South London Weekly - April 17th 2026

FORCED TO MAKE TERRIFYING

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By Cameron Blackshaw

Local Democracy Reporter

NIGEL FARAGE has predicted some outer London boroughs will want to hold referenda in future to decide whether they want to remain part of the city.

The Reform UK Leader said there was a “very real debate” to be had over whether some of these boroughs should split from the capital.

The bold notion to remove some fringe boroughs from the remit of the Greater London Authority (GLA) was first posed by Alan Cook after he became Reform’s first directly elected council member in London last year.

Mr Farage discussed the idea of a GLA split himself when meeting Cllr Cook and other Reform supporters and candidates in Bromley this week. Speaking from the pub garden of the Bird in Hand in Gravel Road on April 8, he said: “Sitting in here now with all these blokes in the pub, does this feel like London? Not to me it doesn’t.

“Go further out to where I was born in TN16 3AA, it’s sheep farms. How is Sadiq Khan the Mayor of that? There was this massive land grab that happened in ’65 and I think there are some really serious reconsiderations of it.”

The GLA’s predecessor was the Greater London Council (GLC) and when it formed in 1965 it created the 32 London Boroughs that we still recognise today. When Greater London was established, parts of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey were all absorbed and made part of the capital.

Mr Farage thought the 2023 decision to expand ULEZ to cover all of London had made residents in car-reliant boroughs such as Bromley, Bexley and Havering rethink whether they wanted to remain in the city. He thought many residents, especially in Bromley, would want to rejoin Kent.

Mr Farage slammed the ULEZ expansion and said: “For zero environmental benefit, all we have done is we’ve basically taxed the poor. I don’t pay ULEZ because I’ve got a big income and a nice new car so I’m exempt, but my next door neighbours that are nearly 80 can’t

WILL BROMLEY BREXIT?

afford a new car and they have to pay £12.50 [a day].

“It’s monstrous. It’s absolutely monstrous, a tax on the poor introduced by Sadiq Khan in Greater London and I think that’s led to the debate getting bigger and bigger.”

The Reform Leader thought if there was a sudden referendum in their area, 90 per cent of Biggin Hill residents would vote to return to Kent. Cllr Cook said it was an idea many in Biggin Hill had discussed with him, feeling hard done by with the ULEZ expansion as there isn’t even a train station there.

When asked whether Reform London Mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham would push for the GLA split if elected in 2028, Mr Farage said: “I won’t predict what she’s going to say, but I think there is a possibility of the outer London boroughs at some point in the next few years having a referendum on deciding on what they want their future to be.

“If she beats Khan, they might feel differently here. But I repeat

Sports

the point, this does not feel like London, it never did and the same goes for Havering and Dagenham and hey, what about the old county of Middlesex? That was literally abolished. I promise you this is a debate for the future, and a very

interesting one.”

As it has never occurred before, there is no existing legal mechanism that would allow for a London borough to split from the GLA. It would require an Act of Parliament for any borough to do so.

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By Oliver London

THEATRE PECKHAM, which is responsible for kick-starting the career of Star War’s John Boyega, is celebrating its 40th birthday.

To mark the occasion on May 2, the theatre on Havil Street, is hosting a free exhibition displaying archive material and will be launching their annual Peckham Fringe Festival.

The fringe opens with the first ever performance of WITNESS, a stage adaptation of Alex Wheatle’s 2022 novel, directed by Theatre Peckham Artistic Director Dr Suzann McLean.

WITNESS tells the story of a young man in a Pupil Referral Unit who witnesses a shocking act of violence, forcing him to choose between protecting those close to him and speaking out.

The production includes local artists at different stages of their careers, including the West End’s Albert Magashi in the lead role of Cornell and members of Theatre Peckham’s academy in supporting roles.

An important element of the theatre’s local impact is their so-called ‘Theatre Peckham Model’, which offers pathways to support children, young people and artists in training, development, and the creation of new work.

Speaking about the production, Dr McLean said: “WITNESS is a powerful example of the theatre’s journey - with artists who began here now creating work at a professional level.”

On May 4, Peckham Fringe will also feature a dedicated Alex Wheatle day in collaboration with Words of Colour, bringing together writers, performers and screen talent for a public conversation and Q&A.

The anniversary aims to celebrate the people, voices, and communities that have shaped the theatre over the past four decades, since it was founded in 1986 by Teresa Early MBE.

Full details of the Peckham Fringe programme will be announced in due course.

Tickets for the event can be found at their website: https://www.theatrepeckham. co.uk/

THEATRE PECKHAM GOT JOHN BOYEGA INTO

By Joe Rattue

ADMINISTRATION,

BROCKWELL LIDO: AS FUSION COLLAPSES

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE FOR THE HERNE HILL LANDMARK?

Lambeth Council say they’ll take over - but can they turn around ‘years of underinvestment’?

By Liv Facey and Alex Levy

FOR ITS swimmers and gym goers

Brockwell Lido is a sanctuary in the heart of South London, but the beloved Grade II-listed leisure site now faces what could be its biggest test yet, as its operator, Fusion Lifestyle, goes bust.

After what campaigners and local MP Helen Hayes say amounts to years of ‘underinvestment’, can Lambeth Council turn things around for the Art Deco icon? And where will it find the ‘millions’ needed to bring the facilities up to scratch?

On April 1st, after mounting uncertainty, Lambeth Council announced it will take over running Brockwell Lido, including the cafe and gym, on the same day Fusion Lifestyle called in administrators.

The lido’s facilities are expected to remain open until fully transferred to Lambeth Council’s inhouse gym operator - Active Lambeth - from July 1.

The local authority says its priority is to “maintain continuity of service, protect public access to the site and secure the long-term future of Brockwell Lido for residents”.

In a statement to this paper, Nadeem Sweiss, director at S&W and joint administrator of Fusion, said: “We know how important the lido is to the communities that it serves, and we are committed to supporting a smooth transition.

“We understand Active Lambeth have some ambitious plans to update the Lido and we will continue to work collaboratively with management and Lambeth Council to limit disruption and safeguard the long-term future of the lido.”

Speculation had been mounting for months over the state of Fusion’s finances. The operator, a charity which had recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, had not filed its accounts since 31 December 2022, when it had a reported turnover of £50.8 million.

In August 2025 it was reported that Fusion owed management fees of £166,038 to Bedford Borough Council, for whom it operated three leisure sites; debts which have now been repaid in full.

Fusion had operated a network of 25 facilities across the country, including two in London; Golden Lane and Brockwell Lido. All its leisure centres will remain open except Golden Lane, which is set to close awaiting refurbishment.

Fusion also has, in the recent past, run other council leisure centres across South London. It held Southwark’s leisure contract for years, before losing it in a major retender. In Lewisham, Fusion partnered with the council and helped it open the £20m Glass Mill Leisure Centre in 2013, but was later dropped by the borough in 2020.

Before news broke of the collapse, Brockwell Lido Users (BLU) - the

official group representing all users of the lido - held an Extraordinary General Meeting on March 22 to address public frustration over the lido’s future.

At the meeting, Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes told attendees, in no uncertain terms, that Fusion had descended “into a state of crisis over effectively poor financial management. I think, taking on too many sites all across the country and getting into difficulties is really a very, very sad and quite shocking state of affairs”.

Her comments were reminiscent of those delivered in parliament last month, during a debate she dubbed ‘for the love of Lidos’. Addressing the house, Hayes had said closure and reopening is part of a longer story of precariousness for public baths and lidos across the country, and paid tribute to BLU’s work, while also sharing that she had swum regularly at the lido since 1996 and and once fainted in the changing rooms after a “balmy 8 degree” dip.

At the EGM, Lambeth cabinet lead Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, said the local authority was prepared to step in immediately, telling attendees: “The council will not allow the lido to cease. “Whatever happens after that is a decision that the council, as a democratically-led institution, will have to make. Continuity of service, protecting the service, is absolutely crucial”.

The situation has reignited memories of previous threats to the lido’s survival.

Lambeth shut the lido in 1990 as part of cost-saving measures but reopened it in 1994 after a grassroots campaign and a petition signed by thousands.

After the Lido was brought back into use in the 1990s, Fusion then won a 25 year contract from Lambeth Council in 2003 to redevelop and run the site until May 2031. Over the next four years a gym, spa and fitness studios were built, and the site reopened in October 2007.

BLU chair Ben Longman said that while “in the early days, Fusion did a really good job,” and brought “a kind of new era” and “rebirth” to the site, over time investment and regular maintenance fell away.

Over a busy bank holiday weekend, we spoke to many lido users, who painted a consistent picture. The pool is loved, but the facilities feel tired, with much of the equipment not working.

Regular user Adam said: “Fusion has stopped investing in it, so things were

breaking and not being fixed.”

“It enhances my life living in London by 80 percent,” said Claire Jones, who swims twice a week describing it as something close to “near prayer.” But Jones claims Fusion made a lot of money from the Lido but “drained” it to other sites rather than reinvesting it. Her thoughts were echoed by Phillipa, who has used Brockwell Lido for more than a decade after previously going to Tooting Bec Lido. She said there are great things about it but argued Fusion “needed” to go into administration because “things were neglected for too long.”

She claimed the whirlpool “never has been working for about three years,” while the steam room is “always broken”. Some poolside saunas were, she said, so cheaply made they “just disintegrated after a couple of weeks.”

Local resident Lesley Hill said Brockwell Lido used to be “a great space” but “pretty pricey” and “not the most welcoming”.

INTO FUTURE HOLD

Year-long member Stefan, visiting with friend Molly, was more blunt: “It’s awful.”

The jacuzzi, he said, “never worked since I’ve been here.”

In one of the more obvious signs of deterioration, when our reporter visited, the automatic door button for disabled users was broken, but there were no signs and no information on the website to make any visitors aware.

In the Commons, Hayes has highlighted a change in leadership at Fusion, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic - now half a decade on - as factors in a lack of maintenance and investment.

When asked about the site’s future, the BLU were optimistic given that Lambeth had agreed to keep the site open, with Longman telling us: If an under-maintained site closes, it can be much harder to reopen it than to keep it operating.”

But is it a takeover that buys timebut not certainty? There is still much that is yet to be thrashed out, and it remains unclear how Lambeth’s own financial position could impact running the site.

The lido’s listed status is part of what makes it distinctive. It is also part of what makes it expensive. The BLU told us that when the local authority surveys the building and plant, they predict the repair bill could be “well north of a million pounds”.

But given the popularity of the venue - and the boom in cold water swimming throughout the year - if Brockwell Lido can’t turn a healthy profit, where can?

Reitree, Mary, who uses the site every day, told us: “Particularly in the summer they must be raking in. So

why are the saunas broken and the showers and the changing room so bad? It’s usable.”

In Parliament, Hayes told MPs she understood Brockwell Lido to be profitable, but that there had been “little transparency about” the income it generates, and “no ringfencing” to ensure money is spent on the maintenance and investment the site needs.

A lack of transparency is exactly what worries the regulars who spoke with us, and said they fear the centre’s profits will not be put back into repairs.

Just before Lambeth Council’s takeover, the BLU announced that it had become a charity with the support of Hayes. Charity status gives the group access to grant funding and tax benefits such as Gift Aid.

As they awaited their first formal meeting with the council as the lido’s new operators, they told us their main priority is securing the Lido as an accessible, community-centred asset.

“Brockwell Lido is not just a leisure centre,” the BLU chair highlighted. “It requires a degree of specificity and agility to run it.” He confirmed the group is also pushing for a reset on pricing.

“We have a once in a generation chance to reset the community’s relationship with Brockwell Lido,” he added, warning against “business as usual.”

Among the residents we interviewed for this article, several highlighted the cost, with one resident - Lesley Hilltelling us that being only able to afford membership to one centre, and in her case Brixton Rec had won out.

The future of Brockwell Lido is now being decided in real time, in council offices, in user meetings, and in everyday conversations within the building.

During our visit, we met Alex and Dan, making their first ever trip to the Lido to take advantage of a free trial. Given the recent developments, they said they had quickly found themselves chatting to another user about how the building is run and what the new operators might mean for the future.

