opportunity without strong leadership and a vision beyond simply building more homes.

“We risk looking back on the New Towns programme as a project that created places with unsuitable housing, poor transport connections and low-quality green spaces, ultimately becoming places where people do not want to live and that make London less green and more vulnerable to climate impacts,” the report says.

“We know that new towns can work.

Places like Milton Keynes stand as testament to what can be achieved when ambition is matched with long-term planning and delivery.

“But we should also be clear about the lessons of the past. Not all New Towns succeeded in the way they were intended.

“Across the programme, there were shortcomings in design, an overreliance on the car and, crucially, a failure in some places to provide the transport links needed to connect residents to major centres of employment.”

The committee cited Skelmersdale, designated in 1961 as a New Town intended to house Liverpool’s overspilling population, as a key example of what happens when transport is overlooked. The site is now infamous for being one of the largest towns in the UK without a railway station.

To avoid any mishaps with Thamesmead and Crews Hill and Chase Park, Assembly Members said New

Towns must be co-designed with current and future residents, be underpinned by a clear set of design principles and a masterplan, and ensure social housing is prioritised for delivery.

With regards to transport, they said more frequent train services will be needed at Crews Hill train station, while Transport for London (TfL) must ensure the DLR extension from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead is constructed on time. This would avoid connectivity issues like those seen at the Beam Park development, which, despite having 1,000 new homes, did not see funding for a new local train station until this year.

They also call on the Government to announce a specialised ‘New Town Funding Grant’, despite Baroness Taylor, the Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, confirming that money for the projects would come from various Whitehall departments.

Committee Chair James Small-Edwards said: “New Towns could be a real tool to help tackle London’s housing crisis, but only if we get them right.

“This cannot be just about building homes in isolation. Done properly, New Towns should create wellconnected, affordable and genuinely liveable communities from day one.

Our recommendations set out the foundations needed to ensure that the proposed New Towns work for

Londoners from day one.”

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was contacted for comment.

Fellow Assembly Member Alessandro Georgiou, who was elected as Leader of Enfield Council in May, withdrew his borough’s support for the Crews Hill and Chase Park proposal, suggesting it would damage Enfield’s Green Belt.

The decision was criticised by the Centre for Cities think tank, who called on the Mayor of London and ministers to intervene to make sure it goes ahead.

City Hall said it will “continue to work closely with councillors in Enfield to

further develop plans at Crews Hill, including proposals for extensive consultation with the local community”. The Government has confirmed it will challenge Enfield Council’s refusal to support the New Town.

In response, Mr Georgiou told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The people of Enfield made their views clear at the most recent local elections, they do not want a New Town imposed on us by the Government and Mayor of London.

“Enfield Council will do whatever it takes to save the Green Belt from destructive tower blocks.”

BERKELEY HOMES TO LAUNCH LEGAL CHALLENGE AFTER AYLESHAM CENTRE PLAN REJECTED

They

reportedly

want

the

Secretary of State for Housing to pay their legal costs

By Alex Orr

DEVELOPER BERKELEY Homes has appealed to overturn the Planning Inspectorate’s rejection of its plans to redevelop the Aylesham Centre in Peck Rye.

The developer has applied for a Judicial Review of the decision to throw out the proposed redevelopment of the shopping centre on Rye Lane, which has been allocated for housing development since 2014.

The decision by Matthew Shrigley of the national Planning Inspectorate, who stated that the “benefits do not outweigh the harm”, was welcomed by Southwark Council when it was announced, as reported by this paper on 19 May.

Shrigley ruled on heritage grounds that some of the tower blocks proposed by the developer were “out of scale” and “visually intrusive”.

But Rob Perrins, Executive Chair of Berkeley Group, said: “This Planning Inspector’s decision is clearly flawed and will undermine the Government’s pro-homebuilding agenda unless it is swiftly quashed.

“How can anyone invest in a town

centre when policy-compliant plans for allocated sites are refused on the basis of vague and subjective heritage concerns?”

He added: “The fact that this borough is spectacularly failing its housing targets and faces a severe housing crisis appears to count for nothing.”

According to Planning Resource, Berkeley Homes has asked the court “to order that the appeal decision be quashed” and that the defendant, the Secretary of State for Housing, “be ordered to pay the claimant’s [Berkeley Homes’] costs.”

As part of its appeal, the developer has said the housing land supply in Southwark should have been taken into account by the inspector when weighing up the benefits of the proposed new homes.

The plans would have seen the Aylesham, an old 1980s shopping centre, demolished to make way for 867 new homes spread across 13 tower blocks, some of which would have been 20 storeys high.

Berkeley Homes said nearly 1,000 construction and permanent jobs would have been created by the development,

adding six rounds of public consultations had been held in addition to over 300 meetings with key stakeholders.

But the developer had dropped its initial affordable housing offer from 35% to just 12%, meaning 77 of the homes built would have been affordable, with 50 of those at social rent.

It told Southwark Council at the time that this reduction was due to “rising costs” which, it claimed, were “exacerbated by the length of the planning process”.

Perrins said: “The Inspector also acknowledged that Berkeley was offering more affordable housing than the scheme could viably support, alongside significant economic benefits, yet still concluded that heritage harm matters more.”

He noted the developer had engaged with Southwark Council for nine years, adding there had been no objections from Historic England who, he said, “are as shocked as everyone else that this scheme went down on heritage grounds.”

“It cannot be right that heritage concerns trump all other policies, including the delivery of new homes,

jobs and growth,” he added.

“This decision has already shaken investor confidence, and it is a great shame that we now have to go through the courts to have it overturned.”

The proposals from Berkeley Homes would have also included a new Morrisons supermarket, alongside other retail, leisure and commercial spaces.

A spokesperson for Morrisons said: “We are disappointed by the recent decision in relation to the proposed redevelopment plans for the Aylesham centre.”

They added: “Peckham is now left with an end of life shopping centre and a supermarket which cannot be redeveloped for the benefit of customers and colleagues.

“The cost of the recent decision is not just the loss of a new town centre for Peckham, but the sacrifice of much needed homes including a number of affordable homes for local families.”

The news of Berkeley’s challenge comes after it was revealed that the mayors of Tower Hamlets, Lewisham and Hackney would be taking legal action against the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan over his reduction of the

affordable housing target for new developments from 35% to 20%.

Councillor Victor Chamberlain, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Strategic Planning and Wellbeing said: “Tackling the housing crisis is the utmost priority for Southwark’s new joint administration - especially as we have inherited a housing waiting list of almost 22,000. As a new Joint Administration we want play a proactive role in working with developers including Berkeley to achieve this.

“However, the developments being proposed must work for residents. The extremely low percentage of affordable housing being offered by Berkeley’s Aylesham proposal does not justify the scale of the works and does not provide enough benefit for the local community and we were pleased to see the Planning Inspectorate agree. We have heard our residents loud and clearly on this and it is vital that local people shape local decisions.

“We will be following Berkeley’s latest appeal against the planning inspector’s decision closely and we hope the right decision will be made.”

The entrance to the Aylesham Centre on Rye Lane

A CGI image of the planned redevelopment

The proposed entrance on Rye Lane © Berkeley Homes

MET POLICE WILL HAVE DRONES IN EVERY LONDON BOROUGH BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR

In October last year, the Metropolitan Police launched a trial of two drones, which has now grown to nine

By By Gabriel Stewart

THE METROPOLITAN Police have announced it will aim to use drones in every London borough by next year - and expand live facial recognition across the capital’s streets.

The major rollout of drones operations across London comes after a successful pilot that has led to drones now being deployed to around 200 incidents per week.

In October last year, the Metropolitan Police launched a trial of two drones, which has now grown to nine. The drones are deployed to live crime scenes to help track suspects and, in many cases, arrive before response officers.

Speaking at a Police Foundation event in East London, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley announced the expanding use of technology to combat crime.

Sir Rowley said: “Policing today will fail if it is not allowed to keep pace with criminals through technology. That is not a prediction for the distant future. It is a present reality.

“Crime is evolving at speed. Criminals are organised, networked and digital. They are using smarter, faster and more connected tools than ever before.”

Sir Rowley added in a statement: “This is a turning point for policing in London. Today we are setting out how we will significantly step up our use of technology to fundamentally change how we protect the public.”

The commisioner announced the expansion of live facial recognition (LFR) with static cameras to be placed on existing street infrastructure across London.

Since 2024, the Met Police claimed LFR operations have contributed to more than 2,000 arrests and that one in

three registered sex offenders stopped by it were found to be breaching their conditions.

Last year, static LFR cameras were trialled in Croydon, resulting in hundreds of arrests and a 10.5 per cent reduction in crime, including retail offences, antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls.

But, the Met’s LFR technology, which is called NeoFace, has previously come in for criticism after an independent report by the National Physical Laboratory found it was less accurate for people of colour and women when deployed in

certain settings.

Additionally, a University of Cambridge study of Essex Police’s use of LFR technology identified “a potential bias in the positive identification rate” of black people over white people on its watchlist.

The Met’s LFR cameras will be moved between the highest crime hotspots and expanded across the capital next year.

Ruth Erhlich, Director of External Relations at Liberty, said: “The Commissioner is right to point out that the that there should be strong, future proofed legislation with

By

Alex Orr

A NEW food hall is coming to Elephant and Castle this year, just as Mercato Metropolitano closes its doors.

The Elephant Exchange Food Hall will be located at 12-18 Ragstone Street, near Elephant and Castle tube station, and will include 12 independent kitchens, a coffee shop and central ‘hero’ bar.

The site is set to open in 2026 and

will be run by Blend Family, a food hall operator with six locations across the UK, including the Tower Bridge Collective on Horselydown Lane.

Both its Cambridge and Sheffield sites have won Best Food Hall of the Year at the British Street Food Awards multiple times over the past few years. Blend Family has pledged to bring a diverse range of food to Elephant and Castle, underpinned by a community of talented chefs representing a broad range of cuisines.

rigorous oversight, accountability and transparency on the use of new surveillance technology – the critical question is why the Metropolitan Police are pushing forward with expansion while that doesn’t yet exist.

“Londoners absolutely have the right to expect that there should be rules that are applied clearly and consistently to how these technologies are used in their city – which is the norm in most countries.

“Until the Government sets out its dedicated legal framework for facial recognition technology, and that

The Elephant & Castle development which will be home to Elephant Exchange

framework is properly scrutinised, the Metropolitan Police should be pausing their use of powerful new surveillance tools, not expanding them.”

The Met is also using AI to analyse video evidence, including CCTV footage, with the technology able to scan and interpret footage to identify people, vehicles and key events.

