Southwark News - September 8th 2022

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‘hard bits’ shaped me, says local mp hopeful

Pages 26-27

SPOrt

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ExcluSivE

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

Peter BaBudu, former Labour councillor for rye Lane, has announced he will run to become the next Labour candidate for Camberwell and Peckham.

In December 2021, Labour MP Harriet Harman announced she would stand down at the next election after almost forty years in the role, sparking a contest to stand in one of the safest Labour seats in London.

In a News exclusive, Peckham-raised Peter kicks off his campaign for the position, promising to fight for better housing, a way out of the cost-ofliving crisis and a better future for young people.

Having grown up just off Friary Road, and educated at St Francis Catholic Primary School and later St Thomas the Apostle, Camberwell and Peckham is indisputably home for Peter.

“I lived a life pretty representative of here and that included the hard bits as well,” he says.

Although he speaks fondly of memories playing

football in Burgess Park, it’s those “hard bits” that have shaped his political outlook.

“I was excluded at five-years-old for reasons that weren’t clear to my mum at the time and still aren’t clear to us now,” he said.

“For my parents it was tough. My mum had to go to work so there was navigating that. My mum said they found my behaviour hard to control. I can’t help but think that, at five-years-old, there have got to be types of prejudices that play into that decision.”

While a Labour councillor, Peter brought Ofsted, regional school officers and parents together to come up with a strategy to end school exclusions.

In July this year, Southwark adopted the Inclusion Charter, pledging to stop excluding pupils except when “unavoidable to safeguard children”, a move which received national attention. Peter says education eventually became “a way out” for him. He received an education maintenance allowance, a new Labour policy which gave grants to sixth formers to encourage them to stay in school.

Peter says receiving that support from

the government “was one of the things that politicised me” and he has carried that ethos into office. So, while a councillor, Peter launched the Southwark Pioneers Fund which brought millions of pounds to women and minorityowned businesses in Southwark.

As a Philosophy Politics and Economics undergraduate at Oxford University in 2001, his first trip home was because his cousin Nana OseiAgyapong had been fatally shot.

Today, a father-of-three, all of whom live in the constituency, Peter helps lead the Youth Endowment Fund. Its aim is to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence.

Asked what Harriet Harman might have done better, Peter said: “I think Harriet Harman has been a fantastic representative for Camberwell and Peckham over the last forty years.

“As an MP I would look to establish a constituency office so I could have a firm local presence and get to people before they reach crisis point.”

“I think that at times it [not having a constituency office] has made it harder for people

to be heard. If I became MP, I would be looking to establish one within the first 100 days,” he added.

On his priorities for Peckham and Camberwell, he said: “I think the big priorities for the area are ‘how do you make it through the cost-of-living crisis?’”

He said he would back freezes on energy bills, support the use of renewable energy sources, and push for a long-term strategy to protect businesses. He also picked out housing as a vital issue, pledging to “push developers and hold them to account so they do developments that focus on the community”.

Peter said: “I am standing because I believe representation matters. Not just people that look like you, though that’s important. But people with lived experience of the problems you facepeople who understand what it’s like.

“And although we share many common experiences, it’s not enough. Listening is vital. And I promise to be an MP who truly hears the community. That’s why today I’m launching a community survey to dig down into the issues facing people in Camberwell and Peckham.”

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Former councillor Peter Babudu launches campaign to become Camberwell and Peckham’s next Labour candidate

By Matt Pearce news@southwarknews.co.uk

a LoCaL gardener is on a mission to transform disused green spaces across the borough into what he calls mini ‘Food Forests’,

Thirty-one year-old horticulturist and Camberwell resident for six years Ben Peirson has already transformed a small patch of land in Camberwell into a mini food forest and is currently undertaking a larger project at St Francis Park, just off Dog Kennel Hill in East Dulwich.

“I’ve been involved in community gardening and food growing in London for a while, and I’ve been interested in transforming unused and derelict bits of public land into spaces for food growing and biodiversity,” says Ben. “Places where people can come together and experiment with different food growing methods but don’t have the space or ability to do where they live.”

Ben created S.L.U.G. (South London Urban Growers) in 2019 with fellow horticulturist Alice Ashton from Tulse Hill, but uses a collective of volunteers.

The pair aim to get local people in each area to come in on the projects and have managed to win some funding from Southwark Council.

Explaining the Food Forest concept to the News, Ben said it was more than just growing food you can eat.

Food Forests’ are assemblies of edible and useful plants that mimic a natural forest. The gardeners plant perennial plants (plants that last more than two years) and edibles that are well adapted to growing in London’s warming and increasingly drought and flood prone climate. The crops include Tree Kale, Oca Root and Passionfruit, to name just a few.

“A food forest is a dynamic growing system with various types of plants at different heights, interacting with each other and supporting each other in different ways,” he said. “One plant might be sucking up nutrients from deep in the soil, and then distributing that to plants around it. Other plants might be deterring pests that might attack certain plants in the forest. It’s self-reliant, self-sustaining, like a natural forest.”

So it’s a more eco-friendly system of growing?

“Yeah, and it’s regenerative as well, which is more than just sustainable, more than just sustaining a degraded eco system as it is,” responds Ben at the St Francis Park project, while ‘turning’ his compost to keep it moist, ensuring it carries on decomposing. “It’s building the eco system, building the soil, building diverse plant and insect and animal species, and all the relationships they have that make the food forest productive and resilient. After three to five years, it should be quite established, and self-sustaining. People will be able to come along and harvest, do a bit of pruning, and it’ll hopefully be quite clear how it’s functioning and how everything can look after itself.”

“I think it’s a brilliant idea, and I think it’s essential, because people are getting more and more interested in taking control of their food supply,” S.L.U.G. volunteer and East Dulwich resident Tariq Marouf told the News. He attends the weekly sessions where members of the public are invited to come down to the garden and help landscape the area, as well as learn more about gardening.

S.L.U.G have developed a group of 30 active volunteers, with ten people on average coming down to help out each session. “The idea is to create an educational and edible resource for the community,” says Ben, who was now plunging perforated pipes deep into the compost, making sure the lower layers receive enough oxygen. “It also enhances

biodiversity, sequesters carbon, absorbs rainwater runoff, and recycles local green waste to be used as mulch.”

The green waste refers to mounds of grass, piles of logs, and bags of used coffee grounds surrounding the three vast compost bays the group have built in St. Francis Park.

“We’ve got wood chip from tree surgeons, the grass cuttings from the Dulwich Hamlet football pitch, hops and barley from local brewers, coffee grounds from local coffee shops, and then all the leaves and cuttings that the park keepers cut they put here.” All of these discarded by-products go into the bays, creating a more nutrient and microbe-rich compost.

S.L.U.G’s first demo site was Garage Garden on Bromar Road, Camberwell, which these gardeners started working on in January 2019. This smaller space won approval from the council, who provided an £800 Cleaner Greener Safer grant for the growers to buy plants and materials. All labour was voluntary.

“It’s tiny,” explains Ben. “It’s like two parking spaces basically. Before that it was a little public space with a bench and mostly concrete slabs and a few overgrown shrubs. People used to leave a lot of rubbish there. And now, we’ve created a few different planting areas and two hugelkultur mounds at the bottom. There’s various perennial plants growing

t he local gardeners transforming disused patches of land in s outhwark into f ood f orests

there and the local residents were really involved with creating the project.”

‘Hugelkultur mounds’ refers to a traditional growing method from Eastern Europe, which recycles green waste into a self-irrigating, self-fertilising and self-heating food growing system – one example of S.L.U.G’s distinctive botanical methods. The foods planted at Garage Garden include tamarillo (a type of perennial tomato), sorrel, mint and wild garlic.

After proving the success of the project, Southwark Council provided a second Cleaner Greener Safer grant to begin works in the much bigger area within St. Francis Park. The park has been there for nearly 30 years, used as planning gain to build the Sainsbury’s Dulwich superstore, but mainly acts as a cutthrough for shoppers. There’s currently little community involvement in the park, which is maintained by the supermarket. “It’s definitely a neglected park,” confirms Ben. S.L.U.G wants to change that by planting a larger food forest, with a wider variety of perennials compared to Garage Garden. They also want to build a seating area to allow the community to sit and enjoy the garden, as well as use produce from it.

The recent drought has slowed down works in St. Francis Park, but the group have still been meeting to prepare the

soil in the planting zone. S.L.U.G’s next sessions run with volunteers will be focused on making a wormery, strimming and mulching the food forest area, and working on rainwater harvesting systems for the compost.

In September, S.L.U.G will get the keys to their next project to take over the Bellenden Road Nature Garden in Peckham, which has been left overgrown and has fallen victim to flytipping, although it is owned by Southwark Council. The idea is to bring it back into use for a nature study area for children, a concept once undertaken by London Wildlife Trust a few years ago. The garden will also act as a food growing resource for the nearby Riverside Estate and the Bellenden Road Residents group. The garden is located opposite Cherry Garden School in Peckham.

“We’ve had meetings with them and got ideas from them,” says Ben. “They’ve been involved in the planning and the proposal of the project to Southwark Council. All of the ideas that they’ve come up with and ways that they want to use the space will be fed into the design of the garden over the next few months.”

The special needs school have proposed multiple ideas to create a natural play and educational space for the children. These ideas include a sensory herb area, different textures to walk or run

wheelchairs over, and a ‘mud kitchen’ for the kids to enjoy.

The green fingered group have been designated funding for the Bellenden Road Nature Garden from Southwark Council’s neighbourhoods fund, which will include a small amount money for the hours of labour that will be put into regenerating the next project. This will in turn help speed up the process, as all work done so far has been done in these gardener’s spare time. As per the other projects, volunteers are encouraged to come down, help out, and share their ideas as to what could go into this community facility.

S.L.U.G are holding an information evening regarding the Bellenden Road site at the Copleston Centre in Peckham on the 7th September 6-8pm.

For these gardeners, the work doesn’t stop here. They want to demonstrate a blueprint for future urban agriculture, and share the magic of growing your own produce. These dilapidated gardens in Southwark are currently hollow spaces, neatly mirroring the way Ben describes the bags of green waste: “Things that aren’t always put to good use”.

For more details and to get involved email contactslug2020@gmail.com or check out them out on Instagram @_s.l.u.g._

Garage Garden, S.L.U.G’s first Food Forest in Camberwell.

Garage Garden before the transformation.

Ben Peirson at S.L.U.G’s latest project in St. Francis Park

fears buses could be banned from tower bridge

ExcluSivE

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

tower Bridge could be forced to close to buses because of weight concerns, according to the organisation that manages the bridge.

At the moment, three buses cross the bridge - the 78, the 42 and the 343. They are exempt from the weight restriction rule on vehicles over eighteen tonnes.

But since neighbouring London Bridge closed to private cars, lorries and vans between 7am and 7pm in 2020, drivers of heavier vehicles have been turning to Tower Bridge as an alternative river crossing, just a few hundred metres away, according to the City of London corporation, which indirectly owns the bridge.

Transport for London (TfL), which manages the road across Tower Bridge, is supposed to make sure vehicles heavier than eighteen tonnes do not cross the bridge. But the transport agency has been neglecting its duties, the corporation claimed.

A report prepared for the corporation meeting this week said: “TfL recognise that protecting the bridge is critically important and has undertaken to

Pre-war buses to return to Peckham

investigate and implement additional measures to reduce these vehicles.

“These include investigating additional measures such as signage, stiffer penalties, engaging with freight operators and continued monitoring.

