Southwark News - February 27th 2025

Issue 1726

Est: 1987

50p

February 27 2025

southwarknews.co.uk

TV DRAMA ON ELEPHANT AND CASTLE CRIMINAL MASTERMIND But who was the real Mary Carr?

WATCHDOG TO TURN UP THE HEAT 17,000 residents to get protection

See page 22

See page 4

EXCLUSIVE See page 15

over ‘extortionate’ heating bills See page 4

What is Thor doing on Walworth council EXCLUSIVE estate? See page 3 MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

EAGLE EYED FOR FA CUP CLASH

COUNCIL CRITICISED OVER £60,000 SCHOOL DINNER REPORT

See page 2

2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-16 OPINION Pages 18-19

COUNCIL ACCUSED OF BURYING £60K CONSULTANT REPORT WHICH CRITICISED FREE MEALS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS @ U.S Department of Agriculture (Creative Commons)

Councillor Jasmine Ali, deputy leader of Southwark Council and cabinet member for education

ARTS Pages 20-21 HISTORY Page 22 CLASSIFIED Page 24 PUBLIC NOTICES

@ Southwark Council

Pages 25-27 SPORT Pages 29-32

By Robert Firth

tone’ is exactly the sort of Labour waste typical of Southwark Council.

“This is just one example of the millions they spent this year on consultants and agency staff instead of investing in long-term solutions.”

Before releasing the 132 page bundle public in January this year following the FOI from The Londoner, officials attached a note to the report claiming it contained ‘factual inaccuracies’, ‘inadequate context’ and ‘inappropriate language and tone’.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked the council to clarify details of the alleged errors.

In response, Cllr Jasmine Ali, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for education, said that the report ‘demonstrated a limited understanding of the complexities’ of delivering the free meals scheme.

But she added: “The report offers some recommendations that will help guide the ongoing efforts of Southwark Council, schools and our partners to address food insecurity and shape our school food system.”

Local Democracy Reporter

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SOUTHWARK COUNCIL has been accused of ‘waste’ after ‘burying’ a £60,000 report which criticised the value for money of a £1 million free school meals scheme for secondary school kids.

The Labour-run council paid consultants to produce the document which only came to light following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

The 2024 report said the council’s implementation of means-tested free school meals for secondary school kids during the 2023/24 academic year had ‘serious issues which might cancel out the value for money achieved through targeting the right households.’

Councillor Victor Chamberlain, leader of Southwark’s Liberal Democrat opposition, said: “To shell out £60,000 on a consultant’s report it later buries because they don’t ‘like its

MILLWALL NEWS

Issue 1725

Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporters: Isabel Ramirez; Issy Clarke 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

February 20 2025

southwarknews.co.uk

BROKEN BISCUITS AND CAPITALISM

Was the biscuit factory a worker’s paradise or is the truth less sweet?

‘BALANCING ACT’ Finance boss: Pages 22-23

See page 4

council budget sees no cuts to key services See page 4

EXCLUSIVE

See page 4

SIX POINTS OFF PLAY OFF SPOT

The council introduced free school meals for secondary school kids from families on Universal Credit but who aren’t eligible for government’s free school meals scheme in 2023.

The pilot was launched after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced he would fund free primary schools across the capital from City Hall’s budget.

As a result of Khan’s decision, some council cash set aside for providing free primary school meals in Southwark was reallocated to pay for the means-tested secondary school scheme. It was estimated between 900 and 950 kids had taken part in the pilot as of May 2024.

The report commissioned by the council praised officials for acting quickly to reallocate cash to address food insecurity among some residents.

But it found a number of ‘serious issues’ with the implementation of the project, including uncertainty over whether pupils included in the scheme met the eligibility criteria due to errors in approving and turning down

applications. Meanwhile, reimbursement claims submitted to the council by schools ‘contained irregularities’ which met the definition of ‘financial mismanagement’.

The report added: “These issues amount to unequal treatment in the implementation of the project, with some schools and participant households benefiting from the project to an extent they shouldn’t, and some others failing to participate, and as a result failing to experience outcomes to the extent they should. The council might be vulnerable to facing qualified audit opinions and judicial reviews.”

In January, figures revealed by Southwark Liberal Democrats showed the council spent £2 million on consultants since April 2024.

Over the same period in 2023/24, the council spent £1.7 million on consultants.

Cllr Ali added: “We firmly believe that free access to healthy school meals is one of the most effective ways we have supported the next generation in Southwark, and we remain committed to maintaining this support.”

The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London

See Page 10

What the Renters’ Reform Bill means for landlords and tenants Peckham on the march See Page 11

See Page 15

Elephant gang to hit our screens

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

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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

HOLLYWOOD A-LISTERS CHRIS HEMSWORTH AND MONICA BARBARO SPOTTED ON WALWORTH COUNCIL ESTATE EXCLUSIVE

By Callum Smyth EAGLE-EYED RESIDENTS in Walworth might have spotted Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth on a council estate football pitch, finally putting to bed any rumours that the ‘Thor’ actor had to leave behind his movie career due to fears over Alzheimer,.

The 41-year-old Australian A-lister was spotted on the estate off the Walworth Road with American actress Monica Barbaro, who since appearing in Top Gun: Maverick three years ago has risen in popularity - winning acclaim for her stellar performance as Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

The pair arrived at Nelson Estate Football Pitch and Basketball Court at 5pm on Tuesday last week, February 18, to start filming scenes of Bart Layton’s Crime 101, which is expected to be released later this year.

The two actors were spotted leaving black cars and quickly escorted into separate trailers, with Monica Barbaro being poorly shielded by umbrellas.

Filming took place within the Lao Dao, 305 Walworth Road; the Chinese restaurant was covered in black tarpaulin and eventually bathed in red light during the evening (pictured top right).

Residents were alerted of filming the week prior via a letter, which said setup and filming would start by 3pm, however, the stars did not arrive until 5pm.

Filming reportedly went on well into the night with clear-up of the crew facilities within the pitch being completed by 11pm Residents were faced with restricted parking and lost access to the football court, which some elderly residents, who enjoy their daily walk around it, questioned what they were

supposed to do.

The Amazon MGM feature film, starring Chris Hemsworth, Monaco Barbaro, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan and Halle Berry, began filming in Los Angeles in November last year.

It is an adaptation of Don Winslow’s short story and while plot details are under wraps, the original story follows high-level jewel thefts taking place up and down the Pacific Coast that police have linked to Colombian cartels.

Last year Hemsworth updated fans concerned by rumours that he was quitting Hollywood after a shocking health discovery. He found that he had a genetic disposition to Alzheimer’s, making him eight to ten times more likely to be diagnosed with the disease.

The actor discovered the chances of him developing Alzheimer in one of the shows on Disney+ Series titled “Limitless”. He underwent numerous blood tests and confided in an interview with Vanity Fair that his biggest fear was forgetting his family, his work and his children. He also stated that his grandfather had suffered from Alzheimer and had passed away after “Limitless” was aired. His father too is said to be experiencing early signs of the disease.

The actor said that he had immersed himself in various physical activities and mindfulness techniques to combat this deadly disease, but had no plans to quit his career.

4 NEWS

By Isabel Ramirez

AFTER A decade of digging and £5bn spent, London’s long-awaited super sewer is finally online—set to transform the capital’s outdated sewage system and drastically cut Thames pollution.

The 25km Thames Tideway Tunnel, which runs from Acton in west London to Abbey Mills in Newham, is designed to intercept sewage overflows from 34 of the most polluting discharge points along the river.

It will capture 95 per cent of spills that previously flowed into the Thames, with 5.5 million tonnes of sewage already prevented from polluting the waterway.

For Southwark residents, the project has been a long time coming.

The construction site at Chambers Wharf in Bermondsey brought years of disruption, with people blighted with noise from the works happening in their back gardens.

Now complete, the super sewer promises a major improvement in water quality and environmental health for the Thames.

Tideway CEO Andy Mitchell hailed the milestone, stating: “With this final connection complete, the super sewer is fully up and running and protecting the Thames.

© Thames Tideway

LONDON’S £5BN SUPER SEWER FINALLY UP AND RUNNING AFTER TEN LONG YEARS OF DISRUPTION

He added: “Our next step is to test it in storm conditions – which is why we are keeping a close eye on the weather – and we will do this over the coming months.”

The system, which links with the existing 6.9km Lee Tunnel, is now set for full-scale

operation, with Thames Water taking over its management once testing is complete later this year.

The project, constructed by an alliance of major infrastructure firms, involved more than 20 deep shafts across London, some

as wide as the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Work began in 2016, with the first tunnelling machines going underground in 2018, primary tunnelling completed in 2022, and final system integration last autumn.

With regular data updates available via Tideway’s online tracker, Londoners will soon be able to see the tangible impact of this massive infrastructure project.

Stay up to date to see how the sewer is working at www.tideway.london

NEWS 5

GALA FESTIVAL IN PECKHAM RYE PARK - WHO IS PLAYING AND HOW CAN I GET TICKETS?

LONDON BRIDGE PUB OVERLOOKING THE THAMES REOPENS FOLLOWING MAJOR REFURBISHMENT

By Issy Clarke THE HORNIMAN at Hay’s pub on the banks of the River Thames near London Bridge has opened for the first time since the New Year following an extensive refurbishment.

The pub, which dates back to the 17th century, has been re-painted in deep blue and the bars have been upgraded, while seating has been added to each area across the site including private hire areas.

A new bar has been installed in the mezzanine level meaning customers no

longer have to venture downstairs to put in their orders, while in the main bar there are new red leather booth seats providing pub-goers with a more intimate and comfortable dining experience.

Meanwhile, there has also been investment in restoring the historic features of the pub, which is part of the Hay’s Galleria building, a former brew-house dating back to the 17th century. Pictures relating to the building’s history in the tea trade adorn the walls and the ironmongery has been carefully restored along the impressive staircase and banisters.

By Isabel Ramirez GALA FESTIVAL is back this May bank holiday, taking over Peckham Rye Park for a weekend of music, good vibes, and a proper celebration of its tenth year.

From Friday, May 23, to Sunday, May 25, expect a huge mix of legendary artists, fresh talent, and an atmosphere that keeps people coming back year after year.

What started as a small, two-stage event for a few thousand people has now grown into London’s biggest independent festival, pulling in 30,000 music lovers.

This year’s lineup is stacked, the energy is high, and the festival is set to be one for the books.

Friday kicks things off with Floating Points, Moodymann, and an eight-hour set

Scan to book

from Theo Parrish setting the tone.

Saturday keeps the party going with Avalon Emerson, Ben UFO, and a live set from KiNK, while Sunday wraps things up in style with Caribou, Floorplan, and a back-to-back from HUNEE & Antal.

Plenty more names are in the mix, along with some new stage hosts and longtime festival favourites.

GALA has always been about more than just the music—it’s about the community, the atmosphere, and the people who make it special.

Longstanding partners like NTS, Deviation, Rush Hour, and Horse Meat Disco are back, with newcomers like Chapter Ten and HVYWGHT bringing fresh energy to the weekend.

Giles Napier, Director of GALA & RALLY Festivals, reflects on the milestone: “It

means a huge amount to be joining the tenyear club. Like all independent festivals, we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs, but to see GALA evolve into what it is today makes me exceptionally proud.

“Nothing excites me more than seeing both heroes of the scene and future stars perform in the intimacy of Peckham Rye Park.

“We’re still alive, we’re still independent, and we owe it all to you.

“Thank you.”

Tickets are on sale now starting at £54.50, with cheaper entry for early arrivals before 2 PM each day.

Residents living around the park get discounted tickets (£20) but they are all gone now.

Visit https://ra.co/events/ for tickets.

Stay tuned for the full setlist.

6 NEWS

PECKHAM PATTIES ARE NOW ON SALE AT KREPT AND KONAN’S NEW SUPERMARKET

By Isabel Ramirez

A PECKHAM patty, that took the internet by storm last year, is being sold at rap duo Krept and Konan’s new supermarket—and is already flying off the shelves.

Mike Williams, co-owner of Flake Bake, the family-run business behind the handmade halal patties, shared his excitement about the collaboration.

Flake Bake, still based at their Peckham wholesale bakery, has been making waves since winning Aldi’s Next Big Thing. They secured a permanent deal with Aldi after their patties sold out twice nationwide.

Now, the delicious snacks have found a new home at the rap duo’s Croydon supermarket, Saveways.

“It kept popping up all over Instagram that they were opening,” Mike told the News, “and I was like, this is major—I thought, how do I get involved?”

He thought everyone would be approaching Krept and Konan - so he messaged their business partner instead, Kaiser.

“I reached out to him on LinkedIn. By Tuesday, he messaged us back,” he said.

Upon their first meeting, he said Krept and Konan were impressed with the patties and requested a delivery within a week.

Mike and his team embraced the challenge, making necessary adjustments to meet the demand. Their efforts paid off: the patties sold out within three hours on the first day.

“It felt like Aldi all over again,” Mike remarked.

The partnership with Saveways not only boosts Flake Bake’s presence but also celebrates Caribbean culture and cuisine.

“We’ve had good feedback. The whole story really shows the best of south London,” he noted.

He also highlighted the significance of offering handmade halal patties, tapping into a demographic that might not typically have access to such products.

Krept and Konan’s Saveways supermarket, which opened on February 1, aims to serve the diverse communities of Croydon by providing a wide range of products catering to Black, Asian, and ethnic minorities.

The 15,000 sq ft store on Beddington Lane features a halal butcher, bakery, and a variety of produce and seasonings from South Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Flake Bake’s journey began when Williams and his father Paul won the Channel 4 show Aldi’s Next Big Thing, leading to their patties being stocked in 1,000 Aldi stores across the UK.

Mike Williams (Flake Bake coowner) with rappers Krept and Konan Their success story continues with the collaboration with Saveways, as they aim

to expand into other retailers and food services.

The patties are also available in Selfridges through Sweet D’s Jerk.

60-year-old died after being dragged under bus in Peckham - the driver was found guilty of driving ‘without due care and attention’

By Issy Clarke A FORMER driver of Route 363 has been found guilty after being accused of causing the death of a 60-year-old man by driving a bus ‘without due care and attention’ in Peckham.

Jurors at the Old Bailey heard Steven Mitchell waited hours for an ambulance to arrive while he was bleeding and died in hospital just under a month later.

The ambulance service said they had been informed that the victim had left the scene and later dispatched a crew to an address, believed to be the hostel he was staying at.

The driver of the bus Aston Hopwood, 47, from Dulwich, was found guilty on Wednesday February 12 after a trial heard that he pulled out of the bus stop on Peckham Hill Street on November 26 2022, without checking to see if any passengers

were still trying to get on.

Jurors were told Mitchell had boarded the 363 bus outside Peckham Library at around 10pm from the back doors, but his hand got

trapped, leading him to fall beneath the rear left wheel, degloving his arm as it pulled away.

Mitchell then waited two hours for an ambulance to arrive while his arm

poured blood onto the street, and later died of multiple organ failure at King’s College Hospital on December 17.

