Southwark News - April 3rd 2025

MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

Issue 1731

Est: 1987

50p

GREEN LIGHT FOR ELEPHANT TOWERS

See page 4

April 3 2025

southwarknews.co.uk

CONNOLLY ADMITS HIS FUTURE AT THE CLUB IS UNCERTAIN

EXCLUSIVE See page 9

Council backlog:

MY KITCHEN AND BATHROOM ARE NEARLY HALF A CENTURY OLD

‘12 YEARS TOO LATE’ for one woman, as council plans to page 4 prioritiseSeedomestic violence victims for housing EXCLUSIVE

See page 15 See page 4

TOP SUMMER FESTIVALS

See page 6

EXCLUSIVE

HOW TRUE IS THIS HIT HISTORIC DRAMA?

See page 22

2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-16 OPINION Pages 18-19 ARTS Pages 20-21 EVENTS Page 22 MOTHER’S DAY MESSAGES Page 23 CLASSIFIED Page 24 PUBLIC NOTICES Pages 25-26 SPORT Pages 29-32

LABOUR COUNCIL VOTES AGAINST MOTION TO SCRAP TWO CHILD BENEFIT CAP

By Issy Clarke SOUTHWARK’S LABOUR-LED council voted against a motion calling on the government to scrap the two child benefit cap at Council Assembly on Thursday, 19 March.

Labour councillors unanimously opposed the Liberal Democrat motion condemning the cap, which was introduced by the Conservatives in 2017 and limits welfare payments to families with more than two children.

Thirty six per cent of children in Southwark live in poverty according to the 2021 census.

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrat Opposition, said: “Labour promised to stand up for struggling families but are keeping a cruel Conservative policy that pushes thousands of Southwark children into poverty.

“Southwark Labour promised to ‘hold feet to the fire’ but are giving their own government an easy ride.

“The Liberal Democrats will keep fighting to scrap this unfair policy and lift children out of poverty – because unlike Labour, we actually stand by our principles.”

He highlighted a motion passed by Labour controlled Leicester City Council in January calling for the cap to be scrapped.

Cllr Jasmine Ali hit back by blaming child poverty on the Liberal Democrats, who served in a coalition government with the Conservatives between 2010 and 2015.

“It’s a bit distasteful really for the Lib Dems to lecture anyone on the impact of child poverty” she said.

Cllr Victor Chamberlain speaking at Council Assembly on Thursday, 19 March “The Lib Dems - the co-founders of austerity, the architects behind one third of council spending cuts since 2010, and whose actions plunged so many of our families into desperate need.”

Cllr Chamberlain also called on the Labour leader to denounce the sweeping welfare reforms set out by the government in the House of Commons last week.

The changes, aimed at saving £5 billion a year by 2030, include stricter tests for personal independence payments and a

halving of extra benefit payments for new claimants with health conditions.

Cllr Kieron Williams responded he had “not yet seen the full details” of the policy.

In July last year, the Lib Dems put forward a motion to urge the Council council leader to back their calls to abandon the two-child cap ahead of a crunch vote in Parliament, but Kieron Williams refused to condemn the policy.

But he also said Southwark Council would hold the Labour government’s “feet to the

The motion was proposed in response to reforms introduced by the Elections Act restricting voting rights for EU citizens who moved to the UK after January 2021 when Britain formally left the trading bloc. The law was passed in April 2022 and the changes are being rolled out gradually.

The only EU citizens now eligible to vote in local elections are those from countries that the UK has a voting rights treaty with - Portugal, Spain, Poland, Luxembourg and Denmark.

The Elections Act also introduced the requirement to show photographic voter ID at polling stations.

Cllr Dalton called on the government to introduce a residence-based voter registration system such as the one used in Scotland and Ireland where all legally resident foreign

nationals can vote.

He added the new system would “cause confusion and will reduce voter turnout in local elections amongst migrant voters, a group already under-registered compared to British voters.

“This is particularly pertinent in Southwark, where more than 40% of our residents were born outside of the UK – over 121,000 people.

“Furthermore, a burden will be placed on Local Authorities managing the removal of a significant number of EU citizens from the electoral register. This may result in some being wrongfully removed from the electoral register.”

Twenty councils have passed motions calling for all residents to be given the right to vote in local elections, including Hackney, Lambeth and Lewisham.

fire” where necessary.

“We’re not going to give them an easy ride,” he said.

The two-child benefit cap has also been a source of contention among Labour MPs, a debate that was reinvigorated by Labour’s electoral win last year.

The King’s Speech did not include a pledge to scrap the cap, leading seven Labour MPs to rebel against the government to vote for an SNP amendment to abolish the policy in July 2024.

Councillors back motion to extend franchise in local elections

By Issy Clarke

Contact us if you have a story on editor@ southwarknews.co.uk

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

for our news team?

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

SOUTHWARK COUNCIL has called on the government to allow all foreign residents to vote in local elections.

The motion, proposed by Labour Cllr Sam Dalton and which passed following an unanimous vote in Council Assembly last Wednesday, called for all legally resident foreign nationals to be given the right to vote in local elections.

Currently only British, Irish, Commonwealth and some EU citizens can vote in local elections.

Cllr Dalton said: “Part of calling Southwark home is having a right to vote. That is why we are calling for a fair, national approach to voting rights for migrants - so that everyone in Southwark has the right to have their say.”

MILLWALL NEWS

Issue 1730

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

Est: 1987

50p

March 27 2025

southwarknews.co.uk

Crunch time for plan for three huge towers in Elephant

BRYAN ADDRESSES MILLWALL FUTURE See Page 22

HAVING A BALL IN WATERLOO See page 16

TALL ORDER See page 4

‘HOUSING OFFER TOO LOW’ SAYS PROTESTING CAMPAIGNERS See page 4

SIR SIMON HUGHES MAKING WAVES AT PUBLIC INQUIRY

Cllr Sam Dalton with Cllr Joseph Vambe (left) who seconded the motion, with Zara Nasheed fromm Migrant Democracy Project

The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper.

It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn.

Former reporters for Southwark News, they bought the title in 2002, after the founder Dave Clark died suddenly from cancer four years earlier.

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

Follow our social media to be updated on local news

southwark-news

@southwark_news

Southwark News is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry).

We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258.

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

NEWS 3

© Auction House London

‘Uninhabitable’ home sells for £117k

The property needs a ful refurbishment before it can be lived in

The kitchen

By Isabel Ramirez A TWO-BED flat in South London in such a bad condition it was described as ‘uninhabitable’ has sold at auction for £117,000 above its guide price.

The ground-floor property in Thamsemead was initially priced at just £90k - due to its poor condition and leasehold status.

But at a competitive auction last week, it sold at £117,000 which property expert and CEO of homebuying platform OneDome, Babek Ismayil, says proves just how desperate buyers are to get onto the property ladder - even when a home is barely livable.

Mr Ismayil commented: “A property just over £100k in London might seem like a bargain, but this sale highlights

the extreme affordability crisis buyers are facing. Even in an uninhabitable state, without a working kitchen, the property still sold for well above its guide price.”

The flat, located in a purpose-built block near Abbey Wood station, includes a reception room, kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and access to communal gardens.

The walls are covered in mould and

Penthouse with Tower Bridge views for sale at £1.85m The mezzanine

A THREE-BEDROOM penthouse near Bermondsey station, with views of Tower Bridge, is on the market for £1.85 million.

Spanning 1,700 sq. ft., this duplex apartment sits in Luna House, Bermondsey Wall West on the River Thames.

Down the road in Rotherhithe, a threebedroom apartment in one of the new Canada Water Masterplan buildings, The Founding, would set a buyer back over £2m.

Spread over two floors, the penthouse features floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, and a mezzanine level offering views of St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, and Canary Wharf.

The lower level includes an open-plan kitchen and living area with sliding doors leading to a balcony. The kitchen has modern cream cabinetry, wooden flooring, and integrated lighting.

A staircase with glass panels leads to the mezzanine, which provides additional living space.

The penthouse has three bedrooms, two of which are en-suite, along with an additional bathroom. All rooms have modern finishes and built-in storage.

Robin Chalk, Head of Tower Bridge at Anderson Rose, commented: “This penthouse is one of the most extraordinary homes in the Southwark area, with views that are truly

house prices in the capital soaring to almost £600,000 – more than 12 times the average income – affordability has never been worse.

“And from April 1, the stamp duty nil-rate threshold for all buyers will drop to £125,000, meaning even the cheapest London properties will likely incur tax—piling yet another cost onto buyers in an already unaffordable market.”

Enjoy holiday home ownership at Harts Holiday Park, Isle of Sheppey

© Anderson Rose

By Isabel Ramirez

it needs a full refurbishment before it can be lived in.

Also with just 60 years remaining on its leasehold, it would be difficult to secure a traditional mortgage for the home.

With a six-week completion period available, the sale was expected to attract cash buyers rather than those relying on mortgage lending.

Mr Ismayil added: “With average

10 OPEN

MONTHS▲

Enjoy a new leisure lifestyle with holiday home ownership at Harts Holiday Park with all the comforts of home and handy park facilities on your doorstep!

Key features of Harts

• Just 200 metres from the beach • Leisure venue with large indoor pool and children’s play pool • Fantastic entertainment • Family bar with Sky TV • Kids’ Club for 5-14 year olds and adventure playground

PRE-OWNED HOLIDAY HOMES

BRAND NEW HOLIDAY HOMES

• Free Wi-Fi in the club area

£12,995

£39,995

• Launderette • Pet friendly

from

second to none, it is a rare privilege for anyone who has the opportunity to experience them.

“The location, open-plan layout and contemporary design this home has to offer makes it an attractive option for professionals or a family.”

Residents of Luna House have access to a daytime concierge, lift, bike storage, and two secure parking spaces.

Located five minutes from Bermondsey Underground Station, the property offers quick access to central London via the Jubilee line.

Viewings are by appointment only through estate agency Anderson Rose.

For more information, contact 020 3324 0188 or visit www.andersonrose.co.uk.

from only

3 YEAR 2025

• Restaurant and takeaway • Arcade

2026

From PITCH * FEE DEAL FREE* £3,000

2027 From

£3,300*

FREE SMART TV with any holiday home purchase - mention this advert!

Call to arrange a personal tour and holiday home viewing.

01795 500 552 Harts Holiday Park, Leysdown Road, Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, ME12 4RG

It’s located five minutes away from Bermondsey tube station

*Available on selected models only, on standard pitches. Pitch fees free for the 2025 season only. 2026 pitch fees will be billed in September 2025, with a pitch reservation fee payable in October 2025 – this forms part of your 2026 pitch fee. 2027 pitch fees will be billed in September 2026, with a pitch reservation fee payable in October 2026 – this forms part of your 2027 pitch fee. Early payment discount does not apply for these seasons. 2028 pitch fees will be billed in September 2027 at the published rate for the forthcoming season. A pitch reservation fee is payable in October 2027 – this forms part of your 2028 pitch fee. Pitch fee saver deal also available on large pitches, ask for details at the sales office. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer may be withdrawn or amended without notice. ▲A holiday home cannot be used as your only or main residence.

4 NEWS

DEVELOPMENT WITH TOWERS 44 STOREYS HIGH GETS GO AHEAD

It will be on the site of Mercato Metropolitano at Elephant and 153 of the nearly 900 homes will be social rent The Mercato Metropolitano food hall in Elephant and Castle

GI of the proposed Borough Triangle development (centre)

© Southwark Council planning documents

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter A POPULAR food hall at the heart of the Elephant & Castle community will be bulldozed to make way for almost 900 homes in tower blocks up to 44 storeys high.

The controversial Borough Triangle development, which covers an area the size of one and a half football pitches, was narrowly approved by councillors at a Southwark planning meeting on last Wednesday, March 26.

A slew of buildings will be bulldozed to make way for the Berkeley Homes scheme, including the 100-year-old locally listed Institute of Optometry and a former papermaking factory home to the Mercato Metropolitano food court for the last nine years.

A replacement food hall is part of the planned development. But until it is finished, most of the 40 traders with stalls in Mercato Metropolitano will have to find alternative arrangements. Up to 12 will be rehoused in a temporary nearby location

by Berkeley while the scheme is under construction.

An office block, flexible café or retail space and a new community centre, which is expected to be occupied by a Latin American group, also form part of the plans.

The development would create 1,780sq metres of public space. Buildings that would escape the bulldozer include a locally listed former Baptist church at 82 Borough Road and the façade of next door 83 Borough Road.

Berkeley has set aside a £200,000 business relocation fund to support some of the 423 workers who will be uprooted by the scheme, including the food court traders, and employees of the London School of Musical Theatre, the Institute of Optometry and a vehicle hire firm.

Nina Wessel, a resident who lives near to the development site, said the closure of Mercato Metropolitan would be a huge

loss to the local area. She said: “Over the last nine years this market [Mercato Metroplitano] has become the heart of our community.

Ms Wessel, who is spokesperson for the Save Borough Triangle campaign, added: “It now attracts over 600,000 yearly visitors, provides safe and inclusive spaces and offers activities for children and adults alike. The traders provide jobs, support families and sustain the local economy. This isn’t just a market. It’s a key reason people want to live here.”

But Andrea Ferrario, who runs German Kraft Brewery, a beer stall within the food court, said he supported plans to demolish the existing food hall and create a new one.

He said: “People have between six to 12 months [leases at Mercato Metropolitano].

That’s not enough to establish your business and to give it the security to continue. Having a longer lease, it will help you to establish your business, build your clientèle.”

Ms Wessel also raised concerns about the loss of light to surrounding homes due to the height of the towers. Dipesh Patel, from Southwark Council’s planning team, admitted that there would be ‘major adverse impacts’ on daylight to properties on the Scovell estate, which is opposite the Borough Triangle site.

Of the planned 892 flats, 230 will be affordable (up to 80 per cent of local market rates) and 153 will be social rent. The scheme amounts to 35 per cent affordable housing, in line with the council’s policy.

But just 13 per cent of the new flats will have three bedrooms or more despite the council’s own policy for the area requiring a minimum 20 per cent. However, over twothirds of the 153 social flats will have three beds or more.

Victor Chamberlain, the area’s Liberal Democrat councillor, branded the amount of affordable housing in the development ‘unacceptable’. He said: “Just 153 [homes] are for social rent. That is 17 per cent.

Another 77 are so-called affordable or

intermediate homes.

“In SE1, the average one-bed sells for £659,000. At a shared ownership affordable rate that would still be £527,000.

“That is 16 times the average salary of a Southwark worker – completely out of range for the vast majority. It is a wasted opportunity on one of the last few major sites in SE1.”

An official from Berkeley Homes said the Borough Triangle development would create a ‘thriving, diverse and welcoming neighbourhood with world-class architecture’.

He added that in response to feedback from residents, Berkeley had ‘reduced the height of the tallest two buildings by a net six storeys, added 54 more social rented homes, [and] tripled the number of fourbed social rent homes’, before submitting the final plans.

Councillors waved through the plans by a vote of four to three. Councillors Kath Whittam, Gavin Edwards, Esme Hicks and Richard Livingstone voted in favour.

Councillors Nick Johnson, Darren Merrill and Reginald Popoola voted against.

All are from Labour, except Cllr Johnson who represents the Liberal Democrats.

Councillor Helen Dennis, cabinet member for new homes and sustainable development, said: “We urgently need more affordable homes for local people and despite the many complexities around this site, I am pleased we have secured a policy compliant affordable housing offer – at 35% affordable including 25% social rent homes. That will deliver 153 homes for Southwark families on the housing waiting list which are desperately needed.

“The development will also deliver a 5,000sqft new community centre earmarked for the Latin American community and a new home for Mercato Metropolitano. Through discussions with the developers we have also earmarked a contribution of £1m to mitigate some of the impacts on residents of the neighbouring Scovell Estate.”

WHAT LOCALS SAID Andy Ng, owner of Mazavaroo Club in Mercato Metropolitano, said he wasn’t opposed to Berkeley\’s plans NINA WESSEL, who lives streets away from the planned development, said the buildings were too tall and would result in the destruction of the area’s only tourist attraction.