“Unfortunately, we have seen no evidence or had any discussions on these measures.”

Contacted for comment by the News, TfL said it was looking into the issue.

If nothing changes, the corporation said, it could be forced to ban buses from the bridge to protect it - including tourist buses - and may even lower the weight restriction to bar some lighter vehicles.

The corporation discussed putting up physical barriers, such as those at the Rotherhithe Tunnel.

The issue sheds light on the lack of Thames crossings in the east of the capital, especially those suitable for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

The only permitted river crossing for HGVs in east London is the Blackwall Tunnel, which has height restrictions of four metres northbound and 4.7 metres southbound. Other than that, drivers can take the Woolwich Ferry a few miles further east, or the Dartford Crossing.

The Silvertown Tunnel, backed by mayor Sadiq Khan in the face of vehement local opposition, will provide another crossing for HGVs when it opens in 2025.

c omeback after covid

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

Vintage Buses, some dating back to 1937, will run along the 37 route into Peckham alongside normal transport for London (tfL) buses next month.

Bus users can take free trips down memory lane on Routemasters, RTs and RTLs, with volunteer conductors handing out mock-up tickets.

The event, organised by The London Bus Museum (LBS), Weybridge, which holds the world’s largest collection of buses, will be on Saturday, October 1.

Deryck Fill, Marketing Trustee and Events Manager at (LBS) said: “People

like seeing them on the roads. It’s rather evocative to see a bus from 70 years ago trundling along.”

The 110-year-old 37 route, runs through Herne Hill, Dulwich, Goose Green and Peckham. It’s been chosen based on its historical value and to minimise costs incurred from going through the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Among the buses featured will be the RT. Operational from 1939 to 1954, they were developed before WW2 and formed the largest standardised bus fleet in the world.

Deryck Fill said: “It’s a trip down memory lane. People who come with their grandchildren can tell them about where the bus conductor would stand, where the bells were and say ‘I went to

school on this bus’.”

Some buses will be ‘flypasts’ so won’t stop at bus stops. But many will stop for passengers who might be surprised when told to put their oyster card away.

“They’ll get on and they’ll be told they can go to Peckham for free and they’ll go ‘what?’ Because nowadays you never get anything for free,” said Deryck.

The bus conductors - volunteers from the LBS - will answer questions about the bus and provide historical authenticity.

But they also serve a practical purpose. All open platform buses require a conductor to prevent people from jumping off in between stops.

The buses are expected to leave Putney Heath every fifteen minutes from 10am to 5pm.

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

A 93-ye A r-old widow has gone back to the area of southwark where she got married 56 years ago, as part of an event to help tackle loneliness among elderly people.

Liz, who got married at St George’s Cathedral in 1966, took part in the ‘Comeback after Covid’ event for over75s at the Imperial War Museum, over the road on Sunday (September 4).

“It brought back lovely memories,” Liz said. “It really was a special day.”

The free tea party was organised by the Re-engage charity. Victoria Clarke, the

Southwark coordinator for the charity, said: “It was lovely to be in such a great location, especially after all the long months of the Covid shutdown.

Victoria called for anyone who would be able to drive people to and from tea party venues to get in touch.

She added: “There are a lot of lonely older people in this area and events such as our tea parties do so much to add to their lives.

“So, if you have a few spare hours a month please volunteer. You will gain so much from it because our guests always have such wonderful stories to tell.” If you would like to volunteer for Reengage please call: 0800 716 543, or visit www.reengage.org.uk

ExcluSivE

Photo by Jim Owen

Liz on the far right with guests and volunteers

marie curie house residents still waiting for fire report

Resident Charmain Williams

Go all out on days out with day trips by train

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

r esidents Li V ing in a Camberwell housing block riddled with fire safety defects are still waiting for a council report -months after it was due to be completed.

The council commissioned the report to find out why Marie Curie House, Sceaux Gardens, was not checked for all fire safety defects after the Lakanal House fire.

The Lakanal House fire took six lives in 2009 but, incredibly, sister block Marie Curie House was not assessed for all similar defects until 2020.

After a period of a waking watch, residents were told that they would have to move out so more defects could be examined. However, some residents remain in the block.

The report was due to be completed in July but despite multiple requests from the News, the council has not said when residents will see the report’s findings.

Charmain Williams, 53, a Marie Curie House tenant for ten years, wants to see the report: “I’m interested because I would like to know why they didn’t check it before. Maybe we would have moved back in now because the major works would have happened by now.”

Charmain, like all the block’s residents, was told in May 2021 that she’d have to move out while repair works took place because the fire defects were so severe.

But it hasn’t been easy for residents to find new homes. Charmain said: “It’s very hard because you’re settled at a place and then hearing you have to move - it’s impossible to find somewhere to move that quick.

“I like my place and I love the area. It’s very convenient for me. I don’t have to go far to get my shopping and I’m in a communal area that provides everything for me.”

In an FAQ sheet delivered to leaseholders in

The document appeared to suggest that it was only because of a planned major works programme, and going above and beyond legal requirements, that the same issues had come to light.

The report on why all defects were not addressed was originally due in May 2022 but when it was compiled, the council said it was “not good enough” and “failed to answer key questions”.

The council later clarified that the report had only been a “draft” and that it would be completed in July.

But two months on, residents are still waiting.

Explaining the report’s delay, a council officer said someone had been on leave and a cabinet member had had an emergency. But that was over three weeks ago.

The council discovered the block had fire safety defects in 2020 after a resident reported smoke moving between flats.

Angela Luke, 60, a Marie Curie House resident since 1982 who still lives there said: “Sometimes when somebody is cooking you can smell the smoke which is scary.

”It’s scary because I saw the fire that happened before… you can’t sleep well really,” the retired dental nurse added.

Like her neighbour Charmain, Angela has also struggled to find a new home: “It’s very traumatic because you have to move and you’re going to stay there for the rest of your life. You’re not necessarily going to get another move. We’re used to it here.”

Mike Edge, Sceaux Gardens Tenants’ and Residents’ Association chair told the News that council officers said the report was being shown to cabinet “imminently”.

However, he still does not know when he or the residents can expect to see the report themselves.

Southwark Council was approached for comment.

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ExcluSivE

June last year, the council said improvements to Marie Curie were made in the aftermath of the tragedy.

r oman remains believed to be beneath the l idl store on old k ent r oad

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

more roman remains could be sitting just 60cm below the Lidl on old Kent road, by Bricklayers arms, according to a report.

Roman pits, ditches, a funerary sculpture and a suspected mausoleum have previously been discovered in and around the site, leading experts to believe there could be more artefacts.

The report has been devised ahead of Lidl’s plans to extend the store into the delivery bay and car park to create more floor space.

The site falls within a tier 1 archaeological priority area, stipulated by Historic England, meaning its planning application had to be accompanied by an archaeological assessment.

While the report found that there is a “high potential” for more Roman remains, it said they are probably not

significant enough to constrain the development.

Instead, it said that an archaeological watching brief, where an archaeologist is employed to monitor works, would be sufficient.

However, items found are likely to be important enough to mean they’ll be recorded after being removed.

The Old Kent Road was an important thoroughfare after the Roman invasion of Britain and subsequent occupation of Londinium.

Between 1994 and 1995, Romanera pits were found on the site of the Old Kent Road store. It was common practice during the Roman period to bury the remains of the dead along the main approach roads leading into cities.

A Roman-era soil horizon - where a layer of soil differs from that below it - was also found on the site during excavations in that same period.

Astonishingly, evidence from these

s ixteen-year-old stabbed in nunhead

investigations suggests further Roman artefacts may be encountered at a depth of just 0.6 metres.

Old Kent Road was part of Watling Street during the Roman period and Wæcelinga Stræt under the AngloSaxons.

Watling Street was a 444km road from Dover to the northwest of England via St Albans and Wroxeteran historic route and important artery for the Romans and ancient Britons.

After the Roman Empire crumbled, pilgrims would travel along the Old Kent Road to the shrine of former Archbishop Thomas a Becket in Canterbury, often gathering at the Tabard, a famous inn that once stood on Borough High Street.

In the wider archaeological priority area, stretching from Bricklayer’s Arms to the Tesco Superstore on Old Kent Road, nine sets of prehistoric remains have been found, 36 Roman, nine Medieval and 36 post-Medieval.

Notorious free climber pleads guilty after climbing The Shard

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

A sixteen-ye A r-old boy was stabbed in nunhead and a 21-year-old arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but later released.

On Sunday, September 4 at 10.30am, police were called to Nunhead Grove, Nunhead, to reports of a fight.

Officers, who arrived with the London Ambulance Service, found a male aged sixteen suffering from stab injuries.

He was rushed to hospital for treatment where he remains in a critical but stable condition. His family has been informed.

A 21-year-old man was arrested

near the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and later released with no further action taken.

Around 2pm that same day, a column of police in protective gear was seen walking along Limes Walk near the crime scene.

Following the incident, a section 60 order has been put in place covering SE15 and SE22 which allows officers to stop and search people without needing reasonable grounds. It expired at 11.43am on Monday, September 5.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 2727/4Sep. Alternatively, people can provide information to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

a man has been slapped with a criminal charge for ‘climbing the shard’ early on sunday morning, september 4.

There were reports of notorious free climber Adam Lockwood, 21, from Manchester posting a jaw-dropping selfie at the top of the 1,017ft (310 metre) tower at the weekend and the Met Police on Monday, September 5 said they charged Lockwood, of no fixed address, with “intentionally

causing a public nuisance”. Two men who were also arrested on Sunday were later ‘de-arrested’.

Paul Curphey and his partner Treasaidh were staying in the hotel in The Shard and spotted a man climbing up.

“The climber was yelling in celebratory fashion,” 52-year-old businessman Paul told the PA news agency.

“He appeared, waving at the window, 40 floors up, already in the deep end so to speak. We couldn’t help but urge him on to complete his mission.

“He was smiling, waving, and having the time of his life.

“(My) partner thought I had pulled all the stops out and managed to get a guy to bring a box of Milk Tray for her birthday.”

Lockwood pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Monday and will be sentenced next Tuesday (September 13) at Manchester Crown Court.

The London Fire Brigade and ambulances were also at the scene on Sunday morning, and cordons were put in place.

Police walking near Limes Walk, Peckham Rye, hours after the stabbing.

Photo by Adam Lockwood (Facebook)

Photo by Clive Rates

The Old Kent Road was part of the ancient Roman Road of Watling Street Dover to Wroxeter in Shorpshire

ExcluSivE

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

a grouP that represents southwark council tenants has warned that government plans to cap social rents below inflation may not go far enough, and could result in increased evictions and rent arrears.

The government is planning to limit the amount social landlords like Southwark Council can increase their rents by next April to either three per cent, five per cent or seven per cent, because of the cost of living crisis.

The government has launched a consultation for social landlords and social housing tenants, to have their say on the various options, or suggest others.

At the moment, yearly social rent increases are capped at consumer price index rates + one per cent. That means that, left unchecked, social rents could rise by eleven per cent next year, according to the latest Bank of England forecasts.

But the Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations said they were “concerned” that the government intervention could still lead to more people falling behind in their rent.

A spokesperson said: “We welcome any measure that would stop social housing rents rising above the current astronomical rate of inflation.

“But we are concerned that capping rent increases somewhere between 3% and 7% is still not enough to provide residents with the financial stability they need. Such a rise would likely result

what will the social rent cap mean for southwark?

in an increase in resident arrears and evictions.

