South London Weekly - April 10th 2026

RIGHT TRACK

Pages

WILL PRIME MINISTER OFFER SIR SADIQ KHAN A PEERAGE AFTER LOCAL ELECTIONS?

By Kumail Jaffer Local Democracy Reporter

ELEVATING SIR Sadiq Khan to the House of Lords would be to the detriment of Londoners, members of the London Assembly have argued.

Last week it was reported that the Mayor of London was set to be offered a peerage by the Prime Minister after the local elections in May.

Labour Party sources suggested it would help bring one of Sir Keir Starmer’s most high-profile critics into the fold if Labour lose swathes of council seats in London and beyond.

But allies of Sir Sadiq, a former Cabinet minister, rejected the notion that any conversations had taken place.

London Assembly Members have welcomed this dismissal in recent days, suggesting that the Mayor needed to focus on serving the Londoners who voted him in.

“Sadiq Khan is already a distracted Mayor, spending more time grand standing than focusing on fixing the issues facing London,”

Conservative Assembly Member Thomas Turrell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

“Housebuilding has collapsed under his Mayoralty, the police are facing a recruitment crisis and transport upgrades like the new DLR and Piccadilly trains are now late and millions over budget.

“He needs to focus on the job he already has. A peerage would be another distraction and it is Londoners who would lose out even more.”

We are a London Living Wage employer

DO YOU HAVE A STORY for our news team? Call 0207 231 5258 You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

There are currently two sitting peers on the London Assembly – Lord Bailey, Sir Sadiq’s Mayoral opponent in 2021, and Lord Duvall, the current chair. There is no rule against holding both positions.

However, critics from other parties on the Assembly said that if a move were to happen, Sir Sadiq should do the honourable thing and stand down from his position in City Hall.

Hina Bokhari, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, said: “This is purely a reaction to the poor results in the polls for Labour. But if the Mayor was to be parachuted into Government on a peerage, surely he can’t continue in his current position.

“What title will he use – Sir, Lord, Mayor? It

“What title will he use – Sir, Lord, Mayor? It’s all a bit ridiculous,” says opposition at City Hall

all a bit ridiculous!”

It is understood that officials think bringing in powerful Labour figures like Sir Sadiq could help shore up the Prime Minister’s position after the local election results on May 7.

The Mayor of London did not follow Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar earlier this year in calling for Sir Keir to stand down, but has remained an ardent critic of the government’s strategy.

“Many people who voted Labour in July 2024 are now angry and frustrated,” he said after Labour lost February’s Gorton and Denton by-election.

Accusing the Prime Minister of taking taking “progressive voters for granted”,

Sadiq criticised his approach to Brexit, immigration and Gaza.

Reform UK’s Alex Wilson suggested that any peerage offer would show how “desperate [Starmer] is and how low he has sunk.”

He added: “It’s an entirely cynical act motivated purely by his desire to silence his biggest opponents from within the Labour Party.

“Now, his decision to withdraw the whip from Karl Turner serves as proof of his intent to crush growing dissent within his ranks.

“Sadiq Khan has been an utter disaster for our city, having overseen economic destruction, pitiful housing delivery and rising violence. For the Prime Minister to

Election modelling from data firm Bombe has indicated that Labour could lose control of 19 of the 21 councils it currently controls in London.

Another new wave of peerages is expected to be announced by Downing Street in the coming months.

A source close to Sir Sadiq told the LDRS: “As far as we’re aware, no list yet exists, and he’s not on any list.”

A government spokesperson said: “This is speculation.”

The LDRS contacted several Labour members on the London Assembly, none of whom returned a request for comment.

Editor: Kevin Quinn

Reporter: Evie Flynn

Sports Editor: John Kelly

Sports reporter: Will Scott

Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland

Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston

Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips

Advertising: Clarry Frewin

Design: Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen

Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758

Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd

Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany

Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly at: Community Matters Media Ltd, 1 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN

News and Sport: 020 7231 5258

Advertising: 0020 7232 1639

News/Advertising: hello@cm-media.co.uk

Finance: em@cm-media.co.uk

Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500

www.iliffeprint.co.uk

Community Matters Media has been running independent newspapers since 1987, and now boasts the weeklies: South London Weekly, Southwark News and Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender, as well as the lifestyle magazines The South Londoner and Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker

You can view all our content on www.southlondon.co.uk and sign up to newsletters to stay informed about news, lifestyle & events, people, sport and history.

We believe in community and in balanced, independent and responsible journalism. As a south London business, we also work to support fellow local businesses.

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

Bermondsey tube station food bank founder honoured

By Evie Flynn

A BERMONDSEY woman and veteran foster carer, who runs a food bank four days a week outside the underground station, was recognised for her ‘tireless efforts’ to the community at an awards ceremony in March.

Henrietta Onyema, 66, created a pop-up ‘One Woman Food Bank’ outside her house in 2023 after the one at her nearby church St Peter & the Guardian Angels had to stop. Three years on, she sets up outside Bermondsey Tube Station from Monday to Thursday every week, offering food and supplies to those who need it.

Alongside her community work, Henrietta famously offered her home’s toilet to thousands of people queuing to see Her Majesty the Queen lying in state in 2022. This unselfish act saw her feature on the front page of the Southwark News and one of her toilet visitors was Dame Kelly Holmes.

On 28 March, she was recognised by The Good Samaritan Foundation and invited to their International

Women’s Dinner and Merit Awards, where she was presented with a Special Recognition Award.

Funi Ademilua, founder of The Good Samaritan Foundation, said Henrietta’s “unwavering dedication to alleviating the cost of living crisis is truly commendable and an inspiration to many.”

Henrietta used to be a foster carer

and cared for 89 children throughout her career, many of whom had experienced extreme trauma.

This is not the first time Henrietta has been recognised for her work. In 2023 she was presented with the Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey at the Civic Award Ceremony at Southwark Cathedral on May 20, 2023.

BERKELEY HOMES NOW WANTS TO DROP TO 10% SOCIAL HOUSING AT ELEPHANT

EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke

THE AMOUNT of affordable housing in a major development in the heart of Elephant and Castle could plunge to as little as 10 per cent.

Southwark Council said the developer’s brazen move to slash the number of affordable homes on the site from 35 per cent to 10 per cent was “unacceptable” and “cannot be justified.”

While a spokesperson for developers Berkeley Homes said that “the reality is that each affordable home is built at a major financial loss.”

Berkeley Homes’ latest cut to affordable housing comes after their highly controversial decision last year to lower their offering from 35 per cent to just 12 per cent in Peckham. They say developments can’t deliver as many affordable homes “now that taxes, planning levies, regulations and build costs have all increased.”

The Borough Triangle redevelopment, which covers an area the size of one and a half football pitches, will see almost 900 homes built, spread across towers up to 44 storeys in height once complete.

A Berkeley Homes spokesperson

added that they were being ‘charged £31 million’ for this development by Southwark ‘to fund infrastructure elsewhere in the borough’, so that ‘directly reduces the amount of affordable housing that can be delivered on the site.’

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

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

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

The development would create 1,780sq metres of public space.

Buildings that would escape the bulldozer include a locally listed former Baptist church at 82 Borough Road and the façade of next door 83

Borough Road.

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

During the planning application hearing last year Nina Wessel, a resident who lives near to the development site, said the closure of Mercato Metropolitan would be a huge loss to the local area. She said: “Over the last nine years this market [Mercato Metroplitano] has become the heart of our community.

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

But Andrea Ferrario, who runs German Kraft Brewery, a beer stall within the food court, said at the time that he supported plans to demolish the existing food hall and create a new one. He said: “People have between

six to 12 months [leases at Mercato Metropolitano]. That’s not enough to establish your business and to give it the security to continue. Having a longer lease, it will help you to establish your business, build your clientèle.”

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

Councillors green-lit the Berkeley Homes plans back in March 2025, with the developer promising to make 35 per cent – or 230 – of the 892 homes affordable (up to 80 per cent market rents).

But Berkeley is now seeking a variation in the planning application so it can lower the amount of affordable housing to as little as 10 per cent – the equivalent of around 80-100 homes.

It will now go back to planning committee where councillors will decide whether to grant permission.

The proportion of the cheapest social rent homes – comparable to council rents – would drop from 17 per cent (around 150) in the original

plans to just 7 per cent of the overall development if the revised application is approved.

It comes after the Mayor of London slashed the amount of affordable housing developers need to build to get fast-tracked planning permission in London last year from 35 per cent to 20 per cent in a bid to speed up housebuilding with has slumped in recent times.

It comes days after the Mayor of London gave the green-light to British Land’s proposals for as many as 4,200 homes in Canada Water, of which a meagre 9 per cent would be affordable thanks to a £51million grant.

Had it not been for the funding injection, just 3 per cent – 79 – of homes on the Canada Water Masterplan would have been affordable.

Berkeley is currently waiting to hear the verdict of the government’s Planning Inspectorate on another application to build 900 homes on Peckham’s Aylesham Centre after it reduced the amount of affordable housing from 35 to 12 per cent and then opted to bypass the council’s planning committee.

Cllr Helen Dennis, Southwark Labour spokesperson for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said: “It is immensely disappointing that

Berkeley Homes are once again reducing their affordable housing offer in Southwark.

“We are in a housing crisis. For a development of this scale in a prime central London location to be reduced from 35% affordable to just 10% is unacceptable and simply cannot be justified.”

The Southwark Liberal Democrats said they had written to the Council’s Head of Planning urging officers to refuse the application. They warn it would set a dangerous precedent and further erode trust in the planning system.

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition and councillor for Borough & Bankside, said: “This scheme was already failing local people – now it’s getting even worse. Cutting affordable housing to just 10% on a site delivering nearly 900 homes is simply unacceptable.

“We warned from the start that Borough Triangle didn’t go far enough. Now the developer is back asking to water it down even further and that raises serious questions about how this was approved in the first place. When developments like Canada Water are being approved with just 9% affordable housing, it’s clear the bar is being lowered and developers are taking full advantage. Labour are rolling over to developers at every level of government, Southwark residents deserve better.”

A Berkeley spokesperson said: “We aim to deliver 20% affordable housing at Borough Triangle, provided we can access the full benefits of the Government and GLA’s new planning

The site, the size of one and half football pitches, is currently home to Mercato Metropolitano

route, which has been introduced to prevent more projects like this from stalling altogether due to worsening market conditions and rising construction and regulatory costs.

“The reality is that each affordable home is built at a major financial loss, so developments can’t deliver as many now that taxes, planning levies, regulations and build costs have all increased. This is why new private and affordable homebuilding has fallen to record lows across London.

“It’s important to recognise the full benefits this brownfield regeneration project offers Southwark and London, including much-needed private and affordable homes, major new investment in community infrastructure and local services, a new community space, public square, 60 apprenticeships and hundreds of jobs.

“This development is being charged £31 million by the local authority to fund infrastructure elsewhere in the borough. This charge directly reduces the amount of affordable housing that can be delivered on the site.”

FINAL PHASE OF THE ORIGINAL ELEPHANT AND CASTLE REGENERATION SCHEME HAS BEEN APPROVED

By Ruby Gregory Local Democracy Reporter

REVISED PLANS for the final phase of a £1.5billion regeneration scheme at Elephant and Castle have been green-lit by Southwark councillors.

Developer, Get Living secured planning permission to build 507 new rental homes and accommodation for 452 students during a meeting of Southwark Council’s Planning Committee at the end of last month.

The development will be constructed at the Elephant West Site, and forms part of Phase 3 of Get Living’s regeneration scheme.

Get Living’s previous consented scheme from 2019 included the delivery of 498 homes, of which 165 were to be ‘affordable’, in three tower blocks ranging between 18 storeys and 33 storeys.

Its revised proposals involve the delivery of 507 homes but with an additional 452 student beds in three tower blocks ranging from 22 to 34 storeys high.

The number of affordable homes remain the same at 165 and will consist of 116 social rent, 12 London Living Rent and 37 Discount Market rent homes.

The revised scheme had been submitted in response to policy and regulatory changes, including the introduction of a second staircase for residential buildings 18 metres or taller in order to comply with the Building Safety Act.

Because student accommodation had been introduced to the revised scheme and had increased the overall number of habitable rooms on site, the affordable housing offer – by habitable room – had

dropped from 35 per cent to 27.6 per cent.