She said: “Our main concern is the shadowing: it’s the height of the buildings. It’s 44 and 38 floors.

It’s really overpowering. You have tourists coming to the market [Mercato Metropolitano]. It’s the only tourist attraction we have in Elephant and Castle. There’s nothing else.”

Developer Berkeley Homes has confirmed there will be the opportunity for 12 traders in the food court to relocate to a temporary nearby location when Mercato Metropolitano vacates the current premises in 2026. According to Southwark Council planning documents, Berkeley has committed to providing the remaining stall holders with a relocation package.

But Andy Ng, who runs Mauritian

takeaway Mazavaroo Club in Mercarto Metropolitano with his wife Sophie, said to date he had received no information about how the 12 traders who could remain would be selected.

Despite this Mr Ng said he wasn’t opposed to Berkeley’s plans .

He said: “I understand people are opposed to having a tall building, but this place is not historic. Normally I’m not pro kicking people out but nobody lives here.

“I’m fine with the development as long as it’s safe and there’s a courtyard and playground for me and my kid to play. There’s nothing around here where we can go and play.”

Mr Ng added that the current food hall wasn’t ideal, noting that the former paper mill became uncomfortably cold in winter and sometimes suffered power cuts during busy times like Saturday evenings.

NEWS 5

FAMILY PLACED 140 MILES AWAY IN HEREFORDSHIRE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter

Rotherhithe Thames Clipper pier closed ‘until further notice’

By Issy Clarke DOUBLETREE DOCKLANDS pier, where the Uber-Boat by Thames Clippers goes from, has closed ‘until further notice’ with extra services running from Greenland Pier to Canary Wharf every half an hour.

A new pier is being built at the Rotherhithe end and the one at Canary Wharf is being upgraded to support a new electric cross-river passenger ferry due to launch some time in the spring.

The 150-passenger ferry, operated

by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, arrived on the river on March 6 and is being performance-tested before it begins ferrying customers in a couple of months.

Once up and running, the service will cross the river every ten minutes on weekdays and every fifteen minutes at weekends. The price of a ticket will remain unchanged at £4.10.

The pier is expected to be out of service for a total five weeks but this is ‘subject to change’ and dates will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

A SOUTH London family has been living in temporary accommodation 140 miles away in Herefordshire for over five years.

The family is one of 256 homeless households from Lambeth borough who were staying in temporary housing outside the capital as of December 31 last year, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request shows.

Another Lambeth family had been in temporary accommodation in Herefordshire for over four years of the end of 2024, according to the same FOI, submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Lambeth’s town hall in Brixton is more than a three-and-a-half hour drive from Herefordshire Council’s headquarters in Hereford. The train journey from Brixton to Hereford takes around 3 hours and 45 minutes and involves several changes.

Other families from Lambeth were living in temporary accommodation in Walsall in the West Midlands (127

miles away), Birmingham (121 miles away) and Tendring in Essex (86 miles away) as of December 31, 2024.

FOI data shows the number of Lambeth households placed in temporary accommodation outside of London has increased nine-fold in four years from 29 in 2020 to 256 at the end of last year.

Councils are required by law to provide people living in the borough who become homeless with temporary accommodation while they look to find a suitable permanent home.

A severe shortage of cheap housing in London and the South East coupled with a surge in people becoming homeless means local authorities in the capital are placing more and more people further away from the city.

Lambeth Council is currently providing 4,700 homeless households with temporary accommodation—an increase of 50 per cent in the last two years. The council spends £100 million per year on housing families in temporary accommodation, the News reported that Southwark the largest

ELITE FISH BAR 020 7237 6409

social landlord spends £37 million on temporary accommodation.

A council spokesperson said: “Lambeth is one of the country’s biggest social housing landlords, with more than 33,000 council homes, but we are on the front line of a national housing crisis. We are committed to providing the most suitable accommodation available to everyone who comes to us needing a roof above their heads.

“But the acute shortage of affordable accommodation – in Lambeth, London and the South East – and the rising number of people needing a home means it is not always possible to find suitable, permanent accommodation within our borough.

“This means we sometimes have to house people in temporary accommodation, outside Lambeth, until somewhere permanent becomes available.”

The same FOI revealed one family from Newham had been sent to Middlesbrough, around 250 miles away, where they lived in temporary accommodation for eight years.

Traditional fish & chips

OPEN Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 11am-9pm & Sunday CLOSED

Ambrose Street, Bermondsey SE16 3NY (opposite TSB bank)

SPECIAL OFFER*

FISH & CHIPS

REGULAR COD & CHIPS

WAS £11.50 NOW £9.00 *Limited time only

EAT IN OR TAKE AWAY

SPECIAL DEALS

Reg Cod & Chips £11.50 £9.00 £12.00 Large Cod & Chips £14.00 £12.00 Haddock & Chips £14.00 £12.00 Rock & Chips £14.00 £12.00 Plaice & Chips £14.00 £14.00 Skate wing & Chips £15.00 £15.00 Skate middle & Chips £17.00 £9.50 Scampi & Chips £10.50 £6.00 Cod Roe & Chips £6.50 £3.50 Chip Roll £4.00 £4.50 Jumbo sausage & Chips £5.50 £4.50 Battered sausage & Chips £5.50 £4.50 Saveloy & Chips £5.50 £4.50 Fishcake & Chips £5.50 £6.50 Pie & Chips £7.50 £6.50 6 Chicken Nuggets & Chips £7.50 Chips Regular £3.00 Large £6.00

Now on Deliveroo and Uber Eats 36 seater restaurant, eat in or take away - same price

6 NEWS

By Evie Flynn

GALA, PECKHAM RYE PARK:

An independent and community-based festival, celebrating their 10th year anniversary this year. They are all about bringing soulful sounds to the community.

Tickets start at £43.50.

Date: 23rd-25th May

WIDE AWAKE, BROCKWELL PARK (PART OF BROCKWELL LIVE):

From the people behind MOTH club and the Shacklewell Arms, Wide Awake is an independent festival for underground music fans.

Headliners Kneecap, CMAT, and English Teacher are joined by other cutting-edge leftfield artists, such as iconic feminist artist Peaches.

Tickets start at £54.50.

Date: 23rd May

10 OF THE BEST SOUTH LONDON FESTIVALS THIS SUMMER With summer around the corner, it’s time to put these South London events in your diary Cross The Tracks 2024

FIELD DAY, BROCKWELL PARK (PART OF BROCKWELL LIVE):

Field Day has been celebrating underground music and diverse audiences for the last 15 years. Field Day continues to shape the future of electronic music and returns this year with internationally celebrated DJ Peggy Gou. Tickets start at £64.50.

Date: 24th May

CROSS THE TRACKS, BROCKWELL PARK (PART OF BROCKWELL LIVE):

A jazz, soul and funk festival headlined

by Michael Kiwanuka and jazz quartet Ezra Collective. The line up is set to include a mixture of heritage legends and up-and-coming artists.

Tickets start from £59.50 Date: 25th May

CITY SPLASH, BROCKWELL PARK (PART OF BROCKWELL LIVE):

City Splash is a May Bank Holiday

Wide Awake Festival

celebration of Caribbean and African culture with Reggae, Dancehall, Dub and Amapiano music. City Splash advocates for Black music, culture and food and is the world’s biggest independent one-day celebration of Caribbean and African culture, Tickets start at £39.50.

Date: 26th May

PROJECT 6, BROCKWELL PARK:

A festival dedicated to ‘bass-heavy sounds’, including garage, grime, house and jungle. Project 6 returns to Brockwell park this May with dates

and tickets tbc.

Tickets: tbc Date: May (exact date tbc)

UPTOWN FESTIVAL, BLACKHEATH COMMON:

A family-friendly festival headlined by Boy George and Culture Club, allowing you to relive music through the decades and experience their free, interactive entertainment. Tickets start at £52.50.

Tickets: start at £52.50 Date: 27th July

BIG SMOKE FESTIVAL, CRYSTAL PALACE BOWL:

The only place to see Skepta perform live in 2025, the Big Smoke festival returns in August. Presale tickets are released on 7th March.

Tickets: start at £64.40 Date: 9th-10th August

RALLY, SOUTHWARK PARK:

Curated by GALA and Bird On The Wire, RALLY is a one day music and arts festival inspired by DIY culture, celebrating the importance of community, the festival is usually followed by the annual FREE

Bermondsey Carnival (watch this space for more details).

Tickets: Pre-sale sign up available Date: 23rd August

BATTERSEA PARK IN CONCERT, BATTERSEA PARK:

Open concerts paired with picnics on August Bank Holiday Weekend, celebrating classical, disco, jazz and blues sounds. Special appearances from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Tickets: Early bird tickets start at £43.10 Date: 23rd-25th August

Bermondsey club in former MOT centre declared best night out in London

New festival forges ahead at Southwark Playhouse

By Lousia Woolf SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE is preparing to welcome a brand new festival this Spring and will premiere the work of four of Britain’s most exciting young theatre companies writes Louisa Woolf...

The four plays cover diverse themes.

From a feel-good comedy about a Hollywood conspiracy. a heartfelt story of a DJ using music to rediscover herself on her journey from addiction to recovery. The programme also features a story of two gay best friends navigating their sexuality and a HIV

diagnosis, and a play built from real conversations about climate with young people.

The festival performances are the culmination of a year-long residency at Southwark Playhouse’s Borough theatre on Newington Causeway at the Elephant & Castle.

Ebenezer Bamgboye, Programming Associate and creator of the FORGE scheme, says: “This festival comes at a time of sharp decline in spaces and opportunities for talented artists of younger generations to get an exciting new idea up on its feet and in front of an audience for the first time.”

The four companies, Shepard Tone,

Speakbeat Collective, November Theatre and Visual Sauce, will premiere their shows throughout the week.

Artistic Director Chris Smyrnios says: “It’s a great privilege to have been able to play a small part in supporting these talented companies in developing their wonderful shows.”

“You will not only have a great night out, but you will also have the warm glow of supporting some epically courageous emerging artists and theatre companies.”

All tickets are £10 and there are discounts available if you book multiple, on sale now www.southwarkplayhouse. co.uk

By Issy Clarke A FORMER MOT testing centreturned electronic nightclub in South Bermondsey has been declared the best night out in London.

Venue MOT, which has attracted big names including Jamie xx and Demdike Stare, took the top spot in a ranking by Time Out magazine of London’s best clubs - one of four in Southwark to make the top 10.

The club is located in Unit 18

of the Orion Business Centre on Surrey Canal Road between a hose manufacturer and a property maintenance company.

The Carpet Shop on Rye Lane in Peckham claimed third place, while Corsica Studios came in at eighth and Omerea in Borough took the tenth spot.

Legendary venue Ministry of Sound, which recently revealed it will be launching a recurring sober rave event this summer, came in at 24th.

‘We think Rosemead is definitely ‘one to watch’ as it carves out a specific niche in this corner of London’ - Good Schools Guide

Open Mornings Friday 25 April 2025 Tuesday 17 June 2025 Find out more and book at www.rosemeadprep.org.uk Dulwich, SE21 8HZ

CRAFTERNOON: EASTER SPECIAL 5, 13 & 19 April

THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN

SPRING 2025

18 April

WOOLWICH JAZZ SERIES: EFFRA BAND 25 April

LIVE AT THE WORKS with TROY HAWKE

LIVE MUSIC • COMEDY DANCE • WORKSHOPS FAMILY EVENTS • CAFE SPACE HIRE & MORE!

27 April

BABY KNEES UP VE DAY 80 SPECIAL 9 May

www.woolwich.works

@woolwichworks

Supported by:

The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6HD F RO M T H E ROYA L B OROU GH OF GRE E N WI C H , FO R EV ERYO N E.

WW_GreenwichWeekender_Apr25_Ad.indd 1

28/03/2025 11:32

8 NEWS Canada Water Market on Sundays has been run by the Market Network for the last three years

NO SAUNA OR STEAM AT NEW LEISURE CENTRE ‘BECAUSE THEY’RE BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT’ EXCLUSIVE

By Liv Facey

POPULAR MARKET IS CLOSED DOWN EXCLUSIVE

By Isabel Ramirez

Owners of Fiesta Gözleme are regular traders on Sundays

Valeria and Tony from Mr Porchetta

A POPULAR Sunday market at Canada Water has been shut down after the company had its licence revoked by the council.

managed differently and opens on Sundays only. It is operated privately by The Market Network, which charges a higher fee for stallholders to trade. It opened in April 2022 but unfortunately, the operator has consistently not met the conditions of its licence, and therefore it has been revoked.”

William’s real concern is for the regular stallholders who now risk losing income.

These include the owners of Jou Jou’s Bites, Fiesta Gözleme, Fabs Ceramics and Mr Porchetta.

“People’s livelihoods are at risk for no good reason whatsoever,” he claimed.

“There are so many traders that rely heavily on this income week to week to live their lives. It seems a totally erratic decision that’s been made without knowledge of the knock-on consequences on normal people’s lives.”

He has started a petition to save the

market.

The council spokesperson added that there would be no changes to market trading at Deal Porter Market throughout the rest of the week and they would be ‘looking at ways to support individual traders to continue operating on Sundays at Deal Porter Square.’

Fabiana Faria Da Cunha, who is Head of Markets at the Market Network said: “The livelihoods of not only my own career but also the traders who rely on these markets are under serious threat due to the erratic and unjust decisions made by Southwark Council. We are simply trying to support new and small food enterprises, giving them the opportunity to access hungry audiences and thrive in a competitive market. This is our purpose, and it’s something we’ve been passionate about since day one.”

William argued that although they charged a higher fee for stallholders, it was justified by the effort they made to increase footfall - including giving their traders access to marketing, content creation, and ensuring there is seating to fit up to 100 customers.

The Canada Water Leisure Centre, scheduled to open in spring 2025, will replace the nearly 60 year old Seven Islands Leisure Centre.

The new facility will feature a learner pool with a movable floor, an 8-lane 25-metre swimming pool, a 4-court sports hall, a gym equipped with 150 stations, and three group exercise studios.

However, it will not have a sauna or steam room, with local authority chiefs saying their energy use clashes with the council’s environmental plans. One of Southwark Council’s key objectives is to achieve ‘carbon neutrality’ by 2030.

The Canada Water Leisure Centre will be housed in the basement of the Dock Shed building

Peckham author shortlisted for children’s novel about being a young man in South East London

By Louisa Woolf A PECKHAM author has been nominated for a prestigious Carnegie award for his children’s book exploring masculinity and growing up in South East London, writes Louisa Woolf...

Nathanael Lessore was born in Camberwell and grew up on the North Peckham Estate. He went to school at St Thomas the Apostle - an all-boys school - and still lives in Peckham now.

The Carnegies, the UK’s longest

running book awards for young people, have identified ‘masculinity and what it is to be a young man today’ as the prevalent theme of this year’s shortlist.

In particular, the awards are commending marginalised male perspectives explored with empathy and hope.

His latest book, The King of Nothing, is one of eight on this year’s shortlist. It is a story about a self-proclaimed bad boy whose unlikely new friendship makes him question his priorities which ‘challenges readers to look inwards at their own behaviour’.

Through writing he is able to

represent life in South East London as the funny, warm, adventurous world that wasn’t always portrayed as such when he was a child.

Lessore’s debut novel, Steady for This, also depicted life growing up in South East London. “Growing up, we lived on different estates but life was a laugh – we were always playing out,” he explained.

“Books about places I grew up are usually gritty stories, so I didn’t want it to be that.”

The winner will be announced on 19th June and will be awarded with a specially commissioned golden medal and a £5,000 cash prize.

© British Land

The last weekend of the market was on Sunday, 30 March, which was operated by The Market Network in Deal Porter Square and welcomed 25-30 traders every week.

Southwark Council claims the company, which also runs weekly markets in Wapping and Tower Hill, ‘did not meet the conditions of its licence’.