“We urge the Government to consider more stringent restrictions on social housing rent increases.”

For context, in the 2022-2023 financial year, Southwark Council rents went up by 4.1 per cent – following the consumer price index + one per cent formula. The council said its rents were the eighthlowest in London.

People renting a three-bed home

from Southwark Council are paying £117.80 per week on average. Under the government plans, for those people rent could go up to £121.34 a week at a three per cent increase, or £126, at a seven per cent increase.

Although the rent cap will be welcome to people living in social housing – at least in comparison to the alternative –it will have a massive impact on social landlords like Southwark Council.

The rent the council gets goes

towards things like repairs and safety measures on its huge stock of homes across the borough, which run to the tens of thousands. If Southwark cannot charge tenants in line with inflation, that effectively means its rental income is being eroded, and there could be less money to spend on maintenance.

Social landlords can apply for exemptions to the rent cap under the scheme, but it seems unlikely Southwark would do that. The council has been

contacted for comment.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils like Southwark, and the National Housing Federation, said they understood the squeeze that inflation was putting on tenants, but called for more support for local authorities from the government to help manage the rent cap.

They said: “We are very concerned that a new cap on social housing rent increases will significantly impact on housing providers’ ability to provide critical services for residents and invest in new and existing homes.

“Decisions on the level of rent increases for tenants need to be made by housing providers within the existing government rent policy commitment, ensuring that there is a careful balance between affordability for tenants and investment in the homes that they live in.

“If the Government does take forward a lower cap, then it should provide additional funding for 2023/24 and for future years so that housing providers can continue to safeguard services and meet the country’s future housing needs.”

Greg Clark the Government housing secretary until this week said: “We must protect the most vulnerable households in these exceptional circumstances during the year ahead.”

“Putting a cap on rent increases for social tenants offers security and stability to families across England. We know many people are worried about the months ahead. We want to hear from landlords and social tenants on how we can make this work and support the people that need it most.”

Perfect city living in a thriving neighbourhood

SHARED OWNERSHIP AT BERMONDSEY, LONDON S E16

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

a BLue plaque commemorating a world war two codebreaker was unveiled on sunday september 4, at the house in dulwich where she lived.

Cllr Michael Situ, Southwark’s deputy mayor, unveiled the Farquhar Road plaque to Helene Aldwinckle as friends and family watched on and cheered, alongside people from Southwark Council and the Southwark Heritage Association (SHA).

Helene, who was born in Aberdeen but spent the last 40 years of her life in Dulwich, won last year’s Southwark Blue Plaques competition, a scheme run by the SHA, alongside the council and the News

Her son Richard said: “While several men have become famous for the work they did at Bletchley Park, the same cannot be said of the handful of senior women codebreakers who worked there, which is why her family is so pleased that she has been recognised in this way.

“This plaque not only keeps her memory alive but is also a tribute to the many able women who, like Helene, made a significant contribution to the outcome of the second world war but who have so far received little recognition. This splendid Blue Plaque helps to put that right.”

Cllr Situ called Helene “a remarkable woman who played a vital role in the Second World War through her codebreaking work at Bletchley Park.”

As the News reported last year,

blue plaque for wwii codebreaker helene

Helene’s career continued long after the war. She went on to work as a broadcaster, translator and school teacher, and managed an art gallery. She and her husband settled in Dulwich in 1979. Helene died in April 2020 aged 99.

Her codebreaking work was kept secret until 1974, nearly 30 years after the end of the war, when the story of Bletchley Park was published. In later years she was formally recognised

Southwark

by both the British and the French governments for her vital work in helping win the war.

France awarded her the Legion D’Honneur, the country’s highest honour, in 2019. Gordon Brown sent her and all other living Bletchley Park veterans a letter with a badge in 2009. Theresa May also thanked Helene for her service in her final Prime Minister’s Questions.

The Southwark blue plaque scheme

launched in 2002 to commemorate important people, events and places with links to the borough. This plaque is the 60th that has been installed by the Southwark Heritage Association since the scheme, the 40th recognising individuals and the ninth recognising a woman Veronica Alden, who runs the SHA, said: “I was very happy to attend the unveiling. I’m very proud of the Blue Plaque scheme. It is great to be able to

honour people like Helene. It is nice that the plaques are voted for by the people of Southwark.

“I am very proud of the history of our borough and of the people who live here. We are London’s most historic borough and its lovely that we can make sure that the people who have done so much are not forgotten.” The nominations for this year’s blue plaque scheme will be announced in the News at the end of September.

When do I

We are inviting people who live or work in Southwark to propose ideas to make their local area a safer, healthier place to live.

What is the funding for?

The Cleaner Greener Safer and Devolved Highways programmes fund improvements across Southwark, e.g. new playgrounds, food growing planters, lighting, cycle parking, and zebra crossings.

How do I apply? Visit www.southwark.gov.uk/ cleanergreenersafer for more information and to submit an online application. If you are unable to apply online, call 020 7525 4077.

Left photo: (L to R) Richard Aldwinckle, Helene’s son, Dr Linda Aldwinckle, Helene’s daughter, and Cllr. Michael Situ, Deputy Mayor of Southwark. Photo above: Helene Aldwinckle during the war

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‘i spend my days trying to kick rats to death’: camberwell green anti-rat instagram set up

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

“demented pigeon-hunting rats” on Camberwell green have prompted an exasperated local resident to set up an anti-rat instagram account.

The anonymous admin that runs @ CamberwellGreenRats says the green off Camberwell New Road has been “surrendered to the rats” and is lobbying Southwark Council to take action.

In one post, they write: “I’ve been spending my days conspiring against the rats and the majority of my evenings trying to kick the rats to death - which I’m unfortunately nowhere near agile enough to do. Surely there’s a way @ SouthwarkCouncil?”

The media storm began when BBC News International Editor and Camberwell local Jeremy Bowen tweeted a video of rats on the green.

Videos on @CamberwellGreenRats, which was set up weeks previously, show rats chasing pigeons, pulsating in bin bags, eating food and scurrying across the park.

The account owner, who says their recycling bins back out onto the green, said: “As you can imagine taking out the recycling is terrifying. Always swarms of rats around here around the overflowing bin bags. When will my neighbours get an adequate bin facility @ southwarkcouncil?”

In one clip, the person recording mistakes a rat in a bin bag for a cat and screams when it runs out from the bin liner.

Describing the rats as “incredibly brazen and unintimidated by humans”, the account owner wrote: “Many local residents have no green space at home (myself included) and used to use the

green for exercise and socialising in the summer months. Now the area has basically been surrendered to the rats. Not to mention the threat to public health.”

In a statement Southwark Council said: “We’ve had no complaints from elsewhere that we are aware of for this site, and of course rats have always been a London-wide problem, but we will look into it as soon as possible. Our teams can look for any food sources or waste that can be controlled nearby.”

However, the Instagram account has been tagging Southwark Council in posts for several weeks, although the owner accepts it may not monitor Instagram closely.

Dulwich Village ‘parklets’ criticised after one gets mangled in vehicle collision

ExcluSivE

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

a ‘ParKLet’ has been obliterated by a vehicle in dulwich Village prompting local campaigners to question their safety.

The wooden seating area outside the Romeo Jones café was so badly damaged on Wednesday, August 24, that it has since been removed.

Local campaign group One Dulwich says the incident proves the parklet, of which there are several in Dulwich Village, was unsafe and should be reviewed.

A spokesperson for One Dulwich said: “This was an accident waiting to happen. Neither these roadside bench seats nor the ones on Calton Avenue had any lights or even reflectors on them, making them difficult to see after dark.

“We call on the Council to review the benches in Calton Avenue as well before

there is a fatality.”

But the parklets, first installed as part of the Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), are popular with some local residents.

Alex Bigham, Dulwich resident and member of the Parklets Campaign, said: “You’d have to have a warped sense of the world to blame a stationary parklet for a collision.

“Everything we can do to improve our streets for the most vulnerable - pedestrians and cyclists - will help.

Parklets can be a great way to get some space back for people to use with friends and families, particularly if you don’t have access to a private garden.

“Many studies have shown that small changes to our community like planting and parklets can make them safer.”

“Many studies have shown that small changes to our community like planting and parklets can make them safer.”

However, the owner of the Dulwich Village cafe Romeo Jones also has his

reservations. Patrick Belton said: “Had someone been sitting on the bench at the time of the accident they might have not lived to tell the tale.

“I like the idea of a parklet and the idea of the community being able to use outdoor space and for cafes to

serve drinks outside. But I’m not happy if they’re installed in a way that isn’t thought through so they become a hazard and a deathtrap.”

Patrick said the parklet was an inconvenience because its ashtray would pile high causing “small bin fires”

outside his cafe which were “unpleasant”. The Met Police was contacted but they had no record of the incident despite an officer appearing to attend the scene in the photo.

Southwark Council was approached for comment.

Locals can bid for grants helping their community

By Matt Pearce news@southwarknews.co.uk

A southwA rk charity is seeking applications to give grants to projects that help the local community.

United St Saviour’s Charity are offering grants for any local project, activity or event focusing on three key concepts:

Strong, resilient communities: connecting, enabling, and

strengthening communities within the borough of Southwark

Positive ageing: reducing isolation and increasing wellbeing amongst older residents within the borough of Southwark

Levelling the playing field: targeted and life-changing support for population groups disproportionately experiencing social and economic disadvantage within the borough of Southwark. The two programmes are split

between the large programme and the small programme.

With the large grants programme, community projects can apply for amounts over £3,000. This programme has a two stage application process. At first, people propose their idea to the charity before the deadline on 3rd October at 5pm. If the charity are interested in the concept and wish to pursue it, applicants will then be asked to provide a more detailed application.

The charity will assess the plan, awarding grants in April 2023 if successful.

United St Saviour’s Charity are considering large proposals for: Unrestricted/core grants –normally from organisations that they have previously funded; or Specific initiatives / projects or services.

There is also the small grants programme, which will deal with requests of up to £3,000. These

grants will be for projects, activities and events taking place over the Christmas and Winter period. The submission deadline for the smaller grants is 21st October 5pm, with successful applications being awarded grants in early November For advice and support on the grants, contact Morgan or Sarah from United St Saviour’s Charity at sthurman@ustsc.org.uk or mtume@ ustsc.org.uk, or visit the website www.ustsc.org.uk

This was an accident waiting to happen

Live jobs in the construction sector!

Our aim is to get local people into meaningful, sustained employment as part of the Canada Water development, starting with the opportunities generated by its construction. We expect around a hundred construction jobs and apprenticeships to be generated over the next four years.

There are several live roles with our contractors, all reserved for Southwark residents.

Plumber with HTC Mechanical Services

This role will suit a plumber with at least four years’ experience and a valid CSCS card. It will involve complete mechanical installation works for the development of plot K1, where council homes are being built by Russia Dock Woodland.

Salary: TBC at interview stage.

For more information and to apply email careers@htcmechanical.com

Deadline: Friday 16th September

Traffic Management Operative with O’Neill & Brennan

This role involves ensuring large vehicles move safely around the construction site. It will suit candidates with a valid CPCS Plant and Vehicle Marshaller A73 card and some exposure to a construction environment.

Salary: £15.00/h, with scope for performancebased increases.

For a full job description and to apply, contact production manager Adam Connaughton at a.connaughton@oandb.co.uk

Applications will be accepted until November

Handyman with O’Neill & Brennan

This role involves basic carpentry, plumbing, repairs, and other tasks required for the general maintenance of a construction site. Candidates will need a valid CSCS card and ideally some experience on a site.