During last week’s meeting, the committee heard that the development could not support any additional affordable housing and that an independent review also confirmed this.

The plans had received 172 objections, two supporting comments and two neutral responses.

A representative of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Baptist Church in Elephant and Castle said they had concerns over the height of the tallest tower and the impact it would have on the church, which is a Grade II listed building.

Meanwhile the Chairperson of a Hayles Tenants and Residents Association asked for further consultation with residents over the traffic management plan, and suggested a planning condition so that

heavy goods vehicles use only the main arterial roads and not the nearby Victorian streets because of safety concerns during the construction phase.

Cllr Maria Linforth-Hall and Cllr Graham Neale, ward councillors for St George’s, said they were “deeply concerned” that the proportion of affordable housing had dropped to 27.6 per cent in the revised scheme.

Cllr Neale added: “We urge the committee to address the reduction in proportion of affordable housing to ensure long-term community benefit [and] impose a condition that construction traffic uses the main arterial roads.”

Cllr Neale asked the committee to impose a condition for the delivery and servicing plan to be revised following consultation with residents and that this

The fi nal phase of the Elephant and Castle regeneration scheme has been approved

be reported back to the committee in six months time.

The plans were ultimately approved, but with extra two conditions including that a construction management plan goes back to to the committee for final approval to allow for further consultation with the local community.

After the plans were approved, Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive of Get Living, said: “This planning consent represents the final piece of the jigsaw, enabling a regeneration of real and lasting importance – one that everyone can be proud of for generations to come.

“With housing delivery in London at a critically low level and new home completions set to decline sharply from 2028, developments like this bringing forward essential affordable housing

alongside open-market rental homes and student accommodation are even more important.”

He added: “Elephant and Castle is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and we are honoured to be preserving this while bringing new energy and innovation to the area.”

New M&S store and Blank Street Coffee branch to open as part of £500m town centre

Get Living have revealed that Marks and Spencer will be one of the very first retail brands that will be coming to the Elephant and Castle’s £500million new town centre which is set to launch in late 2026.

The town centre, known as the Elephant, forms part of Phase 2 of the scheme which also includes 485 rental homes, 135,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants and leisure space as well as a new London underground ticket hall.

The Elephant has replaced the nowdemolished Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, which was Europe’s first covered shopping centre. The new town centre is expected to bring in an annual footfall of 16 million.

The new M&S branch has been described as a brand-new, market-style food store offering fresh produce and a wide range of on-the-go breakfast, lunch and dinner choices.

Meanwhile the area is also getting a Blank Street Coffee shop and a Jungle Berry café, which sells açaí berry bowls, smoothies and juices.

Phase 2 also includes 485 new homes, of which 172 are affordable. Phase 1, known as Elephant Central, consists of 374 homes and 278 student homes which have been owned and operated by Get Living since 2017.

MAYOR LAUNCHES £400K FUND FOR COUNCILS IN BID TO BOOST SUMMER DINING AND EVENTS

By Cristina Trujillo

£400,000 WILL be made available to London councils to boost hospitality over summer.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the return of his Summer Streets fund, which will help councils support local businesses to increase events and al-fresco dining, plus extend opening hours in the warmer months.

Launched last year to amplify hospitality across the capital, the Summer Streets fund’s previous successes include pilots in Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Westminster, which were transformed into open-air dining spaces.

Sadiq Khan said: “It was fantastic to see Londoners and visitors enjoying al fresco dining across our capital last year, so I’m delighted to announce the return of my Summer Streets fund.

“I want our wonderful cafes, bars and restaurants to be able to expand outdoor dining and opening hours throughout the summer, providing a great experience for all and a real boost to business, especially with the World Cup set to bring people together.

“I want this summer to be the biggest

Al-fresco dining

ever summer for al fresco dining in our capital’s history, and I’ll continue to support our vital hospitality and nightlife industries, as we build a better London for everyone.”

With the men’s football World Cup due to start in June, the plan capitalises on the swell in tourism and spending seen in London as weather improves.

£300,000 will be available for large scale project with grants of up to £100,000, while £100,000 will be available for smaller projects, with grants of up to £10,000.

The fund will be open for applications in April, with boroughs and partners expected to provide match funding. Cafes, small nightlife venues, pubs, businesses and live music venues are all welcome to participate.

The plan aims to increase pedestrianisation projects that facilitate al-fresco dining in London’s streets, and ‘pocket alfresco’ schemes geared at expanding outdoor spaces to increase sales, community and culture.

The drive to support the London bars, cafes, hospitality and nightlife economy comes amid a huge number of challenges faced by hospitality lately, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis.

UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “With a huge summer of sport ahead of us, it’s great that the Mayor is bringing back his Summer Street Fund to support London’s hospitality businesses.

“We saw the success of the scheme last year, helping to drive footfall and boost trade for our local pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. I encourage boroughs to move quickly to take advantage of this fund to once again make Summer Streets a success.”

By Maya Sgaravato-Grant

SOUTHWARK PUPILS performed self-composed pieces in a City of London event celebrating musical excellence.

Around 70 children and young people, including students from City of London Academy in Bermondsey, and Redriff Primary in Rotherhithe, took part in the 10th anniversary City Schools Concert in the mediaeval Guildhall Great Hall.

Five schools in the City of London Corporation’s family of schools were involved in total, presenting pieces they had penned themselves under the guidance of musicians and creative project leaders Sigrun Saevarsdottir-Griffiths and Paul Griffiths.

Chair of the City of London Corporation education board, Naresh Sonpar, stated that the concert demonstrated ‘the impact that access to high-quality cultural and musical experiences can have on young people.’

He said: “The concert was both a celebration and a statement of our long term commitment to music education and opportunity.

“The project puts young people at its heart – their voices, creativity and confidence – and demonstrates the power of sustained investment in arts education.”

The other participating schools were City of London Primary Academy Islington, The City Academy Hackney, and City of London School.

PUPILS SHINE IN SCHOOLS CONCERT

By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter

NEIGHBOURHOOD

WARDENS

could begin patrolling every town centre in Wandsworth, after the success of a trial scheme.

Wandsworth Council’s Labour administration has pledged to roll out the service across the borough to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour, if it wins the local elections in May.

The council said its introduction of wardens in Balham earlier this month under a six-month pilot, costing £170,000, was already making residents feel safer, supporting retail security staff and deterring antisocial behaviour.

It launched the pilot after locals raised concerns about perceived rises in levels of antisocial behaviour, street cleanliness and enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) through the Balham Forum.

The administration said some residents had since asked to see wardens patrolling all of Wandsworth’s town centres, which it says it would introduce if it remains in charge of the authority after the elections.

The team is made up of the council’s parks police constables, with extra support from council officers. They patrol Balham four days a week at peak times, including after school, commuter windows and in the evening.

The wardens speak to residents and businesses, provide targeted education and intervention and use enforcement powers where necessary to address antisocial behaviour. They also direct people to services that can help them, including rough sleepers.

Labour Council Leader Simon Hogg

WARDENS IN WANDSWORTH

said: “Wandsworth is one of the safest inner London boroughs, but we know residents are concerned about issues like fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour.

I am really excited to announce that Wandsworth Labour will extend our neighbourhood wardens across all of our high streets.

“Local residents, businesses and families have told us that uniformed officers make residents feel safer,

businesses have a friendly face to help them and issues can be resolved quickly to make our high streets welcoming for all.”

The success of the pilot in Balham will also be formally assessed using performance indictors, including resident feedback, breaches of PSPOs, enhanced referrals to support services and incidences of shoplifting and flytipping.

Labour won control of Wandsworth from the Conservatives for the first time in 44 years in May 2022. Whether the group remains in control of the authority will be decided on May 7, when all 58 seats of the council across 22 wards are up for election.

Plans to roll out wardens across the borough would need to be drawn up in more detail, along with funds and further approval to go ahead.

MURDERER STABBED HIMSELF TO MAKE OUT HE WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENCE AFTER CROYDON KILLING

By Sinead Campbell

A MAN from Streatham has been convicted of murdering a woman in Croydon and then trying to cover it up with a self-inflicted wound in order to claim he acted in self-defence.

Simon Ghebremedhin, 33, stabbed Marjama Osman, 26, to death inside her home on Frith Road, Croydon on Saturday, 31 May, 2025.

The jury at Inner London Crown Court found Ghebremedhin of Streatham High Road, SW16, guilty of murder on Monday 1 April.

Police officers were called to Marjama’s flat after a passerby found her lying unconscious outside the property. Ghebremedhin was also present with a knife injury to his abdomen, he was taken to hospital and subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.

Ghebremedhin and Marjama were known to each other and Ghebremedhin visited Marjama’s flat on the day of the murder. CCTV footage obtained by investigators from the location showed the defendant smashing his own phone and banging the door. Marjama let him into the property, where he stabbed her. She escaped the flat, before collapsing outside.

Ghebremedhin claimed he had acted in self-defence after Marjama attacked him with a knife. However,

investigators found no signs of injury in the immediate aftermath of the stabbing. CCTV footage shows that Ghebremedhin followed Marjama out of the property and then went back inside. It is assumed that he then injured himself in a bid to claim selfdefence.

The jury were shown specialist evidence called in by officers which determined that the abdomen wound was likely to have been self-inflicted.

Ghebremedhin will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday, 14 April.

Detective Inspector Aytac Necati, who led the Met’s investigation, said: “Our thoughts today are with Marjama’s family and friends. The evidence presented at trial was graphic and highly distressing, which meant Marjama’s loved ones were subjected to further torment and anguish.

“Ghebremedhin is a particularly devious killer, who went to great lengths to deceive police and the court. Thankfully, diligent detective work has exposed him as a liar.

“The Met is committed to protecting the public from harm – with violence against women and girls a particular focus of our New Met for London strategy. The successful prosecution in this case illustrates this commitment.

“We’ll continue to do everything in our power to take the most dangerous and prolific perpetrators off our streets.”

Which schools are getting funding for nurseries?

By Frankie Hills

ELEVEN SCHOOLS across south London will receive new funding to provide new nursery places to help parents struggling with the cost of childcare.

The government has announced that the services are designed to help with the costs associated of childcare and better support working parents.

The £45 million investment will create thousands of new nursery places in areas identified as having the biggest barriers in childcare provision. More than three hundred schools across the country will benefit from the scheme, including a total of 34 in London and 11 in South London.

The expansion of the government programme comes as it aims to meet its pledge on providing free childcare to working families.

Speaking on the introduction of school-based nurseries, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “By targeting new nursery places in the areas that need them most, including across London, we are making sure more families can access high-quality early education close to home.”

SCHOOLS WHICH ARE DUE TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING TO ESTABLISH SCHOOL-BASED NURSERIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Lewisham

Kender Primary School (Lewisham North)

Myatt Garden Primary School (Lewisham North)

St George’s CofE Primary School (Lewisham West and East Dulwich)

St James’s Hatcham Church of England Primary School (Lewisham North) Wandsworth Eastwood Nursery School (Putney) Franciscan Primary School (Tooting) Bexley Fairford Academy Barnehurst (Bexleyheath and Crayford) Mayplace Primary School (Bexleyheath and Crayford) Pelham Primary School (Bexleyheath and Crayford) Bromley

Harris Primary Academy Orpington (Orpington) Croydon

Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School (Croydon South) Merton

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School (Wimbledon)

10 NEWS

By Ruby Gregory Local Democracy Reporter

KENNINGTON PARK’S historic skatebowl has been given a cash injection from Lambeth Council worth more than £500,000 to help bring it back to life and make it safer to use again.

The popular 1970s skatebowl, known to many as ‘Kenny’, had fallen into decline and had become dangerous to use. Lambeth Council said this was due to unevenness caused by foundation movement which was linked to the skatepark’s original construction on a tarmac court, as well as distortion from tree roots.

In September 2025, campaigners launched a petition which called on the council to fulfil its previous promise to restore the skatebowl. At the time of publication (March 31), the petition had more than 2,500 signatures and had been backed by Skateboard GB, the governing body for skateboarding in Britain.

A spokesperson for local group, Friends of Kennington Park (FoKP), which has led the campaign to restore it, said: “We, and the whole skateboarding community, are thrilled that the council has decided to honour their promise to restore Kennington Park’s iconic skatebowl. There’s still a long way to go, but we’re very much looking forward to working with the council to get the project back on track.”