“It could definitely do with doing up a little bit, but it’s not horrendous,” Dan mused. “We were just saying to each other if someone could buy it out and do it up, it would be amazing.”

Whether Lambeth’s takeover becomes a simple rescue or the start of a different future will depend on what happens after July 1.

But for regular swimmers and gymgoers, the priority is simple. They want the basics fixed. They want a future that feels fair and reflective of this much loved site. One where the lido’s profits are transparent, its repairs are funded, and the place that so many Londoners call a sanctuary is run for the community that keeps it alive.

“It’s like one of my favourite places in London,” cyclist Efah told us “My little sanctuary.”

Lambeth Council were approached for comment.

At one dig a Roman tin of cream was unearthed with finger marks still on it

MOLA/Andy Chopping

By Rich Brann

SOUTHWARK IS one of the most valuable places in London for archaeological discoveries.

That’s according to Alistair Douglas, and he should know. In his 39-year career as an archaeologist, he’s unearthed countless finds from the Neolithic to the Roman to the medieval across the country. But a large part of his time has been devoted to the borough of Southwark, where some of the most fascinating ruins of premodern London have been discovered over the 50 years.

Alistair said: “You get deep stratigraphic archaeology in Southwark and the City, and you don’t find that everywhere –that’s quite special.

“It was part of the Roman trading network… it had warehouses, it had shops, it was a busy place, extending right up Borough High Street.”

Alistair’s a senior archaeologist at Pre-Construct Archaeology, a company that’s been working in Southwark for decades - their team of researchers and archaeologists are usually contracted by private developers to conduct digs on old land where new construction is happening.

And that’s a common necessity in a borough with a history like Southwark’s.

Being close to the river, Southwark was once adjacent to Roman Londinium, meaning it’s been an urban area with a huge amount of buried history for far longer than most parts of London, according to Alistair.

He said: “A lot of these ruins are what we call multi-phased, so they go from the prehistoric period until right through to the relatively modern – obviously, this part of London, the docklands, was heavily bombed during the war, so sometimes you’ll find bomb damage too.

“And it’s all in layers - you can see everything from the Neolithic period right through to what we call the modern era, concentrated around the area where London Bridge is today.”

Ireneo Grosso, senior project manager

Uncovering the incredible history of Southwark’s Roman and medieval remains

at Pre-Construct Archaeology, described Southwark as ‘unique’ among London boroughs in how many different layers of civilisation could be found beneath its surface, with excavation between Harper Road and Swan Street in Old Kent Road revealing some magical finds.

He said: “South of Long Lane is basically a Roman cemetery, it’s full of plots... and people like to be buried with a display of wealth, so we found a mausoleum and even a Roman sarcophagus.

“We found evidence that the sarcophagus had even been looted during the medieval period - the lid to the original sarcophagus had actually been moved.”

Pre-Construct Archaeology has excavated sites across the borough, with their main project being Bermondsey Square, the former site of an abbey that was first founded more than 1300 years ago, in the Anglo-Saxon era.

Other sites in the borough have included digs at Long Lane and at Brandon House in Borough, as well as incredible Roman ruins of a temple complex at Tabard Square, where traders and travellers would have gathered on the road to Londinium.

One of Alistair Douglas’s most exciting discoveries came there.

He explained: “One of the most extraordinary finds from Tabard Square

was a tin with a lid, and when you unscrewed it there was a cream in it - and it still had the finger marks of the last person who was taking that cream out… we think they were using it for make up.

“It was as if it had been done yesterday.”

On top of that find, pottery and olive oil from Gaul (now France) and North Africa provided evidence of Southwark’s integration into the complex Roman trade network, with exotic stone and marble brought over from Egypt.

At Bermondsey Square, a Neolithic pot was found, evidence of farming from well over two thousand years ago, and other curios of medieval life were found too.

Alistair said: “We found an oyster shell that was being as a palette, for mixing ink – it would’ve been used for writing their books.”

Bermondsey Square was, for a long time, an enormous excavation site. It started when Professor Grimes first observed that bombs dropped during the Second World War had exposed medieval ruins beneath Bermondsey Abbey.

Alistair said: “They very quickly discovered the borough had this urban archaeology – it’s why since then and until today, Southwark employs their own archaeological officer, unlike other London boroughs.

“They are very well of the resource

they’ve got, and they try to make use of that resource for the benefit of the community as well.”

Bermondsey Abbey was excavated slowly throughout the 1980s and 1990s, finding part of the ancient eastern wall before the major excavation from 1998 to 2018, which Pre-Construct Archaeology led, since compiling their findings and sending their relics off for analysis.

Alistair and his team discovered the medieval foundations had been used to build a Tudor mansion house in Southwark, relics of which also survived the centuries buried underground as successive houses and developments were built at the square.

He said: “The level of preservation in parts was extremely remarkable.

“There was a huge amount of pottery and worked stone – we know so well now how the inside of the church looked.”

Bermondsey Square itself is actually mapped onto the original inner precinct of the abbey – a ‘fossilisation’ of the old complex, as Alistair described.

Medieval graffiti and script carved into Southwark’s stones was common to find too, with funerary monuments having more detailed descriptions while in other places, walls can be seen with carvings of weapons and armour, or signs to ward off evil.

One of the best-preserved finds there was a highly detailed medieval carving that Pre-Construct Archaeology have been examining.

Alistair said: “It was done onto the wall of the church, and what you can see is a knight, a shield, and a sword...graffiti like this was not uncommon in medieval churches, and we can even date it to the 14th century from the style of the knight’s helmet.

“We got very excited about that one.”

Much of what has been found at Bermondsey Square is still being processed, but will be available for viewing at the Museum of London from 2027, if all goes to plan.

Pre-Construct Archaeology also engage with the local community, offering talks to local societies, open days to the public where anyone can see the work they’re uncovering, as well as work with local schools to spark interest in the local archaeology of the area.

On the local area, Ireneo Grosso said: “Southwark is fantastic - in terms of archaeology, it’s unique.

“You’ve got everything from the prehistoric, to the Roman, to the Saxon, to the medieval periods... you can see how Borough High Street has been here forever, all the way back to the Romans.”

Such a massive range of cultures just beneath the borough’s surface have provided countless moments of magic, when something incredible was discovered - both archaeologists agreed that actually, the industry really could be as exciting as people imagined.

Over the course of his nearly 40-yearlong career, Alistair Douglas still remembered fondly those moments of discovery, where he realised what he had on his hands.

He said: “You do have those big ‘wow’ moments…On Bermondsey Square I can remember peeling off the tarmac and realising right underneath that there was medieval masonry surviving, part of the main entrance to the church, or when I found the second biggest Roman bathhouse in London, in Shadwell – it was just incredible.

“I’ve been very lucky.”

POLICE NAME OLD KENT ROAD MURDER VICTIM

By Evie Flynn

Police have released images of 26-year-old Aurelio Mejia, who was stabbed to death outside a night off the Old Kent Road in the early hours of Easter Monday.

He was found with stab wounds and pronounced dead outside a venue in Ruby Street, a largely industrial area near the old gas works on the South Bermondsey side of the Old Kent Road.

Detectives made another arrest on Tuesday 7 April and are re-appealing for witnesses to come forward with information.

A Met spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with Aurelio’s family, who have suffered a terrible loss.

“We are continuing with our enquiries into this matter. As part of this, residents may notice an increased police presence in the local area.

“Given the circumstances of this incident – which occurred outside a busy nightclub – the investigation team believe there may have been many relevant witnesses.

“We urge anyone who has any information, dashcam or mobile phone footage which could support the investigation to contact us.”

Aurelio’s family have been told and are

being supported by specialist police officers during this difficult time.

Police were called to the venue just before 4am to reports of a disturbance involving a group of people. Later that day, three men, one aged 18 and three aged 24 were arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two other men were found injured at the scene alongside Aurelio. One of the men, aged 24, was taken to hospital, where his condition was assessed as not lifethreatening and he has now been arrested

on suspicion of murder.

The other man, aged in his 20s, remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition.

All five men who have been arrested remain in custody.

If you saw or heard anything, or have CCTV, dash cam or phone footage, please upload information to the police major incident portal, or contact police on 101, quoting reference 1033/06APR26. An anonymous report can be made via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

FIRE ON WALWORTH SHOP ROOF

By Evie Flynn

The roof of a shop in Walworth caught alight this Bank Holiday weekend after it is believed a cigarette was not properly put out.

Firefighters were called to a blaze on Cadiz Street just off Walworth Road late Monday night, April 6.

Four fire engines raced to the scene at approximately 11:30pm but fortunately no one was injured.

The Brigade said four people had left the building before they arrived and used breathing equipment to rescue another

man. Five square metres of decking on the roof of the property was damaged with a spokesperson saying “the fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.”

A London Fire Brigade issued a public warning saying: “If you smoke it is vitally important you stub it right out, preferably in an ashtray.

“Always ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire.”

In total 25 firefighters from Lambeth, Peckham and Brixton attended and the blaze was under control by 12:26am.

TEENAGE BOY SHOT IN CAMBERWELL

By Evie Flynn

A 17-year-old was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound and two others were injured after a shooting in Camberwell on Wednesday 8 April.

Emergency services were called to Denmark Road at around 9:35pm after reports of ‘gunshots and fighting’.

The London Ambulance Service arrived within three minutes and treated a 17-yearold boy for a gunshot wound on nearby Carew Street.

The boy was rushed to hospital and his injuries were later confirmed as non-lifethreatening or life changing.

A 25-year-old man and a 19-year-old man, who police believe were injured as part of the incident, took themselves to hospital later that night. Both their injuries have

been confirmed as non-life threatening.

A London Ambulance spokesperson said: “We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, a paramedic from our tactical response unit and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance.

“Our first crews arrived in approximately three minutes. We treated a patient for a gunshot wound and took him to a major trauma centre as a priority.”

A Met Police spokesperson said: “We understand the concern caused by incidents of this nature and want to reassure the community that detectives are working at pace to trace those responsible.

“On Wednesday, 8 April at

around 21:35hrs, police were called to reports of gunshots and fighting on Denmark Road, Camberwell.

“Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a 17-year-old boy for a gunshot wound on nearby Carew Street. He was taken to hospital by paramedics and his injuries were later confirmed as non-life-threatening or life changing.

“A 25-year-old man and a 19-year-old man, who are believed to have been injured as part of the incident, also self-presented at hospital later that evening. Their injuries were confirmed as non-lifethreatening or life changing.

“No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD8317/08APR26.”

THIS COMMUNITY GARDEN IS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST HEALTH INEQUALITY

By Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

WHEN LEWISHAM-BORN Valerie

Goode launched Coco Collective in Bellingham in 2021, she wasn’t just creating a place to grow food but a space to connect to her heritage.

Four years on from its launch, the Coco Collective has launched a new health programme - the Plantain Project - working with local GP surgeries to bring medical check-ups, therapeutic gardening, and culturally grounded support to Black residents.

“Systemic racism is the number one driver for mental health and physical health deprivation in Black communities across Lewisham,” Valerie told us.

Lewisham has one of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK, meaning many residents face food insecurity, poor housing and limited access to healthcare. These pressures fall disproportionately on Black communities.

Valerie, who attended Sydenham High School before a career as a fashion entrepreneur, says she saw a gap that existing community spaces weren’t filling.

Too often, she argues, similar projects did not know how to meaningfully support Black residents navigating health problems tied to lived

experience of racism and structural inequality.

“It is so important not to underestimate the power and the need to have marginalised-owned spaces,” she said.

At Coco Collective’s Bellingham site, young people come straight from school to tend the garden.

Youth director Lee-Roy Shabaka, 27, describes the thinking behind it: “We have built a system providing green spaces and green thought that are often absent in urban environments.”

For Sarah Abdelmagid, the project’s coordinator, who came from Brent to Lewisham drawn by its strong African gardening culture and its connection to her Sudanese heritage, the garden represents something broader.

“Afro residents around London need a space like this. We hope that it shows people how much the community needs a culturally appropriate space to just be and heal,” she said.

Research consistently shows that racism and discrimination have a measurable negative impact on the physical and mental health of Black and minority ethnic groups as these communities experience worse health outcomes and face greater barriers to accessing care than white residents.