Hopwood claimed he was unaware that of the incident until he was later informed by the bus company, Go-Ahead London. He was initially sacked but successfully appealed against his dismissal and was reinstated within weeks.

Judge Anthony Leonard KC sentenced him to 12 months in custody, suspended for two years.

He also ordered Hopwood to do 140 hours’ unpaid work and disqualified him from driving for two years.

Judge Leonard told Hopwood: “I take into account the stress of waiting during the course of two trials for the outcome and you were clearly very upset by the death of Mr Mitchell.”

He added he was “astonished” that bus company Go-Ahead London had allowed him to appeal against his

dismissal.

In a statement, Go-Ahead said: “We are deeply saddened by our passenger’s death. We take the safety and wellbeing of our customers extremely seriously and are committed to meeting the highest safety standards across our services.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “On behalf of the Service, we would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mr Mitchell’s family and friends.

“We apologise that it took longer than we would expect to respond to Mr Mitchell. Prior to dispatch, we were advised that the patient had left the scene and was making their own way to hospital.

“However, when further calls came in some time later the patient was triaged and upgraded to a Category 1 call – a life-threatening emergency – and paramedics were quickly dispatched to the new location.”

8 NEWS EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke A DAMNING inspection report on Brixton Prison revealed a picture of an overcrowded, rat-infested and violent place that is failing to rehabilitate inmates.

“There is no honour among thieves anymore”, says ex-con

@ HMI

Inspectors described HMP Brixton as the most overcrowded jail in the country for medium risk criminals, with spiralling levels of violence and prisoners fearing for their safety.

Sixty per cent of inmates in the Category C prison, which currently holds around 750 men many of whom have convictions for sexual and drug offences, are forced to share rat-infested cells designed for one person with toilets in the middle.

A third of the Brixton prisoners’ said they felt unsafe, the report from the HMI Inspectorate, published last September, revealed.

Jimmy*, an ex-convict in his 60’s, who was released from Brixton Prison after spending 40 years in and out of jail for bank robbery, said the prison had become “a free for all.”

These days Jimmy works as a professional actor, after being drawn into prisoner-run theatre in Brixton as a means of escaping his cramped cell.

Twenty years after his release, Jimmy is well-regarded within the industry with an impressive CV that includes playwright awards and acting credits in Netflix shows - and he keeps the details of his criminal past to himself.

But recently he returned to Brixton to visit an inmate in prison and was shocked by the conditions he observed.

He says the prison hierarchy he remembers, with bank robbers and drug dealers at the top and paedophiles and sex offenders at the bottom, no longer exists, replaced by out of control violence and rampant drug addiction.

“There used to be honour amongst thieves - and so you had control,” he claimed.

Brixton is what’s called a resettlement prison, meaning it is supposed to help prepare prisoners near the end of their sentence for release back into the community.

Around 140 people are released from the prison each month, but many do not receive proper educational and employment training designed to support their reintegration into the community.

When inspectors visited, across two weeks in June 2024, they found the prison’s employment hub closed and its employment advisory board disbanded.

The report also highlighted the extend to which drugs are readily available, with nearly half of inmates saying it was easy to get hold of drugs, and 450 prisoners receiving support for substance misuse at the time of the inspection.

Reoffending rates across the country remain persistently high with the latest government data showing prisoners on stays under 12 months are more likely to end up back in prison than not. Overall reoffending rates for January to March 2023 were at 26.5 per cent.

The report has highlighted the staggering amount of time Brixton prisoners are spending in their cells, with some only allowed out for 45 minutes a day to shower and exercise, an issue Jimmy says is leading to more drug use.

“People get drawn into drugs because of boredom,” Jimmy told us.

“You used to walk into prison and there would be a book in your cell - I knew a guy who learned to play a 12-string guitar from his cell.

“But the last time I was there it seemed cool to be a junkie.

“Back in the old days, if you were on

WHAT’S LIFE LIKE IN LONDON’S OLDEST PRISON?

Two thirds of prisoners were sharing cells designed for one person when inspectors visited heroin people wouldn’t talk to you. But now people send in £10 bags of crack and ‘normal’ people can afford to use it as an escape. And that leads to more crime.”

Last year, dozens of inmates at Brixton Prison strolled out of jail thanks to a government early release scheme designed to free up thousands of prison places.

The scheme allowed more than 3,000 prisoners convicted of non-violent offences such as drug dealing and burglary to walk free after serving 40 per cent of their sentence, rather than the usual 50 per cent minimum.

These developments make the warnings in the inspectors’ report all the more worrying.

“Offending behaviour work was either not being done or lacked rigour, meaning prisoners were leaving Brixton with potentially unmet need or unaddressed risk,” the report highlights.

“This was particularly true of the significant cohort of Brixton prisoners convicted of a sexual offence.”

Failures across the prison system have been blamed for the growing reoffending rate and prevalence of drug abuse.

The number of people in prison has doubled in the last 30 years, despite a fall in the rate of crime. This has knock-on effects for the success of rehabilitation programmes, hamstrung by a lack of resources and an increasingly complex prison population.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Justice, nearly 12,000 fewer prisoners took part in rehabilitation

Brixton Prison cells

schemes designed to promote employment and reduce reoffending in 2023 compared to 2010.

Last week, former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke published a review of sentencing which blamed the overcrowding crisis on “tough on crime” policies and called for shorter sentences to be scrapped.

The report’s recommendations echoed concerns raised by former Conservative prisons minister Rory Stewart who has called for an end to one-year sentences for non-violent convictions such as drugs and tax evasion, as well as the current prisons minister James Timpson, who has argued consistently in favour of reducing imprisonment rates and has made cutting reoffending a government priority.

In October, he called for a radical change in the country’s approach to sentencing policy to reduce overcrowding in prisons, conceding it would be “impossible” for prison-building to meet demand.

This week, the first of up to 390 prisoners are being released from jail in Scotland in a similar bid to alleviate overcrowding pressures. Last week, there were 8,344 people locked up north of the border - above Scotland’s prison operating capacity of 8,007.

It comes after the release of 407 people from Scottish prisons last summer - 61 per cent of whom ended up back in custody before their original planned release date.

Amid this dismal picture, the achievements of the former Brixton inmates like Jimmy who have turned their lives around are all the more remarkable.

Last year the News ran a story on 30-year-old chef Nathaniel Mortley, who was sent to Brixton in 2019 for drug offences and served a two-and-a-half year sentence. However once inside he was recruited to work in the prisoner-run restaurant The Clink and now runs his own kitchen at a pub in Peckham.

A trained chef before entering the prison system, staff at Brixton spotted his culinary talent and since his release in 2021 he has acquired a following of adoring fans on social media. He told the News that he even catered events for celebrities such as rapper Ambush and BBC 1Xtra host Nadia Jae. The Clink runs a restaurant and bakery in Brixton employing around 28 prisoners at a time who are given professional culinary and front-of-house training lasting between four and 12 months depending on their sentence length. Prisoners go through an interview process, sign a contract and are expected to work a 35-hour weeks while abiding by strict behavioural and dress codes.

In 2023, 52 per cent of inmates released trained by the charity, which also runs a restaurant in Styal prison in Cheshire, got jobs after leaving jail.

Yet despite the Clink’s success, the report described Brixton’s provision of education, training and employment as “poor”.

“It comes down to money” said Yvonne Thomas, Chief Executive of the Clink Restaurant. “I’ve been in the system long enough to know a good prison - Brixton is very strong.

“But they’ve got no money, no staff and the prison is falling apart around the ears - and in those conditions, how can they succeed?

“It makes everything harder - moving people around the jail, getting meals serviced, time in the gym...The infrastructure is not fit for purpose.

“Brixton is not a bad prison run by bad people. It’s an overcrowded prison run by good people who haven’t got the resources to make it right.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The new Government inherited a justice system in crisis and has been forced to take action across the prison estate so we can continue to lock up dangerous offenders, protect the public and make prisons safer for hard-working staff.

“HMP Brixton has already made significant strides in addressing the concerns raised in this report, including bolstered supervision for offenders on release, refurbishment works on the wings and using its X-Ray scanner and intelligence-led cell searches to clamp down on illicit items entering the prison.”

NEWS 9 The prison was built in the Victorian era

Brixton Prison staff receive nearly £20k in injury claims as prisoner assaults rise

By Issy Clarke NEARLY £20,000 in injury claims has been paid out to Brixton Prison staff in the past year, as assaults on them by prisoners continue to rise across the UK.

Brixton Prison houses around 750 inmates

The real story of the Forty Elephants’ Mary Carr History Page 20

Nathaniel Mortley spoke to the News last year

@ HMI Prisons

The figures, obtained by Accident Claims through a Freedom of Information Request, revealed the total cost of claims lodged by staff against Brixton Prison amounted to £18,097.50 in 2023/24.

Personal injury claims lodged by prison staff are often submitted for accidents such as slips and trips, muscle strains, or assaults by inmates while performing their duties.

Across the UK the most common reason for claims made by staff against UK prisons is prisoner-on-staff assault, which made up 637 of all claims between 2019 and 2024.

Slips, trips and falls made up the second biggest

number of claims, cited as a reason in 344 cases.

The prison population has increased annually for the last thirty years, rising from 43,000 in 1994 to over 88,000 in 2024.

Despite this, staff numbers have remained relatively static, resulting in disturbing figures – according to the Ministry of Justice, there were 114 assaults on prison staff per 1,000 prisoners across the UK in 2023/24, a rise from 89 in 2020/21.

Brixton is a Category C men’s prison and currently holds around 750 inmates.

Last year, an inspection report concluded it was the most overcrowded medium-risk prison in the country, with two thirds of prisoners sharing cells designed for one person.

The report also highlighted the high level of drug use in the prison, with around half of respondents stating it was easy to get hold of illegal substances.

10 NEWS

By Issy Clarke THE GOVERNMENT has announced new measures to tackle knife crime including requiring retailers to report bulk orders of knives and increasing sentences for selling weapons from six months to two years.

The rules, collectively named ‘Ronan’s Law’ after 16-year old Ronan Kanda from Wolverhampton, who was stabbed to death by machetewielding teenagers in 2022.

The new measures are designed to make it harder for weapons to be re-sold illegally on social media, following the news last autumn that Southport killer Axel Rudakubana carried out the attacks using a knife he purchased from Amazon when he was 17.

Retailers will be required to introduce stricter age checks on the sale of knives to under 18s, following the conclusions of a police review published today which found it is easier in some cases for children to buy knives than to buy paracetamol.

There is also a new offence being introduced of possessing a weapon with intent to cause violence, regardless of whether it is legal or banned, which which will carry a prison sentence of up to four years.

The whole package of measures will be formally introduced as part of a Crime and Policing Bill in the spring.

Southwark is the fourth most dangerous borough for knife crime in London, reporting 771 incidents in 2023/24.

The stronger penalties come despite a review of sentences published last week by former Conservative Justice secretary David Gauke which blamed overcrowding in Britain’s prisons on “tough on crime” policies.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NEW RULES TO TACKLE KNIFE CRIME

Jacqueline John says she's afraid to go outside since the incident

Last year, thousands of criminals were let out of jail early as part of a Labour government early-release scheme designed to ease pressure on Britain’s prisons.

The policies come after a BBC documentary by actor Idris Elba in which he made a number of suggestions for reducing knife crime

Housing campaigners to march again with sights on nationwide campaign

including banning the sales of nonkitchen knives and blunting the tips.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “It is horrifying how easy it is for young people to get hold of knives online even though children’s lives are being lost, and families and communities are left devastated as a result.

“Not enough has been done to tackle the online market over recent years which is why we made it an urgent priority in our manifesto and the measures today will be underpinned by investment for a new dedicated police unit to go after those who are breaking the law and putting children and teenagers lives at risk.

POLICE APPEAL FOR FOOTAGE AS MAN IS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER WOMAN STRUCK BY VAN

© Southwark Council Planning Documents

By Issy Clarke

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman was struck by a van in New Cross, leaving her seriously injured.

SHAPE campaigners marching earlier this month

By Issy Clarke

The march marks the beginning of a national campaign led by SHAPE (Southwark Housing and Planning Emergency), a coalition of 14 community groups who joined together last year to object to ‘overdevelopment’ in Southwark.

In February, the group led a march through Peckham to protest against the controversial Berkeley Homes redevelopment of the Aylesham Centre, a 1980s shopping mall on Rye Lane.

In December last year, Berkeley lowered the proportion of housing

The woman, a pedestrian in her 30s, was struck by a van on Milton Court Road, off Edward Street shortly after 2pm on Monday afternoon, February 10.

One man has appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm and causing serious injury due to dangerous driving. While a second man, aged 46, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and bailed pending further enquiries.

Detectives leading the investigation said they are treating the incident as a ‘deliberate act’ as the driver did not stop and are appealing for witnesses to come foward.

Police officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene and the woman was rushed for hospital for treatment. Her condition is not life-threatening but she is likely to suffer lasting injuries.

The vehicle involved did not stop at the scene but has since been recovered.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses or footage of the incident

Milton Court Road

Forza Wine

© Google

CAMPAIGNERS ARE set to take to the streets of Peckham again on Saturday, March 1 to protest against the UK government’s handling of the housing crisis.

set at affordable rent to 12 per cent, down from 35 per cent.

This is despite Southwark Council’s planning policies which require new developments to provide a minimum of 35 per cent homes set at affordable rent, with an additional goal of achieving 50 per cent – although both are subject to the conclusion of viability assessments run by the council and developer.

Now, SHAPE has widened its focus and is calling for reforms to national housing policies and what it describes as the UK’s ‘over reliance’ on private developers.

The march will start at 1:00pm at Peckham Square, before continuing through Camberwell, Walworth and Elephant & Castle and ending at Borough Triangle.

“We are honouring our commitment to introduce Ronan’s Law in memory of Ronan Kanda who was tragically killed in 2022. I am so grateful to the Kanda family for their endless perseverance in ensuring governments take the right actions to protect young people from further tragedy.”

that could assist them in building a clear picture of what happened.

Detective Sergeant Jack Mounstephen, of the South East Command Unit, said: “At this stage, we are treating this incident as a deliberate act and need to understand exactly what happened in the build-up and aftermath.

“Were you in the area of Milton Court Road between 14.00hrs and 14.25hrs on Monday, 10 February?

“Did you witness this incident which

resulted in a woman being seriously injured?

“No matter how insignificant you think the information you have is, I would urge you to contact us immediately.

“If you were driving in the area, please check any dashcam or camera footage to see if you have captured what happened.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote 01/7148469/25.

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NEWS 13 © Google

SURREY QUAYS STATION TO GET STEP FREE ACCESS BY SUMMER 2026

Bermondsey students raise money for food charity Photos from Adrian Pope and Borough Market

Peckham Soup Kitchen staff © Google

The current Surrey Quays station entrance.

A computer generated image of the new entrance

© Transport for London

The new footbridge being lowered into the station.

By Issy Clarke SURREY QUAYS station is on track to have step-free access to both platforms for the first time in summer 2026.

Two new lifts are being installed which will service Platforms 1 and 2, providing convenience for those with pushchairs and limited mobility.