They added: “We hope things will get moving again once the new financial year starts in April. The procurement process will need to reboot, and contractor negotiations completed. And we’re hopeful that work on the site will start this year.”

A Lambeth Council spokesperson previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that capital projects including the skatepark had been paused due to its financial position at the time, but that it was reviewing all projects and hoped to have an update for resident groups soon.

The funding, worth £566,000, has now been included in next year’s Capital Investment and was agreed by Cabinet at a meeting earlier this month. The decision was officially endorsed as part of Lambeth Council’s annual budget meeting on March 4.

Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth Council’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said: “Kennington Skatepark is highly valued by people in Lambeth and far beyond, and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to confirm this vital support.

KENNY SAVED!

“This funding underlines our long-term commitment to this skatepark as a valuable community asset for years to come. We’re determined that this investment will secure Kenny’s future as a skatepark that can be enjoyed by everyone.”

The works include screw-pile foundations, realigning concrete slabs and will be using specialist contractors who are skilled in skateboard-grade concrete fabrication and finishing.

Extensive work will also include asbestos remediation, essential concrete works, access-ramp design and construction as well as grinding and polishing.

The council is planning to appoint a specialist contractor to fix the skatebowl’s structural issues, with the intention of making it high-quality, safe and ready for the skateboarding community to use again.

The skatepark opened in 1978 and is one of the oldest in the country and

was designed by “grandfather of British skateboarding”, Lorne Edwards, who sadly passed away during Covid-19.

Dave the Chimp, a street artist who has been skateboarding since the age of 12, said the reason he moved to London was he saw his idol, Mark Gonzales, at Kennington Skatebowl.

Dave, who now lives in Germany, previously told the LDRS: “I used to love going there, it was my happy place, there

used to be a bunch of skateparks that we would go to, but Kennington was always the happy place.

“It was different enough that it was also challenging and it was surrounded by trees, it was cool and a good place to hang out.”

He added: “There’s no other construction like that anywhere in the country, I think it’s unique and should be repaired for skateboarding.”

By Romilly Schulte

ST GILES in Camberwell has become a firm fixture in South London’s culture offerings.

The grade two listed Neo-Gothic church offers a dramatic background for their famous ‘Organoke’, and has been hosting top jazz acts in its basement for over 30 years.

Communal song is central to church traditions, but St Giles swaps the hymnal out to make way for a style of group singing we may not associate with a church venuekaraoke.

The event began as a project to restore and save the church’s historic organ, which now plays, alongside a full live band, everyone’s classic karaoke favourites for everyone to

sing - quite literally - en masse.

While the St Giles remains the spiritual home of the night, it has also travelled to Battersea Art Centre and the Brighton Dome since being launched in 2016.

Jazzlive at the Crypt has been in the church’s foundations since 1995, and has since been one of the leading figures in the London jazz scene through its esteemed Friday concerts.

They merged with the collective ‘Jazz Umbrella’ to establish a charity in 2000, which has been promoting jazz education in the UK ever since, and has hosted top musicians from all over the globe.

Making up the modern church’s musical underbelly, the Crypt actually originated from the original

11th century Anglo-Saxon church, which inhabited the site until it was destroyed by fire in the 1800s.

Live at St Giles also hosts weekly Sunday sessions with acts varying from the London Saxophone Choir to the Bach Plus Collective, their music oscillating between the religious and the secular.

In the more traditional line, the church boasts three choirs and regular evensong services.

You can also look forward to other events in line with Camberwell’s wealth of cultural and artistic outputs, including film screenings by local record store Dash The Henge, often soundtracked by live music performances.

More information on music at St Giles can be found online

Elephant Quarter offers adaptable homes, delivering high-quality design with thoughtful accessibility throughout. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TODAY ELEPHANTQUARTER@GETLIVING.COM

Because weekends weren’t made for storage runs — book in minutes and access anytime with Pocket.

Drummond Rd, Biscuit Factory, SE16 4DG

• Flexible booking, no long-term tie-ins

• Access any time, day or night

• 5 mins from Bermondsey tube

GUY’S HOSPITAL WILL MARK 300TH BIRTHDAY WITH WEEK OF CELEBRATIONS

By Issy Clarke

GUY’S HOSPITAL is celebrating its 300th birthday this year and will put on a week of free and paid activities to mark the occasion in May.

2026 marks 300 years since Guy’s began caring for the community in 1726.

The programme of celebratory events, which includes a special Southwark Cathedral service and a black-tie dinner, will take place during the second week of May (Tuesday 4 – Friday 8) as the hospital marks the milestone.

Anyone with links to Guy’s is invited to get involved with the celebrations – but early booking for both the free and paid events is advised to avoid missing out.

There will be a special anniversary edition of the The Guy’s, King’s College and St Thomas’ Hospitals (GKT) Gazette printed to mark the hospital’s birthday.

From Tuesday to Thursday, there will be activities at Guy’s run by students and staff which will celebrate the present and future of healthcare nationally and around the world.

On Thursday, there will be a special service

at Southwark Cathedral from 2-3 PM led by the Bishop of Southwark (£20), followed by an Afternoon Tea and Reception at Guy’s Marquee and Gardens from 3:30-5:15 PM (£25).

On Friday, there will be a chance to hear from some of the brightest minds in healthcare as they gather to present a series of panels, talks, and roundtable discussions about the latest discoveries and innovations happening at Guy’s.

The best part is that the panel event –which will take place at Guy’s Hospital New Hunts House Lecture Theatre – is completely free to attend although you will need to book.

Wrapping up the hospital’s birthday week will be a lavish Gala dinner followed by dancing on Friday night starting at 6:45 PM at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge – but a ticket will set you back £175 a head.

To mark the anniversary, Guy’s is launching a fellowship programme offering financial support to help healthcare students from diverse backgrounds – you can donate www.donate.kcl.ac.uk/p/guys300appeal

More details at www.kcl.ac.uk/events/ guys-hospital-300th-anniversarycelebrations

‘CANE RAT AND ANTELOPE MEAT’ SEIZED IN RAID

Meat seized at the property.

Credit: Food Standards Agency

By Rich Brann

CANE RAT and other “potentially unsafe” meat including antelope were seized after a raid on a property, according to officers who took part in a joint operation involving the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU).

In the recent raid police from Peckham Rye Safer Neighbourhood Team said they have confiscated around 11 kilos of bushmeat from a property in south east London, including large amounts of crane rat and antelope meat, although they have not named the property.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) were present at the scene as part of the

NFCU investigation alongside police officers, during which a 51-year-old man arrested. He was later released under investigation as enquiries continue.

Bushmeat typically refers to wild animal meat procured through hunting. There is concern that these meats are imported illegally and are not subject to proper inspection and could, therefore, be contaminated.

The Food Standards Agency says the primary concern to public health from illegally imported ‘bush meat’ such as cane rats is from food pathogens, which they said are likely to be destroyed during cooking.

Cane rats are pests native to subSaharan Africa, with importation illegal

under long-standing laws to protect the spread of foreign diseases.

David Toms-Sheridan, Head of Investigations (South of England and Wales) at the NFCU, said: “This operation forms part of the NFCU’s ongoing work to disrupt the illegal meat trade and prevent unsafe products from reaching the public...we remain vigilant to the threat of illegal meat entering the food chain and will continue to take action to protect the public.

“The FSA advises consumers not to buy or eat illegally imported meat, including bushmeat, as it may pose serious health risks - if you have concerns about products being sold, contact your local authority.”

WHICH BOROUGH RECORDED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF OFFENCES IN SOUTH EAST LONDON IN FEBRUARY?

By Pablo Munoz

FIGURES FROM the Metropolitan Police in February this year show

Southwark was the South East London borough with the highest number of recorded offences of any kind, a fact that has not been repeated since at least 2011.

South East London, which includes Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark, saw an fall of nearly one per cent in reported crime in February when compared to the previous month, with a total of 10,512 offences logged, 105 fewer than in January.

February’s overall crime data in Southwark shows a slight downward trend from the previous months of January and December, but historical data shows that the colder months tend to show a lower number of crimes reported in the borough.

The most common offences in Southwark are theft (1,241) and violence against the person (703), with 176 robberies, 173 vehicle offences, 166 burglaries, 148 arsons and criminal damage. Altogether, theft and violence accounted for more than half of offences.

The second highest number of offences occurred in the borough of Lewisham, with 2,292 offences recorded, with

violence against the person (776) and theft (633) being the most common. Greenwich comes third (2,174), which saw a decrease in crime by one per cent compared to January, followed by Bromley (1,829), London’s largest

borough by area. Bexley recorded the lowest number of offences (1,170).

There is a correlation between population density and crime volume, with Southwark and Lewisham being the most densely populated boroughs, which

also report the highest offence totals. Bromley, despite holding the largest population out of the five boroughs (~335,000), had a comparatively low median crime per capita in 2025 of 5.65 offences per 1,000 people, compared to

Southwark’s whopping 10.45 offences per 1,000 people. Southwark’s crime per capita was also higher than Lewisham’s 8.05 and Greenwich’s 7.5.

Southwark contains major high-footfall areas, such as London Bridge, Borough Market, South Bank, and Elephant & Castle, which could affect the high numbers, but wealth inequality may also be a factor that impacts the high number of offences.

Poverty rates remain highest in Lewisham (29 per cent) and Greenwich (26 per cent), with Southwark falling third (21 per cent), as per Trust for London Borough Profiles data for 2025/2026, but Southwark has a significantly higher number of social housing (around 38 per cent) than Lewisham (~26 per cent) and Greenwich (~28 per cent).

The GLA Housing in London Report 2024/2025 found that in Southwark and Lewisham, residents spend over 41 per cent of their median pay on rent, far exceeding the “affordable” benchmark of 30 per cent.

Homelessness also remains at critical levels in the borough, with 1 in 36 people being homeless in Southwark as shown by data from Shelter, an organisation providing support to people experiencing homelessness, in its 2025 report.

There are two versions of the MMRV vaccine, protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox.

One contains porcine gelatine, the other does not. Both are safe and effective.

Ask your GP practice or nurse about the MMRV vaccine

By Evie Flynn

TUCKED BETWEEN Rye Lane and Bellenden Road lies Bara, the capital’s first Welsh cafe and the newest addition to Peckham’s bustling food scene.

Bara (the Welsh word for bread) takes inspiration from the richness of Welsh produce, offering a Swansea Breakfast, Caerphilly Cheesesteak and betterknown classics like the Welsh Rarebit. The cafe was founded by Masterchef: The Professionals quarter-finalist, Cissy Dalladay, and former head chef of Pique Cafe in Clapham, Zoe Heimann. It draws on the influence of both founders’ upbringings with Cissy’s childhood in South Wales fuelling Bara’s culinary inspiration and Zoe’s in South London, inspiring the location.

The idea blossomed when Cissy stumbled across her grandmother’s 1950s Welsh Gas board cookbook, titled “Croeso Cymreig - a Welsh Welcome”. When reading the recipes, she found old notes from her grandma inside – which she took as a sign to go do something Welsh. The two women combined their mutual love of bread and their highflying goal of opening up their own space to create Bara.

Bara takes a modern approach to staple Welsh ingredients. The Caerphilly Cheesesteak takes inspiration from the staple American sandwich – the Philly Cheesesteak – consisting of thinly sliced steak and melted cheese. The Bara twist on the classic uses eight-hour smoked Welsh beef brisket, Caerphilly cheese, and Blas Y Tir leeks.

“I feel like as a nation Wales is underrepresented in the food scene

LONDON’S FIRST WELSH CAFE COMES TO PECKHAM

in London,” Cecily said. “I’m excited to showcase these exceptional suppliers.

Our food and coffee tastes better, because the ingredients and suppliers that create them do so with care and attention.”

Their “hearty” Swansea Breakfast features smoked bacon, leeks, cockles on toasted focaccia, alongside laverbread –a traditional Welsh delicacy made from seaweed.

Bara’s own focaccia is a big part of their offering, with fillings including slowcooked Welsh lamb shoulder in Lamiri harissa, or saffron coronation chicken with mango and scotch bonnet salsa.

From 7:30am every weekday, Bara will be running a breakfast counter, from Bara Brith (meaning ‘speckled bread’), leek bubble and squeak or egg and cheese focaccia.