Met analysis across 23 major cases, including homicide investigations, covering more than 16,000 hours of CCTV, has reduced review time by the equivalent of 454 officer days, freeing up officers for other investigations.

Matt Bigland, Co-founder of Blend Family, said: “We believe great food halls should be about much more than eating and drinking. They should be places where people connect, discover something new and feel part of their local community.

“Elephant & Castle is one of the most exciting and diverse areas in London, and we’re incredibly excited to create a destination that reflects that energy and creativity.”

The arrival of the Elephant

Exchange comes during Mercato Metropolitano’s final summer, as reported by us in May.

The popular food court, that opened on the site of a disused paper factory, has been a fixture in Elephant and Castle for the last ten years but will be closing its doors this autumn. It is set to be demolished to make way for the new Borough Triangle development, which will see 900 new homes built on the site and surrounding area

Live facial recognition has been trialled in Croydon over the past year

The Revel Puck Circus returns to Beckenham Place Park for their first summer season! With brand new big top show AGlimmerDazeGambit

Dive into a high octane, story led, contemporary big top experience with world class acrobatic performances, an international cast centred around Hope and Community

The Revel Puck Circus, East London’s homegrown circus company known for bold, theatrical, non traditional work, returns to their favourite South London stomping ground in Beckenham Place Park for their first summer residency with its joyful new production A Glimmer Daze Gambit.

Running from Thursday 16 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, this threeweek run marks Revel Puck’s firstever summer season at Beckenham Place Park, after three sell out winter seasons in the Park! It brings their Big Top back to the park for a proper school-holidays-ready run, after previous visits as part of the winter festival period. Presented at Beckenham Place Park, by kind permission of Lewisham Council.

A Glimmer Daze Gambit is a show about hope, arrival and community. Follow Stella and Kit as they finally reach their dream home, a Circus. Desperate to join the troupe, and having never seen a circus before, they have packed everything they think they might need. What follows is a joyous, mischievous ride where mistakes become magic, and belonging is built together.

This high-spectacle family show brings together a collective of grassroots London-based and international circus artists from Argentina, the USA, Ethiopia, and Canada. Expect teeterboard, aerial cradle, straps, bounce juggling, cloud swing, group acrobatics, and so much more. This includes the Rola Globe, a world first and a Revel Puck original. It is a giant globe topped with a square platform, where nine performers balance together in a breath-holding feat of teamwork, timing and nerve.

With playful fourth wall moments and light audience participation, the show invites everyone to feel part of the troupe. The show is largely non-verbal and conveyed through mime, clowning, and acrobatics, making it a brilliant gateway cultural experience for audiences of all ages and particularly welcoming for families with special educational needs and disabilities. SEND.

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Landing in South East London for the height of summer, the Beckenham run offers a brilliant day out in the park for London families, and a chance for local audiences across Beckenham, Lewisham and beyond to step into the world of the Revel Pucks.

Tickets and information: https://www.tixr.com/groups/revelpuckcircus

Ticket offers: 15 per cent off when you book 4 or more tickets with code FAMILYPUCK All tickets £10, all zones, for these performances: Thursday 16 July at 4:30pm and 7pm, and Thursday 23 July at 4:30pm and 7pm

Photo by Ruth Board

By Molly Hunt

SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL has appointed bestselling author and Thames mudlark Lara Maiklem as its first ‘Mudlark-in-Residence’.

Maiklem, otherwise known as “The London Mudlark” to her 350k+ social media followers, has spent nearly 25 years searching the Thames shoreline for artefacts that shed light on London’s past.

She is the author of four books on mudlarking, including the Sunday Times bestseller Mudlarking, Lost and Found on the River Thames, and A Mudlarking Year, Finding Treasure in Every Season.

Lara Maiklem is a licensed Mudlark who regularly posts her finds from the banks of the River Thames on Instagram. She has found a torn Elizabethan shilling, Roman terracotta bottle stoppers, a Victorian boot and a post-Medieval knife, all of which offer a glimpse into London’s past.

She has also created the Cathedral’s permanent mudlarking exhibition alongside fellow mudlark Flora Spiegel, and another regularly changing exhibition that features a different mudlark’s find from every month.

Maiklem has been working with Southwark Cathedral since 2019, helping to shape exhibitions, talks, tours and public events that explore the history of the Thames.

Maiklem said that her appointment as Mudlark-in-Residence was a great honour. It is believed her role is the first of its kind in the entire UK.

“Being so close to the river, the cathedral is where mudlarking belongs and I’m looking forward to working with the wonderful cathedral team to continue the exhibitions, talks, tours and festivals that have put Southwark Cathedral at the heart of the

FIRST EVER ‘MUDLARK-INRESIDENCE’ AT SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL

mudlarking community,” she said.

The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark, said he was delighted with Maiklem’s appointment, adding that her work ‘helps us to connect to our riverine past, enabling us to see the

humanity behind the objects that are found on the foreshore.”

As Mudlark-in-Residence, Maiklem will continue to develop the Cathedral’s relationship with the river and its history, connecting the Southwark

LONDON’S FIRST COMMUNITYOWNED PUB IN DONATES £1,000 TO BABY BANK

By Evie Flynn

THE IVY House in Nunhead, which is owned by the community, has donated £1,000 to local baby bank Little Village from pool table takings and fundraising events.

Little Village baby banks help young children who living in poverty by providing free clothes, toys, and baby equipment. So far, they have supported more than 36,700 children.

Families either visit a Little Village baby bank, or items are packed with care and delivered to their home. They also connect families into a wider network of support, helping them to build and extend their own ‘village’.

The Ivy House in Nunhead is now owned by the community and run by shareholders after it was saved from being turned into flats in 2013.

The local pub set up The Ivy House Foundation in 2025 to manage their fundraising activities and support local charities.

The donation ceremony at the pub was attended by Southwark Mayor Claire Sheppard who said: “As Little Village Southwark is one of my chosen Mayoral charities, I was delighted to join the brilliant community pub The

Ivy House in handing over this £1,000 donation to them.

“I wish we didn’t live in a world where baby banks existed, but I’m so grateful to Little Village for the work they do supporting parents in our community and I hope everyone supports them, either by donating like The Ivy House, or making donations of great quality baby items, or volunteering their time.”

A Little Village spokesperson said: “At Little Village, we often talk about the importance of a ‘village’ in helping

families through difficult times, and The Ivy House Foundation’s donation is a wonderful example of that in action.

“This donation will help us continue supporting babies and young children with the essentials they need, while reminding families that their community cares about them.”

Find out more about Little Village littlevillagehq.org

Find The Ivy House at 40 Stuart Rd, London SE15 3BE.

community with the stories told by the Thames.

Southwark Cathedral is hosting a special Heritage Craft and Mudlarking Festival at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday, July 25, where you can meet

mudlarks, hold items discovered in the Thames, and take part in family activities Go to www.eventbrite.co.uk and search for heritage craft and mudlarking festival.

Three men charged with murder following Crystal Palace stabbing

By Alex Orr

THREE MEN have been charged with murder by detectives investigating the murder of Kamahl Cameron-Williams,. Isaiah Adio-Weathers of Evelyn Street, Deptford and Ellis Shakiem of Denmark Road, Camberwell, both 23 years-old, as well as Amari Auguste-Francois, 21, of Malpas Road, Hackney, have been charged with murder and attempted murder.

Auguste-Francois was also charged with possession of a bladed article, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The three men were due to appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court last

Thursday 25 June, after being charged on Wednesday.

The charges relate to the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Kamahl CameronWilliams, who died in Westow Hill, Crystal Palace just after 4:00am on Sunday 21 June.

The police added that four people, a 17-year-old boy and three men aged 19, 30 and 45, who were arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday, have been bailed pending further enquiries.

The Met have urged anyone with information or relevant footage to speak to them via 101, quoting 1302/21JUN. Anyone who wishes to remain entirely anonymous can contact them via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Lara Maiklem

Mayor Claire Sheppard at the donation ceremony

Kamahl CameronWilliams

New train benches installed outside Herne Hill station

By Tom Appleby

THE HERNE Hill Forum have set up two train benches outside Herne Hill station.

The designs are based on Lord Nelson Class engines and Pullman carriages which travelled through the area between 1926 and 1962.

The installations were built by local designer William Warren and replaced the wooden benches made over a decade ago.

Warren said: “It was important that the new design functioned effectively as a continuous seating area while also offering an engaging and playful experience for children. The traininspired benches were manufactured locally, reflecting the project’s strong connection to the community.

“One of the most rewarding moments was delivering the finished benches and seeing them immediately embraced by people of all ages. Watching them become part of everyday life so quickly confirmed the value of creating public furniture.”

The Herne Hill-based community group financed the designs with a crowdfunding campaign, which raised £12,500 from 380 donations ranging from £5 to £300.

The benches were then built locally in two workshops named Remakery and Artcore Studios.

Looking inside, designs such as penguins commuting to work, an owl in a flap, a ghost on its way to halloween and a bear checking tickets can be viewed.

The benches were built with durable materials and should last for many years, in the hope that school children will repaint them in the future.

George Hornby, co-vice chair of the Herne Hill Forum said: “The Herne Hill Forum has been making our neighbour a better place to lie, work and visit for over 20 years.

Thank you to all the local businesses who helped us get the message out and, of course, to all those general locals who helped pay the bills. You have done us proud. All aboard!”

BRIXTON VILLAGE CAMPAIGNERS SUBMIT ‘COMPETITIVE BID’ TO BUY BACK THE MARKET

By Evie Flynn

CAMPAIGNERS SAY they have submitted what they believe is a “competitive bid” to buy Brixton Village and Market Row after a huge public rally.

Hundreds gathered on Station Road in Brixton last month to hear from traders, residents, campaign groups and politicians backing the Buy Back Brixton campaign, which aims to bring the historic markets into community ownership.

Organisers say they submitted the bid before Monday’s 5pm deadline, after raising over £550,000 through a

GoFundMe appeal and attracting more than 36,000 signatures to an online petition.

Campaigners claim international investors want to buy Brixton Village and Market Row for around £50 million from current owners TPG Angelo Gordon and Hondo Enterprises.

Brixton youth charity The Advocacy Academy was reportedly working closely with Brixton Traders and Community Association initially to help traders secure better leases and improve conditions before working towards community ownership of the market.

Campaigners say plans were accelerated after they were told other

buyers were interested in the site and prospective bidders had until Monday, June 22, to demonstrate they had enough money to progress.

Brixton Village originally went up for sale in September 2024, and a month later, traders said they were ‘not told’ about the market going up for sale’.