Transport for London is upgrading the station to improve access to the new housing development and Surrey Quays shopping centre.

Last month, TFL installed a footbridge during a weekend closure of the Windrush line which, once completed, will have stairs leading to all platforms helping meet demand and reduce congestion in the existing narrow staircases.

There is also work on a second station entrance on the opposite side of Lower Road, which will include a large ticket hall along with a new gateline and is expected to welcome 60 per cent of customers using the station. This will help ease congestion at the busiest times

at the existing entrance on the south side of Lower Road.

The Canada Water Masterplan is well underway, with phase one of the project expected to be completed some time this year. Over the next twelve years, the 53acre masterplan will deliver a new high street and town square, up to 3,000 new homes, and 2 million sq ft of workspace, as well as a new leisure centre, with swimming pools, sports courts and gym.

The upgrades to Surrey Quays station also come as part of a broader TFL project to improve infrastructure along the

Windrush line to help meet demand and boost capacity. It has completed several power upgrades and train signalling improvements to stations along the line which will increase the frequency to 18 trains per hour between Surrey Quays and Dalston Junction by late 2026.

There are also proposals being considered for new station on the Windrush line called Surrey Canal between Surrey Quays and Queens Road Peckham which, if completed, would increase the number of trains on the line to 20 per hour.

WALWORTH POST OFFICE REOPENS

By Issy Clarke

WALWORTH POST Office has reopened at 388 Walworth Road, more than a month after the old branch closed.

The former branch, located just minutes away at 234-236 Walworth Road, closed on January 14. The new store was originally supposed to open on January 23.

The new location has been fully refurbished to include both Post Office services and a convenience store. There are four service counters: two screened, one openplan, and a Post Office point at the retail counter.

The opening hours will be Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, and Saturday, 9am – 2pm, offering 45 hours of service each week. There will be public transport nearby, and timerestricted parking should make it easy for customers to get to the new branch.

Eye-catching murals depicting

Elephant and Castle’s history have been painted on the new post office’s shutters to deter graffiti artists, and have proved a magnet for people wanting to pose for selfies.

The reopening marks the end of years of uncertainty for the post office – which abruptly shut between February and May 2023 after the operator resigned.

The current temporary postmaster

will stay on as the permanent postmaster at the new branch, and the new space will combine Post Office services with a convenience store, offering even more convenience for the community.

By Callum Smyth PUPILS OF the City Of London Academy raised £90 for food redistribution charity Food Plan Zheroes at Borough Market.

City of London Academy (CoLA) year 10 students prepared soup and ciabatta bread at their stall in the borough market for the line of customers that awaited them at the event on Tuesday (4th February) The City Of London Academy gives “a special well done to Iman, the student chef in charge of designing the soup, and Sara, the head student chef who led on preparing the soup.”

Kids from four London secondary schools showed off their culinary skills at Borough Market and School Food Matter’s Young Marketeers Winter Soup Sale, raising a total of £440 The Young Marketeers programme teaches children about where their food comes from and how to get the best out of it, it also encourages them to develop business-related skills that could help with future careers.

The Winter Soup Sale took place on Tuesday 4 February from 12-2 pm in Borough Market’s Green Market.

In line with Borough Market’s commitment to sustainability, the soup was served in compostable containers with no single-use plastic cutlery on site.

NEWS 15

WATCHDOG TO BE GIVEN NEW POWERS TO INVESTIGATE DISTRICT HEATING FAILURES EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke TENS OF thousands of residents reliant on district heating networks are set to receive protections against skyrocketing energy bills under new regulations expected to come into force later this year.

Some leaseholders on Southwark Council estates have reportedly been charged up to three times the expected amount, which they claim is due to being part of an inefficient district heating network.

Under regulations introduced in Parliament last November, and expected to come into effect in January 2026, Ofgem, the energy regulator, will be given powers to investigate and intervene when customers on district heating networks are hit with unfair or disproportionate prices.

Currently, residents living in properties supplied by communal heat networks are not covered by Ofgem’s Energy Price Cap, however from April this year they will be able to appeal to the Energy Ombudsman for redress.

Last year, MP for Peckham and Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh was tasked by the government with overseeing the creation of a regulatory framework to introduce protections for heat network users.

In Southwark, 17,000 homes are connected to a district heating network maintained by the council. But parts of the system are over 40 years old and falling apart, creating huge knock-on effects for residents.

Whereas the average three-bedroom house should use 11,500kWh of gas, heat lost from the antiquated heating system means Southwark households use around 19,000kWh. This is particularly serious for leaseholders, who are often charged £2,500 for heating and hot water when their bills should be closer to £1,500.

In July leaseholders of Gloucester Grove in Peckham, accused the council of “mismanagement” after they were hit with gas bills triple government guidelines despite heating and hot water often breaking down on the estate.

The Southwark Liberal Democrats have said the new regulations do not go far enough to protect customers, and wrote to Fahnbulleh in October calling for more government intervention to stop leaseholders being struck by outrageously high heating and hot water bills.

In January, Fahnbulleh replied that incoming regulation of heat networks would address some of these issues, but conceded that Southwark Council was “not delivering for customers”.

Heat networks – both those run privately and by councils – are not currently subject to the same regulation as other forms of energy delivery such as gas and electricity, which are subject to Ofgem’s price caps and limits on how far back in time usage can be billed for.

But while the new regulations would extend Ofgem’s powers to heating networks, the Lib Dems say protections need to go further, including a faster roll out of meters to ensure residents are

Last summer, residents of the Consort Estate in Peckham reported being lumped with service charge bills of almost £5,000 due to rising heating and hot water charges

Gloucester Grove residents accurately billed for the energy they use, stricter rules around compensation for outages, and government investment to help protect leaseholders from the costs of system upgrades.

Homeowners struggle to wrestle free of heating networks because the council is explicitly against individual properties disconnecting, while freeholders able to do so still incur huge charges.

As the News reported in 2021, it costs a staggering £39,500 for the average freeholder to disconnect from the council’s heating network and can involve months of negotiation.

In a council policy published the same year, Southwark Council said: “The council does not support individual properties (either tenants or leaseholders) disconnecting from its district and communal heating systems for reasons of efficiency, system imbalance, decarbonisation and the increased burden of cost upon remaining connected properties.

“The council cannot prevent freehold properties from disconnecting, however, if the owners bear all costs of disconnection.”

Yet maintaining the current system has also proved costly for Southwark Council.

Since 2021, it has given customers £3 per day in compensation for every continuous hearing or hot water outage lasting more than 24 hours.

In 2023, the News reported that the council had paid residents nearly £97,500 in compensation for heating outages in the space of two years.

Last year, the council reportedly spent more than £25 million in total on maintaining the district heating system.

It has previously said refurbishing the network to meet carbon footprint targets would cost a staggering £350 million.

However in the latest budget, the council said the decarbonisation of its housing estate would be subject to a new costing exercise and feasibility assessment.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Victor Chamberlain said: “Whilst we’re pleased to see these long overdue new regulations come in, it is vital that the experience of Southwark tenants and leaseholders leads to stronger protections for consumers.

“Our Labour council has got it badly wrong, with residents facing rip off bills forced to conduct their own investigations to challenge the costs. It’s not right for residents to have to foot the bill for the council’s failure. With the right rules and investment, we can have fairer, warmer, greener heating for our homes.”

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “We want to make sure that more communities can benefit from low-cost, efficient heat networks, as we sprint towards clean power.

“That is why we have consulted on plans to introduce new regulations, which will help to deliver fairer prices

and improved network quality.

“This will ensure that heat network customers are entitled to similar levels of protection as those in the gas and electricity market, with Ofgem acting as the regulator.”

Councillor Sarah King, Cabinet Member for Council Homes, said: “The council broadly welcomes the upcoming heat networks regulations. These are intended to improve customer outcomes, though of course there are many details yet to be confirmed.

“We are working closely with government and the market to prepare and are already implementing metered systems across the borough and prioritising our heat networks in need of investment to improve their efficiency.

“It’s important that we keep the dialogue with residents open on this issue and we will continue to hear their concerns and check individual properties if the figures do not seem right.”

16 NEWS

ELIZABETH LINE DRIVERS TURN DOWN RISE WHICH WOULD TAKE THEIR ANNUAL SALARIES TO ‘£75,726

By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter SIR SADIQ Khan has urged Elizabeth line bosses and a union threatening strikes to “get round the table”, as he insisted there was still “some time” for them to “resolve their differences”.

Aslef, which represents train drivers on the cross-London line, announced on Thursday that its members will stage four days of strikes in a dispute over pay.

According to the line’s managers, the strike was called after drivers belonging to the union rejected a 4.5 per cent pay increase.

The mayor declined to say whether drivers should accept the increase, while City Hall Conservatives called the situation “an indictment of Labour’s negotiating strategy”.

It is understood that a typical train driver’s salary on the line is £72,465 for a 34-hour, four-day week – which would have risen by £3,261 to £75,726 under the proposed 4.5 per cent uplift.

A driver instructor’s salary would have risen from £75,430 to £78,824 while a driver team leader’s salary would have increased from £76,090 to £79,514.

The strikes are scheduled for Thursday, February 27; Saturday, March 1; Saturday, March 8 and Monday, March 10, from 00:01 to 23:59.

Sir Sadiq told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I think what’s really important is for MTR – who run the Elizabeth line – and Aslef to resolve these differences amicably, rather than going on strike.

“I think strikes ultimately are a sign of failure. The first one’s scheduled to take place at the end of this month – that means there is some time for Aslef

and MTR to resolve these differences.

“What’s not right is for me to give a running commentary on any negotiation that takes place, but I encourage Aslef and MTR to get round the table…

“These strikes will mean the Elizabeth line loses passengers, passengers are inconvenienced, the drivers lose a wage, and so nobody wins.”

The Elizabeth line is the busiest rail line in the UK and is used for more than 700,000 weekday journeys.

Pressed on whether he thought drivers should simply accept the pay rise on offer and drop the threat of strike action, the mayor said: “No, I’d encourage MTR and Aslef to talk

about the differences they’ve got and resolve them amicably, which is really important.”

Keith Prince, City Hall Conservatives’ transport spokesman, suggested the issue could be traced back to the mayor’s decision to avert RMT strikes on the Underground in January 2024, when he suddenly produced £30m in City Hall funding to boost the annual pay rise for 16,000 Tube staff.

He said: “With every successive announcement that drivers are set to strike, the mayor’s decision to throw tens of millions at the unions with no conditions is increasingly looking like a poor investment, made worse by the Government’s rogue deals with the

union barons.

“It’s the same old story – mayor makes a mistake, Londoners pick up the bill. We hope these strikes can be prevented, but this is an indictment of Labour’s negotiating strategy.”

Nigel Gibson, one of Aslef’s full-time district organisers and the union’s lead officer with MTR, said this week: “Taking action is always a last resort, because we do not want to inconvenience passengers and our members do not want to lose money, and I hope that the company, seeing the strength of feeling amongst our members, their drivers, will do the right thing and return to the negotiating table.”

Mike Bagshaw, managing director

at MTR-Elizabeth line, said: “We are disappointed that drivers on the Elizabeth line have rejected a 4.5 per cent pay rise and voted for industrial action.

“The offer would have maintained some of the highest salaries in the industry, along with enhanced terms and conditions.

“Any potential strike action will be disruptive for those who rely on the Elizabeth line, and we will work closely with Transport for London to ensure customers are informed of alternative travel options.

“We remain committed to engaging with Aslef in the hope of resolving this dispute.”

By Robert Firth

Lambeth would have been unable to set a balanced HRA from April, which it is required to do by law.

Ms Cooke said: “One of the options [to balance the HRA] will have to be consideration of disposals where they meet the criteria for disposal in order to generate a receipt that would allow us to pay the debt cost.

“From a finance perspective and from a value of money perspective, it is not sensible to dispose of assets that are going to have future income generation possibilities or are an asset that you would want to keep.

“However there are also those assets that are extremely expensive to maintain or repair and uneconomic to keep.”

Ms Cooke warned that the council may not be able to balance the HRA again next year due to other financial obligations, such as maintaining its existing housing.

She added that officials may have to

seek assistance from the government again.

Lambeth has the second highest number of people on its council housing waiting list in London, slightly fewer than Newham in East London. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of families waiting for a council home in the capital are waiting for a property in the two boroughs.

Lambeth is also the second largest council landlord in London with 23,600 social housing properties.

It was the only council to receive a bailout specifically for its HRA from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Thursday.

Six other London councils received general financial support packages ranging from £136 million to £10 million. These were: Croydon (£136m), Havering (£88m), Barnet (£55.7m), Newham (£51.2m), Haringey (£37m) and Enfield (£10m).

Lambeth Council says it might have to sell off council homes to repay government bailout Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton

Local Democracy Reporter

@ Google Street View

A SOUTH London borough with 40,000 families waiting for a home may have to sell off council houses to repay a £40 million government bailout.

Zena Cooke, Lambeth Council’s Corporate Director of Finance, told a meeting last Thursday (February 20) that the money making initiative was one option the local authority was considering in order to cover its debt costs.

Ms Cooke made the remarks on the same day that the government announced it had approved the Labourrun council’s request for a £40 million rescue package to help balance its Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

The HRA records the costs and income associated with running a council’s housing stock. Without the bailout

Get the flu vaccine in Southwark by 31 March 2025.

Find out where at: www.selondonics.org/our-residents/your-health/local-nhs-services/ spring-covid-19-vaccination/

18 OPINION

Comment ‘The NHS, 13,000 new neighborhood officers and more homes’

S

EVEN MONTHS ago Labour formed Government and began the heavy work of rebuilding our public finances, public services and public trust in Westminster after 14 years of damage and decay under the Tories (five in Coalition with the Lib Dems).

It will take time to fix our country – and we are buffeted by new storms including hurricane Trump and his politics of division and isolationism. His tariffs look set to harm the UK and Europe but also threaten the US economy – as American customers will end up paying the price of more costly imports.

Milestones on the repair work in the UK are beginning to appear though.

The NHS was in a pitiful state last July with soaring waiting lists and record delays for treatments. Labour promised to fix the NHS and last week hit the new target for extra appointments with 2.2 million more doctors’ appointments made available between July and November last year to help cut backlogs and see people faster.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals are doing their bit locally to provide extra appointments, including on weekends and I hope people are able to get treatments quicker and recognise that Labour are trying to deliver our promise.

It was Labour that built the NHS, based on the pioneering work of Bermondsey’s first Labour MP: Dr Salter. It was Labour

'We are making it easier to see your GP'

F

OR TOO many people in Southwark, trying to see a doctor or get hospital treatment has been almost impossible.

After 14 years of government failure, the NHS has been pushed to its limits - long waiting times, understaffed hospitals, and patients struggling to get the care they need when needed.

Labour is now making progress. The Autumn Budget injected £26 billion into rebuilding the NHS, and people are starting to feel the impact.

Two million extra consultations have been delivered nationwide - seven months ahead of schedule. More medical tests, quicker treatment, and shorter waits. NHS Trusts are also receiving an additional £40 million to accelerate improvements, meaning better care for people in Southwark.