For drinks, Bara will be serving up coffee from Coaltown Roasters, a Welsh

producer based in Ammanford, a former mining town in Carmarthenshire. Tiny Rebel Welsh Lager will be sold, alongside a list of traditional Welsh wines.

Cissy said: “We’re working with companies that are doing things differently and who share our values; from Câr-y-Môr, Wales’ first regenerative seaweed and shellfish farm, to Coaltown Coffee, a B-Corp with firm roots in the community, our suppliers embody our ethos of ‘Bread, Opportunity, Community’”.

Their opening weekend did not disappoint and the reception from the local community was described by the founders as “crazy”. Bara opened its doors to Peckham on Valentine’s Day after a soft launch on February 12, with queues stretching down the street.

Zoe told us how the vision for Bara is to create a community space that goes far beyond the food. “A café can do more

than just sell coffee…We want to be really intentional about building a space for the Peckham community, where people can come together, break bread, and connect,” she explained.

In the evening, Bara plans to showcase local culinary talent through a chefs-inresidency programme. The space will also be available to hire at a discounted rate for local non-profit groups to meet.

Once established, Bara plans to launch an entry to work scheme, supporting marginalised groups like asylum seekers who face unfair barriers to jobs. They will also look to partner with local food banks, distributing surplus food, and offering vouchers to make the café accessible to everyone in the community.

Bara, 44-46 Choumert Road, SE15 4SE

OPENING HOURS:

Wednesday - Friday 07.30 - 16.30

Saturday 08.30 - 17.00

Sunday 08.30 - 16.00

Follow @baracafelondon on Instagram

By Pablo Munoz

A POPULAR Camberwell sandwich maker known for its Japanese-style sarnies, will open a new grab-andgo branch in Deptford this month.

Mondo Sando’s new shop, in Arch 5 of the Deptford Market Yard, will be styled in the same retro fashion as Cafe Mondo on Peckham Road, which also includes a Museum of Rocks.

Cafe Mondo has built a following in south London for its high-quality, creative Japanese-style sandwiches and uses neighbouring TOAD Bakery’s bread. It offers a daytime takeaway service as well as small plates and cocktails.

The menu at the Deptford shop, Mondo To Go, will feature the brand’s signature sandwiches and sides, including the Mondo Frango and the Mondo Combo, as well as pickles and latkes, plus some new Deptford-only creations.

It is due to open on Friday April 10 and there’ll be 50 percent off food til Sunday April 12 to celebrate the launch of the takeaway shop and you’ll be able to linger at their 50-seater outdoor terrace.

Co-founder Jack Macrae said: “After many years working in Camberwell, five minutes from my flat, it’s only fair we open a site in Deptford, five minutes from Viggo’s.”

Viggo Blegvad and his long-time friend Jack began Mondo Sando during the COVID lockdown, initially delivering sandwiches by bike around Peckham and Camberwell. The takeaway concept later developed into kitchen residencies in local pubs, including the Joiner’s Arms and the Grove House Cafe before opening in it’s first permanent site in Camberwell in 2024. Mondo To Go will be open every Wednesday to Sunday, from 124pm.

EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke

LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION station

could finally be made fully step-free after Lambeth Council announced funding has been secured to explore potential designs.

It comes after we reported on concerns last year that Loughborough Junction, which contains just one steep flight of stairs to a single island platform, posed a safety risk to commuters during rush hour, while leaving the disabled and elderly unable to use the station.

Network Rail has been given £75,000 to begin looking at the potential ways the station could be made fully accessible, according to Lambeth Council.

It will look at not only options to give the station step-free access but also safety infrastructure works at both platform and street level.

The feasibility study will begin in the spring and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

It is the first formal stage required before funding can be granted by the Department for Transport for the upgrade itself.

The station is too small to fit a lift inside, so it would need to be expanded into two empty railway arches next to the current entrance which are leased from Network Rail to the Arch Company. Network Rail would have the right to buy these back to expand the station under the terms of the lease agreement. Alternatively, a different building altogether may be required.

Nick Lewis (pictured) from the campaign group Lift Up Loughborough Junction, who has been campaigning for years for the station to be made stepfree, told us previously that the issues surrounding the station had become more pressing because of the increase in the number of passengers using the station. His own analysis of figures from the Office of Rail and Road and data from train operating companies shows that Loughborough Junction saw an increase in footfall from 1.08 million in 2019–20 to 1.12 million in 2024–25; a 13.5 per cent rise.

Currently, when you enter the station and get through the ticket barriers, there is just one steep, long flight of stairs leading up to the platform.

“It worries me because if someone at the top slipped they would just come

LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION MOVES CLOSER TO GETTING STEP-FREE ACCESS

cascading down,” Nick, a retired engineer who has lived in the area for decades, told us in December.

Responding to the news of the latest study, he said: “The value of a feasibility study, and its credibility with the growing number of station users, depends on its legal scope as well as the willingness of local and national authorities to push the project forward, which is why we look forward to working closely with the Council and Network Rail at this critical

All you need to know to vote ahead of the local elections

early stage of the project.”

Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Lambeth’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “This is an important step towards the aim we share with our residents to get step-free access into Loughborough Junction Station. We look forward to working with local people as this project progresses. As a borough where most journeys are made by walking, cycling and public transport, projects like this

By Pablo Munoz

ALL 33 borough councils in London are going to the polls on Thursday May 7, alongside 103 local authorities across England holding elections, with around 5,000 council seats up for grabs. London boroughs are divided into wards. In Southwark, for example, there are 23 wards, six of them represented by two councillors and 17 by three, making 63 the total number of seats up for election— one for every 4,000 residents, approximately.

The voting system is First-PastThe-Post, which consists of residents voting once for every seat available in their ward so that the three (or two) candidates with the most votes are elected to the council.

For example, if your ward has three seats, you have three votes, which you can give to one party, or split them between different candidates.

are essential.”

Lambeth Council added it had played a “central role in pushing the project forward, including previously funding a desktop study that helped secure Section 106 contributions from developers.”

An Option Selection Report will now be produced by Network Rail and will be used to secure further Government funding needed to complete the project.

Paul Richmond, Network Rail’s

You can check how many councillors represent your ward on your council website.

To be able to vote, you must first be sure that you have registered to vote, which you should do before the end of 20 April with your National Insurance number in under five minutes through a link on your council’s website.

Once registered, you will be able to vote in person on May 7 after showing your voter ID, which can be a passport, driving license, a Blue Badge for parking, or even a travel pass for specific age groups, like an older person’s bus pass.

If you do not have any valid voter ID, which may happen to young voters or migrants, you can apply for a free “Voter Authority Certificate”, before the April 29 deadline at 5pm through the government website gov.uk

If you are not able to vote on May 7, you can apply to vote by mail or proxy.

Principal Programme Sponsor, said: “We are pleased to be working with Lambeth Council on an Option Selection Study for step-free access at Loughborough Junction Station.

“This study will play an important role in strengthening the case for future funding, and we look forward to working on design options that will improve accessibility for passengers and make a meaningful difference to their journeys.”

Voting by mail allows you to cast your vote without the need for either you or anyone you know to head down to the polling station, whereas voting by proxy requires someone you trust to present your ballot at the polls for you. In regards to identification when voting through either of these systems, votes that are cast by mail will have to be authenticated with your signature and date of birth, which must match those on your voting by mail application. If you vote by proxy, the person you entrusted to vote for you must show their own valid photo ID to polling staff before they can put your ballot in the box. If you wish to vote by mail, you must be sure that your vote reaches the polls before they close, so it is best to post a mail ballot a couple of days in advance.

You can apply for each of those methods before the deadline ends through the council’s website.

By Kumail Jaffer

Local Democracy Reporter

THE MET Police must regain control of the growing issue of criminal gangs squatting in London’s empty homes, the City Hall Conservatives have said.

Deputy leader Emma Best and Iain Duncan Smith, the MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, have called on the Mayor of London to direct the Met to improve and increase training around the illegal practice, as well as collecting and publishing London-wide data to show the full extent of the problem.

Squatting – defined as taking over empty homes without permission –was outlawed for residential properties in 2012, with occupying a residential property as a trespasser, with the intention of living there, becoming punishable by arrest, a fine of up to £5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months.

While the number of prosecutions tailed off in London in the years following the law being introduced –with just six in 2017 compared to 75 in the last four months of 2012 alone – Sir Iain, former leader of the Conservative Party, said this was due to criminals exploiting a “gap in the law” rather than it being a policing success story.

Organised gangs have learned that producing forged tenancy agreements can often delay the course of justice, he added, with the report noting: “It is against this challenging backdrop that the police operate with regard to tackling squatting.

“One where hastily scrawled knockoff tenancy agreement can frustrate their ability to act, even in the face of evidence of wider criminal behaviour, and where seemingly legitimate tenants are stealing the identities of property owners to potentially commit even more fraud.

“Even something like verifying a fabricated tenancy agreement or passport would be difficult for the average police officer to do on a doorstep. Therefore, it is clear the police need more practical support and clearer guidance on the ground.”

Both Sir Iain and Ms Best point to a case in Chingford, in the former’s constituency, where a pensioner, having arrived home from visiting her friend, discovered that a gang of up to 25

Iain Duncan Smith pointed to a case where a pensioner, having arrived home from visiting her friend, discovered that a gang of up to 25 criminals had illegally moved into her house

criminals had illegally moved into her house.

The intruders claimed to have a tenancy agreement when police attended the scene, however, and their arrest and eviction were delayed until the end of June. Despite finally regaining her home, the lady subsequently suffered a serious health issue, almost certainly bought on by the stress.

“This is the sinister face of squatting; a criminal act that violates the place that should be the most secure of all – your home – and far too often leaves victims helpless to do anything about it,” Sir Iain said.

“I am pleased to support the commonsense and practical recommendations in this report. It is very clear on the need for the Government to take action and the clear, sensible way forward for the police and other authorities. Londoners

‘STOP CRIMINAL GANGS FROM SQUATTING IN EMPTY PROPERTIES’

deserve better from those responsible for keeping them safe against crimes such as this. It is time to close the loopholes in the law, strengthen police enforcement, and ensure that cases like the one we saw in Chingford are a thing of the past, rather than a fear for the future.”

Ms Best added: “The case we saw in Chingford was sickening and sadly not isolated. Criminal gangs, often without legal status to be in Britain, are exploiting what they perceive to be a loophole in the law.

“This has been widespread – there have been numerous cases in London where gangs have stolen people’s properties and life-long belongings from under their noses.

“By failing to take criminal squatting seriously, authorities are neglecting their duty to the public, and creating an

ANOTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED TO GO AHEAD WITH REDUCED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

By Cameron Blackshaw Local Democracy Reporters

PLANS TO build 1,500 homes on the Greenwich Peninsula are set to be approved despite a reduction in the scheme’s affordable housing.

The original proposal to build several tower blocks at Morden Wharf on the southwestern part of the peninsula was approved by Greenwich Council in 2022.

Developer Galliard Homes came back to the council’s Planning Board in February with an updated proposal that reduced the amount of affordable housing in the project’s housing stock from 35 per cent to just 10 per cent, citing increased construction costs and changing building regulations as key factors

Galliard said it was hoping Morden

Wharf would be able to deliver 20 per cent affordable housing or possibly higher, but it was waiting on the Greater London Authority’s new housing measures before making that commitment.

Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan announced the measures in October, with one of them being that developers without an upfront viability assessment can proceed if they can provide at least 20 per cent affordable housing, with schemes being able to access grant funding for around half of the affordable homes delivered.

Greenwich Council’s Planning Board voted to defer making a final decision on the updated Morden Wharf plans, seeking further clarification on the GLA’s new measures as well as more information on Galliard’s contact with registered providers to deliver the

affordable housing stock.

Galliard has returned to the council now that the GLA has adopted the ‘Support for Housebuilding’ London Plan Guidance (LPG). The LPG came into force last month, providing greater clarity on measures aimed to increase housebuilding across the capital.

Galliard has committed to delivering 20 per cent affordable housing at Morden Wharf as the GLA has confirmed the scheme is eligible to receive grant funding. If the plans are approved by the Planning Board next week, Galliard will not have to submit upfront viability assessments or be subject to mid or late stage reviews.

