Southwark News - June 12th 2025

MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

Issue 1741

Est: 1987

EXCLUSIVE

See pages 6-7

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June 12 2025

southwarknews.co.uk

SAV CALLS TIME WHO WILL BE THE NEXT COUNCIL See page 9 LEADER?

WHERE IS MP WITH HER OFFICE SEARCH?

UP IT GOES

EXCLUSIVE

See page 4

More of South London’s largest council estate to come down as 26-storey towers get approval See page 4

Be the Teacher

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2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-17 2-17 Pages OPINION OPINION Pages 18-19 Pages 18-19 ARTS ARTS Page 20 Page 20 EVENTS EVENTS Page 21 Page 21 HISTORY Page 22 HISTORY Pages 22-23 PROPERTY Page 23 CLASSIFIED / ANNOUNCEMENTS CLASSIFIED Page 24 Page 22 PUBLIC PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICES Pages 25-28 Pages 24-28 SPORT Pages 29-32

THOUSANDS OF PARENTS IN SOUTHWARK ISSUED WITH SCREEN TIME LIMITS FOR THEIR CHILDREN

By Issy Clarke

UK legislators have been slower to act.

In March MPs considered, but ultimately watered down, a bill which would have banned smartphones from all schools across England.

In an exclusive interview with the News earlier this year, Baxter expressed concern that his efforts to curb smartphone usage could be undermined by the school’s lack of control over children’s screen time while at home.

TWENTY-ONE SOUTHWARK schools have sent a letter to thousands of families across the borough urging them to restrict their children’s screen time at home.

The coalition of headteachers, including the City of London Academy in Bermondsey head Mike Baxter, has issued recommended age-specific limits on the number of hours parents should allow their children to spend looking at screens while at home.

The letter, which has been sent out to parents of 11,000 children across the borough today, also urges parents to restrict their own screen time while in front of their children, promising that staff in schools will do the same.

The schools have also pledged that screenbased homework tasks will be reduced, and only used where there is a “clear educational benefit”.

Baxter insisted that the recommendations were “not an attack on modern parenting… but a supportive re-re-clarification as to what we must collectively do to give our children the best start in life.”

Last year, Baxter spearheaded a plan to get eighteen schools in Southwark to to ban smartphones for pupils before Year 10.

From September 2026, Year 7 pupils at

THE SUGGESTED DAILY MINUTES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

City of London Academy will no longer be allowed to bring a smartphone inside the school gates, with parents of incoming children urged to swap out iPhones for old

school ‘brick’ phones. The ban will roll over each year, until eventually every age group before Year 10 is smartphone-free in three years’ time.

By Issy Clarke

for free school meals if their household income is less than £7,400 per year, meaning hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty have been unable to access free school meals.

It is hoped the policy will lift 100,000 children out of poverty, as well as lead to a number of additional positive outcomes including higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes.

The announcement comes ahead of a ten-year child poverty plan prepared by a government taskforce, set to be published later this year.

Following the announcement, Councillor

The policy was adopted by Southwark Council 10 years ago, and was expanded last year to cover all secondary school in the borough on universal credit.

The nationwide implementation of the programme means that from September 2026, more than 500,000 children will receive a free nutritious meal every school day.

Since 2018, children have only been eligible

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MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

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June 5 2025

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Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporters: Issy Clarke, Evie Flynn Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Will Scott Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin 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

‘FORCED ON TO MUZZA REVEALS NEXT STEP THE STREETS’ INVESTIGATION:

This man would rather sleep rough than in his flooded flat after six month wait See page 4

MY WORK KIER IS DONE

See pages 14-15

Council leader leader Kieron Williams step stepss down down - see page 2

THE INSIDE STORY OF CHARLOTTE SHARMAN SCHOOL’S CLOSURE See page 4

See page 4

ARTISTS OF MORLEY

•

Reception to Year 2: 2.5 hours

• • •

2 years old to Reception: 2 hours Year 3 to Year 5: 3 hours Year 6 to Year 9: 4 hours

Year 10 to Year 11: 5 hours

Ten years on, government is now following Southwark Council’s lead on free school meals THE GOVERNMENT has widened a scheme providing free school meals for primary school children to all families receiving Universal Credit.

Est: 1987

18 months to 2 years old: 1 hour

•

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

Issue 1740

•

SE5 FAVOURITE IS BACK ON THE GREEN

JUNE––JULY 2025

A SERIES OF INSPIRING SHOWS Morley Gallery, 61 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7HT

Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Labour, said:”This fantastic news shows the difference a Labour government can make for our residents’ lives. Southwark Labour have led the way for over ten years with our free healthy school meal programme, which we were able to expand last year thanks to funding from Sadiq Khan.

“We argued again and again to Tory and Lib Dem governments that free school meals are a powerful tool for tackling poverty, but they did not listen. Now we have a Labour government and real change is being made to the lives of kids across Southwark, London and our country.”

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

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

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

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

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NEWS 3

THERE IS A NEW ERA OF WOMEN’S CRICKET AT THE OVAL THIS SUMMER Tilly CorteenColeman

Surrey cricket whole team

By Evie Flynn IF YOU’VE ever eyed up the famous Kia Oval for a sun-soaked day of sport in South London, there’s even more to look forward to this summer. For the first time in its history, Surrey has launched a fully professional women’s team, marking a major milestone for cricket in the capital.

Women’s cricket at this historic ground has been revolutionised with the addition of a brand-new professional women’s squad led by captain Bryony Smith, bringing fresh talent and a whole new energy.

The Kia Oval is Surrey Cricket Club’s home ground and is known as ‘The Home of T20 Cricket’, where 100,000 descend on South London throughout June and July.

The team will play in a series of T20 double headers and standalone matches against county teams from all over the country, as part of the Vitality T20 Blast.

The 2025 season got off to a strong start with an away win against Somerset on 30th May. The momentum continued with their first double header appearance on 5th June, taking home the win with an impressive 32run victory over Hampshire..

We spoke to the 29-year-old Vice

Tash Farrant Captain, Tash Farrant, who got her debut wicket in Thursday’s match.

Her cricket journey began at just eight-years-old, playing for the boy’s teams throughout her schooling in Kent.

Tash currently plays for the Oval Invincibles and England, and has made numerous international appearances.

“The Oval definitely feels like my home ground,” Tash told us, “I think it’s the best ground in the world, without fail.”

Although women’s cricket isn’t new

to the Oval, with the Oval Invincibles and The South East Stars playing there over the years, this season marks a transformation in the world of women’s cricket.

“The girls that have played for Surrey before have definitely laid the foundations for us.” Tash said. “Although, it definitely is a new era and it’s great to be one single club with the lads as well.”

Tash reminisced on the transformational journey women’s

cricket has had throughout her career, with the ECB first providing professional contracts to just eighteen women’s England players in 2014.

She said: “It’s honestly hard to put into words the change in women’s cricket, especially within the last five or ten years. It’s incredible and it’s definitely a fast-growing sport.”

Every player in the new squad brings their own story woven to the Surrey badge and the lineup features exciting names in the world of cricket.

Captain Bryony Smith Captain, who has played for Surrey since she was nine, became the first professional signing of this new era. She’s joined by the likes of 17-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman, the youngest player to debut in The Hundred and is certainly one to watch.

“We’ve got an eclectic mix of players,” said Tash. “We really pride ourselves on making sure everyone can be themselves.

“We’re a very high performing team and we want to be the highest performing side in the country in women’s Tier 1 Cricket.”

Tash urged local fans and to support the women’s fixtures throughout summer.

Match day at the Oval is exciting and budget friendly, with food stands,

mascots and interval entertainment.

For a standalone women’s match, tickets are priced at £10 for adults and just £1 for under 16s.

For Double Header days, £30 per ticket gains you access to both the Women’s and Men’s matches.

“We’re as talented as the boys but obviously they are very different games,” Tash added.

“It’s really important to us that people come down to our standalone games at the Kia Oval as well and even if you don’t love cricket, it’s just a great day out.”

The Surrey Women’s team’s next appearances at the Kia Oval: • Wednesday 18th June 2pmSurrey Women V Lancashire • Sunday 6th July 12pmSurrey Women V Essex • Sunday 13th July 11amSurrey Women V Somerset • Friday 18th July 6:30pmSurrey Women V Birmingham Bears • Sunday 27th July 12:30pmWomen’s Finals Day

To book tickets to see the women play: For those wanting to get involved in cricket in the area, visit: www.surreycricketfoundation.org/

4 NEWS

DEMOLITION OF PART OF THE AYLESBURY ESTATE FOR REDEVELOPMENT APPROVED WITH PLANS FOR 640 FLATS EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke COUNCILLORS HAVE rubberstamped the demolition of part of the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth to make way for a developer’s plans to construct 640 new homes.

The Aylesbury Estate is in the middle of a 20-year regeneration programme which began in 2010

© Southwark Council

Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) is developing the sprawling Walworth estate, and received permission on Thursday, 4 June for its plans to build 640 flats across five buildings, including a 26-storey tower on the corner of Albany Street and Thurlow Road.

50 per cent of ‘habitable rooms’ in the development - which excludes ‘functional’ areas such as kitchens and bathrooms - will be set at affordable rents, split between 173 set at social rents and 89 intermediate.

262 of the units, around 40 per cent of the development, will be set at affordable rents, down from 315 in the existing estate - a net loss of 53 homes.

The majority of units – 84 per cent – will be one and two-bedroom flats. 49 fourbedroom homes in the development will be set at affordable rents, as well as 11 five-bedroom homes.

During the meeting, an objector from local housing campaign group Fight4Aylesbury called on councillors to reject the planning application, telling the committee: “(The development) entails a net loss of social housing, it fails to factor in embodied carbon, and it fails to consider the refurbishment option”, and called on the committee to “consider an alternative option to demolition”.

The majority of units – 84 per cent – will be one and two-bedroom flats. 49 fourbedroom homes in the development will be set at affordable rents, as well as 11 five-bedroom homes.

During the meeting, an objector from local housing campaign group Fight4Aylesbury called on councillors to reject the planning application, telling the

View of the tower from Burgess Park committee: “(The development) entails a net loss of social housing, it fails to factor in embodied carbon, and it fails to consider the refurbishment option”, and called on the committee to “consider an alternative option to demolition”.

She added: “I know residents from my ward who are in temporary accommodation in Aylesbury have encountered structural issues.”

An objector, Luke Plowden, replied: “There is no evidence behind the report’s claim that the building is unviable. I think that what has happened is that the building has not been maintained. Retrofit and refurbishment is a much cheaper, more effective option than demolition - it is cheaper and saves a huge amount of carbon.”

Southwark Council granted NHG outline planning permission to demolish and redevelop the 2,700-apartment council estate in 2015.

In January 2023, the second phase

of the estate’s redevelopment (Phase 2b) received a setback after Aylesbury resident Aysen Dennis took NHG to court and won over the developer’s insertion of the word ‘severable’ into its original planning permission.

Ayesn’s lawyers claimed this would have allowed the developer to make changes to the planning application without reapplying for permission. The lawyers said this amendment allowed NHG to submit plans to build a 26-storey tower on Phase 2B – taller than what was originally agreed.

In the aftermath of the legal challenge, the developer went back to the drawing board and introduced a new set of plans - including an increase in the number of new flats from 614 to 640, and the number of the cheapest social rent homes upped from 163 to 173.

Cllr Kieron Williams, leader of Southwark Council, said: “I’m delighted to see these new high-quality, safe, and warm

homes given the green light to go ahead on the Aylesbury Estate. It is vital that the estate renewal continues to progress, delivering affordable, decent housing and green spaces for Southwark residents, including existing Aylesbury residents and those on our housing waiting list.

“This next phase of the renewal includes the delivery of 173 much-needed social rent homes, including four and five bedroom properties which will be transformative for local families. We will continue to work closely with Notting Hill Genesis going forward as these homes get built.

“Aylesbury residents are already

benefiting from new facilities on the estate including a new community centre, health centre and library, and the 581 new council homes on the First Development Site. I look forward to seeing Phase 2b being delivered, with all of the benefits it will bring for local people.”

Matthew Cornwall-Jones, chief homes officer at Notting Hill Genesis, said: “Securing planning approval for Phase 2b is a significant milestone in the regeneration of the Aylesbury estate. We remain committed to delivering highquality, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of local families.

“This phase will not only provide muchneeded affordable housing but also create vibrant public spaces, ensuring Aylesbury is a place where everyone feels welcome.

We look forward to continuing our work with Southwark and the wider community to bring this vision to life.”

‘KENT COUNTY LINES DRUG DEALER’ FROM BERMONDSEY JAILED

By Kevin Quinn A DRUG dealer from Bermondsey, who supplied drugs in Kent claimed his luxurious lifestyle was funded by ‘hairdressing and managing musicians’.

Babutunde Ososipewas, 31, caught with £10,000 he had actually earned dealing cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, Valium, Xanadol, and ecstasy pills across the market town of Tonbridge for eight months.

Kent Police said he was part of county lines operation that targeted drug users through WhatsApp marketing messages between March and November 2024.

He was arrested in a joint effort between Kent Police and the Metropolitan Police during an early morning raid on

November 29, where officers found cash and a diamond necklace stashed in a shoe.

They also discovered a knife hidden in the dealer’s laundry basket, as well as multiple mobile phones, a bullet, diamond-encrusted ring and Louis Vuitton bag.

Ososipe denied his involvement and alleged his friends had lent him the highend accessories so he could ‘look good in the gym’ on his birthday.

He was later charged with five counts of being concerned in the supply of drugs and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

He was later sentenced to five years and ten months’ behind bars at the same court on Monday, June 2.

Investigation officer, Dc Chloe Chapman

of Kent Police, said Ososipe’s ‘creative’ explanations could not account for the incriminating evidence. She said: “Ososipe attempted several creative explanations to account for incriminating evidence.

“He claimed money was earned through legitimate business endeavours or gifted to him by a family member.

“He alleged the designer bag and highvalue diamond jewellery was lent to him by a local artist and friend so he could look good.

“His explanations were later proven to be fictitious. The lengthy sentence imposed by the judge is reflective of his role in the supply chain.

“He claimed money was earned through legitimate business endeavours or gifted to him by a family member.”

© Kent Police

He claimed Louis Vuitton bag and high-end accessories were ‘gifted by friends so he could look good in the gym’

Babutunde Ososipewas

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6 NEWS EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke NEXT MONTH will mark a year since Miatta Fahnbulleh swept to victory in Peckham. For months, we has been chasing the MP for an update on her hunt for a constituency office. This week we finally received a response.

The MP told us she was still in the process of searching for a permanent base, adding that financial and security constraints had left her “without huge room for manoeuvre”.

Fahnbulleh is currently working from a shared temporary office space on Rye Lane, and carries out regular coffee mornings and ‘roaming surgeries’ hosted in venues across Peckham.

All London MPs have an office budget of £39,560, but despite being in post for nearly a year and making opening a constituency office a core pledge when she stood as a candidate to take over from Harriet Harman, she says she cannot find one, something a rival to the post called ‘laughable’.

As her search continues, the MP said: “I am confident that the lack of a physical office hasn’t had an impact on the outreach and support we are providing to constituents - and that is certainly the feedback I have received. If you have any evidence to the contrary, I would be really keen to see this.”

A constituency office is a space where MPs can hold surgeries and meet with constituents to discuss casework. MPs are not required to open a constituency office - they can communicate with constituents over the phone or via email. However, pressure group Unlock Democracy says constituency offices are “invaluable” for those who require face-to-face contact.

MP for Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Neil Coyle hosts surgeries in his office every Friday, which he said generally attract “between 20 and 25 constituents”. Throughout the week, he estimates that a further 25 people will normally drop in to discuss an issue with Coyle or a member of his team.

When asked if he felt not having an office would impede his ability to provide support to his constituents, Coyle replied, “Of course. Ten years in, I can’t imagine being able to do my role without having an office.”

Helen Hayes, who represents Dulwich and West Norwood, does not publicly advertise her MP surgeries, instead hosting “drop-in sessions” around her constituency, with constituents interested in attending encouraged to email her office ahead of time. Ellie Reeves, MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich, does have a local office, but constituents must book in advance.

Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, did not respond to our request for comment.

We also tried ringing Eshalomi using the contact number advertised on her House of Commons webpage three times, but were directed straight to voicemail on each occasion.

But while Fahnbulleh is not the only one of Southwark’s MPs to lack a bricks-and-mortar constituency office, she is unique in placing the establishment of a permanent base at the heart of her election bid.

During the July 2024 election campaign, Fahnbulleh drew up a list of four key pledges, with the commitment to establish a local office

PECKHAM MP MIATTA FAHNBULLEH SAYS SHE IS STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND A CONSTITUENCY OFFICE IN THE AREA ON A £39,560 A YEAR BUDGET taking top billing.

The promise read: “I will open a constituency office so we have a hub in the community, hold regular surgeries and work with the Council, community groups, trade unions and local members to deliver change locally.”

We previously reported that Fahnbulleh made finding a constituency office a priority as early as 2022 when she was first selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Peckham.

Her promise tapped into lingering dissatisfaction with Harriet Harman, MP for Peckham and Camberwell between 1982 and 2016, who did not have a local office, and avoided giving a clear answer when Southwark News asked why, and for how long, this had been the case.