This is change people can feel in

their lives and see in their realities.

A parent in Faraday no longer faces the 8 am battle of constantly redialling the GP surgery, hoping to secure one of the few available slots. Evening and weekend appointments are being expanded, giving families more flexibility to see a doctor without resorting to overstretched emergency departments.

Pharmacies are also playing a bigger role, handling minor illnesses and repeat prescriptions, freeing up GP time for more urgent cases.

A junior doctor at King’s College Hospital is no longer wondering whether they can afford to stay in the NHS. The long-running pay disputes that left many doctors demoralised and considering leaving have now been resolved. More healthcare workers staying in the system means hospitals can deliver more consultations and procedures.

Extra investment is also being used to

from

Westminster

NEIL COYLE

MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark that saved the NHS in 1997 and we are turning it around again today.

I don’t underestimate the amount of work to do and acknowledge that it is not only the NHS that needs fixing. An extra £200 million has been announced to provide 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers. I know their importance in Southwark. I’m out every week on different streets and estates and see for myself the open antisocial behaviour and crime that the last Government ignored and exacerbated through police cuts. The Lib Dem-Tory Coalition axed

over 400 officers in Southwark and tore the heart out of community policing in our borough. This needs fixing and I hope to see numbers rise again soon.

I’m also joining a 999 police response crew this week and will be on a regular walkabout with local officers again soon. Policing is closer to home than ever as one of my brothers has just joined the boys in blue; I’m proud to have PC Coyle in my immediate family!

Labour also faces a tough job fixing the housing crisis. Thankfully, it is a priority for our Government with

another £300 million just announced to build social housing. Southwark Labour have a record for building council homes unrivalled by other councils across the country, so to have a Labour Government determined to build at scale nationally is hugely welcome.

People recognise it will take time to resolve our national challenges. After 14 years of Tory misrule (5 in Coalition with Lib Dems) UK problems are frankly visible from space. But just six months into this Labour administration and some progress is now also visible too.

MIATTA FAHNBULLEH

MP for Peckham

clear treatment backlogs, with more evening and weekend clinics opening to get patients seen sooner. Across the UK, new surgical units and diagnostic centres are expanding capacity, backed by billions of pounds in funding.

An elderly resident on Old Kent Road no longer waits months for a vital hospital test, uncertain about what’s wrong. More investment in diagnostic centres means people are getting tested

sooner, reducing delays and giving doctors the answers they need to start treatment. With extra scanning capacity coming online, serious illnesses like cancer can be caught earlier, improving outcomes. The NHS can also now use spare private-sector facilities when necessary, cutting unnecessary delays.

The road to fixing the NHS is long. Years of neglect cannot be undone overnight, and challenges remain. But real progress

is happening. Labour is committed to restoring the NHS so it can once again be there when people need it most. Over the next four years, thousands more doctors and nurses will be trained, social care will be reformed to relieve hospital pressures, and NHS capacity will be expanded on a scale not seen in a generation.

After years of decline, we are rebuilding our health service - one appointment, one test, one life at a time.

OPINION 19

Do we even really care about prisoners?

T

he report into the dire state of Brixton Prison is reflective of the fundamental problems facing the justice system across the country.

Our piece this week takes a look at a prison that is supposed to be a place where inmates are prepared for release, but shows it is a place that is overcrowded, filthy, with spiralling levels of violence and drug-taking. All of which prevents staff from achieving their goal of rehabilitation for offenders.

What’s more, news broke this week that nearly £20,000 of injury claims have been paid out to staff at the South London jail in the past year. Indeed, assaults on all staff by prisoners continue to rise across the UK. The prison population has increased annually for the last thirty years, rising from 43,000 in 1994 to over 88,000 in 2024.

We are spending huge amounts of money per prisoner every year, and we’re not reducing reoffending.

At a time when news seems to be dominated by all institutions failing it does beg the question of how much the ordinary man and woman on the street knows or wants to know about these failings.

Rory Stewart, the former prisons minister, pointed out that 90 per cent of the public would have some experience in institutions such as schools and hospitals, but that is not true of prisons. The population is largely made up of marginalised people, whose life on the outside is exactly the reason they are behind bars. So being released back into that environment, having spent most of their time locked up in a small, cramped cell, with nothing done in between, will almost inevitably result in more re-offending.

It is an easy election pledge, used by all parties, to say they are getting tough on crime, and it is easy for us just to feel that these people who have committed a crime are living like they are in a ‘holiday camp’, but we need a reasoned and evidence-based debate about what works on the inside.

We have the largest prison population in Western Europe and the least effective rate of reducing reoffending, so if locking up people for longer worked, then the money spent would be worth it.

It clearly isn’t.

There are people who need to go to prison and some who should never be allowed out, but those who do their time wisely, who take the time to reset, to re-train, are the ones saving taxpayers money, as they do not just come back into the system.

As long as we shut ourselves off to simply believing all criminals cannot be rehabilitated, the longer we will be caught up in a cycle of crime that sees us paying the price for a system we shut ourselves off from.

Gomm Road, Lower Road, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 2TY 0207 237 4036 office@stjosephsprimary.org.uk Headteacher: Mrs Catherine McLoughlin Deputy Headteacher: Mrs Sophie Drury

ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL PREMISES MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION Salary Scale 7: 20-25 £37,437 - £40,344 35 hours per week Contract - Full Time – All Year Round, Split shift hours Due to the retirement of our current Premises Manager, we are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated Premises Manager to work as part of our fabulous team. You will need to be trustworthy, flexible, take pride in your work and be able to work with all members of the school community. We have a well maintained school site that requires a commitment to keeping it that way. We have high standards in St Joseph’s and are looking for someone with initiative to make it even better.

You will be responsible to the Headteacher and work in close liaison on a daily basis. Your main responsibilities are to ensure the school is open and ready to provide a safe, secure, and welcoming learning environment for pupils, staff and visitors. We operate on a split shift contract so we will need someone who is flexible to meet the needs of our school. Occasional out of hours and weekend work may be required. You will be responsible for locking up the school building.

You will have a very good standard of written language and possess a working knowledge of building maintenance, decorating and general health and safety requirements.

If you are someone who enjoys working within a diverse community and takes pride in ensuring their site always looks its best, delivering a high-quality service in a friendly proactive manner then we would welcome your application.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone innovative and aspiring, who wishes to join a team committed to high standards in an oversubscribed, happy and loving school. In St. Joseph’s we are a family who is soon to join the St Benedict Catholic Academy Trust. Situated within a short walk to Canada Water station on the Jubilee line and overlooking Southwark Park.

Please apply by emailing the Headteacher, Catherine McLoughlin: headteacher@stjosephsprimary.org.uk Please note we cannot accept CVs and only completed CES Application forms can be accepted.

St Joseph’s Catholic School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. References and full DBS disclosure will be undertaken before an appointment.

Should you be interested in applying for this position, the Headteacher is more than happy to meet you and show you around our wonderful school. Please email the Headteacher in advance of the interview date and we shall arrange this for you.

Closing Date: Thursday 13th March 2025 at 9am.

Interviews (envisaged): Week beginning 17th March 2025

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across

1 Tells by means of fashionable documents (7) 5 Confers underwear (5) 8 Let it stand as a sort of test (4) 9 Relax and do come in. How suggestive! (8) 10 Herr Doktor should be able to diagnose this complaint (6,7) 13 Time’s up. Come out (4) 14 Forbidden poet? (4) 17 1 am to consider skilful points. Quite incalculable (13) 19 Is a metal cup a Spanish ruler? (8) 20 With which to see the flag? (4) 21 Groups who sang out after the end of the drinking (5) 22 Pave the way to waking the snake stop (7)

Clues Down

2 Catch her being behind (6) 3 It’s best to work it up, Mother (7) 4 Strangely animated about a letter - simply pickled, in fact (9) 5 Shakesperian character on the fiddle (5) 6 Very thick-skinned, she goes fiftyfifty with the Editor (7) 7 Please speak about misfits (7) 11 Disconcert me coming back to hinder a right fool (9) 12 Character can squeeze round it (7) 13 Account for being no longer obvious (7) 15 Irritate the out-of-work bishop with this nonsense (7) 16 It’s pardonable when mercenary takes one in (6) 18 Proverbially they must when Satan is at the wheel (5)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

1 Indistinctly pronounced (7) 5 Frolics (5) 8 Correct (4) 9 Unaccompanied song (8) 10 Inward-looking (13) 13 Italian wine (4) 14 Besides (4) 17 Sin (13) 19 Undeviating (8) 20 Smooth out (4) 21 Recapitulate (3,2) 22 Settler (7)

Clues Down

2 Cargo (6) 3 Answers (7) 4 Trapping (9) 5 Meant to be sung (5) 6 Syncopated music (7) 7 Able to pay debts (7) 11 Essential (9) 12 Bears witness (7) 13 Word arrangement (7) 15 Meeting period (7) 16 Gloomy (6) 18 Allow too little (5)

SOLUTIONS TO LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD CRYPTIC

Across: 4 Probed 8 Imputes 10 Ordeals 11 Arson 12 Eider 13 Sentiment 16 Grapeshot 19 Taboo 20 Delay 22 Parades 21 Hay loft 24 Elders Down: 1 Rivals 2 Opts 3 Standing order 5 Red-letter days 6 Brandish. 7 Desire 9 Solve 14 Numbered 15 Steppe 17 Abash 18 Trysts 21 Loop

QUICK PUZZLE

Across: 4 Scamps 8 Corners 10 Pounced 11 Reels 12 Terse 13 Dalliance 16 Armistice 19 Music 20 Grasp 22 Canyons 23 Elector 24 Sadism Down: 1 Scared 2 True 3 Perspicacious 5 Countersigned 6 Macaroni 7 Sudden 9 Spain 14 Lessened 15 Smocks 17 Mouse 18 Expert 21 Anti

20 ARTS

what’s on

THE DANCE IS CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT DESPITE THE plethora of opportunities, this production seems incapable of fully cashing in on any melodrama because so much time is spent philosophising and breaking out into (albeit excellent) contemporary dance.

This is quite a feat in a play which involves incest, patricide, and the ever-vengeful Greek gods, writes Melina Block.

In fairness, as an analysis of fate, fear, and fanaticism, the Old Vic’s Oedipus works well. Rami Malek, the titular king of Thebes, is characteristically unnerved as he wrestles with whom to turn to to decide his future: the oracle, his sceptical wife, or his own intuition?

Questions over fate and free will may be timeless, but the dangers of yielding to what those who we assign power to tell us, without question, feel rather timely.

Similarly, Oedipus’ own obsession with prophecy and the people of Thebes’ mob mentality is emphasised throughout. Again, this feels eerily relevant in the current political climate as the characters highlight the extent to which fear can motivate not only individuals but groups to act in ultimately destructive ways and turn against each other.

Indira Varma’s Jocasta is confident and assertive - a sharp contrast to

Malek’s neurotic (understandably, given the circumstances) Oedipus.

Both actors are undeniably talented, but I couldn’t believe they were happily married and in love - even prior to the whole mother-son issue being revealed - save for some very on-the-nose dialogue. This inevitably undermined what should be the devastating climax, which in itself felt rushed and unable to throw the emotional gut-punch it should have delivered.

The most controversial aspect of this particular production, however, is likely to be the dancing, with Hofesh Shechter Company appearing several times as the Thebian people. The erratic, pulsating movements are fevered and striking, almost religious or ritualistic, emphasising the fevered zealousness of Thebes. The issue, perhaps, is that dance - in its nature - is incredibly subjective.

If you interpret the movement in a different way, then I can see why it could feel slightly out of place. But, the dance is perhaps the most consistently excellent aspect of this performance, at times overpowering the often bleak, moody play.

My friend saw this show with me, and although we both agreed that the dancers were excellent, she was not sold on how significant a role in the story it played. Or, rather, how significant a part of the story it took time away from.

Ryan Moves Onwards With Retrograde ONE OF the most exciting writers around right now is Ryan Calais Cameron, who has pushed against boundaries and smashed down the elitist walls of theatre to have two hits in the West End. He is now on the cusp of going to Broadway, writes Michael Holland.

One of six children, Ryan grew up in Lewisham in the bosom of a loving and supportive family ‘where you were allowed to dream’. At school, he enjoyed Drama and English: ‘Writing was where I could really express myself,’ he says, adding that he didn’t realise then that those lessons would have carried him so far.

When Ryan left, he took up a career in electrical engineering that, after four

years, he came to despise, so he chose to take a drama degree at Bournemouth University. His parents were fine with his decision even though there was no way of knowing their son would be so successful.

I wondered why he did not go to one of the many great acting establishments in London. ‘For me, he begins, ‘I wanted to get as far away from Lewisham as I could, from some people and the things they were doing, plus to get life experience… It was a massive choice for me because at 19 I had never left my area before!’

After focussing on university for three years, Ryan graduated and pretty much worked steadily in TV and theatre - in top productions - for some years.

He spoke of the people who inspired him: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington,

Photo by Manuel Harlan

While I did not agree, as I think it did complement the themes of the play even if it did not drive the narrative forward, I can very easily see this being a major,

valid gripe for many people.

So, whether you come for the drama or the dance, rest assured that you will leave Oedipus with something to say.

Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 until 29th March.

Full details and Booking: www.oldvictheatre.com

and the award-winning writers Debbie Tucker Green and Roy Williams, who Ryan now sees regularly but still has that Fanboy feeling when Williams says encouraging things about Ryan’s work.

But that industry is not an easy ride.

In the early days, Ryan would email his favourite actors and ask for advice.

Jimmy Akingbola returned a Facebook message, calling him down to his Monologue Slam, which, perhaps with the advice Ryan had taken on board, he won. Clint Dyer was there and told Ryan to audition for his play at the Royal Court. He got one of the lead roles.

These steps to stardom were not lucky. These are examples of a young actor making his luck by knocking on doors, walking through them and then producing the goods.

Eventually, the time arrived for the young actor to take up the pen. He explains the change: ‘My imagination was a lot bigger than the work I was being offered and in the end I wasn’t excited by acting any more, it had become just a job.’

Ryan struggled with the acting work offered because it conflicted with his ideas of what being black and British and working-class were. ‘I’d hear better stories going to the barber shop,’ he claims. ‘And I thought that if I can create stories for the people I meet on my street, then I’m positive I can get those people into the theatre.’

Along with like-minded friends, he cofounded Nouveau Riche to tell the stories they wanted to tell, never knowing if they would be successful or not. They were.

Another good break came when he

co-adapted Jessica L. Hagan’s book Queens of Sheba for stage and took it to the Edinburgh Fringe. ‘We sold out every night,’ Ryan recalls while reliving the dream. ‘We were on front pages, TV people came!’

Could the sound of an audience clapping draw him back? ‘Since I’ve been writing, I do get that little bug now and then, but it’s the auditions that stop me going back… If someone offered roles specifically for me, I might jump back in but, no, not now.’

Couldn’t he write something for himself? I asked. ‘I could, but I feel that’s greedy; plus, I’d wanna be so hands-on I would make it the worst production.’ His words tail off with a knowing laugh.