Viability assessments determine whether a proposed development can meet policy requirements—such as affordable housing—while remaining profitable. Mid and late stage reviews

unsafe environment in which criminals can thrive. This has to change.”

The report, released late last month, also notes two exceptions to the 2012 legislation which is making it more difficult for authorities to take action –the first is squatting in non-residential properties remains largely a civil matter, while situations where tenants overstay on a lease or fall behind on a lease are covered by existing tenancy law.

The British Landlords Association estimated that squatting in commercial buildings went up by almost 300% between December 2021 and mid2024. As a non-criminal offence, however, civil processes are often held up in the overburdened courts system, with repossession taking an average of 27 weeks in 2025.

The authors also suggest that London’s housing crisis – particularly

the shortage in affordable housing – is to blame.

Citing research from Sheffield Hallam University in conjunction with Crisis noting that squatting was a common response to homelessness – with evidence suggesting that 40 per cent of homeless people squat – the report says Sir Sadiq Khan’s failure to build adequate social homes and reduce rough sleeping has played a part in proliferating the practice.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The Mayor supports the Met Police to take appropriate action against all those squatting illegally in residential buildings.

“We have received the London Assembly’s report and will review its findings.”

compare updated sales and cost data against original projections to determine whether any additional affordable housing or financial contributions are required.

Galliard also confirmed it had communicated with all 17 registered affordable housing providers on Greenwich Council’s list of preferred

affordable housing providers. Galliard said five of these had expressed interest in delivering the affordable housing at Morden Wharf.

Greenwich planners have recommended the updated Morden Wharf plans for approval. The plans will be discussed at next week’s meeting of the Planning Board on April 14.

what’s on

Review: Edward II @ Jack Studio Theatre

Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II, one of the earliest English history plays, gets an all-female makeover by Alex Pearson Productions, in association with Glass Splinters, at Jack Studio Theatre, writes Melina Block.

Despite its 16th century playtext, the dynamic and articulate manner with which the story is communicated by the cast ensures that the rather complicated tale of King Edward II’s rather complicated reign over England is clearly expressed.

Elinor Machen-Fortune is by far and away the star of the show, stealing every scene she appears in. Her strong performance and comedic timing injects life into a production which can, at times, feel somewhat flat.

Portraying multiple characters, it is her turn as Gaveston, the king’s loyal and beloved companion, that is particularly commendable.

Gaveston and Edward’s love, easily the most interesting - and widely discussed - aspect of the original play, is elevated by the direction and

dramatic choices in this production.

The treatment of their homoerotic relationship, the catalyst for the tragic events of the tale unfolding, is handled in a refreshingly modern way, highlighting the intriguing tensions between subverting social norms and adhering to regressive and, for a 21st century audience, outdated perspectives on queer relationships, that are present in Marlowe’s writing.

With exciting, pulse-racing fight scenes and a plot full of political intrigue and scheming to a level that rivals even Westminster, Edward II is a surprisingly relevant reflection on love, violence, power and betrayal.

Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2DH until 18th April 2026 at 7.30pm.

Box office: www.brockleyjack.co.uk or 0333 666 3366

(£1.80 fee for phone bookings only)

Tickets: £17, £15 conc., 14+.

Running time: Ninety five minutes with no interval

Weaving Trust in SE15 Creating space for people to connect and feel heard

Weaving Trust is a new letterpress installation by Michelle Dwyer of Nice & Graphic studio, commissioned by Amott Road Baptist Church for the Dulwich Festival.

Michelle explains that ‘The work explores trust, belonging, and connection, bringing together voices from the local community…The project began with a community event at Amott Road as part of their Weaving Trust initiative. I gathered responses from one-to-one conversations and developed them into the installation.’

How did you decide on the finished pieces?

‘Guided by simple but meaningful questions about community, relationships, and what people would like to change in their neighbourhood, I selected honest, resonant statements that could stand alone while working together as a collective voice…These conversations form the foundation of the artwork. Selected responses have been transformed into a series of hand-printed letterpress posters, capturing moments of honesty, hope, and shared experience. Arranged in a woven formation, each piece carries a distinct voice; together they create a collective picture of the community, one shaped by difference, yet connected through shared values

and lived experience.’

Are you trying something new for this show?

‘Yes, I’ve introduced a woven layout for the installation, using the arrangement of the posters to visually reflect the project’s themes of connection and shared voices. The woven layout reflects how individual voices come together, highlighting connection, trust, and shared experience.’

Anything you’d like to add?

‘At its heart, this project is about creating space for people to connect and feel heard, using print as a medium to carry those voices further.’

Michelle Dwyer is a Peckhambased letterpress artist and founder of Nice & Graphic studio. Known for bold gradient colours and strong typography, she has exhibited in London and Madrid. She leads community-focused projects, running workshops and open days that make letterpress accessible to a wider audience. Dedicated to preserving traditional printing techniques, Michelle uses the craft to connect people and amplify unheard voices. She is also a mentee of renowned typographic artist Alan Kitching.

Exhibition Dates: May 9th–10th & 16th–17th, 2026

Opening Times: 11:00 am — 6:00 pm

Location: 47 Amott Rd, SE15 4HU, London, U.K.

Entry: FREE! No booking required

Dulwich Festival: Artists’ Open House

History

THE BLUE’S SILVER SCREENS

The birth of moving pictures to Hollywood’s Golden Age and its post-war decline in Bermondsey

By Debra Gosling

BEFORE THE introduction of moving pictures the most exciting entertainment had been theatre, which was expensive for the working classes. For the likes of us it was the music hall and the pub! But with the birth of film a whole new genre of entertainment sprung up, along with the new businesses of picture palaces.

Old theatres were converted, shabby old warehouses were given a lick of paint and a sprinkling of fairy dust to entice the newly-formed film buff. Film fans were entranced by the huge screens, bringing them so much glitz and close ups of their movie idols.

Down The Blue, fans of the big screen had not one but two picture houses to choose from in Southwark Park Road. The classy Palace was the first to open in 1912, but fourteen years later, The Colleen, later the Rialto, brought a bit of competition and more choice to The Blue. Sadly one became victim to the Luftwaffe…

What had once been an Edwardian grocer’s shop named Levy’s was transformed into the glamorous, glossy Palace. It was the first cinema to open in The Blue, standing at number 256 Southwark Park Road. It would have occupied the site where Sam’s barbers stands today.

The Palace must have had a considerable makeover before it opened, as it could hold eight-hundred and fifty people. A classy place. Besides showing the latest film from Hollywood it put on variety shows and even had dressing rooms for the live acts performing there.

The exterior had marble steps that led up to the entrance, where liveried doormen and usherettes would give you a ticket and show you to your seat. Business must have been good as it was enlarged in 1927 and

had a further upgrade in 1932.

Tragically, all this glitz and glamour would come to an end in The Blitz of 1940 when The Palace received a direct hit, which virtually demolished the place and left it as a bombsite for many years.

The owner, who once greeted people with a smile, was upstairs in his flat at the time and killed outright. In later years all that survived of The Palace was its marble steps; a sad reminder of what had once been a happy, busy and rather pleasant place to spend an evening.

The rival to The Palace was The Rialto. It sprung up in 1926 and was first named The Colleen, after the Colleen Bawn pub on the other side of St James’ Road at the crossroads.

It had a small orchestra to play along to the silent films and standing room for two-

hundred.

Glamour came to Bermondsey when the opening ceremony was performed by none other than Ivor Novello, the actor and music composer (pictured above)

When he appeared down The Blue he got mobbed by fans and had to be rescued by the staff!

To compete with The Palace it offered three films per programme and all seats were just seven pence.

The Colleen was renamed the Rialto in 1929 but became affectionately known as ‘The Rathole’. A natural home for rowdy kids, it even made the local paper which picked up on the fact that every time a cowboy film was shown boys arrived with cap guns, clasp knives, catapults and pea shooters to really get into the atmosphere.

Imagine kids today running around the

streets with such prohibited weapons!

Even back then it was a little scary, so a notice would go up: ‘park your guns’, and all the kids had to leave their hardware at the entrance. No wonder usherette Ivy Ryan went armed with her torch, which was a makeshift defence weapon!

However, it was not just kids Mrs Ryan had to deal with; The Rialto had ghosts.

When she changed jobs from usherette to cleaner at the cinema, Ivy found she was not alone. After the kids and Roy Rogers had left the building it got creepy.

One night while she was sweeping, Ivy felt some strange force trying to take the broom from her hand and the dirt blew the opposite way to the shovel. All the other staff noticed things too and it was rumoured someone was buried in the walls. The watchman even refused to stay

in the building at night.

During the war the Rialto did get bombed and closed in 1940, so maybe someone was indeed embedded in its fabric.

Repairs were carried out and it reopened in 1944 but by the late 1950s, despite the attraction of Cinemascope, it was struggling.

Television had taken over, so in February 1961 it screened its last ever programme: My Favourite Spy with Bob Hope and The Trial of Oscar Wilde with Peter Finch. Later that year it was re-incarnated as a Bingo Hall.

In 2001 it closed for good and two years later it was demolished. It was the end of the glamorous era of the silver screen in The Blue and the end of screaming kids with cap guns. What became of the ghosts is another story...

EXCLUSIVE TOUR ROUND THE GARDENS OF ELTHAM PALACE

Discover the beautiful gardens of Eltham Palace and Gardens on an exclusive evening tour on Saturday 18 April. Offered in partnership with the National Garden Scheme and English Heritage, the event gives visitors a chance to explore the historic and scenic grounds of the palace in the evening. The grounds will be closed to the public, so guests will have uninterrupted access to the gardens. The team will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the palace and gardens.

Date: Saturday 18 April

Time: 17:30 – 19:00

Address: Eltham Palace and Gardens, Court Yard, Eltham, London, SE9 5QE

Tickets: £20 per ticket

BIG BILL IS COMING TO WOOLWICH WORKS ON FRIDAY 17 APRIL FOR A NIGHT OF BOLD STAND-UP

Woolwich Works’ monthly stand-up comedy night returns with Rob Moriarty, Helen K, Olly Miller and Junior Booker. Each month, Bill hosts a night of great comedy including an acclaimed headline act, plus a hand-picked line-up of special guests. These are some of the very best comedians in the country – with credits on flagship shows such as Live at the Apollo, QI, and Mock the Week. February’s line-up includes Andy Zapp, Terry Gargin and Ryan Cullen. Suitable for ages 18+

Date: Friday 17 April

Time: 20:00 – 23:00

Tickets: £13.50, book here: https://www.woolwich. works/events/big-billscomedy-night-february-2026 Location: Woolwich Works (Beanfeast), 11 No.1 Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HD

Award-winning trumpeter and composer Byron Wallen brings a night of jazz to Woolwich Works on Friday 17 April 2026 at 8pm. Featuring a dynamic band of rising London musicians, the performance showcases original compositions that blend tradition and fresh energy. Tickets are available in advance, with concessions offered.

Date: 17 April. Time: 8pm – 10pm

Location: Woolwich Works (Ropekeepers Studio), 11 No.1 Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HD Tickets: £14.50 per ticket. Book here: https://www.woolwich.works/book/ instance/380601

A ‘hidden spaces’ tours at St Alfege Church allow you to explore and discover places usually closed to the public and hear about the colourful lives of those who served and worshipped there. You get a chance to visit the crypt’s vault and get a 360-degree view of the church and its suspended ceiling, which was the largest in Europe when it was built in the 18th century. Access to the crypt and galleries involves climbing steep stairs and some bending, and may not be suitable for all visitors.

Date: 11 April, 25 April and 9 May

Time: 11:45am - 12:45pm

Location: St Alfege Church, 3 Greenwich Church Street London SE10 9BJ

Tickets: £9, book here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hidden-spaces-tours-ofst-alfege-church-galleries-crypt-tickets-219897478277?af f=ebdsoporgprofile

APPLICATION

FOR A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Statement of the relevant licensable activities which it is proposed will be carried on or from the premises: Provision of Late-Night Refreshment, Monday to Sunday 23:00 hrs until 01:00 hrs.

Name of Applicant: London Road Foods Ltd.