Fahnbulleh is not alone in her struggle to find suitable premises for her constituency operations - other newly elected MPs across the country have faced similair difficulties, blamed a combination of high rents and stringent security requirements.

The Labour party does not have an official policy requiring new MPs to open constituency offices, partly due to the considerable difficulty encountered by many representatives seeking to identify a secure,

MP Neil Coyle ‘s office was pelted with eggs accessible location.

As of 2025/26, MPs in London are given £39,560 a year by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) to cover the cost of running an office, which extends beyond rent. Those representing constituencies outside of London receive £35,930 a year.

Claire Sheppard, the Green party candidate who came second in the

parliamentary contest for Peckham last July, said: “The idea that you can’t find an office in Peckham for less than £39,000 a year is laughable.”

Sheppard earmarked 151 Rye Lane as a potential space when she was running to be the area’s MP - a firstfloor office unit currently listed at £22,000 a year on Rightmove.

We asked Fahnbulleh if she had looked into this space, and were told

it had been explored as a potential venue, but that “the rent plus running costs and business rates were well above what’s affordable within the IPSA budget. The same was true for a similar property further up Rye Lane.”

We also submitted an enquiry to Peckham Levels, a coworking and performance venue on Rye Lane, and we were given details of five private offices costing less than £24,000 a

Photo by Image provided by Miatta Fahnbulleh

Miatta Fahnbulleh out and about in her Peckham constituency

year.

Fahnbulelh said she had “looked at spaces in Peckham Levels, but unfortunately these didn’t meet the necessary requirements in terms of accessibility, security or confidentiality”.

“I completely understand the security concerns” Claire Sheppard told us. “The polarisation of the political discourse in recent years

does make it more nerve-wracking to face the public - but I think [engaging with voters] is the most important job a constituency MP can do.”

Fahnbulleh did share that her team were “far along in the process with one potential space, and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to finalise an agreement soon, but until that’s confirmed, I’m not in a position to share the details publicly.”

The security of MPs has become a particularly potent concern in recent years. In 2016, Labour MP for Batley and Spenn, Jo Cox, was brutally murdered outside a library where she was about to hold a constituency surgery. In 2021, the Conservative MP David Amess was fatally stabbed while holding an MP surgery in his constituency of Southend in Essex.

Between 2017 and 2018 the

number of crimes reported by MPs to the police increased by 126 per cent, rising from 151 to 342. In its 2022-23 annual report, the House of Commons assessed that “the threat to MPs has increased and remains substantial.”

These threats can range from the potentially life-threatening - Mike Freer, the former Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, stood down last July after an arson attack on his office - to the seemingly trivial.

In 2023, Bermondsey MP Neil Coyle issued a call-out on X for help in tracking down the “Gollum lookalike” who pelted his Jamaica Road office with eggs.

But despite Coyle’s amusing spin on the episode, it veiled his more serious concerns about the implications of the attack on his ability to maintain a visible community presence.

He told us at the time: “Local people know they can see me – and I try to be as accessible and open as possible, but attacks like this force the security services, MPs and the police to limit access.”

IPSA has a set of guidelines to help MPs conduct their hunt for an office. They are advised to opt for offices on the first or second floor of a building, or within shopping centres or managed office blocks with existing security measures. Those renting out ground-floor premises are encouraged to install retractable steel shutters.

An IPSA spokesperson added MPs were also advised to explore “more affordable spaces away from the High Street, opting to hire venues for engagement with constituents, or renting or subletting from their local party.”

We asked Southwark Council if there had been any discussions with Fahnbulleh’s team about using space within the council’s Tooley Street buildings as a temporary constituency office, and if it owned buildings in Peckham which could be leased to the MP. After sending four separate emails and almost a month after submitting our initial enquiry, we were told by a spokesperson that the council did not have a comment on whether it had been approached about a possible Peckham MP office.

We have also recently learnt that Southwark’s MPs must pay business rates on their offices. Coyle told us he was moving to a smaller office on Jamaica Road after allegedly losing a long-running fight with the council to exempt his office from the council’s attempted application of business rates.

Business rates are listed as an “allowable cost” which MPs can claim back as part of their IPSA budget.

A Southwark Council spokesperson said: “MPs’ offices are treated in the same way as any other office under business rate regulations, which are set nationally.

“Many MPs qualify for business rate relief as they can apply for ‘small business’ relief. This is based on the size of their office.”

An IPSA Spokesperson said: “IPSA supports MPs in finding suitable constituency offices, including offering advice on how to secure properties which fit within their budgets.

“This could include looking at more affordable spaces away from the High Street, opting to hire venues for engagement with constituents, or renting or subletting from their local party – all while meeting the necessary requirements under our

NEWS 7 Scheme.

“IPSA reviews MPs’ office costs budget every year, taking into account economic indicators and market information, before setting an annual budget which ensures each MP can access an appropriate level of funding.”

A London Labour spokesperson said: “Constituency offices are a matter for individual MPs, who are required to operate within the regulations set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the independent body that oversees MPs’ expenses and sets an MP’s budget.

“Miatta’s team is actively working alongside IPSA to secure a constituency office that serves the needs of residents within the expenses framework set by IPSA. In the meantime, Miatta and her team are accessible to constituents who require support, both over email and at regular surgeries and coffee mornings, which are held both virtually and roaming within the community.”

In response to our query, Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “I’m actively working to secure a permanent constituency office in the constituency that sits within the IPSA budget I’m allocated. My total annual budget for office space, utility and other bills, business rates, all office equipment, print, communications, events, space hire for community engagement is £39,000. So that doesn’t give me huge room for manoeuvre.

“We’re far along in the process with one potential space, and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to finalise an agreement soon, but until that’s confirmed, I’m not in a position to share the details publicly.

“In the meantime, I’ve made sure I’m accessible to residents across the constituency. We currently share a temporary office space on Rye Lane, and my team and I conduct multiple community visits every week, as documented on my social media channels.

“We are holding roaming surgeries at our food banks, community centres and with TRAs. We are local events and dropping into coffee mornings across the area to pick up casework. I also run regular advice surgeries with Citizens Advice at Pecan and offer virtual appointments upon request.

“My contact details — including phone and email — are publicly available online for anyone who needs support. So I am confident that the lack of a physical office hasn’t had an impact on the outreach and support we are providing to constituents - and that is certainly the feedback I have received. If you have any evidence to the contrary, I would be really keen to see this.

“On the locations you mentioned.

We did view 151 Rye Lane, but the rent plus running costs and business rates was well above what’s affordable within the IPSA budget.

The same was true for a similar property further up Rye Lane. We’ve also looked at spaces in Peckham Levels, but unfortunately, they didn’t meet the necessary requirements in terms of accessibility, security or confidentiality.

“I understand the importance of having a permanent office at the heart of the community, and I’m committed to getting this right, ensuring it’s genuinely fit for purpose and serves the local people well.”

8 NEWS

CRACKDOWN ON FARE DODGERS AS NEW TV SERIES TRACES OFFICERS ON THE GROUND

By Issy Clarke

of professional investigators who keep tabs on persistent fare-dodgers who manage to slip through the net, and pass AS FARE evasion on public on intelligence to the officers working transport continues to spiral, on the ground who can to catch them TfL has deployed a network of red-handed. professional investigators and The series – Fare Dodgers: At War with plain-clothes officers to crack the Law – traces officers on the ground down on repeat offenders. as they bring repeated offenders to task.

Around 500 uniformed ‘revenue The teams have managed to slash fare control officers’ work alongside an evasion from 3.8 per cent to 3.4 per cent undisclosed number of plain-clothes in just a year – compared to the 13 per officers employed by TfL to patrol cent rate on New York’s subways. the entire network, including the The first episode depicts TfL officers Underground, Overground, buses, DLR, at Surrey Quays station apprehending a Trams and the Elizabeth Line. man who had been repeatedly using an If they catch sight of a passenger expired bank card to travel. attempting to evade the tube fare, they The bank card appeared as valid have the power to demand proof of a on TfL’s systems because payment valid Oyster Card, ticket or bank card.

Flyer_A5.pdf 1 12/10/2021 Working in the background is a force22:35 methods are only verified at the end of

each day when total fares are calculated and payments are extracted.

This meant when TfL tried to pull the amount owed from the card, it was unable to do so – because the bank balance was empty.

Plain-clothes officers approached the man as he exited the ticket gates at Surrey Quays station using the dodgy bank card.

Caught in the act, he attempts to exonerate himself, insisting: “It’s not mine – I found it.” But, after consulting TfL’s internal systems, inspectors found the man had been using the card to travel for more than a year.

Later on, the man signed a document in which he admitted to evading fares on over 500 journeys, accruing £3,573 in unpaid charges.

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This was just one of the egregious tactics used by bold fare evaders attempting to cheat the system – an earlier episode shows a man who repeatedly used his female relative’s Freedom Pass more than 200 times.

The Freedom Pass exempts Londoners over 66 from the tube fare, and also includes those with certain disabilities or who are told by the DVLA they cannot drive.

Officers used ITAP to link the man’s journeys to the pass, and eventually caught him in the act at Preston Road station on the Metropolitan Line.

The man tried to hide the pass from investigators, protesting: “Which pass? I don’t have any pass? Only my card.”

After a back-and-forth with officers, he was told his failure to own up would

lead his case to be passed onto British Transport Police as fraud.

The case was ultimately handed over to prosecutors, who took responsibility for reclaiming £1,000 in avoided tube fines.

ITAP (Irregular Travel Analysis Platform) is the system used by TfL officers to capture fare evasion and revenue loss based on patterns in ticketing and passenger data.

It tracks Oyster and Contactless payments to build up a picture of where fare-evaders travel – so officers can be in the right place at the right time to pounce.

In the last year, the system has reimbursed TfL with £400,000 of unpaid fares after taking 360 persistent offenders to court.

NEWS 9 EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke LAST WEEK, Kieron Williams announced his shock resignation as the leader of Southwark Council, firing the starting gun in the race for the top job.

Despite facing recent challenges, particularly over the council’s management of its social housing stock, very few saw the resignation of the Southwark Labour leader coming after just five years in the job - compared to the decade-long stint of his predecessor, Peter John.

Now, all eyes are on the runners and riders who might seek to replace him.

The Labour Group’s new leader will be chosen during a closed-door meeting of the Labour Group on June 30th, before being formally unveiled at Southwark’s Council Assembly on Wednesday, 9 July.

So who are the Labour councillors with eyes on Southwark Council’s ultimate prize?

WHO ARE THE RUNNERS AND RIDERS VYING TO BECOME SOUTHWARK COUNCIL’S NEXT LEADER? James McAsh

Evelyn Akoto

Sarah King

Jasmine Ali

Stephanie Cryan

Victoria Mills

CLLR JAMES MCASH - GOOSE GREEN

One of Southwark Labour’s more high-profile councillors, James McAsh is one of the frontrunners in the race to replace Kieron Williams. McAsh challenged Williams for the leadership last year, narrowly losing out by a handful of votes.

McAsh was first elected to represent Goose Green ward in 2018 and took on the Regeneration and Planning portfolio before taking on his current position as the Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste in 2022. The 32-year-old is a primary school teacher in Brixton and an elected officer for the Lambeth branch of the National Education Union.

Seen as to the left of the party, McAsh is regarded as a strong communicator and a practical politician, with a cohesive, ambitious vision for what Southwark could look like under his leadership.

CLLR EVELYN AKOTO OLD KENT ROAD

The politically ambitious Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing is another contender at the forefront of the race. Akoto has been a councillor representing the Old Kent Road ward since 2014, and was appointed to the cabinet in 2018. If elected, Akoto would become the council’s first female leader in 23 years and the first ever black woman to hold the post.

She previously ran to be the MP for the Tory safe seat of South West Wiltshire in July 2024, winning 26.8 per cent of the vote share and losing to the incumbent, Andrew Murrison.

Prior to that, she was shortlisted to be Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Peckham replacing Harriet Harman in 2022 - with current MP Miatta Fahnbulleh ultimately seizing the nomination.

Born in Ghana, Akoto moved to the UK with her parents at the age of six and grew up on the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth. Akoto has said previously that her “tough start to life” helped to shape her politics. Widely regarded as an effective and pragmatic politician, Akoto’s achievements have included setting up the council’s first food insecurity strategy for struggling families and spearheading an awardwinning review of youth services.

An able communicator with a strong record of delivery while serving in the cabinet, Akoto is a strong candidate for the leadership - but may not share the shrewdness of political judgement of some of her rivals such as McAsh.

CLLR SARAH KING - CHAMPION HILL

Cllr Sarah King joined Southwark Council representing Champion Hill, Camberwell in 2014. She served as the Chief Whip of the Labour Group from 2015, and since February 2024 has been in charge of one of the council’s most challenging and important briefs as the Cabinet Member for Council Homes.

Southwark is the largest social housing landlord in the capital, with more than 18,000 people on the waiting list for a new home, and the local authority has set itself the ambitious target of constructing 40,000 new homes by 2036. King’s performance as leader of the struggling housing department has earned her plaudits from her colleagues as a competent, capable politician.

King is also the co-owner and partner at Connect Group Communications, a

political communications agency, where she specialises in housing and the built environment. Her depth of knowledge of housing and outside experience in a leadership role are qualifying attributes, combining the best qualities of the other candidates in the race. But where King’s record of competence gives her a leg up in the contest, she is less well known as an ‘ideas’ politician, which could hold her back.

has served as the Cabinet Member for Children and Refugees since 2018, taking on the deputy leadership in 2020.

Cllr Ali is known for her buoyant, expansive political vision and strong communicative skills - but while not short of ideas and energy, Ali could be vulnerable to the accusation that she lacks the necessary level of seriousness for the job.

The energetic, long-serving councillor for Rye Lane ward and Southwark’s Deputy Leader is another figure within the party understood to be in the running for the top job. Jasmine Ali, a popular and well-known member of the Labour Group, was first elected in 2014 and

Long-serving councillor Stephanie Cryan has represented Rotherhithe since 2014 and is the council’s lead on Equalities, Democracy & Finance.

She has also previously served as the Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Housing and Local Economy.

CLLR JASMINE ALI - RYE LANE

CLLR STEPHANIE CRYAN ROTHERHITHE

With two heavyweight briefs under her belt and a decade of experience in the cabinet, Cryan is a well-qualified and respected member of the council - but her political vision is less well-known, which could prove to be a limitation.

CLLR VICTORIA MILLS PECKHAM RYE

Victoria Mills has been a councillor for Peckham Rye ward since 2010 and has previously held Cabinet positions as the member for Children & Schools and Finance.

Regarded as a highly able politician, Mills is understood to have been an outspoken critic of Kieron Williams’ leadership - but her own bid is likely to be undermined by her failure in recent years to cultivate a backing of voters sympathetic to her political vision.

10 NEWS

HUNDREDS OF HOUSING PROTESTORS TAKE TO THE STREETS OF PECKHAM

By Issy Clarke HUNDREDS OF protestors took to the streets of Peckham on Saturday, May 31, once more to campaign against a developer’s decision to bypass Southwark Council over its plans to transform the Aylesham Centre into flats.

@ SHAPE

Berkeley Homes wants to build almost 900 homes on the Rye Lane site spread across towers ranging up to 20 storeys in height – just 12 per cent of which would be set at affordable rents.

Campaigners affiliated with SHAPE (Southwark Housing and Planning Emergency) called for developments on private land to contain a minimum of 50 per cent affordable housing, rising to 100 per cent affordability on publicly owned land, and advocated for a fundamental root and branch change to Britain’s planning and housing system.

Eileen Conn, the founder of Peckham Vision, said: “The development is simply investment for people who want to park their money somewhere relatively safe.

This is beyond Berkeley Homes and Peckham. There’s something seriously wrong with the way the planning and housing system works in Britain.”

Last month, the developer issued an appeal on the grounds of nondetermination, meaning the application will now skip the council’s planning committee and go straight to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration.

The decision was criticised by Southwark Council, which said it was “very disappointed” and added that its planning committee would assess

Berkeley’s application regardless.

Responding to the developer’s decision last month, Cllr Helen Dennis, the Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said: “There is significant public interest in this complex planning application and it was due to go to planning committee next month. A report on the planning application will go to our planning committee as planned and the committee’s decision on the report will set out the council’s case for the appeal.

“The council met all the relevant timetables for this application and the decision to appeal against “nondetermination” was entirely that of Berkeley Homes. The decision by Berkeley Homes to reduce the affordable housing offer to 12% from the previously proposed 35% was the reason the council had to reconsult on the scheme this year.”

On June 7, the campaigners will take

their fight to the national stage, with plans to take part in a march through Westminster in protest against the planning system organised by a national coalition of protest groups, Homes 4 All. Berkeley Homes submitted a planning application last summer to build nearly 900 homes on the site of the Aylesham Shopping Centre in Peckham.

In December last year, the developer lowered the proportion of affordable housing to 12 per cent, down from 35 per cent, lowering the number of affordable homes on the site from 270 to 77.

Southwark Council’s planning policies say that all new developments must provide a minimum of 35 per cent affordable homes, subject to viability assessments run by planning officers and the developer.