The writer had experience of people saying they liked his work but were put off because, he was told, “black working-class don’t go to the theatre”, but I really thought they would if there was something that would resonate with them.’ Ryan takes a breath before continuing. ’It’s not rocket science, if we can put something on that reflects their truth, their environment, they’d turn up.’

Ryan was right because 800 young, black, working-class were buying tickets every night for his West End hit “For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy”.

And to help break down the barriers, Ryan had the ticket prices slashed to make them realistic and affordable.

Ryan hopes to do the same when his latest play, Retrograde, transfers to the West End in March. A play about when a young Sidney Poitier is about to sign a career-defining Hollywood contract

that could make him a star. But there’s a catch. Will he put his career before his principles? In a time of betrayals, will he name names? Will he sign his life away?

Ryan was writing about a time way before his.’It meant immersing myself in a whole other universe that I’ve never been to before; it was an immense amount of research, but it was exciting to learn about somebody’s life.’ Ryan was now on a Poitier role. The Hollywood legend was one of his early inspirations. ‘The level of research I’ve been able to do meant I knew him so much better, and he became more of a hero to me. I felt like I’d met him and knew him, like he was family!’

Ryan went graciously on to praise Ivanno Jeremiah, the actor who brings Poitier to life every night, and Amit Sharma, who has put things into his direction of the play that Ryan reveals he would never have thought of.

Our time was ending, and I was left with the feeling of having met a nice man, a focussed man, a family man, a man who smiles a lot and who deserves everything that is coming his way.

Ryan Calais Cameron is now in a position to plan ahead for himself, and he implies that some special things are coming to our screens in the future.

But for now, let’s get our tickets for Retrograde.

Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 from Saturday 8 March – Saturday 14 June 2025 Box Office: www.nimaxtheatres.com / 0330 333 4809

Heading south - our pick of upcoming winter events The Keeper of All The Secrets, Jacqueline Bishop, 2023, bone China with gilding and digital print transfers. Credit Jacqueline Bishop. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Sips of Wisdom Groove to some live jazz Every other Thursday at The Chart Bar in Blackheath’s The Clarendon Hotel you’ll find a live jazz performance to enjoy and groove along to. Starting at 7:30pm, Jazzy D’s Jazz Diary invites you to experience the magic of local jazz ensembles. Coming up this month, 6 March sees the Jago Furnas Trio perform, with jazz guitarist Jago Furnas making his debut, and 20 March invites the Tony Goldsmith Red Brooke’s Duo to the stage. The popular duo of Tony Goldsmith on guitar and Red Brooke on sax play a variety of jazz classics.

Dates: Every other Thursday. Tickets: Free The Clarendon Hotel, Montpelier Row, Blackheath Village, SE3 0RW www.clarendonhotel.com/events/live-jazz

Generator at Tramshed Generator is Tramshed’s monthly night showcasing emerging theatre and performance arts. March sees a double bill of new work from artists Ella McGran and H.R.H. Aphrodite I. Ella McGran’s ‘Operation Shrink’ (7:30pm) is an autobiographical solo show that delves into personal struggles with an eating disorder. The show breaks down expectations of what someone with an eating disorder might look like and touches upon themes of obsessive exercise, misunderstandings within the medical system, the toxicity of the dance industry, and emotional abuse. Then, at 9pm, step into HRH Aphrodite I’s ‘The Diana Auction’

Join multidisciplinary artist Love Hannington at the National Maritime Museum to learn more about African Caribbean herbs for women’s health, with a focus on womb health. This workshop is an introduction to herbal traditions, exploring the history of African Caribbean herbs, their connections to African and Indigenous practices and their importance for women’s health. Inspired by artist Jacqueline Bishop’s Keeper of All Secrets tea set (pictured), the workshop will delve into the theme of the Market Woman and her role in sharing knowledge about herbs. As part of the session, you’ll design and paint your own cup and saucer to take home.

It will also include a discussion and sharing of the uses of African Caribbean herbs and a guided reflection meditation on connecting to inner resilience, empowerment and ancestral knowledge across all lands.

Date: Saturday 22 March 2025, 11:30am. Tickets: £7 National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/sips-wisdom

as she sells off some of her very own Princess of Wales looks. Turning back to 1980, she’ll offer her own unique insight into the wide and wonderful world of Diana’s wardrobe – and puts them up for sale. ‘The Diana Auction’ is an hour-long participatory show about clothes, media scrutiny and death. While Aphrodite puts her frocks up for bid, your job is simple: see what you like and bid ’til you get it.

Date: Friday 21 March 2025, 7:30pm and 9pm Tickets: £6-£27 Tramshed, 51-53 Woolwich New Road, SE18 6ES www.tramshed.org/generator-march

Visible mending workshop Woolwich Works is hosting a workshop where you’ll be guided in the art of mending clothes. Ali Clifford, of Incredibusy, will talk you through the three-hour workshop, where you’ll learn about the art of carefully repairing holes and breathing new life into your clothes. You will learn the fundamentals of how to use the Incredibusy darning loom, handmade in the UK from salvaged materials, a design inspired by the original 1950s speed loom. This is a handcrafted tool designed to simplify the process of darning and repairing small snags and holes in fabric. Materials will be provided for use during the workshop and there will also be an option to purchase your own Incredibusy salvaged loom at the end of the day.

Date: Saturday 22 March 2025, 10am. Tickets: £55 Woolwich Works, The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, SE18 6HD www.woolwich.works/events/visible-mending-workshop

Murder, She Didn’t Write Don your deerstalker, grab your magnifying glass and get your “finger of suspicion” at the ready because Degrees of Error is bringing back their sell-out show for your sleuthing pleasure. At Churchill Theatre this March, they’ll create a classic murder mystery on the spot in this improvised comedy. You, the audience, become the author as the cast acts out your very own Agatha Christie-inspired masterpiece live on stage.

The company use audience suggestions to create a unique, original and comical murder mystery just for you. All you have to do is solve it… Ms Gold poisoned at a synchronised swimming gala? Dr Blue exploded by cannon during a hot air balloon race? Professor Violet crushed to death at a Love Island recoupling? You decide – but will you guess whodunnit before the killer is revealed?

Date: Friday 14 March 2025. Tickets: From £22. Churchill Theatre, High Street, BR1 1HA trafalgartickets.com/churchill-theatre-bromley/en-GB/event/play/murder-she-didntwrite-tickets

Mozart’s Requiem at Blackheath Halls Experience an evening of musical brilliance with a live performance of Mozart’s Requiem. Conducted

by Chris Stark, Mozart’s piece will be brought to life by soprano Ailish Tynan, tenor Nick Pritchard, bass James Platt and the Blackheath Halls Orchestra and Choir. The performance will feature over 70 choral voices and a full orchestra, creating a powerful and emotional journey through one of Mozart’s most celebrated works. From haunting harmonies to triumphant crescendos, Requiem promises a moving experience.

Date: Sunday 23 March 2025, 7:30pm Tickets: £19, under 12s £10 Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ www.blackheathhalls.com/whats-on/blackheathhalls-orchestra-choir-perform-mozarts-requiem

22 HISTORY

History

In the show Mary Carr is portrayed

by Erin Doherty

A Thousand Blows: The real story of Queen of the Forty Elephants’ Mary Carr

Gang leader Alice Diamond

Elephant and Castle circa 1900

By Issy Clarke BRAND NEW Disney Plus show A Thousand Blows tells the true story of the Forty Elephants, an all-female gang of thieves who dominated London in the 1880s through to the 1920s.

In the show, their leader Mary Carr is depicted

by Erin Doherty, best known for her portrayal of Princess Anne in Netflix’s the Crown. Here, Doherty plays a different kind of royalty, taking centre stage as the Queen of the Forty Elephants.

The Forty Elephants – also known as the forty thieves – emerged in the 1870s, a group of thieves based in Elephant and Castle, made up of women drawn from the slums of the Seven Dials who stole and conned their way to fabulous wealth.

The extensive web of women, which numbered as many as seventy in its heyday, approached criminality with a cold professionalism and ruthlessness assumed to be the preserve of their male counterparts – The Elephant & Castle Gang, formed a hundred years earlier.

Carr was the female Elephants’ first leader, organising the women from her home at 118 Stamford Street into an effective shoplifting syndicate who in exchange gave her their unbound obedience.

Born in Holborn in 1860 to working class

parents, Victorian criminologists would later describe Mary as bearing all the hallmarks of a “born criminal”. Her first stint in jail at the age of 12 for petty theft set the course for a life of crime. She was sent at the age of 19 to a Church of Englandrun institute for “fallen” women, where she stayed for nine years – which hardly proved effective in thwarting her taste for criminal deception.

Some time around 1890, Carr was elected leader of the Forty Elephants and refined the mechanics of their signature heist and namesake, in which the women would raid luxury shops and waddle out like elephants with clothes and jewellery crammed into their dress pockets. On other occasions, the women would pose as poor maids as a means of gaining access into wealthy houses, before disappearing with stolen goods stashed within their petticoats.

As well as one of London’s most notorious criminals, Carr was also known for her beauty.

She was described by Lloyd’s Weekly, a contemporary newspaper, as a woman of “good looks and engaging manners (who) managed to get round her a gang of young women who gave her complete obedience as their leader’”.

When she wasn’t stuffing the contents of Selfridges’s jewellery floor into her petticoat pockets, Mary moonlit as a nude model for the Victorian artist Lord Frederic Leighton, thought

to have been the model for his painting The Maid with the Yellow Hair (1895).

Working as an artist’s model wasn’t a particularly lucrative trade but it was invaluable to Carr in another way – it equipped her with the poise and grace which would enable her to woo upper-class gentlemen while discreetly swiping their wallets.

Carr devised another of the gang’s favourite tricks in which one of the women would ask a wealthy elderly gentleman to loan her a bus fare. She would then lead him down a side alley, ostensibly on the way to a bus stop, before crying out that he had attacked her. Usually at this point, the elderly man would hastily agree to hand over some cash to avoid his reputation being ruined.

Mary used to boast she would rake in £40 a week from this ploy.

Such were her good looks and glamorous fashion sense that when she faced a trial in 1896 –charged with abducting a seven-year-old boy – crowds flocked to the courtroom, hoping as much to hear a snatch of the proceedings as to catch a glimpse of Mary’s golden curls and delicate features. Mary did not disappoint, arriving in court lavishly dressed in a velvet cloak, ostrich feathers and diamond rings, valued by one journalist at more than £300.

Today we can only imagine what Mary looked like since there are no surviving photographs of

her. Other aspects of her life also remain shrouded in mystery – even her name, which alternated between several aliases including Polly Carr, Eva Jackson, Annie Leslie and her married name, Mary Crane, from a brief period when she wedded to another criminal, Thomas Crane.

Mary was sentenced to three years in prison in 1896, but it wasn’t long after her release before she was back in court again facing charges of receiving stolen goods. She continued her life of robbery and violence right up to her death, penniless and alone, in the 1920s aged in her sixties.

By this point the Forty Elephants were under the leadership of their most famous leader Alice Diamond, who presided over the gang’s heyday which coincided with the proliferation of luxury department stores across the capital at the turn of the 20th century. Under Diamond, the Elephants became more violent and continued targeting high-end stores with even greater efficiency, such as Harrods and Liberty.

The show focuses on Carr’s reign over the gang, but with confirmation from show creator Steven Knight that season 2 has already been shot, there’s every chance that the next series will explore Diamond’s later tenure in the 1920s as Queen of the Elephants.

All six episodes of A Thousand Blows are now available to watch on Disney Plus.

24 CLASSIFIED CLASSIFIED AND COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Visit www.scotscare.com or call 0800 652 2989

to speak with a case worker to see how we can assist you.

For our services, scan here Registered Charity No.207326.

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Thursday, February 27th 2025

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (CAMBERWELL STATION ROAD, CONSORT ROAD, GROSVENOR PARK, HUNTSMAN STREET, KING JAMES STREET, MANOR GROVE, SOUTHWARK PARK ROAD, SUTHERLAND SQUARE

CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE 'B' EXTENSION – STURDY ROAD

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (CPZ ‘B’ ext) (No. 2) Order 2025 The London Borough of Southwark (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) (CPZ ‘B’ ext and surrounding area) (No. 2) Order 2025

1.

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.

1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 27 February 2025 it has made the above Orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

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:

2. The general effect of the Orders, as part of the provision of an extension of existing Controlled Parking Zone (‘CPZ’) ‘B’ in the Nunhead, are:(a) to provide a new permit holders' parking place 43 metres in length, for vehicles which have been granted either a valid residents' permit, a valid business permit or a valid visitors' permit, between the hours of the hours of 8.30 am and 6.30 pm on Monday to Saturday inclusive, in STURDY ROAD northwest side o/s Nos. 11-20 Sturdy Road; (b) to provide a new 'shared-use' parking place 8.5 metres in length in which either:- (i) vehicles which have paid the parking charge of (currently) £5.10 per hour or £8.30 per hour for diesel vehicles (using 'Pay by Phone') may be left for up to 2 hours (provided no same vehicle may return to a parking place on that same day), or (ii) vehicles which have been granted either a valid residents' permit, a valid business permit or a valid visitors' permit which may be left without time limit, between the hours of 8.30 am and 6.30 pm on Monday to Saturday inclusive, in:- STURDY ROAD south-east side opposite Nos. 11 and 12 Sturdy Road; and (c) to introduce 19 metres of new ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions (double yellow lines ‘DYLs’) in STURDY ROAD south-east side opposite Nos. 1 to 9 and 10 Sturdy Road. Loading or unloading to or from attended vehicles would be permitted for a maximum of 40 minutes at any single location on any ‘DYLs’ throughout the road. Existing ‘DYLs’ with contiguous ‘at any time’ loading restrictions (double kerb blips), will not be affected.

Notes: (1) ‘at any time’ means at all hours on every day of the week. (2) All measurements are in metres and are approximate.

(2a) Camberwell Station Road, at it’s junction with Camberwell New Road (2b) Consort Road, opposite N’s 4 Consort Road (2c) Grosvenor Park, between No’s 37 to it’s blocked end (2d) Huntsman Street, at it’s junction with Elsted Street (2e) King James Street, between Belvedere Buildings and Rushworth Street (2f) Manor Grove, between Ormside Street and Ilderton Road (2g) Southwark Park Road, between No’s 304 and Galleywall Road (2h) Sutherland Square, between No’s 50 and No’s 7a (by bridge) 3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be 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) 18th March (2b) 14th – 15th March (2c) 17th March (2d) 17th – 21st March (2e) 17th – 18th March (2f) 17th March – 6th May (2g)18th – 19th March (2h)

7.