However, William Cutteridge, who owns The Market Network, disputes this entirely: “We have always paid our rent promptly and we are fully up to date on payments,” he said. “There are no valid grounds for them to terminate our licence.”

Cllr John Batteson, cabinet member for climate emergency, jobs and business, said: “It’s very important to us, and residents, that people have nice things to do in their local area, like shopping at a local market, and that small businesses can thrive.

“This is why we need to ensure that they operate in a safe and regulated way. Deal Porter Market trades at Canada Water throughout the week, 10am-8pm Monday to Saturday, and the council licenses those businesses individually.

“However, Canada Water Market is

THE BRAND-NEW Canada Water Leisure Centre will not include a sauna or steam room Southwark Council admitted, because they aren’t environmentally friendly, writes Liv Facey...

Councillor Portia Mwangangye, the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People, said: “The new Canada Water Leisure Centre was designed with efficiency in mind.”

The council has stated that saunas and steam rooms are not only expensive to run as keeping them warm uses a lot of energy, but including one in the new centre would have compromised its ability to achieve an ‘excellent’ rating under the BREEAM standard, a sustainable building certification.

“The decision was based more on the overarching policy around decarbonisation than specifically around saunas and steam rooms,” Cllr Mwangangye explained.

She also clarified that there are ‘no plans’ to remove any existing saunas or steam rooms at other locations, and there will be a sauna installed at the new Surrey Docks Fitness and Watersports Centre in future, once its existing gas boilers are replaced with a ‘state of the art water-sourced heat pump’.

NEWS 9

Nunhead man says his kitchen and bathroom have not been repaired for nearly half a century EXCLUSIVE

The 58-year old has lived in the council-owned property on Kirkwood Road with his mother since 1977. He has lived with the same kitchen and bathroom since he moved into the house as a boy of 12.

Simon Surgison, who is recovering from lung cancer, says he struggles to fix cabinet doors falling apart in his kitchen, while his 85-year old mother, who is suffering from dementia, has to cling to a 48-year old sink in order to get in and out of the bath each day.

Simon told us he lives in fear she might one day seriously hurt herself.

A council repair worker did allegedly come round a few years ago to look at the kitchen. According to Simon, he concluded the kitchen ‘was all nice and white’.

“And my mum said: ‘You cheeky sod, that’s because we clean it.’ Unlike other people.”

He claims his home feels “invisible”

to the council. “They don’t seem to care about us anymore” he said. “This house is invisible to the council unless there’s a bill to come out of it.”

The council is supposed to refurbish kitchens more than 20 years old and bathrooms over 30 years old. Southwark Council said the cost of meeting new fire regulations has meant there is a backlog to repairs in older properties.

Cllr Sarah King, Cabinet Member for Council Homes said: “It’s an absolute priority for Southwark Council to ensure that all residents are in safe, accessible and suitable homes. That’s why we’re directing considerable financial and logistical resources to ensuring we are meeting responsibilities on new building safety, fire safety and regulatory legislation. Unfortunately, this does cause capacity issues around investment into existing homes, such as this one.

“We are aware of and will be reaching out to help with Mr. Surgison’s case.

In addition to this, with our Stock Condition Survey procurement going through final internal checks this month, we hope soon we will be in a place to have complete knowledge and be able to prioritise the most pressing improvements to invest in for all council home residents.”

in London.

“We take pride in involving affected residents and communities in our consultation processes and are confident that our approach is robust.”

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrats, said: “Southwark Labour’s financial mismanagement and poor oversight— which we’ve seen in major works scandals and district heating failures—has now led to the failure to build desperately needed social housing.

“The Elim Estate scheme could have delivered new council homes, but instead, Labour’s rushed and unlawful

approach has wasted years, over £1 million, and a £5 million GLA grant, with nothing to show for it. Had they engaged properly with residents and followed planning rules, families could already be moving in.

“This is not about celebrating delays to council homes—it’s about holding the Council to account for bad decisionmaking that stops homes from being built. We need an approach that works with communities, not against them, ensuring social housing is delivered properly, legally, and without wasting public money. Labour’s failures are costing Southwark time, money, and the homes people desperately need.”

By Issy Clarke A MAN from Nunhead said his kitchen and bathroom haven’t been replaced for nearly half a century and they’re crumbling to bits.

‘Unlawful’ council’s infilling scheme on a Bermondsey estate quashed by High Court

By Issy Clarke

SOUTHWARK COUNCIL acted “unlawfully” in giving planning permission to an infill scheme to build new homes on the Elim Estate, a High Court judge has ruled.

The judge found the council had failed to consider national flooding risk policies in its decision to give the development the green light, which included proposals for 34 new homes on the estate’s garage and basketball court.

Not-for profit housing partnership Leathermarket Community Benefit Society was given planning permission in 2023 build the new homes across two sites on the estate, along with an improved basketball court and 5-a-side pitch.

Infill schemes are developments built on existing council estates. The council views them as a key way of meeting its housebuilding targets.

They have, however, often been met with resistance from residents, as we have extensively reported.

Southwark Council is aiming to build 11,000 new council homes by 2043.

In 2022, residents of Lordship Lane Estate in Dulwich hit out at plans to construct a five storey block on their estate, citing concerns about traffic and environmental damage.

Other complaints often raised by residents include a loss of lighting, green space and overcrowding.

A previous scheme by Leathermarket CBS to build more homes on the Elim Estate in 2021 was squashed after a successful campaign mounted by residents to save the estate’s ball court.

Although the plans included a garden, “community hub” and indoor sports hall, residents objected to difference between an outdoor court that anyone can walk up and play on and an indoor space that could need booking.

The developer withdrew the scheme and resubmitted the amended plans in 2022.

Reacting to the court ruling, Elim Estate resident Daniel Kanu said: “Residents are very happy that the existing ball court has been saved.

It’s an important shared space where children of all races play safely, creating community togetherness and helping keep crime off the streets.”

Speaking on behalf of the nearby Decimal Street TRA, Fola Ogunkola added: “I would like to say how delighted we are that the planning permission has been ruled unlawful.

Our TRA as well as local residents we’ve spoken to are thrilled and happy about the news.

“Residents are now looking forward to the future and working to improve Elim Estate. We hope that there have been massive learnings from what has happened and that we can move forward positively as a community.”

Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable

Development said: “Southwark Council prioritises creating safe, high-quality housing options for residents, and we do not want to see the potential loss of high-standard social rented homes for vulnerable people on our waiting list.

“The council is currently working with the applicant and reviewing options for the site in question, following the high court ruling.

“Southwark Council has been the most successful local authority in the country at delivering council homes - with 3,000 either built or under construction. A significant portion of those were on “infill sites” on our estates, which represent rare spaces

10 NEWS

KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL TO TRIAL BRAIN IMPLANTS TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL & OPIOID ADDICTION

By Isabel Ramirez

PEOPLE SUFFERING from severe alcohol and opioid addiction are to be offered a revolutionary new technique involving planting electrodes in the brain to improve self-control.

The technique – known as deep brain stimulation – is to be trialled at King’s College Hospital in London and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

The team behind the BrainPACER study is currently recruiting individuals with severe alcohol or opioid addiction who are interested in taking part.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure that delivers ongoing stimulation to the brain. DBS acts as a brain pacemaker to normalise abnormal brain activity. It is welltolerated, effective and widely used for neurological disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Although there have been several proof-of-concept studies that suggest DBS is effective in addictions, BrainPACER – a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, King’s College London and the University of Oxford – is the first major, multicentre study to use DBS to treat craving and relapse in severe addiction.

Chief Investigator Professor Valerie Voon, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said: “While many people who experience alcohol or drug addiction can, with the right support,

control their impulses, for some people, their addiction is so severe that no treatments are effective.

Their addiction is hugely harmful to their health and wellbeing, to their relationships and their everyday lives.

“Initial evidence suggests that deep brain stimulation may be able to

Family still searching for answers after death of teenage musician

Friends and supporters gathered at Mercato Metropolitano earlier this month

By Izzy Clarke THE FAMILY and friends of a talented teenage musician who died last summer are continuing their fundraising efforts to cover the legal fees of an inquest into his death, with £24,000 raised so far.

Fourteen-year old Raymi Saldaña Rojas, who lived in north London with his parents, drowned last July in Holland while on holiday with friends, and his parents are hoping the inquest will help them in their search for answers into the circumstances of his death.

Ahead of the coroner’s inquest, Raymi’s parents have been told they need to raise £58,000 to cover the costs of their legal fees.

On March 11, friends and supporters gathered at Mercato Metropolitano

help these individuals manage their conditions. We’ve seen how effective it can be for other neurological disorders from Parkinson’s to OCD to depression.

We want to see if it can also transform the lives of people with intractable alcohol and opioid addiction.”

The primary aim of the Brain-PACER

study is to assess the effects of DBS to treat alcohol and opioid addiction in a randomised controlled trial study.

Its mission is twofold: to develop effective treatments for addiction and to understand the brain mechanisms that drive addiction disorders.

DBS is a neurosurgical treatment

Walworth man pleads guilty to stabbing five former colleagues in distribution centre warehouse

The teenager drowned on holiday with friends in Holland in Elephant & Castle to listen to live performances by musicians from the family’s native South America and take part in a raffle, raising more than £2,000.

Raymi was in a band with his parents Jeanette and Carlos which they set up during lockdown, releasing an album of Latin American folk music. They often performed in Southwark, including at the Tate Modern and Mint Street Festival in Borough.

The family said the campaign, originally supposed to close on March 2, has been extended while more paperwork needed for the inquest is gathered from Holland.

The family is not eligible for financial aid because Raymi died abroad.

Donations to the campaign can be made here: www.crowdjustice.com/ case/justice-for-raymi

that involves implanting a slender electrode in the brain and a pacemaker under general anaesthesia. These electrodes deliver electrical impulses to modulate neural activity, which can help alleviate symptoms of various neurological and psychiatric disorders.

During surgery, thin electrodes are carefully placed in precise locations of the brain. These locations are chosen based on the condition being treated.

For addiction, the electrodes are placed in areas involved in reward, motivation, and decision-making.

Keyoumars Ashkan (pictured), Professor of Neurosurgery at King’s and the lead surgeon for the study, said: “Deep brain stimulation is a powerful surgical technique that can transform lives. It will be a major leap forward if we can show efficacy in this very difficult disease with huge burden to the patients and society.”

Dr David Okai from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, said: “DBS is safe, reversible and adjustable, so it offers a flexible option for managing chronic conditions. We hope it will offer a lifeline to help improve the quality of life for patients whose treatment until now has been unsuccessful.”

Details on the trial, including criteria for participation and how to sign up, can be found on the Brain-PACER website.

The research is supported by the Medical Research Council, UK Research & Innovation.

By Izzy Clarke A 31-YEAR-OLD man from Walworth has pleaded guilty to stabbing five people in a distribution warehouse he used to work at in Sutton.

Babah Sesay, 31, appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, 20 March.

He admitted 10 charges related to the incident, including wounding with intent and actual bodily harm.

On the morning of Thursday, 23 January

Sesay burst into a distribution centre in Beddington where he used to work and attacked several former colleagues.

Five men were taken to hospital - one in his 50s, two in their 30s and two in their 20s where none of their injuries were confirmed to be life-threatening or lifechanging.

Despite Sesay fleeing the scene, he was arrested an hour later at a nearby restaurant. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries following his arrest, before being transferred to custody.

He was later charged with five counts of wounding with intent, two counts of aggravated burglary, one count of actual bodily harm, one count of assault by beating and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

Detective Superintendent Dan Rutland, who leads policing in south London, said: “The swift actions of our officers helped to ensure no one was seriously hurt in this incident.

“I hope this, and the judicial result, brings closure and comfort to those involved and highlights to the community that we will not tolerate violence in any form.”

Sesay will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, 5 June.

NEWS 11

FREE COMMUNITY SPORTS GARDEN IN BOROUGH SET TO HAVE £5MILLION REVAMP

By Evie Flynn

THE MARLBOROUGH Sports Garden, located just off Borough High Street, is set for a £5million redevelopment after securing major funding.

This will transform the Garden into a vital community sports hub to ensure fair access to physical activity for children in Southwark. Construction is expected to begin in September 2025 and completion targeted for early 2026.

The revamp will majorly upgrade existing facilities, across football, basketball, netball, beach volleyball, athletics and more. It will also have brand-new changing rooms, toilets and a café.

This free-to-use space has been ran

by Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST) for 10 years. BOST is an environmental and volunteering charity who work to provide green space and outdoor activities to enhance the wellbeing of urban communities.

The current Sports Garden sees 55,000 visits per year, which is grow to increase to 75,000 under the new investment. The first funding partners include London Marathon Foundation, Kusuma Trust, Southwark Council and Fabrix.

We asked Jack Harrison, Head of Sport at BOST, how they plan to measure the developments success, aside from visitor

F.A.A.

Sports pitches, community classes and sustainable facilities, all free to use

Plans for Marlborough Sports Garden pavilion

Development plans for Marlborough Sports Garden numbers. He replied that BOST will be measuring its “overall impact on the community”.

This impact will be social, offering a “safe and structured environment for young people, helping to reduce anti-social behaviour”. Harrison also

hopes the project will “improve health and wellbeing” and they will track community engagement consistently in collaboration with schools and grassroot sports clubs.

Harrison says that it is a priority for BOST to work together with the

F A ALBIN & SONS

community, with regular consultations and feedback sessions so residents and future users can share their thoughts.

There is also a sustainable vision to this redevelopment. Architects Cullinan Studio have worked with BOST to ensure sustainability is at the fore-front of the

plans. This includes a sustainably built and run pavilion, with a green roof with solar panels and increased greening across the site.

Spaces where children can enjoy sport and exercise is needed. Southwark has the highest rates of childhood obesity at Year 6 of any local authority in England (Everybody’s business- Southwark Healthy Weight Strategy 2016-2021, Southwark Health and Wellbeing Board).

The garden itself has a rich history dating back over 100 years. It was first opened in 1921 by Counsuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, Duchess of Marlborough who decreed the space be used as an outdoor recreation area.

The current Duchess of Marlborough attended the site earlier this month to look over the redevelopment plans.

BOST is seeking corporate partnerships and community support to bring this vision to life. They urge any organisations who share a passion for community wellbeing and grassroots sports to get involved in the project.

020 7237 3637

Family Run Funeral Directors

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serving the people of Bermondsey & Rotherhithe for over 200 years

www.albins.co.uk

12 NEWS

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter A MUM of a South London child too anxious to attend school has been awarded £1,500 from her council after it failed to arrange alternative education.

© Creative-Commons-Flickr (c)2006-2008 ODDefine:faridiqbal

The unnamed girl, known only as B, missed out on classes for six months due to Lewisham Council’s delays in offering her replacement tuition elsewhere.

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) said the situation caused the girl and her family ‘distress, frustration and uncertainty’, in a report from February. B’s mum, known only as Dr X, informed the council that her daughter was unable to attend school due to anxiety in November 2023.

The girl’s school offered her mindfulness and lunchtime support session if she could attend. But alternative arrangements for her education in the meantime were not put in place.

In December 2023, the school’s attendance officer sent a letter to Dr X warning her she could be taken to court if her child continued to skip classes. Later the same month, B’s doctor informed the school that she had a diagnosis of autism, which was a potential cause of her non-attendance at school.

Lewisham told the LGO it took steps to arrange alternative education for B upon receiving the doctor’s evidence.

But it did not manage to secure replacement tuition for the girl until April 2024, four months later. As compensation, the LGO ordered the council to pay Dr X £1,500 and remind attendance staff of their responsibility to provide education for children who don’t attend school full-time.

The LGO said: “We have found the council at fault for a delay in providing access to suitable provision after receiving a medical letter. This caused distress, uncertainty and frustration for Dr X and her child.

“The council has agreed to apologise, make a symbolic financial payment and remind its staff of the Ombudsman’s

MUM OF CHILD TOO ANXIOUS TO ATTEND LEWISHAM SCHOOL GETS £1,500 AWARD

guidance on how we expect councils to fulfil their responsibilities to provide education for children who do not attend school full-time.”