Government data shows Black African (32.3 per cent), Black Other (31.6 per cent) and Black Caribbean

(29.2 per cent) people are the most likely to live in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England.

Whilst a 2020 Greenpeace UK investigation found that waste incinerators are three times as likely to be located in the most deprived and ethnically diverse areas.

This is a finding that gained renewed public attention after the 2013 death of nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah, the first person in the UK to have air pollution officially recorded as a cause of death.

The Plantain Programme, launched this March, brings healthcare directly into the garden. Alongside this sits the Ital Community Clinic: a drop-in health check service at the Bellingham garden run by trained community health champions supported by GPs. Visitors can have their blood pressure, kidney health and weight checked in a relaxed, non-clinical environment. With food growing and healthy eating conversations woven into the sessions to create a relaxed non-judgemental atmosphere.

This comes as studies show that simply being outdoors can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and significantly improve mental wellbeing.

GP Thileepan Thevarajan, 37, from Kingston, trains the community champions and administers health

tests. “It would be great to pick up more undiagnosed health issues and see over time those who do come to us with high blood pressure get better,” he said.

He hopes the informal setting will encourage more people to talk openly about their health.

The Institute of Race Relations has long argued that health researchers too often reach for biology to explain outcomes that are better explained by social inequality and lack of access to specialised care.

Lewisham launched a Food Justice Action Plan in 2023 to tackle rising food insecurity across the borough.

Coco Collective is already part of that response, and there are plans to expand the Plantain Programme to their second site in Catford, alongside summer food growing courses and children’s workshops.

Dr Catherine Mbema, director of public health at Lewisham Council, has been direct about the stakes: “Food

injustice is one of the biggest and most complex challenges facing Lewisham and it is becoming increasingly urgent.”

For Valerie, the sense of community created by the project is paramount.

“Being in Lewisham back in the 80’s it was common to have our community gatherings in peoples houses - it was a way to keep family and friends together” she explained, highlighting that as the initiative’s founder she hoped that seeing a black woman running the project would inspire others. There is a lot of work to do and knowledge that needs to be shared,” she added.

The Bellingham garden is open Wednesdays and Sundays, 11am–3pm. The Plantain Programme’s health drop-in runs 12–2pm. Coco Collective can also be frequently found at the Black Farmers Market in Brixton. More information about the Plantain Programme is available at: www.allevents.in/london/the-plantainprogramme

MAYOR ANNOUNCES £30 MILLION FOR LATE-NIGHT YOUTH CLUBS

By Kumail Jaffer

Local Democracy Reporter

CITY HALL’S £30million investment in late-night youth clubs across London is ‘critical’ to stopping at-risk youngsters from falling into a life of gangs and crime, a veteran community leader has claimed.

The Mayor of London announced a £30m investment this week that would fund a “Youth Lates” programme across all 32 boroughs in the capital.

These clubs, set to open later this year, would offer activities, support, mentorship and food, with the intention of giving young Londoners “somewhere safe to go” and ensuring “no one is left behind”, according to Sir Sadiq Khan.

City Hall say that between 2010 and 2024, 81 youth centres closed in London as local authorities across the capital were forced to slash the services as part of wider cost-cutting measures. However, the latest round of investment has been hailed as a gamechanger, with one mentor saying it will go some way to reversing the impact of the recent cuts.

Wayne James, the Managing Director of ML Community Enterprise who operate the Martin Lipton Youth Club (MLYC) in Brixton, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We provide somewhere for young people to come, socialise, develop, make mistakes without penalty – taking them

on a journey from their early teens to adulthood. We fill a gap in their lives when they don’t have a trusted adult.

“The closure of youth clubs has been absolutely catastrophic. We are paying for the political decisions of those who shut places like these.

“Not every child comes from a home with two parents who can provide them with the right guidance and an example. Youth clubs have filled that gap and provided somewhere for young Londoners to channel that energy – to have an outlet.

“When we shut that off, we gave young people nowhere to do that – add the torment of social media to that. This Mayor has taken action in an area which is absolutely critical. He’s focused on the late-night provision, which is usually not part of our programme.

“Kids who aren’t home will be out anyway – if they don’t have spaces

like these, they will be vulnerable to predators.”

Sir Sadiq, who launched the policy at the MLYC this week, said the investment will work alongside City Hall’s renewed focus on frontline policing. Officials say that prevention and early intervention – in the form of City Hall’s Violence Reduction Unit – has seen more than 100,000 young Londoners access mentoring support.

Minister of State for Policing and Crime, Sarah Jones, added: “Under Sadiq Khan London has made huge progress tackling youth violence, with youth homicides now at a record low. But both the Government and the Mayor understand that undoing years of Tory mismanagement and failure to invest in our young people will take time.

“This new record investment from the Mayor in youth clubs could be a real game-changer, providing a high-quality

space in every London community where young Londoners can feel safe and feel supported.

“We know this crucial time after school or at weekends is a vital time in ensuring young people have positive things to do and don’t get drawn into crime and antisocial behaviour. Working together the Government and London Mayor are turning the tide on years of underinvestment in our young people.”

Hina Bokhari, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, told the LDRS that it was too little, too late, adding: “We know how much young Londoners are struggling. Youth unemployment is rising fast.

“We’ve got the highest child poverty rate in the country. We desperately need more investment in youth services. But £1million a borough does not cut it.”

The £30m investment comes from the £50m earmarked in this year’s Mayoral

Budget to “support young

and keep them away from gangs and crime.

Ms Bokhari accused Sir Sadiq of a lack of transparency on the funding – and accused him of holding the announcement to just three weeks before Londoners cast their ballots in the local elections.

“It’s incredibly disappointing the London Assembly was never given a proper chance to scrutinise this policy,” she added.

“I asked the Mayor in February how this money would be spent and got fobbed off, only for it to be announced in the run-up to elections. That is not democracy, it’s not good policy making – it looks like vote-chasing to me.”

Meanwhile, Tory Assembly Member Alessandro Georgiou criticised the Mayor for failing to top up frontline policing.

“£30m is going into youth clubs rather than frontline policing as a means of tackling crimes,” he said. “Policing is what stops crime, and with offences in London increasing, the public deserve to feel safe on our streets.

“Was there no better use for this money, at a time when the Mayor is overseeing the potential loss of more than 1,300 frontline police officers?” Police officer numbers fell slightly in February 2026 from the month before to 31,325, more than 2,000 lower than when Sir Sadiq was re-elected in May 2024.

COUNCIL ANNOUNCES RELOCATION PROPOSALS FOR WATERLOO LIBRARY

By Romilly Schulte

WATERLOO LIBRARY is preparing to relocate to a temporary site on Wootton Street amid financial difficulties.

Lambeth Council have pledged that the move will serve the Waterloo community in a bigger and better location, after the availability of its current home in Kennington Road’s Oasis Centre has come to an end.

There are ten libraries in the borough, as well as Lambeth Archives in Brixton Hill, and the council invests £4 million annually into these services, which they say ensures that the buildings are up to scratch and well-staffed by trained librarians.

Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, who is the Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said: “Waterloo has gone from having a temporary library in a portacabin more than a decade ago, to services in a community centre to the latest proposal for a council run stand-alone library in the heart of Waterloo.

“This is an incredibly difficult time for the council financially, and for local authorities across London, but we are determined to protect the frontline services out residents have told us they value the most.”

The new library on Whootton Street will be in use for a minimum of 18 months while the council works on pinning down a permanent location in Waterloo, and they

have applied for planning permission so that they can carry out this intermediary relocation as quickly as possible.

Since 2016, Waterloo’s library has been at the Oasis Centre, which is run by a charitable organisation that provides aid in education, homelessness youth justice and human-trafficking prevent to local neighbourhoods across the country.

Providing library services in the Oasis Centre followed aims to improve on facilities in the Waterloo area to meet the needs to local residents.

Libraries elsewhere in Lambeth have seen a significant amount of improvement works in the last few years: in 2025, Stockwell’s Tate South Lambeth Library re-opened after a £360,000 investment to restore its original Victorian features and to install new toilets and heat pumps.

Brixton Library also saw £1 million go into its improvement programme in 2024, with Durning Library, Carnegie Library, Minet Library and Streatham Library also receiving improvement works in the last year.

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King’s College Hospital takes part in groundbreaking organ trial

By Frankie Hills

KING’S COLLEGE hospital has announced it will play host to a groundbreaking trial to assist in organ preservation, in order to help increase the number of lifesaving organ transplants.

The pilot scheme will be part of a move to introduce machine perfusion into the King’s Liver Transplant Unit. It is hoped that the trial will help ensure the best possible use for every organ that is donated, increasing the efficiency of transplant services within the NHS.

Machine perfusion works by helping preserve and assess organs that would otherwise not be transplanted. When placed on a machine, either bloody or

a cold oxygen solution will be pumped through it. This therefore helps medical staff preserve the organ, whilst also allowing tests to be ran to see how well it will work once transplanted into a patient.

Varuna Aluvihare, consultant in liver medicine at King’s, said: “Through machine perfusion, we have the potential to be able to transplant livers which would have otherwise carried a higher risk into patients facing a long and uncertain wait for a suitable organ — with excellent outcomes.

“We are extremely proud to have been selected as a pilot site by NHS Blood and Transplant, and have a part in this ground-breaking step forward in organ donation and transplantation.”

BALLERS ACADEMY BRINGS EASTER

ACTION TO LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE

This Easter, Ballers Academy ran a series of exciting holiday camps that kept local children and teenagers active, happy, and fully engaged.

A day camp for 6 to 12-yearolds, funded by Southwark Council’s HAF programme, was packed with a variety of sports and games, giving younger participants the chance to try new activities, make friends, and stay active. The teenagers camp, also funded by the HAF programme, offered competitive tournaments in a structured environment, allowing participants to develop skills, test themselves, and enjoy friendly competition under expert guidance.

Ballers Academy were thrilled to

launch a new partnership with the Bankside Open Spaces Trust at Marlborough Sports Garden. While Ballers Academy led on the delivery, the partnership helped strengthen the camp programme and support it success in the community.

All courses were completely free, making them accessible to every child in the community. Attendance was high, with each session buzzing with energy, laughter, and enthusiasm as participants explored a variety of sports and activities.

The Easter holiday camps demonstrated Ballers Academy’s commitment to creating inclusive, engaging opportunities for young people to stay active, have fun, and make lasting memories.

GUY’S AND St Thomas’ is celebrating 15 years of community services at the Trust.

The Trust said it recognised the dedication, innovation and outstanding achievements from staff who support thousands of children and adults across the community every day.

Since April 2011, teams have delivered care closer to where people live—supporting patients in their own homes and other settings including hostels, day centres, health centres and outpatient clinics across southeast London.

The Trust said that by bringing together hospital services with care provided in patients’ homes and other community locations, it was able to provide smoother, more efficient care and improve outcomes for patients.

Looking ahead, there is also an opportunity to provide more services in the community through neighbourhood health treatment centres, where teams from hospitals, GP surgeries, social care and the voluntary sector will work together.

Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’, said:

“Congratulations to our inspiring community staff whose dedication, resilience and hard work over the last 15 years has helped us make a positive difference to the lives of many thousands of local patients.

“Building on this legacy, our commitment to neighbourhood health aligns directly with the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, which outlines a shift away from

Bike auction raises funds for charity

AN AUCTION of abandoned bikes at St Thomas’ Hospital has helped to find new homes for 17 second-hand bikes.

The bikes, which were unclaimed after being left on Trust sites, were put up for auction in line with Trust policy. They were then purchased by colleagues after being assessed by a mechanic. The auction raised £500 for Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, helping to make a difference to patients, staff and services across the Trust.

Donations, big or small, support vital projects that improve healthcare, enhance patient and staff wellbeing, and fund life-changing research at Guy’s and St Thomas’. To make a donation visit https://gsttcharity.org.uk/donate/

MARKING 15 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AT GUY’S AND ST THOMAS’

a system centred on acute hospital care towards one rooted in the local neighbourhood. Starting this year, we will be working with GPs, local authorities, and other voluntary and third sector partners to create Integrated Neighbourhood Teams across Lambeth and Southwark. This will bring the expertise of Guy’s and St Thomas’ closer to our patients and communities.