Salary: £15.00/h, with scope for performancebased increases.

For more information on the role and to apply, contact production manager Adam Connaughton at a.connaughton@oandb.co.uk

Applications will be accepted until November.

Waste Management Operative with O’Neill & Brennan

This role is vital to maintaining a safe working environment on site. Successful candidates will oversee the collection, sorting, and safe disposal of waste and recycling materials along with general labouring duties. Applicants must hold a valid CSCS card, and some experience on a site is desirable.

Salary: £12.90/h, with scope for performancebased increases.

For more information and to apply, please contact production manager Adam Connaughton at a.connaughton@oandb.co.uk

Applications will be accepted until November

Sign up for updates for upcoming jobs and opportunities

There will be lots more jobs for different levels of experience coming forward over the next few months. To register for updates whenever new opportunities become available, sign up to our mailing list by emailing team@canadawater.co.uk or by calling 0800 470 4593 (freephone).

Southwark residents can also check out southwarkconstructionskillscentre.com for information on upcoming free training courses.

t f l has to pay its share of e lephant and c astle station upgrade

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

transPort For London (tfL) must pay its share of the elephant and Castle station upgrade as part of its latest government bailout.

The station upgrade had previously been a source of controversy, as it emerged that Southwark Council had ploughed upwards of £35 million into the project - despite TfL saying it currently did not have the money to fund it.

Southwark was slated to spend another £25 million on the project over the next nine years.

The work, which includes a ticket office, new escalators, lifts and entrance, as well as connecting tunnels from the Northern line to the Bakerloo line, is supposed to be paid for by developers Delancey, who are building on the site of the former shopping centre, Southwark Council and TfL.

Asked by the News about the Bakerloo

Line Extension, which the Elephant and Castle station upgrade is supposed to be part of, TfL said significant work on the extension would not take place in the next two years. A spokesperson added that they did not expect the extension to be delivered “until into the 2030s”.

This condition is part of a £1.2 billion bailout to keep London’s Tube, tram and bus network going until the end of March 2024.

The part that covers the Elephant and Castle station upgrade is separate.

The government said that TfL must commit to £3.55 billion in spending on infrastructure over the same period.

As part of the bailout, the government had also agreed to keep funding the transport agency if passenger numbers do not keep recovering as expected, and the new deal should mean no “large-scale cuts” to services.

It also means that TfL will restore its ‘Healthy Streets’ programme, with £80 million per year of funding for walking

But what will government bailout mean for proposed bus cuts and Bakerloo Line Extension?

and cycling schemes.

The deal brings the amount of emergency funding given by the government to TfL over the past two and a half years to more than £6 billion. TfL’s finances were cratered by the pandemic, with people told to stay home and avoid using public transport.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “For over two years now we’ve time and again shown our unwavering commitment to London and the transport network it depends on, but we have to be fair to taxpayers across the entire country.

“This deal more than delivers for Londoners and even matches the mayor’s own pre-pandemic spending plans but for this to work, the mayor must follow through on his promises to get TfL back on a steady financial footing, stop relying on government bailouts and take responsibility for his actions. Now is the time to put politics to one side and get on with the job – Londoners depend on it.”

But London mayor Sadiq Khan called the deal “far from ideal,” adding that TfL still had a £600 million gap in its budget.

He said: “The government is still

leaving TfL with a significant funding gap, meaning we will likely have to increase fares in the future and still proceed with some cuts to bus services.”

Conditions imposed by the government as part of the deal could affect TfL’s pension scheme, he warned - which is likely to lead to more strike action by transport unions.

Khan said that the deal would not stop “some cuts to bus services”. TfL did not mention the Bakerloo Line Extension in its list of infrastructure projects that the new deal would revive.

the final piece in cycling jigsaw?

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

t ransPort For London (tfL) is set to begin discussions with boroughs about how to spend its new walking and cycling budget, which has more than doubled since it got new funding from the government in august.

That could mean the last section of Cycleway 4, on Lower Road, is finally finished. Every other section of the cycle route, which runs from Tower Bridge to Greenwich, has been completed or is close to being finished.

TfL also recently made the cycle lane between London Bridge and Tower Bridge permanent.

That means when Cycleway 4 is finished, there will be an unbroken cycle route between London Bridge and Greenwich.

The only problem is funding, which has been an issue for the agency since its revenues were slashed in the pandemic.

Back in July, TfL told the News that there was no money for the final section because they were waiting for a settled funding deal from the government that would allow them to plan for the future.

The funding deal that both sides agreed at the end of August included £80 million per year on walking and cycling projects.

That is up from the £30 million set out before the funding deal was agreed - but well below the £414 million planned for this year back in in 2020.

Some £69 million per year will be allocated for direct funding to London boroughs, like Southwark.

TfL said it had not decided exactly where that £69 million would be going yet, but more would be revealed soon.

A spokesperson for the transport agency told the News: “£80m per year of investment on average will be allocated to investment in projects that benefit people walking and cycling, as part of our Healthy Streets programme. This is up from around £30m per year on average under our current Budget but still lower than predicted levels before the pandemic.

“The £69m of direct borough funding (per year) will also support more localised investment in walking and cycling schemes across the city. We will very shortly begin discussions with boroughs about this funding and will provide further updates in due course.”

TfL made the London Bridge to

Tower Bridge cycle lane permanent in late August, following a six-month consultation. Transport bosses said that after the cycle lane was brought in last year, more cyclists used the road on weekdays in spring.

Buses also did not run slower, TfL said. Journey times for general traffic, like cars, was also largely unaffected.

TfL said: “Prior to this scheme measures for cyclists consisted mainly of advisory line markings, with no physical separation from general traffic on what is a relatively busy corridor where a high number of vulnerable road users have been hurt in collisions.

“In the 36 months ending June 2020, there were a total 27 collisions on Tooley Street and Duke Street Hill, and of these 15 (55%) involved people cycling being injured.

“We aimed to provide a safer facility for cyclists, whilst balancing this with the needs of other road users including buses, taxis, and local businesses. We believe that a good level of service has been maintained for all road users: this is borne out by the fact that the performance of network has remained stable since the scheme was introduced.”

From haulage to new cafe owner

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

As the owner of a logistics company, Bobby Cooper knows a thing or two about carrying things across long distances. But can he manage the shorter journey, a few metres from the kitchen to the tables of his new café?

Bermondsey man Bobby and joint owner Martin Highton set up the

Warehouse Cafe in an industrial estate off Verney Road five weeks ago, serving traditional cafe food, like burgers and kebabs at reasonable prices, but “done a bit nicer”, he said.

Currently open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Bobby has applied for an alcohol and late opening licence for the cafe. He and his team will also start serving Sunday roasts once a month.

“We want to do something a little bit different for the local area,” he said,

adding that there are not that many cafes and places to eat in the area around Rotherhithe New Road.

Co-owner Martin, who runs MRH Property Management, did all the building work for the cafe, which has an indoor balcony and outdoor decking. The News team has been to visit the new cafe for lunch, and we enjoyed it! Give it a try if you’re in the area.

Address: The Warehouse Cafe, 14-16 Verney Road, SE16 3DH.

Staff

Comment

it’s hard to imagine after such a hot month, but it won’t be long before all of us across London start turning up the heating to keep us warm on cold winter nights.

But this year it’ll be different, with households facing another eye-watering hike in gas and electricity prices, making us all think twice.

Right now, so many people – including young families and pensioners - won’t be able to afford to turn the heating on at all. I’ve spoken to so many people across Dulwich and West Norwood who are worried sick about how they would put food on the table.

And that was before prices go up.

People across London are scared about how they’ll make ends meet through the winter with record numbers plunged into fuel poverty. And they’re worried about friends and loved ones who might struggle more than most.

We are in the midst of a national economic emergency. But Labour says enough is enough.

We have a choice. This Tory government can carry on letting giant oil and gas producers make huge profits whilst working people and pensioners suffer.

Or we can do something about it.

Labour would stop energy prices rising this winter by freezing the price cap, saving the average household around £1,000.

We would pay for this by taxing oil and gas producers properly, getting rid of the

Labour say enough is enough

loopholes the Tories were happy to wave through.

It means that households across my constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood will receive £49 million from Labour’s fully costed plan.

This £29bn plan will also bring inflation down, making future interest rate hikes less likely and easing the burden on households and businesses.

But we need to solve the energy crisis for good.

Labour would insulate every home that needs it to get bills down with our

Warm Homes Plan.

And we’d get Britain off expensive foreign gas - by investing much, much more in home grown, cleaner energy such as solar, wind, hydrogen and nuclear power.

That is the only way to make sure people in Dulwich and West Norwood never again face an energy price crisis like this.

We’ve had 12 years of Conservative and Lib Dem governments that have failed to secure Britain’s energy supplies, leaving bills higher and our country less secure.

Labour would stop energy prices rising this winter by freezing the price cap, saving the average household around £1,000. We would pay this by taxing oil and gas producers properly

Labour’s plan would end the price hikes now, reduce inflation and create cheaper, cleaner energy for the future –helping people get through the winter

and providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy. Only Labour can give Britain the fresh start it needs.

helen hayes

MP for Dulwich & West Norwood

Keeping a tight lid on rent increases could be the thing to stop people ending up destitute this winter won’t

somebody think of the landlords?” the simpsons has not often been paraphrased in the pages of the News, but this week’s story on capping social rent rises demands it.

It’s a massively important story, obviously for people who live in council flats, but also for social landlords like Southwark Council.

The angle we led with in our news piece is the Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations calling for rent increases to be lower than three per cent, the lowest figure suggested by the government in its consultation.

As we all know, the country is enduring a cost-of-living crisis: energy bills are set to rise massively, although the government could be capping them too, and the prices of everything are going up. Keeping a tight lid on rent increases could be the one thing that stops people ending up destitute this winter.

Scotland has gone further, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying she will freeze all rents – social and private – and ban evictions this winter.

But the council has a difficult balancing act – it has a duty to keep its tenants housed, while keeping rents affordable, but also the money it gets from tenants does not go into a vacuum. The council – the biggest social landlord in London and one of the largest in the country - uses that money to keep up its huge stock of homes.

We often report on damp, mould, leaks and other disrepair problems in Southwark estates. That is only likely to get worse if the council has to squeeze its housing upkeep budget because the rents it is allowed to charge are not keeping up with inflation.

We are not disagreeing with SGTO that council tenants are feeling the pinch, and should be protected. But we also don’t want tenants to be living in misery with repairs taking even longer to fix than usual, and damp and mould going untreated.