In a statement, earlier this week campaign organisers said: “We can confirm that this afternoon, before the 17:00 deadline, the Buy Back Brixton campaign, with the support of a number of funders, successfully submitted a bid we believe to be competitive for the purchase of Brixton Village and Market Row.”

Man injured after ‘disturbance’ in Peckham

By Evie Flynn

A MAN was left with ‘injuries’ after what police are calling a ‘disturbance’ on Clayton Road last week.

Police were called at 00:40am on Friday June 26 to reports of a ‘disturbance’ in Clayton Road, in between the Queen’s Road and Rye Lane in Peckham.

Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and found a man injured at the scene.

He was taken to hospital and the full extent of his injuries is not yet known.

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting 0255/26JUN.

A London Ambulance spokesperson

said: “We were called at 12:44am today (26 June) to reports of an incident on Clayton Road, SE15.

“We sent an ambulance crew and a paramedic in a fast response car to the scene.

“We treated a patient at the scene and took them to a local hospital”.

A Met spokesperson said: “Officers were called at 00:40hrs on Friday, 26 June to reports of a disturbance on Clayton Road, Peckham.

Police attended with the London Ambulance Service and located a man with injuries, who was taken to hospital. We await an update on his condition.

No arrests have been made, and a scene will remain place while enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting 0255/26JUN.”

“The current owners will now need some time to assess the bids they have received before letting us know which bids they choose to shortlist.”

The new Green leader of Lambeth Council, Martin Abrams, attended the rally and said: “As the new council in Lambeth, we are the community and we have your backs.

“Because Brixton Village and Market Row are not just another piece of property on the capitalist monopoly board.

“It is where generations of people have built businesses, created jobs, shared food, made music, celebrated their heritage and built community.”

A view of Clayton Road from Queen’s Road in Peckham

© The Herne Hill Forum

Herne Hill benches.

Summer Time at the Southbank Centre

Dive in for art, performance, music, free events and delicious food and drink, and find a warm welcome at the SouthbankCentrethissummer

We’re the largest arts centre in the UK and we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary this year! Join us this summer with plenty of outdoor fun and free events for all ages across our 11-acre site on the River Thames. Come to splash in the Appearing Roomsfountain, relax in our beloved Roof Garden and soak up sun, shows and art. We’re just a short bus or train ride away!

Our summer programme includes; South Asian Sounds (Wed 1 – Sun 5 Jul), Poetry International Festival (Fri 10 – Sun 12 Jul), Rough Trade 50 (Fri 17 – Sun 19 Jul) and Steel Scenes (Fri 24 – Sun 26 Jul). Plus, join a celebration of music and youth, curated by young people for everyone, at our free Riverside Sessions on the Riverside Terrace (Thu 11 Jun - Mon 21 Sep).

Head to the Hayward Gallery for one of this

summer’s must-see exhibitions. Nearly 30 years after his landmark Hayward Gallery exhibition, one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary artists returns with an extraordinary new show. Fresh from a wave of five-star reviews, Anish Kapoor (Tue 16 Jun – Sun 18 Oct), the artist behind Chicago’s Cloud Gate (‘The Bean’) and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s ArcelorMittal Orbit, fills the entire gallery with monumental installations, impossible spaces and mindbending artworks that press against the walls and floors or descend dramatically from the ceiling, creating an unforgettable sense of awe and wonder. We’ve made it easy to bring the whole family too. Under-12s go free, and if you’re aged 18–30, you can enjoy half-price tickets by joining our Under-30s Scheme.

If all that fun makes you feel hungry, we’ve got foodie destinations to complete the perfect day out. Head down to the Queen’s Walk for a vibrant selection of food and drink pop-ups for the summer season. Indulge in delicious bites from TruffleBurgerand enjoy returning crowd favourites like TheThirsty Farrier’sseasonal cocktails and sizzling rotisserie

chicken from Rotate. For those with a sweet tooth, visit StackedDutchPancakesfor a pile of pillowy pancakes with all the toppings, or cool down with refreshing Mexican ice lollies at Paletas For dreamy rooftop sunsets, choose between the luscious Queen ElizabethHallRoofGardenwhere you can relax with a cocktail surrounded by flowers, or the Seventy5thBalcony Bar for epic views above the bustle of the city. If you're visiting at the weekend, don't miss Southbank CentreFoodMarket for a feast of sizzling street food.

Image credit: Cesare de Giglio

Image credit: Cesare de Giglio

Image credit: Cesare de Giglio

Image credit: Cesare de Giglio

Image credit: Anish Kapoor, Tsunami, 2025. © Anish Kapoor. All rights reserved, DACS, 2026.

Photo: Dave Morgan.

WATERLOO FESTIVAL RETURNS NEXT WEEK FOR BIG ANNIVERSARY

By Alex Orr

WORDS WORTH NOTING

Friday 10th July - 8pm-10pm

GOFUNDME SET UP FOR FAMILY AFFECTED BY LIGHTNING FIRE

By Alex Orr

A FUNDRAISER has been set up to support the family of Shorefa Khan, whose home was hit by a lightning strike last week.

The GoFundMe, organised by former Mayor of Southwark Naima Ali, aims to raise £30,000 for the family of five from North Walworth.

Their council-owned house had been destroyed during a thunderstorm on 23 June, with the living room, and everything inside, burned completely.

The fire, the tenants believed, had likely been caused by lightning striking the chimney of the house and making its way down to the living room, which was then engulfed in flames, but the London Fire Brigade (LFB) added the cause had not yet been confirmed.

Items which were permanently damaged included a new television, sofas,

passports and documents for Shorefa’s business, which sells character products and toys online.

The funds from the GoFundMe will go directly toward replacing many of these items, including clothing, basic furniture, lost electronics and essential documents.

A spokesperson for Southwark Council said officers had responded quickly to the incident last week, and temporary accommodation had been offered to the family.

They said the family would be supported continuously while the situation is dealt with and the council determines the full extent of the damage.

While arrangements are made for a more stable living situation for Shorefa and her family, the fundraiser aims to fill the gap, with all proceeds paid directly into Shorefa’s personal bank account. You can donate to the fundraiser justgiving. com/crowdfunding/walworth-house-�ire

THE WATERLOO Festival is returning to St. John’s Church and Gardens on Waterloo Road in July, with a four-day programme of art exhibitions and live music.

This year’s festival marks 75 years since the Festival of Britain, a national exhibition held throughout the UK in the summer of 1951.

It is also the 75th anniversary of the reconstruction and restoration of St. John’s Church after it was bombed during the Blitz.

The Waterloo Festival is the first of a series of events arranged by the church between now and December, with the programme titled ‘Now I make a leaf of voices’, in a reference to a poem by American poet and essayist Walt Whitman.

There are more than 20 events to choose from, and many of them are free. Read on for some of the highlights.

OPENING NIGHT

Thursday 9th July - 6pm-8:45pm

The launch party of this year’s festival promises to be a celebration of arts, heritage and community at St John’s Church.

It will include welcome drinks, a dance

Battersea Power Station jetty to host

open-air cinema, events and exhibitions

By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporters

BATTERSEA POWER Station is set to host open-air cinema, pop-up events and exhibitions at a jetty on the banks of the River Thames until 2028.

Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) has applied for temporary permission to use the Coaling Jetty for such events, including keeping its decking and bridges. The developer wants to test using the jetty for these events to help

it put together a permanent strategy for the site, as part of the £9billion regeneration of the power station.

This permission would allow the jetty to continue to be used for art installations, live music, markets, open-air cinema, community or charity events, exhibitions and sports screenings.

Planning documents with the application said: “The uses proposed form part of an exercise in which to identify any appropriate and viable uses to underpin the permanent strategy for how the jetty could be used, maximising public benefit

whilst remaining respectful of the surrounding context and heritage significance.”

The proposals are part of the wider masterplan for the power station, which is split into seven phases overall.

More than 2,200 homes have been completed so far in the redevelopment, including 386 affordable homes at New Mansion Square in partnership with Peabody.

The regeneration has also seen the opening of new shops, restaurants, bars and a Northern line extension connecting Battersea to the

performance by students from the local Notre Dame RC Secondary School and choral singing from Portuguese-speaking choir Nossa Voz.

Visitors will also be free to explore the church gardens and treated to a sculpture show in the churchyard.

CHOIR, DANCE AND CHARLES IVES’ STRING QUARTET NO.1

Friday 10th July - 12pm-2pm

This free show will feature dance and choir groups from Age Exchange, a charity supporting those living with dementia and their carers that also runs a cafe in Blackheath.

They will be followed by the Millbank Quartet, who will perform American hymn tunes and folk melodies inspired by the programme’s theme.

All are welcome, with food, tea and coffee available after the performance.

PUPPET CHORUS: THE ODD, THE CURIOUS & THE COOKIE

Friday 10th July - 2pm-4:30pm

One for the kids, this puppet workshop, led by Artistic Director of Strangeface Theatre Company Russell Dean, will teach children how to craft their own cardboard puppet head. When complete, the Puppet Chorus will bring all their creations together in a musical perfomance.

Organised by the Brixton Writers Circle, a group of poets, writers and singers will take to the stage and share their work on the Friday evening.

Festival-goers can even submit their own piece of written work to be featured at the event here.

LONDON PHILHARMONIC CHOIR: FESTIVAL GENERATIONS

Saturday 11th July - 7pm-8:45pm

This concert will offer a rare opportunity to listen to the London Philharmonic Choir singing ‘a cappella’ rather than alongside an orchestra.

General admission tickets are on sale for £22.38 and concession tickets are £16.96. They can be purchased here.

JAZZ IN THE CHURCHYARD

Sunday 12th July - 1pm-4pm

Wrapping up this year’s Waterloo Festival, the Unity Music and Arts Team (UMAT) will be hosting an afternoon of outdoor jazz and blues in the St. John’s garden.

Led by vocalist and event organiser Stephen Pierre, the afternoon will feature some of London’s finest up-and-coming jazz musicians.

Underground for the first time. There are still more than 16 acres of land left to be redeveloped in the remaining phases of the masterplan, which are being designed by BPSDC. New cultural attractions and

experiences, along with extra homes and workplaces, are expected to come forward in these future phases. Wandsworth Council will make a decision on granting the temporary permission for the jetty in due course.

©Roger Mears Architects LLP

Coaling Jetty, Battersea Power Station.

By Nick Clark Local Democracy Reporter

The Woolwich Foot Tunnel’s north lift could finally be fixed by December, Greenwich Council says – after almost four years out of action.

The lift in North Woolwich, Newham, has been out of service since August 2022 after being vandalised

Talks between the two councils on either side of the river have been hampered by costs and difficulties finding parts, which have delayed repairs

Newham’s senior Labour councillor Zulfiqar Ali, in charge of finance, has now suggested the lift could be open “by the end of the summer”.