Full postal address of premises: 1416 - 1418 London Road, Norbury, London, SW16 4BZ

Postal address of local authority where register of applications is kept for general viewing: London Borough of Croydon, Sustainable Communities Department, Licensing Team, Floor 3, Zone B, Bernard Weatherill House,8 Mint Walk,Croydon,CR0 1EA

Application details can be viewed by appointment at Access Croydon Reception, Bernard Weatherill House, between 9 a.m. & 3.45 p.m., Monday to Friday (except bank holidays), or online via www.croydon.gov.uk

If you wish to make any representations in relation to this application, please do so in writing, within 28 days from the date of this notice, to: London Borough of Croydon, Sustainable Communities Department, Licensing Team, Floor 3, Zone B, Bernard Weatherill House,8 Mint Walk,Croydon,CR0 1EA

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine on summary conviction for such an offence is unlimited.

Date of this notice: 08.04.2026

Licensing Act 2003 Notice of application to VARY a Premises Licence Co-operative Group Food Limited have applied to vary their Premises Licence at Co-op, 227-233 Mon – Sun 0700-2300 to Mon-Sun 0000–2400 (24 hours). The store will close to the public at 2300 and re-open at 07:00 on the following day. All sales of alcohol between those times will be for on-line delivery only. Conditions will apply. Anyone wishing to make a representation may do so by 30 April 2026. The public register where applications are available to be viewed by members of the public can be accessed online: www.lbhf.gov.uk.gov/licensing or by request (020 8753 1081). All representations regarding this application MUST BE IN WRITING to licensing@lbhf.gov.uk or via our register:www.

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE

Pirate Studios Properties Limited has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Pirate Studios Properties Limited, 404 to 406 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8LF

The nature of the variation is as follows:

1. Permit licensable acitvities to be provided to members of the public, removing the requirement for attendance at a prebooked private function or event.

2. Amend opening hours to allow one self contained studio within the premises to remain open until 03:00 for pre-booked, private music rehearsal and Pirate Studios Properties Limited recording use.

3. Amend CCTV staffing requirements to reflect use of a 24/7 monitored control room.

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 licensing authority’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 5th May 2026

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).

ALAN HENRY SYDNEY JOHN FROST Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 2 Davern Close, London, SE10 0HP, who died on 17/11/2025, must send written details to the address below by 11/06/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Ms Tatiana Zenina, Grant Saw Solicitors LLP, Grant Saw House, 8 Tranquil Passage, Blackheath Village, London, SE3 0BJ. Ref: TZ/F1231/2/FROST

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that Fireaway Streatham Limited has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Fireaway Pizza, 104 Mitcham Lane, Streatham, SW16 6NR for the provision of late night refreshment during the hours of 11pm to 2am every day Monday to Sunday.

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 2nd May 2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that The Artist’s Cup Ltd, has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence in respect of the premises known as The Artist’s Cup, 22 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1EE for the sale/supply of alcohol on premises during the hours of:

Monday to Wednesday 07:00 to 17:30 Thursday to Sunday 07:00 to 23:00

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by end of consultation date stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE TPX25 LIMITED has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Tropix, 10 Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UT. The nature of the variation is as follows: To extend the terminal hour for all currently authorised licensable activities by one hour every day. The proposed hours are: Films: Monday to Sunday, 07:00 – 04:00. Indoor Sporting Events: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 – 03:00. Live Music: Monday to Friday, 18:00 – 01:00; Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 – 01:00. Recorded Music: Sunday, 12:00 – 03:30; Monday to Saturday, 10:00 – 03:30. Entertainment Similar to Music/Dance: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 – 03:30. Late Night Refreshment: Monday to Sunday, 23:00 – 03:30. Sale by Retail of Alcohol: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 – 03:30. Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 07:00 – 04:00. The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hoursby an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the licensing authority’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 30th April 2026. (Note: This is 28 days from today’s date). 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 (£Unlimited).

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE Rooftop Sixtyfour Ltd have applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Mimosa, 62-64 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UL which would authorise the following licensable activities: Films, Live Music, Recorded Music, Performances of Dance, Entertainment Similar to Music/Dance and Sale by Retail of Alcohol Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 03:00 hours. Late Night Refreshment: Monday to Sunday 23:00 - 03:00 hours. 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 licensing authority’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 28/04/2026. 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).

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

Notice Under The Town and Country Planning Acts

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council is considering applications as set out below under the following categories

ADV = ADVERTISEMENT CONSENT

FUL = FULL PLANNING PERMISSION

LB = LISTED BUILDING CONSENT

P3MA = PRIOR APPROVAL P3MA

VOC = VARIATION OF CONDITIONS

Written representations should be made within three weeks of the date of this advertisement to the Director of Planning, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ. Any comments made are open to inspection by the public and in the event of an appeal may be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Confidential comments cannot be taken into account in determining an application.

Application plans can be viewed online at www.lambeth.gov.uk/searchplanningapps – search using the reference number at the end of each application listing.

139 Clapham Road London SW9 0HP Prior Approval for change of use from offices (Use Class E) to 22 self contained residential units (Use Class C3) on first and lower ground floors, with associated bin storage at ground floor level and cycle storage at

floor level. 26/00928/P3MA

9 Hillside Road London SW2 3HL Alterations to ground floor rear

and replacement of existing door with a new window, installation of 2 rooflights and reinstatement

provide access for maintenance. 26/00713/FUL

55 Roupell Street London SE1 8TB Erection of a single storey

London SW16 1QN Erection of a rear/side extension; replacement of existing timber rear canted bay window with a double-glazed powder coated aluminium version; insertion of a new window to the ground floor rear elevation; insertion of a high-level window to the southwest side. 26/00917/FUL

Queen Elizabeth Hall And Purcell Room South Bank London SE1 8XX Temporary pop up bar and food outlet for a further 12 months at land in front of Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room with ancillary storage within part of the existing plant/storage room at The Queen Elizabeth Hall.

(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 26/01061/LB, but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 26/00826/FUL) 26/01061/LB

Royal National Theatre South Bank London Lambeth SE1 9PX Temporary erection for a

September

digital exterior screen, trader vehicles, branded hoardings, branded and non-branded windbreaks, festoon lighting, a dedicated lawn area, a storage container, a back-of-house storage area and additional planters at an area extending the forecourts that front the Royal National Theatre and Queen's Walk, an area of the Royal National Theatre's Weston Terrace and an area along Theatre Avenue. (Please note: The reference number for this Advertisement Consent application is 26/00891/ADV but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 26/00890/FUL) 26/00891/ADV

Dated this Friday 10/04/2026

LICENSING ACT 2003

SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENSING NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NEW LICENCE

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT: Xiaoxia Hou has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for a SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENCE, to carry out the following treatments: Body massage at premise: Health Zen, 20 Clapham Common Southside, London, SW4 7AB.

The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth Town Hall, Basement Room B08 & B09, 1 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW, or via the licensing authority’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 09.01.2026

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).

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS –ROBERTSON STREET

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water utility maintenance and repair works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from

2.

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

CONTINUATION OF SCHOOL STREETS PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE ZONES INTRODUCED EXPERIMENTALLY IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE BOROUGH

(NOTE: This notice is about continuing in force permanently timed pedestrian and cycle zones in roads adjacent to Iqra Primary School, Macaulay Primary School, St. Andrews Primary School, and St. Helens Primary School which were initially introduced on an experimental basis.)

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth on 7 April 2026 made the Lambeth (Moving Traffic Restrictions) (Amendment No. 15) Traffic Order 2026 under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) so as to continue in force indefinitely the provisions of The Lambeth (Moving Traffic Restrictions) (Amendment No. 6) Experimental Order 2024.

2. The general effect of the Order will be to:(a) prohibit motor vehicles, except permit holders, from entering those lengths of streets specified in Schedule 1 to this Notice between the hours of 8.15am and 9.15am and 2.45pm and 3.45pm Monday to Friday; (b) specify that residents of the addresses listed in Schedule 2 to this Notice will be eligible to apply for a permit to enter the specified restricted roads during the restricted hours.

3. A copy of the Order which will come into operation on 20 April 2026, of a map of the relevant area and of the relevant Order of 2024 (and of the Orders which have amended that Order) can be inspected online at: https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth or www. lambeth.gov.uk/traffic-management-orders and at the offices of Lambeth Council’s Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays inclusive (except on bank/public holidays). To arrange an inspection please email: trafficorders@lambeth.gov.uk.

4. Any person desiring to question the validity of the Orders or of any of their provisions on the grounds that they are not within the powers conferred by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or that any requirement of that Act or of any instrument made under that Act has not been complied with, that person may, within 6 weeks from the date on which the Orders are made, apply for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 10 April 2026

Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

Schedule 1

Aytoun Place; Aytoun Road, between the junction of Rumsey Road and a point 25 metres north of Aytoun Place; Clarence Avenue, between the junctions of Maple Close and Kings Avenue; Knowle Close; Lingham Street, between its junctions with Crossford Street and Landor Road; Park Hill, between its junctions with Clarence Avenue and Crescent Lane; Rodenhurst Road, between the junctions of Hambalt Road and Park Hill; Rumsey Road; Stockwell Park Road, between the junctions of Sidney Road and Rumsey Road; and Victoria Rise.

Schedule 2

Restricted Roads Premises eligible to apply for permits Victoria Rise Clapham Common North Side, Nos. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, & 42; Victoria Rise, Even Nos. 2-160, Nos. 1-11 Baker Mews, Macaulay Primary School, Odd Nos. 1-233, Clapham Baptist Church, Nos. 1-4 Victoria Mews; Wandsworth Road, Nos. 811 - 813, 823 - 825. Lingham Street Lingham Street, St. Andrews Primary School; St. Andrews Church; Even Nos. 34-44 and 78-102; Odd Nos: 1-25; Nos. 1-24 Beale House; Clinic 3, 45 Lingham Street; Hammerton Hall; Nos. 1-273 Oak Square.

Albermarle Walk, Aytoun Place, Aytoun Road, Benedict Road, Brixton Road, Buckmaster Close Knowle Close, Rumsey Road, Sidney Road, Stockwell Park Road, Stockwell Park Walk, Stockwell Road

Albermarle Walk, Nos. 2, 4, 6, & 8; Aytoun Place, No. 2, Stockwell Park Estate Community Centre; Aytoun Road, Odd Nos. 1-17, Nos. 1-20 Colwall House, Nos. 1-119 Crowhurst House, Nos. 1-20 Goffton House, Nos. 1-43 Lambert House, Nos. 1-42 Norton House, Nos. 1-27 Wynter House; Benedict Road, Odd Nos. 1-9; Brixton Road, Our Lady of the Rosary Church; Buckmaster Close, Nos. 1-6; Knowle Close, Nos. 1-9, St. Helens Primary School; Rumsey Road, No. 2 (flats 1-40), Nos. 3-11; Sidney Road, Odd Nos. 7-17, Nos. 1-61 Tyler House; Stockwell Park Road, Even Nos. 160-190, No. 142 Flat 1-6, No. 143, Flat 1-6, Nos. 1-77 Bedwell House, Nos. 1-109 Burrow House, Nos. 1-96 Chute House, Nos. 1-81 Fitzgerald House; Stockwell Park Walk, No. 8 Flat 1-31; Stockwell Road, Nos. 135-143, Nos. 1-59 Addington House, Nos. 1-20 Burford House, Nos. 1-59 Thornicroft House, Nos. 1-20 Waltham House.

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS –NARBONNE AVENUE

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable telecommunications repair and maintenance works replacement works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of Narbonne Avenue which lies between its junction with Abbeville Road and a point approximately 16 metres north-west of that junction.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles will be available via Klea Avenue, Hambalt Road and Abbeville Road, or via Abbeville Road, Shandon Road and Klea Avenue.

3. The Order will come into force on 13 April 2026 and will continue in force for a maximum duration of one month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take three days to complete. Dated 10 April 2026 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS –WOODLAND HILL

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water utility repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit

1.

Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to:

(a) temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding, waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle or parking in that length of Woodland Hill between:

(i) Phase one: Trelawn Road between its junction with Effra Road and outside the common boundary of Nos. 23 and 25 Trelawn Road.

(ii) Phase two: Trelawn Road between outside the boundary of Nos. 23 and 25 Trelawn Road and outside the common boundary of Nos. 45 and 47 Trelawn Road.

(iii) Phase three: Trelawn Road between outside the boundary of Nos. 45 and 47 Trelawn Road and its junction with Morval Road.

(b) temporarily suspend the restriction on vehicles entering Trelawn Road from Effa Road.