“Together, we will provide holistic support that helps residents stay well and reduces the need for hospital admissions. This evolution ensures that we are not just treating illness but are active partners in the long-term health and wellbeing of our local communities.”

Find out more at: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/ community-services-15

PEOPLE ACCESSING homeless services have benefited from a gardening and mental health project set up by Kendra Schneller, a nurse practitioner at Guy’s and St Thomas’.

The Garden to Plate project transformed the gardens of 2 hostels in Lambeth into thriving outdoor spaces. Kendra said: “The gardens are well established and providing regular harvests of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The project created a sense of belonging and shared sense of pride, improving the mental health and wellbeing of participants.”

The project features in a temporary exhibition at the Florence Nightingale Museum called Healing Spaces: Healthcare Design Past, Present and Future. Kendra will be giving a talk at the museum about the project on Thursday 25 June.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ offer free events for its members, with an opportunity to meet the experts and learn more about its work improving health and wellbeing in the community.

The next webinars are:

• A guide to navigating the kitchen after your transplant, Monday 11 May, midday to 1pm

• Eating well for you and the planet, Tuesday 26 May, 5.30pm to 6pm

Membership is free and everyone is welcome to register or find out more about webinars by emailing gstt.members@nhs.net or call 020 7188 7346.

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

WOMAN FORCED TO JUMP FROM THIRD FLOOR FLAT IN BERMONDSEY AFTER ‘E-BIKE BATTERY FIRE’

By Kevin Quinn

A WOMAN was forced to make the terrifying leap from a third floor flat in Bermondsey at the weekend to escape what the brigade says is yet another e-bike battery fire.

The woman was rushed to hospital after the fire broke out on Sunday afternoon, April 12, at the flat on Reculver Road, just off Silwood Street in South Bermondsey.

According to London Fire Brigade it is believed to have been caused by a catastrophic failure of an e-bike battery

that had been charging in the flat’s hallway for about 12 hours.

Deputy assistant commissioner Richard Field said: “This incident highlights why you should always ensure your escape route is clear and why we recommend to never charge your e-bike or e-scooter in your means of escape, such as a hallway or by your front door.”

He added: “Although working smoke alarms helped alert the occupants quickly to this fire, a woman found herself trapped inside a bedroom with smoke travelling in.

“She decided to go out onto the balcony and jump to the ground, three storeys high.

“She has unfortunately sustained a quite serious injury due to the fall and we wish her well in her recovery.”

A man was also rescued by firefighters and treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Shockingly the deputy assistant commissioner added that firefighters are now attending a fire, on average every other day involving an e-bike or e-scooter.

A record 206 e-bike fires were reported in London in 2025 and this year alone there have already been more than 30 incidents.

If lithium batteries end up overheating, crushing, penetrating or overcharging, a fault can occur within damaged battery cells which could cause the battery to catch fire and explode, the LFB says.

The brigade recommends buying batteries from reputable sellers, avoiding mismatching the charger and never charging batteries while unattended or asleep.

They say items purchased online or second-hand, which don’t meet UK safety standards, are particularly prone to going up in flames. They added that converting a bike from a pushbike into an e-bike should always be carried out by a professional or competent person.

The Brigade was called at 11:14 am to flat on Reculver Road with three fire engines from Deptford, Old Kent Road and Peckham attending, along with a fire rescue unit from Islington Fire Station. The fire was extinguished by 11:45 am.

By Oliver London

THE SOUTHBANK Centre is set to receive £10 million from a capital grant to make critical repairs on the Royal Festival Hall ahead of its 75th birthday celebrations.

After 75 years of hosting legendary acts such as Count Basie, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix, the Royal Festival Hall is to receive financial support from the government as a part of their Arts Everywhere Fund.

Last month, we reported that the Southbank Centre’s needed £50 million in overdue maintenance to the venue’s infrastructure. This news came just days after the centre’s eastern buildings, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery were awarded Grade II listed status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Grade I listed venue will now receive £10 million that it will put towards the critical maintenance at the Royal Festival Hall, including replacing its broken roof and modernising the auditorium rigging system.

The Southbank Centre was awarded this cash by the Creative Foundations Fund, a capital grant backed by Arts

Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that comprises £96 million in funding for creative and cultural organisations in England.

Michelle Walker, the London Area Director for Arts Council England, said: “By supporting these essential improvements this funding will help ensure that these venues remain open, sustainable and accessible for years to come, protecting the creative spaces that London’s artists and audiences rely on.”

The Southbank Centre received the largest portion of the £26 million funding that the CFF grant awarded to 24 London organisations.

This funding arrives ahead of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations that will feature the yearly Meltdown festival, curated by pop icon Harry Styles, and a one-off immersive performance titled ‘You Are Here’ that will celebrate the venue’s artistic legacy.

By Charlotte Lillywhite

Local Democracy Reporter

A HOUSING development in Tolworth will get 965 more homes, including 16-storey apartment blocks.

Kingston Council has approved plans which will see 1,176 homes built at Signal Park, in Tolworth, overall –226 more homes than the number originally agreed for the nearly 11-acre site.

The council approved detailed plans for 336 homes in four 16-storey apartment blocks to be built as part of phase two of Signal Park on Wednesday April 1. It also gave outline permission for up to 629 more homes, a gym, café, shop, community facility and new pedestrian, cycle and vehicle routes to be delivered in the rest of the scheme.

The development will provide 415 affordable homes overall, or 35 per cent by habitable room.

The council’s planning committee heard concerns future residents would complain about noise from neighbouring Tolworth Garage, which operates 24/7, at the meeting on Wednesday.

Consultant Gerard Manley, representing businesses at the depot, raised concerns the scheme did not include enough measures to protect residents from the noise of its operations. He said residents complaining about noise could “have a significant impact upon our clients’ businesses, if their activities were then constrained”.

A report by council officers said legal experts had confirmed it was unlikely any noise complaint would be upheld if the development was approved, with the buildings designed to protect residents from noise levels.

The committee also heard concerns from resident Bridget Walker, who said Tolworth did not have suitable infrastructure for such a dense development and the apartment blocks were taller than heights deemed acceptable in local policy.

“Densification meant for Central London will ruin Tolworth,” Ms Walker said.

Lib Dem councillor Helen Grocott also raised concerns about the lack of parking proposed, at 241 bays, as she said the first phase of the scheme had already put existing parking bays in the area under strain.

Conservative councillor Ian George said he felt the scheme was “verging on overdevelopment of the site” and more

TOLWORTH WILL GET 965 MORE HOMES

suited to Central London.

The committee agreed to add conditions to the planning permission to address their concerns, including a requirement for some windows facing the depot to not open to reduce noise levels. The committee also agreed to require marketing materials to make clear the development was “car-lite” and next to a 24/7 depot.

The scheme is being delivered by developer Countryside Partnerships and affordable housing provider The

Guinness Partnership.

Jamie Wilding, development director at Vistry Group, which owns Countryside, said the scheme had been “fully tested” and planning policy supported high-density housing on the site.

Mr Wilding said: “Signal Park represents a major opportunity for Tolworth and for the borough as a whole. It will deliver a substantial number of new homes, including a significantly increased proportion of

TEENAGER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF 14-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLBOY EGHOSA

By Evie Flynn

A 16-YEAR-OLD boy from Romford has been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Eghosa Ogbebor after a shooting in Woolwich earlier this month.

The 16-year-old was initially released on bail but was arrested again on Thursday 9 April and charged with Eghosa’s murder on Friday 10 April.

The teenager was first arrested on the Saturday after the shooting, which took place at around 3:40pm

on Thursday 2 April on Lord Warwick Street in Woolwich. Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and found Eghosa seriously injured. He sadly died at the scene. The investigation is still ongoing and on Saturday 4 April a 16-yearold boy and a 19-year-old man were arrested in Woolwich on suspicion of murder.

A 46-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three were released on bail. Two boys, aged 14 and 16 and an

18-year-old man, who were arrested on Friday 3 April in connection with Eghosa’s death have also been bailed while enquiries continue.

On Friday, 10 April, a further 16-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

Eghosa’s family continue to be supported by specialist officers. Anyone with information or footage is asked to call police on 101, quoting CAD 4848/2APR, or independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

affordable housing.

“It builds on the clear success of phase one and it will create a welldesigned sustainable neighbourhood on a highly-accessible brownfield site.”

Ben Cook, development director at The Guinness Partnership, added: “The application before you improves upon the previous permission in terms of design quality, ecology, landscaping, sustainability and affordable housing provision and crucially is deliverable, and will be delivered by the joint

of Signal Park, Tolworth, once phase two is completed. Credit: Countryside Partnerships/The

venture partners.”

The council green-lit the original masterplan for the scheme in 2019, which proposed 950 homes overall. A total of 211 affordable homes were built in phase one, which was completed in early 2024, and are managed by The Guinness Partnership.

The committee approved the plans for phase two at the meeting, which will complete Signal Park with 1,176 homes overall.

what’s on

ANTHONY BATES grew up in the east of London and remembers being taken to the 1951 Festival of Britain on the South Bank, an event created to bring a bit of cheer to London after its devastation through the war, and to other areas of Britain where events were held. Much of what was built for the festival was temporary structures, but we have been left with the beautiful Royal Festival Hall building, a monument to modern design and the arts. Anthony Bates’ visit to that iconic event has culminated in a book to celebrate the transformation of the South Bank in those years, writes Michael Holland.

Anthony says his book, ‘Regeneration: 75 years of London’s South Bank’, is not academic but is 250 pages with over a hundred illustrations of the area from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, and began when ‘as a four-year-old visiting the Festival it had such an impact on me; most of all the colour because Britain at that time just seemed to be grey.’

And while many of us have grown up with the changes along our stretch of the Thames, so the author has gone through his own changes: ‘I have always loved photography and as a young kid I entered and won competitions… On leaving education I qualified as a civil engineer but through a strange set of circumstances

FROM PHOTOGRAPHING THE SOUTH BANK TO TALKING IN PECKHAM LIFELINE

FRESH FROM an off-Broadway run; a history-making performance as the first musical to ever be performed at the United Nations (2024) and two previous sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2018 and 2022 as The Mould That Changed The World), Lifeline now comes to Southwark, writes Michael Holland.

It is 2025 and a patient is bemoaning the ‘Canteen Tea’ in hospital. Aaron (Nathan Salstone) gives a song that sets the scene for him being unwell in two different eras: the present day and approximately a century ago. We traverse those years via the life and work of Alexander Fleming (Alan Vicary), learning about the importance of antibiotics and how medical problems of the 20th century are just as problematic today.

Through song, romance, and a lot of labbased dialogue, we hear how Fleming, who was a loner in his research, learns how to collaborate better to share knowledge with others around the world working in his field of bacteria and immunology.

While with the RAMC during World War 1, Fleming saw how the antiseptics used to treat infected wounds often made injuries worse. He suffered mentally over the people he could not save rather than rejoice in those he had and became determined to find an answer.

In the present day, our patient is not responding to antibiotics because the bad

finished up in architecture.’

Not so strange is that Anthony is a photographer now and had been looking for a project to take on. ‘I read David Kynaston’s book “Austerity Britain”, which stirred a thought in me just how much the South Bank had changed over the last 75 years, with the Festival of Britain acting very much as the catalyst. So the die was cast and I put my love of photography and architecture together.’ Last year, Anthony had a photo awarded Photo of the Year 2025 by Ephotozine, and has had exhibitions nationwide.

The book has taken a year to write, with the research being ‘a mix of acquired knowledge, open source, Wikipedia, Google, and anything I could lay my hands on.’ The easy part was taking the photographs and the writing; it was getting his book published that created problems: ‘Publishing now, like so much else, is swamped with scammers, and so I decided to set up my own publishing company and do it myself.’