However, Greenwich Council, which is responsible for managing the tunnel, indicated work could take longer.

It told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it expects repairs to take place between now and December.

Greenwich Council previously told the LDRS in July 2025 that it hoped the work would be done by January, after reaching an agreement with Newham Council – which jointly owns the tunnel with Greenwich – on funding.

owever, Greenwich’s senior Labour councillor Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, responsible for transport, said the age of the tunnel meant further delay.

He said: “The structure is well over 100 years old, so it requires bespoke parts which have taken some time to manufacture.

“That has meant it has taken longer for the works to start than we, Newham, and our residents had hoped would be the case.”

Cllr O’Byrne Mulligan added his authority had “worked productively with Newham on the joint agreement needed for these works and to ensure the good maintenance of the lifts going forward”.

Greenwich Council said the repairs will cost a total of £217,000.

Cllr Ali said Newham Council “was advised of a requirement to fund part replacements late in 2024, and in 2025 secured funding for improvements to get the lifts, fire systems, CCTV and lighting upgrades completed”.

Papers presented to Newham Council’s cabinet committee this month suggested it contributed £120,000 towards “replacement parts for the fire system, the lift control, lighting and CCTV works”.

It added that this is on top of its yearly

WOOLWICH FOOT TUNNEL LIFT TO BE FIXED BY DECEMBER

contribution of £125,000 towards inspections, maintenance, cleaning and power.

Cllr Ali said: “Improvements to the lifts are the responsibility of Greenwich Council and installation of new parts is due to take place over the next few weeks with a possible reopening of both north and south lifts by the end of summer.”

Nathan Budden, of the Greenwichbased ‘Lifts Now’ campaign, told the LDRS that the broken lift had made the

trip across the river longer and less accessible for people unable to use the stairs.

He said: “It stops me from cycling a lot of places because I’ve got a longstanding shoulder injury so I can’t carry my bike up the stairs on the other side.

“I can’t always rely on the boat either because of the time of day or the weather, and it more than triples the amount of time.”

He added: “Getting a bike on the

DLR [Docklands Light Railway] is not allowed at peak times, so it means I just don’t bother”.

Budden also said that when Lifts Now campaigners leafleted the Tate and Lyle factory in North Woolwich, “half of the people we spoke to were all commuting to work via the tunnel”.

He said: “They’ve all been frustrated by the lack of action on it”.

Lifts Now has called on Transport for London (TfL) to take responsibility for the tunnel, as well as for the Greenwich

Foot Tunnel, which Greenwich and Tower Hamlets councils jointly own.

However, Cllr O’Byrne Mulligan said in October 2025 that TfL didn’t want to do this.

He now says that Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets councils have formed “a joint working group” to work on a “full regeneration of the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels, which we hope will ensure reliable step-free access through both tunnels for generations to come.”

E-fit released by police after Valentines Day rape reported on Clapham High Street

By Gabriel Stewart

THE METROPOLITAN Police have released an E-fit of a suspect following a rape in Clapham High Street on Valentines Day.

The victim, in her 20s, had been on a night out on Saturday 14 February when she met the suspect outside a bar in Clapham High Street at around 4am.

The suspect was wearing a plain white top, jeans and trainers and is described as a man of Middle Eastern or Southern European appearance, approximately 5ft11ins, of thin build, with thick eyebrows, a thick beard and black hair.

The victim and another woman went with the man to a nearby supermarket but, after leaving the shop, the victim was separated from the other woman.

Between 4am and 6am, the suspect took the victim into an alley behind the supermarket, where he raped her.

Police said that she was ‘ultimately able to fight the man off, and left the scene’.

Detective Constable Kay Paterson, who is leading the investigation, said: “The victim in this case has shown tremendous bravery, coming forward in the wake of an appalling attack. She continues to be supported

by specially-trained officers.

“The rape took place in the early hours on Clapham High Street. The suspect and the victim moved between multiple premises –including a pub and supermarket, and we are eager to speak to anyone who has any recollection of seeing them.

“Tackling sexual offending is a top priority for the Met, and we are releasing this e-fit to assist witnesses, or anyone who may recognise the suspect.”

The Metropolitan Police have asked anyone who recognises the suspect to call 101, quoting reference 4819/26FEB

The northern entrance to the Woolwich foot tunnel

what’s on

LIZ BENTLEY: PSYCHOTHERAPIST

BY DAY/COMEDIAN BY NIGHT

TALK WITH Q&A IN PECKHAM

THERE ARE a lot of words online about Liz Bentley, but the words that stood out for me were from her own website: ‘Psychotherapist by Day/ Comedian by Night’. How could I not be intrigued? Especially as she’s got a new book out - a memoir: ‘The Suicidal Therapist, Confessions of a Wounded Healer’. I knew I had to talk to this multi-tasking, Jacqui-of-alltrades, writes Michael Holland.

Liz Bentley ‘escaped from Essex’ as a 21-year-old and came to SE London after finding North London too dear. Plus, it was near to Deptford’s St Paul’s Church where she played in a band in The Crypt club there.

Initially, Liz had plans to be an air hostess or an ambulance driver, but was too short. She had been told she was a good listener, so became a Samaritan volunteer in New Cross, which became good experience for work in the Marie Stopes abortion clinic and progression onto a counselling course.

When Liz had to go into therapy as part of the course, she freaked out. ‘I knew I wasn’t in a good state…I left school with bulimia, promiscuity and a grade C in typing.’ Her latest book starts there, relating the journey of training to become a therapist, and inspiring conversations about everything that is mental health, from eating disorders and addictions, to disability and loss.

Was it easy for you to write?

‘No. It was truly difficult. Like uncorking an old bottle of red wine that doesn’t travel well. At the bottom was a sediment that’d

been there for decades. It got shook up, I got re-traumatised and found out there were new layers to my childhood trauma.

The book started out as a blog, ‘From Essex to London in 101 Boyfriends’… Writing is therapy, and I’m very pleased with how it’s ended up.’

Who is the book aimed at?

‘Anyone who has an interest in mental health - therapy students, therapists and those struggling in their therapy. And anyone interested in the beauty and ugliness of the human condition.’

Now, Liz has been a therapist for over 33 years, and a performer for more than 23, working extensively as a psychotherapist, supervisor and facilitator in the NHS, Goldsmiths College, Lewisham College and private practice, as well as becoming a cult live act on the comedy and spoken word scene with her unique Casio keyboard/ ukulele combo, so I wanted to catch up with those in-between times:

How did your counselling work divert into comedy and writing?

‘My therapist told me about writing and acting classes at Morley College, where I read out a ‘serious’ short story at an open mic. People laughed. That first gig prompted an invite to join the ‘Apples and Snakes’ performance poetry people. I got the bug through them.’

What do you prefer: helping people get better or making people laugh?

‘I love both equally. In some ways they are similar. Listening therapy, being the deep layered understanding of the infant/ child learned defence. Humour, being the ‘mature’ defence mechanism laid bare. Making sense to heal trauma, then seeing

the funny side.’

I could relate to that and wanted to delve deeper, but this wasn’t that sort of interview, so I didn’t dive in.

Do you do many comedy gigs?

‘Not so much now. Covid and arts funding cuts saw to that. But also, the process of writing and publishing the book took me eight years from start to finish. The last couple of years were tough, so for light relief I played Casio keyboard in my son’s band ‘Pig City Committee.’ I could be found at local venues like The Old Dispensary, The Ivy House, and The Windmill in Brixton.’

Counselling and comedy are two big jobs; how does that impact on your life?

‘I put a lot of thought into how I structure my time. Sometimes I have to make compromises since I was diagnosed with MS in 1987.’

What goals do you have for the future?

‘I want to be the oldest person living, with the longest diagnosis of MS… I’ve got a novel on the go. I will continue working as a therapist and supervisor until I get dementia or die. My mobility was restricted at such an early age, I’ve never got into things that require standing or are physical, like cooking or gardening. I’m a great believer in sitting still but I’m also a great swimmer. I did a show in Edinburgh Fringe’s only swimming pool venue - I could be a ‘floating’ comedian rather than a ‘stand-up’. There is always a way.’

Anything you’d like to add?

‘Therapy works. Don’t struggle alone. If you’re worried about shame or fear, read my book and you’ll think and feel differently!’

Now the book is published, Liz Bentley is

back doing solo stuff: A free event on 9th July at 7.30pm, hosted at Ben Oakley’s gallery and Aimee Blu’s hair salon in North Cross Road, in collaboration with Rye Books, East Dulwich.

Talk and Q&A: Copleston Community Centre, Copleston Road, SE15 4AN. 29th July, 2pm - 2.30pm.

Donations appreciated. Book your free seat with ann@coplestoncentre.org.uk Amazon - £11.29: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SuicidalTherapist-Confessions-Wounded-Healerebook/dp/B0GC9LS63N ISBN-13 : 978-1916552050 More information: https://lizbentley.co.uk/

A GLIMPSE INTO A CREATIVE MIND PREOCCUPIED WITH PLAY, CHILDHOOD, AND IMAGINATION

JACK WHITE’S new exhibition feels appropriately art-like, occupying the impressive spaces the Newport Street Gallery has to offer. The former White Stripes frontman presents a multidisciplinary collection that marries together furniture-making, sculpture, photography, and installation. It is an ambitious exhibition, one that attempts to translate the restless creativity of a genius musician into the language of contemporary art, writes Leo Dunlop.

The viewer’s first encounter is with the many iterations of Ukulele Joe, a figurine that White repeatedly reimagines through different artistic styles and historical periods. The works are playful and self-aware, though at times their repetition risks feeling more like an exercise in variation than artistic transformation (e.g. KAWS, Koons).

White’s The Red Tree is perhaps the exhibition’s most successful and arresting work. Stretching across two floors, it functions as both a visual centrepiece

and a conceptual anchor. A recreation of his 2015 sculpture of the same name, the work gains new significance through its relocation inside. Grass becomes astroturf, birdsong becomes a recording trapped on a loop. What was once organic becomes simulated. The result is a work haunted by artificiality, asking questions about authenticity, memory, and replication. Its bright colours and theatrical scale ensure it remains visually striking, but it is the tension between the natural and the manufactured that gives the piece its weight.

Throughout the exhibition, White demonstrates a willingness to experiment with materials. Wooden pallets are repeatedly transformed through colour, texture, and intervention, becoming objects that sit somewhere between sculpture and personal relic.