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

Dated this 27th February 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) 83737456 (2b) LBSCR13843 (2c) 54900265 (2d) HUNTSMAN-V8195 (2e) LBSCR13963 (2f) SEC50/MANORGROCT24 (2g) 77814260 (2h) LBSCR13965 LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (ALBANY ROAD, COLLEGE ROAD, FOUNTAIN DRIVE, LONG LANE, PURBROOK STREET, AMELIA STREET, BETHWIN ROAD, BOROUGH HIGH STREET, ILDERTON ROAD (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

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: (2a) Albany Road, between Camberwell Road and Albany Road (2b) College Road, between Dulwich Wood Park and Fountain Drive (2c) Fountain Drive, between Kingswood Drive and College Road (2d) Long Lane, between Bermondsey Street and Wilds Rents (2e) Purbrook Street, between Riley Road and Tower Bridge Road (2f) Amelia Street, between Robert Dashwood Way and Railway Bridge (2g) Bethwin Road, between No’s 37a and Jewell Street (2h) Borough High Street, south bound lane of carriageway between No’s 223 – 227 (Mitre House) (2i) Ilderton Road, at it’s junction with Hornshay Street

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be Camberwell Road, Walworth Road, Heygate Street, Rodney Road, Flint Street, Thurlow Street. Albany Road, Wells Way, Cottage Green, Southampton Way, New Church Road, Bowyer Place, Camberwell Road. (2b) & (2c) Crystal Palace Parade, College Road, Dulwich Wood Park, Kingswood Drive (2d) as indicated by the signs displayed (2e) Tower Bridge Road, Abbey Street, Riley Road. Riley Road, he Grange, Grange Road, Tower Bridge Road. (2f) Steedman Street Walworth Road, Manor Place, Crampton Street (2g) Bethwin Road, John Ruskin Street, Camberwell Road (2h) Marshalsea Road, Southwark Bridge Road, Great Suffolk Street (2i) 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) 26th – 28th March (2b) & (2c) 24th – 26th March, the work will be carried out in phases (2d) 20th – 21st March, between 20:00hrs and 05:00hrs (2e) 26th – 27th March (2f) 24th – 25th March between 22:00hrs and 05:00hrs (2g) 20th – 21st March between 22:00hrs and 05:00hrs (2h) 24th – 25th March between 21:00hrs and 07:00hrs (2i) 22nd March - 30th April

7.

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

Dated this 27th February 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) 56221100/conway (2b) 12616434/20959967/conway (2c) 77438310/conway (2d) 02109661/conway (2e) 47906634/Conway (2f) LBSCR13964/amey (2g) LBSCR13966/amey (2h) LBSCR13970/NTS (2i) SEC50/ILDERTONRPH3/BLU3

3. Residents’ permits, business permits and visitors’ permits would be available to residents and businesses located at qualifying addresses located within the parking zone boundary, which are not subject to a planning agreement restricting the grant of permits. Addresses within the extension (the entirety of Sturdy Road) will be added to enable those residents and businesses in the extended area to apply for permits.

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

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

Dated 27 February 2025 Steven Grayer Interim Head of Service - Highways, Environment, Sustainability & Leisure

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ILIFFE STREET: WALWORTH PLANTERS The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (Iliffe Street) Order 2025 The London Borough of Southwark (Prescribed routes) (Iliffe Street) (No. 2) Traffic Order 2025 The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting restrictions) (Iliffe Street) Order 2025 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 27 February 2025 it has made the above Orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The effects of the (Charged-for parking places) Order, are to in ILIFFE STREET (a) remove a ‘restricted zone’, and (b) remove 2 existing ‘permit-holders’ only parking places (within Controlled Parking Zone ‘E’) each 6 metres (‘m’) in length (a total of 12m) on both sides, north-east of its junction with Penton Place.

3. The effects of the (Prescribed routes) Traffic Order are to consolidate and make amendments to a prescribed route restriction in ILIFFE STREET to convert an existing point road closure to a new part road closure ‘no motor vehicles’ restriction, the extent of this restriction will now lie in that part of ILIFFE STREET between the north-eastern kerb-line of Penton Place and a point 11 metres north-east of that kerb-line (there will continue to be no access for motor vehicles, from Penton Place into Iliffe Street and vice versa).

The amended ‘no motor vehicles’ restriction mentioned above will be operational ‘at any time’ and all days of the week. Exemptions will be provided for vehicles used for refuse collections and for emergency services vehicles only. The restrictions will be indicated by traffic signs and feature moveable bollards.

4. The effects of the (Waiting Restrictions) Order, are to:(a) in ILIFFE STREET north-west side opposite Nos. 1A and 1B Iliffe Street, convert all existing 'timed' waiting restrictions (single yellow lines ‘SYLs’) to new 'at any time' waiting restrictions (double yellow lines ‘DYLs’) a total of 13 metres; (b) in ILIFFE STREET on all sides add new ‘DYLs’ throughout the remaining kerb-side between the extent of the new part road closure (as described in item 3 above) and the common boundary between Nos. 17-24 and Nos. 25 to 32 Iliffe Street that is not taken up by either existing Disabled Persons’ parking or a new cycle hangar (both opposite Nos. 1A and 1B Iliffe Street); and (c) in PENTON PLACE add 9 metres of new ‘DYLs’ across the former junction with Iliffe Street to accommodate the new part road closure as described in item 3 above.

Notes: (1) ‘at any time’ means at all hours on every day of the week. (2) ‘SYLs’ refer to timed waiting restrictions, and ‘DYLs’ refer to 'at any time' waiting restrictions. (3) All measurements are in metres and are approximate.

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

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

Dated 27 February 2025 Steven Grayer Interim Head of Service - Highways, Environment, Sustainability & Leisure

Email em@cm-media.co.uk to place a notice

26 PUBLIC NOTICES

Thursday, February 27th 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended)

PLANNING AND COMPULSORY PURCHASE ACT 2004 (AS AMENDED) THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (LOCAL PLANNING) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2012 NOTICE OF FORMAL CONSULTATION FOR:

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, Chief executive's department, 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; STDCA - development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building; FLAT 1 12 BALDWIN CRESCENT LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 9LQ (Ref: 25/AP/0345) Replacement of existing single-glazed windows with double-glazed windows. Replacement of 1no. window and 1no. door to rear elevation with 2no. sets of french doors, and dropping of all existing window sill heights. (Within: Camberwell New Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki 020 7525 0646) 2 LEATHERMARKET STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 25/AP/0444) Listed building consent for the retention and enhancement of the ground floor office space (Use Class E) and the Change of Use of the first and second floor (Use Class E) to residential (Use Class C3), with a single storey upwards extension, to provide 2 flats with external and internal works. (Within: Bermondsey Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948)

LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7EZ (Ref: 25/AP/0324) Demolition of the existing residential building and the erection of a two storey dwelling including ancillary garden / bike store, terracing, parking, hard and soft landscaping. (This application represents a departure of Policy P57 Open Space of Southwark Plan 2022 by virtue of construction of a replacement dwellinghouse on a different footprint). (Within: Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA DEP (Contact: Agneta Kabele 020 7525 3148) Dated: 25 Feb 2025 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date (or 30 days for EIA development).

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

66 PECKHAM ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8PX (Ref: 25/AP/0106) Replacement of existing double-glazed PVCu sash and casement windows with new doubleglazed PVCu sash and casement windows to match existing. Replacement of existing timber doors with new timber doors to match existing.

(Within: Sceaux Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876) 23 CASINO AVENUE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE24 9PQ (Ref: 25/AP/0438) Construction of single storey rear extension following demolition of existing lean-to extension (Within: Sunray Estate CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Alex Lambert 020 7525 1353) 15-21 CAMBERWELL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 0EZ (Ref: 25/AP/0399) Display of 1no. internally illuminated fascia sign and 2no. internally illuminated projecting signs (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki 020 7525 0646) 26 WOODWARDE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UJ (Ref: 25/AP/0390) Installation of rear sliding door to the ground floor following removal of the existing window and the double door (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki 020 7525 0646)

THE DRAFT OLD KENT ROAD AREA ACTION PLAN: (REGULATION 19 CONSULTATION) Southwark Council is consulting on the draft Old Kent Road Area Action Plan (Regulation 19). The plan will guide and manage new development and growth in the area over the next 20 years. The plan aims to create a new high street environment for the Old Kent Road, with significant public transport improvements supported by mixed use development behind the road. This will incorporate around 20,000 new homes, including affordable homes, 10,000 new jobs, community facilities and new parks.

The plan includes the potential for extending the Bakerloo Line from Elephant and Castle towards Lewisham with new stations along the Old Kent Road. The Area Action Plan (AAP) will be used to make planning decisions in the area and to coordinate and deliver the regeneration strategy.

Where to view the documents The Old Kent Road AAP is available to view on the council’s website at: https://engage.southwark.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/old-kent-road-aap You can find hard copies of the plan at the locations listed below.

How to get involved Consultation on the plan will take place between 28 February 2025 and 11 April 2025. All comments must be received by 11.59pm on Friday 11 April 2025 .

You can comment by: Visiting our consultation hub and filling in our online questionnaire: Consultation hub: https://engage.southwark.gov.uk j E-mail to oldkentroad@southwark.gov.uk or post to: FREEPOST SE1919/14 Planning and Growth (Old Kent Road team), Resources, London SE1P 5EX. If you are emailing comments, please upload them also through the consultation hub (see web address above).

Please email the address above if you would like to discuss the plan or have any queries.

LOCATIONS TO VIEW DOCUMENTS You can request to view hard copies of our consultation documents at the Southwark Council offices, located at 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH. Libraries (Opening times listed individually below) • Blue Anchor Library: Market Place, Southwark Park Road, SE16 3UQ (Monday; Tuesday & Thursday 09:00 – 19:00, Friday 10:00 – 18:00, Saturday 09:00 – 17:00) • Una Marson Library: 62 Thurlow Street, London, SE17 2GN (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10:00 – 18:00, Wednesday 10:00 – 15:00, Saturday 10:00 – 17:00) • Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library: 145-147 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW (Monday - Friday 10:00 – 20:00, Saturday 10:00 – 17:00, Sunday 12:00 – 16:00) • Peckham Library: 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 09:00 – 20:00, Wednesday 10:00 – 20:00, Saturday 10:00 – 17:00, Sunday 12:00 – 16:00) Register for a MySouthwark account and opt-in to our planning policy email updates on your profile at https://www.southwark.gov.uk/mysouthwark LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (AVONDALE SQUARE, BOYSON ROAD, NEWHAMS ROW, GROVE LANE, GREAT SUFFOLK STREET) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

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.

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: (2a) Avondale Square, at its junction with between Old Kent for 54m north (by Twelve Acres House) (2b) Boyson Road, at its junction with Red Lion Row (2c) Newhams Row, at its junction with Bermondsey Street (2d) Grove Lane, between De Crespigny Park and Champion Park (2e) Great Suffolk Street, at its junction with Union Street

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be 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) 8th March (2b) 10th – 12th March (2c) 12th March (2d) 10th – 20th March (2e) 6th – 16th March

7.

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

GROVE HOUSE DULWICH COMMON

To place a public notice, please email em@cm‐media.co.uk or call 020 7232 1639 Deadline is 3pm on Wednesdays

Dated this 27th February 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) 90960394/Conway (2b) BOYSONRD-V9236/BT/Instalcom (2c) 000032130505001/thameswater (2d) SEC50/GROVELANE25/M&SWaterSU (2e) MCW-00001979-03thameswater

PUBLIC NOTICES 27

Thursday, February 27th 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK VARIATION OF RESIDENT VISITOR PERMITS, PERMITS, PAID FOR PARKING, CAR PARK SEASON TICKETS AND SUSPENSION FEES 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Southwark intends, from 1st April 2025, to increase the charges for resident visitor permits, all other parking permits, paid for parking, Peckham car park season tickets and suspensions fees under sections 35C and 46A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The existing charges are detailed in the schedules below: 3. The new charges which will apply to all of the council’s existing controlled parking zones as well as the off-street car parks are detailed in the schedules below.

Schedule 1 – Resident’s Visitors Permits: All Controlled Zones

First book

Continued from schedule 6 Schedule 7 – Housing Estate Parking permits All Housing Estates Current fees

Visitor Parking permits – 10 parking sessions Visitor Parking permits – 60 parking sessions Replacement of lost permit (all permit types) Second resident parking permit Area-wide permit (contractors & employees) Southwark-wide permit (contractors & employees) Business permits Carer’s permits

£19.00 £92.00 £11.00 £92.00 £145.00 £145.00 £145.00 £40.00

Visitor Parking permits – 10 parking sessions Visitor Parking permits – 60 parking sessions Replacement of lost permit (all permit types) Second resident parking permit Area-wide permit (contractors & employees) Southwark-wide permit (contractors & employees) Business permits

£20.00 £96.60 £11.60 £96.60 £152.30 £152.30 £152.30

Subsequent 10

Current fees

Book of 10 x 1 day paper vouchers Virtual 10 sessions x 1 day virtual sessions Virtual single – 1 day parking sessions Virtual 10 sessions – 5 hours parking sessions Virtual single session – 5 hours parking sessions Virtual 10 sessions – 1 hour parking sessions Virtual single session – 1 hour parking sessions

£36.10 £32.80 £6.70 £26.20 £3.50 £13.30 £2.20

£64.90 £59.00

Proposed fees

Proposed fees

Book of 10 x 1 day paper vouchers Virtual 10 sessions x 1 day virtual sessions Virtual single – 1 day parking sessions Virtual 10 sessions – 5 hours parking sessions Virtual single session – 5 hours parking sessions Virtual 10 sessions – 1 hour parking sessions Virtual single session – 1 hour parking sessions

£47.00 £43.00 £8.75 £34.00 £4.55 £17.30 £2.85

£84.00 £78.00

Carer’s permits

Schedule 2 – Permits: Current fees

Proposed fees

All Controlled Zones

£20.65 £26.70 NA NA

Resident permit – all CPZ ULEZ compliant Resident permit – all CPZ Diesel non-ULEZ compliant Resident permit – Hybrid vehicle Resident permit – Electric vehicle Resident permit – Powered two-wheeler Business permit – all CPZ ULEZ compliant Business permit – all CPZ Diesel non-ULEZ compliant Business permit – Electric vehicle discount Business permit – Professional childcare providers Doctor’s permit Professional Health Care worker permit Informal carer’s permit

£22.70 £28.00 £15.15 £7.60

Schedule 3 – Paid for parking On-street Current fees

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK VARIATION OF RESIDENT VISITOR PERMITS, PERMITS, PAID FOR PARKING, CAR PARK SEASON TICKETS AND SUSPENSION FEES

1 3 6 12 Month Months Months Months

Resident permit – all CPZ ULEZ compliant Resident permit – all CPZ Diesel non-ULEZ compliant Resident permit – Hybrid vehicle Resident permit – Electric vehicle Business permit – all CPZ ULEZ compliant Business permit – all CPZ Diesel non-ULEZ compliant Business permit – Electric vehicle discount Resident permit – Powered two-wheeler Business permit – Professional childcare providers Doctor’s permit Professional Health Care worker permit Informal carer’s permit

£61.85 £80.10 £41.25 £20.65 £223.10 £258.30

£123.75 £160.20 £82.50 £41.25 £445.00 £517.50

£68.10 £84.10 £45.40 £22.80

£136.15 £168.20 £90.80 £45.40

£198.53 £231.25

£397.05 £462.50

£247.50 £320.10 £165.00 £82.50 £721.90 £866.20 £361.50 NA £155.80 £155.80 £155.80 £155.80 £272.25 £336.10 £181.50 £90.80 £33.75 £794.10 £925.00 £397.05 £231.25 £163.60 £163.60 £75.00

Pay by phone or Paypoint in zones C1, C2, D, F, G & GR Pay by phone or Paypoint / Diesel surcharge in zones C1, C2, D, F, G & GR Pay by phone or Paypoint in all other zones Pay by phone or Paypoint / Diesel surcharge in all other zones

£7.80 £12.10 £5.10 £8.30

Pay by phone or Paypoint in zones C1, C2, D, F, G & GR

£8.20

£12.80 £5.40 £8.80

Schedule 4 – Paid for parking Car Parks in Peckham Current fees

Pay by phone or Paypoint Pay by phone or Paypoint – Diesel surcharge

£2.50 £3.75

Proposed fees

Pay by phone or Paypoint Pay by phone or Paypoint – Diesel surcharge

£2.70 £4.00

Schedule 5 – Paid for parking Car Parks in all Southwark Parks £2.00

Proposed fees

Pay by phone or Paypoint Pay by phone or Paypoint – Diesel surcharge

£2.50 £3.75

1 3 6 12 Month Months Months Months

Current fees

Car park season ticket

£64.40

£192.10

£367.05

£673.30

Proposed fees

Car park season ticket

£66.00

£198.00

£396.00

£792.00

Schedule 9 – Suspension of Parking bay Borough wide Current fees Proposed fees

Proposed fees

Pay by phone or Paypoint / Diesel surcharge in zones C1, C2, D, F, G & GR Pay by phone or Paypoint in all other zones Pay by phone or Paypoint / Diesel surcharge in all other zones

Pay by phone or Paypoint Pay by phone or Paypoint – Diesel surcharge

Schedule 8 – Season ticket for off Street Parking (car parks): Car Parks in Peckham

Current fees

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Southwark intends, from 1st April 2025, to increase the charges for resident visitor permits, all other parking permits, paid for parking, Peckham car park season tickets and suspensions fees under sections 35C and 46A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The existing charges are detailed in the schedules below: 3. The new charges which will apply to all of the council’s existing controlled parking zones as well as the off-street car parks are detailed in the schedules below.