Local people have repeatedly taken to the streets in recent months in protest

against the huge reduction in the number of affordable homes.

Peckham’s elected representatives have also waded into the debate, with local MP Miatta Fahnbulleh and Rye Lane’s Labour ward councillors calling on the developer to increase the number of affordable homes on the site.

Local heritage campaigners recently submitted an official objection to the planning application, claiming the development would “harm the historic character” of Peckham.

They wrote: “The Aylesham site is so central, and so large, that its development will change Peckham as a place and profoundly affect the lives of the Peckham community and economy for decades to come.

“The proposal will have a massive physical impact on the town centre and the application makes no attempt to

disguise this.”

A Berkeley Homes company spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting service that under the terms of a Planning Performance Agreement with the council, the agreed determination period for the application expired on January 31, 2025, adding ‘no extension has been requested by the council’.

They said: “This is a site that has been earmarked for housing for 11 years now.

Two previous developers failed to come up with a workable project. We have been working with the council, local residents and businesses for four years and have sought to accommodate everyone’s wishes, as far as possible, along the way, while keeping the project viable.

“After all this time, effort and money, if Berkeley is to build homes, we have no other option but to appeal for nondetermination.”

By Issy Clarke

which range between 2-4 storeys in height.

They say the development would be visible from most of the surrounding Conservation Area covering Kennington’s 18th century Georgian terraced houses - a status which confers extra planning protections on areas of architectural importance - and that it would “dwarf” Grade-2 listed Kennington Park.

Other concerns raised by objectors included the potential loss of sunlight to surrounding properties, the narrowing of the pavement at the busy junction with Kennington Park Road, and the lack of social and affordable housing.

A spokesperson for Standard Securities Ltd said: “The team has worked really hard to create a high-quality design that reflects the character of the local area, revitalises this important corner, and provides much-needed student housing.

191 student rooms will ease pressure on

the private rental market by freeing up family homes and our application will contribute toward affordable housing.

“We think the site is appropriate for these proposals, as it’s close to two underground stations and surrounding emerging taller developments.

“A full daylight and sunlight report has been carried out, confirming compliance with national guidelines and minimal impact on neighbouring buildings. The ground floor architecture and building lines have been designed to improve the pedestrian experience along Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road, redefining the road junction and making better use of the public space.

“The proposals also include multiple entrances and high-quality glazing to activate the building frontage, improve safety, and enhance the overall feel of the street. We believe it will be a positive addition to the area.”

Kennington residents call on council to reject developer’s plans for 17-storey student tower replacing old job centre CAMPAIGNERS HAVE called on Lambeth Council to reject proposals for a 17-storey tower block overlooking a Grade-2 listed park in Kennington.

The skyscraper, proposed by developer Standard Securities Ltd, would replace the Job Centre Plus building on Kennington Park Road. It will contain almost 200 student rooms, with the ground floor and first floor to be used as offices.

The deadline for public objections to the planning application is this Friday (June 6). Of 449 comments submitted so far, 401 object to the scheme and 39 support it.

Build Better Kennington 409, a group of local residents opposed to the development, claim the tower is “too tall” for the area and would loom over the surrounding low rise buildings

NEWS 11 NEWS 13 ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL

‘NEXT GENERATION NIGHTINGALES’ RECOGNISED FOR FIRST TIME

Nightingale Award winners

NURSING ASSISTANTS, maternity support workers, healthcare assistants and nursing associates have, for the first time, been honoured with Guy’s and St Thomas’ prestigious Nightingale Award for providing exceptional care. The unique professional commendation, inspired by Florence Nightingale, celebrates outstanding nursing and midwifery staff.

This year the Nightingale Award has

been presented to 17 nursing assistants, maternity support workers, healthcare assistants and nursing associates.

They were joined by 80 nurses and 5 midwives who were presented with the coveted Nightingale Nurse and Nightingale Midwife award at the annual ceremony.

Winners have the honour of being known as a ‘Nightingale Nurse’, ‘Nightingale Midwife’ and ‘Next Generation Nightingale’.

This elite group of professional

nursing and midwifery staff has grown in number to 550 since it was first launched at the Trust in 2017. Staff must complete specialist training to receive the honour.

Deborah Ababio, a healthcare assistant at Harefield Hospital, which is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’, has worked at the Trust for 2 years. She is based on Rowan ward, supporting heart and lung transplant patients.

Deborah said: “I’m so glad to be part of this first group of assistants

Keeping families together with transitional care A NEW, midwifery-led unit has been launched to support newborns who need extra care to stay with their families and to go home sooner.

The transitional care unit (TCU) at Evelina London provides care for babies who do not need intensive care, but require treatments like intravenous antibiotics or jaundice

management. They are supported to stay overnight on the unit with their parents.

Collaboration between the TCU and the neonatal outreach team has enabled some newborns to receive treatments at home. Through regular visits, the team can also provide other advice, like feeding support, to reduce new parents’ worries.

Elections to the Council of Governors results GUY’S AND St Thomas’ congratulated its newly elected governors, and thanked all candidates who stood for election.

The

full

results

of

the

Council of Governors elections are available at https://shorturl.at/YWedX For queries regarding the election process, email: gstt.members@.nhs.net

receiving the Nightingale Award. It makes me feel proud that our hard work and effort is considered, and that all my education is being recognised.

“This award will serve as a positive reminder of the impact I can make on patients’ lives. It inspires me to strive for excellence in all aspects of my work.”

Liz Allibone, Head of Nursing for the Nightingale Academy at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “These awards are special. It’s about celebrating the

legacy of Florence Nightingale who set up the first school of nursing in the world at St Thomas’. Award winners are given an engraved badge, and they wear it with pride. It gives recipients the confidence to pursue further academic studies, is recognition, and most of all it’s that sense of belonging.”

The event is funded by The Nightingales Fellowship, a charity for retired Nightingale nurses and midwives who trained at St Thomas’ Hospital.

Patients and staff meet The King

PATIENTS, FAMILIES and staff from Guy’s Cancer attended a royal reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by The King and Queen.

The event celebrated communitybased initiatives raising awareness about cancer and supporting those living with cancer.

Geoff May, who was treated for tonsil

cancer at the Cancer Centre at Guy’s and is now a fundraiser for Guy’s Cancer Charity, was invited to the special day.

At the event, Geoff introduced Sarah Cleary, Cancer CNS workforce project lead at the Trust, to The King.

The dedicated patient fundraiser said: “I don’t know how I would have got through my cancer without the dedication of staff like Sarah.”

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NEWS 13

DESPERATE MOTHER AT RISK OF ‘SUDDEN DEATH’ AFTER EIGHT MONTHS ON HUNGER STRIKE

She has lost almost half her bodyweight since starting the strike

By Issy Clarke

Laila at a meeting with the Prime Minister on 14 Feburary

THE MOTHER of a British-Egyptian activist who she says is wrongfully imprisoned in Egypt is at risk of ‘sudden death’ as her blood sugar levels have plummeted to a level so low that they can’t be picked up by hospital tests.

Laila Soueif, 69, began her hunger strike on September 29th 2024, the day her son Alaa Abd el-Fattah was supposed to be released from prison.

Since then, she has lost 36kg – 42% of her starting body weight, and now weighs 49kg. She is now on day 248 of her hunger strike.

On June 1, Laila’s blood sugar levels dropped below 0.6mmol/L – too low to be picked up by hosptial tests. Her ketones level, measuring blood acidity, rose above 7 mmol/L, indicating levels

of blood acidity also too high to be detected by medical tests.

A consultant doctor at St Thomas’ Hospital on May 31 warned that a

‘slight further reduction’ in Laila’s blood sugar levels could lead to ‘rapid loss of consciousness’ and her ‘sudden death’.

In the letter from her doctor, Laila is

residents which brought the challenge, £35,000 towards their legal fees.

Commenting on the decision to remove the LTN in the aftermath of the May judgement, Deputy High Court Judge Tim Smith said: “Revoking the Orders after I have made a finding of unlawfulness leaves the same impression as would an attempt to resign immediately after one has been fired.”

WDAG group said the Court Order left open “serious questions” around the £1,080,580 in fines issued to motorists since the introduction of the traffic monitoring cameras in Feburary 2024.

A spokesperson for WDAG said: “This ruling is definitive — the LTN was unlawful. The Council has lost, has been denied permission to appeal, and must now face the consequences of what that means. At the top of that list is the

£1 million-plus in fines it issued while the unlawful scheme was in place.

“We now call on Lambeth Council to clarify whether it will refund those fines. This is not just about legality — it’s about fairness and public trust. If the law was broken, the money should be paid back.

“We also urge the Council not to attempt to pursue a second appeal via the Court of Appeal. Doing so would further waste taxpayers’ money and signal that its priority is protecting revenue, not engaging with the community it serves.

“Let’s be clear: this case should never have gone to court. It could have been resolved through proper, respectful dialogue. Instead, Lambeth chose to defend litigation over listening — and the public has paid for it.”

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “We implemented the West

warned her ‘low blood sugar remains an unaddressed medical emergency’ and that her death is an ‘immediate risk’. She is also warned that without

glucose treatment there is a ‘clear risk’ of ‘irreversible damage to organs including heart, brain and kidneys’.

Laila is refusing glucose treatment as part of her hunger strike.

The doctor also said that Laila’s blood sugar levels ‘would not typically be compatible with consciousness’ and that her ‘body’s stores of carbohydrate are essentially expended’. They warn Laila of ‘acidity of the blood’ and that Laila’s body is relying ‘on the little fat you have remaining for energy’.

Sanaa Seif, Laila’s daughter, said it was a “miracle” that her mother was still alive.

She said: “Bottom line is we’re losing her, and we’re really, really, like, there is no time. Like, Keir Starmer needs to act now. Not tomorrow, not Monday. Now. Right now. It’s a miracle that last night passed. It’s a miracle that we still have her. I’m really, really proud of my Mum. And I want to remind Keir Starmer of his promise to us. We put our faith in him. Don’t let us down, do something and do it today. Now.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at Prime Minister’s Questions on 21 May that he had “met Laila and given her my commitment to do everything I possibly can. I have had a number of contacts myself but I’m not going to stop doing everything within my power to secure release.”

Last Thursday, 22nd May, Keir Starmer once again spoke to President Sisi of Egypt and “pressed for the urgent release of British national Alaa Abd El-Fattah so that he can be reunited with his family.” The Prime Minister “underlined how important it is to him to bring an end to the anguish Alaa and his family have faced.”

Alaa Abd el-Fattah is also on his 92nd day of hunger strike, consuming nothing but herbal tea, black coffee and rehydration salts, in Wadi El-Natrun prison in Egypt. He began the hunger strike when Laila Soueif was last hospitalised in February.

On Wednesday, 28th May, it was announced that the United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) have ruled that Alaa Abd elFattah is arbitrarily detained in Egypt and that Egyptian authorities therefore have an obligation to release him immediately under international law.

The High Court quashes the West Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood and forbids Lambeth from launching appeal

By Issy Clarke A HIGH Court judge has quashed the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in West Dulwich and denied Lambeth Council the opportunity to appeal the ruling.

West Dulwich LTN Dulwich Street Improvements to reduce road danger and create a safer and healthier neighbourhood.

“We remain committed to delivering our programme to reduce road danger for those most at-risk and make our streets calmer, more community-

© WDAG

On May 9, High Court Judge Tim Smith ruled that the council’s installation of the LTN between Rosendale and Norwood Road was unlawful, on the grounds that concerns raised by some residents and businesses had not been properly considered. The decision left open the possibility that the scheme could be quashed altogether.

Yesterday, we reported that Lambeth Council had applied for permission to appeal against the High Court ruling.

But today’s Court Order means Lambeth Council will have to scrap the LTN, as well as pay West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), the group of

friendly places.

“The High Court has ordered the removal of West Dulwich Street Improvements. No further fines will be issued, and we are removing the scheme as soon as it can be done safely.”

14 NEWS

By Issy Clarke CHANCELLOR RACHEL Reeves is expected to unveil £113 billion for capital spending projects this week, enabled by a relaxation of the government’s fiscal rules.

Projects mooted to benefit include East West Rail - connecting Oxford and Cambridge - and the government’s housebuilding scheme. Could the long-awaited extension of the Bakerloo Line feature among them?

HOPES DASHED

A WORLD OUTSIDE LONDON

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under significant pressure from the party’s Red Wall MPs to direct investment outside London and the southeast, which have been the prime beneficiaries of capital investment in recent years.

Partly, this orientation is narrowly political - after Labour’s drubbing in last month’s local elections, the party is under pressure to defend its right flank against the incursion from Reform UK. But it also reflects perceived unfairness in the calculation used to determine capital spending allocation, which critics say is biased in favour of regions which are already economically productive.

Within London, there are other projects vying for investment, such as the DLR extension to Thamesmead which, according to Reast, has a “similar profile” to the Bakerloo extension, and is expected to enable

@ HMI

Last year, the Bakerloo Line extension was shunned in the government’s Autumn Budget. It was a crushing omission for South London, squashing hopes that shovels could finally break the tarmac - almost 20 years after the project was initially proposed.

Six months on, several developments could make an announcement of funding in the upcoming June spending review more likely.

Earlier this year, the government issued instructions to safeguard the land of the proposed Bakerloo line extension from future development.

Transport for London is midway through a consultation on the launch of a new ‘Bakerloop’ express bus service tracing the path of the extended route, and which could begin ferrying passengers by the end of this year.

Support across the capital for the extension is robust. It has the emphatic backing of Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has already invested £7.6 million in the project, as well as every single London borough from Barnet to Brent.

Londoners overwhelmingly back the Bakerloo Line extension, according to the latest independent research - not just in Southwark, where eight in ten residents back the project, but even as far afield as Harrow, where 76 per cent of respondents have expressed their support.

So could we finally see funding for the project released in two weeks’ time? Daniel Reast, a Research Officer at the Centre for London think tank, is sanguine about the prospect.

“What is really compelling about [the Bakerloo Line extension] is that there is a real united front,” he said.

“All the foundations are very much there and the boroughs are keen to get going. It’s whether the Chancellor thinks there is a good financial case for it.”

COULD WE FINALLY SEE FUNDING FOR THE BAKERLOO LINE EXTENSION IN THE JUNE SPENDING REVIEW?

the construction of up to 30,000 new homes.

The West London Orbital, from Hounslow to Hendon and West Hampstead, is also awaiting government funding before TfL can initiate construction.

Financially, the Bakerloo Line extension is no small feat. Estimated construction costs have soared since 2007 from £2-3 billion in 2010 to £5-£8 billion - making it one of the UK’s most expensive infrastructure projects of all time.

Dan Reast said the ‘key’ to securing funding for the Bakerloo would be whether the project’s backers could make a compelling argument to the Treasury.

BACKING THE BAKERLOO

In recognition of this landscape, backers of the Bakerloo Line extension have amped up their campaigning efforts in recent weeks. Last month, Southwark, Lewisham, Brent and Westminster councils, in collaboration with Central London Forward and Business for Bakerloo, commissioned a London-wide survey exploring the level of support for the project.

The Back the Bakerloo campaign highlights the economic benefits of the route, which is projected to create 150,000 new jobs, inject £1.5 billion into the UK economy annually and facilitate the construction of 107,000

new homes.

Reast said the most compelling argument in favour of the Bakerloo Line extension was ‘the housing factor’.

“It ties in with the government’s growth missions” he said. “Any commitment to major infrastructure funding is really good for the economy, and if you can unlock land for 100,000 new homes, that is incredibly substantial.”

There are other reasons why the Bakerloo line extension could register high on the government’s list of priorities - including that it would introduce greater connectivity into a region of the capital woefully underserved by the underground network, and timing such work with train upgrades.

The first phase of the project would extend the line to New Cross and Lewisham via the Old Kent Road. The second leg would see the route extended as far as Hayes and Beckenham Junction.

Calls for an upgrade to the ancient trains which rattle through the Bakerloo line’s tunnels could also hasten the announcement of government funding.

Recently, TfL Commissioner Andy Lord called on the government to provide funding for a fleet of replacement trains, following a report in February that the line was in a state

of “managed decline” and at risk of “critical failure”.

While the new trains can be rolled out before work begins on the extension, financially it makes sense to embark on both at the same time, as the new trains will only be able to operate in the old tunnels once the signals have been upgraded.

INSIDE THE WESTMINSTER BUBBLE

When we asked Bermondsey and Rotherhithe MP Neil Coyle if he was pushing the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to include the Bakerloo Line extension among these projects, he responded affirmatively, adding that he had been “trying to make the national case” for the project.

“Rachel’s a good friend - I’ve known her for many years,” he said. “But she has 650 MPs all making the case for projects in their constituency.”

Like Reast, Coyle views national economic arguments as central to making a successful pitch for the Bakerloo line extension.

“I have been trying to link the need for it to broader government policies like the housebuilding programme” said Coyle. “If the government is going to build 1.5 million new homes, it needs to be signing off projects like these.”

But could the prevailing political headwinds be blowing in an unfavourable direction?

“London bashing benefits nobody,” insisted Coyle, adding: “Every pound spent on the line will be made back. It will create jobs in Essex and Yorkshire [where the trains would be built].”