The government’s rent increase cap risks turning into a war on social landlords like Southwark Council, something that has been in the air for a while. This should not be allowed because it isn’t good for anyone. We agree that social rents should be capped to protect tenants – but governments should also make up the shortfall with grants to councils, so they can afford to maintain their housing stock properly.

cryPTic PuzzlE

Clues Across

1 Goods not subjected to the softsell? (8)

Boast about this sort of garb? (4)

Company china is or its way here (6)

10 The lad who had a near miss (6)

11 Does not a parade provide cover? (5)

12 The commanding officer twice has a drink (5)

14 Singer followed a right one to Venice! (6)

17 Fluff areas move lower (9)

18 Dwelling has a page about crime (9)

22 Or lads on the back (6)

23 Gas maybe, but far from volatile (5)

24 As shrewd as the vessel? (5)

26 Begins to end and meets back for prize (6)

27 Some semblances of a spirit (6)

28 Do as badly as drink (4)

29 Una has her own brand of 1 across, though she doesn’t know it (8)

Quick PuzzlE

SOluTiONS TO laST wEEk’S

Clues Down

1 The wine joint (4)

2 Aries stands over the stick used in muzzle loading (6)

3 With the first half down and out, it provides an opening (6)

5 Small eels titivate themselves for the masques (6)

6 The snout is no thing of beauty (8)

7 A timeless heritage, oddly enough, belongs to them (5)

9 A very loud bang provokes a tricky situation (5,4)

10 Nip grains untidily and cause wrenching (9)

13 The unconsciousness of the company mother’s keeping? (5)

15 Old proverb, presumably not B.C. however (5)

16 Fighting garb of the prison officer (8)

18 Talked of making a move to depart (6)

19 Rushed to be first (5)

20 Haphazard, but some question (6)

21 Remover as between hesitations (6)

25 The goddess leads a double life (4)

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

Canada water developers British Land submitted plans for the latest phase of their scheme to transform the area earlier this summer. that was Zone g of the Canada water masterplan, which includes Buzz Bingo, the odeon cinema, restaurants

pizza hut and Frankie and Benny’s, and the affordable workspace thrive, as well as car parking spaces.

the developer has committed to finding a new company to operate the odeon Cinema, but have been unsuccessful so far. Buzz Bingo did not respond to a request for comment. in their place British Land want to build 419 new flats, as well as a new

tesco extra. the tesco that exists at the moment will be knocked down as part of another zone of the masterplan. of the 419 flats: 115 will be for social rent 140 will be ‘intermediate’ rent - 80 per cent of market rates 164 will be for outright sale the flats will be split between one, two and three bedrooms.

r ailway workers to go on strike again this month

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

t ens oF thousands of railway workers are set to go on strike again in september, in a continuing row over pay, jobs and working conditions.

Some 40,000 members of staff at fourteen railway operating companies and Network Rail, which manages the railways themselves, will walk out on Thursday September 15 and Saturday September 17.

The September 15 strike will coincide with another bout of industrial action

by Aslef, the train drivers’ union.

The two days of strikes will be the seventh and eight times RMT members have walked out of work in three months.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members have no choice but to continue this strike action.

“Network Rail and the train operating companies have shown little interest this past few weeks in offering our members anything new in order for us to be able to come to a negotiated settlement.

“Grant Shapps continues his dereliction of duty by staying in his

bunker and shackling the rail industry from making a deal with us.

“We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Yet again, union leaders are choosing self-defeating, co-ordinated strike action over constructive talks, not only disrupting the lives of millions who rely on these services but jeopardising the future of the railways and their own members’ livelihoods.”

w hat’s going to happen to the s urrey Quays leisure centre?

Zone g will all be one building. the new tesco will be on the ground floor, with the flats above and around it in towers, which British Land say will look like different buildings.

the towers will be 105 metres, 63 metres, 40 metres, 34 metres and 30 metres respectively.

British Land said in its planning application: “each building has its own identity and comes down to the ground, with the podium ‘gaps’ in between them. the buildings are individuated by colour, proportion, detail and character.”

in between these towers, the developer will build a ‘podium’ roof terrace, which will only be for use by residents of the blocks.

the developer added: “it is designed to be used by all residents and provision is made for all age groups to play, exercise, relax and learn, in a pleasant and safe environment.

“Pathways through the podium to

each building entrance will be level, direct and legible, taking people through a variety of landscape characters.”

Zone g will also have a basement car park, with 542 parking spaces.

British Land already has outline planning permission from the council for its entire Canada water masterplan, which means southwark approved the plans in principle. schemes like Zone g - and Zones L and F next door, which got full approval earlier this summer - fill in the blanks. the application is likely to be decided at southwark’s planning committee early next year. if British Land are successful, building work will begin in spring 2023. that will go on for four years - finishing in 2027the company has said.

To view and comment on the application for Zone G, click here or search on Southwark Council’s planning portal for application 22/AP/2439,

Biscuit factory site sold by Grosvenor to Abu Dhabi backed fund

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

A Bermondsey site with planning permission to build more than 1,500 homes has been sold to an american developer backed by an abu dhabi state investment fund.

The Biscuit Factory site, on one part of the former Peek Freans factory, was sold by Grosvenor to Greystar, an US buy-to-let developer, for an undisclosed amount.

Greystar is in a “strategic partnership” worth up to £2.2 billion with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) to build homes in London and the surrounding area.

The Biscuit Factory development also includes a new 600-student school building for Compass, a secondary school on Drummond Road, which should be ready in 2023, as well as office space, a

public roof terrace and retail.

Greystar said the purchase was part of its “ongoing strategy to develop thoughtfully designed and professionallymanaged rental communities.”

The site was finally given planning permission in 2020 after a row over the amount of affordable housing the scheme would provide.

Grosvenor - owned by the Duke of Westminster, whose family is worth more than £10 billion - eventually agreed to provide 35 per cent ‘affordable’ housing in the scheme, after previously arguing that was not viable. Some 140 of the 480 ‘affordable’ homes will be for social rent equivalent.

Greystar’s other London properties include 101 George Street in Croydon, which was trumpeted as the tallest modular - pre-fabricated - building in the world, at 44 storeys high.

Sacred Heart Catholic School is an outstanding 11 18 educational institution which achieved outstanding grades from Ofsted in every category during our last inspection.

We are the only state school in Southwark to have ever achieved 90% 5 A* C (including English and Maths) and have consistently topped the borough league tables for a decade. Over the past three years, our ‘Progress 8’ score has averaged at within the top 20 schools out of a national total of 6,375 an incredible achievement. We possess a state of the art

building and a highly successful Sixth Form, which has already sent students to Oxford and Cambridge Universities, as well as many other Russell Group universities. Sacred Heart students embark on degree courses in Medicine, Law, Languages, Architecture and Engineering, to name but a few. We are a school which believes in living our Catholic faith, as demonstrated by our caring ethos and systems of pastoral support, as well as our extensive charity work in the local community and abroad. Our School also offers an abundance of extra curricular activities and opportunities, in the last few years, students have travelled to Thailand, New York, Santiago, Paris and Barcelona, as well as participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme to Gold Level.

Mon

Tue

Sept

Wed 21 Sept

Tours of the School will be available, the last tour will be at 6pm. The Headteacher will address parents at 5.30pm and 6.30pm

what’s on in Southwark

r eset and recharge at the r emix

the Copleston remix: love & respect weekend is a mélange of creative activities and events from Caribbean dance-fitness sessions to children’s ukulele workshops to artist and writer talks. it follows proudly in the tradition of Copleston mix in 2018, writes Michael Holland.

Julia Honess, Vision & Development Manager for Copleston Community Centre, says , “The aim of the weekend is to raise much-needed funds for the work of the centre and improvements to the facilities. Although we are delighted to have the support of great charities such as City Bridge, United St Saviour, Southwark Charities and Southwark Council, we want to raise funds to decorate rooms, upgrade furniture and indoor facilities. We will also be showcasing our programme of activities, our partnerships, and the work of Copleston Church to the wider community.”

Ms Honess goes on to list a catalogue of interesting events to entertain visitors: “The weekend will consist of a range of creative activities - highlights of which include screenings from Peckham and Nunhead Film Festival; Somali-British poet writer and critic Montaza Mehri (Young People’s Laureate for London 2018-19) reading her work, along with a Q&A followed by a workshop; “Keeping the Old Peckham Alive” - A talk by Dr Charmaine Brown about the impact of regeneration and gentrification on Windrush communities in Peckham; and a performance by Tara-Lily, a South Londoner of British-Bangladeshi heritage who makes music that boldly crosses Jazz and RnB genres, and to which she brings her unique vocal style.”

The Vision & Development Manager stops for breath. “There will also be dance, capoeira, food-growing workshops and the opportunity for local makers to donate work for sale.”

There was another list:

“The events will be run by the Copleston team and volunteers,

members of Copleston Church and partner organisations including Baby Ballet, Bold Tendencies, Beanstalk Arts, Daniel Baird Capoeira, Peckham and Nunhead Film Festival, Peckham Rye Sings Review bookshop, South London Urban Growers’ (SLUG). - see our feature on page 3

Can you explain the Love & Respect part of the title?

“We have been working with Bold Tendencies throughout the Summer on the theme of Love, and we are screening ‘Respect’ as part of the Peckham and Nunhead Film Festival, so thought these were positive themes to bring the community together.”

Who can go along?

“Anyone can come along - the programme celebrates and caters for Peckham’s fantastic diverse range of communities and there are workshops and activities for children and adults.”

The Centre is already famed for its community work where activities run by the centre and church are free or affordable and range from cubs, scouts and beavers to a volunteer-led community cafe, a programme for older people, affordable counselling and mental health services, as well as a wide range of activities provided by regular hirers who provide yoga, Georgian dance and children’s athletics.

Will there be a cost?

“We are suggesting a donation of £5 for most activities, although we recognise that not everyone will be able to contribute, so welcome people to contribute whatever they can afford.”

The Copleston Remix: Love & Respect fundraising weekend will take place at Copleston Community Centre, Copleston Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4AN on Friday16th Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September.

Friday and Saturday from 10am - 10pm and on Sunday from 10am-6pm See www.coplestoncentre.org.uk for full details of the programme Tel; 0207 732 3435

A ride with aplomb - a historical musical

musiCaLs Based on historical events and people are nothing new, writes Christopher Peacock...

Artistic licence is always given to fill in the gaps of a tale that is not well documented. Adding into the mix a protagonist that is known as somewhat of a confidence trickster, creates another layer. Ride, a new musical by Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams, has a run at the Charing Cross Theatre

The show tells the story of Annie Londonderry, a Latvian Jewish immigrant who in 1894 cycled around the world, supposedly as a wager, to

see if a woman could do such a feat.

Not only is Annie tasked with actually cycling around the world in 15 months but she also needs to raise $5000 en route.

We see the tale unfold as Annie tries to get a regular column in the New York World newspaper. Floundering in front of the newspaper chiefs she turns to telling her story of this epic feat. With the help of Martha, a secretary at the paper, Annie goes on to play out her whole saga and its many challenges. Liv Andrusier gives a thrilling, energetic and charismatic performance as the verbose Annie whilst Yuki Sutton brings

balance as the more demure Martha. Both are at ease when playing for laughs and handle the musical numbers with aplomb.

Many theatrical two-handers can tend to drag if energy and momentum in the show dip. Yet, with Amy Jane Cook’s set and costume design there is no threat of that here. The newspaper office set has many moving parts and illusions that open up the performance space. Teamed with Sarah Meadows direction the multiple costume reveals and propwork keep the show moving.

When you first hear of a musical about a circumnavigation of the globe on a

bike, you might dread a singalong spin class. It is certainly a relief that Ride doesn’t go that far. Yes there is some static bike work and a bit of pushing around but not over done to the point of exhaustion.

Annie Londonderry was known to embellish the truth. The tale of the former advertisement space seller and her ride gets more interesting the more we learn about her. From lecturing on subjects she was not qualified in to abandoning her family to take on the journey in the first place, she is an unreliable narrator. For me this blocks any emotional connection as I

fail to empathise with her. What may be described today as ‘hustle’ was always grifting. That is not to say these characters do not exist in today’s society. There are certainly many unqualified people out there that abandon families in the quest for positions of power and wealth.

Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NL until 17th September. Times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm; Wed & Sat matinees 2.30pm. Admission: £20 - £47.50.

Box Office: 08444 930 650 - https:// charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/ride

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1)

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

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

(a) Brunel Road at it’s junction with Salter Road for 50m north (by No’s 52)

(b) Cottage Green, between No s 2 and No s 2a

(c) Kennington Park Place, east side lane of carriageway at it’s junction with Kennington Park Road (banned turn from Kennington Park Road into Kennington Park Place)

(d) Kirkwood Road, at it’s blocked end near Cossall Walk

(e) Lugard Road, new or extended lengths of at any time waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced, between No’s 71/72 on the north side and No’s 55 on the south side of the carriageway in a northerly direction to No’s 47/48 on the north side and 22/23 on the south side of Lugard Road

(f) Stanbury Road new or extended lengths of ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced, on the north side and south side, outside and opposite No’s 77 to the junction of Stanbury Road

(g) Bidwell Street, new or extended lengths of ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions, north side from the side of No’s 56 from the end of the existing double yellow lines for 15m and on the south side opposite the side of No s 56 from the end of the existing double yellow lines for 7m

3 The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Brunel Road, Cannon Beck Road, Rotherhithe Street (2b) Commercial Way, Willowbrook Road, Sumner Road, St Georges Way, Wells Way, Coleman Road (2c) as indicated by the signs displayed (2d) not applicable

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 works will be in operation for (2a) 19th 25th September (2b) 19th 23rd September (2c) 19th 24th September (2d) 20th 21st September, between the hours of 22;00 hrs 06:00hrs (2e) (2f) (2g) 19th 22nd September

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

Dated this 8th September 2022

001 DS Agility (2c)

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK LIVERPOOL GROVE GOODS VEHICLE ONLY LOADING

The London Borough of Southwark (Loading places) (Liverpool Grove) Order 202*

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (DRUMMOND ROAD, HATCHAM ROAD, OVERHILL ROAD, PENROSE GROVE, SURREY QUAYS ROAD, SWAN STREET, THRALE STREET)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND TEMPORARY WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS

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 in:

(a) Drummond Road between No’s 121 (Drummond Christian Centre)

(b) Hatcham Road, between No’s 62

(c) Hatcham Road between Record Street and No’s 60 Hatcham Road

(d) Overhill Road, at it’s junction with Lordship Lane

(e) Penrose Grove between Penrose Street to No’s 36

(f) Surrey Quays Road, at it s junction with Deal Porters Way

(g) Swan Street, between Harper Road and Trinity Street

(h) Thrale Street, at it s junction with Southwark Street

3 The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Drummond Road, Southwark Park Road, Clements Road (2b) Penarth Street, Ormside Street, Record Street (2c) Record Street, Penarth Street (2d) Lordship Lane, Underhill Road, Belvoir Road (2e) Penrose Street, Penrose Grove (2f) Lower Road, Brunel Road, Salter Road, Redriff Road, Rotherhithe New Road, Rotherhithe Old Road (2g) as indicated by the signs displayed, access for cyclists maintained (2h) Southwark Street, Southwark Bridge Road

4 The existing ‘one way’ working in Overhill Road, located between No’s 180 and Belvoir Road, will be made ‘two way’ for access and egress purposes for (2d)

5 The existing ‘one way’ working in Thrale Street, located between Southwark Street and Southwark Bridge Road, will be made ‘two way for access and egress purposes for (2h)

6 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

7 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

8 The works will be in operation for (2a) 27th 30th September (2b) 26th September 1st October (2c) 28th September 22nd October (2d) 26th 28th September (2e) 25th 27th September between 22:00hrs and 05:30hrs (2f) 24th 25th September with back up dates of the 1st 2nd October (2g) 23rd September 8th October (2h) 21st September

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

Dated this 8th September 2022

Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management

Regulatory Services Environment and Leisure

160 Tooley Street

PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 6049/000811916690020 001 agility (2b) 6242/ 000809628970185 001 agility (2c) 6174/77000874 agility (2d) 6182/31695156-thames-sqs (2e) 6220/ SA250181-lanes (2f) 6230/ LBSCR12597 1 skyline (2g) 6258/21 10 002 GTC JSM (2h) 6236/LBSCR12604 clearview

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

The London Borough of Southwark (Prescribed routes) (Liverpool Grove) (No *) Traffic Order 202*

1 Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that it proposes to make the above orders under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended

2 The effect of the (Loading places) Order would be in LIVERPOOL GROVE, to install a new loading bay (6 metres in length) north west side on the side of No 345 Walworth Road which may be used ‘at any time’ for the purpose of loading by goods vehicles only (max stay 1 hr, no return within 2 hrs); and

3 The effect of the (Prescribed routes) Traffic Order would be to update an existing ‘no motor vehicles’ restriction in that part of LIVERPOOL GROVE which lies between its junction with Walworth Road and a point 66 metres north east of that junction, to include exceptions for loading by goods vehicles only travelling in a north westerly or south westerly direction in Liverpool Grove (exemptions are provided for emergency services vehicles at both points of the part road closure, and further exemptions provided for vehicles travelling in a north westerly or south westerly direction in Liverpool Grove which are used for road maintenance or cleansing purposes, and refuse collection) NOTE: All measurements are in metres and are approximate

4 For more information about these proposals please contact Rachel Gates of the council's Highways Transport Projects team Highways@southwark gov uk

5 Copies of the supporting documents (this Notice, the proposed Orders, and a statement of the Council's reasons for making the Orders) may be found online at www southwark gov uk/trafficorders; paper or digital copies of plans 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 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 020 7525 3497) for booking details

6 Anyone wishing to make any representations either for or to object to the proposals, may use our consultation portal at https://consultation appyway com/southwark; or send a statement in writing to: Traffic Order Consultations, Highways, Southwark Council, Environment and Leisure, P O Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX or traffic orders@southwark gov uk quoting reference ‘TMO2223 016 Liverpool Grove 2 loading’ by 29 September 2022 Please note that if you wish to object to this proposal you must state the grounds on which your objection is made

7 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 8 September 2022

Dale Foden Head of Service Highways, Environment and Leisure

Jimmy Garcia Catering Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a premises licence, in respect of the following premises:

JIMMYS LODGE EVENT STRUCTURE 20 SE1 8XX OUTSIDE QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL SOUTH BANK LONDON LAMBETH SE1 8XX

which would authorise the following licensable activities: Supply of Alcohol on and Off the premesis Playing of Recorded Music

The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd floor Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the licensingauthority’s website, at www lambeth gov uk/licensing

A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth gov uk and must be received no later than 26 09 22

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000)

(BRUNEL ROAD, COTTAGE GREEN, KENNINGTON PARK PLACE, KIRKWOOD ROAD, LUGARD ROAD, STANBURY ROAD, BIDWELL STREET)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND TEMPORARY WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS

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, Chief executive s department, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX

Reason for publicity The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP departure from the development plan; EIA environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ major planning application; STDCA development within a conservation area; STDLB works to or within the site of alisted building;

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f ish do it again to secure glamour tie

By Dave Anderson sport@southwarknews.co.uk

F isher thumped spelthorne sports 4-0 in their replay to move into the second qualifying round of the Fa Cup.

Ajay Ashanike’s side had needed an equaliser last weekend to secure another go at the Combined Counties League Premier Division North side, but they had no problems in Middlesex on Tuesday evening.

The only danger to the Fish came from the rain which left the game in

doubt with water on the surface at Spelthorne Sports Club.

The visitors wasted no time stamping their authority on the game and twice Oseman Usifoh went close to giving them the lead.

Isaac Thompson was found out wide and crossed towards Jacob Katonia whose shot was deflected behind.

From that corner the away side went in front as Thompson’s delivery was helped on by Sam Fitzgerald and after a scramble in the box Usifoh finally got his goal.

Fisher then had the chance to double their lead when they were awarded a

Three successive replay wins sets up welling clash

penalty. And just as he had done in the first game, Manny Shoderu made no mistake from twelve yards as his side took complete control.

The Fish were cruising and the last thing the hosts needed to do was give them a helping hand. But that’s exactly what happened as Thompson’s cross deflected in for an own goal.

Fisher goalkeeper Samuel Amedu had had little to do but he preserved his clean sheet with a save early in the second half.

Thompson then deservedly got on the scoresheet as he pounced on a

defensive error to finish.

Ashanike took off Usifoh, Thompson and Shoderu late on with the game safe and 43 travelling fans looking forward to the next round.

Remarkably, it was the third round in a row that Fisher had won the replay away from home after drawing at St Paul’s.

Ashanike’s side have a huge test next when they travel to National League South Welling United on the weekend of September 17.

It’s back to SCEFL Premier Division action this weekend when Keninngton visit Rotherhithe for a 3pm kick-off.

Dulwich avoid relegation on dramatic final day

Dulwich 225-6 (50) lost to cranleigh 311-9 (50) by 86 runs

By John Lewis sport@southwarknews.co.uk

DULWICH LOST their final match of the season against leaders Cranleigh last weekend, but other results went in their favour and they retained their place in Division 1 of the AJ Fordham Surrey Championship.

Cranleigh won the toss and chose to bat, and put on a dominating performance to amass 311 off their 50 overs. Their innings was built around a commanding knock of 132 off 100 balls by South African overseas player Carl Fortuin, followed by a rapid 59 not out off 48 balls by Robin Pritchard.

Dulwich knew that they had to win or gain a full hand of eight bonus points to be sure of safety, so their first target was to take nine wickets to capture three bowling points.

With only seven wickets down going into the penultimate over this seemed unlikely, but Dan Crowley took a wicket in the 49th and then Jon Lodwick struck with the fourth ball of the 50th to rapturous applause to secure the third point. The wickets were shared between Crowley, Lodwick, Simon Harwood and Sammy Fookes, who each took two, and Ahmed Khan who took one but was the least expensive.

Dulwich started their innings with the minimum aim of reaching 250 to secure five batting points. But as the innings progressed news that Old Wimbledonians had beaten Stoke D’Abernon meant that one

batting point would suffice, so they only needed to score 150. They were therefore able to pace their innings with this in mind, and this target was reached in the 38th over for the loss of three wickets.

By this time opening bat James Schofield was on 74, and the main interest for the rest of the innings was to see whether he could reach his maiden century for the club. He advanced in ones and twos until a boundary off the last ball of the innings took him to the landmark. He had taken part in stands of 31 for the first wicket with Ollie Steele (13), 44 for the second with Chris Purshouse (17), 31 for the third with Khan (11), 57 for the fourth with Sam Ellison (29), 14 for the fifth with Crowley (12), 17 for the sixth with Robbie Keaton (11) and 31 undefeated for the seventh with Harwood (11 not

out). His unbeaten 103 had taken 153 balls, but had ensured that Dulwich did not experience any alarms in pursuit of their targets. It also made him the second player, along with Steele, to top 500 runs for the season, the first time for twelve years that two players have achieved this feat. The innings closed on 225-6.

Beddington also lost, so Dulwich ended the season in seventh place. Four seventeen year olds have played for the side whenever school commitments have allowed, and all have made valuable contributions. Khan was one of them. He was present throughout the season and finished as the leading wicket taker for the second year running. Dulwich will be looking to retain their youth policy next year as they seek to build on their performance in the latter half of the season.