But Regeneration is out now, and Anthony describes it thus: ‘The purpose of this book is to illuminate the extraordinary evolution of London’s South Bank, tracing how a bomb-scarred stretch of riverside became one of the world’s most dynamic cultural landscapes. By following its journey from the optimism of the 1951 Festival of Britain through decades of

architectural experimentation, political debate, artistic ambition, and community engagement, the book reveals not only what changed, but why it changed— and what those transformations say about London, its people, and its values. It offers readers a coherent narrative that connects iconic institutions, major redevelopment projects, and the quieter but equally essential stories of public space, accessibility, and everyday life along the Thames. What makes the book compelling is its combination of rich historical insight and vivid storytelling. The South Bank is a place everyone thinks they know—home to the National Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, BFI, Hayward Gallery, and countless festivals—yet few understand how hardwon and contested its regeneration has been. By weaving together archival discoveries, planning battles, cultural milestones, and personal observations, the book uncovers the ambition, risk, creativity, and political will that shaped the area. It brings to life the personalities and ideas behind the scenes while also capturing the emotional and social impact of the South Bank as a shared public realm. For policymakers and planners, it offers a case study in long-term cultural strategy; for Londoners and visitors, it reveals the hidden history of a beloved destination; and for general readers, it provides a compelling human story about

reinvention and resilience. Ultimately, the book demonstrates how culture can drive meaningful regeneration—and why the South Bank stands as a powerful example of how cities can be rebuilt not just physically, but imaginatively. Historian and author, David Kynaston, who was imperative to Regeneration ever coming to fruition, has written the foreword. He says, ‘Anthony has written a book to treasure, adding to our rich store of literature about one of the world’s greatest cities, arguably the greatest… To read

bacteria are building up a resistance. Lifeline is a plea to the world’s scientists to work together to fight antimicrobial resistance. One way is to end the pollution of our water that harbours harmful bacteria and provides the perfect setting for becoming strong enough to overcome any antibiotic.

All this horror-story information is

THE FRONTLINE OF THE FIGHT

woven in with Greek bacteriologist and WW2 resistance fighter, Amalia Voureka (Kelly Glyptis), getting closer to Fleming when they worked together, and our contemporary love-fest involving Jess (Maz McGinlay) and Aaron. On the way, we are dragged through the trenches in France, lightened only by moments of medical breakthroughs, but all

the time tempered with this overwhelming doom-laden disaster on the horizon told with a strong story and strong voices. Alan Vicary treats the role of Alexander Fleming with real TLC - and Penicillin! His wife, Becky, told me before the show that he had come down with a painful gum disease in a true-life spin-off from the show he was rehearsing, and was cured with antibiotics.

Regeneration is indeed a life-enhancing experience.’

Anthony will be coming to Copleston Community Centre (in Copleston Church), Copleston Road, Peckham, SE15 4AN on 29th April at 2pm - 3.30pm to talk about his life, his work, and to sign copies of his book. Email ann@coplestoncentre.org. uk to book your free place. Out from 31st March on Amazon, Foyles, and other major online booksellers. Price: £40. ISBN: 9781036955854

It’s difficult not to divert away from the actual production because, in amongst the romance and music that has rock, folk, and some operatic voices in there (accompanied by a tight band that brought out bagpipe and fiddle to add a Scottish touch), it also takes us off into the world of medicine. Perhaps too much. I thought Lifeline was a scene or song too long at times, but this is a production about hope, of a coming together of nations and scientists to fight the bacteria that could devastate the world’s population.

We see it with Covid, and now I fully understand why my GP stresses that I must finish the whole course of tablets and not stop taking them when the symptoms go. And I will join the fight against the evil water companies allowing our water to get polluted while they get rich.

The finale makes it all worthwhile when the chorus of real scientists and top healthcare professionals come on to the stage, one by one, to take a bow and tell us their job in the NHS. A chorus from many countries, all working here to save lives. Here to make the world a better place in the NHS that Farage and his Reform UK want to ruin. Lifeline is the frontline of the fight.

Southwark Playhouse, 1 Dante Place, 80 Newington Butts, London, SE11 4RX until May 2nd. Booking and full details: https:// southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/ lifeline/

STEPPING BACK IN TIME ON BERMONDSEY’S WILLOW WALK

A botanist, forgotten stream and wood yard

By Debra Gosling

BERMONDSEY MAY be known for docks, tanneries and warehouses, but it also has a surprisingly botanical history.

Curtis Street, in the heart of SE1, off Willow Walk, was once named Willow Street. It was renamed in honour of the botanist and apothecary William Curtis, who had a large and important botanic garden near this site, where, in the 1770s, he cultivated all manner of native plant species. His was a time of exploration, with rare plants and flowers from overseas being tried out in new medicines.

However, Curtis was more interested in teaching people about those in their own back garden, so to speak, and became an expert on the subject. He wrote a book, Flora Londinensis (London Plants) and lectured at the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Curtis Street, is now an almost forgotten byway, but at its Willow Walk end quietly sits a splendid row of quaint Arts & Crafts-style Edwardian cottages. They meld so well with their surroundings that they are almost rendered invisible.

Once nestled amid tanneries and the railway, overshadowed by Crosse & Blackwell and dodging enemy bombardment, it is amazing they survive. They are unlike the rest of the houses that once surrounded them.

On top of the door gables can be seen the mysterious initials ‘THJ’ and the date 1909, which refer to Thomas Henry James, the son of an affluent wood merchant who originated from Herefordshire.

The family’s business was just around the corner in Page’s Walk (which, incidentally, was not named after pages from the abbey, but after a Mr Page

who had his rope walk there. Not so glamorous but true.)

Thomas James Snr. was not without wealth; he had a large, graceful house in Lambeth, with a full set of servants. In contrast, by 1900 Thomas Jnr. was boarding in Chichester Buildings, a block of flats in what was then Brandon Street, by Swan Mead and within spitting distance of the timber yard.

Thomas Jnr. lived there alone with a variety of neighbours; there was a policeman, a tram conductor and a labourer amongst others. Chichester Buildings sadly succumbed to the bombs in the Blitz but its sister block, Arundel Buildings, is still standing. By 1909, Thomas Jnr. was an entrepreneur. Just forty-one and successful, he had built these lovely cottages and was confident enough to literally make his mark in Bermondsey. At that time the houses were in Willow

Street, which rather suits their identity better.

A year later Thomas married Harriet, moving from his Bermondsey flat to live in a rather large house in King’s Avenue, Clapham. To match their new status they had two live-in servants; a middle aged couple named Wood, strangely enough.

The James’ later moved to Balham into a large bungalow, which now sits in the midst of a network of roads.

By the time Thomas was of retirement age his wood yard was required by Bermondsey Borough Council to build flats and so he sold up to make way for the Harold Estate. His only son, the third Thomas James, was not interested in the timber trade, as by the 1930s it was the motor vehicle that proved more exciting, and he set up as a car dealer.

On 24th March 1950 Thomas Henry James joined Harriet in the great timber

yard in the sky. He was eighty-four. The cottages were taken over by a landlord who rented them to people on the council waiting list.

Bermondsey legend Harry Chapman’s family lived there for a number of years. He recalls: “they were known as Willow House and we lived there in the late 1960s until we were re-housed. They had a terrible damp problem and outside toilets, but they must be worth a fortune now.”

Of course, the damp would have originated from the ancient stream that once ran along Willow Walk, hence the name.

The willows served the leather trade, as well as giving Galleywall Road its name. Willows used to be called Sallows from their Latin name of Salix, so ignore all that tomfoolery about Roman galley ships, it is the trees that have formed Bermondsey’s street names!

LAMBING DAY AT WOODLANDS FARM

Woodlands Farm in Welling will be hosting their annual Lambing Day on Sunday 19 April, where visitors can browse a range of stalls and see baby lambs up close. The farm will have a range of craft and food stalls on offer, with local produce for sale and activities available for children. Tractor and Trail rides will be happening throughout the day. There is no parking available on the day sthe farm advises visitors to use public transport where possible.

Date: Sunday 19 April

Time: 11:00 - 16:00

Location: Woodland Farm, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, DA19 3RP

Tickets: £3 adults, £1.50 children (under 16 years)

TUDOR TAKEOVER AT OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE

The grounds, chapel and Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich will transport visitors back to Tudor England on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April. Actors will be around all weekend to bring Tudor court back to life, Visitors can also wander through the historic market, visit a ‘living history camp’ and enjoy tudor music and dancing. Added experiences, such a talks, archery and calligraphy workshops will also be happening across the weekend. Historical figures will be re-awakened, with actors playing Queen Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII and The Executioner. They will be roaming the grounds, talking with subjects and making big decisions.

Date: Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 April

Time: 10:00 - 17:00

Location: Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NN

Tickets: Adults £19 and children £5 (family ticket for two adults and two children is £45. www.ornc.org

LICHEN LAB IN GREENWICH PARK

Botanical artist Ella Yolande will be leading a free ‘sensory exploration’ through Greenwich Park, teaching participants about lichens. Lichens are slow-growing organisms formed of fungi, algae and cyanobacteria. With the assistance of Gemma Hindi from Help Nature Thrive, Ella will be showing participants how to use macro lenses to examine the lichen. Taking inspiration from traditional and sustainable lichen dyes, artist Ella will also guide everyone in a hands-on activity to create a small memento to take home, infused with lichen colour and scent.

Date: Friday 24 April

Time: Sessions at 10:30 and 14:00

Location: Greenwich Park, Shooters Hill Road, Greenwich SE10 8QY

Tickets: Free. Reserve your place at https://www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/lichen-lab-art-ecology

22 CLASSIFIED & FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Domestic Building Consultant Specifications, Quotations Bills of Quantities

Valuations, Variation Orders, Project Management 07345 327756 LONDON

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Memorial

William Edward Ashley 17th April 1993

Husband to the late

Julia Harriet Gabrielle 15th December 1992

Cherished memories of a beloved father / grandfather and great grandfather

Remembering you with all our hearts all that you did through the years

Thank you for being our teacher and our friend for sharing our laughter and tears

God bless, your loving family

Monica and all the Grandchildren

Also remembering our Peggy, our Bill, and our Sylvie

James William Webb

Passed away peacefully on 30/03/2026 at the age of 90

Leaving behind his loving daughters Mandy and Wendy grandchildren Dean, Zoe and Emily and great grandchildren Max, Lexi, Elliot, Summer, Storm, Teddy and Maya

A wonderful, kind, gentleman missed by all who knew him back in the arms of his beloved wife Pam x

To place a funeral announcement, birthday, death notice, birth, anniversary or memorial in the paper, please email katie@cm-media.co.uk and she will price it up for you

Announcements must be placed by 4pm on the Tuesday before that week's publication

CAROLINE MARY BANKS (Deceased)

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the above named, late of Flat 1, Tannery Lofts, 170-172 Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 3LS, who died on 02/06/2025,

London, EC1M 3HE

PETER IAN YOUNG (Deceased)

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the above named, late of 24 Daisy Dormer Court Trinity Gardens London, SW9 8DW, who

INGEBORG WOLNY Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 20 Churchmore Road, London, SW165UZ, who died on 08/07/2025, must send written particulars to the address below by 18/06/2026, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests notified.

Hanne & Co Solicitors LLP

The Candle Factory, 112 York Road, Battersea, London SW11 3RS Ref: WOL33/1

ALEXANDER SHKUTA (Deceased)

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the above named, late of Škrétova 70/10, 12000 Praha 2 Vinohrady, Czech Republic, who died on 14/12/2025, are required to send written particulars thereof to the undersigned on or before 18/06/2026, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims and interests of which they have had notice. Farrer & Co LLP, 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LH

LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that Primyra Ventures Ltd, 352 North End Road, London SW6 1NB has applied to Hammersmith & Fulham for the grant of a premises licence at Amigos Burgers And Shakes 352 North End Road London SW6 1NB for: The provision of late-night refreshment – Monday to Sunday from 23:00 to 02:00 A register of licensing applications can be inspected at www.lbhf.gov.uk/licensing Any person wishing to submit representations to our application must give notice in writing to the licensing authority at the web address above or to licensing@lbhf.gov.uk giving the grounds of objection by the 6th May 2026 It is an offence liable on conviction to a fine up to Level 5 on the standard scale under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application.