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: “We have reviewed the Local

Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s decision regarding Dr X’s complaint and accept the findings.

We have apologised to the family for the disruption to their child’s education, and acknowledge that we

should have done better.

“We are committed to learning from this experience and are actively reviewing our attendance and hospital outreach programme policies and processes to ensure that

children facing health challenges receive the support they need without unnecessary delays. Safeguarding the wellbeing and educational development of all children in the borough remains our top priority.”

By Noah Vickers

facing similar challenges, but with significantly different performance on attendance,” she said.

“Some [are] doing really well, others not quite making enough progress, not yet learning from the best, and I just can’t accept – I won’t accept – damage being done to students’ prospects.

“I expect schools falling behind on attendance to catch up, and fast, because we all know that children’s life chances are at stake.

“I know that’s what you want too, and many schools are already working incredibly hard to improve their attendance figures – because there’s nothing inevitable about the state that we’re in. Yes, we had a pandemic, but attendance was moving in the wrong direction even before that.”

The minister also stressed the importance of boosting children’s sense of belonging in order to drive down absence rates, warning: “A third of UK children do not feel they belong at school – the worst rate in the OECD.” In London, the absence rate in the academic year so far – 6.2 per cent – is lower than any other English region, but the capital has also made the smallest amount of progress compared with other

parts of the country, year-on-year.

Speaking with the Local Democracy Reporting Service after her speech, Ms Phillipson said: “This is something that parents, schools and Government need to do as a collective national effort.

“We are providing schools with more tools around data that they can use, we’re supporting them to develop ‘whole school’ approaches to really double down on tackling the attendance crisis that we face.”

Asked about the fact that London has seen better levels of attendance than other regions, she said: “London is in a better starting position, but progress is slower than what we would like, and that’s why the work that we’re leading today with school leaders is so important.

“There are children who are regularly missing significant periods of time out of school, often for complex reasons, but alongside that, we know we can make a lot of progress if we take action as early as possible…

“The reason that attendance is so crucial is that we know that we can’t deliver high and rising standards in our schools if children are not there – children being in school is essential in order to deliver that brilliant education.”

School absence rates remain far higher than before the pandemic

© Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street

Bridget Phillipson MP, Education Secretary

Local Democracy Reporter EDUCATION SECRETARY Bridget Phillipson has vowed to boost attendance in schools, as absence rates across the country remain far higher than before the pandemic.

In a speech at an east London school Ms Phillipson said the Government was committed to resolving the “crisis” of poor attendance through a “shared national effort”.

Data from the Department for Education shows that, before Covid the absence rate across England’s schools was 4.7 per cent.

This jumped to 7.6 per cent in 2021/22 and by 2022/23 had only come down slightly to 7.4 per cent.

The most recent public figures show that in the academic year 2024/25 to date, the absence rate has dropped a little further, to 6.7 per cent, but ministers argue progress must accelerate.

In her speech to teachers – who had gathered from across London at Mulberry Academy Shoreditch – the Education Secretary suggested that some schools were failing to show enough willingness to improve the situation.

“Our data shows that there are schools

NEWS 13

ADVERTORIAL

Walk Your Way to Better Mental Health – And Join London’s Most Inspiring Walking Events This May

This National Walking Day (Wednesday 2nd April), there’s never been a better time to take a step towards better mental wellbeing.

Whether it’s a daily stroll or a larger fitness goal, walking can have a transformative impact on your mental and physical health, and now, you can walk with purpose too.

A recent survey commissioned by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk revealed that 82% of adults say going for a walk improves their mood and mental health. Walking is more than just exercise, it’s a simple and powerful way to improve your daily wellbeing, build resilience, and find space for self-care.

To mark the occasion, Walk the Walk invites you to get involved in something truly meaningful this May, with two unforgettable events in the heart of London.

Step into Spring with Purpose Saturday 17th May, Walk the Walk’s iconic challenge, The MoonWalk London, returns to Clapham Common. This unique overnight walking event sees thousands of women and men walk a half or full marathon in decorated bras, raising awareness and

vital funds for breast and other cancers.

Alongside it, the 5K ZOOM offers a fun, familyfriendly daytime event, perfect for all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re a seasoned walker or just starting your journey, both events promise community spirit, entertainment, and a sense of accomplishment like no other.

The 5K ZOOM – A Perfect Introduction The 5K ZOOM takes place earlier that same day and is ideal for newcomers to Walk the Walk events. It’s a lively and accessible 5 kilometre route through Clapham Common, filled with music, fun, and a welcoming atmosphere.

It’s open to all ages, making it a fantastic opportunity for families to walk together.

At the finish line, participants are greeted with a hot drink, a muffin, and a collectible medal, leaving with fun memories made.

The MoonWalk London For those looking for a bigger challenge, The MoonWalk London offers two distances: the Half Moon (15.1 miles) or the Full Moon (26.2

miles). The route weaves through central London under the night sky, filled with live entertainment, cheering supporters, and an atmosphere that’s both powerful and joyful.

Open to anyone aged 13 and over, the event is about more than just walking, it’s about unity, determination, and the power of a community walking together for a common cause.

New for 2025: Lights, Music, and the Magic of Musicals This year’s MoonWalk theme celebrates musicals. From Mamma Mia to Matilda, Hairspray to Hamilton, participants are encouraged to dress as their favourite characters for a vibrant night of walking and celebration.

Walk the Walk is also introducing more LED light installations than ever before, transforming the night-time route into an immersive, glowing celebration. In addition, iconic London landmarks will once again Light Up Pink, creating a city-wide show of unity and support.

Walking for Wellness – Five Tips from the Founder Walk the Walk’s Founder and Chief Executive, Nina Barough CBE, shares her five tips for turning walking into a habit: 1.

Schedule it – treat your daily walk like a meeting and commit to it.

2. Plan a few routes – have walks mapped out for different lengths of time.

3. Dress appropriately – comfortable clothing and good footwear make all the difference.

4. Track your steps – using an app or pedometer helps with motivation.

5. Make every step count – even short walks or walking between rooms add up.

Sign up today at walkthewalk.org Special offer: Register now for The MoonWalk London and receive a second entry at half price.

14 NEWS Advertorial

Applying to become a British citizen, impact on changes and nationality appeals ICS Legal: Guiding Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Skilled Talent Through UK Immigration

Applying for British citizenship — whether through naturalisation or registration — is a privilege granted to those who meet the criteria. For many, it’s a significant milestone, opening the door to rights and opportunities.

At ICS Legal, we proudly assist entrepreneurs, highly skilled professionals, investors, and businesses in navigating the complex world of UK immigration.

However, if you are British by birth or through your parents, you do not need to apply for citizenship, as your nationality is automatically acquired.

• From securing Sponsor Licences to managing a wide range of immigration programs, our expertise ensures clients achieve their ambitions in the UK.

Changing British nationality laws • Stay connected with all our latest changes here - https://icslegal.com blog/.

Types of British nationality Owing to the vast reach of the former British Empire, there are today six different forms of British nationality.

Among them, British Citizenship is by far the most common and sought-after.

• You can read more details here https:/icslegal.com/apply-for-britishcitizenship.

The other types of British nationalities does not come with a right work live and work in the UK. Applying to become a British Citizen Applying for British nationality is not just

a formality — it is a carefully assessed process.

To be eligible, most applicants must hold either Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or EUSS Settled Status (EUSS).

Failing to meet this requirement is one of the most common reasons applications are refused by the Home Office.

Despite the challenges, the UK remains one of the most desirable countries in the world — attracting millions who wish to visit, study, work, or invest.

Here is what is required to be met at the date of application: • You must have been a UK resident for either 3 or 5 years, depending on your circumstances.

• You must meet the new good

character policy, which is now more stringent.

• You should demonstrate strongties to the UK, including family connections, financial stability, and assets.

• You must show that your application is in line with public interest considerations.

• You must satisfy the English Language and proficiency requirements.

Fees & how long it takes for British nationality applications 1. Home Office fees for adults has increased to £1,735.00 and children at £1,214.00.

2. Average time to process takes around 3-6 months.

Refusal of British nationality When an application for British nationality is refused, it does not come with a right to appeal. You will need to file for a reconsideration and put in your legal defence with evidences to support the claim.

The matter is considered by the Home Office senior case working unit. A decision is made usually within 6-12 months. There are a Home Office fees applicable.

Deprivation of British nationality Following the change in nationality laws, Home Office have legal powers to revoke British nationality.

• You will be given an opportunity for

the matter to be reconsidered.

• If the decision stands after this, you will have a right to appeal and the matter would be considered by the First Tier Tribunal.

Nationality Litigation Services • ICS Legal can guide you in determining the best course of action when faced with a wrong decision made by the Home Office, whether due to overlooked evidence or misinterpretation of nationality laws.

• To consult and take counsel from ICS Legal - https://icslegal.com/legaladvice-and-consulting.

Get help

Take advice as early as possible to ensure you prepare for the legal challenge.

Lawyers

Your Lawyer can advise whether to appeal or apply for the visa again.

Apply for visa

Ensure you submit both information and documents relevant to the visa program.

Get immigration advice • Speak to us on 020 7237 3388 and find more information on www.icslegal.com.

NEWS 15

SOUTHWARK’S NEW HOUSING SYSTEM COMES TWELVE YEARS TOO LATE FOR ONE WOMAN EXCLUSIVE

But for one domestic violence survivor, it is 12 years too late and she still lives in fear.

The resident, who has not been named for her own protection, claims she has been bounced between 12 temporary properties since being moved out of her council house, which she loved, over a decade ago for her own protection.

“I loved the house, it was beautiful, and my children loved it too. They were really upset that we had to lose it” she said.

Since then, her ex-partner has located and attacked her more than once, while one of her children is caught in a spiral of gang crime.

But despite her high level of risk, she has still not been moved out of the area and was only given Band 3 housing priority two years ago.

Around 47 per cent of housing applicants are in Band 3, which includes people who the council has a duty to house as they have not made themselves intentionally homeless and those with medical issues being made worse by their housing condition.

In 2020, the average wait time for a three bedroom property in Band 3 was over five years. Since then, the number of people waiting for a Southwark Council property has increased from around

13,000 to more than 18,000.

She told us she has repeatedly tried urging the council to increase her banding or to have her case nominated to another local authority, but has had no success.

This is despite the fact she meets the council’s requirements for Band 2 housing priority, which includes people who need to move because of a risk to their well-being or health.

Compounding her situation, last month she was given an unfurnished flat to stay in after her temporary accommodation flooded for the ninth time in five years.

She and her family were taken to the property in the middle of the night but when they arrived they found only a cooker and a fridge with nowhere to sleep, forcing them to stay on a friend’s sofa for the night until the council provided beds the next day.

“We had to eat all our meals from the edge of our beds for weeks” she said. “But it was warm and safe - so I took it.”

She has now been moved back into her property but claims it hasn’t been properly fixed.

She said when she walked back into her home, she found the walls were peeling and the vinyl floor sticky from the water damage.

Her local MP said: “It is outrageous how the tenant has been treated. The council is asking someone to live in a home that nine times they have claimed they have fixed but is still leaking and damaging her possessions.

“They have failed to communicate, to move her somewhere more appropriate and to fix the problem with her home.

“She is stressed and upset and the council’s officers have let her down time and time again.”

It comes as the council begins consulting on changes to its housing allocation scheme which gives preference to survivors of domestic abuse.

The new proposals, which are being consulted on until June, include giving additional preference to young adults leaving the care of Southwark Council, and for applicants escaping domestic abuse.

The proposals would change the current Bands 1-4 to Bands A-E. They would also keep local lettings policies, with some proposed changes.

For more information go to www. engage.southwark.gov.uk/en-GB/ projects/southwark-housing-allocations Councillor Helen Dennis, cabinet member for new homes and sustainable development, said: “I can understand why this has been a stressful situation for the tenant and I apologise to her for the confusion and for the temporary flat not being as it should have been when she arrived. The furniture was delivered the next day and I hope she is now settled while we deal with the repairs in her permanent home. As soon as the works have completed we will let her know that she can move back to her own home – she can get in touch with us at any time if she needs further support.”

The council added she has since been placed in her more stable temporary accommodation with repairs fully complete and is being supported by its housing teams.

“In the past, the police have not been responsive to the victims of domestic abuse. We know for those who, for example, bring forward complaints of rape, very few of those lead to convictions, so the criminal justice system needs a huge amount of improvement.”

The mayor’s additional £6million of funding forms part of his wider Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation programme, which has seen £54 million invested in housing and support over the last four years.

Since the programme’s launch in 2021, more than 23,500 survivors of domestic abuse have been helped by it, according to Sir Sadiq’s team.

“We’ve got to remove the stigma when it comes to domestic abuse and violence,” the mayor said.

“I’m really pleased the Government’s got a target – which I fully support – of halving the [number of] victims of violence [against women and girls] by 2034, and we’re going to support the Government getting there.”

Martina Palmer, head of services at the charity Refuge, said: “Refuge is delighted to welcome a new strategy for domestic abuse safe accommodation from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

“Violence against women and girls (VAWG) in London remains at ‘endemic’ levels, and funding for safe accommodation for survivors is an integral part of what’s needed to make good on the Government’s pledge to halve VAWG within the next decade.”

By Issy Clarke SOUTHWARK COUNCIL is launching a consultation on a new housing allocation system which would give priority to victims of domestic abuse.

Sadiq Khan announces £6 million funding boost towards helping those caught up in domestic violence

By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter SURVIVORS OF domestic violence in London are set to benefit from a £6 million funding boost announced

by Sir Sadiq Khan, which will go towards grassroots community organisations providing “lifechanging” support.

The mayor’s investment will be used to fund groups who help victims with housing and legal advice, counselling and specialist play therapy for children, among several other initiatives.

According to the latest data, an estimated 2.3 million people experienced domestic abuse across the UK in the year to March 2024. The figure comprised approximately 1.6 million women and 712,000 men – and stood at roughly the same overall level in the previous year.

This additional funding forms part

of his wider Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation programme, which has seen £54 million invested in housing and support over the last four years Speaking with the Local Democracy Reporting Service at Lambeth Town Hall last month, Sir Sadiq said: “The key thing that we’ve all got to do is prevention. We want to stop somebody becoming the victim of domestic abuse and violence in the first place.

“That’s got to start in school. Nobody’s born with the values that lead them to beat up their partner. So starting school in terms of healthy relationships, teaching boys how to respect girls – we’ve got to make sure we tackle misogyny.

“At the same time, we’ve got to make sure that women who are victims of domestic abuse and violence have the confidence to report it. Often, a victim will go to their GP many times before they go to the police.

16 NEWS

THIS MAN KILLED CHARITY VOLUNTEER FOR BRUSHING PAST HIM AT SOUTHWARK TUBE

Silvertown Tunnel is set to open next Monday

Convicted Rakeem Miles

28 year old Samuel Winter was killed by a single punch

By Issy Clarke

By Issy Clarke

Rakeem Miles, 23, from Walworth, killed 28-year old Samuel Winter, a physiotherapist and a volunteer with several charities, with a single punch on August 22 last year.

The court heard how, on Thursday 22 August 2024, at around 9.30pm Samuel got off the Jubilee line eastbound train and was walking up the escalator when he ‘brushed past’ Miles, who proceeded to chase and attack him.

© BTP

A MAN who punched a charity volunteer after he ‘brushed past him’ on the escalator at Southwark tube station has been found guilty of manslaughter.

committing grievous bodily harm.

He was charged with murder but cleared by the jury after a trial, but was convicted of manslaughter last Friday March 21 at Inner London Crown Court. A sentencing date has been set for 8 May at same court.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said: “This was a truly tragic incident where one person’s actions and one punch has changed the lives of Samuel’s family forever. Samuel’s family described him as gentle and kind, and he will be sorely missed by all those who love him. I hope this outcome helps to

bring them some peace and we reiterate our requests to give the family privacy at such a difficult time.