2. The alternative route for affected vehicles will be available via Morval Road, Barnwell Road, Dalberg Road, Mervan Road, Effa Road and Trelawn Road. The alternative route for cyclists will be via Effra Road and Morval Road :

3. The Order will come into force on 13 April 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 6 months, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 5 weeks to complete.

Dated 10 April 2026 Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS –HERCULES ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water utility repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily: (a) prohibit vehicles from turning right from: (i) Kennington Road into Hercules Road; (ii) Newnham Terrace into Hercules Road. (b) introduce a south-west to north-east one-way traffic system in Hercules Road between a point 21 metres south-west of its junction with Kennington Road, and its junction with Kennington Road.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Kennington Road, Lambeth Road, Hercules Road, Carlisle Lane, Centaur Street and Hercules Road. The diversion route for cyclists would be via Kennington Road, Westminster Bridge Road, Carlisle Lane and Hercules Road.

3. The Order would come into force on 1 May 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 1 day to complete.

Dated 10 April 2026 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

STAY INFORMED

Join over 150,000 USERS to find out who’s applying for what and where in your community.

The Public Notice Portal is a free to use, online service that will tell you who is applying for what and where. Plus, if you register, we’ll tell you about any plans for your community, helping you to stay informed.

OBEN CLAIMS GOLD FOR TOKEI

By John Kelly

TOKEI CLUB’S Gabriel

Oben (top of the podium) won gold in the recent British Judo Council event in High Wycombe.

Oben, 26, a green belt, quickly dispatched his first two opponents to reach the semi-finals in the under 81kg category.

Oben faced a more experienced brown belt opponent in the last four but won it with a twohanded shoulder throw.

The final was less spectacular as the Bermondsey competitor earned gold with an arm bar - before treating himself to a Nandos at Beaconsfield Services on his way way home.

Records tumble in Surrey draw against Warks

By Brian Halford

A RECORD partnership between Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence saw Surrey safely to a draw after Warwickshire had dominated much of their Rothesay County Championship fixture at Edgbaston.

Smith struck a polished 132 from 261 balls and Lawrence an equally assured unbeaten 161 (258) in a stand of 217 in 64 overs as Surrey batted through the final day to reach 447-4 The implacable fourth-wicket pair took full advantage of a pitch that just got better and better for batting.

There was little that Ed Barnard, in his first match as Warwickshire captain, could do but rotate his array of seamers in the hope of inducing errors. It proved a forlorn hope as Surrey erased their firstinnings deficit of 216 and then batted on to secure a draw with which they will be very happy, having been in disarray at

65-6 on the first afternoon.

Surrey resumed on the final morning on 169-3, still 47 behind, way behind in the game but in conditions which offered them a way out of trouble if they batted with the required diligence. They did so, as Smith and Lawrence knuckled down to add 105 from 31 overs in the morning session.

Warwickshire’s seamers persevered nobly, with Ethan Bamber and Beau Webster most threatening, but the fourth-wicket pair batted with solid technique and total concentration. The session yielded just two half-chances, both offered by Smith. On 60 he edged Chris Woakes high past the shoulder of Sam Hain at slip. On 76, he drove Jordan Thompson to extra cover where Webster got a hand to a difficult chance but couldn’t hold on.

The batters advanced relentlessly to their centuries in the afternoon, Smith’s arriving from 199 balls and Lawrence’s

from 152, before becoming the third and fourth members of the team to put their names in the record books during this match. In the first innings, Ben Foakes and Tom Lawes broke a 120-year-old record for Surrey’s seventh wicket against Warwickshire. Three days later, Smith and Larwence matched the achievement, their 217 partnership surpassing the county’s previous fourth-wicket best against the Bears - 213 by Tom Hayward and Edwin Goatley at The Oval in 1906. The alliance when Smith lifted Rob Yates to long-on. His job was done, though, and all that remained was a final session of Lawrence and Ben Foakes (36, 69) enjoying a gentle outdoor net against the spin of Yates and Dan Mousley. It was a low-key end to a match which contained some excellent, competitive cricket and from which both sides will take plenty of positive. Surrey, having copped the worst of the conditions early in the match, showed the fortitude and

skill not to lose it. Warwickshire, their top order all showing promising early-season form, were well on top against strong opposition for much of the game.

“We started the game a little bit on the back foot, Warwickshire were superb in that first innings,” Smith said. “Maybe the toss had a slightly bigger impact than people were expecting but to finish the game like that we are very pleased with a draw.

“It was an amazing partnership by Foakesy and Lawesy to start the fightback and then on the last day we knew it would be a scrap. We knew there was still a little bit in the pitch if you put the ball in the right places, there was still a little bit happening, so it was nice to go out there and graft it out. It was a great opportunity to show that I can go and score runs at not the easiest of times and Loz was superb to make the game safe.

“We could have lost the game but have showed a lot of character to hold firm and

Dubois overcomes flu to unify against bitter rival

By John Kelly

CAROLINE DUBOIS revealed she woke up with “the worst flu ever” before she overcame the setback to become a unified world champion after her unanimous points victory over Terri Harper at Kensington’s Olympia on Easter Sunday.

After a bitter build-up when Dubois predicted a late stoppage, the Greenwich fighter came out the right side of the judges’ scorecards to add Harper’s WBO lightweight belt to her own WBC title.

The bout was scored 98-91 on two judges’ cards and 97-92 on the third after ten rounds.

Dubois knocked down Harper in the sixth round and the Yorkshire fighter

had a cut opened on her left eyebrow.

Harper came forward in the last round but never looked like getting the knockout blow she needed as Dubois extended her unbeaten professional record to 13-0-1.

“Today I woke up with the worst flu I ever had. I was [thinking] today of all days, this has happened,” Dubois said.

“Waking up today not feeling 100 per cent, I’ve been walking around with a cold towel over my head, wrapped around my neck.

“I was feeling not the best and I was just telling myself to pace this fight.

“This was a test. I pushed through and I was able to get the victory.

“It was really tricky because she was a lot smarter than I thought she was going to be. She’s smart and she’s experienced. She knows how to get

through a fight. She knows how to box.

“I’ve only been in the ring thirteen times [before the fight] and I’m still working out how to navigate the rounds, navigate the pressure and all that stuff. But I think I did okay.

“I know if I had pushed the fight and pressed the fight I would have taken her out, but it was experience. I give her credit, she was very smart, she was trying to be as smart as she could.”

Dubois revealed she would love a fight against Irish legend Katie Taylor, 39.

Dubois said: ”I’ve got a lot of time for Katie, I think she’s a legend. If she said, ‘Caroline Dubois, let’s do this’, she wants to test herself against me, I would jump at the opportunity. Who wouldn’t? Who honestly would say no to Katie Taylor?

“She’s a legend - it would be an honour

Scotney creates history - before Paul makes good

By John Kelly

ELLIE

SCOTNEY

created history after winning a fierce battle against Mexico’s Mayelli Flores to become the undisputed super-bantamweight world champion.

Catford’s Scotney, 28, is Britain’s youngest undisputed champion after a unanimous victory in Kensington on Easter weekend.

Scotney scored 100-90 on two cards and the third read 96-94. Scotney graciously admitted 33-year-old Flores deserved better on the first two cards.

Scotney added Flores’ WBA super-bantamweight belt to her own WBO, WBC and IBF world championships.

“I had to go through so many tests just to get in this ring today and only God brought me through,” Scotney said.

“I can’t tell you how much of a hard fight that was. The scorecards didn’t do [Flores]

justice, she was non-stop from the first bell

“She was a real champion. That was my hardest test and I knew it was going to be. I gave everything tonight.”

to step in the ring with her.”

The next realistic target for Dubois, however, is 31-year-old American Alycia Baumgardner.

“We’ll see who truly is the best,” Dubois said. “That’s the fight I want by the end of the year. There’s no need to waste time. There’s no need to mess around. Let’s make it happen, the best versus the best, there’s five pounds difference [in weight]. She’s older than me, she’s more experienced than me, let’s see.

“That’s the fight I want. I would take it over a unification bout. I know she’s going to run a mile from this fight.

“If she wants to say I can do more, I’ll have another unification.

“The biggest fight in women’s boxing, I want that fight. I want Alycia - I want her next.”

Meanwhile, Jake Paul delivered on his promise to buy Scotney a new car if she won. Scotney is signed to Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and revealed before the fight she has yet to get her licence as she described her trips to training on public transport.

Scotney watched Paul’s message on her phone after her victory.

“Ellie Scotney, absolutely incredible, fight of the year contender - and MVP has a brand-new car coming your way,” Paul said.

“Congratulations, Ellie, undisputed - absolutely incredible.”

Scotney responded: “We’ve got to go shopping, right!

“I’m going to get a licence real quick, Jake, but we’re going car shopping, for sure. I appreciate you.”

Scotney will now take time to consider her next move.

30 NEWS

By John Kelly

LIAM ROSENIOR insisted there was no problem with his relationship with Enzo Fernandez after Chelsea ended Port Vale’s fairytale run to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 7-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

Rosenior revealed before the tie that the club, including the Blues boss, had imposed a two-game ban on the Argentina midfielder after he said he didn’t know whether he would be an SW6 player next season.

Rosenior said the World Cup winner was sanctioned after he “crossed a line in terms of our culture”.

Fernandez sat behind the home bench as Chelsea brutally dispatched League One’s bottom side.

Fernandez’ agent, Javier Pastore, said the ban was “completely unfair” and claimed the player didn’t understand it.

"Me and Enzo are in a very good place," Rosenior said. "I saw him [Saturday]. I had a really good conversation with him on a one-to-one. Things aren't what people maybe think they are.

"It is [Pastore’s] opinion. I don't have anything to say on someone else's opinion. Enzo knows what I think of him. It was great to see him here and now we move forward.

"The conversations I have with my individual players stay within the dressing room. The dressing room is sacred."

The Blues wasted little time showing the Valiants it would be a testing afternoon when Jorrel Hato poked home from close range after 64 seconds.

There were 6,000 away fans in the Shed End and their hopes were further dashed in the 25th minute when Joao Pedro turned Kyle John before beating goalkeeper Joe Gauci.

Three minutes before the break, Gauci palmed away Malo Gusto's cross but Cole Palmer's follow-up went in off Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel.

Tosin Adarabioyo headed Chelsea's fourth from Gusto's cross in the 57th minute.

Andrey Santos headed home Estevao Willian's corner for the fifth before the latter scored eight minutes from time after Alejandro Garnacho’s shot came back off the post.

Garnacho completed the scoring from the penalty spot in the second minute of stoppage-time.

“It's great, it's why you come to this club, you want to win trophies, you want to be in big games and I was really happy with the players,” Rosenior said. “Their attitude was top. We scored seven goals and that came from an energy and intensity which I enjoyed.

"I said [at half-time] play like it's 0-0, we

Andrey Santos (17) scores Chelsea’s fi fth goal

STILL BEST OF FR ENZ

Midfielder sits out rout after ban

have to be perfect. I thought the players were outstanding in terms of carrying that out."

Estevao become the youngest player to assist and score in an FA Cup game since Arsenal’s Bukayo Sako.

"There is no ceiling for him,” Rosenior said. “We've missed him. He comes in and just plays, he wants to get on the ball. Wherever he is on the pitch he's a threat."

Rosenior added: ”Football is about football on the pitch. This is a huge club

with a lot of scrutiny, a lot of people writing a lot of things. We had a really difficult ten days but the way we came through is a really good step for the run-in."

Adarabioyo praised the attitude of the side against a team fifteen points adrift of safety and heading for League Two, but one that had knocked out Sunderland in the previous round.

“It’s the FA Cup and anything can happen,” he said. “We knew it was going to be difficult if we didn't do our best. They beat

a Premier League team in the last round, so we knew we had to put in a performance."

“[It was] great to play some nice football and to get another win and clean sheet at Stamford Bridge. It's been a two-week break now since our last games which didn't go so well and we wanted to come back home and put a good result in and that's what we did."

Adarabioyo added: "That's the aim, we want to end the season with a trophy. Our aim is to get to the final and win the trophy."

FA CUP SEMI-FINALS

Chelsea vs. Leeds United

Manchester City vs. Southampton

Games to be played at Wembley on weekend of April 25-26

R’s get Small mercy Depleted Dons in worrying slump

By Shane Stapleton

QUEENS PARK Rangers missed the chance to cut the gap to the top six in the Championship to five points but rescued a draw at Preston North End on Easter Monday thanks to a bizarre own goal.