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE

La Terraza Clapham Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: La Terraza Tapas Bar and Restaurant, 27-31 Bedford Road, London, SW4 7SH.

The nature of the variation is as follows: To extend the sale of alcohol hours, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment from 02:00am until 03:00am on Saturdays only; no other changes.

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 29/04/2026

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).

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1982 (as amended)

APPLICATION FOR A SEX ESTABLISHMENT LICENCE

J. Wheatley and C. Hawke has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence, in respect of the following premises: 76 Bolton Crescent, London, SE5 0SE

Authorisation is sought to utilise the premises as a sex shop.

Further details about this application may be inspected 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

Any person wishing to object to this application must give notice in writing of their objection, stating in general terms the grounds of the objection. Objections may be sent to the above address, or emailed to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 26th April 2026

For further information please contact the Licensing Section on 020 7926 6108 or by email to: licensing@lambeth.gov.uk

LICENSING ACT 2003

SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENSING NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NEW LICENCE

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT: Lin Yuhas applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for a SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENCE, to carry out the following treatments: Body massage at premise: Your Care Spa, 48 Kennington Road, London, SE1 7BL

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 28 days from the date of this notice.

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).

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that AK PIZZA LONDON

LTD has applied to Richmond Council for a new of a premises licence at Caprinos Pizza, 160 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen London SW14 8AW for Provision of late night refreshments late night customers Mon-Sun 23:00-00:00 delivery only Sun-Thur 23:00-01 :00 Fri-Sat 23:00-02:00

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 15th May 2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Richmond 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 Richmond 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.richmond.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.

You’d want to know if someone was applying for an ALCOHOL LICENCE near you, right?

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE MADE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Please take note that I / We Wylde Market Limited Has applied to Merton Council for a premises licence at: Wylde Market Limited, 15 Lyon Road, London SW19 2RL to provide the following licensable activities: Sale of alcohol online

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing to: Merton Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email to: licensing@merton.gov.uk By 7th May 2026

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

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – WANDSWORTH ROAD AND WYVIL ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable radar survey works in preparation for gas main replacement 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 entering or proceeding in that length of Wyvil Road between its junction with South Lambeth Road and a point 20 metres south-west of that junction. (b) introduce a south-west to north-east one-way traffic system in Wandsworth Road between its junction with Parry Street and a point 100 metres south-west of that junction.

2. The alternative route for affected vehicles for the measure outlined in 1(a) would be available via South Lambeth Road, Lansdowne Way, Wandsworth Road and Wyvil Road, and vice versa. The alternative route for affected vehicles for the measure outlined in 1(b) would be available via Parry Street, Wandsworth Road, Kennington Lane, South Lambeth Road, Lansdowne Way and Wandsworth Road.

3. The Order would come into force on 4 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 night (21:00 to 06:00) to complete.

Dated 17 April 2026 Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE

WHITE CAFE LTD T/A SALLY WHITE CAFE has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: 353 Kennington Road, LONDON SE11 4QE

The nature of the variation is as follows:

1. Permit the consumption of alcohol in a designated outside seating area directly adjacent to the premises, subject to appropriate supervision and control measures.

2. Remove the requirement that alcohol sales must be ancillary to a table meal, allowing for alcohol sales to be made without food, both inside and outside, provided it is within permitted hours.

3. Maintain the existing terminal hours for alcohol sales and opening hours.

4. Introduce new operating conditions to manage outside seating, noise, and litter to ensure the promotion of the licensing objectives.

LONDON LOCAL AUTHORITIES ACT 1991:

APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENCE

Notice is hereby given that I, Enya McMenamin, have applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for a Special Treatment Licence for the following premises: 1-3 Brixton Road, Chester House, Unit 217, SW9 6DE

The proposed treatments to be provided at these premises are: Tattooing.

The proposed operating hours are: Monday to Sunday from 8am to 20pm.

Any person wishing to object to this application should do so in writing to: Lambeth Licensing Service, PO Box 807, London, SW9 9SE (or via email to: licensing@lambeth.gov.uk)

Objections must be received no later than 28 days after the date of the application, which is: 09.04.26 Objections must specify the grounds upon which they are made.

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE

Arepera Conuco Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a premises licence in respect of the following premises: ConucoVenezuelan Kitchen, 14 Brixton Road, London, SW8 1AN

The nature of the variation is as follows:

To extend the hours for the sale of alcohol, provision of late night refreshment and opening hours as follows:

Sale of alcohol (on the premises): Sunday to Thursday 11:00 – 00:00 Friday to Saturday 11:00 – 01:00

Late night refreshment: Sunday to Thursday 23:00 – 00:00 Friday to Saturday 23:00 – 01:00

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:00 – 00:00 Friday to Saturday 11:00 – 01:00

A record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, or via the licensing authority’s website.

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 by post or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 28 days from the date of this notice.

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited.

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

THIS IS CLAPHAM has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Section of Voltaire Road from Clapham High Street to Clapham Over Ground Station, London SW4 6DH which would authorise the following licensable activities: FILMS, FRIDAY 12:00-22:00, SATURDAY 11:0022:00, SUNDAY 12:00-21:00 6 WEEKENDS PER CALENDAR YEAR LIVE MUSIC, SATURDAY 12-21:00 NO MORE THAN 3 HOURS RECORDED MUSIC, 12:00-22:00, SATURDAY 21:00-22:00, SUNDAY 21:00-20:00 SUPPLY OF ALCOHOL, 12:00-22:00, SATURDAY 12:00-22:00, SUNDAY 12:00-21;00

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 before it’s too late.

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 8th 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).

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 05/05/2026

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 16A

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS –PLAY STREET DAYS - ATHLONE ROAD AND CLAVERDALE ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to enable local residents/communities to hold special events (Play Street Days), the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicles from entering:-

(a) Athlone Road, between its junctions with Upper Tulse Hill and Elm Park, on (i) Saturday 25 April 2026, (ii) Saturday 27 June 2026, (iii) Saturday 29 August 2026, and (iv) Saturday 17 October 2026 between 1:30pm and 4:30pm; (an alternative route will be available for affected vehicles via Claverdale Road).

(b) Claverdale Road, between its junctions with Upper Tulse Hill and Elm Park, on (i) Sunday 17 May 2026, (ii) Sunday 19 July 2026, and (iii) Sunday 27 September 2026, between 2:00pm and 5:00pm; (alternative routes will be available for affected vehicles via Athlone Road);

2. The prohibitions will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs on the dates and times specified above.

Dated 17 April 2026 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

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

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – SOMERLEYTON ROAD AND LOUGHBOROUGH PARK

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to provide an access and egress lane for works vehicles associated with a nearby building development, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to: (a) temporarily prohibit vehicles from parking or waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading in Somerleyton Road, north-east side, between outside the common boundary of Nos. 117 and 119 Somerleyton Road, and outside the north-western flank wall of Nos. 256 to 284 Loughborough Park; (b) temporarily convert the resident permit parking place on Loughborough Road outside Nos. 256 to 284 Loughborough Park to a disabled persons parking place, operative at all times, for use by vehicles displaying a valid disabled badge.

2. The Order will come into force on 20 April 2026 and will continue in force for a maximum duration of 18 months.

Dated 17 April 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 16A

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS –PLAY STREET DAYS – CHEVIOT ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to enable local residents/communities to hold special events (Play Street Days), the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicles from entering Cheviot Road, between its junctions with Tredwell Road and Roxburgh Road, on (i) Sunday 19 April 2026, (ii) Sunday 10 May 2026, (iii) Sunday 14 June 2026, (iv) Sunday 12 July 2026, (v) Sunday 9 August 2026 (vi) Sunday 13 September 2026 (vii) Sunday 11 October 2026, (viii) Sunday 15 November 2026 and (ix) Sunday 13 December 2026 between 1:00pm and 4:00pm;

2. The prohibitions will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs on the dates and times specified above.

Dated 17 April 2026 Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager

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

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – BAYLIS ROAD AND KENNINGTON ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable water mains repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to: (a) temporarily prohibit buses travelling on Baylis Road in a south-westerly direction, from turning right onto Westminster Bridge Road so to travel in a north-westerly direction. (b) temporarily suspend the cycle lane on the south-western side of Kennington Road between its junctions with Cosser Street and Westminster Bridge Road.

2. The alternative routes for cyclists affected by the measure in 1(b) above, will be available via the standard carriageway of Kennington Road.

3. The Order will come into force on 18 April 2026 and will 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 2 days to complete.

Dated 17 April 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – TYERS TERRACE

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water mains replacement works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to temporarily (a) prohibit vehicles from entering, proceeding, waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle, or parking in that length of Tyers Terrace between its junctions with Vauxhall Street and St Oswald’s Place; (b) introduce a one-way traffic system in that length of Tyers Terrace between its junctions with Vauxhall Street and St Oswald’s Place, from north-east to south-west.

2. The alternative route for affected cyclists by the road closure outlined in (1)(a) above will be available via St Oswald’s Place, Kennington Lane and Vauxhall Street.

3. The Order will come into force on 20 April 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 3 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 17 April 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – ALASKA STREET

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable railway bridge inspection 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 entering or proceeding in that length of Alaska Street which lies between its junctions with Waterloo Road and Cornwall Road.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Waterloo Road, Exton Street and Cornwall Road, and vice versa.

3. The Order would come into force at 23:00 on 4 May 2026 and 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 would take one night (23:00 to 05:00) to complete.

Dated 17 April 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – VARIOUS ROADS

IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, being satisfied that it is necessary to restrict traffic on various roads because of the likelihood of danger to the public that could be caused by an increase in traffic and parked vehicles in connection with the transit and depositing of ballot boxes in relation to the Local Elections 2026, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, proceeding, parking or waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle, in the following lengths of road:

(a) Kennington Oval, between its junctions with Vauxhall Street and Clayton Street.

(b) Vauxhall Street, between its junctions with Kennington Lane and Kennington Oval. (c) Clayton Street, between its junctions with Kennington Road and Kennington Oval. (d) Bowling Green Street, between its junctions with Kennington Road and Magee Street.

2. The prohibitions outlined in paragraph 1 would not apply to vehicles delivering ballot boxes to The Kia Oval Cricket Ground or vehicles requiring access or egress to properties only accessible from those roads, as directed by a traffic marshall or a police constable in uniform.

3. The alternative route for affected vehicles for the measure outlined in paragraph 1(b) would be available via Kennington Lane, Durham Street, Harleyford Road, Kennington Oval, Harleyford Street, Kennington Park Road, Kennington Road and Clayton Street.

4. The Order would come into force at 16:00 on 7 May 2026 and continue in force until 01:00 on 8 May 2026.

Dated 17 April 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – SULLIVAN ROAD AND MONKTON STREET

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water mains replacement 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 entering, proceeding, waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle, or parking in those lengths of Sullivan Road and Monkton Street as follows:

(a) Phase one: Sullivan Road, between its junction with Brook Drive and outside the north-eastern boundary of No. 9 Sullivan Road; (b) Phase two: Sullivan Road, between outside the north-eastern boundary of No. 9 Sullivan Road and its junction with Monkton Street; and Monkton Street, between its junction with Sullivan Road and outside 5 metres south-west of the south-western boundary of No. 32 Monkton Street; (c) Phase three Monkton Street, between outside 5 metres south-west of the south-western boundary of No.32 Monkton Street and its junction with St Mary’s Gardens.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles and pedestrians would be available via: (a) Phases one and two: Walcot Square, St Mary’s Walk, St Mary’s Gardens and Monkton Street, and vice versa.

Phase three: Sullivan Road, Walcot Square, St Mary’s Walk and St Mary’s Gardens and vice versa.

3. The Order would come into force on 5 May 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 would take 7 weeks to complete.

Dated 17 April 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

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

P3G = E-USES/BETTING/PAYDAY TO MIXED

RUS = RUSH COMMON LAND

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.