When asked by us if he was more optimistic this time about the prospect of funding for the route, Coyle said the Bakerloo Line extension was “closer than ever”.

BUT HOW CLOSE ARE WE REALLY?

Ultimately, said Daniel Reast, the Bakerloo Line extension will get built eventually. “All these projects - they’re on the books. They will get off the ground - it’s just a matter of making the argument to the Treasury, and linking to the government’s growth missions.”

When pushed to share his prediction, Reast said he was “tentatively optimistic” about the likelihood of a funding announcement, “simply because there has been an accelerated level of advocacy”.

“The research put out by London councils, Central London Forward’s programme... there has been a real groundswell of interest in the extension, and really supportive polling among businesses and residents,” Reast continued.

“I would say it is in a stronger position from a political perspective.

From a financial perspective? We’ll have to wait and see.”

NEWS 15

Express bus from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham will launch later this year

By Issy Clarke AN EXPRESS bus route linking Elephant and Castle and Lewisham via the Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate is launching in autumn this year following a consultation in which the majority of residents expressed support for the project.

The route, known as the ‘Bakerloop’, will trace the path of the proposed Bakerloo Line extension, running between Waterloo, Elephant and Castle and Lewisham via Burgess Park, the Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate.

It will add weight to calls for the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to unveil funding for the Bakerloo line extension in the government’s comprehensive spending review, due to be announced as we went to press on Wednesday, June 11.

The route will run every 12 minutes from Monday to Saturday during the daytime, and every 15 minutes on Sundays, evenings and early mornings.

It comes after a consultation run by TfL revealed strong levels of support for the proposal, with 82 per cent of respondents answering that the bus route would be more convenient, and 55 per cent claiming that they would use the bus a few days, or every day, of the week.

The ‘Bakerloop’ will be partly funded by Southwark Council, using money generated from Section 106 agreements paid by developers.

F.A.A.

Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning, said: “It is great to see support for the ‘Bakerloop’ express bus running between Waterloo and Lewisham which would enable us to improve public transport connectivity and capacity between southeast London and central London by delivering some of the same benefits that the Bakerloo line extension would.

Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres, said: “Lewisham welcomes the launch of the

F A ALBIN & SONS

Bakerloop bus and thanks the Mayor and TfL for taking action to address the long-standing transport gap in south east London.

“But this must be just the beginning. With growing public support, we will continue to press for the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension – a game-changing project that will mean faster journeys and new opportunities for our community as well as thousands of homes, jobs and economic growth unlocked for the UK.”

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NEWS 17 EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke POLICE OFFICERS in Rotherhithe have been given a car to travel from their temporary base at Southwark Police Station to their patch, after we reported that local policing teams were having to get around using the C10 bus.

Greystar’s Bermondsey scheme seen from street level

By Issy Clarke THE BISCUIT Factory has been renamed as the Pearl Yard Bermondsey – with a discreet nod to the site’s confectionery past.

and actually put a shift in to ensure a new base is located until the permanent new home is built. So far, I’m unconvinced that senior officers are on top of this issue.”

We previously reported that the Met were offered several alternative local hubs by Southwark Council and British Land, the developer behind the Canada Water Masterplan. In a letter sent to Neil Coyle and seen by this newspaper, Superintendent of Neighbourhood Policing in Southwark Jim Brockway agreed securing a local base would be “beneficial for both officers and the community”.

The Commander added he was “open to working with British Land and Southwark Council to identify feasible locations” but that any new site would need to meet the force’s IT

and security needs.

A Met spokesperson said: “As with many local teams across the Met, these officers have access to a pool of vehicles to attend calls, patrol the local area and in this case, travel to the ward. This has always been the case and was in place prior to the article being published.”

Commenting on the future of Rotherhithe’s police hub, the

spokesperson said: “We continue to work with partners to identify potential locations that could provide a sustainable base in the area. Until then, the public can be reassured that we continue to police Rotherhithe with patrols throughout the area.”

“We are considering plans around hubs. Our priorities remain to keep Londoners safe.”

The sprawling site on Drummond Road is being redeveloped into 1,600 new homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable – with 25 per cent set at social rent and 10 per cent intermediate rent.

During the development phase, the site was referred to by developer Greystar as The Bermondsey Project. Now, with construction work nearing completion, it has been labelled as Pearl Yard Bermondsey, named after the Pearl Biscuit – the first sweet treat to be made at the original Peek Freans biscuit factory.

A map published by the developer detailing nearby public transport links and local markets included Borough Market, Maltby Street Market and Canada Water Market – omitting the Blue Market in South Bermondsey, which sits at the heart of the redevelopment site.

The Pearl Yard Bermondsey website describes the development as “a world-class destination with soul” and as “highly evolved living”, alongside images of a yoga studio, a spa and a sharing plates restaurant. Construction work is set to be fully completed by 2027.

SURREY QUAYS POUNDLAND STORE TO CLOSE NEXT WEEK - WITH HUNDREDS MORE AT RISK

By Issy Clarke THE POUNDLAND in Surrey Quays will close next week – the second branch of the retailer in Southwark to close in recent weeks.

The store in Surrey Quays shopping centre will shut its doors for good on Wednesday, June 11, following reports that up to 200 branches could also close as the struggling budget retailer edges closer to a sale.

The Bermondsey Poundland on Southwark Park Road served its final customers on May 14, while the

© Greystar

The local policing team once based at Seven Islands Leisure was asked to leave their base on March 26, as the site has been earmarked for redevelopment into council homes.

Despite ample warning of the impending closure of the leisure centre for redevelopment, the Met failed to line up an alternative site in advance – meaning officers are currently based at Southwark Police Station on Borough High Street.

We went with MP Neil Coyle last month to measure the amount of time it took to get from the police station to Rotherhithe on the C10 bus.

At the time, we reported that the Met’s guidelines required neighbourhood officers to be no longer than 20 minutes away from any area within their patch.

Neighbourhood officers do not routinely travel by police vehicle, and generally get around by bike or on the bus – either the C10 or the 188 from Borough to Rotherhithe.

On an unusually quiet morning during school half term it took 22 minutes – just over the Met’s guidelines.

But we have since seen an extract from the Met’s ‘Public Access Strategy’ published in November 2017, which set a target that Dedicated Ward Officers – the commissioners in charge of leading local policing teams – “should begin their shift no more than 20 minutes walking time away from the ward they patrol, with many much closer.”

Coyle said while it was “useful” that officers had been given a police vehicle, he remained “unconvinced” that senior officers were focused on the issue.

He told us: “It is useful that the local police team are having a base provided longer term through the council’s partnership work with British Land but this is years away and crime levels are too high now, with Canada Water remaining a hotspot.

“The local police team want to be in Rotherhithe and their senior officers needs to show some action

ROTHERHITHE’S POLICE OFFICERS GIVEN A CAR TO GET TO THEIR BEAT

The Biscuit Factory renamed as Pearl Yard Bermondsey

Clapham Junction branch also shut up shop on May 2.

Bidding for the business began last week, with a source quipping to the Times that the chain would be priced at “effectively a pound”.

Gordon Brothers, the former owner of Laura Ashley and Homebase, is said to be in the running for ownership of the business.

The retailer had been struggling to deal with the impact of the hike in employers’ national insurance and the increase in the national minimum wage, with profits collapsing by £641 million in the year to September 2024.

The branch on Southwark Park Road

18 OPINION

Comment

‘In Southwark incidents of stalking and harassment fell by 15% last year’ I

T IS a privilege to have been appointed Chair of the Police and Crime Committee at the London Assembly.

This cross-party committee is responsible for scrutinising the work of the Mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police, particularly through the lens of public safety, victim support, and ensuring the police are held accountable.

Recently at Mayor’s Question Time I raised an issue I care deeply about: the impact of violence against women and girls (VAWG) on young people.

The recent Netflix series Adolescence has powerfully portrayed how misogyny and abuse influence the lives of young women and how harmful ideologies shape the attitudes of some young men.

I asked the Mayor what is being done to address this at its root.

Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted the record £233 million investment from City Hall into tackling VAWG. This includes prevention programmes that work directly with perpetrators of stalking and domestic abuse,

award-winning public awareness campaigns like ‘Have a Word’ and ‘Say “mate” to a mate’ and education initiatives in schools focused on online harm and toxic ideologies.

The Mayor is absolutely right when he says this work is vital to changing hearts, minds, and behaviours.

In Southwark, incidents of stalking and harassment fell by 15% last year and reported Domestic Abuse fell 3%. It’s a sign of progress but we must continue to build on it.

At a national level, the Government recently announced a sentencing review in response to the crisis in our prison system, which will be full by November.

Drastic steps may be needed to ease the pressure, but victims must remain front and centre in any reform. I am raising this at the next Mayor’s Question Time and I will ensure this is prioritised and the impact on London taken into account.

I will also be looking closely into knife crime. While it’s encouraging that possession of weapons is down by 11% in Southwark, knife crime

went up 1% in London last year. I want to examine the Government’s proposed legislation to tackle knife crime and scrutinise how it will make a meaningful difference. Just as importantly, I’ll be working to understand what more City Hall can do to address the root causes.

Earlier this month, I attended the launch of the Mayor’s new Rough Sleeping Strategy at St. John’s Church in Waterloo. It was symbolically just across the road from the site of “Cardboard City” where thousands of people slept rough in the 80s and 90s.

The new strategy commits to increasing specialist support for those with complex needs, expanding emergency accommodation, and securing more long-term housing options. It also includes dedicated pathways for groups at particular risk of rough sleeping, such as LGBTQ+ people, women, and those leaving prison. As Chair of the Police and Crime Committee, I’ll be especially focused on the intersection between homelessness and vulnerability to

MARINA AHMAD

GLA Member for Southwark & Lambeth

“Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted the record £233 million investment from City Hall into tackling violence against women and girls ... crime, exploitation and abuse.

I’m committed to ensuring that the voices of victims,

young people, and marginalised communities are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

OPINION 19

Higher, but fewer council homes

T

his week Southwark Council rubber-stamped the next phase of Notting Hill Genesis’s plans to transform the crumbling Aylesbury Estate in Walworth.

Phase 2b of the plans covers the largest block in Aylesbury, Wendover, and three neighbouring masionette blocks - Padbury, Ravenstone and Winslow.

The application was originally considered by the council in January 2023 but was derailed by a legal challenge by long-term resident Aysen Dennis, fighting against what she labelled the “gentrification” of her estate, which resulted in a small uplift in the number of social rent homes from 163 to 173.

Once complete, the entire Aylesbury redevelopment area will contain more than 4,200 new homes, compared to 2,758 on the original estate.

But running alongside the increase in the overall size of the estate is a diminution in the proportion set aside for council housing, from 82 per cent to 37.5 per cent once the entire project is completed, scheduled for 2036.

The plummeting proportion of socially rented housing in the Aylesbury was not inevitable. A few years ago, we exclusively reported that the council had explored striking a deal with Notting Hill Genesis to repurchase 2,000 homes on the estate. Southwark originally sold off the site for redevelopment to NHG in 2014, but in 2021 there was some talk of bringing sections of the site back into the council’s housing portfolio.

The deal never came to fruition, derailed by the economic shocks caused by the Ukraine war, Liz Truss’s 2023 mini budget and the pandemic, which led borrowing and construction costs to spike. There was also perhaps a political dimension too - if the deal had gone through, the council would have effectively taken the political hit of selling off the family silverware, only to repurchase it later down the line.

The council never clarified precisely how much a deal between the council and the developer could have been worth, but an earlier deal struck with the developer over the purchase of 280 Aylesbury Estate homes in 2020 cost £193 million, or £690,000 a home.

Over a year and no MP office

M

iatta Fahnbulleh stormed to victory in Peckham in 2024, gaining two-thirds of the area’s vote share and being anointed as a government minister within days of entering Parliament.

While running for the seat, Fahnbulleh made big talk of a promise to open a local office in the area, touching on a sore point left behind by her predecessor Harriet Harman, who never had a Peckham constituency office.

But nearly a year on from the July 2024 election, Fahnbulleh has yet to formally establish a local base, claiming that her £39,560 IPSA budget and security prerequisites have left her with “limited room for manoeuvre”.

Fahnbulleh is far from alone in facing difficulties with finding a constituency office - reports abound of new MPs up and down the country struggling to reconcile their parliamentary allowance with rental costs, business rates and security considerations.

When we approached the MP, she did reveal she was “far along in the process” with one potential space but as we await further details, we will not back down in continuing to hold our local MPs to account for the promises they make to their constituents

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across

1 I try aid for the drought condition (7) 5 Established as in a plot (5) 8 Cream of sounds? (4) 9 1 have water and rum in the goldfish bowl (8) 10 Then drums sort out the atmosphere disturbances (13) 13 Appear from these embarrassing moments (4) 14 Shoot back with one on the peak (4) 17 One who believes in always giving thanks before meals? (7,6) 19 Less usual to find a foreigner (8) 20 Carry the animal (4) 21 But not necessarily a tree that was planted earlier (5) 22 Renew the French sheen (7)

Clues Down

2 Outlines the plans for part of the golf course (6) 3 Disturb the grandee (7) 4 Take back the skill of the French man as a shopkeeper (9) 5 Will the second-rate survive the explosion? (5) 6 Sound pleased it’s mounting the footrest (7) 7 Mad to go back, and inquires for the linens (7) 11 One who always hesitates to speak. (9) 12 I’m too old-fashioned for this deadlock (7) 13 Looked about right, so took the leading role (7) 15 Serving several purposes in public transport (7) 16 1 chatter about the robber (6) 18 The man who is satisfied at five hundred going to the front? (5)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

1 Orator (7) 5 Anything giving great pleasure (5) 8 Drop (4) 9 Contrary (8) 10 Reluctance (13) 13 Man-eating giant (4) 14 Immense (4) 17 Inquiring into (13) 19 Most spacious (8) 20 Cut off (4) 21 Gloomy (5) 22 Entreaties (7)

Clues Down

2 Tracts of level country (6) 3 Uniting (7) 4 Softening (9) 5 Strip of leather (5) 6 Clear (7) 7 Locks of hair (7) 11 Steersman (9) 12 Mixed (7) 13 Easily understood (7) 15 Convince (7) 16 Reply (6) 18 Slippery (5)

SOLUTIONS TO LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD CRYPTIC

Across: 4 Purred 8 Engross 10 Princes 11 These 12 Tides 13 Clearance l6 Outweighs 19 Depot 20 Taken 22 Crayons 23 Tangent 24 Sateen Down: Septic 2 Ogle 3 To be or not to be 5 Uninteresting 6 Receding 7 Disuse 9 Spain 14 Elephant 15 Edicts 17 Trust 18 Sanity 21 Knee

QUICK PUZZLE

Across: 4 Spiced 8 Employs 10 Thought 11 Steep 12 Enter 13 Strangers 16 Abstinent 19 Trust 20 Nasty 22 Reasons 23 Holiest 24 Dressy Down: 1 Beasts 2 Apse 3 Compensations 5 Processionals 6 Cogitate 7 Deters 9 Style 14 Regulate 15 Stared 17 Smash 18 Trysts 21 Seed

20 ARTS

what’s on

The venue has a connection to this timeless classic

It was with these trials in mind that Arthur Miller penned The Crucible, producing a fascinating study of life and humanity not immediately contemporary, but in the year 1692, in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Paranoia and religious fervour led to witch trials that see many hanged and more imprisoned. Four years after The Crucible was first staged on Broadway in 1953, Miller himself was found guilty of contempt of congress (a conviction later overturned). The venue now provides a connection to this timeless piece of playwriting: a compelling, classic play, presented in a classic manner.

Crucible: a container in which metals are heated and their behaviour observed: these twenty-one characters inadvertently reveal to us, in a climate of fear-driven mass hysteria, how easy it is for a society to fall into terrible mismanagement of justice and abuse of control. Fear rules, falsehood and pretence have the power to wreak havoc.

Barbadian slave Tituba (Sarah Merrifield) and Rev. Parris’ orphaned teenage niece Abigail (Hannah Saxby) and other girls all easily influenced, are spied frolicking in the forest and accused of sorcery by uncle Rev. Parris(Steve Furst), whose daughter is languishing as if ill or in convulsions.

To absolve themselves, and in Abigail’s case, to regain the attention of family man John Proctor (Gavin Drea), they frenziedly accuse others of witchery, which raises them and others into positions of influence and power. ‘Not they’ but so many are the ones guilty of heresy, Devil-worship, baby-sickness and death (bickering and denouncing of neighbours turns serious when hanging is the punishment).

Rev. Parris and Rev. Hale (Jo StoneFewings) fear their ‘ministry is at stake’, accuse Jon Proctor of sin for not baptising a child, not attending church and not knowing all the Commandments. John Proctor (and later Rev Hale) sees through all the madness and knows the girls’ convulsions to be pure pretence, theatre (within this theatre), but has to confess his adultery in an attempt to convince the court. The love demonstrated between him and his wife Elizabeth (Phoebe Pryce) is a strong and touching moment.

Proctor’s moral courage makes him the hero, and his and Abigail’s are the strongest performances.

An all-female ensemble, barely visible in the gallery, provides plenty of brass and percussive rhythm to good dramatic effect. Scenography is stripped down so we focus on the all-important script.