Current fees

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Southwark intends, from 1st April 2025, to increase the charges for resident visitor permits, all other parking permits, paid for parking, Peckham car park season tickets and suspensions fees under sections 35C and 46A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The existing charges are detailed in the schedules below: 3. The new charges which will apply to all of the council’s existing controlled parking zones as well as the off-street car parks are detailed in the schedules below.

Per day

Parking bay suspension per car space Dispensation for yellow line per vehicle Resident Bay – Traders Permit per vehicle Parking Bay Suspension Admin Fee Parking Bay Suspension cancellation fee

£48.10 £48.10 £36.10

Parking bay suspension per car space Dispensation for yellow line per vehicle Resident Bay – Traders Permit per vehicle Parking Bay Suspension Admin Fee Parking Bay Suspension cancellation fee

£50.60 £50.60 £38.00

£84.30/suspension NA

£88.60/suspension £86.20/suspension

Schedule 10 – Removal Vehicle Hire for Suspension of Parking bay aid for parking Borough wide

Per hour

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK VARIATION OF RESIDENT VISITOR PERMITS, PERMITS, PAID FOR PARKING, CAR PARK SEASON TICKETS AND SUSPENSION FEES

Proposed fees

£42.00

Schedule 6 – Market traders permits On street Current fees

Market traders permits for permanent traders (12 months pro rata 4/5 business permit) Market traders permits for permanent traders – Diesel Non-ULEZ Vehicle (12 months pro rata 4/5 business permit) Casual market traders permit for 1 day Casual market traders permit – Diesel Non-ULEZ Vehicle for 1 day

£576.20 £693.60 £4.80 £6.60

Proposed fees

Market traders permits for permanent traders (12 months pro rata 4/5 business permit) Market traders permits for permanent traders – Diesel Non-ULEZ Vehicle (12 months pro rata 4/5 business permit) Casual market traders permit for 1 day Casual market traders permit – Diesel Non-ULEZ Vehicle for 1 day

£607.00 £728.00 £5.05 £6.95

Hire of removal vehicle (3.5 hours) with staff – Monday to Friday 8 am to 6.30 pm Hire of removal vehicle (3.5 hours) with staff outside these hours Monday to Friday 8 am to 6.30 pm Hire of removal vehicle (3.5 hours) with staff – Monday to Friday 8 am to 6.30 pm Hire of removal vehicle (3.5 hours) with staff outside these hours Monday to Friday 8 am to 6.30 pm

£597.60 £1227.10 £627.50 £1288.50

4. Further information regarding these charges may be obtained by contacting Mr. David Sole of the London Borough of Southwark Parking Services by emailing david.sole@southwark.gov.uk Dated 27 February 2025

Steven Grayer, Head of Highways

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SPORT 29 Photo by Colin Fleming

Dulwich Harps picnic social day

HARPS SPREAD THE GAELIC BIBLE

Two Dulwich players inspired to use sport as part of GCSE PE

By Ben Rowley DULWICH HARPS, a south London Gaelic football club, made history in 2024 when its men’s team won promotion for the first time to the London Senior Football Championship.

In the same year, the long-standing club – formed in the 1950s – took a major step towards introducing Gaelic games to a new generation by launching its GAA youth section for ages 5-17.

Since hosting an initial taster session, the youth team has grown from 25 participants to 57 registered players, competing in their inaugural season.

Unlike most grassroots sports teams, Dulwich Harps integrates boys and girls together, with 35 male and 22 female players, as well as five children with neurodivergent or physical disabilities, including ADHD, autism, selective mutism, and hearing loss.

While Gaelic football remains deeply rooted in Irish culture, its global footprint

is growing. Thanks to the Irish diaspora, the sport is well-established in America, Asia, and Argentina, where a recently founded club welcomed Dulwich Harps players to train during their school holidays.

For many children in Southwark and beyond, it’s a sport they aren’t familiar with – but that’s exactly what Colin Fleming, Dulwich Harps’ youth coaching officer, wants to change.

Having grown up playing Gaelic, Colin is now in a position to encourage children south of the Thames to take up the sport, with training sessions held at Peckham Rye Park every Saturday at 11am.

“Our training is all play and move based,” Fleming told our paper.

“It’s very basic, we might break them up into groups depending on ability and either work on kicking, hand passing the ball, or soloing.

“We really want them just to get a love for the sport and have that in a nonpressured environment.”

In just under a year, Fleming has

Invincibles bag Khan

By Sports Reporter

AFGHANISTAN SUPERSTAR Rashid Khan and seven-times World Cup winner Meg Lanning have become Oval Invincibles’ first Direct Signings in The Hundred, joining on deadline day as the men’s and women’s teams begin to form their squads.

Khan joins the likes of Gus Atkinson and Sam Billings in the reigning champions’ squad.

Lanning has signed alongside Marizanne Kapp, Alice Capsey and Lauren Winfield-Hill.

Across The Hundred, twelve Direct Signings have been confirmed on deadline day, with the eight teams finalising their retentions and forming their squads ahead of The Hundred Draft on March 12.

The Hundred returns for its fifth year at the Kia Oval on August 9, with the double-header visit of Manchester Originals.

“I am really excited to be joining

Oval Invincibles and calling the Kia Oval my home this August,” Khan said. “It’s great to be joining the back-to-back champions, hopefully I can contribute to more success this season.

“I would also like to say a big thank you to Trent Rockets for the three seasons I spent at Trent Bridge.”

Winfield-Hill said: “I’m stoked to be returning to the Invincibles this summer. I have a huge amount of love for all the players and staff and there is no better place to play than in front of a packed house at the Kia Oval.”

Oval Invincibles Women: Marizanne Kapp, Alice Capsey, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Meg Lanning, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tash Farrant, Ryana Macdonald-Gay, Sophia Smale, Jo Gardner, Rachel Slater.

Oval Invincibles Men: Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Tom Curran, Jordan Cox, Rashid Khan, Saqib Mahmood, Sam Billings, Gus Atkinson, Nathan Sowter, Donovan Ferreira, Tawanda Muyeye.

witnessed the impact that the youth setup launch has had on the young guns he helped develop, highlighting two teenage girls who had never played Gaelic football before.

He said: “Two of the girls have already decided to take GCSE PE and use Gaelic as one of their sports.

“They didn’t even know Gaelic existed a year ago, and now you’re participating in it as part of your GCSEs? “We’re delighted, it’s rewarding for them and for us.”

One of those students is Katie Friel, 14, from East Dulwich.

She said: “It is great to have part of my Irish heritage involved in my GCSE and I have enjoyed introducing the sport to my classmates, most of whom had never heard of Gaelic before.”

The club’s accessibility has played a huge role in its participation rates, with pitch space provided by Southwark Council and all coaching done by volunteers. Dulwich Harps can offer membership for the entire first year for

£25.

Fleming believes staying true to the public is the only way to ensure the sport remains as democratic and open as possible to people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

He said: “You play football and the subs could be as high as £40 a month – we charge you a registration fee and that covers you for the whole year.”

Beyond affordability, parents praise the club for creating a safe and accessible space where children of all backgrounds can express themselves – something rarely found in other sports organisations.

One parent said: “The Saturday morning Gaelic Games are highly valuable as they have enabled my two children to grow their skills and confidence in a lowstakes, friendly environment.

“My daughter is autistic and previously avoided team sports, but the supportive environment has enticed her from the sidelines onto the pitch and opened up a new experience for her.”

With the 2025 season kicking off on March 8, Dulwich Harps are keen to expand participation, recruit more volunteers, and bring Gaelic football into local schools.

The club is also exploring introducing hurling, another sporting mainstay in Ireland. This variety will offer the budding youngsters in London the ability to dabble in the game they enjoy most.

Fleming believes that fostering a fun and non-competitive atmosphere at youth level is key to attracting new players. When players reach eleven, the competitiveness will build, and the pathway to the senior team is in place.

Dulwich Harps welcomes new players and volunteers, as Fleming and his team continue to grow a thriving Gaelic football community in south London.

With athletes like Conor Bradley – a Gaelic footballer turned Liverpool star – proving the sport’s influence extends beyond its own fields, who knows where the next generation of Dulwich Harps players might go?

By Myles Thornton

tenth minute when she flicked the ball over a defender and volleyed into the top corner from 20 yards. Watling picked out the top corer again ten minutes before half-time, this time from a 30-yard free-kick, but Ted Jones’s side were twice pegged back.

Watling completed her hat-trick on 105 minutes after being set up by substitute Shannan Drewe.

Watling made it 4-2 in the second half of

extra-time before academy graduate Kayda Townsend got her first senior goal with an overhead-kick in the 115th minute.

There was still time for more as Townsend scored her second and Millwall’s sixth. Leatherhead grabbed a consolation but then scored an own goal from Drewe’s corner.

Millwall face Fulham in the last four in Rotherhithe this Sunday at 1.30pm.

speculated whether Dubois pulled out to avoid a potential defeat which could have scuppered his chances of a unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk.

Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren outlined what might be next for the Greenwich fighter.

“You have to look at the next move and I think that will be either Usyk in an all-belt affair for the four belts or maybe AJ [Anthony Joshua],” Warren said. “We will have to work that out in

the next week or so.

“We will talk through the options as a team and make a decision.

Everyone’s view is important but the most important view is Daniel’s because he is the one getting into the ring and he makes the ultimate decision.

“He’s very down and disappointed and he feels his moment was robbed.

It happened at the wrong moment for him and cost him a lot of money and cost the fans a really good fight.”

Was a haul as Lionesses make last four CIARA WATLING scored four goals as Millwall Lionesses reached the semi-finals of the L&SERWL League Cup with a thrilling 7-3 victory over Leatherhead Women FC after extratime at St Paul’s last weekend.

Watling scored two brilliant goals in normal time, finding the top corner in the

Dubois ‘down’ - as Lee has suspicions

By John Kelly

DANIEL DUBOIS was “down and disappointed” after pulling out of his scheduled IBF heavyweight contest against Joseph Parker in Riyadh last weekend.

Dubois withdrew just two days before the bout, with Parker stopping late replacement Martin Bakole in the second round.

On the Second Captains podcast in Ireland, Parker’s coach Andy Lee

30 SPORT

THE LIONS SUBDUE PRIDE PARK

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Derby County - 0 Millwall - 1 Coburn 95’ Date: Satuday 22 February 2025 Man of the match: Josh Coburn Referee: Elliot Bell Attendance: 28,321 (1,715)

By Will Scott at Pride Park JOSH COBURN struck late in injurytime to ensure Millwall left Pride Park on Saturday afternoon with all three points, and to redeem an earlier penalty miss.

Coburn was fouled in the 83rd minute, but saw his spot kick saved by the legs of Derby County keeper Jacob Zetterstrom.

Twelve minutes later, he reacted first to tap the ball in after George Saville’s effort was saved.

It was a much needed three points after a 5-1 loss to Plymouth Argyle and two 1-1 draws in the past week had left the Lions without a win in three games.

It was a well-deserved win as well.

Millwall managed to subdue a noisy Pride Park for most of the game, and created far better chances - the Rams failed to register a shot on target while the Lions created 2.4 expected goals (xG), far higher than Derby’s 0.41.

Millwall’s dominance flickered towards the end of the first half and at the start of the second, but the Rams did little with it, and the tides of the match firmly changed once Lions boss Alex Neil emptied his bench and sent on five substitutes, including Coburn, who proved to be the difference maker in only his second appearance since returning from a broken metatarsal.

From the off, Millwall showed their intent.

While Derby started off on the front foot, the Lions grew into the game and started to sustain possession high up the pitch - with their high press proving to be effective.

However, clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Millwall had a penalty shout waved away in the tenth minute after Japhet Tanganga went down in the box replays showed he kicked the floor before he made contact with Matt Clarke.

Tristan Crama was finding plenty of space down the right flank, and in the 27th minute the tall Frenchman had a volley blocked from just inside the box after another one

Josh Coburn atones for penalty miss with an injury-time winner as Millwall walk away with a well-deserved three points

Josh Coburn celebrates after scoring his third goal of the season of his trademark gallops down the wing.

After a poor opening 30 minutes Derby managed to generate momentum of their own - helped by a lengthy break while Ebou Adams was looked at by the physios. LarsJorgen Salvesen was an aerial threat at setpieces and had two headers saved, while Adams bounced a header past the post.

After such a promising start to the half, the Lions had a poor final ten minutes that clearly frustrated Alex Neil on the touchline - the Scotsman barked out instructions but did not look impressed with the product on the pitch.

A bright opening half an hour had been let down by a dour fifteen minutes before half-time - Millwall looked devoid of ideas in possession.

Derby maintained their dominance coming out of the locker room, and nearly broke the deadlock in the 51st minute via

a quick transition but Jake Cooper made an excellently-timed challenge to deny Jerry Yates a clear sight of goal from near the penalty spot.

The Lions were struggling to sustain any sort of pressure, and their job was made even harder when Joe Bryan had to be helped off the pitch with a leg injury in the 58th minute.