Childhood emerges as a recurring theme. Like much of White’s songwriting, the exhibition is fascinated by the act of looking backwards. There is an undeniable childlike energy to many of the works, evident not only in their

playful use of colour but also in their invitation for the audience to participate. At one point, visitors are invited to play a sofa that has been transformed into a strange, sci-fi musical instrument. You’ll also be able to see works from Damien Hirst and Ai Weiwei, who White has

tasked with each designing their own amp that different instruments can then be played through.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, White’s strongest works are his pieces of furniture. Having spent years working as an upholsterer before his success in

music, it is here that his artistic voice is most defined. The works manage to speak a visual language that is both intimately personal and technically accomplished.

These Thoughts May Disappear succeeds not because Jack White is now a complete visual artist, but because he approaches art-making with the same curiosity that made him an interesting musician, eyes wide and open to a whole world full of influences. The exhibition offers a glimpse into a creative mind preoccupied with play, childhood, and imagination, and each work possesses an infectious sincerity that proves difficult to resist. You will leave with your head full of colour and music, wondering which of White’s thoughts might disappear next, and which will linger.

Newport Street Gallery. 1 Newport Street, SE11 6AY. Until Sept 13th. Free Entry.

Full details: https://www. newportstreetgallery.com/

Jack White in the Studio, Photographed by David James Swanson

‘WOOLWICH WOOFS’ DOG SHOW IS BACK NEXT MONTH

Woolwich Works are set to host Woolwich Woofs dog show again on Saturday 11th July after a successful first event last summer. All dogs and owners are invited to join for an afternoon of dog-themed fun in the courtyard of Woolwich Works. A panel of judges will judge pups across the following categories: opening pageant, beautiful bitch, dandy dog, waggiest tail, Fetchit Fido, doggie track and field, My Dog’s Got Talent and best in show. Owners are invited to hang out in the sunny courtyard outside the Fireworks Factory whilst the competitions are taking place. The outside bar will be open and hot dogs are available to buy.

When: Saturday 11th July, 1pm – 5pm

Where: Woolwich Works (The Courtyard), The Fireworks Factory, 11 No.1 Street, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HD

Tickets: £5 per dog for competition entry. No fee or ticket is needed to enter the event

THE FIRST EVER ALCHEMY FESTIVAL

Live music will be showcased at Goldsmith University on 11 July at the first-ever Alchemy Festival. The event on will celebrate the talent and achievements of the Alchemy Academy and bring

Head to Severndroog Castle in Shooter’s Hill after work on Friday 10th July to enjoy local street food in the evening sun. The popular street food evening event will be returning to the historic Grade II-listed gothic tower this year with even more food vendors. Guests can choose from vegan Caribbean dishes, stone-baked pizzas, smash burgers, tacos, Lebanese cuisine and more. The Severndroog Bar will also serving a range of alcohol and non-alchoholic beverages – with all

proceeds towards supporting the castle. If you can’t make it, there is another event on Friday 7th August.

When: Friday July 10th, 5pm – 9pm

Where: Severndroog Castle, Castlewood Dr, Shooters Hill, London SE18 3RT

Tickets: No fee or ticket needed to enter the event but credit cards accepted at the stalls.

together students, artists, schools and teachers in a live music performance. Throughout the day, there will be film screenings at Goldsmith’s cinema, an exhibition in the Kingsway Corridor, and food and refreshments on offer. The Alchemy Academy offers free weekly sessions for young artists to develop their musical practice and skills. While Alchemy artists have performed at many events over the years, this is the first-ever Alchemy Festival.

When: Saturday July 11th, 1pm – 9pm

Where: Goldsmiths, University of London, 8 Lewisham Way, London SE14 6NW

Tickets: Free, book your ticket on EventBrite (organiser – Alchemy Goldsmiths)

Corbett Community Library near Catford are hosting their fifth family festival to showcase local businesses, artists and bakers. The theme for Corbfest 2026 is ‘shopping local’ and will run over four venues across three days. There will be free family games, arts and crafts, a bouncy castle, hot food, drinks, films screenings, live music and more. Proceeds from the event will help raise funds for local community venues and organisations. Food and drinks stalls will be located outside Torridon Road stores.

To book at stall at the library: email rachel@corbettcommunity.org.uk

When: Friday July 10th – Saturday July 11th, 11am – 5pm

Where: Corbett Community Library, 103 Torridon Rd, London SE6 1RQ

Tickets: Free, no ticket required

History

EDWARD II’S FORGOTTEN LOVE NEST

By Debra Gosling

IT IS hard to imagine now that Tooley Street and its surrounds were once full of warehouses, ships and dockers, toiling to bring food to the table of London. But what goes around comes around and, if you go back to the fourteenth century, you’ll find Tooley Street was indeed an extremely grand place to park your horse.

It had beautiful townhouses and gardens surrounded by green and pleasant land. Hardly surprising then, that King Edward ll decided to build himself a little moated retreat in Bermondsey.

There were fields full of washing blowing in the breeze that rolled off the Thames, cows mooing contentedly and almshouses full of little old ladies. As the parish clergy went about their business the abbey bell would toll out across the river where fishermen’s boats bobbed about in the sunshine.

The many water mills filled the air with the sound of gurgling water. Different species of butterflies and birds, now rare in these parts, would flutter about the reeds and marshes, making the most of the ragwort, lavender and blackberries that grew near the river’s banks. Perfect peace and quiet in Medieval Bermondsey for the King of England.

These were the days of old when knights were bold. And after a hard day’s damsel-rescuing, the heroes in shining armour would return to their luxury riverside pads for a goblet or two of mead. Bermondsey Street at this time had just a smattering of cottages, shops and tenements; where ladies in tall pointy hats and men in long pointy shoes strolled.

This was the Bermondsey that Edward II knew. His manor house, known as The Rosary was built in 1325 and would have been right in the heart of today’s More London development. The King’s bedroom window would have looked out across to the Tower of London – probably not a selling point in those days with all those heads rolling about. His son, Edward III, later had a house further downstream at Platform Wharf, but Dad’s gaff isn’t quite so well known.

In fact, it was not long ago that archaeologists uncovered the remains of The Rosary. The Museum of London team unearthed a large stone corner of Edward II’s home near Hay’s Wharf and found relics of leather work, pewterware and a tall felt hat – very Blackadder. The house itself had a drawbridge and a moat. There was also a granary and stables; in fact the house was far more country manor than royal palace. Ightham Mote in Kent is probably a good representation of what it may have looked like.

Edward’s neighbours would have included the higher members of the clergy; the more privileged holy men had grand houses next door to His Highness. Abbot’s Lane is now the only

remind https://slack-imgs.com/?c=1& o1=ro&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsouthw arknews.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fupl oads%2F2021%2F04%2FMoreLondo

nPlace.jpg er of them. Just like today, the fourteenth century saw a rapid growth and development in Southwark. There were the creations of parishes and manors which had natural boundaries created by the many embankments and ditches characteristic of the area. This was most definitely a place of refuge for a reluctant king as well as snug love nest for his paramours – including alleged male lover, Piers Gaveston, who was bundled off and murdered for his troubles.

Add that to the fact that Ed’s Father, Edward l, or Longshanks as he was known, had started a war with Scotland that he didn’t finish and you can see why this King wanted to hide away. This was a man described as being blessed with good health, good looks and a good brain. He was physically strong and enjoyed sport and good conversation as well as being artistic and having a good sense

of humour. He was also very generous to those he held most dear. With such good qualities is it any wonder he failed miserably as king? Edward inherited his father’s war with Scotland but he was useless as a soldier. One of his weaknesses was being a poor judge of character and loyalty to his friends would prove to be his downfall. Reliant on his friends, he was fiercely loyal and blind to their shortcomings and plots to overthrow him.

Barons who had served under old Longshanks wanted power over Edward II. As far as they were concerned he was just a fool who’d give up his throne at the turn of a well-shaped ankle. They broadcast that he had spent the country’s money on lavish gifts for his lovers, despite the fact that his reign was one of prosperity with less taxation than before.

For the residents of Tooley Street, this period of prosperity was reflected in the houses they built. Besides rich vicars and royalty, there were plenty

of knights in shining armour picking out their choice of home along the riverfront. Knight John de Felton had a sumptuous house along the river.

As this was a time long before Tower Bridge, the lines of houses stretched right across Horselydown up to Rotherhithe. Sir John’s was probably near St Michael’s School. The luxury riverside properties were set back from the street but a number of landlords exploited this by building shops over the gardens.

Edward’s house was of a similar design to his son’s one up the road (the ruins give you some idea of its size and layout). Besides the moat there was a rectangular fenced enclosure which contained a number of substantial buildings. By 1337 all the property owners were having their houses altered to look the same – a medieval case of keeping up with the Plantagenents!

However, Edward would never find peace of mind in his lovely manor house. In 1326 he was imprisoned and his wife, Isabella, sick of his

philandering, ran off with her lover, Roger Mortimer. In January 1327, under much pressure, he abdicated – just two years after his Rosary had been finished. Isabella wanted the throne for her son, and needed her exhusband well out of the way. She asked Roger to get rid of Edward, murder him, but to leave no marks on his body as she wasn’t about to do a stretch on the Tower’s rack. And so, in September that year, Edward was done away with, so legend goes, in a most horrific manner. Edward III was crowned King and Isabella escaped any accusations of murdering her husband – who was laid to rest in Gloucester Cathedral. The peaceful Rosary was left empty and fell into disrepair. In 1446 a prosperous knight and landowner by the name of Sir John Falstoff bought the land and built his own version of a moated manor house across the site. It has been suggested that Shakespeare’s character Falstaff was based on him. Over the centuries the site housed wharves and warehouses, Edward II’s love nest long forgotten.

More London Place

Tomb of Edward II

Ightham Mote

© Philip Halling

© Katie Chan

To place a funeral announcement, birthday, death notice, birth, anniversary or memorial in the paper, please email katie@cm-media.co.uk and she will price it up for you. Announcements must be placed by 4pm on the Tuesday before that week’s publication

Licensing Act 2003

Notice is hereby given that NEDWIN Ltd has applied to Hammersmith & Fulham Council for the Grant of a Premises Licence at 174 Wandsworth Bridge Rd, London SW6 2UQ for Late Night Refreshment: 23:00 to 00:30hrs Sun to Thu and 23:00 to 01:30hrs Fri and Sat. NB No alcohol sales are entailed & this is a delivery ONLY service. A register of licensing applications can be inspected at www.lbhf.gov.uk/ licensing Any person wishing to submit representations to our application must give notice in writing to the licensing authority at the web address above or licensing@ lbhf.gov.uk giving the grounds of objection by 22/07/2026. It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, liable on conviction to an unlimited fine, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application.