“It only took one punch from Miles to end Samuel’s life and forever change the lives of those around him. He showed no remorse for his action, leaving Samuel at the station and continuing on with his evening. The quick-time and thorough investigation by the teams involved meant Miles was identified and apprehended quickly. There is zero tolerance for violence on the railway and I’m glad to see this conviction.”

“Tracking research has not indicated any significant increase in incidents on the network, therefore the increase in number of reports is a positive sign that the campaign is helping to raise awareness of what constitutes sexual harassment and our zero tolerance approach to any form of abuse on our network.”

This training sessions took place online on March 21, March 27, March 31 and April 3 – and examined different scenarios of hate crime and harassment by encouraging

participants to discuss the meaning of being an ‘active bystander’ and how to support fellow passengers safely.

London’s deputy mayor for transport, Seb Dance, who said: “Everyone should be able to use public transport without fear of abuse and TfL has a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.

“Londoners have told us that they want to be able to intervene safely if they witness a hate crime, and having the right knowledge can make all the difference.

“That is why I’m pleased TfL is funding free training sessions to empower customers to step in safely when they see harassment on the transport network. An attendee of a Protection Approaches training session said: “I would absolutely recommend the training.

“It helped me feel more confident in standing up against harassment and prejudice. The tools and techniques discussed in the sessions have already proven to be useful and have proven to make a real difference.”

What to do if you witness harassment and hate on the Tube or on a bus?

© TFL

Miles ran after him through the ticket barrier and up the stairs, tearing his top in half and yanking him to face him, before landing a deadly punch on Samuel’s head, leaving him collapsed on the stairs.

Samuel was hospitalised with a brain injury and tragically died two days later on August 24.

The police learnt Miles had used the same card to top up his Oyster at a shop near the station a day earlier. When they visited the shop on August 23 the shopkeeper said Miles had just left. They arrested him outside on suspicion of

By Noah Vickers

Local Democracy Reporter ONLINE TRAINING sessions have helped Londoners intervene if they witness harassment and hate crimes on the Tube and bus network.

The transport authority says the sessions had “empowered” passengers to become “active bystanders” if they see others being harassed or discriminated against when travelling around the capital.

The sessions were delivered by expert staff at Protection Approaches, a national charity working to prevent all forms of identity-based violence.

It comes after TfL last year said that an increase in reported sexual offences on public transport across the capital was “a positive sign” that more people are alerting the authorities when it happens.

TfL credited this trend to a poster campaign it had launched encouraging passengers to report harassment where they witness it.

The organisation said at the time:

SILVERTOWN TUNNEL is set to open next week, linking the Greenwich Peninsula to east London, with discounts for local businesses and some residents.

Opening on Monday, 7 April, the tunnel is just under one mile long and will link Newham and the Greenwich Peninsula.

Off-peak charges will be £1.50 for cars, motorcycles, and small vans, while peak-time fees will range from £2.50 to £4.00. Larger vehicles, such as heavy goods lorries, will pay up to £10. The tunnel will be toll-free overnight, starting at 10 pm.

Once Silvertown opens, the same charges will also apply to the Blackwall Tunnel.

Bus travel will be free for the first year ‘at least’ according to TFL, including the Cycle Shuttle Service which will run every 12 minutes.

To complement the opening, new bus routes will also launch on 7 April. These services, including the Superloop 4 (SL4) between Canary Wharf and Grove Park, will initially be free for at least a year.

The number of buses crossing the river will increase significantly, from six per hour to 21, with all vehicles producing zero tailpipe emissions.

Local businesses from Greenwich, Newham, or Tower Hamlets will get a £1 discount on the off-peak charge for the first year, and there will also be a 50 per cent discount for local residents on benefits from the 12 East London boroughs, including Southwark and Lewisham.

First proposed in 2012, the tunnel aims to ease congestion, provide faster and more reliable journeys, and improve air quality around the Blackwall Tunnel. It will also introduce new public transport options and cycle connections, enhancing travel in the area.

Commuters could save up to 20 minutes on journey times during peak hours. To manage traffic and recover construction costs, user charges will apply at both the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels.

18 OPINION

Comment

‘Let’s Back the Bakerloo -it’s our time and we need your support’

F

OR MORE than 100 years, the Bakerloo line has been part of everyday life in Southwark. It’s carried millions of local people in its carriages to and from Elephant & Castle.

But after all those journeys across London the Bakerloo is showing its age. Did you know it has the oldest trains in use anywhere in the UK, which cost millions to keep running?

Anyone who lives or works in our borough knows the line needs major work to bring it up to a good standard.

Also instead of ending at Elephant and Castle, a longer Bakerloo would bring much better transport to countless thousands of Londoners in Southwark and beyond.

That’s why we’ve relaunched our

KIERON WILLIAMS

Southwark Council leader #BackTheBakerloo campaign to upgrade and extend the Bakerloo Line and bring you the quality, efficient transport you need.

It’s a project that has been talked about for some time - indeed an extension from Elephant & Castle was discussed as early as 1913! Now its time has come.

It’s only a couple of weeks since our relaunch and it’s had huge support already. Thousands more people have signed up to join the more than 25,000 residents and businesses across London who have previously pledged their support and the Bakerloo extension featuring as one of the top priorities in the Mayor’s new London Growth Plan.

Major works have begun to improve Elephant & Castle tube station, which

now has a built-in tunnel entrance for the construction of the Bakerloo Line extension in the coming years.

Meanwhile, we’ve backed proposals for a new ‘Bakerloop’ bus service – a Superloop bus route along the route of the proposed extension to show its impact and provide a stopgap until the line is finished.

And we’re calling for more. We need the line to extend to two new stations in our borough at Old Kent Road and Burgess Park, through New Cross Gate and Lewisham, then all the way out to Hayes.

And we need to see an upgrade, replacing current trains which are 16 years past their recommended life span with new ones – meaning less money on maintenance and repairs, a better

journey, and a train every two minutes.

This isn’t just about Southwark, or London. These improvements would provide a £1.5 billion growth boost to the UK economy, creating 150,000 jobs up and down the country as well as supporting 107,000 new homes in our city.

I’ve spoken recently personally with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and have met with the Transport Minister to discuss the importance of this investment, not only for the people of Southwark, but for London.

And across London we and our partner boroughs – Lewisham, Westminster and Brent – are working hard with Transport for London to make the upgrade and extension happen.

Now we need your help to take this even further. Every name on our petition is another person standing up to tell the government “it’s time to build the Bakerloo”, and helping to make this once-in-a-generation improvement into a reality.

Sign our petition today to #BacktheBakerloo and let’s get the investment you deserve.

You can join thousands of local people and show your support now at BackTheBakerloo.org.uk

‘Whilst Labour back developers’ profits Lib Dems back the community' VICTOR CHAMBERLAIN

L

AST WEDNESDAY, Southwark council approved a luxury development at Borough Triangle that provided just 17% social housing and only 13% family homes.

The rest? 740 swanky one and two bed flats worth more than half a million pounds.

It’s no wonder primary schools are closing across the borough (including a school 5 minutes walk from Borough Triangle) when this is how the council is approaching the housing crisis. There simply aren’t enough homes for families to live in,

Leader of the Southwark Lib Dems and so they’re being forced out of inner London boroughs like ours.

Borough Triangle is only one example – Canada Water hit headlines after it was revealed that the proportion of affordable housing was to drop from 35% to 10%. In Peckham, the controversial Aylsham development will provide just 12%.

Time and time again, our Labour council is letting developers plead poverty to avoid providing the genuinely affordable housing we need. Meanwhile, these developers are making hundreds of millions of pounds in profit.

Never mind what developers can afford, what can our community afford?

Whatever spin the Labour party come out with – the facts speak for themselves: there are 2,500 fewer council homes in Southwark today than when Labour took control 15 years ago, and the proportion of affordable housing has gone down.

Council housebuilding collapsed by 96% last year, whilst 2,500 council homes stand empty – one of the most in the country.

Meanwhile, private rents are through the roof – up £500 on

average since 2020, with private renters paying double the average rent across England.

It could not be clearer that you cannot trust Labour to deliver the genuinely affordable homes we need in Southwark.

But the Liberal Democrats are fighting for a fairer Southwark - where it is possible to have an affordable roof over your head and raise a family. We want to see land used for housing – but it has to be done with and for the community.

There is another, better way.

We need to be tougher on developers,

and be much more ambitious in setting targets of genuinely affordable homes. We need to equip council staff with the expertise to properly challenge the figures that say that billion-pound turnover companies can’t afford to build social housing, and make sure that they stick to their promises when they are made.

Where Labour will roll over for developers who put profit before people, Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for communities who want to see development that benefits everyone, not just shareholders.

OPINION 19

Decent tenants falling between the cracks

T

his week we reported on the case of 58 year-old Simon Surgison, who has lived in a house with the same kitchen and bathroom for almost 50 years. The council is supposed to repair kitchens every 20 years and bathrooms after 30 - but Simon and his elderly mum Minnie feel like they are being punished by the council for taking good care of their property.

Simon told us he spends his days repairing cupboard doors, while his sister has to come over to help Minnie in and out of the shower. The house that might have been suitable in the 1970s simply no longer works for them today - Minnie has dementia and needs extensive support, while Simon has cancer and finds it increasingly difficult to carry out everyday tasks. Despite these difficulties, Simon said when a council repair worker visited the house a few years ago, he took one look at the clean countertops and remarked ‘well it looks pretty good to me.’

Southwark Council has been criticised in the past for its housing repairs service, with residents complaining of unanswered emails and slow response times. In 2023 it brought forward new plans to improve the system - but the case of Simon and Minnie begs the question of how effective these new measures have been at bringing down waiting times.

In recent years the council has blamed the prevalence of disrepair in its properties and the delays to maintaining them on the pandemic, which it said forced it to focus on “emergency repairs only”, resulting in a backlog. But when we put an inquiry through about Simon and Minnie, the council’s response suggested it now finds itself caught in a different bind, between the need to maintain its existing housing stock, while also making sure new properties meet ever-more stringent fire and safety regulations.

Against this backdrop of an ever greater strain on the council’s money and resources, it’s easy to see why cases like Simon and Minnie fall between the cracks. However, there is a serious risk of creating a system which disincentivises council tenants from looking after their property for fear of falling down the council’s list of priorities.

There is no doubt that as the largest social landlord in London, cuts enforced by central government have played a huge factor on Southwark - indeed all the capital’s councils - being able to maintain decent home standards. But as we have often heard, many council tenants are shocked to fine perfectly maintained kitchens and bathrooms removed and replaced when they move in. The council presumably has to do this for health and safety reasons, but it does seem a waste, especially when there are tenants living with such old kitchens and bathrooms.

This blanket policy needs updating so a more individual case by case decision can be made. At the moment this family are clearly not being looked after adequately by the repairs team nor the social care team, who are allowing a woman in her 80s it put herself in danger as she relies on her daughter to give her a wash.

SMITHFIELD MEAT MARKET

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across

4 Work to put a question, then speak against the motion (6) 8 The plot has to have it all well conducted (7) 10 Be noisy with one in the list (7) 11 The goatman can stay right round (5) 12 So set back in the ones over there (5) 13 These lads are immortal (9) 16 Showers of feathers before autumn’s at an end (9) 19 Go after the box for a gamble (5) 20 He wanders right over (5) 22 Sing about how it’s on display (7) 23 Bombarded with nut cases! (7) 24 Condescend to take the head of the school as a pattern (6)

Clues Down

1 The sailor was accustomed to be reviled (6) 2 Each attitude produced some talk (4) 3 Being of greater significance than the enthusiastic spy? (13) 5 Prudently I drop tones for questions about procedure (6,2,5) 6 As a matter of choice, work it up as a type of loan (8) 7 Gained what those at the end are trying to make (6) 9 The energy needed for a trip (5) 14 Gives up an embargo on Spaniards (8) 15 Humiliated as in a flower garden? (6) 17 Wins about a thousand dollars, and flies away (5) 18 Walk along where the earth’s up on the east (5) 21 Wicked outcome of evil (4)

Europe’s largest meat market right on your doorstep

Top quality meat at unbelievable prices poultry • game • pork • lamb • beef offal • sausages • bacon • halal • provisions

Open to the trade and the public all year round Midnight to 7am Monday to Friday mornings

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

4 Climbs (6) 8 Wild incoherent speeches (7) 10 Restrain (7) 11 Cut open (5) 12 Sample food (5) 13 Refuseeating animal (9) 16 Marine paintings (9) 19 Form of entertainment (5) 20 Insertion (5) 22 Attacks (7) 23 Dawn (7) 24 Wanders (6)

Clues Down

1 Ruffles (6) 2 Stove (4) 3 Without reason (13) 5 Buildings (13) 6 Domination (8) 7 Precious metal (6) 9 Thin person (5) 14 Valuer (8) 15 Principles (6) 17 Wrong (5) 18 Sofa (6) 21 Mistake (4)

( Excluding Good Friday and Easter Monday ) Nearest Underground stations - Farringdon or Barbican.

Car parking for customers in the West Smithfield car park, EC1A 9DS

SOLUTIONS TO LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD CRYPTIC

SMTA, East Market Building London EC1A 9PQ Tel: 020 7248 3151 Email: info@smithfieldmarket.com

www.smithfieldmarket.com

Across: 1 Incite 7 Illicit 8 Caption 9 Sting 10 Erections 12 Roe 13 Ogre 15 Dried up 17 Ease 19 Nap 21 Swindlers 22 Carol 23 Nursing 24 Travels 25 Posset Down Increase 2 Copper 3 Twitter 4 Class 5 Acting 6 Stag 7 Indonesians 11 Code 13 Opal 14 Eyesight 16 Undergo 18 Spread 20 Perils 21 Sleek 22 Cats

QUICK PUZZLE

Across: Ensued 7 Traffic 8 Dresser 9 Slant 10 Wednesday 12 Yes 13 Irks 15 Attuned 17 Gear 19 Sea 21 Thinkable 22 Loser 23 Nomadic 24 Cretins 25 Asides Down: Endowing 2 Steady 3 Easiest 4 Daisy 5 Affair 6 Scot 7 Trade Unions 11 Near 13 Idea 14 Silences 16 Eskimos 18 Answer 20 Abided 21 Train 22 Lack

20 ARTS

what’s on

LOVE AND DEATH AND ROCK ’N’ ROLL Doctor Feelgood were without a doubt a great band, but you mainly went to see Wilko Johnson when you bought tickets for one of their gigs because he created a rush in your body that you wanted to feel again and again.

Jonathan Maitland’s play opens with Wilko (Johnson Willis) proclaiming ‘Astrology is bollocks! You can’t see the future.’ He then shows off his astronomy knowledge by telling us that ‘Saturn is 547.6million miles away from Canvey Island’.

Canvey Island, a small town on reclaimed land in the Thames Estuary, takes pride of place in Wilko’s life.

While many call Kent— on the other side of the Estuary— the Garden of England, he proudly adds, and Essex is the patio.

The story continues with his bully father dying and his snob mum trying to get him to sound his aitches, a torment that continues with his teachers at school. He and his friends form a skiffle band and Wilko meets the love of his life, Irene. They marry.

He goes off to study literature at university. He graduates. He teaches literature. He gets the sack. I feel as

Photo by Mark Sepple

I’VE HAD my ticket for Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ’n’ Roll for months, but I’ve been waiting years to see a show that lionises one of British music’s true icons, writes Michael Holland.

L-R Johnson Willis, Jon House, Georgina Fairbanks & Georgina Field (Wilko, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) if I’m on a whistle-stop tour through Wilko’s life, with no whistles and no stops. The musical interludes of Feelgood classics allow some respite from the ride and give a reminder of how good they were.

Another band is put together— Doctor Feelgood. With Wilko writing the songs to get away from merely

being another cover band, they begin to get noticed, but Wilko is argumentative and uncompromising. With his degree and his narcissism, he feels superior to just about anyone he meets, and it does little for band cohesion. He puts the others down, telling lead singer Lee Brilleaux that he has no talent, when, in fact, he was one of the best front men

SXSE x RSD25 Will be Buzzing THE NEWS caught up with local legend Mark McGowan, the performance artist extraordinaire whose art pieces always upset those who deserve it most.