Shakespeare’s Globe, Bankside, SE1 until 12th July. Admission: £5 - £80.

Booking and full details: www.shakespearesglobe.com/

Photo by Manuel Harlan

SAM WANAMAKER, thanks to whose vision of a theatre in the way Shakespeare and his contemporaries would have had way back when, left America in the 1950s at the height of the McCarthy “Red Scare” era, when the House Un-American Activities Committee was bent on investigating alleged communist and socialist allegiances amongst its citizens, writes Eleanor Thorn...

THE SOUND OF BEING SEEN

FROM THE moment Lucas touches the piano, the room shifts. She talks about how sound — vibration, really — connects us all, how it travels through the particles in the air and makes the very lights flicker. And, somehow, as she speaks, it starts to feel completely true, writes Luigia Minichiello...

The ‘Elephant’ in the room? It’s the piano itself — its keys bound in painful history, each note carrying weight. And yet there’s magic in that piano and in her story.

She tells us how it arrived — swinging through the window like a pirate ship, mid-air and full of promise. It’s a perfect image: wild, theatrical, a bit absurd. Much like

Lucas herself.

The stage is minimal, rotating gently as she moves through chapters of her life, from a wide-eyed seven-year-old to a woman fighting to be heard in the music industry. Her storytelling is rich, but never heavy-handed—one moment we’re laughing at her French mother’s refusal to cook curried goat (“You can eat quiche!”), and the next

Davison to put music to. They in turn got Ms Regan and Abbie Garland to sing the songs to see how they sounded before Gregor Brown got involved to put a dance team together to choreograph, and before you know it they had the meat of a musical ready to be put together in one energyfilled body of work that now has life.

The showcase was their opportunity to show what they could do. Each person would explain their character, their backstory and introduce a specific scene before singing a song that brought everything together.

By the end we had enjoyed comedy (Ellie Jones is hilarious; Max Wanambwa and Arlo Gould are comedy gold); dancing that conjured up touches of Fosse from Edward Bowley, Hannah Nolan, Twyla Bradley, Caitlin Poole and Sophie Mulhall, and singing from Nellie, Abbie, Noah Superville, Freddie Janman, Sophie Cawley and Eva Mohammed that could grace any show in the West End right now, plus, there is a multitude of talent in the remaining ensemble, who are all keen and ready to step up from the chorus line.

The music, though, was something else.

It is difficult to take in that this was written by two boys in their mid-teens - in their spare time! The upbeat numbers have a pounding, toe-tapping beat as good as you would find in any modern musical. The ballads have a poignancy and tenderness that equal songs written by those of much more advanced life experience, and the lyrics are bang on trend.

How Sh!T Show got to this stage actually sounds like the storyline of a Hollywood movie but Sh!t Show has a better storyline; one that involves twins separated at birth who unknowingly clash over a man while working at the same company. Throw in some embezzlement, bankruptcy and lots of singing and dancing and I think Lars and Linus will have to change the title when they get this show completed, because this show is as far from its working title as it possibly could be. This show takes you on a journey to joy and needs a positive title to reflect that.

On the downside I would have liked the story to have been London-based. I see no need for Linus and Lars to have their

we’re sitting quietly with her as she navigates what it means to be brown and middle-class in a very white, middle-class world.

There’s a gentle humour and a sharp honesty in how she recounts her journey, how her heritage is either exoticised or erased, how the record labels tried to sell her story but only if it was “toned down”. It’s no wonder things eventually unravelled.

At the heart of it all is a young woman falling in love with her drummer. Their connection is instant, electric, and full of understanding — something Lucas has never known before. Together, they throw themselves into their music, both equally driven, both burning with talent.

The road isn’t the same for both.

He, a posh white boy, glides through doors that barely crack open for her.

While he lands the gigs and gains the attention, she finds herself fighting twice as hard just to stay in the room.

And then comes the moment that breaks the spell: meeting his parents.

A quiet, devastating confrontation with privilege that says everything.

It’s too much. The pressure to fit, the ache of not being enough in their world. She hits the self-destruct.

This is, without doubt, an astonishing performance by an exemplary talent. After ninety minutes, the standing ovation was more than deserved.

Lucas doesn’t just play the piano, she lets it speak. And in that flickering, vibrating space, we were all lucky enough to hear it.

Catch this before it goes up West.

Elephant is on at Menier Chocolate Factory until June 28th.

Booking and full details: www. menierchocolatefactory.com

New Kids on the Stage WELL, ACCOMPLISHED young people is a truer definition of this group of musical theatre performers who have put on their own show on the London Fringe, writes Michael Holland...

The troupe, all students at the renowned BRIT School, have, over the past 2-3 years, been working on their Sh!t Show, which they have recently showcased to very impressed audiences at The Union Theatre. No easy task when you know that they have done this in between the maths, English and science subjects that have to be done at school, plus the performance projects assigned as part of what the BRIT School curriculum is all about.

The show’s producer, Nellie Regan, revealed the idea was formed at the back of the maths class about three years ago When they were all in Year 10! Lars Nunns had a few songs, which he asked Linus

cast putting on fake American accents and singing about Long Island and New Jersey or about coming from Idaho when they can make London and Britain just as attractive - Unless, of course, they already have their sights firmly set on Broadway!

Watch out for all these names because, from what I have seen, they are part of theatre’s future and need a leg up to get this potential masterpiece finished.

Nellie Regan, who also plays Rebecca, has the last word: “Sh!t Show is a sharp, funny, and sometimes painfully relatable story about a love triangle between Guy, Amanda, and Rebecca — three characters who bring workplace drama to a whole new level. It’s messy, touching, a little bit vengeful, and full of moments we’ve all lived through (or narrowly escaped).

It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s entirely created and performed by the next generation of theatre artists... I believe it is so important for new work to be shared and seen, so please help me raise money so we are able to take our show to the next level.” gofund.me/8d55f1a7

EVENTS 21

History Events

Heading south - our pick of upcoming summer events Confessions of a Teletubby at Woolwich Works

Second year students on Trinity Laban’s Musical Theatre course will be presenting Grease: The Musical at Blackheath Halls. Follow 1950s Rydell High School and follow the romance between new girl Sandy and popular guy Danny, who find their summer love challenged by the pressures of teenage life. Featuring iconic songs like Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’ and You’re the One that I Want. Join Danny, Sandy and the rest of the Pink Ladies and greaser gang for laughs, drama and unforgettable musical moments.

Remember the Teletubbies? Ever wondered what it was like behind the scenes? Discover the truth with the original LaaLaa as she spills the beans on what it took to become one of the world’s most famous giant yellow puppets. Nikky Smedlet played LaaLaa (the yellow one) in the original series of Teletubbies for six years. Hear what is was like in one of those Tubby suits, how the NooNoo really worked and why children loved the show so much. Confessions of a Teletubby is loosely based on Nikky’s best-selling book Over the Hills and Far Away- My Life as a Teletubby. You’ll hear frank, hilarious and sometimes tragic stories of the human experience within a truly surreal world. Plus you’ll have the chance to ask Nikky anything you’ve always wanted to know about Teletubbies, and maybe get a selfie! Suitable for ages 16+.

Location: Blackheath Halls, Great Hall, 23 Lee Rd, Blackheath, London SE3 9RQ Dates: 17th June 2025 - 21st June 2025. Time: Tuesday - Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 2:30pm Tickets: £15 per ticket, £10 concessions. Buy tickets here: trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on

Location: Woolwich Works (Ropekeepers Studio), The Fireworks Factory, 11 No.1 Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HD. Date: Sunday 22nd June. Time: 6pm - 7:30pm Tickets: Buy tickets here for £13.75: www.woolwich.works

Grease: the Musical by Trinity Laban Musical Theatre

The Windrush Concert III at Broadway Theatre

Hosted by Felicity Ethnic with her stage husband Daddy Ernie, in their Windrush Front Room, enjoy a relaxing rum punch as you take a walk down memory lane. This concert will capture the sound of the Bluespot Gram and breadth of musical influence that the Windrush Generation has had on British culture. Appearances from Johnny Orlanda the Windrush legend with his renditions of classic Windrush tracks and Winsome Moncrieffe-Mitchell singing her hit songs.

Location: Broadway Theatre, Rushey Grn, London SE6 4RU Date: Sunday 22nd June. Time: 7:30pm - 10:30pm Tickets: Buy tickets here for £23.50: www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/events

Rajiv’s Starry Feelings Storytelling

This free event for 3-7 year olds is a morning of storytelling with writer and theatre maker Niall Moorjani. Learn about Rajiv, a character who has feelings for everything, but he is angry and doesn’t know why. With the help of his father, he sets out on a journey to make sense of his feelings. It is a journey that will take him to a park, then up into the branches of a tree, and from there all the way to the stars... Join Niall telling their queer stories of heroes and adventures as they read their beautifully and stunningly illustrated story, helping children everywhere explore the complex emotions we all feel but cannot always name.

Location: Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin St, Deptford SE8 4RJ Date: Saturday 21st June. Time: 10:30am Tickets: No ticket required, this event is free to drop in

Davy’s Quiz Night at Wine Vaults Greenwich

Test out your general knowledge and trivia skills at Davy’s Quiz night, which is happening every third Thursday throughout summer. There are first and second place prizes available.

First place will get give you and the team a round of bowling at Wine Vault’s brand new boutique bowling alley, Vintners Lanes for you and the team after the quiz. Second place is a £60 bar tab. Each team is up to six players maximum.

Location: Davy’s Wine Vaults Greenwich, 161 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 8JA Dates: 19th June. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £2 per ticket, buy on the door

22 HISTORY

History

A PUB CRAWL WITH A PROSTITUTE, A MURDER, AND AN INJURED DONKEY The Borough mystery that shocked Victorian London

Dr Kirwain Illustrated Police News

A

t around 3pm on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 11, 1892, a group of men were seen walking along White Cross Street (now Ayres Street) supporting a finely dressed gentleman who appeared worse for wear, writes historian Neil Crossfield...

Witnesses heard the men singing ‘ta-rade boom-de day’ and urging their slightly stupefied colleague to join in. Scenes like this would not be unusual in Victorian Southwark, where a multitude of pubs catered to a clientele where excessive alcohol consumption was common.

The group were then seen to bundle the man into a darkened alley, at the rear entrance to the George IV pub in Southwark Bridge Road. While three men went in, only two walked out, and it was then that the body of Dr. William Peter Kirwain was discovered, slumped against the wall of the alley, and frothing at the mouth.

A police officer was called, he cut the man’s tight collar with his knife, and an ambulance was called. By the time the victim got to Guy’s hospital, the man was dead. When Dr. Carling of the Guy’s ‘dead room’ made his initial assessment of the victim, he ascertained that the cause of death had been strangulation.

Initial reports about the victim suggested that the victim, Dr Kirwain, was a model of Victorian respectability and virtue. He was born in Ireland in 1850 and had gained his medical qualification there. He had recently been working as a locum doctor in the East End. Dr. James MacLachlan, who lived at 200 Barking Road, had known Kirwain since 1875 and told a coroner that he believed that he was a sober and abstemious man.

As more details were discovered about the doctor, it appeared that underneath the veneer of respectability, there most

Illustrated Police News – Saturday 22 October Courtesy of 1892 British Newspaper Archive likely were darker secrets. Although he was not known to have any financial worries, Kirwain had frequently used pawn shops in the local area, although his friends just attributed this to an ‘eccentricity.’

He had left his digs at around 11am, smartly dressed, wearing a deep brown morning coat, a high hat, carrying a silk umbrella in his right hand, and light tan gloves. He was also wearing a gold ring on his little finger and a gold watch on a chain. Kirwain had visited Dr. MacLachlan at around 6pm before going to dinner with his friend’s brother.

Kirwain was last seen in the Aberfeldy Public House at around 11:15 on Tuesday night, when he left a colleague to return home to 212 Brixton Road, Kennington.

This was around six miles away, and several buses and trams ran along this route.

However, his landlady, Mrs. Eliza Hardley, reported that he did not return to his room that night. Had he decided to walk home and become waylaid in another pub?

We will never know, but the next

confirmed sighting was at 5:30 on the following morning when he was seen by Edwin Stirling, the Landlord of the King Alfred pub which stood on Newington Causeway, near to the Elephant and Castle.

Giving evidence, Stirling said the pub had opened as usual at 5am, and a slightly dishevelled-looking Dr. Kirwain had been in the pub. He was not alone and was in the company of a woman named Blanche Roberts.

Kirwain had ordered a glass of bitter for himself and two-penny-worth of Irish whiskey for the woman. By her own admission, his companion was an ‘unfortunate’ woman; one of thousands of poor Victorian women who had become sex workers to support themselves.

At around 10:15 that morning, the couple went into a florist on Great Dover Street, where a slightly unsteady Dr. Kirwain bought a flower for Ms Roberts. He had tried to give her a yellow chrysanthemum, but she had wanted a rose.

The florist recalled the doctor saying, ‘Give her what she wants’ before pulling

out a handful of coins, including ‘some loose silver, half-crowns, two-shilling pieces and two or three gold coins, all mixed up with some coppers. The florist also said that the doctor looked like he could do with a ‘good wash to refresh him’ and that the lady smelled ‘strongly of drink’.

After, they headed to the One Distillery in Borough High Street, where Kirwain bought more whisky for his lady friend.

The sight of this incongruous couple had created a stir, drawing attention to themselves as they trawled around the streets of the Borough.

Borough was a notoriously poor and crime-ridden area during this period, where prostitution was rife and several of the most verminous common lodging houses could be found, inhabited by those living on the very fringes of society but not yet desperate enough to go into the workhouse.

Groups of children began to follow the pair as they left the bar and went to sit in Red Cross Street Gardens. The children were calling Ms Roberts ‘TottieFay,’ just one of the aliases used by an

infamous inebriated woman who had been arrested and charged in court over one hundred times for drunkenness and general debauchery, becoming somewhat of a working-class anti-hero in the period.

The caretaker of Redcross Gardens had seen the children pelting the couple with stones and noted that the woman looked ‘three parts drunk’.

Unfortunately, the couple had attracted the attention of some slightly more menacing characters – Charles Balch, Edward Waller, John Noble, and Henry Lee. Balch and Waller were habitual criminals. Balch had been born in Lambeth around 1854 and was first before a judge at the age of fourteen for stealing boots, he was sentenced to 21 days imprisonment.

In 1868, he was convicted of stealing a pig’s head and sentenced to three months in prison. Other offenses were recorded, and he is eventually sentenced to seven years for stealing gooseberries in 1871.

He does not stay out of trouble for long, as in 1882, he was sent to prison for ten years for stealing beans.

Balch was a particularly violent

HISTORY 23

History Illustrated Police News

character; on the night detectives went to arrest him, they found him in the process of conducting a vicious assault on his wife. It is not surprising that he turned out like this, as his father was also a shady character who had been kicked to death in a fight at the Borough in 1887. Waller had been convicted of theft on three occasions and had also spent time in prison.

A witness named Alfred Kelly thought there was something suspicious about the way in which this group of men were following the doctor and Ms Roberts around and took it upon himself to follow them around the streets of the Borough for at least 2.5 hours.

At one point, he had seen the woman talking to the men and witnessed them trying to get Kirwain into a common lodging house. At around 1:30pm, the doctor was seen in the Lord Clyde pub in Peter Street (this pub is still serving today) in the company of three of the men, Balch, Waller, and Noble.

The landlady, Elizabeth Knight, thought that the doctor appeared drunk, and the men were buying him more drinks. At one point, he threw down and smashed

a glass that they were trying to make him drink. The insinuation was that he was being drugged.

Another witness was a 13-year-old boy named John Wentworth, who made a living by selling bundles of firewood around the area. If any further evidence is needed that the accused were a vicious gang, it was later reported in the press that threats had been made to persuade Wentworth not to testify against them in court.

Wentworth’s donkey was attacked in its stable and sustained serious head injuries, losing an eye in the process. This barbaric attack deprived the lad of his means of making money, as the donkey was used to carry the wood. Luckily, people began to send donations into an appeal fund for Wentworth, and eventually, the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals donated a new animal to Wentworth, along with a promise that they would track down the people who so grievously attacked his animal.

When the four men left the Lord Clyde, the doctor was being held up by Balch and Waller. This was when several people

heard the men singing. As they neared the passageway leading to the George IV pub, Balch and Waller pushed the doctor into the alleyway while Noble stood blocking the entrance.

We get some idea about what happened here from the testimony of another criminal called Featherstone, who was temporarily put into a holding cell with Waller whilst being transported to Holloway Prison after the men had been apprehended. Asking what he had been arrested for, Waller said for ‘doing in an old toff.’

Waller then described what had happened and said that he had put one hand inside the doctor’s shirt collar and the other over his mouth to prevent him from shouting. Balch, who was armed with a knife, accidentally stabbed Waller in the chin and then hit the doctor on the head, while Noble went through his pockets.

The prisoner asked Waller: ‘How much did you get?’. Waller replied, ‘One pound and six shillings.’ ‘That’s not much to kill a man for,’ said Featherstone, to which Waller replied: ‘We didn’t intend killing

him, and if we had known he had only a little bit like that, we shouldn’t have touched him’.