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

WLF Ventures Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, London, SW49DE which would authorise the following licensable activities: Recorded Music (background music) - 18:00 –22:00 on Saturday 19th September 2026 & Sunday 20th September 2026

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 7th July 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).

SHEILA PATRICIA KAYE

Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Park Lodge Care Home, 9 Canadian Avenue, Catford, London, SE6 3AU, who died on 31/03/2025, must send written details to the address below by 04/09/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified.

Taylor Haldane Barlex LLP, Hampton House, 137 Beehive Lane, Chelmsford, CM2 9RX.

Ref: EB/29688

Notice of Application to apply for a Premises Licence made under the Licensing Act 2003

Please take notice that

Name of Applicant: Mr. Faheem Niazi

Have made application to the London Borough of Merton to apply for a New Premises Licence in respect of:

Full name postal address of the premises: Peri Peri Chicken Bites, 253 London Road, Mitcham, CR4 3NH

The application is as follows: Late Night Refreshment – Both on and off the premises Sunday to Thursday – 23.00 hours to 01.00 hours Friday & Saturday - 23.00 hours to 02.00 hours

A register of all applications made with the London Borough of Merton is maintained by: LICENSING SECTION, LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON, 2ND FLOOR, CIVIC CENTRE, LONDON ROAD, MORDEN, SURREY, SM4 5DX

A record of this application may be inspected by appointment at Merton Civic Centre. Please email licensing@merton.gov.uk or telephone 020 8545 3969.

It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives.

Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Section at the office or email address above and be received by the Merton’s Licensing Section within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below.

Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

Date application given to the Council: 29/06/2026

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION TO VARY A PREMISES LICENCE

TAKE NOTICE THAT I/WE

Applicant: Tamak Cafe Ltd

Premises name: Talli Kitchen

Premises address: Unit 40B, Walnuts Centre, Orpington, BR6 0TW

do hereby give notice that I/we have applied to the Licensing Authority at The London Borough of Bromley for a variation of a Premises Licence, submitted on this date: 25 June 2026

Proposed licensable activities:

Variation of the existing premises licence to change the trading name from Talli Kitchen to Strikers Bar and to amend the premises from a restaurant-led venue to a sports bar and social entertainment venue. The application includes live sports screening, recorded music, live music, regulated entertainment, interactive games, late night refreshment and associated alcohol sales.

Alcohol is sought Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday 08:00 to 00:00, and Sunday 08:00 to 23:00. Live music, recorded music and late night refreshment are sought Friday and Saturday 23:00 to 00:00. Limited nonstandard timings are sought for Christmas Eve, Sundays before Bank Holiday Mondays, and New Year’s Eve.

This is an application to vary the existing Premises Licence.

All representations must be received within 28 days after the date of application.

Any person wishing to make representations to this application may do so by writing, stating the grounds of objection, to: Licensing, Civic Centre, Churchill Court, 2 Westmoreland Road, Bromley BR1 1AS. Representations may also be sent via email to licensing@bromley.gov.uk

A copy of the application can be viewed at the Licensing Authority’s address during normal office hours by appointment; or viewed on the Council’s website: www.bromley.gov.uk – search applications.

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

Signed: Simon Francis, Licensing Professionals, on behalf of the applicant Date: 26 June 2026

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that ONECHURCHROAD

LIMITED has applied to Richmond Council for a new premises licence at One Church Road, 1 Church Road, Barnes, London, SW13 9HE for Sale/Supply of Alcohol – For consumption on and off the premises - Monday to Sunday – 10:00 hrs to 00:00 (Midnight) hrs

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 29th July 2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils)

Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website https://www.richmond.gov.uk/licensing_applications _received

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

LICENSING ACT 2003

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE

Name of applicant: Syed Shah Ventures Ltd

Postal address of premises: Pepe's Piri Piri46 Tolworth Broadway, Surrey, KT6 7HR

Application Details: Late Night Refreshments Monday - Sunday 11 :00am - 02:00am

Full details of the application can be inspected on the licensing register, online at www.kingston.gov.uk or in person at the address given below.

Deadline for representations: 23rd July 2026

Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Authority by post: Licensing Team, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Guildhall 2, High Street, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1EU or by email: licensing@kingston.gov.uk

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum penalty on conviction of such an offence is an unlimited fine.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES ACT 1991: SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENSING NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A NEW LICENCE

Notice is given that Hair Studio By Ana Magalhaes Ltd has applied to the LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH for a SPECIAL TREATMENTS LICENCE to carry out the following treatments: Body massage, Facial (basic only), Manicure, Pedicure, Sports massage, Micro pigmentation, Manual lymphatic drainage.

At the premises known as: Hair Studio By Ana Magalhaes at 14 Clapham Road – London SW9 0JG

Anyone wishing to object to this application must give notice in writing, stating the grounds of objection, to the Licensing Authority, Lambeth Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG (or via email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk) within 28 days of the date of this application.

Date of Application: 03/07/2026

Licensing Act 2023

Notice of Application for variation of a Premises Licence

Name of applicant: David John Curness

Postal address of premises: Mellows Pavilion Cafe, Mellow Park, Stafford Road, Wallington, SM6 9BU.

Application details: To vary the current premises licence which currently allows the sale of alcohol (on the premises) from 11:00am to 5:30pm to 11:00am to 8:00pm Everyday. Existing conditions will remain unchanged.

Full details of the application can be inspected on the licensing register, online at www.sutton.gov.uk or in person at the address given below.

Deadline for representations: 22nd July 2026

Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Authority by post: Licensing Manager, Kingston and Sutton Shared Enviromment Service, London Borough of Sutton, Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1EA or by email: licensing@sutton.gov.uk

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum penalty on conviction of such an offence is an unlimited fine.

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS –NETTLEFOLD PLACE

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable gas connection works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order, the effect of which would be to: (a) temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding, waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle or parking in that length of Nettlefold Place which lies between the common boundary of Nos. 3 and 5-9 Nettlefold Place, and a point 9 metres south west of that common boundary;. (b) temporarily suspend the one-way traffic system in Nettlefold Place between its northernmost and southernmost junctions with Knight’s Hill.

2. The alternative route for affected vehicles would be available via Knight’s Hill.

3. The Order would come into force on 22 July 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 9 days to complete.

Dated 3 July 2026 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 – SECTION 247

STOPPING UP OF HIGHWAYS LAND OF WOODGATE DRIVE SW16

[NOTE: This Notice is about stopping up part of the highway of Woodgate Drive so that it ceases to be public highway and becomes part of the redeveloped land at 100 Woodgate Drive SW16 area.

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order under Section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2. The Order authorises the stopping-up of an area of the public highway of Woodgate Drive SW16 as described in the Schedule to this notice and as shown on SV-OCSC-XX-XX-DR-C-0114 attached to the Order.

3. The Order is made to enable the stopping-up of the highway only to enable the development described in the Schedule to this Notice to be carried out in accordance with the planning permission granted by the Council on 7 April 2025 under reference 22/00300/FUL and will be for no other purpose.

4. A copy of the Order and the relevant plan may be inspected, free of charge, during normal office hours on Mondays to Fridays inclusive (excluding bank holidays and public holidays) at the offices of Lambeth Council’s Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG. To arrange an inspection please email Trafficorders@lambeth.gov.uk

5. ANY PERSON aggrieved by the Order and desiring to question the validity thereof, or of any provision contained therein on the ground that it is not within the powers of the above Act or that any regulation made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order may, within 6 weeks of 3 July 2026, apply to the High Court for the suspension or quashing of the Order or any provision contained therein.

Dated 3 July 2026 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

SCHEDULE

1.

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – PILGRIM HILL

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable bridge inspection works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding, waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle in that length of Pilgrim Hill, between its junctions with Auckland Hill and Norwood High Street.

2. The alternative route for affected vehicles would be available via Auckland Hill, St Cloud Road, St Gothard Road, Vale Street, Tritton Road, Martell Road, Robson Road and Norwood High Street.

3. The Order would come into force on 20 July 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is

Replacement of the existing timber single-glazed windows and the single-glazed timber rear door with timber double-glazed sash window units and timber double-glazed casement window units, plus timber with double-glazed pane rear door. 26/01449/FUL

79 - 87 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7HR Replacement of 3x banner signs with display of 2x internally illuminated freestanding digital LED panels and 1x non-illuminated surround banner. 26/01754/ADV

17 Whittlesey Street London Lambeth SE1 8SZ Partial rebuilding of existing garage, internal insulation, floor slab and roof replacement, replacement doors and windows (all proposed works are to the garage only)

(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 26/01787/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 26/01786/FUL) 26/01787/LB 42A Portland Grove London SW8 1JG Installation of an external air source heat pump unit and roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to the existing roof. 26/01391/FUL

125 - 133 Norwood High Street London SE27 9JF Demolition of existing buildings and hardstanding and erection of 5-storey building containing ground floor Class E (g) ii and iii and 14 (6x 1-bed, 7x 2-bed, 1x 3-bed) residential units, with associated amenity space, refuse and cycle parking.

(Reconsultation due to amended description and revised plans/documents) 25/00751/FUL

20 Albert Square London Lambeth SW8 1BS Internal and external alterations comprising repair, restoration, reconfiguration and partial demolition works including replacement of windows and doors and associated works (Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 26/01737/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 26/01736/FUL) 26/01737/LB

10 St John's Crescent London SW9 7LZ Conversion of existing two-storey flat to create three separate single-storey flats along with the replacement of two windows for doors at the rear and side lowerground floors 26/01785/FUL Mahatma Gandhi Industrial Estate, Milkwood Road, London SE24 0JF

Change of use of Units 3 and 4 from industrial/storage (Use Class B2) to a community gym and ancillary community outreach space (Use Class E(d)) for a temporary period of up to five years. (This application is a DEPARTURE APPLICATION as it conflicts with Policy ED3 of the Lambeth Local Plan 2021). 26/01850/RG3

Dated this Friday 03/07/2026

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

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 – SECTION 247 STOPPING UP OF HIGHWAYS LAND OF ROYAL STREET SE1

[NOTE: This Notice is about stopping up part of the highway of Royal Street so that it ceases to be public highway and becomes part of the redeveloped land comprising of the existing Canterbury House, Stangate House, 10 Royal Street and 20 Carlisle Lane sites.

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order under Section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2. The Order authorises the stopping-up of an area of the public highway of Royal Street SE1 as described in the Schedule to this notice and as shown on Drawing No. 267582-00-T-SU003-E attached to the Order.

3. The Order is made to enable the stopping-up of the highway only to enable the development described in the Schedule to this Notice to be carried out in accordance with the planning permission granted by the Council on 20 December 2023 under reference 22/01206/EIAFUL and will be for no other purpose.

