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Southwark News,Thursday November 19th, 2015
ROTHERHITHE
BERMONDSEY
Agreement reached on new town centre for Canada Water By Joey Millar
joey@southwarknews.co.uk
A BIG step was taken in Canada Water’s massive regeneration project this week when Southwark Council approved British Land’s ‘head of terms’ – the basis of an agreement which will enable the delivery of the 5.5m square-foot town centre development.
The huge £2 billion project covers three main sites: the former Harmsworth Quays printworks, the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and the Mast Leisure Centre. British Land and Southwark Council hope to create a new town centre at the site, with plans for “homes, retail, restaurants, offices, culture, leisure and potential higher education” facilities. The head of terms agreement included a commitment to deliver 35 per cent affordable housing in the site, with the council also holding an option to buy the site’s social-rented homes. The masterplan recommendations approved by the council also includes a site for a new leisure centre to replace the current Seven
Islands Leisure Centre in Lower Road. Councillor Mark Williams, Southwark cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, said: “Canada Water represents an enormous opportunity for the local community and Southwark as a whole. The heads of terms sets out how the council will achieve all of these aims, and subject to further negotiation a further report that will authorise exchange of contracts will be brought to cabinet in 2016 for final approval.” Emma Cariaga, Project Director for the Canada Water Masterplan, said: “At Canada Water, we have a very exciting opportunity to deliver a major new town centre for the area alongside new homes, retail, restaurants, offices, culture, leisure and potential higher education uses set in a network of streets and open spaces including new parks. “The agreement of the Heads of Terms is the next step in achieving that vision and we look forward to working with the London Borough of Southwark further on this exciting project.”
Leisure centre consultation starts soon A NEW leisure centre to replace the Seven Islands Leisure Centre will be constructed as part of the Canada Water project.
The site proposed by Southwark Council Cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, Mark Williams, however has been criticised by green campaigners. The site is located in a green patch of land at the western edge of the Surrey Quays Car Park. Consultation with residents will open next month and will be available through Southwark Council’s planning portal at planbuild.southwark.gov.uk
THE COUNCIL and the News are taking part in a pilot scheme to make planning applications more accessible to local residents.
To register and to search, comment and view information on planning applications, as well as get email alerts visit: www.southwark.gov.uk/pla nningregister You can also view current planning applications on Southwark Maps at http://www.southwark.gov. uk/info/200212/egovernme nt/1370/southwark_maps or by typing ‘Southwark Maps’ into a search engine.
Man charged with estate stabbing WALWORTH
DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING an alleged stabbing at the Aylesbury Estate last week have charged a man with attempted murder. Roger Carson, 54, of Thurlow Street, was arrested following the incident on November 12 and charged the following day. A 33-year-old man was left in a critical
condition following the alleged attack, but is now in a stable condition. According to police, the victim’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening and he is recovering. Carson appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates court on November 14. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in Woolwich Crown Court on December 11.
Jury out on Ben Purdy murder trial
VICTIM... Ben Purdy
JOEY By court reporter
news@southwarknews.co.uk
PURDY -
THE JURY trying a jilted ex-boyfriend accused of gunning down an 18-yearold trainee plumber “to teach him a lesson” has retired to consider its verdict.
The Old Bailey heard last week that 22year-old Michael Bagnall, accused of organising the murder of Ben Purdy, had threatened to “blow his brains out” shortly before the fatal attack on November 23 last year. Bagnall allegedly organised the revenge hit on Bermondsey teen Ben to “teach him a lesson” when he started dating his exgirlfriend. He raised a posse including his uncle, Andrew Bayne, 37, to hunt down Ben and shoot him dead, it is said. The prosecution claim Bayne fired the deadly shot, having been “wound up” by Bagnall, who pointed out Mr Purdy as the intended target. But Andrew Lloyd-Eley QC, defending Bayne, suggested there could have been a second gun shot fired from a different gun during the attack. He told the jury during his closing speech: “It’s true that Michael threatened to blow his brains out. Maybe it was an accident of speech, or perhaps he was preparing for that eventuality – it’s a matter for you.” Mr Lloyd-Eley said the angle of the gunshot wound suggests it was fired a head height rather than from Bayne’s position in the driver’s seat of his car. He also said there was evidence to support the claim that a second shot was fired from a different gun. He said: “The car is only there for threeand-a-half seconds and there’s no time for a second shot as it was not a self-loading
pistol.” “That second shot must have come from a different gun being held by someone else. It’s likely to have been somebody standing nearby who had access to a gun. Is it possible Ben Purdy dropped his gun and it was picked up by someone – it’s a matter entirely for you.” Bagnall claims his uncle produced a gun unexpectedly and he fled immediately after he heard a gunshot ring out. Mr Lloyd-Eley said CCTV shows the car Bayne was driving was in a position to fire a shot for just three and a half seconds. He said there was a five and a half second period between the first shot and Bagnall running away, when he was obscured by a van. He asked: “What was he doing for those five and a half seconds? If he had run off straight away, just run off down the park, it wouldn’t have taken five and a half seconds to clear the back of the van. Michael Bagnall and Andrew Bayne, of Alpine Road, Rotherhithe, deny murder. Bagnall’s cousins Reece Bayne, 19, of Concorde Way, also in Rotherhithe, and Harry McAleer, 18, of Elcot Avenue, Peckham, were also in the car but were cleared of murder earlier in the trial due to lack of evidence. Michael Bagnall, his 20-year-old sister Lee-Ann Bagnall and Anthony Bayne, both also of Alpine Road, Rotherhithe, all deny affray relating to the earlier confrontation. Michael Bagnall, Reece Bayne, and Harry McAleer all deny conspiracy to commit assault occasioning ABH. Andrew Bayne denies possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. At the time of going to press, the jury had not made its decision.
Go to www.southwarknews.co.uk for the verdict