But kill him they had, and after initial hearings at Lambeth Police Court, the full trial took place at the Old Bailey on November 14, 1892. Masses of people had gathered outside, and the courtroom was crowded. Balch, Waller, and Noble were all tried for murder, but Henry Lee was due to be tried for the lesser crime of robbery with violence later.

A wide range of witnesses were called upon, including poor Ms Roberts. In the witness box she appeared a pitiable character, totally bewildered by the whole experience. She confirmed that she was an ‘unfortunate’ woman and seemed to have little recollection of the events on the day of the murder due to her having consumed a lot of alcohol.

She revealed that she often inhabited the common lodging houses and sometimes took men into them. There is a suggestion that she may have known the accused as they lived in the same neighbourhood, but we will never know this.

However, while she may have had

alcohol problems, it is possible that she had been advised to use this defence by the accused, who may have threatened her with retribution. There was also the potential that she would be implicated in the murder if she were found to have colluded with the men to rob him. It should be remembered that murder was a capital offence at this time.

Accepting that this was not a premeditated murder, all three men were found guilty of manslaughter while Lee was acquitted. Balch and Waller received a 20-year sentence each, and Noble 14 years. Waller would die in prison in 1907.

This case had another unfortunate victim, for when the doctor’s mother in Dublin was told about his murder, she collapsed and died just three days before the trial had started, so overcome was she with grief.

Little is known of what happened to the unfortunate woman who was caught up in this tragic affair, but the 1911 census shows a Blanche Roberts working as a domestic servant at Guy’s hospital, so we can only hope that her later years were more peaceful and stable.

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PUBLIC NOTICES 25

Thursday, June 12th 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (GREAT SUFFOLK STREET, PARK STREET, BOROUGH HIGH STREET, RENNIE STREET, UPPER GROUND, TANNER STREET, ASYLUM ROAD, CULMORE ROAD) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND WAITING & LOADING RESTRICTIONS) 1.

2.

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

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

(2b) Park Street, between Bank End and Porter Street (2c) Borough High Street, south bound lane of carriageway between No’s 223 – 227 (Mitre House) (2d) Rennie Street, between Stamford Street and Upper Ground (2e) Upper Ground, between Blackfriars Road and Rennie Street (2f) Tanner Street, between Pope Street and Tower Bridge Road (2g) Asylum Road, ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced between No’s 54 – No’s 42 on both sides of the carriageway (2h) Culmore Road, ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced between Asylum Road to the side of No’s 103 on both sides of the carriageway

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be (2a) Union Street, Great Guildford Street, Southwark Bridge Road, Sawyer Street, Loman Street. (2b) as indicated by the signs displayed. (2c) Marshalsea Road, Southwark Bridge Road, Great Suffolk Street (2d) Stamford, Blackfriars Road, Upper Ground Hatfields (2e) Blackfriars Road, Blackfriars Bridge, New Bridge Street, Fleet Street, The Strand, Aldwych, Lancaster Place, Waterloo Bridge, Stamford Street, Rennie Street, Upper Ground (2f) Riley Road, Purbrook Street, Tower Bridge Road (2g) & (2h) not applicable

Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 13 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION Proposed development at: South Dock Marina, Rope Street, Southwark, London, SE16 7SZ Take notice that application is being made by: Southwark Council, Mr. Gary Meeds.

For planning permission to: Refurbishment of South Dock Marina boatyard to include demolition and removal of all buildings and structures on site, renew services infrastructure, new electricity substation, underground drainage, and hard standings and provide new workshops, studios, toilets showers laundry and associated landscape.

Construct new covered boat repair areas with associated gantry and staircase. Removal of the existing crane and replace with new crane, pontoon adjacent to the crane and associated public realm works to the crane area. Addition of new trees to the river walk.

Local Planning Authority to whom the application is being submitted: Southwark Council Local Planning Authority address: Southwark Council, Environment Neighbourhoods & Growth, Planning Division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Any owner of the land or tenant who wishes to make representations about this application, should write to the council within 21 days of the date of this notice.

Signature:

Date 16.05.2025 Statement of owners’ rights: The grant of planning permission does not affect owners’ rights to retain or dispose of their property, unless there is some provision to the contrary in an agreement or lease.

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.

Statement of agricultural tenants' rights: The grant of planning permission for non-agricultural development may affect agricultural tenants' security of tenure.

6.

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.

'Owner' means a person having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest the unexpired term of which is not less than seven years.

7.

The closure will be in operation on the following dates (2a) 20th June (2b) 21st – 22nd June (2c) 23rd – 24th June (2d) 23rd June – 4th August (2e) 23rd June – 1st August (2f) 23rd June – 1st July (2g) & (2h) 24th – 27th June

This notice is for publication in a local newspaper.

8.

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

'Tenant' means a tenant of an agricultural holding any part of which is comprised in the land.

Dated this 12th June 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) LBSCR13800-3/blade (2b) LBSCR13971/nationwide (2c) LBSCR13970-1/nationwide (2d) W121285003-02074/sgn (2e) W120462745-02600/sgn (2f) SA-2067494/thames (2g) &(2h) 813901500055/tham Notice of Application to Vary a Premises Licence made under Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we Deen Atger have made application to Southwark Council to vary the Premises Licence in respect of Ugly Duck. 47/49 Tanner Street. London. SE1 3PL

New Council Tax for 2025-26 Following Council Assembly on 26 February 2025, Southwark’s council tax for the year April 2025 to March 2026 have been finalised. This includes the new precept from the Greater London Authority which was finalised on 25 February 2025.

The Southwark element of council tax has increased by 2.99% and there is a 2% increase for the Adult Social Care precept, a total of 4.99%. This is the maximum permitted increase. The Greater London Authority have increased their precept by 4.03%. The total overall council tax increase is 4.74%.

The proposed variation is as follows: Increase the capacity of the ground floor spaces to 500 and amend the times the premises can provide regulated entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings to be in line with our existing opening hours.

The provision of regulated entertainment:

Press Briefing

Days

Start time

Finish time

Thursday & Friday Saturday

12:00 10:00

23:30 23:30

Table of finalised council tax amounts per band

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

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

Date of application: 29th May 2025

Council Assembly: Agenda for Council Assembly on Wednesday 26 February 2025, 7.00 pm Southwark Council

www.southwark.gov.uk/followus

southwark.gov.uk I 1

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

26 PUBLIC NOTICES

Thursday, June 12th 2025

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

How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked 'confidential' will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX. Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; EIA - environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council - there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ - major planning application; PIP - application is for Permission in Principle; S106 - ; STDCA development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building; 30 CAMBERWELL GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8RE (Ref: 25/AP/1441) Construction of a part single and part two storey rear extension. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465) 10 POND COTTAGES COLLEGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7LE (Ref: 25/AP/1415) Construction of ancillary garden room (Within: Dulwich Village Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele 020 7525 3148) 2 GLENGALL TERRACE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 6NW (Ref: 25/AP/1443) Listed building consent for the repair of the rear historic external garden staircase, internal alterations to the lower ground floor and installation of bin and bike store in front garden.

(Within: Glengall Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Sandy Ng 020 7525 3244) 25 WOODWARDE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UN (Ref: 25/AP/1563) Demolition of existing rear conservatory for the construction of a single-storey ground floor rear extension; construction of rear loft dormer extension and enlargement of existing stairwell side dormer; reconfiguration of rear fenestrations including alteration to ground floors fenestration, lowering of second-floor window sill to form Juliet balcony, installation of new slot window to rear outrigger, and enlargement of side rooflight; installation of 9no. solar panels; Works to the rear garden include installation of an ASHP unit, replacement of existing garden shed, and associated landscaping. Works to the front garden include rebuilding the existing boundary wall, forming a new entrance gate and opening, installing a cycle shed, and associated landscaping (amended description) (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki 020 7525 0646) 42 CAMBERWELL GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8RE (Ref: 25/AP/1461) Listed building consent for installation of Regency cast iron railings and gate set in stone plinth to front elevation, with York stone steps, iron balusters and handrail to lightwell, replacement basement door and removal/replacement of render to lower ground floor front. Replacement French doors to rear lightwell, with timber framed infill at ground floor level. Internal alterations, including installation of a new kitchen, 2 x Regency fireplaces and alterations to modern partitions at lower ground, ground, first and second floors. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA)

Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Adeleh Haghgoo 020 7525 0474) 42 CAMBERWELL GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8RE (Ref: 25/AP/1460) Installation of Regency cast iron railings and gate set in stone plinth to front elevation, with York stone steps, iron balusters and handrail to lightwell, replacement basement door and removal/replacement of render to lower ground floor front. Replacement French doors to rear lightwell, with timber framed infill at ground floor level. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Adeleh Haghgoo 020 7525 0474) ADVERTISING RIGHT A02902 OUTSIDE 362 WALWORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 25/AP/1579) Display of an internally illuminated freestanding double-sided digital advertisement unit (advertised space measuring 1065mm x 1895mm). (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: James Holmes 020 7525 0803) 276A CAMBERWELL NEW ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 0RP (Ref: 25/AP/1589) Listed building consent for replacement of all existing windows with timber-framed sliding sash units, utilising single 6.8mm lowE laminated glazing to closely match the existing.

(Within: Camberwell New Road Camberwell New Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Adeleh Haghgoo 020 7525 0474) ADVERT UNIT A02906 OUTSIDE 69 SOUTHWARK BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 9HH (Ref: 25/AP/1584) Advertisement consent for display of an internally illuminated freestanding double sided digital advertisement unit (advertised space measuring 1065mm x 1895mm.; unit no A02906). (Within: Thrale Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: James Holmes 020 7525 0803) 44 CAMBERWELL CHURCH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8QZ (Ref: 25/AP/1464) Installation of flue on rear elevation. (Within: Camberwell Green CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: James Holmes 020 7525 0803) 118 BURBAGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE24 9HD (Ref: 25/AP/1455) Installation of 1 no. air source heat pump within acoustic enclosure and 1 no. pool's plant room, in rear garden and concealed with timber screening (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele 020 7525 3148) 2A MELBOURNE GROVE LONDON

SOUTHWARK SE22 8PL (Ref: 25/AP/1406) Variation of Condition 1 (Approved Plans) pursuant to planning permission ref. 23/AP/0029 for 'Redevelopment of the site to provide 9no. residential apartments and 1no. commercial unit, associated amenity space, landscaping, cycle and refuse storage, and associated ancillary works.' The amendments include the following: - Removal of the basement level in its entirety - Associated reconfiguration of ground, first, second, third and roof floor layout Enlargement of Ground Floor cycle store and addition of commercial cycle store - Reduction and repositioning of ground floor bin stores Removal of Unit 3 bedroom on second floor layout - Enlargement of the private amenity space on third floor layout - Introduction of additional PV panels at roof level. Reason(s) for publicity: MAJ (Contact: Lara Davison 020 7525 7595)

across the school site. The proposed works include the installation of new wire fences, reaching a maximum height of 2 meters above the existing walls, and painted black to match the existing gutters and other architectural details. (Within: The Mission CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Joseph Vadilonga 020 7525 5341) Dated: 10 Jun 2025 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date (or 14 days for Permission in Principle, 30 days for EIA development).

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

3 SOUTHWARK STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 1RQ (Ref: 25/AP/1647) Listed building consent for installation of 5no. rooflights. (Within: Borough High Street Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Rosie Poser 020 7525 7924) 71 PECKHAM ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8UH (Ref: 25/AP/1495) Removal of existing ground floor window and replacement with single glazed double doors to new painted metal balcony with steps to garden level. Infilling basement covered space to form new shower room and mini kitchen. Insulating this and single storey extension externally with timber boarding finish. Replacing single storey extension zinc roof with new to match existing with slope set at right angles to existing. Minor alterations and upgrading to basement to maintain fire separation between floors. (Within: Sceaux Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Anna Poulose 020 7525 3174) 71 PECKHAM ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8UH (Ref: 25/AP/1494) Removal of existing ground floor window and replacement with single glazed double doors to new painted metal balcony with steps to garden level. Infilling basement covered space to form new shower room and mini kitchen. Insulating this and single storey extension externally with timber boarding finish. Replacing single storey extension zinc roof with new to match existing with slope set at right angles to existing. Minor alterations and upgrading to basement to maintain fire separation between floors. (Within: Sceaux Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anna Poulose 020 7525 3174) ENGLISH MARTYRS RC PRIMARY SCHOOL FLINT STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 1RB (Ref: 25/AP/1270) Replacement of the existing chain link fences

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

Please take notice that I / we Kaybizz Limited Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of Kaybizz Restaurant, 215-219 Rye Lane, London SE15 4TP The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are

Please take notice that I / we OLI'S BAKERY LTD Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of Eagle Yard Arch 141 Walworth Road, London, England, SE1 6SP The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are

Days

Start time Finish time

The sale by retail of alcohol:

Monday to Sunday

11:00

23:00

The provision of regulated entertainment:

Monday to Sunday

11:00

23:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday

11:00

23:00

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

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

Date of application: 1st April 2025

The retail sale of alcohol:

Days Monday to Friday Saturday Sunday

Start time Finish time 11:00 22:30 10:00 23:00 11:00 22:00

The provision of regulated entertainment (music):

Monday to Saturday Sunday

08:00 08:00

23:00 22:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday

07:00

23:00

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

Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. Date of application: 5th June 2025

PUBLIC NOTICES 27

PUBLIC NOTICE London Borough of Lambeth

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

NOTICE OF DESIGNATION OF AREAS FOR SELECTIVE LICENSING

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (SUNRAY AVENUE, SHAD THAMES, HAWKSTONE ROAD)

Section 80, Housing Act 2004 1. The London Borough of Lambeth (“The Council”) in exercise of its powers under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 ("the Act") hereby designates for selective licensing the areas described in paragraph 5

(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:

CITATION, COMMENCEMENT AND DURATION 2. This Designation shall be known as the London Borough of Lambeth Phase 2 Designations for Areas for Selective Licensing 2025. All privately rented residential accommodation situated within the designated areas must be licensed with the Council unless subject to statutory exemption as set out in paragraph 6.

3. The Designation was confirmed on 23rd May 2025. The Designation fall within a description of designations for which confirmation is not required by Secretary of State, and come into force on 1st September 2025

2a) Sunray Avenue, between No’s 39 and No’s 27 (2b) Shad Thames, between Jamaica Road and Queen Elizabeth Street (2c) Hawkstone Road, at it’s Junction with Rotherhithe Old Road (outside Red Lion Boys Club)

4. The Designations shall cease to have effect on 31st August 2030 (not more than 5 years) or earlier if the Council revokes the scheme under section 84 of the Act. AREA TO WHICH THE DESIGNATION APPLIES

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be (2a) Sunray Avenue, Nairne Grove, Woodfarrs, Crosswaite Avenue. Queen Elizabeth Street, Lafone Street, Tooley Street (2b) Tanner Street, Tower Bridge Road, Queen Elizabeth Street, Tooley Street, Three Oak Lane, Queen Elizabeth Street. (2c) Lower Road, Jamaica Road, Southwark Park Road, Raymouth Road, Rotherhithe New Road, Hawkstone Road.

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.

6.

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.

7.

The closure will be in operation on the following dates (2a) 21st July – 8th August (2b) 30th June – 25th July (2c) 26th – 30th June.

8.

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

5. These designations apply to the following areas of the London Borough of Lambeth. The Designation is delineated in blue with the area itself coloured purple on the map in annex A below. The following wards are included: Wards included in Designation Brixton Acre Lane Brixton North Ward Clapham Common & Abbeville Clapham East Gipsy Hill Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction Oval St Martins Streatham Hill West & Thornton Streatham Wells

Brixton Rush Common Clapham Park Kennington Stockwell East West Dulwich

Brixton Windrush Clapham Town Myatts Field Stockwell West & Larkhall

APPLICATION OF THE DESIGNATION 6. This designation applies to any house(1) which is let or occupied under a tenancy or licence within the area described in paragraph 5 unless: a. the house is a house in multiple occupation [HMO] that falls within the nationally prescribed category of HMO that is required to be licensed as a ‘mandatory HMO’ under section 55(2)(a) Part 2 of the Act2(2). b. the house is a house in multiple occupation that falls within the prescribed category of HMO that is required to be licensed under the London Borough of Lambeth Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses of Multiple Occupation made on 9th December 2021 under Section 56 of the Housing Act 2004(3). c. the tenancy or licence of the house has been granted by a registered social landlord(4). d. the house is subject to an Interim or Final Management Order under Part 4 of the Act; e. the house is subject to a temporary exemption under section 86 of the Act; or f. the house is occupied under a tenancy or licence which is exempt under the Act or the occupation is of a building or part of a building so exempt as defined in Paragraph 5(f): Exempted tenancies or licences, Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions) (England) Order 2006 SI 370/2006.

EFFECT OF THE DESIGNATION 6. Subject to sub paragraphs 6(a) to (f) every house in the area specified in paragraph 5 that is occupied under a tenancy or licence shall be required to be licensed under section 85 of the Act(5).

7. The London Borough of Lambeth will comply with the notification requirements contained in section 83 of the Act and shall maintain a register of all houses registered under this designation, as required under section 232 of the Act(6).