Seconds later, the Lions had a chance when Crama’s cross flew across the sixyard box, but Luke Cundle could not get proper contact on the ball and it went out for a throw in.

Derby came closest only minutes later when Matt Clarke’s header from a corner was headed onto the bar by Femi Azeez, and the ball dropped into Jensen’s hands.

Neil turned to his bench with Millwall running out of steam, bringing on Emakhu and Coburn, who proved to be the

Millwall boss pleased to have ‘something to fight for’ EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott ALEX NEIL said his side “want to have something to fight for” as they approach the business end of the season.

Millwall’s 1-0 win against Derby County saw the Lions rise up to twelfth in the table, and they are now six points off the play-off spots with twelve games remaining.

However, the Scotsman is keen not to look too far forward.

“I think what we’re considering is winning the next game and seeing where it takes it,” Neil told our paper.

“What we did speak about prior to Derby, I was saying to the players, we don’t want this season to peter out. Winning that game and keeping ourselves within touching distance in the playoffs with twelve games remaining was vitally

important.

“The last thing they want to do is be in that middle ground where we’re not really going there, we’re not really going there and the games are sort of petering out.

We want to have something to fight for, we want to have something to push for and at the moment we’re chasing that pack of teams ahead of us just now.

“I think we’ve been in pretty good form.

We need to obviously continue to win more games and if we can do that then we’ll see where we’ll land with maybe five, six games to go.”

Millwall’s rise up the table has been powered by their excellent away form under Neil. Since the Scotsman was appointed head coach on December 30, the Lions have won four out of seven of their road games, and drawn a further two.

Prior to Neil’s arrival, Millwall had won one away game all season.

When asked what was behind the improvement, Neil said: “I think our form in general’s been good. I think that’s probably the main contributing factor.

“We’re at the business end of the season, games are very important. If you look at the wins that we have had, we needed those wins at the time we got them. We’re now one loss in nine. So I think we’ve started to find a bit of rhythm in terms of how we play.

“I think that any club that I’ve joined mid-season, I went into Sunderland midseason, I went into Norwich mid-season, so I’ve done a few mid-season ones and what I find with all of them, if there’s ever going to be any sort of rough patches, it’s normally the first few games where you’re trying to get to know the players, you’re try to get to know how things land and what’s the best system and how we should go about games.

“I think we’ve started to find a bit of

difference-makers the Lions needed.

In the 81st minute, Billy Mitchell launched a counter-attack, and Crama put the ball in for Neghli but his shot was turned round the post for a corner.

Only two minutes later, Coburn was tripped in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

The 22-year-old striker stepped up to take it and saw his spot kick saved by Jacob Zetterstrom’s legs after he put it straight down the middle.

Coburn was able to redeem himself only eight minutes later. Emakhu drove down the left flank with the ball, before squaring it for Saville. The midfielder’s shot was saved but fell to Coburn, who tapped the ball in from just yards out.

Pride Park rapidly emptied as Derby failed to muster any sort of late resistance and the final whistle blew to condemn their

side to yet another loss - the Rams have not won a game in their past eleven, while Millwall are rapidly rising up the table and sit only six points out of the top six.

Millwall: 4-2-3-1 – Jensen; Bryan (Sturge 58), Tanganga, Cooper, Crama; Saville, De Norre (Mitchell 78); Neghli, Cundle (Honeyman 65), Azeez (Emakhu 79); Ivanovic (Coburn 65) Unused Substitutes: Roberts, Wallace, Wintle, Harding

Derby: 4-2-3-1 - Zetterstrom; Osborn, Clarke (Forsyth 74), Langas, Nyambe; Ozoh (Roofe 91), Adams; Goudmijn (Harness 66), Yates, Jackson (Barkhuizen 66); Salvesen (Mendez-Laing 66) Unused Substitutes: Vickers, Thompson, Rooney, Armstrong

FA CUP FIFTH ROUND

Millwall have won five of their past eight games rhythm in terms of what that looks like for us. I think the players have been brilliant, in terms of taking information and carrying out what we spoke about on the pitch.

“We’ve got some players coming back from injury, which have helped us. And I think that momentum, that sort of feel good factor when you’re winning games, we can score goals, we’re defensively strong in the majority of the games. When you put all that together that’s where we find ourselves.”

Crystal Palace VS

Millwall Saturday, March 1 (12:15 pm) Possible Millwall starting XI: 4-2-3-1 Jensen; Harding, Tanganga, Cooper, Bryan; De Norre, Saville; Azeez, Cundle, Neghli; Coburn Last meeting: FA Cup Third Round (January 8, 2022): Millwall 1-2 Crystal Palace (Afobe 18’) (Olise 46’, Mateta 58’) Match odds: Crystal Palace 5/11 Draw 7/2 Millwall 8/1

SPORT 31

‘I JUST HOPE TO GIVE MILLWALL FANS STUFF TO BE EXCITED ABOUT’ The Lions’ club-record signing Camiel Neghli on why he moved to south-east London, adjusting to England and his goals for the season.

EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott CAMIEL NEGHLI barely had time to register the prospect of joining Millwall. Only a week after his agent told the forward they were seriously interested in him, Neghli became the Lions’ club record signing and was moving to a country he had always wanted to play in.

The 23-year-old had spent the first half of the season lighting up the Eredivisie for Sparta Rotterdam with spectacular long-range goals, and would now be part of Alex Neil’s new-look, youthful Millwall side that looks reinvigorated heading into the business end of the season - the next step in a career trajectory that Neghli hopes will take him to the Premier League.

Neghli started at FC Twente’s youth set-up before joining De Graafschap’s academy in 2013. He broke into the first team in the 2020-21 season, before

becoming a regular by the 2022-23 campaign.

Sparta Rotterdam picked him up in the summer of 2023, and he spent a year and a half at Het Kasteel before Millwall snapped him up last month.

Joining Millwall allowed Neghli to fulfill one of his career ambitions, playing in England.

“Before every season I sit with my agency and my family and I discuss some points like what I want to be the next step,” Neghli told our paper. “One of them was English football.

“After that I searched for the history of the club, how they play. I think with my qualities, it suits me well. I’m hardworking, but also with my attacking options, I thought I could give the team something extra.

“When I signed, a lot of people I know sent me pictures, they went to the stadium and said it’s a really nice club to visit. It’s a famous club in the Netherlands to visit. “

Neghli was signed for what Millwall described as a club record fee, a tag that can burden players. The former Algerian youth international has not let it affect him.

“It’s not in my mind, but I just always want to play well, Neghli said. “Like when I come from the youth team with my previous club and with Sparta also, I just want to prove to people that I am a good player and that has nothing to do with money.”

Millwall announced the signing of Neghli late on Friday, January 31, and he was introduced to The Den only a day later ahead of their match against Queens Park Rangers, which Millwall would win 2-1.

Neghli was brought onto the pitch before the game and was given a standing ovation by Lions fans, an experience he enjoyed.

“It was really good,” Neghli said. “I came with my family and it was the first time we were there with the fans.

Camiel Neghli has started three games for the Lions, and come off the bench in another “We were there the day before, but the first time with the fans and seeing the game, it was really nice. They made so much noise. It was also a good game of course against QPR, so everything was perfect. We really enjoyed it. It is very different from the Netherlands, like the atmosphere. But it was really good.”

Neghli was the crown jewel of a January spending spree that saw Millwall add eight players to a squad that clicked off the pitch. The winger has integrated well so far.

“Most players talk with me,” Neghli said.

“They have helped me a lot.

“When I first came here, of course Casper, because he also speaks Dutch, said let me know if there’s something.

The club and the players help me and it’s a good group. It’s funny, I just try to chat sometimes, also to improve my English.”

Neghli has also enjoyed working with Millwall boss Alex Neil, who joined the club only a month earlier on December

30.

“It’s been good,” Neghli said. “He’s very clear what he wants and how he wants us to play. So when we are on the pitch, there’s not like that you have questions left.

“Except for the Plymouth game, I think we played all the games pretty well.

Away games are much harder here. So sometimes you have to defend well and launch some attacks. But I think most of the games were pretty good.”

Neghli was handed his debut by Neil in Millwall’s 2-0 win against Leeds United in the FA Cup Fourth Round on February 8, and has gone on to make four appearances for the Lions so far.

From a very small sample size he leads the team in key passes per 90 (1.58) and shots on target per 90 (3.14), and trails only Aidomo Emakhu in shot creating actions per 90 (3.66).

Despite already looking the part, Neghli is not effusive with praise when describing his performances so far.

“I think it’s gone okay,” Neghli said. “I think I did my job defensively - in the last game, especially the first half we were sometimes defending and I tried just to help and do my part in the defensive tactics. And when I have to ball, I just try to create something.

“Sometimes I have to adjust to the physical level. I think also with my teammates we have to get to know each other better. Like when I have the ball what I want from them or what they want from me, so I can play at a faster tempo.”

When asked what the main difference between Dutch and English football is, Neghli said: “ The difference is they like to play here in the duel. That’s the difference in the Netherlands, they wait more. So sometimes you have more time, here when you have the ball they like to come to you. I think that’s the difference.

“I also played a couple games for Algeria and that was also the same, especially like when you play the southern teams, they just want to fight for the ball. So I am used to it, but I have to be better at it. But I think every week you get used to it.”

Neghli is improving every week as gets used to living and playing football in England, and has set modest goals for the rest of the campaign.

“For me this season my goals are to play good games and be important for the team in attack and defense,” Neghli said. “I just hope to give the Millwall fans stuff to be excited about.”

And for the rest of his career?

“To go to the Premier League.”

Casper De Norre: new signings have “adapted well” EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott CASPER DE Norre described Millwall’s squad as “a very good group” and said the Lions’ recent flurry of signings have adapted well.

Casper De Norre has made 38 appearances for Millwall this season

Millwall signed a remarkable eight players during the January transfer window, five of whom have gone on to make their first-team debut.

The Belgian midfielder thinks they have integrated smoothly.

“It’s been fine actually,” De Norre told our paper. “They almost all came in at the same time, right at the end there were four or five guys.

“Obviously it takes a little bit of time to adjust to so many new faces, but after a week or two it’s fine again. We’ve been a

lot in the building with all those games.

Everyone’s now part of the group. I think we’re a very good group who’s very welcoming to everybody. So they’ve all adapted well and I think it’s been a positive that they’ve come in.”

One player who De Norre was able to help in particular was club-record signing Camiel Neghli, who joined from Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam.

While Neghli can speak English well, it helped to have another native Dutch speaker in the squad.

“I had the same thing when I came here, Zian [Flemming] was here and he tried to help me because it’s still a little bit easier when you can talk to someone in your own language to sort things out and make everything clear,” De Norre said.

“He came in for the QPR game and I

immediately went to him and said to him, if there’s anything you need with a bank or a car or I don’t know what, just ask me and I will try and help you out.

I helped him a little bit with getting a car and stuff, but in the end I just gave him a number or brochure he can look through.

“I’ve been through it myself. I know it’s not easy when you’ve always lived in a country and then you have to come to a new country and everything’s brand new. So I tried to help him and I think he was happy with it.”

The signings have started to bear fruit.

Millwall won one of the nine games prior to Neil’s appointment. They have now won five of their past nine and only lost once.

“Around Christmas there was a lot of uncertainty and everyone tries to do

their best but in the end if you are not picking up results, it’s always a little bit tough and there’s so many games,” De Norre said. “Then we had a little bit of time after Sheffield Wednesday where we could work a little bit on things and get some ideas in and then it’s basically just that one win that we needed to just stir it around.

“I think that happened at Luton and then you can see confidence growing and then there was another win afterwards and then another win afterwards. It’s just all about confidence I think. Especially when you have so many games you can win a few then confidence is growing, you go into the next game feeling good. We also got the ideas and how we want to play and we’ve been performing better and better and understanding them better and better.”

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

HARPS SPREAD THE GAELIC BIBLE

PAGE 29

‘LET’S GO ATTACK THE GAME’

EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott ALEX NEIL indicated that Joe Bryan would likely be available for Millwall’s FA Cup Fifth Round tie at Crystal Palace this Saturday.

Lions aiming to raid Eagles’ nest for place in FA Cup quarter-finals EXCLUSIVE

By Will Scott MILLWALL BOSS Alex Neil wants his side to “attack” their FA Cup Fifth Round tie with Crystal Palace this weekend.

The Lions comfortably defeated Dagenham & Redbridge 3-0 in the Third Round at The Den, before stunning Championship league-leaders Leeds United 2-0 at Elland Road to set up a trip to face their south London rivals at Selhurst Park, who are twelfth in the

Premier League.

“It’s an important game because it’s a local rivalry,” Neil told our paper.

“It’s an important game because it’s an important game to our fans, which means it’s an important game to me.

“So the players will be fully aware of the importance of the match. They’ll be looking forward to it. It’s an opportunity for us to pit ourselves against a good Premier League side.

“There’s nothing not to like about the game. It’s a cracking game for us because it’s a one-off hit, we can go and attack it. There’s no league points at

Joe Bryan set to be available for Palace clash

Millwall have won four out of their seven away games under Alex Neil

stake. It’s not an accumulation over a season, it’s just a one-off game. Let’s go attack the game and see where it goes.”

Millwall have not played a Premier League side since losing 2-1 to the Eagles in the FA Cup Third Round on January 8, 2022.

When asked how he plans to motivate his side ahead of a fixture in which they are likely to be underdogs, Neil said: “I don’t try and dial it down for the players.

Like I said, I think it’s an important game for the fans. So I think the players need to be fully aware of that, which they will be. I think they need to play

with emotion, but controlled emotion, if that makes sense.

“I think that tactically I’ll have a look at Palace. I’m going to watch them tonight [Tuesday, February 25] against Aston Villa. By the time we play them, the lads will be well versed in what we’re up against. I think the difficulty we’ve always got with the cup is normally there’s a few changes made so we are not in control of that, but we are in control of how we play and what we do. So we’ll be looking forward to the game, we’re in good form and we’ll go out with confidence.”

The left-back limped off during the second half of the Lions’ 1-0 win against Derby County last weekend with a cut on his foot following a heavy tackle by Ryan Nyambe. Neil described it as a “poor challenge” after the match and suggested Nyambe may have deserved a red card.

While Bryan had to be helped off the pitch by physios, Neil said in his post-match press conference that he did not believe the 31-yearold had suffered any structural damage. Speaking to our paper on Tuesday, he confirmed that the exFulham defender was set to return to training shortly.

“I think Joe will be okay,” Neil said. “He’s not going to train today probably, but I think by the later part of the week he should be back in training. He should be fine. I believe he will be available.”

However, Millwall will have to cope without the services of January signings Aaron Connolly and Tristan Crama, both of whom are cup-tied. Connolly missed the trip to Derby with nerve pain in his back the day before the match.

Forward Ra’ees BanguraWilliams was also absent from the Lions’ match-day squad last Saturday after sustaining an injury against Preston North End on February 18, but Neil is hopeful he will be fit for the trip to Selhurst Park.

Joe Bryan has made 35 appearances for Millwall this season THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%