Lionesses hit back to rise to second

By Jeff Burnige at St Paul’s sport@southwarknews.co.uk

miLLwa LL L ionesses rose to second in the london & south east regional women’s Football League with a solid 3-1 victory over enfield town Ladies at st Pauls’ last weekend.

Enfield, so unluckily relegated from the FA Women’s National League this summer, were captained by popular former Lioness Beth Powell at centreback, but it was current skipper Jade Keogh who equalised following an opening sixteenthminute goal by Enfield, when she sent a direct free-kick into the roof of the net.

Millwall had started out at a high tempo, and had come very close to scoring through youngsters Kaydence Kabadaki and Hope Welsh before going behind, so it was no surprise they equalised and continued to dominate. The midfield trio of Grace Seely, Sophie Chapman and Ella Bailey quickly established control, and it was Kabadaki who put the Lionesses in front right on half-time. She was one of four members of the under-18 squad in the side, and she fairly hammered home this chance.

Enfield started the second half well, but the Millwall back four are establishing a good understanding under Keogh, and were soon back on top and making opportunities, particularly through Guyana international Otesha Charles. It was Charles who made one of her trademark runs, and only a desperate foul in the box prevented her from scoring. She pulled herself up to take the penalty and scored sending the ball in to the bottom corner of the net on her second debut for the Lionesses, five years after featuring in Women’s Super League 2 and playing at a high level until her return.

At 3-1 there were more efforts on goal, but manager Jack Wheeler then made full use of all five substitutes, notably young forward Millan ShakespeareSimms who caused Enfield a lot of problems. Enfield did come into the game after Wheeler’s defender substitutions, but goalkeeper Serena Hand was faultless, and it was a comfortable victory in the end.

This Sunday, the Lionesses travel to New London Lionesses at Brunel University in Uxbridge, and they are still waiting for a fuller squad as players return from Injury.

Fisher celebrate

Date: Saturday, August

referee:

Simpson

Man of the match: Charlie Cresswell

By Alex Jones at The Den alexj@southwarknews.co.uk

ste V e morison’s return to the den was ruined by an exceptional millwall performance, with the Lions securing a 2-0 win against his Cardiff City side.

Gary Rowett’s men went into the game on the back of a four-match winless run, having had their 100% home record ended by in-form Reading the previous weekend. It piled the pressure on Tuesday’s match at Burnley, but despite some positive signs, the Clarets were simply too strong.

Cardiff, however, were a different proposition. The Bluebirds travelled to South Bermondsey in seventeenth place after their 2-1 home defeat to Luton Town. It was clear that Morison was struggling to bed in all eighteen of his new summer signings, and this was shown in the flesh in the opening stages of Saturday’s match.

Millwall pushed for an early opener and dominated the flow of the game. However, when they broke into the final third, they found that there was no space to progress. Zian Flemming was forced to take aim from the edge of the area, but his effort was saved by Ryan Allsop.

Yet it was Cardiff who should’ve taken the lead inside the opening 15 minutes.

Max Watters set up Jaden PhilogeneBidace for two good chances, but the Aston Villa loanee fired his first effort over the bar from the edge of the penalty area and headed the second chance narrowly past the post from point-blank range.

Millwall were more than happy to

Defender grabs third championship goal as Millwall end winless run

turn this into an end-to-end battle, and they started to take control once again before the half-time whistle. Andreas Voglsammer was set up by new signing Callum Styles down the left, allowing him to play the ball to Flemming on the right side of the penalty area, but he curled his low effort past Allsop’s goal. Voglsammer and Styles went close as the clock ticked towards the 45th minute, but the former saw his volley saved by the Cardiff goalkeeper while the latter scooped his ambitious effort into the North Stand.

There was a sense of déjà vu both before and after the break as Cardiff created the best chance of the half

when Niels Nkounkou’s cross found former Millwall loanee Sheyi Ojo in the box, hitting the post from a seemingly open goal. Then, just two minutes after half time, the mood became even more ominous when captain Shaun Hutchinson had to be withdrawn after injuring his groin. Charlie Cresswell came on in his place, and as Cardiff started creating more chances, Rowett made a triple substitution just after the hour-mark.

Scott Malone was one of the players who was brought on for the final third of the game, and his impact was immediate. With the Lions winning a corner in the 63rd minute, the left

c resswell capitalises against calamitous c ardiff

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk

A LOT has changed since Millwall last played Sunderland in 2017-18.

It was the Lions’ first season back in the Championship after their heroics against Bradford City the previous year, and they went on to secure an eighth-place finish as they narrowly missed out on a shot at consecutive promotions.

Conversely, having been relegated from the Premier League in the previous campaign, the Black Cats dropped down to League One just a couple of months after their 1-1 draw at The Den. They spent four seasons in the third tier, winning the Papa John’s Trophy once and reaching the play-off final twice. On their second attempt, they saw off Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley to seal their long-awaited return to the Championship.

Although both teams have remained incredibly consistent since that 1-1 draw in South Bermondsey, not many of the players involved are still at their respective clubs. The only current

Millwall players who featured in that game were Shaun Hutchinson, Jake Cooper and George Saville, while every single person named in Sunderland’s starting lineup and bench has since departed the Stadium of Light.

In fact, George Honeyman came off the bench for the visitors in that game, so he will now have the chance to experience things from the opposite side after moving to SE16 from Hull City back in June.

There is, perhaps, more significance

surrounding their upcoming clash. Both sides will have eyes on a top-six finish, and while Sunderland are a newly promoted outfit, they’ve shown that they have what it takes to compete with the bigger teams in the division. Tony Mowbray’s men sit eighth in the table after eight games, having already faced a number of the pre-season promotion favourites.

Mowbray, however, wasn’t expected to be in charge for this game, and only finds himself managing the Black Cats after a

wing-back fired a pinpoint cross onto the head of fellow substitute Cresswell, who was given acres of space to divert the ball past Allsop and score his third goal of the season.

The Bluebirds were aware that, at that point, they had nothing to lose. Morison ordered his side to push forward in search of an equaliser, which Nkounkou almost scored when he dribbled through the entire Millwall team and fired narrowly wide of Bartosz Białkowski’s goal.

But their late surge was in vain as Joe Ralls fouled Jamie Shackleton in the dying embers of the game. Cresswell played a quick free-kick down the right

flank to Benik Afobe, who cut inside and breezed past Nkounkou before dinking the ball into the back of the net to score his first goal of the season and seal a crucial win for Millwall at The Den.

millwall: 5-2-3: Białkowski; Shackleton, Cooper, Hutchinson (Hutchinson 48’), Wallace, Styles; Mitchell, Saville (Malone 62’); Flemming (Honeyman 89’), Bradshaw (Afobe 62’), Voglsammer (Burey 62’)

Cardiff: 4-3-3: Allsop; Romeo, Ng, Kipré, Nkounkou; Sawyers (Ralls 69’), Wintle, Rinomhota; Ojo (Harris 46’), Watters (Robinson 46’), Philogene (Whyte 69’)

chaotic few days on Tyneside at the end of August. Having led them to promotion, Alex Neil shockingly departed the club after being offered the vacant Stoke City job, leaving his old side scrambling for a replacement less than 24 hours before their 1-0 defeat to Norwich City.

The ex-Blackburn Rovers boss has had a solid side to life in the North East, beating Rotherham United 3-0 in his first game before suffering a narrow 1-0 loss away at local rivals Middlesbrough.

Nonetheless, there are still some

doubts about Sunderland, with many players having adapted to Neil’s style of play since he took over at the start of the year, only for those tactics to be thrown out of the window with a new manager coming in right at the end of the summer transfer window.

Their defeat at the Riverside Stadium on Monday night was far from a humiliation, but losing star striker Ross Stewart in the warm-up could be a major blow if he’s ruled out for their upcoming match against Millwall.

On the other hand, the Lions should be feeling confident, having beaten Cardiff City with relative ease in their last game. The result ended a four-match winless run for Gary Rowett’s men, who’ll now have their sights on securing their first victory on the road this season.

They’ll have to do it without Shaun Hutchinson, however, as the centreback will miss three to four weeks after tearing his groin against the Bluebirds. Tyler Burey is also a doubt after injuring his knee, but Millwall are hopeful that it isn’t serious and that he should be able to feature this weekend.

All three of Charlie Cresswell’s goals have been scored from corners

Photo by Brian Tonks

b eware the f lying d utchman

ExcluSivE

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk

it ’s Fair to say that Zian Flemming didn’t have the perfect start to life in south Bermondsey.

Flemming, 24, was beginning to get to grips with English football in preseason and made his Championship debut off the bench against Stoke City on the opening day of the campaign.

There were hopes that he could be eased into the starting lineup in the following games, but he suffered a grade one injury to his medial collateral ligament, ruling him out for almost three weeks.

Nonetheless, the Dutchman sees this time in a positive light. “It’s been good,” he told the News

“The beginning didn’t go too smoothly because of the injury, you have to sort so many things out and move countries. It’s all really, really tough with preseason in the meantime.”

It did mean Flemming was able to get an understanding of the Championship from the sidelines while he was recovering. However, his frustration was evident, and the main positive in his eyes was that he was able to organise his life in England and hit the ground running on his return.

“For me it felt like the biggest advantage of the injury was the fact that, in those two or three weeks, we were able to sort everything out in terms of living, moving and my apartment. That felt like the biggest thing.

“I was also able to watch home

games from the side, but the best way to experience it is to be out there.

Watching from the side doesn’t make you ready to play, it’s being out there that really helps you.

“It was frustrating, but we used the time well and when I was back on the pitch, everything was sorted. My mind was really fresh and I was ready to go.”

It also gave Flemming time to adjust to his new life in England, although he’s adamant that the differences are fairly insignificant. “The only thing I feel is that the people are way nicer here than in the Netherlands,” he chuckles.

He made his comeback in a 2-0 defeat at Norwich City, playing the final 20 minutes of the game before flying to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport the following morning. He returned to his former club, Fortuna Sittard, who gave him a proper farewell before their 4-1 defeat at home to Cambuur.

“That was the moment where it felt like things were really starting, it was amazing.

“It’s not a common thing for that to happen, especially not in that way. I felt really proud to get such a send off. I said it over there, actually, that not many players will get that in their entire career.”

It’s not a tradition that you see in English football, but it’s far from the biggest difference that Flemming has come across. Firstly, he highlighted the atmosphere at The Den, admitting that “there’s more energy in the crowds than in the Netherlands.”

“They’re obviously really close to the pitch as well, so that might help, and they’re really loud, which gives us

something extra in the game.”

He also points out the football itself, claiming that “the Championship is way more intense, quicker and tougher in terms of stronger players, stronger duels and a quicker rhythm of playing”. As well as that, the games are much more regular - “the thing in the Championship is that it’s not one game a week, it’s three games a week,” he adds.

“You have to make sure you’re ready and fresh again for the next one, and the next one, because the fixtures come so quickly after each other. That’s a big challenge.”

Despite that, Flemming doesn’t feel like he’s out of his depth in the second tier, even though he’s so new to the division. Fans have been impressed by his performances and have shown him a lot of love from the terraces, going as far to coin the nickname ‘the Bermondsey Bergkamp’, something which the Ajax academy graduate admits that he has noticed.

“I came on twice to start with, and it’s always difficult to try and impact the game. Then in the last two games where I started, I think I played well against Burnley and was alright against Cardiff.

“It was good to be out there and I feel like I’m at Championship level, it’s not like everything is going too quick, too hard or too tough. Obviously we won last weekend too, so that helped too!