He spoke about his past exploits and his current work and said this two-day music extravaganza - SXSE x RSD25(South By South East x Record Store Day 2025) is “going to be massive!”. It will feature 38 artists.

18 DJs. 4 venues. 2 days. 1 wristband, celebrating Record Store Day 2025.

Dash The Henge Store, The Old Dispensary, The Bear Camberwell, and The Greyhound Peckham, in partnership with Two Tribes, are joining forces again to provide two days of live music and DJs in Camberwell, their little corner of South East London, on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April.

Dash The Henge Store will open at 9 a.m., and the resident DJs will soundtrack the first couple of hours for all the early risers, with live music commencing in store from 11 a.m.

Over the road at The Old Dispensary, live music kicks off at 2 p.m. with bands and artists programmed throughout

the day and offset with the shop so you don’t miss a beat!

Down the road at The Bear Camberwell, in partnership with Naturalite Sound System, DJs will be spinning vinyl back to back on a dub sound system from noon until late.

Meanwhile, at The Greyhound Peckham, bands will be playing in their basement venue with DJs spinning throughout the day with an extended license so the party can continue into the early hours!

Sunday sees things kick off at noon with another full day’s programming, including a screening at The Bear Camberwell of The Guard, complete with an introduction from The Nickel Cinema and a Q&A with writer/director and Camberwell resident, John Michael McDonagh.

McGowan, though, in between enjoying the sounds, will be The Bromley Poet Tree reading poetry while dressed as a tree, alternating with being dressed as a bee to give out amazing bee facts. “Do you know bees have five eyes?” he declared. Before I could show my amazement, he was off again: “Bees

fly by their two vocal cords!” He made a buzzing sound. “It’s the vibrations that lift them up,” he said while rising slowly from his chair. Before I had a chance to ask for some explanation, he hit me with, “Bees have OCD, that’s why their hives are spotlessly clean.”

I was absolutely bee-ed out by now, and he saw my surrendering as open season on bee facts: “Queens fight each other by pooing on each other; bees are from The Devil - My bee schtick is Bee Amazing, Bee Extraordinary…” He was truly buzzing now.

Mark will also be displaying work with the Bethlem Performance Collective at The Kabinett Gallery, the former bus inspector’s shelter, opposite the bus garage at Crystal Palace Parade, all through April.

Wristbands available now on DICE: https://link.dice.fm/o060dbc08cbb Full schedule and alphabetical artist/ DJ list available here: SXSE x RSD25 Schedule Watch the full interview with Mark McGowan here: https://youtu.be/ zzm4el5quQw

around. Wilko leaves and drops into a musical doldrums while the band continue to have more success.

Adding more pain to an existence increasingly lived with drugs, Wilko his diagnosed with terminal cancer.

He decides not to undergo deblitiating treament but to live his final months saying goodbye on a farewell tour. The

first half ends on a melancholy note.

We spend the interval raving at how good the band are, with much praise saved for Jon House’s Lee Brilleaux and David John’s skill at playing the spoons.

The writer has got right inside the mind of Wilko Johnson, and the actor has too. Johnson Willis makes Wilko real. he ensures we do not see him as some obnoxious, druggie boor but an educated man who quotes from Wordsworth, T.S. Eliot, Joseph Conrad and William Blake; who connects Shakespeare’s Sonnets to rock ’n’ roll songs, and deals with life-ending cancer with a spirit and outlook we could all do with.

Georgina Fairbanks(Irene), Georgina Field (Sparko) make up the cast that deliver a great story and fantastic music. And it is the music that makes me overlook the too many facts being dropped into the script like confetti.

The second half ends with smiles all round, a three-song finale and an appearance from Charlie Chan, the man who made a miracle happen.

Go and find out how that miracle happens.

Southwark Playhouse Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD until 19th April.

Booking and full details: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/ productions/wilko/

EVENTS 21

Baby Yoga Book in for the Old Royal Naval College’s Baby Yoga this month and take part in a memorable yoga class for new parents to bond with their baby in a grand setting.

Carve out some time to stretch, release tension and build strength in a mindful and enjoyable way while meeting other new parents in the local area.

Teacher Toni Osborne has taught postnatal yoga full time for over a decade at yoga studios across London.

This class will feature breath exercises and synchronised yoga poses that will help you strengthen the core and pelvic floor, increasing energy and balancing the nervous system.

It is open to all caregivers and pre-crawling babies, and it is suitable for all yogis, with modifications offered to suit all levels.

Dates: Monday 28 April 2025, 10:30am Tickets: £37 Queen Mary Undercroft, Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN ornc.org/whats-on

The Wizard of Oz at Churchill Theatre Fly over the rainbow with this exciting adaptation of The Wizard of Oz at Churchill Theatre. Join Dorothy as she goes on a magical adventure to the Land of Oz. Along the way, she makes new friends with the Scarecrow, who longs for a brain, the Tin Man, who really wants a heart, and the very cowardly Lion, who is desperate to be brave and have some courage. Dorothy needs to find her way home, but it’s not going to be easy with the Wicked Witch of the West keeping a close eye on her. Will the Great and Powerful Oz be able to help? Starring Bromley’s very own Fanny Galore as Glinda Galore, alongside a professional cast of West End performers, this colourful story is packed with hilarious jokes, dazzling dance routines, glittering scenery and plenty more for all the family.

There’s no place like Churchill Theatre.

Date: Wednesday 16 April 2025, 2pm and 6pm Tickets: £19.50 to £23.50 Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA trafalgartickets.com/churchill-theatre-bromley

Baisakh Biryani Supper Club Dinner Calling all foodies: book a spot at the Baisakh Maharani Supper Club for an evening filled with exquisite food and great company, brought to you by chef Priya Deshingkar. The event is hosted at the home of Paroj and Deepta in Greenwich, where you will indulge in a feast fit for royalty and experience the rich flavours of Old Delhi and Awadh. Come hungry, bring your own drinks for a tipple and get ready to have a fantastic time.

Date: Saturday 12 Apr 2025, 7pm Tickets: £54.88 Valegro House, 114 Norman Road, SE10 9LJ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/baisakh-biryanisupper-club-dinner-tickets-1287666096959

Four Seasons at The Albany A theatrical love letter to nature for children and their families, catch Four Seasons at The Albany. Join an intrepid team of magical gardeners as they tend to the marvellous menagerie of flora and fauna at every stage of nature’s miraculous journey. Four Seasons is a celebration of the wonder and weirdness of nature and our place within it, all set to an exciting score of seasonally inspired tracks, including, of course, Vivaldi’s piece. Expect enchanting and innovative theatre featuring puppetry, physical theatre and clowning fun – everything we’ve come to expect from Olivier Award-winning Little Bulb (Hibernation, CBEEBIES’ The Nutcracker).

Date: Tuesday 8 April 2025, 1pm and 3pm Tickets: £9.50 The Albany, Douglas Way, SE8 4AG www.thealbany.org.uk/shows/four-seasons

Easter activities at the Queen’s House Head to the Queen’s House for an egg-citing array of events this Easter holiday. From musical storytelling sessions to craft workshops, there are plenty of drop-in activities suitable for all ages and abilities. You can meet historical characters connected to the Queen’s House, take part in an origami tulip-making workshop, and sail into the world of 18th-century exploration with a musical storytelling adventure inspired by George Stubbs’s famous painting The Kongouro from New Holland.

Dates: Sunday 6 to Sunday 20 April 2025, 11am-4pm. Tickets: Free Queen’s House, Romney Road, SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on

Live at the Works with Troy Hawke One of south London’s biggest comedy nights returns to Woolwich Works this April with a rip-roaring line-up headlined by Troy Hawke. Troy Hawke is the self-styled president of the Greeter’s Guild, whose online videos complimenting everyone – from complete strangers outside Poundland to joining Manchester City at training – have amassed millions of views over the past year. He’s been a stand-up star for years and made memorable appearances on BBC’s Live at the Apollo and other shows. He takes to the stage with Laura Smyth (BBC’s Live at the Apollo) and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Josh Pugh and Ania Magliano. This event is BSL-interpreted, and you can see where the BSL interpreter will be positioned when you select your seats during booking.

Date: Saturday 26 April 2025, 7:30pm Tickets: From £22 Woolwich Works, The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, SE18 6HD www.woolwich.works/events

© Paul Blakemore

© Old Royal Naval College

Heading south - our pick of upcoming spring events

22 HISTORY

History

A THOUSAND BLOWS: HOW MUCH OF THE FORTY ELEPHANTS’ STORY IS TRUE?

© Disney

The fizzing chemistry between Hezekiah Moscow and Mary Carr provides one of the show’s most compelling sub-plots

By Issy Clarke A THOUSAND Blows tells the overlapping stories of London’s criminal underbelly in the 1880s but just how historically accurate is it?

The show tells the entwined stories of Mary Carr’s Forty Elephants, an allfemale gang of thieves who plotted elaborate heists from their base in Elephant and Castle, and London’s shadowy illegal boxing scene.

The Forty Elephants were a real-life notorious criminal gang who operated from the 1870s until as late as the 1950s, and Mary Carr was elected as their scheming leader in 1890.

Hezekiah Moscow was also a real person, who arrived in London from Jamaica in the 1880s and worked as a lion tamer at the East London Aquarium before becoming a successful boxer.

But while much of the show is rooted in real events and people, the suggestion that these two worlds were linked is largely down to the imagination of show creator Steven Knight.

“I’d always wanted to tell the story of

the Forty Elephants” he recently told the BBC. “Both of those true stories are amazing, and the fact is they were both happening at the same time and in the same place.

“I thought it would be interesting to imagine what would have happened if Mary and Hezekiah had met – and that’s what this show is about.”

There was no real life version of the romantic relationship between Mary and Hezekiah, who meet in the show’s first episode - in fact, it is highly unlikely their worlds would have collided at all.

Coincidentally, the real Hezekiah did marry a white woman called Mary, although she had nothing to do with Mary Carr or the Forty Elephants.

Also fictitious is the audacious heist that takes place in Episode 4, when the Elephants go undercover in Buckingham Palace to steal Queen Victoria’s gifts for the Chinese Emperor during his visit to London.

“There were a lot of nasty things and people going on in London at that time” said Sarah Elizabeth Cox during a Q&A, a consultant historian on the

series.

“The phrase we prefer to use is ‘inspired by real characters who lived and fought together’.

“There’s lots of inspiration taken from real events, but it is drama.”

The heist may be been made up, but the real Elephants were known for their daring acts of organised theft.

The women used to dress up as housemaids and target the homes of wealthy families - other times, they would pose as aristocratic women and ransack high-end jewellery and department stores.

Ironically, part of what made their crimes possible were the stifling standards of female ‘respectability’ that dominated Victorian society.

“One of the reasons why shoplifting becomes a sort of female pursuit, is because women’s clothing is designed to hide their shape” said David Olusoga, an executive producer and historical advisor for the series.

“They just had more capacity to put more pockets and more layers to hide things.

“So the kind of prudishness of Victorian society creates the perfect

An A Thousand Blows omnibus appeared in Dalston last week, where the real Hezekiah Moscow and Sugar Goodson would have boxed kind of outfit for shoplifting. Being ‘respectable’ creates this sort of opportunity that Victorian gentlemen didn’t have.

“We often forget Victorian women were involved in crime. But when you look at the transportation records of the people who ended up in Australia, although they were overwhelmingly male, there were thousands of Victorian women who ended up there and very often that was for shoplifting and violence.”

The first series, set in the 1880s, focuses on Mary Carr’s reign as ‘Queen’, and shows a young Alice Diamond cutting her teeth as an Elephant under her mentorship. In reality, Diamond was only born in 1896 and did not become the gang’s leader until the 1920s.

But with confirmation from Steven Knight that season two has already been shot, we certainly haven’t seen the last of the Forty Elephants on our screens.

24 CLASSIFIED CLASSIFIED AND COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

WANTED RECORDS

Southwark Pensioners’ Centre

ROCK, POP, PUNK, INDIE, REGGAE, SOUL...

LPS AND SINGLES - WHOLE COLLECTIONS WELCOME

Call: 07956 832314 / 020 8677 6907 Or Email: vinylwanted@aol.com

Supporting older people in Southwark for over 35 years.

ALSO INTERESTED IN NON CHART CD COLLECTIONS

Offering advice, support, activities, rooms for hire and a voice for older people.

Contact us on 020 7708 4556 or info@southwarkpensioners.org.uk

ScotsCare is here to help and support Scots and their families

to speak with a Client Support Worker to see how we can assist you.

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

Visit scotscare.com or call 0800 652 2989

Or pop into 305 -307 Camberwell rd, Camberwell Green, SE5 0HQ

WANTED

CARS + VANS ANY CONDITION ANY AREA PROMPT & POLITE SERVICE TELEPHONE

020 8659 8988 ANY DAY, ANY TIME, 7 DAYS MOBILE

07850 323 508 CLASSIC & UNSUAL CARS ALSO WANTED

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

Financial Support | Advocacy Counselling | Sheltered Housing Homelessness | Befriending Social Events I Volunteering

Registered charity England and Wales (207326), Scotland (SC052739)

DRIVERS WE NEED YOU Transport can be challenging for many older people. Help them maintain active social lives.

Become a volunteer driver! volunteering@linkagesouthwark.org www.linkagesouthwark.org 020 8299 2623

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

Application for Sydenham Hill Ridge Neighbourhood Forum

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (HARPER ROAD, SURREY QUAYS ROAD, PECKHAM RYE, SNOWSFIELDS)

Notice is hereby given that the London Borough of Southwark Council has received an application from a local community group in the Sydenham Hill Ridge seeking the re-designation of a Neighbourhood Forum.

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

2.

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

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (2a) Harper Road, between New Kent Road and County Street.

(2b) Surrey Quays Road, at it’s junction with Deal Porters Way. (2c) Peckham Rye, between Whorlton Road and Scylla Road (2d) Snowsfields,at it’s junction with Kipling Street

3.

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

Thursday, April 3rd 2025

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be (2a) New Kent Road, Great Dover Street, Borough High Street, Harper Road (2b) Surrey Quays Road, Lower Road, Brunel Road, Salter Road, Redriff Road, Lower Road, Bush Road, Rotherhithe Old Road (2c) Nunhead Lane, Consort Road, Heaton Road, Rye Lane, Peckham Rye. East Dulwich Road, Peckham Rye (2d) as indicated by the signs displayed

The London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Lewisham are seeking views and comments on this application from residents and other interested stakeholders.

You can view the application and share your views at this website: https://engage.southwark.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/application-for-sydenham-hill-ridge-neighbourhoodforum The deadline for your response is midnight on 6 May 2025.

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can submit your response to us via e-mail to planningpolicy@southwark.gov.uk.

If the re-designation is approved, the Neighbourhood Forum will be able to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for their Neighbourhood Area.

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we West London Foods LTD T\A German Doner Kebab Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of 222 - 224 Borough High Street, SE1 1JX

4.

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

5.

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

The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are

The closure will be in operation on the following dates: (2a) 28th April – 7th May (2b) 12th – 13th April with back up dates of 19th – 20th April and 10th – 11th May (2c) 12th – 13th April, with back up dates of the 10th – 11th May (2d) 12th – 13th April, with back up dates of 19th – 20th April.

6.

7.

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

Dated this 3rd April 2025 Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) DM04145-1/thameswater (2b) LBSCR13822-1/LBSCR13822NTS/re-ad (2c) LBSCR138402/ LBSCR13840-3/re-ad (2d) LBSCR14004-1 LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

Days

Start time

Finish time

The provision of late night entertainment:

Sunday to Thursday Friday and Saturday

23:00 23:00

01:00 02:00

Opening hours:

Sunday to Wednesday Thursday to Saturday

11:00 11:00

01:00 02:00

A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above (or by email via licensing@southwark.gov.uk) and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below.

Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Date of application: 24th March 2025

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (EVELINA ROAD, CHELTENHAM ROAD, SURREY ROAD)

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (DERWENT GROVE, BARGE HOUSE STREET, NEEDLEMAN STREET, ROTHERHITHE NEW ROAD)

TEMPORARY WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS AND PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice, that, because of works by Thames Water and SGN, it made, an order, the effect of which would be to introduce ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions and prohibit vehicles in part of the above named road

1.

2.

Whilst the restriction is in place, and whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to wait, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading at any time in:

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

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in:

(a) (b) (c)

Evelina Road, between No’s 43 (near junction of St Marys Road) and No’s 61 at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced on both sides of the carriageway (north and south side) Cheltenham Road, between No’s 80 (at it’s junction with Hichisson Road) and No’s 112 at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced on both sides of the carriageway (north and south side) Surrey Road, between No’s 74 (at it’s junction of Cheltenham Road) and No’s 64 at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced on both sides of the carriageway (north and south side)

3.

An alternative route is not applicable.

4.

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

5.

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

6.

The restriction will come into force between (2a) 14th – 17th April (2b) 14th – 17th April

7.

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

Dated this 3rd April 2025 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) SLS0081387343-0045Thames (2b) 2647017-00493SGN

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

(2a) Derwent Grove, cycle at it’s junction with Grove Vale for 30m south (cyclists) (2b) Barge House Street, between both junctions of Upper Ground (North/East corner of No’s 26 to West face of No’s 34) (2c) Needleman Street, between Christopher Close and Albatross Way (2d) Rotherhithe New Road, (cycle lane closure) by the bottom of the roundabout, from both sides of the pedestrian crossing.

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be (2a) Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich Grove (cyclists) (2b) Upper Ground (2c) Poolmans Street, Timber Pond Road, Lagado Mews, Salter Road, Lower Road (2d) as indicated by the signs displayed.

4.

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

5.

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

6.

The closure will be in operation on the following dates: (2a) 30th April – 15th May (2b) 22nd April – 27th July (2c) 28th April – 2nd July (2d) 22nd – 25th April

7.

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

Dated this 3rd April 2025 Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 45457434/Conway (2b) LBSHO13917-2/meadowbLTD (2c) 59867030/UKPN (2d) S171ROTNEWRD/

Local media reaches you in huge numbers.

Local news brands now reach 40 million people every single month, which is 73% of the total GB population.

26 PUBLIC NOTICES

Thursday, April 3rd 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended) PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 (as amended) The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/ You can use facilities at your local library or 'My Southwark Service Points' to access the website.

How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked 'confidential' will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX. Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; EIA - environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council - there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ - major planning application; PIP - application is for Permission in Principle; S106 - ; STDCA development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building; 11 KENNINGTON PARK PLACE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE11 4AS (Ref: 25/AP/0582) Listed building consent for the replacement of the roof (Within: Kennington Park Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Anna Poulose 020 7525 3174) 215 WATERLOO ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 8XH(Ref: 25/AP/0589) Display of four replacement signs, comprising door sign, replacement front and side fascia signs and 1no. hanging sign. Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: James Holmes 020 7525 0803) 6 MORE LONDON PLACE LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 25/AP/0461) Temporary display of non-illuminated advertisement boards along the primary More London Place elevation, at 6 More London, SE1 2DA. (Within: Tooley Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki 020 7525 0646) 311 WALWORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 2TG (Ref: 25/AP/0744) Alterations to the shopfront (Within: Multiple Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA AFFECT (Contact: James Holmes 020 7525 0803) 117 DULWICH VILLAGE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7BL (Ref: 25/AP/0820) Variation of Condition 2 (Acoustic Treatments) of planning permission ref. 24/AP/1562 dated 18/01/2025 for 'Installation of A/C and condensers (retrospective)'. The amendment seeks to omit acoustic covers. (Within: Dulwich Village Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5840) 163 CAMBERWELL GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8JS (Ref: 25/AP/0707)

Proposed 2 bedroom sunk dwelling replacing garage. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Andre Verster 020 7525 5457) ADMINISTRATION BLOCK WILLIAM BOOTH MEMORIAL TRAINING COLLEGE CHAMPION PARK LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8BQ (Ref: 25/AP/0838) Listed building consent for cleaning, repairs and repointing in sand mortar to the facades of the B.16 administration building (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Rosie Poser 020 7525 7924) ADMINISTRATION BLOCK WILLIAM BOOTH MEMORIAL TRAINING COLLEGE CHAMPION PARK LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8BQ (Ref: 25/AP/0837) Listed building consent for cleaning, repairs and repointing in grey - pre-patinated mortar facades to the B.16 administration building (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Rosie Poser 020 7525 7924) PLAYGROUND DOUGLAS BUILDINGS MINT STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 1QP (Ref: 24/AP/3651) Removal and reprovision of children's play area and ball court with associated landscaping.

Alterations to existing vehicle parking arrangements (car, motorbike and bicycle).

(Within: Liberty of the Mint CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Sean Gomes 020 7525 0666) 62 PECKHAM HIGH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5DP(Ref: 25/AP/0205) Retrospective application for continued use as restaurant (Class E(b)) and installation of new kitchen extraction system. (Within: Rye Lane

Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5840) CONRAN BUILDING 22 SHAD THAMES LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2YU (Ref: 25/AP/0563) Listed Building Consent for external and internal signage at ground floor level and retrospective consent for minor alterations to the internal configuration of office floors at Level 01 and Level 04. (Within: St Saviours Dock St Saviours Dock CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Adeleh Haghgoo 020 7525 0474) DULWICH COLLEGE DULWICH COMMON LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7LD (Ref: 25/AP/0693) Listed building consent for the internal restoration and refurbishment to the lower hall and main stairs (North and South) with updated colour scheme and lighting; internal restoration to the master's library, master's boardroom; internal refurbishment to the master's coffee room and master's pigeonhole room including the removal of existing (non-original) servery in the master's coffee room and new internal door opening between the master's common room and the master's pigeonhole room; reinstatement of internal door opening in between the first floor kitchen (room 27) and store room (chaplain's room); and new internal door opening between first floor store room and adjacent office (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948) Dated: 01 Apr 2025 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date (or 14 days for Permission in Principle, 30 days for EIA development).

STEPHEN PLATTS Director of Planning and Growth

To place a notice in this paper and online, please email em@cm‐media.co.uk or call 020 7232 1639 Deadline is 3pm on Wednesday

Reformer Pilates for all.

Find some time for your body & mind, with our 3 For £39 Trial Offer.

We would love to show you how amazing you feel after training on the Nuforma!

Marine Wharf, Plough Way, SE16 7FP nuformapilates.co.uk/ surrey-quays surreyquays@nuformapilates.co.uk 0208 153 1128

SPORT 29

Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

ROACH MAKES SURREY RETURN

By Sports Reporter KEMAR ROACH will return to Surrey for the first four Rothesay County Championship matches of the season.

A popular figure at Surrey, the West Indies international is joining the Three Feathers for a fifth consecutive season and will be available to play against Essex, Hampshire, Sussex, and Somerset as Surrey aim to make a strong start to their title defence.

Known for his ability to seam and swing the red ball, Roach will link up with the squad ahead of the season-opener at Chelmsford and stay with the team till the end of April.

Surrey supporters will get the opportunity to see him bowl at the Kia Oval – a happy hunting ground for the fast bowler, having taken 65 wickets in fifteen matches in SE11 – against Hampshire (April 11-14) and Somerset (April 2528).

The 36-year-old seamer, who has been an important figure during Surrey’s historic three-peat of County Championships, has claimed 284 Test wickets for the West Indies and boasts 566 First-Class scalps.

Ninety-three wickets from Roach’s First-Class wicket tally have come whilst representing Surrey, which includes a

personal best of 8/40 in 2021 against Hampshire.

In May 2023, Roach was honoured with a Surrey cap for his contributions to the Club.

Last season, Roach collected 20 wickets as Surrey claimed their 23rd County Championship title. A highlight of his campaign was the impressive performance against Warwickshire at home, leading Surrey to victory with his season-best figures of 6/46 in the second innings.

Speaking about his return to the Three Feathers, Roach said: “I’ve enjoyed every moment of my time with Surrey over the last four years and I’m excited to join up with the team again.

“The Kia Oval is my second home and the environment led by Alec Stewart, Gareth Batty and Rory Burns is one of the best I’ve been a part of. I’m looking forward to contributing to more success for Surrey in whatever way that I can.”

Stewart, High Performance Cricket Advisor at Surrey CCC, added: “Kemar has been a big part of our dressing room in the last four years and it is great to have him back. His quality, work ethic, and commitment to the Club speak for itself.

“I am confident he will once again play an important role at the start of this season, and the group is looking forward to working with him again.”

Kemar Roach in Vitality County Championship against Warwickshire at the Kia Oval last year

Dulwich feel Darts pain

By John Kelly

A CAPACITY Champion Hill had their Saturday afternoon ruined as Dulwich Hamlet were beaten 3-0 by Dartford and slipped to the last place above the relegation zone in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Hayden Bullas opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before Callum Jones struck in the 38th and 51st minutes to help the Darts maintain their one-point advantage over Billericay Town at the top of the table.

The visitors’ first goal came against the run of play after Dulwich’s Luke Wanadio had hit the post. The Hamlet failed to clear Samir Carruthers’ corner and Bullas volleyed past goalkeeper Dillon Barnes from the edge of the box.

Ex-Aston Villa midfielder Carruthers was also involved in the second when he crossed for Jones to head home.

Jones scored his thirteenth league goal of the season when he took one touch to set up the shot from just inside the box to leave most of the 3,334 in attendance deflated.

There were further blows for Hamlet boss Bradley Quinton as Ryley Scott and Mark Marshall picked up injuries and had to go off.

Dulwich are eight points above Hendon with five games left and travel to fourth-place Cray Valley PM this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.

By John Kelly FISHER STRENGTHENED their SCEFL Premier Division play-off claims with a 3-1 win against Lordswood at St Paul’s last weekend.

With just three out of the four playoff places up for grabs and three points separating the four teams

in contention, Ajay Ashanike’s side couldn’t afford a slip-up in front of an attendance of 204 in Rotherhithe, and they didn’t disappoint.

Jack Gibbons gave the hosts the lead in the fourth minute before Tunde Abiola Aderonmu levelled three minutes later.

Kesna Clarke restored the Fish’s lead 36 minutes in and Billy Brown added the third four minutes from time.

Photo by Daver Anderson

Fish net vital St Paul’s win

Fisher are fourth with five games left, a point off Rusthall in third.

Punjab United are a point behind Fisher having played a game more but Whitstable Town, a point further back in sixth, have two games in hand on the St Paul’s side.

Fisher host eighteenth-place Snodland Town on Saturday at 3pm.

Fisher celebrate Kesna Clarke’s goal

Dubois not going to chase Taylor

Chisora confirms retirement and will wait for Daniel Dubois

By John Kelly

By John Kelly

CAROLINE DUBOIS still wants to fight Irish superstar Katie Taylor - but insisted she wasn’t “too hung up” on it ever happening.

Dubois defended her WBC lightweight world championship with a points victory over Bo Mi Re Shin at the Royal Albert Hall last month.

Dubois got the belt after Taylor vacated it to stay at light-welterweight, where the 38-year-old is the undisputed champion.

“I’m not too hung up on it. Whether it happens or not is irrelevant to me,” Dubois said.

“There’s [other] big names as well. I don’t need to chase Katie Taylor.

“I’m so faithful that I don’t need to chase her. And to be honest, she doesn’t need me. So whether we fight, great. If not, it’s not a problem for me.”

“It’s just about what’s going to make the most sense.I want to unify, I want to become an undisputed world champion. So that’s the plan. And we’ll see what can happen.”

Terri Harper is a possible all-British unification bout.

Dubois added: ”I think now she realises there’s no other option. You know, she gets beat by Beatriz Ferreira, but she gets beat for no pay, really.

“Or she fights Stephanie Han for nothing. Or she fights me and gets beat, but at least she gets a payday.

“I think me and Beatriz are No.1,

No.2, whichever way you want to see it.

“We’re the best in the division. So I want to hold that one off to the end.

I would love to be able to get that for undisputed.”

Dubois has her eye on being a multiweight champion.

“You see Natasha Jonas, she moved up in weight. You see Terri Harper, who moved up in weight,” Dubois said.

“Claressa Shields, she’s a phenomenal fighter. Amanda Serrano. The thing that these women all have in common is that they’ve conquered multiple weights.

“And I want to be like these girls. I want to be able to conquer multiple weights.”

DEREK CHISORA has confirmed he will retire after his next fight - and hopes it is against Daniel Dubois at Wembley.

Chisora, 41, is the mandatory challenger for 27-year-old Dubois’ IBF world championship title.

Chisora beat Otto Wallin in his 49th career fight in February, a title eliminator to face Dubois.

“Listen, at the end of this year, I’ll be retiring. I’m not going to lie to you. I’ll be out. Is it going to delay my retirement plans? No,” Chisora said.

“Whatever happens, this will be the last one. Yes, I’ll just walk away.

“You don’t understand, it’s not even up

to me, it’s up to my wife! This is it. She said, ‘if you have one more fight after this, I’ll leave you’. So I’m like: ‘Okay, fine.’ She said: ‘One fight and you’re out.’

“You can’t do that ‘one more, one more’ thing. This is a problem. This is where you get caught out and then problems happen.

“It’s the last dance. There’s no dance after. This is it. When I leave the ring, that’s it. Done.”

Chisora added: “We’ll see what happens, but I want that shot since the IBF made me mandatory for it. I want it, there’s no two ways about it. I want it badly.

“I want to fight Daniel. It’s a good story, because behind the whole thing is he’s trained by my old trainer. It’s a very exciting fight, and I just want that shot now.”

30 SPORT

LIONS STUMBLE AT SUNDERLAND

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Sunderland - 1 Hume 20’ Millwall - 0 Date: Saturday 29 March 2025 Man of the Match: Patrick Roberts Referee: Robert Madley Attendance: 41,762 (771)

By Will Scott at The Stadium of Light SUNDERLAND NARROWLY edged past Millwall at The Stadium of Light last Saturday, securing a 1-0 win via a Trai Hume first-half volley.

The Black Cats had the better of the chances throughout, having an 87th minute penalty saved, but failed to put the game out of reach of the Lions, who nearly scored an injury-time equaliser when the ball fell to Mihailo Ivanovic in the box, but his shot was blocked.

Alex Neil said ahead of the game that Millwall would head to Sunderland with confidence, and the Lions certainly did not play with fear against the side Neil got promoted back to the Championship in 2022. They battled well and had more of the ball, but lacked a bit of quality going forward and it was always an uphill battle away against the fourth-placed side in the division.

It was ultimately a missed chance for the Lions, who could have cut the gap to the top six with many of their fellow play-off hopefuls dropping points. Instead, the gap to sixth remains six points - which looks like an increasingly tall task with only seven games left in the season.

Sunderland looked threatening from the start, nearly opening the scoring in the first minute. Wilson Isidor got in behind Millwall’s defence, and had his sharp effort from the right-hand side of the box saved by Lukas Jensen.

The deflection fell to Jobe Bellingham, whose effort was blocked by Casper De Norre. Sunderland recycled the ball, Trai Hume put in a cross and Chris Rigg saw his header gathered by Jensen.

Millwall settled into a rhythm shortly after, controlling possession and probing around the Black Cats’ box - however Sunderland possessed plenty of venom on the counter. In the sixth minute Connolly

Millwall miss chance to close gap to top six as Alex Neil’s former side edge close tie despite Lukas Jensen penalty save was dispossessed by Hume, who found Bellingham in space via Romaine Mundle.

The midfielder burst through the centre of the park before passing it to Patrick Roberts on the right flank, cut inside and fired a fierce shot at the top corner that Jensen had to react quickly to push past the post.

Sunderland won four corners in the opening 20 minutes - and Millwall did not look comfortable defending any of them, with the Black Cats eventually pouncing the fourth time round.