If you are a landlord, managing agent or a tenant, or if you require information regarding this designation, or to apply for a licence, further information and assistance is available from the Council’s Private Rented Property Licensing Team by telephone on 020 7926 8591 or by email to PRSlicensing@lambeth.gov.uk, or by writing to Private Sector Enforcement and Regulation Service, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ. The Designation may be inspected at the above address during office hours. All landlords, managing agents or tenants within the designated area should obtain advice to ascertain whether their property is affected by the Designation by contacting the Council’s Private Rented Property Licensing Team.

Upon the Designation coming into force any person having control of or who manages a licensable property without a licence or allows a licensed property to be occupied by more households or persons other than as authorised by a licence, is liable to prosecution and upon summary conviction is liable to an unlimited fine pursuant to the provisions of section 95 of the Housing Act 2004. A person who breaches a condition of a licence is liable upon summary conviction to an unlimited fine. The Council, as an alternative to initiating a prosecution, may pursue one or more of a range of other enforcement actions including the imposition of a financial penalty of up to £30,000 and/or taking management control of unlicensed property. Further, where an offence has been committed an application may also be made by the Council and/or tenant under the provisions of section 96 and 97 of the Housing Act 2004 for a Rent Repayment Order to pay back up to 12 months’ rent, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. No notice under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 may be given in relation to an assured shorthold tenancy of the whole or part of an unlicensed house so long as it remains an unlicensed house.

Signed by Cabinet Member for Safer Communities: Councillor Dr Mahamed Hashi for and on behalf of the London Borough of Lambeth 1 For the definition of "house" see sections 79 and 99 of the Act 2 Section 55 of the Act defines which Houses in Multiple Occupation are required to be licensed under the Act. See also The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Descriptions) (England) Order 2005 (SI 2006/371) 3 Additional Licensing covers HMOs that are not within the scope of Mandatory HMO Licensing where tenants share one or more ‘basic amenities’ i.e. a WC, personal washing facilities or cooking facilities.

4 Section 79 (3) of the Act. For the definition of a Registered Social Landlord see Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996 5 See the Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions) (England) Order 2006 SI 370/2006 6 Section 232 of the Act and paragraph 11 of SI 373/2006

Annex A: “Map showing selective licensing designations with the designation boundaries marked in blue and the designation areas”

Dated this 12th June 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) 17748388/conway (2b) LBSSC13842-2CLOSURE/PJHARTE/L (2c) ANSL228512/virginmediaAL LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK WALKING ROUTES – BETHWIN ROAD AREA The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (Bethwin Road area) Order 202* The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting restrictions) (Bethwin Road area) Order 202* 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that it proposes to make 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 Orders which are to improve accessibility for pedestrians in the Bethwin Road area, would be to: (a)in BETHWIN ROAD north-west side opposite No. 59 Bethwin Road within existing Controlled Parking Zone ‘NC’ reduce existing permit-holders’ parking by 4.5 metres (11 metres remain) and replace with 4.5 metres of new ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions (double yellow lines ‘DYLs’); (b) convert existing ‘timed’ waiting restrictions (single yellow lines) ‘SYLs’ to new ‘DYLs’ (i) in BETHWIN ROAD north-west side opposite its junction with Thompsons Avenue (12 metres), and (ii) in THOMPSONS AVENUE north-east side south-east of its junction with Bethwin Road (36 metres which also accounts for the new kerb-line build-out); and (c) in THOMPSONS AVENUE north-east side south-east of its junction with Bethwin Road reduce existing ‘SYLs’ by 1 metre to account for a new dropped kerb to allow for access.

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

3. For more information contact the Council's Highways Team at Highways@southwark.gov.uk 4.Copies of the supporting documents (this Notice, the proposed Orders, and a statement of Southwark Council's reasons for making the Order) may be found online at https://consultation.appyway.com/southwark; and paper or digital copies of a plan showing the location and effect of the Orders and the supporting documents may be requested by emailing traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk, or inspected by appointment only at: Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Sustainability and Leisure, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH - from the date of this Notice until the end of a period of six weeks from the date on which the Orders are made. Email traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk (or call 077 3132 4742) for booking details.

5. Anyone wishing to make any representations either for or to object to the proposals, may use our consultation portal https://consultation.appyway.com/southwark or send a statement in writing to: Traffic Order Consultations, Highways, Southwark Council Environment, Sustainability & Leisure, P.O. Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX or traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk quoting reference ‘TMO2526-006 Walking Routes 1 Bethwin Rd area’ by 3 July 2025. Please note that if you wish to object to the proposals you must state the grounds on which your objection is made.

6.Under requirements of current access to information legislation, any letter, form or e-mail sent to the Council in response to this Notice may be subject to publication or disclosure, or both, including communication to other persons affected.

Dated 12 June 2025 Steven Grayer Interim Head of Service - Highways, Environment, Sustainability & Leisure

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

28 PUBLIC NOTICES LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (GREEN DRAGON COURT/LONDON BRIDGE STAIRCASE) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF PEDESTRIANS) 1.

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

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised signs are displayed, no person shall enter:London Bridge Staircase, located between Green Dragon Court and Borough High Street.

3.

The alternative routes for pedestrians will be via Montague Close.

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: 7th of July to the 21st of July 2025.

7.

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

Dated this 12th June 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: 7332 Council of the London Borough of Southwark PUBLIC NOTICE: ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 29 THE (RESTRICTION OF TRAFFIC) SPECIAL EVENTS ORDER 2025 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Traffic Order under section 29 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specified in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2.

The purpose of the Order is to facilitate special events, as indicated in the schedule to this notice.

3.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit any vehicle or cyclist from:(a) entering or proceeding in the length of street specified in the schedule to this notice on the date and between the hours specified in that schedule;. (b) waiting (including waiting for the purpose of delivering or collecting goods or loading or unloading a vehicle) in the length of street specified in the schedule to this notice.

4.

The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (a) any vehicle being used for the purposes of that event or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (b) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by the Council of the London Borough of Southwark.

5.

The alternative route will be adjacent roads as applicable.

For information regarding this notice, please contact Network & Parking at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 12th June 2025 Ian Law, Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment & Growth, 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: playstreets/streetparties/14th June Schedule

Thursday, June 12th 2025

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A3200 GLA ROAD (SOUTHWARK STREET, LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) ORDER (NO.2) 2025 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable water works to take place at A3200 Southwark Street.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle except pedal cycles from entering or proceeding in an easterly direction on Southwark Street between its junctions with Blackfriars Road and Hopton Street.

The Order will be effective at certain times from 7.00 AM on the 14th June 2025 until 7.00 PM on the 15th June 2025 or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

The Order will also permit all vehicles to turn right into Southwark Street from Southwark Bridge Road.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

5. At such times as the prohibition is in force an alternative route will be indicated by trafc signs for eastbound trafc via Blackfriars Road, Borough Road, Borough High Street, Marshalsea Road, Southwark Bridge Road, Southwark Street to normal route of travel. For northbound trafc via Blackfriars Bridge, Queen Victoria Street, Puddle Dock, Upper Thames Street, Queen Street Place, Southwark Bridge and Southwark Bridge Road and Southwark Street to normal route of travel.

Dated this 12th day of June 2025 Andrew Ulph Co-Ordination Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A205 GLA SIDE ROAD (UNDERHILL ROAD, LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPING) ORDER 2025 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable electrical installation works to take place at A205 GLA Side Road Underhill Road.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from: (1) proceeding in a southerly direction on Underhill Road between its junctions with the vehicle access to Dulwich Court, Underhill Road and Lordship Lane; (2) stopping on the eastern kerbline of Underhill Road from its junction with Lordship Lane to the extended northern building line of Dulwich Court, Underhill Road.

The Order will be effective at certain times from 10.00 PM on the 20th June 2025 until 5.00 AM on the 19th December 2025 or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

5. At such times as the prohibition is in force an alternative route will be indicated by trafc signs via Underhill Road, Melford Avenue and Lordship Lane to normal route of travel.

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

Dated this 12th day of June 2025 Andrew Ulph Co-Ordination Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

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

SPORT 29 Surrey 143-1 beat Durham 141-5 by nine wickets

By Jon Batham at the Oval DANNI WYATT-HODGE’S blistering 26-ball half-century set Surrey on their way to a thumping nine-wicket win over Durham in the Vitality Blast at the Oval last weekend.

Surrey thump Durham by nine wickets Armitage ran hard throughout and finally found the fence twice late on while Katherine Fraser hit the last ball of the innings for six to set the target.

Smith was quick to take up the challenge clubbing Grace Thompson to the fence four times in her opening over and when spinner Katie Levick

Sky rains on Dulwich parade Sutton 321-7 dec (59) vs Dulwich 24-0 (7) – match abandoned

By John Lewis DULWICH TRAVELLED to Sutton in the Premier Division of the AJ Sports Surrey Championship last weekend, but the match was abandoned after seven overs of the second innings.

With rain forecast, Dulwich put their opponents in to bat and reaped an early reward when acting skipper Harvey Booth took two wickets with successive balls to reduce them to 27-2 after nine overs. But this brought in Jayden Broodryk, who dominated the rest of the innings, scoring 150 not out off 144 balls. Two other batsmen

made half centuries in support, but tight bowling kept the scoring rate in check until the later stages of the innings. Sutton declared on 321-7 after 59 overs as soon as Broodryk reached his landmark score. Booth picked up two more wickets to finish with 4-70 off 14 overs.

James Schofield and Harrison Perry launched the Dulwich reply and had reached 24 without loss after seven overs when the rain, which had caused two earlier brief interruptions, set in for the rest of the day. The match was abandoned with both sides taking twelve points. All the other matches in the division were similarly abandoned, so Dulwich remain in seventh place.

This weekend, Dulwich travel to Wimbledon, who have also won two and lost two of their completed matches and are currently two points behind in an unaccustomed eighth position.

came on for the third over she was driven and pulled with equal disdain by the Surrey skipper.

Wyatt-Hodge caught the mood, cutting and driving Trudy Johnson to the fence to raise the 50-partnership in 22 balls.

Things got worse for Durham when Phoebe Turner dropped Smith a mid-

Danni Wyatt-Hodge

off on 34, but brilliant fielding on the fence at backward square saved a six from the next ball, the England allrounder parrying the ball back into play and keeping the hosts down to one.

Wyatt Hodge produced the first six, hammering Levick over the midwicket rope, but with the hundred

Photo by Keith Gillard

The England opener struck 2 6s and 11 4s in her 74 (36), sharing a stand of 94 for the first wicket with skipper Bryony Smith (44 from 28) as the hosts chased down a target of 142 with 43 balls to spare to return to the top of the table.

The onslaught came after Durham fought back from 29-3 to total 141-5, Hollie Armitage anchoring the effort with 50 (49) while Bess Heath (27 from 18) and Mia Rogers (25 from 20) played eye-catching cameos.

There were two wickets apiece for Ryana MacDonald-Gay (2-16) and Tash Farrant (2-25).

Durham were soon in trouble, MacDonald-Gay uprooting Suzie Bates’ middle stump after the New Zealand international gave her the charge.

MacDonald-Gay was at it again in her next over, spreadeagling Mady Villiers’s stumps and when Emma Marlow chipped one from Tash Farrant into the hands of Paige Scholfield, the visitors were 29-3.

Durham fought back with Armitage playing the anchor role and Heath and Rogers providing the impetus. Heath twice drove powerfully over cover and then mid-off for four in racing to 27 before Bryony Smith clung on to a good catch at mid-off to cut her charge short.

Rogers should have been stumped on 12 off the bowling of Dani Gregory, but celebrated the reprieve with some good straight hitting until she too didn’t get enough onto another drive, Scholfield again showing safe hands on the boundary.

DANNI HITS BLISTERING HALF-CENTURY

partnership in sight Smith pulled one from Turner into the hands of Villiers to end the stand at 94.

Wyatt-Hodge though continued to brutalize the Durham bowling adding a second straight six to her boundary count as Surrey galloped home.

“It definitely is a big win. We bowled and fielded really well as a team and then Danni and Bry smashed it and got us over the line,” MacDonald-Gay said: “It is always brilliant to contribute to the games. I love Suzie Bates, she’s a brilliant player, so she was a great wicket to take. If you keep the stumps in play you can have loads of different dismissals and it is a lot more difficult for the batter to score. You have to take high risks and if you miss I hit.

“We were very confident going into the batting innings. Bryony and Danni are very good players who work really well together because they are different and they score in different areas, so it must be really tricky to bowl to them as a pair.”

Durham all-rounder Villiers said: “You always know with a team like this they are going to come at you hard no matter what you get.

We didn’t go into their innings thinking we were massively shy, but in retrospect we were a few short, especially with how stacked they are with their batting line-up.

“Hollie stuck in there really well.

It is something we have spoke about, having an anchor through the innings and then looking to kick on.

Considering where we were at the end of the powerplay I think we did well to post a score like that.

“On a pitch like that against their batting line-up your margin for error is so small and if we missed slightly they punished us. Even our good balls were going for runs as well.

We have got a lot of young bowlers and it is good experience for them to be exposed to batters like them and we are just going to learn from it.”

Surrey were in action against The Blaze in midweek and travel to Essex this Sunday (June 15).

Lynn ABC treble up

By John Kelly LYNN ABC made it a treble at the London International Belt tournament in Hertfordshire last weekend.

Sahil Arubi was first up as he took on Ethan Weeks from Halling ABC. Arubi boxed superbly for all three rounds and won by unanimous decision.

Lynn coach Terry Pearson said: “This was Sahil’s second only bout of the season but he is showing improvement each time he competes.”

Courtney Vernon is the club’s only female boxer. She fought Tilly Souch from Paddy Johns ABC and also won by unanimous decision.

“This was a great win for Courtney as Tilly beat her earlier in the season in Courtney’s first bout,” Pearson said. “So to get the win in the belt competition was satisfying.”

In the senior division, Rasheed Odumoso defeated Leo Daley from

Fighters Rasheed Odumoso, Sahil Arubi and Courtney Vernon X Box ABC on a unanimous points decision.

Pearson described what their fighter was told.

Pearson said: “Rasheed was instructed that he must box to instruction to have any chance of winning as he was giving away a lot of experience to his opponent, and he did just that and won with a commanding performance.”

Meanwhile, Frankie Hanratty, Billy

MacDonald and Omari Sage Brown all received silver medals after winning their semi-finals, before falling short in their finals.

“I want to congratulate all the boxers that entered the competition,” Pearson said. “The way they all carried themselves over the weekend, they were a credit to the club.”

Lynn’s season has now finished but the club will remain open until July 22.

30 SPORT ANALYSIS

By Will Scott IT FEELS strange to already be thinking about next season with the corpse of the 2024/25 campaign barely cold. It was only a month ago that Millwall fans were put through an emotional ringer at Turf Moor, yet football moves quickly, and Alex Neil’s first pre-season as Lions boss is fast approaching.

Three players are set to return to Calmont Road following loan spells, while players like Ra’ees BanguraWilliams, Camiel Neghli, and Zak Lovelace will be back from injury - rejoining a squad that saw just four firstteam players depart as free agents.

After arriving mid-season, Neil will be able to take stock of where his squad is at without the relentless Championship schedule interfering, and there are several questions that hopefully the gaffer and the recruitment team will have resolved by the end of the summer ahead of a season that seems to hold much promise for the Lions.

Last week, I covered whether Mihailo Ivanovic can play as a lone striker, Tristan Crama’s best position, the importance of pre-season for the ‘technicians’, and whether Aidomo Emakhu can take the next step.

There are a few more dilemmas for Neil to mull over in the next few months, especially after the news of George Saville and Liam Roberts’ departures, and I will be delving into those this week.

WHO WILL BE MILLWALL’S STARTING GOALKEEPER NEXT SEASON?

Lukas Jensen’s season ended in such a cruel way. The Danish goalkeeper was starting to excel in his first season in the Championship after a tricky start to life at The Den, only to be brought low by an Achilles injury in training with four games left in the season.

With back-up goalkeeper Liam Roberts also out injured, Neil turned to a then nineteen-year-old academy goalkeeper George Evans, who had only made one senior appearance before - for National League side Sutton United.

Evans was drafted onto the side for their upcoming game away at Blackburn Rovers with little notice, and it was not the debut he likely would have dreamed of. The Rovers put the Lions to the sword, scoring four goals - most of which Evans could do little about.

Remarkably, Evans was able to pick himself up. He was helped by a dominant defensive performance against Norwich at The Den a few days later, with Millwall only conceding one shot on target as they beat the Canaries 3-1.

Then he put in the performance that made Millwall fans sit up and think Evans was more than just the next man up.

He made four saves as he kept a clean sheet against Swansea City, some of which were fantastic. A sprawling dive to keep out Jan Vipotnik’s glancing header. A quick rush out of the goal to stop the dangerous Eom Ji-Sung’s effort with his feet after the Korean was put through.

Evans was a worthy winner of the man of the match award as the Lions beat the Swans 1-0 - a crucial result for their play-off hopes.

While those hopes crumbled at Turf Moor, Evans still impressed in his fourgame stint as the starting goalkeeper.