“What Gary [Rowett] has mentioned is how my body reacted in the Burnley game and the Cardiff game, which wasn’t any different to how it would react in the games I played in the

Netherlands. It wasn’t like I played the game and asked ‘how did I manage to stay on for that long?’ or felt completely dead or anything. I felt good actually.”

When thinking about the team, Flemming is determined to win more games on the road while helping Millwall maintain their impressive performances at The Den. He believes that, if they can do that, then they’ll be able to take the next step and bridge the gap to the top six, which is exactly what he set out to achieve when he joined the Lions.

“That’d be very nice, because it’s a goal for us as a team and for the manager as well to improve the away record without dropping our home form.

“If we can do that then statistically we’ll be in the play-offs if you compare it to last season. It’s easier said than done, of course, but the away record is something that we really should improve.”

One thing that Rowett has done to try and achieve this is changing the formation. While the Millwall boss has stuck with a back five, they’re now playing with two wide forwards and a lone striker instead of an attacking midfielder behind two strikers.

That means that Flemming’s preferred position, the no.10 role, isn’t used. As a result, he’s been shifted out to the right side, although he doesn’t believe that there are many differences compared to the way he usually plays.

“I’ve played a few times on the wing for Jong Ajax, but we played a 4-3-3 so it was a different kind of winger.

“In this 5-2-3 system, officially I’m on

the wing but you won’t find me there too much. It’s quite narrow, so most of the time I end up in the same spaces as I would when playing as a no.10 on the team sheet.

“It’s not that big a difference really, and up to now I’ve found it alright. I don’t mind it and I don’t really have a preference. It might depend on the game as well and the style of the opponent maybe, then the gaffer might make a switch.

“It’s just a tiny change, it’s not a whole different system, just a tiny switch that can make it easier to press or attack. The gaffer has the option to play me out there or as a no.10 behind two strikers. It’s up to him how he wants to do that.”

On the other side of that attacking trio, Flemming has been playing with German striker Andreas Voglsammer. The two have forged a partnership both on and off the pitch, with the Dutchman explaining that he’s been helping the former Union Berlin attacker to adapt to his new life in SE16.

Together, they give Millwall something else in the final third, something which Flemming believes can help the Lions to achieve their goals over the course of the season.

“I think he’s a good player. I like it that we brought him in because I think it’s good that we have a bit more of a European style in our team as well.

“These bits can help us to improve our game because we’ve got a solid foundation in terms of the level and the style of play, but he and I can add a little bit extra because we’re raised in a different way, in a different environment.”

Zian Flemming believes he’s ready to hit the ground running after recovering from injury

The forward is still looking for his first Championship goal

E xclu S iv E

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk

this weekend will be incredibly important for millwall midfielder george honeyman.

The Lions will travel up to face his boyhood club Sunderland on Saturday afternoon as they look to end their lengthy winless run on the road. It’ll also be the first time that Honeyman, 27, has played at the Stadium of Light in front of supporters since leaving Wearside in August 2019.

“I have played against them a few times, but it’s all been behind closed doors, which has all been really tough,” he told the News.

“This’ll be the first time that I’m going back with fans there. I think I’ve been back there two or three times without any fans, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be a bit surreal. I think I need to train even harder than I normally train to get on the pitch, but I can’t wait to get up there and see some familiar faces. Hopefully we’ll go and get our first away win of the season too.”

The Black Cats gave Honeyman his first taste of professional football, handing him his Premier League debut in 2015-16. Three seasons later, at just 23 years old, he was named as club captain.

However, when asked about his favourite memories from his time in the North East, he starts by highlighting his experience of the Academy of Light rather than any of his personal accomplishments from his professional career.

“I’ll be forever grateful to the academy there because I feel like they gave me such a fantastic life education - not just football wisebut they moulded me into the person I am today. I’ll forever be grateful to the staff there, the academy and the people around the club.

“My debut was great, when I scored my first goal, when I got named club captain. I’ve got so many amazing memories there. It was a tough few years for the club when I was coming through, but it’s obviously a club that’s

l

Midfielder returns to his boyhood club as Millwall search for first away win homecoming weekend for honeyman

close to my heart and I’m looking forward to going there and playing my football this Saturday.”

Many of the friends he made at the club have now moved on. In fact, every single Sunderland player who was in the squad to face Millwall when the two sides last met in 2018 have now left, including Honeyman himself.

There will be one familiar face for him on Saturday: former US international Lynden Gooch.

“I still speak to him every so often,”

he explains. “We were in the same youth team. It feels like it’s ages since I’ve been away from the club and he’s still there playing!

“There’s a couple of other lads that I know up there, but you know what the turnover is like in football. I’m sure there’ll be a few fans outside the ground who recognise me too!”

Indeed, it has been a turbulent period for Sunderland since their double relegation, although Honeyman admits that, while he’s “still a fan” and

tries to follow them as much as he can, he won’t be seen on the terraces any time soon.

Nonetheless, he’s impressed by what their current squad has managed to achieve in difficult circumstances.

“I think they’ve been brilliant,” he admits.

“Their forward play has been really superb. They’ve obviously got themselves a fantastic striker in Ross Stewart and the lads around him are playing some quality, free-flowing

football.

“The biggest shock was Alex Neil leaving because I don’t think anyone in the football world saw that coming. Maybe it’s different at the club itself, but that was a real shock to the system.

“How the lads have gotten together under the new manager to produce a result last week, they’ve been a real credit to the club so far and I wish them all the best this season, just not this season when I come up to play them!”

ions need to find the right style

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk

des Pite raCK ing up more than 100 Championship appearances for Barnsley, not many millwall fans are overly familiar with Callum styles.

The Hungarian international was one of the Tykes’ key players as they secured a top-six finish under Valérien Ismaël in 2020/21. The French manager utilised Styles, a natural midfielder, as a left wingback instead of his natural midfield role, where he thrived by pushing up into the final third and offering extra support out wide.

It was an area which Millwall supporters were keen to see strengthened over the summer, with Scott Malone the only out-and-out left wing-back in the senior team. However, following Styles’ debut

Callum Styles won the most duels of any player on the pitch against Cardiff City

against Cardiff City, Gary Rowett said that he believed his best position to be in midfield rather than defence.

Speaking to the News , the Millwall boss explained that the 22-year-old’s international performances helped

to convince him that he was better suited to playing in the middle of the park, but also because the player himself would rather play more centrally than in a back five.

“He’s played for Hungary there, I saw him play against England,”

Rowett said.

“I think it’s an area where he feels that he can have more of an impact and more of an influence on the game.

“For me, I’m not too bothered where he plays. It’s more about if he improves the team, he gets in the team, in whatever area we think is best.”

That may come as a surprise to many fans who were impressed with how Styles performed as a left wingback against the Bluebirds, with many naming him as the Man of the Match. However, Rowett discussed his key characteristics that could help him to thrive as a midfielder, while also arguing that his versatility could help Millwall throughout the

campaign given their small squad.

“I think you can see his calmness on the ball, you can see that he’s happy to receive the ball in every position, even under pressure.

“He keeps getting out of little moments when people are closing him down, he just drops a shoulder and gets away from them. You can see him in the middle of the pitch with his range of passing as well.

“That’s an area that we know he can play and an area that, in the longterm, I think he will play. We played him at left wing-back because we felt that he could give us something different there and he certainly gave us that flexibility.

“It also allowed us late on to push him inside and put Scotty [Malone] on to give us his energy. I thought you saw him back to what he does best, which is bombing forward and giving us a real attacking threat. The competition for places will only make us better.”

E xclu S iv E

George Honeyman has been one of Millwall’s best players so far this season

Sport inside

ExcluSivE

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk

gAry rowett says he has some tough choices ahead in finding his strongest lineup this season, because of the amount of options in his squad.

The Lions added eight new signings in the transfer window while only losing a handful of players over the summer. As a result, the Millwall boss has a lot more options available to him despite three players being ruled out through injury.

“In terms of the strongest team, I’ll be really honest, I think it’ll be hard to get there at any point this season because we’ve got so many players in the side who can help the team,” he told the News

“For example, George Honeyman

played as a no.10 for the first six or seven games and I thought he was excellent.

Zian [Flemming] has sort of gone into that role for the last two or three games.

“Either of those players can give us something very, very different. Tyler

[Burey] or Vogi [Voglsammer], Benik [Afobe] or [Bradders], Scotty Malone or Callum Styles, Danny McNamara or Shacks.

“I’m not necessarily saying we have to play either or, but they’re difficult choices to make.

“I think we’ve got squad versatility and we’ve got to use that for the best impact we can as the season goes on.”

Rowett is adamant that it’s good for him to have a selection headache after a strenuous period last season where they were incredibly low on numbers, forcing inexperienced youngsters like Zak Lovelace and Nana Boateng to be

rowett’s selection headache

Millwall boss faces tough decisions after busy transfer window

brought into the team despite having no senior experience.

However, it does mean that the Millwall boss has to have some difficult conversations with his senior players when he has to leave them out of the starting lineup or out of the squad all together.

“It’s a nice dilemma to have. It makes my job really difficult because you’re having to leave good players out of the team, someone like George Evans who wasn’t in the squad over the weekend. It’s horrible to do because he’s worked incredibly hard and showed a lot of quality when he came on the pitch against Reading late on.

“He’s a good player and you don’t want to have to do that, but ultimately those are the decisions you’ve got to make. You’d rather have to make those decisions with a good group than be

struggling to pick a team that you like the look of.

“That’s why we wanted a better squad and that’s what I think we’ve got this year.”

Conversely, Rowett believes that the Lions have found their best formation, and that his side have a strong balance between defensive solidity and threat in the final third.

“I think we know how we want to approach games tactically,” he said.

“We made a little tweak with changing to a 5-2-1-2 from a 5-2-3 and we look like we’ve a nicer balance by doing that. We try to be more attacking and more flexible than the way we did at the start of the season, but I think we’ll still play that way.

“We flipped to that style against Cardiff before we scored the second goal so we’ll always have those little tweaks.”

fisher secure glamour cup tie

Millwall boss to give charlie a chance

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk

g A ry rowett has confirmed that Charlie Cresswell will get the chance to stake his claim in the starting lineup before the international break.

The Leeds United loanee was named on the bench for Millwall’s match against Cardiff after playing 73 minutes against Burnley a few days prior. However, he was subbed on at the start of the second half due to Shaun Hutchinson’s injury, scoring the first goal of the game just after the hour-mark.

With the Lions’ captain now ruled out for three to four weeks with a grade two groin tear, Rowett has said that Cresswell will get the chance to prove that he’s able to become a first-team regular.

“I think he was really unlucky not to start [against Cardiff],” he told the News “I always knew that this would probably happen by bringing him in to face Burnley because we wanted to go a little bit more defensive with our wingbacks by putting Muzza [Wallace] out there.

“But I knew that Muzza’s form has been so good that he was always going to go back into the back three for the home game because we knew we’d go more attacking.

“It’s always difficult. I could take the easy option and not start someone like that, but for me it’s about picking someone for that game and making the decision that’s right for the home match.

“Cressy is a young lad, he wants to play every game and he’s obviously disappointed with that, but he keeps doing what he’s doing. Whenever he’s on the pitch, he has an impact. By coming on and scoring, you can’t have a much bigger impact.

“He’ll definitely get his opportunity and it’s up to him to keep the shirt.”

ExcluSivE

Gary Rowett has had to leave a number of firstteam players out of his squad recently