2 Arodene Road London SW2 2BH Removal of the existing

26/01036/LB

30

for Listed Building Consent for internal and external alterations including demolition and replacement of the existing rear conservatory, along with internal alterations including the installation of a new kitchen at the rear of the ground floor. Relocation of the existing WC within the rear infill at ground floor level. Enlargement of the existing

26/01077/FUL received). 26/01078/LB

96 Hailsham Avenue London Lambeth SW2 3AH Infill of side window with matching brickwork, installation

window to the

7 Mawbey Street London SW8 2TT Phased

C1) and Public House (Sui

MARINE AND COASTAL ACCESS ACT 2009

APPLICATION FOR MLA/2026/00044 - Docklands Hotel - New Wall

Notice is hereby given that Mr Alexander Schober has applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, Part 4, for a marine licence to undertake remediation works to defects in their flood defence walls, including partial demolition of a jetty head and construction of a new sheet pile wall.

Copies of the application and associated information may be viewed online in the MMO Public Register at: www.gov.uk/check-marine-licence-register

Representations in respect of the application should ordinarily be made by:

- Visiting the MMO Public Register (www.gov.uk/check-marine-licence-register) and accessing the Public Representation section of case reference MLA/2026/00044.

However, we will also accept representations via the following formats:

- By email to marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk; or alternatively

- By letter addressed to Marine Management Organisation, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7AR

In all cases, correspondence must:

- Be received within 28 days of the date of the first notice 02/04/26;

- Quote the case reference; and

- Include an address to which correspondence relating to the representation or objection may be sent.

The Marine Management Organisation will pass to the applicant a copy of any objection or representation we receive.

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Promoted side go toe-to-toe with last year’s runners-up

By Mark Baldwin at The Kia Oval

JAMIE SMITH continued his prolific early-season form with an effortless 89 off 109 balls as Surrey batted out day four to secure a draw against Leicestershire at the Kia Oval.

Ollie Pope, who like Smith had made a hundred in Surrey’s first innings, also

impressed with an unbeaten 83 as a soporific batting surface ultimately had the last word in a match of 1,474 runs and only 24 wickets.

Surrey, who began their second innings 171 runs adrift at the start of the final day, finished on 263-4 with Ben Foakes alongside Pope on 28 not out.

Smith, who struck two sixes and

thirteen sweetly-timed fours, had scored 132 and 166 in his two previous innings and has now plundered 396 runs from his first four knocks of the Rothesay County Championship season at an average of 99.

Leicestershire, newly-promoted to Division One and who lost heavily to Sussex in the opening round of games, will however take a lot of confidence

from four days in which they went toe-to-toe with a team which has won three championship titles in the last four years – and were runners-up last September.

They batted with great determination on days two and three to post 691 and go well past Surrey’s first innings of 520, and they also had their moments with the ball on day four.

Surrey captain Rory Burns fell for a duck to the fifth ball of the morning, chopping on against Ian Holland as he tried to cut a delivery from around the wicket and too close to him for the shot.

And after Smith and Dom Sibley had steadied Surrey with a second wicket partnership of 105 in 28 overs, Leicestershire kept up their outside chance of forcing an upset by removing Sibley on the stroke of lunch for 32 and – later on, after Smith and Pope had overhauled the deficit in their subsequent stand of 71 – snatching two more top-order wickets in an over.

Two short rain delays, though, took 16 overs out of the day’s allocation and, in truth, Surrey always looked comfortable despite losing Sibley, Smith and Dan Lawrence to left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel inside thirteen overs as they slipped to 177-4.

Patel, capped 22 times at Test level by New Zealand, wheeled away from the Pavilion End for much of the morning and afternoon sessions and mainly attempted to exploit the bowlers’ footmarks outside the right handers’ leg stump.

Pope, in particular, was happy enough to pad away those that were not called wides when missing the footmarks and failing to turn, but Patel’s first success came when Sibley guided a catch to backward short leg off the face of his bat.

Smith then top-edged a sweep at Patel and was well caught by a tumbling Tom Scriven on the rope at deep backward square leg, while Lawrence departed for nought when he attempted to pad

Hamlet run ends as Wings boost survival chances

By Mark Doig at Park View Road

DULWICH HAMLET’S fourgame unbeaten run was ended by a Welling United side that boosted their own Isthmian League Premier Division survival chances with a 2-0 win at Park View Road.

Dean Gunner and Troy Howard scored the crucial goals in the second half.

Starting the day outside the bottom four only on goal difference, Welling had more at stake in the league than the visitors. However, Dulwich have a London Senior Cup final later this month with players competing for a starting berth.

Hamlet boss Mark Dacey selected an attacking eleven and after winning the

away another ball fired in from over the wicket and saw it merely clip his front pad on its way into the top of off stump.

There were still 17.3 overs left of the day’s shortened allocation when hands were shaken on the draw at 4.50pm, and with Pope and Foakes having put on an unbroken 86 for the fifth wicket.

“We did some things really well in this game but we were not up to our standards in some disciplines, and we certainly did not want to drop the catches we did in the first part of their innings,” Surrey head coach Gareth Batty said.

“We put the preparation work in preseason but we have not executed yet in game time and we need to look at that as a group.

“Bowling-wise, it is about the whole unit and not just individuals but I think we have to start being proactive and not reactive out there.

“It’s still very early in the season but we have to brush up some of our skills. Is that a physical thing, or a mental one?

“We have a round off now before our next match so we need to reflect on the fact we didn’t get it right in this game and be much better next time.”

Surrey are next back in Division One action against Essex at The Kia Oval on April 24.

PROLIFIC SMITH HELPS SURREY TO DRAW Fish edge closer

toss, captain Michael Chambers opted for his side to play up the slope in the first half. Going in at half-time goalless, the visitors may have thought that the hard work was done. But Welling had scored three times towards the Park End seven days earlier, and they added two more here to claim the points.

Dulwich’s Anthony Jeffrey had the first shot of the afternoon but it went harmlessly wide.

Welling’s Sam Smith fired a shot beyond the far post at the other end.

Jeffrey created a chance for Luke Wanadio but he also failed to hit the target from outside the penalty area.

The chances continued but so did the poor finishing as Welling’s John Ufuah met a Howard cross on the half-volley only to shoot wide.

Continuing the trend, Lonit Talla shot over from 20 yards after good work by Wanadio.

A goalkeeper was finally called into action with the last chance of the first half when Howard threaded Ade Azeez through and Toby Bull made a good save with his legs.

Shortly after the restart, Mackenzie Foley denied Jeffrey effort from twelve yards, and the Wings stopper also did well to hold a sweetly struck, but too straight, effort from Gaspar Mico.

As the hour-mark approached, the Wings went ahead. Smith delivered a corner and Dean Gunner’s movement allowed him to find space and head unchallenged beyond a helpless Bull. Seven minutes later, Welling scored again. Zak O’Keefe’s long throw-in was nodded out, before Lekan Majoyegbe

Riakporhe eyes Wardley and Dubois

By John Kelly

RICHARD RIAKPORHE stopped

Jeamie ‘TKV’ Tshikeva in in the

Riakporhe,

recycled it with a delightful chip back in. Howard beat Bull and after his header came back off the bar he reacted quickest to nod into the empty net.

Majoyegbe might have added a third but Chambers came to the rescue with a goal-line clearance.

Late in the game, Dulwich pushed Welling a little deeper and David Smith’s tame shot was fielded easily by Foley before Nyren Clunis twice blasted over.

That was the end of the goalmouth action, and the crucial win for Welling moved them up to seventeenth in the table, with hopes heightened of beating the drop.

Mid-table Hamlet face Burgess Hill Town at Champion Hill this Saturday (3pm).

By Sports Reporter

FISHER CAME from behind to beat Snodland Town 4-1 at St Paul’s - their third consecutive SCEFL Premier Division victory at home by that scoreline.

Sam Wood gave the visitors a 30thminute lead before Festos Kamara levelled for Ajay Ashanike’s side two minutes into first-half added-time.

Armani-Jordan Martin put the host in front from the penalty spot eight minutes after the break.

Kamara got his second 61 minutes in before Jake Lovell’s goal in the 93rd minute in front of a 293 attendance in Rotherhithe.

The win moved the Fish closer to securing a play-off spot as they sit second. They travel to play-off rivals Larkfield & New Hythe this Saturday (3pm).

dominated his 32-year-old opponent, who was deducted a point for a headbutt at the start of the fifth.

“It feels amazing,” Riakporhe (21-1) said. “I want to dedicate this fight to my dad and my brother Patrick, they are great men and I love them both.

“Since I moved up from cruiserweight I have packed on

In a sparsely populated stadium early on ahead of Tyson Fury’s victorious comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov later in the night, the Midnight Train finished Tshikeva with a right hook.

more muscle and added more power. I am now 3-0 at heavyweight and the plan is to carry on knocking guys out.

“I want a world title, I will be keeping my eye on Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois.

“If I need one before then, then I want Johnny Fisher. I will give Johnny Fisher a chance to fight for this belt.”

EAGLES POACHER STEALS IT FROM MAGPIES

Forward comes off bench to inspire late turnaround

By Paul Green at Selhurst Park

OLIVER GLASNER resisted the obvious temptation to single out scoring hero Jean-Philippe Mateta after the Crystal Palace striker came off the bench to grab a brace including a stoppage-time penalty to help the Eagles come from behind to sink Newcastle United 2-1.

The Eagles were trailing to William Osula’s 43rd-minute opener when Mateta entered the fray on 65 minutes to replace Jorgen Strand Larsen.

That was part of a triple substitution as Glasner also sent on regulars Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr, who were rested following the impressive 3-0 midweek Europa Conference League demolition of Fiorentina in the quarterfinal first leg at home.

And the boss’s call to ring the changes paid off in style when Mateta - who wanted to leave in January and saw a move to AC Milan fall through - levelled with an 80th-minute header from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross.

Mateta then converted a 94th-minute penalty after Sven Botman’s pull on Jefferson Lerma to seal three welcome points and pile more pressure on Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

It capped a memorable few days for the Frenchman, who also scored from the spot against the Italians.

But the Palace boss was keen to emphasise the comeback win over the Magpies was a team effort.

Glasner said: “When I see his first goal, of course always the goal-scorers are the ones in the spotlight.

“But it’s how brave Jaydee Canvot drives the ball through midfield. And then Tyrick Mitchell is there again.

There were so many legs and bodies and chaos in the box.

“He stays calm and really delivers the ball straight on JP’s head.

“And then he does what he’s here for - scoring a goal and being in the right position.

“To be honest, I think it was a penalty, but a little bit lucky that they made this foul.

“In the 93rd minute, JP can score penalties. I think he has proven it for many years here. He stayed calm and has the confidence.

“He scored the two goals, but as I mentioned for me it was a huge team effort.”

Despite being reluctant to make his post-match press conference all about the double goal-scorer, Glasner was happy to praise Mateta.

The Selhurst chief added: “I was delighted for him and I mentioned weeks ago that is what he deserves.

“As soon as it was clear that he had to stay at Crystal Palace, he said, ‘Okay, I will work very, very hard to come back and help the team win’, and to help us

achieve all our goals.

“This is what he has showed and he is now getting back to his top fitness.

“I thought Jorgen Strand Larsen worked very hard and the Newcastle centre-backs looked fatigued at the end because they had to really work very hard against him and against all the others.”

Crystal Palace travel to Florence on Thursday (April 16) for the second leg of their quarter-final before hosting West Ham United at Selhurst on Monday evening.

Charlton boss references R-word as Addicks plunge

By John Kelly

NATHAN JONES has urged Charlton Athletic not to get sucked into the Championship relegation fight after the gap to the bottom three closed from eight to five points following the Addicks’ 2-1 defeat to Preston North End at The Valley.

Joe Rankin-Costello fired home from eight yards from a long throw-in on eighteen minutes.

Charlton had lost four of their previous five home games and were pegged back when Brad Potts crossed from the right and Lewis Dobbin

glanced a header past Will Mannion into the far corner.

Dobbin returned the favour by slipping in Potts in on the right for a tenyard finish into the bottom-left corner.

Results elsewhere didn’t go

Charlton’s way. Portsmouth shocked promotion-chasing Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside and Oxford United beat Watford 2-0 at home.

The U’s are in the last relegation spot with Pompey a point above them.

“We didn’t get the second goal in the first half, we didn’t deal with a situation well enough, we didn’t organise from a set play, and then they scored too easy,” Jones said.