Brad Potts scored a minute into the second half on his 250th Lilywhites appearance. The Hoops equalised eight minutes from time when Thierry Small sliced an attempted clearance past his own goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.

“We didn’t create enough but that changed completely after the goal conceded,” QPR boss Julien Stephan said.

“We did a very good second half, very dominant. We had enough chances to win this game and to be fair I think we deserved to win this game.

“When we have chances like this we need to be efficient. I’m a little bit disappointed with the result, but not the performance in the second half. It was a very good performance in the second half.”

QPR host Roy Hodgson’s Bristol City on Saturday (12.30pm).

By Patrick Fanning

JOHNNIE JACKSON said AFC

Wimbledon “have to put a line through it” after the Dons lost both of their League One fixtures over the Easter weekend.

Wimbledon were beaten 1-0 by leaders Lincoln City before slumping to a 3-0 defat to Luton Town back at Plough Lane on Monday.

Jackson’s depleted side are now only four points above the relegation zone ahead of their game at Burton Albionwho are two points behind them - this Saturday.

“It's important [to move on], because it's the next one and we have to see

who's available to us,” Jackson said. “I need to find out quickly the state of Joe Lewis and Patrick Bauer, Ryan Johnson, James Tilley, Marcus Brown, Myles Hippolyte, Matty Stevens.

“Zack Nelson obviously couldn't play [against his parent club Luton]. So you're going into a game right up against it anyway. For us, having all those players missing and now perhaps a couple more, we need some lads back.

“Hopefully there's a little bit of good news in that regard with a few of the lads that have been out that perhaps might be available to us and assess the lads from today - Joe, Pat and Omar [Bugiel], whether they can play any

part.

“But it’s unlikely when you've come off on a Monday through injury to be able to go again on Saturday. That's a quick turnaround. So I don't know. I don't know the answer to that.

“I won't probably know that until Thursday. I'll have more of an idea then. The lads need to rest and recover. It's a big game. I’ve said that as much in there [the changing room].

“Big one to look forward to. We have to put a line through today and put a line through it quickly. I'll have to start thinking about the team when I've got the information for Burton and doing the training that we need to go up there and get what we need.”

LIMP LIONS DROP FROM TOP TWO

By Will Scott at The Den

ALEX NEIL described Millwall’s 2-1 loss to Norwich City on Monday as a “disappointing day” and admitted his side did not do enough to get anything out of the game.

The Lions started the day in second in the Championship and were on track to retain their position in the automatic promotion places in the early kick-off after substitute Mihailo Ivanovic nodded them in front shortly after half-time, following another poor first-half performance.

The visitors, who have now won six of their last eight games, hit back five minutes later through Pelle Mattson’s thumping finish. They then scored the winner with fifteen minutes to go when Oscar Schwartau finished off a rapid counter-attack.

“It’s disappointing when you lose a game,” Neil said.

“Playing out from the back, I don’t know if it was nervousness or just maybe a lack of quality or whatever it was, we didn’t move the ball well enough. Norwich were better. They didn’t have loads of chances, but certainly more territory and more pressure. The best chance I can remember was probably Jack Stacey’s shot across the box. Then there’s one where Zak [Sturge] just switches off, and the lad puts in at the back stick, and he steals in off the back of him.

“I knew at half-time I had to do something to try and get ourselves back into the game. We then go two up top, go much more direct, which allows us to just lock them in and try to sustain pressure. We managed to get the first goal, which is good.

“My biggest disappointment is from that position, we’re normally really good. We’ve got the first goal, we’ve got our noses in front, and I didn’t actually think Norwich were that dangerous in that spell in the game.

“Then the goal we concede, they literally just play a ball out to the channel. Tristan [Crama] doesn’t get out. We let them turn. He then threads the ball through, and then cuts it back to the edge of the box. We need to get

Millwall blow chance to strengthen automatic case

down the line of the ball, and we don’t.

It’s a great finish. He puts it right in the top corner. But we should do better with that. Probably in three instances, first one, we need to get out to the ball, the second one, we need to match the run, and then we need to not let them cut it back, which we don’t do.

“Then the second one is disappointing. It’s that bit I was talking about in terms of energy. We have an attack down their side. They then counter. He runs off us in the middle of the pitch. It becomes a three versus two, and we end up losing the game off the back of it.

“From there, we start flying a few bodies forward to try and get goals. What I do know about their top line, they’re quick, they’re mobile, they want to run in behind, and we ended up having to defend one-for-one on a couple of occasions after that.

“Disappointing day. I didn’t think over the [90 minutes] we did enough to get anything out of the game. Once we got our noses in front, I was confident that we could get something from the match at that point. But we didn’t defend two moments anywhere near well enough, and ultimately it cost us.”

Midfielder to have scan

By Will Scott

BILLY MITCHELL rolled his ankle against Middlesbrough and was having a scan on Tuesday, Alex Neil said.

Mitchell, 24, played 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Millwall’s top-two rivals on Good Friday, but was ruled out of the Lions’ clash with Norwich City three days later.

Neil was asked about Mitchell by our paper after the match.

“He rolled his ankle,” Neil said. “He

blocked a shot in about the first five minutes against Middlesbrough and managed to get himself right through the game. I don’t think he did any more damage to it, or certainly he’s telling me he hasn’t. The damage was done at the start. He rocked his ankle when he blocked a shot. He managed to get through the game, but it’s naturally swollen up. We’ll probably get it scanned on Tuesday. We’ll see the effects of that.”

Fourth-placed Millwall travel to relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion on Friday (8pm).

Godden off the mark as Addicks edge towards safety

By John Kelly

CHARLTON ATHLETIC are eight points clear of the Championship’s relegation zone after an action-packed 1-1 draw against Watford at Vicarage Road on Monday.

Matty Godden gave Nathan Jones’s visitors the lead in the 62nd minute.

Twelve minutes later, Nestory Irankunda ran on to Imran Louza's pass before firing low past Will Mannion.

Irankunda also hit the crossbar after Godden’s opener as the hosts had 31 attempts on goal, Mannion making ten saves, though Charlton had the clearer chances.

Louza had hit the post in the first half and the hosts’ Mamadou

Doumbia had a goal ruled out for offside.

Charlton’s Greg Docherty also struck the post with a header ten minutes before the break.

There was further drama in stoppage-time when Charlton’s Conor Coady, on his 500th career club appearance, was knocked out after taking a shot to the head. The 33-year-old was taken to a local hospital for scans before being discharged on Monday evening.

The result meant Edward Still’s side were seven points off the top six before Wrexham in sixth faced Southampton in seventh.

“We lacked a bit of energy in the first half,” Jones said. “You have to remember, some of their players, they must have ten who can change

a game and win a game. They’ve got some squad with some outstanding individuals.

“So to compete and do what we’re doing, I’m really proud of them. But for us today, I’d like to have moved the ball a bit better. It was a hot and sticky day so we didn’t do that. But I’m just really pleased because it’s an excellent away point.

“Any point in the Championship is good. Away from home, to come here is very good. Am I disappointed not to win it? We had some glorious chances, but on the balance of everything, a point was fair.

“They didn’t have anything clearcut. Will Mannion made saves from distance, but we are very good at defending our box.

“When we made changes, they

made a big impact and these [Watford] are ex-Premier League. They expect to get promoted and have a recruitment strategy to do that, so the fact we’re competing, there’s lots to like about today.

“For our short-term goals, it’s a big point.”

It was 34-year-old Godden’s first goal on just his eighth Championship appearance of an injury-hit campaign.

“We’re just really sad that we’ve only had him for a handful of games this year,” Jones said. “He was our top-scorer last season, he was one of the best strikers in the league. He’s been a Championship striker for Coventry, and it’s showed.

“Last week, he could have got us a point, but the keeper pulled off a

wonderful save and today - what a finish. It had to land to him and you trust him to put it away.”

Charlton should retain their Championship status for next season sooner rather than later. They host mid-table Preston North End on Saturday.

“I want to get that win that settles everything down and finish really strongly,” Jones said. “Hopefully that will come sooner rather than later.

“The fans were outstanding, it was a full away end and they were the nosiest ones there, giving us the support to drive us on.

“They’ve seen a performance and a group that have worked hard from them today. We’ll call on them on again for next week.”

Win puts Ravens four points from history

By John Kelly

BROMLEY MOVED closer to completing another historic season after they came from behind to beat Shrewsbury Town 2-1 at Hayes Lane on Tuesday and will claim the League Two title if they win their next two games.

Title rivals Milton Keynes and Cambridge United dropped points in the last ten minutes of their games on Monday, giving the Ravens the chance to go seven points clear at the top of the table.

In front of an attendance of 4,780, Bromley were naturally nervous and fell behind in the sixth minute when Bradley Ihionvien held off Marcus Ifill before firing under goalkeeper Grant Smith.

Smith denied Iwan Morgan before Ifill got to Kyle Cameron's knockdown to beat stopper Matthew Cox.

Three minutes into the second half, Cameron hit a volley that deflected past Cox.

MILLWALL HAPPY TO ‘TAKE THE P**S’

Lions still in automatic promotion race with fi ve games left in Championship

By Will Scott

ALEX NEIL said “I’d have thought you were taking the piss” if told at the start of the season that Millwall would be as high as second with five games to go.

Millwall jumped into the automatic promotion places after beating top-two rivals Middlesbrough 2-1 on Good Friday, and despite losing 2-1 to Norwich City three days later, remained in second with Ipswich Town and Boro playing later that day.

Ipswich went on to beat Birmingham City, while Boro drew with Swansea City, meaning all three teams ended Easter

Monday on 72 points, although Ipswich have two games in hand.

Millwall are now below both on goal difference and eight points clear of seventh-placed Wrexham.

Neil was asked if he was happy with his team’s position with five games to go.

“Unbelievably happy,” Neil said.

“If you said to me at the start of the season with five games remaining, we’d be second, honestly, I’d have thought you were taking the piss. I’m being serious. This team has done unbelievably well.

“I know people will be disappointed [after the Norwich defeat]. ‘Oh, we should have done this, and we should have done that.’ These lads give everything for the shirt every single game,

and we came up a bit short.

“We didn’t play well enough. We know that. We could have done a bit better in certain elements of the game. Norwich were good. I think I’ve always been fair in my assessment of the game. Once we got our noses in front, I did think we would get something from the match because we’ve been brilliant at that. Unfortunately, we didn’t.”

Millwall have another quick turnaround ahead of facing West Bromwich Albion on Friday night, the first of three evening fixtures in their final five games, with the remaining two kicking off at 12:30pm.

Neil’s side also face back-toback away trips to Stoke City and

Leicester City within four days.

None of the Lions’ last eight games of the regular season will have been at 3pm on Saturday.

“That’s been a frustration of mine,” Neil said. “I’ve voiced my opinion on it. In the next four games, we play before the teams immediately next to us in the league, so they know what our result was, which I don’t think is helpful for anybody. Certainly not helpful for us.

“The fact that they’ve brought our other game forward onto the Friday means we get one less day’s rest. Again, we need to travel twice in one week, and we’re away twice. It’s certainly not been in our favour, let’s put it that way.”

Bromley face second-placed Milton Keynes and fourth-place Cambridge in their next two games, and if they take four points they will be promoted.

Bromley are in only their secondever season in the Football League as Woodman targets leading them to a second promotion in two years.

Woodman was asked to sum up what he felt after the game.

He replied: “Oh, that’s a good question. I would say, a little bit closer.

“Looking at the weekend, how that went, looking at how we got that lastsecond goal at Barnet [to draw 2-2], I felt tonight was a real pivotal moment for us, and we had to capitalise.

“I know what I was like when I was hearing those results coming through and those last-minute goals. So I know what all those managers will be thinking and all those players will be thinking. They’ll be thinking, ‘well that’s Bromley gone [up]’. I know how that feels so that was a massive moment tonight.

“Everyone’s getting a bit jittery, it is nerves. We all want to get to the promised land. It’s tight.

And it really isn’t about performance at this stage, it’s just about getting the results and grinding through the games. We’ve done that, we’ve done it all season and we’ve done it again tonight.

“That’s the most important thing - the three points.”