It is important to note that firstly, Millwall are still in talks over a new contract with the shot-stopper, so he may not even be at the club next season, and he is still just 20 with only four

Alex Neil during Millwall’s 1-0 win against Portsmouth on April 5

THE KEY DECISIONS FACING ALEX NEIL AHEAD OF HIS FIRST PRE-SEASON AS MILLWALL HEAD COACH - PART 2 games of Championship experience under his belt - but he looked very promising and would certainly be one to keep around, perhaps as the cup goalkeeper or to send out on loan to get him more EFL experience.

It seems likely that the club will bring in a few experienced options, especially with Roberts leaving at the end of the month, but it is hard to weigh up what sort of keeper they should be bringing in.

A goalkeeper in Roberts’ vein who is happy to be the second goalkeeper and make the occasional cup start would be ideal, but then, who would be the option for first choice?

Jensen proved he was a very capable starter at the Championship level, and I would imagine he would come back in to start between the sticks once he is healthy again, so it would be hard to see the Lions looking to bring in a long-term option at the position.

A loan or a veteran goalkeeper on a short-term deal would suit the Lions best, and having Evans and a potential back-up goalkeeper compete for the starting position could be a useful competition to have in pre-season.

WHO WILL SAV’S DEPARTURE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR?

After nearly 250 appearances over four stints, Saville has opted to move on.

The veteran midfielder has given a lot to the club over the years, but would have likely featured in a reduced role had he chosen to re-sign with the club. Indeed, he already was.

Once Billy Mitchell returned from injury and was fully fit, he started eleven out of the next fifteen games, while Casper De Norre started every single game - meaning Saville mostly came off the bench when the aforementioned pair were both healthy.

His departure, as well as Ryan Wintle’s, who will return to his parent club Cardiff City, leaves a hole behind the two starting midfielders, one that a number of players could fill.

Alfie Massey and Dan Kelly are the two names that have been bandied around on social media following the news of Sav’s departure, and they are sensible suggestions.

Massey, nineteen, went on pre-season tour with the first team last summer and was handed his debut by Neil Harris in the EFL Cup. Shortly after, he signed a long-term deal with the club.

It was a meteoric rise for the teenager, who at that point had only played under18s football.

Now, with a full season of under-21s football under his belt, a strong preseason could give him the impetus to push for a role in the senior squad under Neil, and he is one to watch closely in the upcoming months.

Kelly, also nineteen, is another who is poised to kick on this season. The Lions snapped up the highly-rated Scottish youngster last summer after he turned down a new contract at Celtic, with Bayer Leverkusen reportedly also interested, and was described by Harris as being similar to a “young George Saville” shortly after he joined. What a

coincidence that is.

Kelly made four first-team appearances in total last season and was frequently included in the match-day squad. He is in and around the first team, and he has a big pre-season coming up.

Kelly was signed before Neil was appointed head coach, so the next few months will give Neil time to fully evaluate what stage his countryman is at in his development.

Of course, the Lions could also sign a midfielder - it is not an either/or situation, as the two departures have left the club a bit threadbare at the position.

Regardless, Massey and Kelly are both promising talents and could be set to have a more prominent role next season, depending on how pre-season goes.

WHERE DO THE JANUARY ‘FOR THE FUTURE’ SIGNINGS FIT IN NEIL’S PLANS?

Millwall’s spending spree in January was exciting to cover, especially in the final few days when it seemed like they were signing a player every other hour.

Those eight signings were divided between those who were expected to contribute to the first team right there and then, and the three who were more long-term options: Zak Lovelace (making his dramatic return), Benico Baker, and Ajay Matthews.

Matthews is the only player fans have really been able to get a glimpse of, with both Baker and Lovelace out injured for most of the following three/four months, and there has been a lot to like.

The eighteen-year-old striker was

highly regarded at Boro and had a host of Premier League clubs reportedly interested in his services last summer - and his talent is obvious. After overcoming a hamstring injury, he started to pour in goals for the under21s, and made six first-team match-day squads in the final months of the season.

When I asked Neil about his progress two months ago, he said this: “When he came in, he played his first game and tore his hamstring within about twelve minutes. That was disappointing.

“What we have learned from that point, going from playing under-21s football for Middlesbrough to playing first team football for Millwall is a decent jump.

“I think physically mainly we need to get his body a bit more robust. After his hamstring injury we focused on a lot of gym work. I think we still need to put a bit of size on him. I still think there’s elements of his game that we need to try and improve.

“But what he has shown is he’s got a knack for a goal. He’s got good movement in and about the box and he’s got an instinct to be in the right position when the ball comes in. Those things are a great platform for him showcase but also improve on.”

Pre-season will be a great opportunity for Matthews to work with Neil and improve the ‘robustness’ of his body. As I touched on in the last column, perhaps he could progress to the extent he is viewed as a potential striking partner for Ivanovic.

Lovelace and Baker are slightly harder to assess at the moment.

Lovelace, who is still only just nineteen, underwent knee surgery shortly after re-joining the club with the aim of being available for pre-season, and had a mixed few years at Rangers.

The forward made six appearances in three seasons and suffered a hamstring injury halfway through his only start for the club on October 8, 2023.

It is therefore hard to assess where he is at the moment. Is he a player who is ready to contribute to the first team? He has the talent and athleticism to thrive but Neil has not yet had a proper chance to assess him in training. Still a teenager, he is still very much one for the future, but he could also be a contributor in the short term as well.

Baker, 21, also had little chance to show Neil his qualities - with the club withdrawing him from training after diagnosing him with pubic symphysis shortly after he arrived.

The winger already has experience in the Premier League, coming off the bench six times for Brighton in the 2023-24 campaign, and was described as a “real game changer” by Port Vale boss Darren Moore, where he spent the first half of last season on loan.

When I asked about Baker’s progress in February, Neil referred to him as a “high impact” player, and Gallen pointed to his pace and skill in his signing announcement.

Clearly, he is a player the club think has a bright long-term future, and again, like Lovelace, it will be interesting to see when he figures in their first-team plans.

It is important to stress all three are still young - if they do not immediately feature in the first team next season, it is not a disaster. Lovelace and Baker need game time after suffering injuries, while Matthews is only just turning nineteen.

Regardless, they will certainly be ones to watch during pre-season - how much Matthews has improved, and where Neil thinks Baker and Lovelace are in their development.

SPORT 31

NEIL OUTLINES MILLWALL’S AMBITIONS FOR SUMMER WINDOW

By Will Scott

ALEX NEIL said Millwall would be “looking to strengthen at the firstteam level” this summer.

The Lions finished the 2024-25 campaign strongly, winning eight games in twelve, before narrowly missing out on a play-off spot by two points after losing away at centurions Burnley 3-1 on the final day of the season.

They now head into Neil’s first preseason as Millwall boss, and there have already been changes to the squad.

Shaun Hutchinson, Murray Wallace, Duncan Watmore, George Saville, Liam Roberts, and Aaron Connolly will all depart The Den at the month upon the expiration of their contracts, and the Lions will be looking to add to the six

long-term signings they made in the January window.

“I think we’re always looking to strengthen at the first team level,” Neil said. “It’s not just a case of strength indepth.

“I think what will happen is there’ll be opportunities in the market that will present themselves, and there’ll be others that we would like to pursue that might not come off for a variety of different reasons, whether it be finances, whether it be going to another team, whether it be, somebody maybe doesn’t want to move, logistics, whatever the case may be.

“But what we’ve had internal discussions about is: we want to come out this window in a stronger position than when we went into it, so that’s really quite clear. Jimmy wants to invest

By Will Scott MIHAILO IVANOVIC has been named the EA Sports FC EFL Young Player of the Month for April.

The 20-year-old striker was in fine form in April, scoring five goals in six appearances, including decisive braces in Millwall’s 2-1 win against Portsmouth and 3-1 win against Norwich City, and the Lions’ sole goal in their 4-1 loss away at Blackburn Rovers.

It was a successful end to the Serbian’s first season in English football, who joined the Lions for a then-club-record fee last August.

Ivanovic ended the campaign as Millwall’s top goalscorer, with thirteen goals in 40 appearances.

Head Coach Alex Neil told Millwall’s website, “It’s really pleasing to see Mihailo recognised with this award - it’s the cherry on top of what has been a very successful first season for him in English football.”

Neil added, “It’s easy to forget how young he is, given the form he’s shown in front of goal. He’s only 20-years-old, away from his family, in a new league and country - but

Mihailo Ivanovic celebrates after scoring a brace against Norwich City the way he’s adapted and shown a desire to constantly improve his game has been great to see. Scoring

in the club, invest in the squad, and try and improve us, but it’s not as easy as that. We’re not playing Championship Manager where you can just go and say, right, we’ll buy him and thanks you very much we’ll send you over that money. That’s not the way things work in reality.

“So there’s a lot of hard work that goes behind the scenes. The recruitment team, Steve Gallen, who’s obviously leading all that sort of side of things up is, pretty much on the phone 24/7. But, yeah, there’s huge amounts of work going on behind the scenes, and we’re confident that we’ll be in good shape coming to the start of this season.”

When asked about the preparations for the upcoming campaign, Neil said: “I’m always on the phone. Whether

it’s speaking to Jimmy, speaking to Steve, speaking to the staff members, speaking to the recruitment lads, just making sure that our lads are okay and that they’re enjoying their summer and getting the rest they need. Then also, obviously, looking to recruit players.

I think that’s key. There’s been a lot of work going on in the background.

“Obviously, as soon as the season ends, there are always plans, because you need to organize pre-season. The difficulty you’ve got with pre-season at times is the Premier League teams won’t talk to us about games for preseason until their season finishes, and they run two weeks beyond us. There are loads of bits that are ongoing throughout the summer. Nothing different to what I’ve been used to in the past, it’s quite similar.”

IVANOVIC BAGS EFL AWARD FOR APRIL five goals at such a crucial stage of the season was massive for us and, as part of a huge team effort, helped

us fight for a top six spot right up until the final day. It’s great to see him rewarded for that form.”

MILLWALL HEADS TO SPAIN FOR PRE-SEASON TOUR

By Will Scott MILLWALL WILL head to Spain in July for a summer training camp and will play two pre-season friendlies.

The Lions will face League One side Northampton Town at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia on Tuesday, July 15, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm local time.

The Cobblers finished nineteenth last season, five points above the drop zone, and are managed by Kevin Nolan.

Millwall will play a second friendly on Friday, July 18, with details on the opponent and kick-off time to be confirmed soon.

The club are also due to face AFC Wimbledon away at Cherry Red Records Stadium on Tuesday, July 22, with kick-off scheduled for 7.30 pm.

The Dons recently secured promotion to League One after beating Walsall 1-0 in the League Two play-off final.

Tickets are currently on sale, with the Lions having an initial allocation of 1,200 seats.

SUMMER FRIENDLIES

Tuesday, July 15 Millwall vs. Northampton Town (7pm) Friday, July 18 Millwall vs. (tbd) (tbd) Tuesday, July 22 AFC Wimbledon vs. Millwall (7.30pm) Saturday, July 26 Bromley vs. Millwall (3pm) Tuesday, July 29 Sutton United vs. Millwall (7.45pm)

‘It’s a statement’ – why Neil committed to Millwall in the long-term

By Will Scott ALEX NEIL described his decision to sign a new contract with Millwall as “a statement of my intention to be here for the longer term.”

As first reported by this paper, Neil signed a new contract with Millwall on Wednesday, June 4, that will keep him at the club for the foreseeable future, only just over five months after he was first appointed Lions boss on December 30.

The Scotsman took over a side that had only won once in their past nine games, and, after a slow start, guided

Millwall to within touching distance of the top six, with the Lions level on points with sixth-placed Coventry City heading into the final day of the season.

Millwall narrowly missed out on the play-offs after losing 3-1 away at second-placed Burnley, who finished the campaign unbeaten at Turf Moor, and finished eighth.

Neil wants to build on last season’s successes.

“It’s a huge feather in my cap in terms of the trust that Steve and Jimmy have shown in me,” Neil said. “They obviously gave me a new contract to

stay on and move the project on to what we want to try and do.

“Equally, I think it is hopefully a statement of my intention to be here for the longer term and try and build as a club. I think stability at every club is really important. I think a lot of people talk about it, but when it comes to the crunch, they don’t have the bravery sometimes to stick with it. So I think that we’re different in that respect.

“I know there’s been a lot of churn of late in terms of over the last couple of seasons, and I think that’s been something that’s not been planned, if

you like. From Jimmy’s perspective, I think there have been circumstances that have sort of led the way things have gone. But I think what it does show is how he sees sort of sustained success at the club, to try and achieve that. Hopefully, we can certainly build on that and do that together.

“For Jimmy and Steve and the club to have as much confidence in me, to give me a new contract to try and take this project forward, certainly for the next few seasons, is really important to me. It’s like anything else, that’s what you search for as a coach, because you want to be part of something bigger

than yourself. You want to try and drive it forward.

“More importantly, you want to try and do it with people who you believe in and a manner which you believe in. I think we’ve got a strategy which we’re all completely behind, and we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet.

The players understand what that is, the fans understand what that is, and that makes it really powerful. So from my perspective, I couldn’t really have hoped for the first four months to go as well as it has done, and I’ve committed myself to do that for even longer.”

DANNI HITS BLISTERING HALF-CENTURY

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

PAGE 29

SAV CALLS TIME ON MILLWALL CAREER Midfield stalwart departs after failing to agree new deal

By Will Scott MILLWALL CONFIRMED that George Saville will be leaving the club after his contract expires at the end of the month.

The 32-year-old midfielder made 49 appearances in all competitions in the past season, and finishes his Lions career having made 241 appearances and scored eighteen goals across four stints.

Saville was offered a new deal by the club, but this paper understands it was on lower wages, with the midfielder currently one of the highest-paid players in the squad.

The Northern Ireland international is understood to be well-respected by everybody at the club and is one of the leaders of the dressing room, but would likely have featured in a reduced role in the upcoming campaign.

After returning from injury, Billy Mitchell started nine of the twelve games he was fully fit for, while Casper De Norre featured in every single

game - meaning Saville often came off the bench in the latter half of the season.

There are also a number of young, promising midfielders who could be set to feature more prominently for the first team this season, including Dan Kelly, Alfie Massey, and Ra’ees Bangura-Williams.

The decision to let Saville leave is an extension of the club’s new transfer strategy - and shows the new reality of how Millwall will operate in the transfer market and when considering contract extensions. Sentimental emotion seems less powerful now than it did before.

Saville departs the club twelve years after first pulling on the shirt, joining Millwall on a short-term loan from Chelsea in February 2013.

He returned temporarily again in the 2015-16 campaign, this time on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Saville joined Millwall permanently in the summer of 2017 and enjoyed a strong season, scoring ten goals and

Liam Roberts to leave Millwall

By Will Scott LIAM ROBERTS is set to leave Millwall after his contract expires at the end of the month.

George Saville finishing as the Lions’ joint-top scorer.

The midfielder’s form attracted attention from fellow Championship side Middlesbrough, who signed him on loan with an obligation to buy on transfer deadline day in 2018, with the Lions netting £8 million from his sale - a club-record fee at the time.

Saville spent three years at Boro before rejoining Millwall in the summer of 2021.

Millwall director of football Steve Gallen told the club’s website: “George leaves with our very best wishes and genuine thanks for everything he’s done for the club over the years.

“He’s always given 100% in a Millwall shirt and has been someone the squad could depend on in the good and difficult times.

“We offered George a new deal that reflected the role we saw for him moving forward, but in the end, we couldn’t quite reach an agreement.

We completely respect his decision and wish him nothing but success wherever he goes next.

“George is hugely respected by everyone here and will always be welcome back at The Den - not just as a former player, but as a friend to many.”

Saville posted on social media: “Today I’m leaving Millwall - a decision that comes with a heavy heart.

“I want to thank the fans more than anything - you’ve been brilliant with me. Through the good times and the bad, you’ve always backed me, and I’ll never forget that. You lot are what makes this club special.

“This is a proper club with proper people. I want to thank everyone behind-the-scenes and all my team-mates for the culture and the environment we built to make every day a day I looked forward to. I’ve made friends for life.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t think this day would come so soon, but that’s football, and I’m looking forward to my next chapter. I’ll be supporting you guys from a distance.

“Big kiss, Savs.”

Millwall entered into contract extension talks with the 30-year-old goalkeeper, but the two sides were unable to come to an agreement.

Roberts joined the club last summer as a free agent and made six appearances in all competitions for the Lions.

Roberts came through Walsall’s academy, spending four seasons as the Saddlers’ number one before signing with Northampton Town ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. The following summer, he signed with Middlesbrough, spending two seasons there, one of which was on loan at Barnsley.

Roberts told Millwall’s website: “As I say goodbye to Millwall, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the fans, my team-mates and all the staff. It has been a real honour to represent this club over the past year and play in front of such a passionate fanbase. Sharing the dressing room with such a special group of players has been a privilege.

“My family and I were shown incredible support during one of the most difficult times in our lives, and we’ll never forget the kindness and care we received from everyone connected to the club. That will stay with us forever.

“As I look ahead, my main goal is to play regularly and consistently at FirstTeam level and I’m excited to see what the next chapter holds for me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I’ll always be grateful for my time here and I wish Millwall nothing but success in the future.”

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