4. A copy of the Order and the relevant plan may be inspected, free of charge, during normal office hours on Mondays to Fridays inclusive (excluding bank holidays and public holidays) at the offices of Lambeth Council’s Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG. To arrange an inspection please email Trafficorders@lambeth.gov.uk.

5. ANY PERSON aggrieved by the Order and desiring to question the validity thereof, or of any provision contained therein on the ground that it is not within the powers of the above Act or that any regulation made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order may, within 6 weeks of 3 July 2026, apply to the High Court for the suspension or quashing of the Order or any provision contained therein.

Dated 3 July 2026 Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

SCHEDULE

1. Demolition of the majority of existing buildings including Canterbury House, Stangate House, 10 Royal Street and 20 Carlisle Lane; part retention of existing buildings on Plot E and change of use and refurbishment of the railway arches (Plot F); comprehensive phased redevelopment of the site to provide a mixed use development of buildings containing commercial

2. The location of the proposed development requires the stopping up of Royal Street as follows, and are shown hatched black on the relevant

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 16A

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS –THE GIPSY HILL FETE SAINSBURY ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to enable local residents/ communities to hold The Gipsy Hill Fete, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be, between 12:01am and 11:59pm on 12 July 2026 to prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of Sainsbury Road between its junctions with Gipsy Hill and Bairstow Road.

2. The restrictions will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs on the date and times specified above.

Dated 3 July 2026

Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable a crane operation, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of Lambeth Walk which lies between its junction with China Walk and 31 metres north-west of

with Brixton Water Lane and Effra Road.

2. The alternative route for affected vehicles would be available via Brixton Water Lane and Effra Road.

3. The Order would come into force on 20 July 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 6 months, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works would take 8 weeks to complete.

3

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LYNN END SEASON IN STYLE

By Sports Reporter

LYNN ABC had two winners in their last show of the season at Balham ABC.

Hashmat Borumand was in action first against Luis Martinez from Marciano ABC. Borumand put in a solid performance, never stopped

throwing punches from the first bell, and went on to claim victory with a convincing points decision.

“I was so pleased for Hashmat getting the win,” Lynn coach Terry Pearson said. “After losing his first three bouts of the season, he wasn’t going to let this one slip away and he out-worked his opponent in every round.”

Billy McDonald then took on Iman Siddiqui from Southall ABC for the 67 kg Balham Challenge Belt. It was listed as a special event bout - and it didn’t disappoint.

Both boxers came out looking for the stoppage and never stopped throwing bombs, but the bout still went all four

rounds, before McDonald won with a unanimous points decision victory.

“Like Hashmat, Bill had been on a poor run of results of late, so to finish the season with a win and take home a belt, I couldn’t have been more happy,” Pearson said. “He will now have to defend his belt at the beginning of next season on the Balham ABC show.”

Michalik edged out by defending Box Cup champ

By John Kelly

BERMONDSEY’S WIKTORIA Michalik was just edged out by defending champion Tiffany Macquet in the prestigious Haringey Box Cup at Alexandra Palace last month.

Haringey’s Macquet, who had won 50 of her previous 54 bouts, came through to win the last round of the 57kg contest against Bodyshots’ Michalik.

“We won the first round clearly,” coach George Wadman said. “We’d trained Victoria specifically for this championship and were happy with the start.

“The second round Tiffany pushed Wiktoria and won it so it was literally on the last round. Tiffany did what all great champions do and nicked the last round.

“This is the highest of levels and Wiktoria was completely in the fight, which was so competitive, so we’re happy.

“Our one and only gripe is that this fight should have been the final in which Wiktoria would have had a silver medal for the same fight and result.”

Macquet beat Esther Lambe (IATBA) in the semis-final before being defeated by Caitlyn Wise (Worcester City) in the final.

Meanwhile, Michalik is featured alongside her coaches George and Andrew Wadman in a boxing documentary called ‘The Brutal Spectacle’. It was filmed over eight months months and features the training, preparation and sacrifice that it takes to be an elite boxer.

Philippe hits debut half-century as Three Feathers thump Sussex

Surrey 175-3 beat Sussex 171 by seven wickets

By ECB Reporters Network

SURREY’S INCONSISTENT

Vitality

Blast season received a major boost at Hove last weekend when they thumped Sussex by seven wickets wickets with 4.3 overs to spare.

Surrey must have thought they would be facing a chase well in excess of 200 when Sussex surged to 92 without loss in seven overs. But Sussex failed to double their score from that position, losing ten wickets

for 77 runs as bowlers Dan Lawrence and Tom Lawes put a stranglehold on the home team.

That left Surrey needing just 172 for victory and Will Jacks, with memories of his century here last season, and Australian Josh Philippe, making his first appearance for the club, led the way with a century stand for the second wicket, each scoring 50 from 25 deliveries.

After the early loss of Jason Roy, Surrey raced to 124-1 at the halfway stage. Philippe fell for 52 but Jacks, with an unbeaten 70 off 39 balls, saw Surrey comfortably home in the company of Lawrence with 27 balls

remaining.

Sussex had chosen to bat and made a great start to their innings, striking 80 without loss off the six-over powerplay.

Dan Hughes, Sussex’s leading scorer in the competition this season, was matched by opening partner Harrison Ward, fresh from a 41-ball century for the second team at Horsham in midweek.

When Surrey captain Sam Curran came on to bowl the last over of the powerplay Ward hit him for 4-6-4-6-dot-4, the first six flying over square-leg and out of the ground. But from 94 without loss in the eighth over Sussex lost quick wickets

as Lawrence and Lawes brought some control back to the Surrey attack.

Ward was first to go, lbw to Lawrence whose opening over cost just two runs.

Ward’s 29-ball 49 included seven fours and two sixes. And in the next over Hughes drove Lawes straight to Chris Jordan at extra-cover for a 19-ball 45, with six fours and two sixes.

James Coles, playing probably his last Vitality Blast game for Sussex before joining England’s T20 squad, had scored just two when he lifted Lawes to Jordan at long-on. In the next over Oli Carter was bowled by Lawes for another two

Veteran striker Mills among Hamlet returnees

By John Kelly

DULWICH HAMLET returned to pre-season training this week with fourteen players contracted so far for the 2026-27 season.

Goalkeeper Toby Bull and defender

Tom Chambers return for their second seasons at Champion Hill.

Michael Chambers is heading into his fourth campaign in his current spell with the club.

Last season’s player of the year Sean Bonnett-Johnson, Jordan

Wynter, Gaspar Mico, Lonit Talla, Sol Baugh, Amadou Kassarate and Jadan Raymond have also returned.

Attacking midfielders Luke Wanadio and Nyren Clunis are once again part of Mark Dacey’s squad.

Danny Mills is back for an eighth season, while fellow striker David Smith is heading into his first full campaign after an impressive second half of the 2025-26 season.

Dulwich travel to Jersey Bulls for their first pre-season game on July 11.

and when John Simpson swung Lawes straight into the hands of Lawrence at deep midwicket Sussex were suddenly 122-5 and had lost five wickets in as many overs for just 28 runs.

At that stage Sussex, with a long tail, relied on Tom Alsop, and he played well for 31 before clipping Reece Topley to fine leg.

Unusually, Lawrence and Lawes bowled out their full allocation in one spell, and in tandem, taking the first five wickets and turning the game.

Surrey travel to the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol this Saturday to face Gloucestershire (7pm).

Surrey in shock defeat

By ECB Reporters Network

WARWICKSHIRE PROVIDED arguably the shock of this season’s Women’s T20 Blast so far as they moved off the foot of the table by beating high-flying Surrey.

Half-centuries from Abbey Freeborn and Davina Perrin helped Warwickshire post 172-5 at Edgbaston.

Surrey fell well short on 130 in reply as they suffered only a second defeat in the competition this summer, while the hosts posted their first win. Surrey are at Trent Bridge to take on The Blaze on Friday (2.30pm).

Hashmat Borumand, left, and Billy McDonald

Danny Mills heads towards goal

EAGLES STRIKER VOWS TO BOUNCE BACK

Jorgen

Strand Larsen

missed penalty after replacing Erling Haaland in Norway side

By John Kelly

CRYSTAL PALACE striker Jorgen

Strand Larsen shrugged off his penalty miss in Norway’s 4-1 defeat to France, saying he had the “courage” to take it.

Strand Larsen could have made it 3-2 early in the second half only for goalkeeper Mike Maignan to save his attempt.

Both teams had already qualified for the last 32, but Didier Deschamps’ side topped Group I after Ousmane Dembele’s brilliant hat-trick inside 32 minutes.

“I feel like I had the courage to go up and shoot the penalty, to help the team, help the nation,” Strand Larsen said. “You always think that you’re going to be the hero, but you forget a little bit that you can miss. But that happens. I’ve missed before, I’ve scored before, so it’s unfortunate that it happened. I wish that I could go back and change it and shoot the ball in the top corner, but that’s how it is.

“You have to learn from it, and luckily for me and for us, it wasn’t the most important game in that way. We were through already, and we have to focus on

the next game [against Ivory Coast] – and then I will score instead.”

Strand Larsen was making his World Cup debut against a France side for whom Eagles team-mates Maxence Lacroix and Jean-Philippe Mateta were also making their first-ever appearances in the tournament.

Strand Larsen was in the team instead of Erling Haaland, in one of ten changes made by Norway boss Stale Solbakken. Haaland scored four goals in Norway’s first two games as he vies for the Golden Boot with the likes of France’s Kylian Mbappe and England’s Harry Kane.

“He’s unreal,” Strand Larsen said. “First of all, he’s a great guy, and second of all, he’s a great footballer, which is very important for us.

“I think we can just look forward to what’s coming. And from today’s game, we have some things to learn, but some things to be proud of as well. So we’re just going to be positive.”

Strand Larsen added. ““It’s unbelievable to be in the national team now. The competition to get in the starting eleven is unreal.

“Obviously, we have the main man up front, which keeps me on the bench. And

Dons sign Sessegnon - and add promotion winner to coaching staff

By Manuel Salazar

AFC WIMBLEDON have signed Steven Sessegnon after the defender left Wigan Athletic on a free transfer this summer.

Sessegnon, 26, brother of Fulham’s

Steven Sessegnon in action for Wigan

Ryan, has signed a two-year deal and is the Dons’ second signing of the summer after centre-back Dan Sweeney joined from Stevenage.

Full-back Sessegnon, who can play on the right and left, had loan spells at Bristol City, Plymouth Argyle and Charlton Athletic before leaving the Cottagers for Wigan in 2023.

He has made 146 career appearances.