Sunderland took the corner short, Roberts curled the ball towards the far post towards the unmarked Hume. The defender had all the time in the world to pick out his spot, and he calmly volleyed the ball into the net.

Millwall did not let their heads drop, and in the remainder of the half had three shots to the Black Cats’ one.

Aaron Connolly curled a free kick over the bar, Japhet Tanganga had an acrobatic overhead kick blocked following a corner,

and in what was the Lions’ best chance of the opening 45, in the 39th minute Josh Coburn found Luke Cundle in the box but the attacking midfielder was off balance and could only tamely poke his effort on goal, where it was easily gathered by Anthony Patterson.

The Lions had more of the ball in the first half and sustained pressure in Sunderland’s half but did not really do much with it, while the Black Cats looked potent every time they had the ball in Millwall’s half.

Sunderland continued to cause issues after the interval, and came close to doubling their lead in the 53rd minute.

Roberts put in another teasing ball following a blocked Bellingham shot, and Isidor managed to get head on it from close range, forcing a reflex save out of Jensen, who pushed it over the bar.

A medical emergency in the crowd shortly after meant both teams got a quick breather, but Millwall continued to look ineffective in attack once play resumed.

Alex Neil opted to switch formation in the 66th minute, bringing on striker Mihailo Ivanovic for winger Aidomo Emakhu.

The change looked to be a positive one almost immediately, with Ivanovic winning a corner only seconds after coming on.

Five minutes later, Millwall had their best chance so far. The ball was played out to Crama on the right wing, who curled in a ball that Coburn directed on goal, but Patterson had positioned himself well and the ball sailed into his chest.

Sunderland had a few more chances to settle the tie as the game drew to a conclusion. In the 75th minute Mundle, who was a handful on the left, cut in off the flank, beat several defenders before having a shot blocked by Tanganga.

Mundle continued to cause issues, and won a penalty in the 87th minute. Millwall turned the ball over, Bellingham played it through to the winger - he was one on one with Tanganga and the Lions’ centre-back

Millwall boss: we didn’t ‘scare’ Sunderland enough

By Will Scott ALEX NEIL said his “biggest disappointment” with Millwall’s 1-0 loss to Sunderland last Saturday was conceding the decisive goal from a set-piece, and thought the Lions’ attackers did not cause enough “problems”.

Millwall had 54.7 per cent possession away against a side contending for automatic promotion, but often lacked incision going forward - only taking five shots over the 90 minutes, two of which were on target.

Sunderland, on the other hand, were far more ruthless with the ball, cutting through the Lions in transition a number of times. On another day they could have scored two or three, but were denied by an excellent goalkeeping performance by Lukas Jensen, who made several outstanding

saves including keeping out Luke O’Nien’s 87th-minute penalty.

Neil thought Millwall put in a “reasonable performance” against a top-four side.

“Sunderland as a team are very good in terms of attacking,” Neil said. “Pretty much across the league they’ll be in the top five metrics in terms of creating chances, shots at goal, goal scored, all that sort of stuff. So they’re a good side. I think we got scared in the first minute, [Wilson] Isidor gets down the side, Lukas [Jensen] makes a great save with his feet.

“Then to be fair, I thought we had good control in the first half but without really being threatening. We were too safe with our passing. I didn’t think we moved the ball well enough at times to get into the final third and cause them issues. We spoke about that at length at half-time. I thought we probably had less

control in the second half. They probably started a little bit better.

“If you look at Sunderland for me, stop Isidor getting down the sides and getting in behind you because he’s a real threat.

We did that in. Stop the two wide players coming inside you and opening and getting their shots away. I thought we stopped that. If you lose the game in one of those instances, it’s how most teams get beat against Sunderland. To lose it on a set play when we are a big strong unit, that’s really frustrating. That’s probably my biggest disappointment.

“If you look at us at the moment, we’ve got a lot of forward players missing, that doesn’t help us in terms of that final third end product that we need.

When you play against a Sunderland side, you need to be able to scare them.

You need guys at the top end of the pitch that can skip past them and cause them problems. I didn’t think we had enough

of that today. Their front players looked more threatening in getting into more areas in the game.

“But we are a gritty team, we stayed in it to the last, we kept on going and we got a couple of little sniffs towards the end that we could have got ourselves back into the match. But unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

“It’s not easy when they played a 4-4-2 block at times, playing through that’s not easy. You probably need to work round it, get more crosses in the box. It’s no surprise that’s where our chances came from in the second half.

“I just didn’t think we were as progressive with our passing as what we can be. I thought it was a reasonable performance from the team. I wasn’t displeased with our performance, I was probably more displeased in the manner in which we lost the game, which was a set play.”

Mihailo Ivanovic attempts to equaliser in injury time dragged him down in the box. Luke O’Nien took the resulting spot kick, but had his effort saved by Jensen.

Ivanovic came close to equalising in injury time when Connolly’s cross was nodded down to him by Leonard, but he dallied on it a touch too long and his shot was blocked.

Millwall: 4-2-3-1 – Jensen; Crama (Leonard 79), Tanganga, Cooper, Bryan; De Norre (Saville 79), Mitchell; Emakhu (Ivanovic 66), Cundle (Langstaff 79), Connolly (Sturge 93); Coburn Unused Substitutes: G.Evans, Harding, Kendall, Matthews Sunderland: 4-4-2 - Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Mepham, Browne; Mundle (Watson 88), Bellingham, Neil, Roberts; Isidor (Mayenda 88), Rigg Unused Substitutes: Aleksic, Anderson, Bainbridge, Jones, Lavery, Middlemas, Moore

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

Millwall VS

Portsmouth Saturday, April 5 (15:00 pm) Possible Millwall starting XI: 4-2-3-1 Jensen; Crama, Tanganga, Cooper, Bryan; De Norre, Mitchell; Connolly, Cundle, Emakhu; Coburn Last meeting: Sky Bet Championship (January 28, 2024): Millwall 1-0 Portsmouth (Ivanovic 40’) Match odds: Millwall 23/20 Draw 2/1 Portsmouth 5/2

SPORT 31

THE ANATOMY OF A PENALTY SAVE

Lukas Jensen has made 40 appearances in all competitions this season

Lukas Jensen breaks down how he prepares for spot kicks, and why he was able to keep out Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien’s effort EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott THERE WAS a nervous hush around the Stadium of Light as Luke O’Nien stood over the ball.

Sunderland had been in cruise control for 87 minutes but their one-goal lead was vulnerable to a late equaliser, and Alex Neil’s triple change in the 79th minute had sparked a late Millwall surge that had made the crowd uneasy.

This was the Black Cat’s chance to stamp out any potential comeback. The Lions were caught in transition, Japhet Tanganga caught Romaine Mundle late in the box and referee Robert Madley instantly pointed to the spot.

Any chance of a Millwall point would be lost if O’Nien found the back of the net.

Only one man stood between Sunderland and a guaranteed three points. Lukas Jensen.

The Danish goalkeeper stuck his arms out, crouched and then correctly dove to his left, saving the ball with his knees. The game was still alive.

The Lions pushed for a goal and had a golden opportunity in injury time, but could not quite find the equaliser. Millwall lost the game, yet were only in the tie until the end because of their goalkeeper.

O’Nien’s penalty was weak, but Jensen was at a distinct disadvantage before he fired his effort, as are all goalkeepers. The expected goal (xG) of a penalty is 0.788, or to put it alternatively, roughly 78.8 per cent of every penalty is converted.

Goalkeepers attempt to give themselves

Alex Neil doesn’t want to underestimate ‘dangerous’ Portsmouth EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott ALEX NEIL insisted that Millwall would not underestimate a “dangerous” Portsmouth side ahead of their trip to The Den on Saturday, April 5.

Pompey have won five in their last eight, including a 1-0 win against second place Leeds United at home, although they have not fared as well on the road - only winning two away games all season.

The Lions have already beaten Portsmouth at Fratton Park twice this season, 1-0 win in the EFL Cup First Round on August 13 and a 1-0 league win on January 28, but Neil does not think that gives them an edge heading into the tie.

“I don’t think that makes any difference at this level,” Neil said.

“You look at the results, they’re so sporadic.

“I was watching Portsmouth vs Sheffield United this morning, Portsmouth were really good in the game. So I don’t think Portsmouth are there to be underestimated, they’re a dangerous team.

“I think because we’re at home, everybody just thinks we’re going to rock up and win the game, it’s certainly not going to be as simple as that. They’ve been a tough opponent for a lot of teams. They’ve beat Leeds and different teams like that this season as well.

“They’re very different from everyone else, they’re really, really aggressive in terms of pressing the ball. I think in the last 15 games, only us and Portsmouth have been the best teams at getting the ball back. So it’s going to be a challenge.”

every advantage possible, and that starts in training.

“We do our analysis the day before,” Jensen told our paper. “So the whole goalkeeping union sits together and looks at the three, four most likely takers, what side they’re going to go, you work on the patterns, all that type of stuff. So you give yourself the best chance to save a penalty.

“Marshy [Goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall] stands and shows it from my side as well. So I’ve got double coverage of the potential side he is going to shoot in.

“It wasn’t a very good penalty I must admit, but it’s a save on my end and a penalty is definitely in the attacker’s favour. To be on the receiving end as a goalkeeper and actually make the save is just something I have to be happy about.”

“It was an awkward one, because it was actually underhit if you ask me. So I nearly dived too far. It hit my knee. It was not even with my hand or anything, it just hit my knee and then just went wide.

“I think what goes unnoticed is Jake Cooper. People have to re-watch it and then focus on what he does because he actually makes the second block from the second shot. He literally sprints back and then tries to get in front of the goal and make the block or just clear the ball. So that’s nearly equally as good as the save.”

Research ahead of the game is not the only strategies goalkeepers employ to gain an advantage. Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez went viral during the World Cup for disrupting opposition takers by throwing the ball away, wasting time or generally playing mind games and it worked. In the

World Cup final against France he saved two penalties in the shootout to ensure Argentina won their third World Cup. While Jensen does not quite go as far, he still attempts to play mind games.

“I heard a funny quote from Kasper Schmeichel,” Jensen said. “What he tries to do in a penalty situation is try go very close to the striker, try to put them off, get in their head and if you’ve got just a little bit in their head, you have already done your job, because then they’ll give you an indication or they’ll lose confidence as to what side they’re going to put it in.

“I’m just trying to do something similar.

It doesn’t work very often because the higher level you get to, the calmer they’re going to be and obviously they know what side they’re going to shoot in. But if I can just do it a little bit, I can help myself.

“I faced three penalties this year. Saved one, one’s been put over the bar, which you could say was because of me, and then I’ve conceded one. So essentially I’m two for three, which I believe is quite good for the season.

“You have to be a little crazy in those situations just try to do something not ordinary. Because then the taker will start thinking about it and hopefully it will put him off a little bit.

“But try and be as big as you can.

My favourite one is Thibaut Courtois.

He looks so massive in the goal. If a goalkeeper looks that big in the goal, the striker has to think about it and I’m just trying to do the same, because I have similar physical aspects to him, so I’m just trying to do the same as him and then make the save.”

‘We probably need to have that killer instinct’ EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott AARON CONNOLLY called on Millwall to have more of a “killer instinct” ahead of the Lions’ clash with Portsmouth on Saturday, April 5.

The Lions have scored just three goals in their past five games, although two of those matches have been challenging away trips to top-four sides Leeds United and Sunderland.

Millwall were held goalless by the Black Cats last Saturday, March 25, and only had two shots on target despite having 54 per cent possession at The Stadium of Light.

When the Lions last faced Pompey on January 28, they were more clinical, converting their only shot on target to secure a 1-0 victory at Fratton Park.

“I thought we were brilliant away from home,” Connolly said. “That

rearranged game where Mihailo [Ivanovic] scored the goal that Ra’ees [Bangura-Williams] played him through and I feel like we were quite comfortable in that game.

“We obviously only won 1-0, but we did exactly what we needed to do away at Portsmouth. They had won six, seven in a row at home and then a couple weeks later they went and beat Leeds at home as well.

“We probably need to bring our away form into the home games a bit, be braver at home. Just what the fans want to see, they want to see risks, they want to see goals, they want to see big tackles.

“I think we’re all positive going into it because of the performance on the weekend, but we just know that we need to probably have that killer instinct a bit more to finish teams off and take more risks. But I’m looking forward to it.”

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

ROACH MAKES SURREY RETURN

PAGE 29

‘I LOVE IT HERE’

Neghli two weeks away from return EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott ALEX NEIL confirmed that Camiel Neghli is at least two weeks away from returning to first team action, and revealed that him and fellow winger Femi Azeez “will be lucky if they make the last three or four games.”

Neghli, 23, joined the Lions for a club-record fee in the final days of the January transfer window and made five appearances before suffering an ankle injury in Millwall’s 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Fifth Round on March 1.

Neil said after the game he expected Neghli to be out for six weeks, and the ex-Sparta Rotterdam winger’s timeline has not changed since.

“He’s at least two weeks away,” Neil said. “Him and Femi will be lucky if they make the last three or four games.

“When those two lads have been fit, predominantly they’ve played wide left, wide right. When you’re missing maybe two out of your front three players, that’s always tough.

“But what it does do is it gives the little lads an opportunity and a chance to come in. Aidomo [Emakhu] has done well in some of the games previously, Aaron Connolly’s done well in some of the games previously.

“I think just unfortunately both of them seem more comfortable off the left than they do off the right. With Ra’ees [Bangura-Williams] missing the last game as well, it limited our options in terms of that right side. Although Aaron did it, he’d much rather play off the left if he could.”

Aaron Connolly is enjoying life at Millwall but admits future is uncertain with his contract set to expire

EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott

© Millwall FC

AARON CONNOLLY wants to stay at Millwall next season but admits the decision is out of his hands.

Connolly, 25, joined the Lions on a short-term deal during the January transfer window after being released

by Sunderland.

The Irish forward has made eleven appearances since joining, scoring once.

Connolly’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he hopes to have done enough on the pitch and the training ground to secure a long-term deal.

“It’s been brilliant, I love it here,” Connolly said. “Obviously I’m out of contract at the end of the season.

“I just want to get as many games as I can in and then there’ll be discussions coming up in the next few weeks, few months hopefully, and just see where we go from there. I’ve enjoyed my time here, but I don’t know what the future holds. So that’s out in my hands contract wise, but on the pitch that’s where I can do my talking.

“Here as well on the training ground because I think that’s probably the most important part that the gaffer is looking at from me, the day in, day out sort of stuff. On a Saturday I think I performed, maybe throughout the week I’d probably let myself down a bit at times in training, but that’s the sort of stuff that me and the gaffer to speak about. He wants me on it every day.

“Maybe in the last few years I probably would’ve taken my foot off

the gas if I’d had a few good games and then come up to training half trying and half not. But I need to be on every day with him because he is on me a lot, but I don’t mind it, I just need to realise that these are the parts that are going to get me long-term deals, the day in, day out stuff.”

When asked if he would like to be at Millwall next season, Connolly said: “Yeah, of course I would. I’ve probably played my best football for maybe a year and a half, since at the start of the season at Hull last year when I was scoring goals there and then obviously certain things interrupted that.

“I feel like I’m back enjoying it. I’m playing in a position that I like, kind of off the left or in that little pocket and [Alex Neil] gives me the freedom on the pitch to express myself.

“The fans as well on a Saturday, the QPR game at home was probably one of the best times on a football pitch I’ve had for a long time. Then obviously after as well the fans engaging with us joining in and obviously we were pushing quite near the play-offs around then. It’s probably a step too far for now.

“Hopefully if I’m back here next year, which I’d love to be, we can have a full pre-season, which also I haven’t had for about two, three years. I’ve kind of missed pre-season so my body maybe isn’t ready to do a 46 game season until I get one of them in.

“We’ll have to see. That’s probably up to the club, but if the offer comes then brilliant, but if not then hopefully I’ll have some options to go for.”

Neghli is helped off against Crystal Palace THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%

Aaron Connolly after Millwall’s 1-0 loss to Sunderland on March 29, 2025