By Patrick Fanning

JOHNNIE JACKSON said AFC

Wimbledon need players back quickly after they dropped to one place outside the League One relegation zone following their 1-0 defeat to Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stdium.

Kyran Lofthouse headed past Dons goalkeeper Nathan Bishop in the 55th minute as Burton leapfrogged their rivals in the table and into seventeenth place. Jackson felt the referee denied Marcus Browne a penalty.

“They might think exactly the same, we weren’t relentless enough to take on the start. Second half they were brighter than us, ran harder than us and they got the second goal, and we had to chase the game again.

“We have had enough situations and shots to get the second goal. I’m watching games and teams don’t get the opportunities we do.”

“We have shown moments every game we can score a goal, but when we need to get that second goal we just haven’t.

“When we debrief and when we work, we show and we demonstrate what we need. There are little things

Wimbledon are three points above Exeter City having played one game fewer. Jackson’s side have only picked up one point from the las 21 available and haven’t scored in four games.

“We need some players back, it’s the obvious thing. There’s no point in me skirting around it or ignoring that fact.

It’s great to get Brownie to start the game today, but we have to manage him,” Jackson said.

“We’ve missed him massively. He was probably our biggest threat today, but he needs help up there. We’re light in other areas, which not only affects your

that aren’t coming together that good teams do.

“All of these games recently should have been put to bed, but we didn’t and that is the home games. We go away from home, don’t create anywhere near as much, but because of how we are defensively, we manage to get points. We just need to demonstrate that touch of real quality.

Charlton have won one of their last six home games. They have two left, against promotion contenders Ipswich Town and Hull City, in between Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough next weekend and Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium on the final day.

defending, but it affects the way that you build.

“We’re having to make pre-planned substitutions, because we know certain people have got to come off the pitch and it just makes it very disjointed - so the obvious answer is we need players back.

“It’s great to get [James] Tilley on the pitch today. He’s not played for a while, so that gets him closer to the starting line. I suppose Brownie gets minutes, but I’ve got to get him off because we need him for the four last ones and then the boys need some help.

“They desperately need some help.

Jones said: “The performance levels are there to a certain extent and we are creating the chances, and in League One we scored two and threes, but it’s a different level of competition the Championship - it’s a monster of a league. We know that and we have to step our levels up.

“We need a win, and we have taken the pressure off them, but we need to win, categorically, we need a win as soon as possible, we don’t want to get sucked in. From Oxford, the points haul has been really poor.

“We have to dust them down, get them focused and we go again next week.”

So we need to get the likes of [Ryan] Johnson back, the likes of [Joe] Lewis, hopefully, [Patrick] Bauer, [Omar] Bugiel, Matty [Stevens] - we’re not going to see Matty - Myles [Hippolyte], we need him back. All key players for us. So there’s no point in me ignoring that fact.

“But I still think we could have, should have, got something out of that game. Get a point. We certainly would have taken that, but we’ll have to try and win the next one.”

Wimbledon were playing Stockport County at home in midweek and host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

BLUSED AND BLOODIED

Hosts left reeling after devastating second half from Pep’s title-chasers

By John Kelly

CHELSEA HAVE had “detailed discussions” about what they need in the summer transfer window, Liam Rosenior revealed after the Blues’ 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

A fourth defeat in their last five Premier League games, and second 3-0 loss in a row, was met with boos by the home fans still inside the stadium at the final whistle.

After a goalless first half, the Blues fell apart after the break as goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku meant Pep Guardiola’s side took advantage of Arsenal’s defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth and cut the gap to the leaders to six points with a game in hand ahead of a top-two showdown at the Etihad Stadium next weekend.

There are question marks over Rosenior after six defeats in seven games and exits from the Champions

League and EFL Cup since he replaced Enzo Maresca in January.

But Rosenior insisted he was part of planning for next season.

“Even over the last week, we’ve had lots of detailed conversations about what we need to look like moving forward from the summer window,” Rosenior said.

“You talk about all different aspects of the game, physicality, technicality, positional things. They’re all things that we’re in talks in and we know what we want to improve and we know where we want to improve in the summer.”

One of the main talking points before the game was the club-imposed twogame ban for midfielder Enzo Fernandez after he said he didn’t know whether he would be at Stamford Bridge next season.

Fernandez will be back available against Manchester United at home on Saturday.

“Enzo’s a top player and, honestly, he’s a top character and I’m looking forward

to having him back next week,” Rosenior said. “Sometimes you make decisions not based on the short-term, you make decisions based on what you want to see long-term. And it was a long-term decision that myself and the directors and the club aligned and the leadership group of players that we made, to make sure that our values and our culture in the long-term is in the right place.

“But Enzo has had the conversations he’s needed to have. He’s been fantastic in the last few days in supporting myself and the team and I can’t wait to have him back in the squad.”

Chelsea are sixth, four points off Liverpool in the last Champions League place. The Blues also face Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-finals.

“Right now we are still in the race for the Champions League,” Rosenior said. “We still have the possibility to win the FA Cup. I have to change it now. I’m not a manager that hides behind maybe we need to do something with other

QPR boss: Players have right mindset

By Manuel Salazar

JULIEN STEPHAN insisted his Queens Park Rangers side aren’t going to let the season just peter out after a limp 0-0 draw against Bristol City at Loftus Road.

The Hoops and Roy Hodgson’s Robins were on the same number of points, 57, as well as the same number

of wins, draws and defeats before the game and could not be separated in a contest Stephan said was “tight” rather than poor.

With four games each left and ten points to the top six, both clubs will almost certainly soon be planning for another campaign in the Championship.

“The season is not finished, and I

think when you see the effort of the players today, they showed that it’s not finished for us in their mindset,”

Stephan said.

“The players tried everything on the pitch, but sometimes you have less efficiency. But I don’t think the players could have this kind of effort on the pitch and keep the clean sheet if they felt the season was finished.

Woody ablaze after shocker

By John Kelly

ANDY WOODMAN said he could have changed almost the whole team at halftime as Bromley missed the chance to secure automatic promotion to League One after their 2-1 defeat to Milton Keynes at Stadium MK.

Paul Warne’s hosts raced out of the blocks with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scoring in the opening minute and Ben Wiles adding the second sixteen minutes in.

Woodman made four halftime substitutions and the Ravens pulled a goal back through Marcus Ifill in the 74th minute, seven minutes after Jon Mellish had been sent off.

The visitors couldn’t find an equaliser in a frenetic end to the game, as Warne’s secondplaced side closed the gap to the leaders to four points with three games left.

players in the transfer market. I need to change it now. That’s why I’m here. So it’s something that we have to address because it’s happened too many times where we’ve been in games against top teams. First half, I felt we actually were very, very good. Same against PSG for 75 minutes, but then we concede and then the cards start to fold.”

Rosenior added: “This is a huge football club. When I first came, I never asked for a lot of time because I understand this club. I understand the traditions and the history of this club. I would like to have that time and I’m confident that in that time, you can create something very, very special within the time that it takes, which even someone as experienced as Pep or Jurgen Klopp when he won the titles he did at Liverpool, they had a year to sort things out.

“I’ve come in January. It’s not an excuse. It’s a reality. I need to win in the now and that’s what I’ll be focused on.”

“I think the two teams were very well organised and it was a tight game. But it was not a bad game, it was just a tight game between two teams very close in terms of level.

“The positive side for us is to keep a clean sheet and five games unbeaten now – a very good run.

“We tried to find a solution but, to be fair, they defended very well, and when we had a couple of situations offensively, we missed them because the last pass was not good enough.”

“I could’ve made ten changes at half-time,” Woodman said. “We had to throw caution to the wind to see if we could come up with something and we did.

“We looked a lot better second half. It’s easy to play when you’re 2-0 down, though, you have to do all that horrible stuff when you’re at 0-0 and we didn’t do that.

“It was a disaster, we gifted them a goal after 30 seconds and then we gifted them another goal. After that, they looked like a really good team. They could have been four or five up to be honest, we were all over the place. That happens, especially with a start like that. And it raised this place, it was the worst possible start we could’ve had.

“In the second half, we knew if we got a goal there would be nerves around the place, and there was. Then their keeper makes an unbelievable save which stops us getting an equaliser.

“It’s a shame but we have to go again. We’re still top of the table. There’s still three to play and it’s still in our hands. There is a lot of football to be played.”

Bromley host fourthplaced Cambridge United on Thursday (April 16). A win will seal promotion. But a defeat would see Neil Harris U’s cut the gap to three points with a game in hand.

CONTRACT SORTED

Millwall trigger one-year extension as influential midfielder De Norre ‘happy’ to stay

By Will Scott

MILLWALL HAVE triggered a oneyear extension to keep Casper De Norre at the club until the summer of 2027, this paper can exclusively reveal.

The 29-year-old Belgian’s contract had been due to expire this summer, but the club exercised an option in his deal to extend it by a year, with a decision required by March 31.

De Norre had previously expressed a desire to stay at the club long-term,

and was pleased that his stay had been extended.

“I’ve always said that I want to stay here,” De Norre told this paper. “I’m happy that the option got triggered to at least stay for another year.

“Whatever stage you are in your career, it’s always good to have certainty. So no matter when it comes, it’s important to have it. So, I’m happy that I know it now.”

Tying down a key member of the squad is a boost for Millwall as they head into the final four games of the season, with their first Championship play-off appearance in over 20 years looking increasingly likely.

The influential midfielder has made 26

appearances this season, scoring once and assisting four, and recorded the most minutes in the squad last season (3,606), appearing in all 46 of the Lions’ league games.

“Casper’s been a key part of our team since I’ve been here,” Neil told this paper. “He understands his role as well as anybody in the team in terms of getting the ball back and getting on and triggering the press and being that guy that we rely on physically to work between both boxes.

“Casper’s been excellent since I’ve been here, and delighted that he’s going to be with us next year.”

Neil also discussed De Norre’s role within the dressing room.

“All the lads are important to the culture,” Neil said. “It’s hard to pinpoint one player who carries the culture, if that makes sense. It’s a collective thing.

“With Casper, he’s more of a quiet leader. He’s more of a doer rather than a sayer, if that makes sense. But he certainly leads by example with his professionalism, by the way he goes about his work. His sort of tenaciousness and his desire to win.”

De Norre signed for Millwall from Belgian side OH Leuven in the summer of 2023. He previously had stints at SintTruiden, ASV Geel and Genk.

All focus on Owls

By John Kelly

CHARLTON ATHLETIC’S Jayden

Fevrier has urged his teammates to forget about a missed opportunity against Preston North End and focus on getting a win at Sheffield Wednesday that would ease relegation concerns.

The Addicks went ahead before conceding twice against a Lilywhites side with little left to play for this season.

Portsmouth and Oxford United both won last weekend meaning Charlton’s buffer to the bottom three was cut from eight to five points.

Pompey won again on Tuesday night, 2-0 against top-two challengers Ipswich Town, to move from from 21st to nineteenth, a point and place behind Nathan Jones’s side.

“It was disappointing, there was opportunity to create some breathing space between us and the other teams around us and it was an opportunity we missed,” Fevrier said.

“Football is a game of momentum, and goals change games. For large parts of it, they had the momentum.

“We needed more quality, calmness, and composure. Goals are difficult to score, it is the hardest part of football, so it was a culmination of things, really.

“It all looks good in training, but ultimately Monday to Friday means nothing, we need to put it into play on the Saturday.”

The versatile Fevrier, 22, joined on loan from League One Stockport County in January. His start against Preston was his first.

“I am grateful to the gaffer to have made my start and that he trusted me, I thought I did well but ultimately it didn’t matter as we didn’t get the result,” Fevrier said.

“On the long throw and the set-piece, we just weren’t set, and on the second goal we got countered on and we are getting countered on too many times. It is something we need to look at.”

The Owls are long relegated and have won just once all season, but showed in their recent 0-0 draw at championselect Coventry City that they can be a stubborn side.

Fevrier said: “Sheffield Wednesday isn’t going to be easy, we know it’s going to be tough, so we need to go there and get three points.

“It is about putting this behind us and taking the lessons - all focus is on Hillsborough.”