“When the opportunity to come to Wimbledon came about, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get myself going again and show what I’m about,” Sessegnon said on the club’s website. “It’s a lovely stadium to come and play at, I can’t wait to be out there with it full and the fans cheering.”

Manager Johnnie Jackson added:

“Steven’s a really experienced signing that’s played for some big clubs at this level and above. He comes to us with a point to prove, he wants to get back

to playing regularly. He brings good versatility, he can play either side as a wing-back or as a full-back.”

Meanwhile, the Dons have added former Charlton Athletic centre-back Michael Morrison to their coaching team.

Morrison, 38, retired from playing in the summer after helping former Millwall boss Neil Harris’ Cambridge United earn promotion from League Two.

Morrison started his career with the U’s and was a team-mate of Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson at Charlton Athletic.

He has been studying for his coaching badges for thirteen years and has the highest qualification, the Pro Licence.

“I’m really happy to be here, I always wanted to move into coaching when my career as a player finished,”

Morrison said. “Wimbledon is a club

which is greatly connected from the fans right through to what you see on the pitch. It’s a club that expects a hardworking team, so we need to ensure that’s what we have.

“My role as first-team coach will be to provide strong communication and help to the players, in order provide that link between the staff and the squad. Johnnie Jackson and [head of recruitment] Craig Cope are two people that I know very well. I have trust in them and they’ve put their trust in me.”

Jackson said: “Michael is an exciting young coach who is really keen to make his mark on the coaching side of football. He has vast experience in the EFL and was captain at the majority of clubs that he played for. Myself and Craig both have a good relationship with him and we believe he has the leadership qualities that fit into what we’re trying to achieve.”

luckily so, we have so many good players.

“Today we showed our quality. To change ten players from the last game to now, and still be in the game, and almost give France a [tough game]…if we scored the penalty or another chance, it would have been 3-2 and it would be a tough game.

“I think we should be proud of ourselves and just learn from it. But to be a part of this generation is unbelievable. We have so many good footballers and we can learn from each other every day.”

Norway’s last-32 game against Ivory Coast was in midweek.

Ravens

By Patrick Fanning

IDRIS ODUTAYO has left Bromley after the Ravens couldn’t agree a new deal with the defender.

Bromley wanted to extend the 23-year-old’s stay at Hayes Lane but he has left to explore other options.

Odutayo joined from Fulham in the summer of 2024 and made 88 league appearances for Andy Woodman’s side. He played 51 times in all competitions last season as Bromley won the League Two title.

Kyle Cameron’s is also leaving BR2 this summer.

Defender Cameron, 29, signed on a free transfer from Notts County last summer.

He made eighteen league appearances, scoring twice.

Defensive duo depart

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s penalty is saved by Mike Maignan

© Ulrik

By John Kelly

SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL Ivan

Mesik says he can’t wait to play at The Valley after he was confirmed as Charlton Athletic’s first signing of the summer.

Left-sided defender Mesik, 25, signed a four-year deal after joining from Dutch side Heracles Almelo for an undisclosed fee.

Mesik began his career at hometown club MFK Dukla Banska Bystrica before signing for Spartak Trnava, where he made his senior professional debut in 2019.

Mesik then had spells with Nordsjælland in Denmark and Italy’s Pescara before he moved to top-flight Heracles Almelo in the summer of 2024. He made 63 appearances in the Eredivisie, scoring three goals.

Mesik has three caps for Slovakia.

“I feel proud, I hope my family is proud because it is a huge step for me, I feel amazing,” Mesik said.

“I have had a good welcome here, so it feels great from the start, and I can’t wait to get started.

“I would say I have been slowly building up and progressing in every country I have been in. They were all big experiences because I was very young, so I just had to get through it, I tried to learn and take every little thing from it so I could be more experienced.”

“This football is elite footballeverybody wants to play here. There are a lot of good clubs here and a lot of good facilities and conditions. I think it is a dream for everyone to play in England, I am really glad I could come here, it is a really good move for me.”

“I think it can really help me with the national team as well.

“I will put in the work here and I will work consistently, I think I can get better for the future. I have a really good work ethic. I am hard-working and ambitious.”

Mesik described what Addicks fans can expect from him.

“I would say I am aggressive, I like duels, that is my main strength,” he said. “But in the modern time of the footballer, I like to play on the ball, I like to dribble and play through the space when there is a gap, to play between the lines. I am a modern type of player, which is what everyone likes to see. I think the fans will love me and see all the skills I have.”

Mesik is looking forward to making his home debut.

‘I FEEL PROUD’

New Charlton signing ‘can’t wait’ to play at ‘insane’ Valley

He said: “The Valley is insane! When I came here, I could already tell it would be quite a lot bigger than I am used to and have been in before. In terms of stadium, facilities and conditions here it is quite a big step, but it is what we need as professionals in football, so I

am excited. The stadium is really nice, and I can’t wait to see all the fans here.

“Everyone has been so friendly and tried to help me from the first minute and I was really glad about it, now we have to put the work in and help each other.

“Me and the manager had a really good conversation, I was really impressed, because he knew me well.

I am sure that we will talk more in the upcoming weeks about the football and expectations,’ he said.

“I can’t wait, when I heard the stories

about the fans, they are amazing, fantastic, always putting a lot of energy into the team so I can’t wait to meet them here and I hope we will create atmosphere this season and, in the end, it is always about being successful together.”

Lions get pre-season boost as absentees return

By Will Scott

MILLWALL GOT their preparations for the 2026-27 season underway this week - with several injured Lions returning to training.

The majority of the squad were at Calmont Road on Monday, with only Femi Azeez, Mihailo Ivanovic and Max Crocombe absent after being given an additional week off following international duty.

Billy Mitchell was not seen in any of the Lions’ social media posts, with his contract now expired. The midfielder has been offered a new deal.

Barry Bannan was also not seen in any of the club’s social media posts,

and looks increasingly likely to return to Sheffield Wednesday this summer.

New signings Tairyk Arconte and Jenson Metcalfe were present after completing moves from Rodez AF and Bradford City, respectively, earlier this month.

Lukas Jensen, Kamarl Grant, Caleb Taylor and Dan Kelly all missed the end of last season but were involved on the first day of pre-season.

Tristan Crama was available for the entirety of the campaign - starting all 48 Championship fixtures including the play-off semifinals - but suffered an ankle injury towards the end of the Lions’ 2-0 second-leg loss to Hull City. The 24-year-old Frenchman enjoyed a

brilliant campaign, and was named in the Championship team of the season alongside Azeez. Taylor, 23, missed that semi-final defeat entirely with a foot issue that kept him out for most of the final two months of the season. The defender had been a key part of a Lions defence that kept the most clean sheets in the division, making 28 appearances and scoring three goals, including a screamer in the 3-2 win against Southampton last November.

Jensen, the Lions’ number one keeper in the 2024-25 season, missed all of the last campaign. He suffered an Achilles injury in April 2025, and after returning to fitness last December, he sustained

a season-ending quad injury while playing for the under-21s.

The 27-year-old Dane has made 43 appearances in all competitions since signing from League One Lincoln City, keeping fifteen clean sheets.

Defender Grant, 23, spent the first half of last season in Millwall’s firstteam squad after two consecutive loans to Bromley, making four cup appearances, before being loaned out to League One Blackpool. He impressed in his first two starts before suffering a season-ending ankle injury on his third.

Midfielder Kelly, 20, missed a large chunk of last season with a hamstring injury. He made twelve appearances in all competitions.

Ivan Mesik hurdles a tackle playing for Nordsjælland

Tristan Crama injured his ankle in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals

PALACE TARGET TOULOUSE DEFENDER

Eagles centre-back Lacroix set for Chelsea move

By John Kelly

CRYSTAL PALACE are targeting Toulouse centre-back Charlie Cresswell as a potential replacement for France international Maxence Lacroix. Lacroix, 26, is a £50million target for new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso. Some reports have claimed that a deal is already in place and will be announced after the World Cup.

Lacroix played in the side’s 4-1 win against Norway in their final group game before he was a substitute as Didier Deschamps’ tournament favourites beat former Chelsea boss Graham Potter’s Sweden 3-0 in the last 32 to set up a last-16 tie against Paraguay on Saturday.

Conference League.

Preston-born Cresswell, 23, started his career at Leeds United, where he made fourteen appearances.

After a successful loan spell at Millwall, where he scored four goals in 30 Championship games in 2022-23, he moved to French Ligue 1 side Toulouse in the summer of 2024. He has scored six goals in 60 games in the top flight.

New Palace boss Pierre Sage could also have to deal with interest in England midfielder Adam Wharton and attacker Ismaila Sarr, who has helped Senegal into the last 32 of the World Cup. They were in action against Belgium in midweek.

Previous boss Oliver Glasner was unhappy that Palace sold Eberechi Eze last summer and Marc Guehi in January as he felt they didn’t sign adequate replacements.

Lacroix joined the Eagles from Wolfsburg for £18million in the summer of 2024. He has made 70 Premier League appearances, scoring twice, and helped the club win the first three major trophies in their history: the FA Cup, Community Shield and Uefa

Despite that, Glasner led the side to European glory, with Lacroix a key figure in the team after captain Guehi’s departure.

By John Kelly

CHARLTON ATHLETIC managing director James Rodwell said the club were “looking to cast the net further” after the Addicks signed Slovakia international Ivan Mesik this week.

Left-sided defender Mesik, 25, joined from Eredivisie.side Heracles Almelo on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Mesik is Charlton’s first signing of the summer as they prepare for a second successive Championship season.

“As with the signing of Collins Sichenje in February, Ivan is a player we’ve tracked for a long time,” Rodwell said. “We’re being targeted in our recruitment and looking to cast the net further and wider when identifying potential signings.

“Ivan has a profile we believe fits our long term plan, and we’re confident he has the potential to grow with us as we continue to build in a sustainable way.”

Addicks boss Nathan Jones added: “We’re delighted to add Ivan to the squad. We’ve monitored him for a while and he comes with real good pedigree playing in the Eredivisie. He’s a player that we’re excited about. He’s an excellent athlete, a great size and very versatile in terms of being able to play down the left-hand side and can cover the right side as well.

“He’s someone that’s really hungry to do well. We beat off an awful lot of competition to get him and he’ll provide a wonderful option down that left-hand side.” Meanwhile, League One Stevenage have signed former Charlton Athletic midfielder Terry Taylor on a free transfer.

The 24-year-old agreed a two-year deal with an option for a further year after he left the Addicks this summer. Taylor joined Charlton from Burton Albion in the summer of 2023, but only played thirteen league games before he made 49 appearances during a season-long loan at Northampton Town in 2025-26.