South London Weekly - April 3rd 2026

REGENERATION OR DEGENERATION?

Contact

We are a London Living Wage employer

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

By Cameron Blackshaw Local Democracy Reporter

A CONTENTIOUS Low Traffic Neighbourhhood scheme in Greenwich came into effect permanently last week.

The West and East Greenwich Neighbourhood Management Scheme went live on Thursday, March 26, with minor modifications made by Greenwich Council following resident feedback.

The scheme aims to reduce traffic and improve air quality in two residential areas in Greenwich by preventing motorists from travelling through the neighbourhoods at peak commuting times via the implementation of an LTN in each area.

Camera enforced modal filters issue drivers with Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) if they are picked up between 7am to 10am and from 3pm to 7pm on weekdays.

Greenwich Council has made minor modifications to the scheme following resident feedback, such as providing Blue Badge holders with up to two vehicle permits.

The council has also renewed eligible N1 permits that allow vehicles to drive through the LTNs at restricted times. Residential permits have been renewed for an additional 18 months, and business permits another 12.

The timed restriction at the junction of Royal Hill and Greenwich South Street has been removed, and an eastbound one-way restriction between Greenwich South Street and Brand Street has been implemented.

A number of modal filters—the cameras which pick up vehicles travelling through LTN areas and issue PCN changes when necessary—have been relocated in the West Greenwich area:

• Royal Hill at its junction with Royal Place, relocated to Royal Place at its junction with Royal Hill

• Circus Street at its junction with Royal Hill, relocated to Hyde Vale at its junction with Royal Hill

• Royal Hill junction at its junction with Prior Street, relocated to Point Hill at its junction with Royal Hill

• Winforton Street at its

GREENWICH LTN

junction with Point Hill, relocated to Winforton Street at its junction with Blissett Street

Because of these modal filter changes, the council has announced a minimum four-week “grace period” in West Greenwich, during which warning letters will be issued instead of fines. PCNs will continue as normal in East Greenwich.

Greenwich Council has also committed to installing additional signs near the LTN areas to further aid understanding, and letters have been sent to residents and businesses in the West Greenwich area to outline the changes.

Cllr Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, the council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, said: “We’re making the scheme permanent because it has delivered meaningful results, reducing rat running and overall traffic levels, improving air

quality and making substantial improvements in road safety.

“The purpose of this project is not to raise money, but to make our residential streets safer, quieter and our air cleaner. That’s why, to help drivers understand these tweaks, we will initially issue letters of information rather than PCNs in the West area.”

It was revealed at last week’s full council meeting that over 100,000 PCNs had been issued as part of the scheme so far. Of these, 32,109 PCNs were issued to vehicles registered in Greenwich, while 75,945 PCNs were issued to vehicles registered outside of the borough.

The scheme has seen its fair share of controversy since Greenwich Council launched the trial in 2024, with residents throughout the borough both for and against the implementation of LTNs.

Those in favour were generally those living within the LTN areas

who felt roads had become safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Those opposed tended to be residents who lived outside the scheme areas, particularly in Charlton, who believed the traffic restrictions had just pushed the traffic onto their roads instead.

Greenwich Council moved to make the scheme permanent after it found it had improved road safety, increased walking and cycling, decreased traffic throughout the entire area by 6 per cent and slightly improved air quality in the LTN zones.

The council has committed to take forward mitigation measures for areas that have “not experienced those same benefits”.

Cllr O’Byrne Mulligan added: “With the scheme becoming permanent we are also now able to progress mitigations for boundary areas who haven’t seen all of the same benefits that we’ve experienced within the area of the scheme.

“Detailed feasibility studies are under way for measures to improve crossings and address through traffic in Charlton, as well as in parts of East and West Greenwich. When, in the near future, that is complete we plan to formally consult on plans with local residents.”

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

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

We believe in community and in balanced, independent and responsible journalism. As a south London business, we also work to support fellow local businesses. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that community-led, independent newspapers can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.

BIGGEST PARTY IN CRICKET RETURNS TO THE OVAL

By Evie Flynn

THE BIGGEST party in cricket is set to return to the Kia Oval in Kennington this summer, bringing a sun-soaked line-up of women and men’s double-headers to South London.

The Kia Oval, home to both the Surrey County Cricket Club’s men’s and women’s teams, has earned its reputation as “The Home of T20 Cricket,” welcoming more than 100,000 fans across June and July each year.

Twenty20 (T20) cricket is one of the sport’s most popular and accessible formats, offering a fast-paced spectacle with just 20 overs per side – compared to the longer 50-over format of traditional one-day matches.

At the heart of the action is the Vitality Blast tournament, a county tournament played over nine weeks each summer, featuring some of cricket’s top talent. Match days at the Oval combine topclass cricket with a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, including food stalls, mascots, and interval entertainment.

Tickets remain affordable, with standalone women’s matches priced at £10 for adults and just £1 for under-16s. Double-header tickets, which cover both matches, start from £30 for adults, with under-16s also just £1.

Last year marked a historic moment for Surrey, who are also known at the Three Feathers, as the club launched its first fully professional women’s team. They

made an immediate impact, securing a five-wicket victory over Birmingham Bears. Southwark-born Kira Chathli, who grew up watching her heroes at the Oval, sealed the win, striking the winning runs with 20 balls to spare.

The grand finale in July 2025 brought in a record attendance for a women’s county T20, but this year the women’s competition is set to expand even further. Mirroring the men’s format, the finals day will now feature three knockout matches, replacing the previous structure of only an eliminator and a final.

The T20 season this year gets

Southbank Centre appeals for Festival of Britain memories in 75th year

underway on 22 May with a ‘blast off’ double header, where both the men and women’s teams will be up against Lancashire Thunder & Lightning.

Following a series of away games taking the women as far as Yorkshire, and the men just across the river to Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Three Feathers women’s team will return home to the Oval in their only standalone fixture on Wednesday 27 May, where they will go up against Durham.

A mega week of entertainment is set for the second double header of the summer on 31 May as the women take on Somerset and the men will play their

London rivals, Kent Spitfires.

Towards the end of June, the ICC Women’s World Cup will be hosting three games at the Kia Oval and both T20 Surrey sides will be spending some time on the road.

In July, two more double headers are lined up with the women going against Warwickshire Bears in the afternoon, followed by the men taking on Sussex Sharks in the evening.

The twelfth and final group game on Sunday 12 July for the Three Feathers will see the women’s team welcome Hampshire Hawks before the men battle with Essex Eagles.

By Evie Flynn

THE SOUTHBANK Centre has launched a nationwide appeal for memories of the Festival of Britain, which took place on London’s South Bank and at events across the country in 1951.

The Festival of Britain was a four-month national exhibition and fair intended to be a “tonic for the nation” following years of war and hardship.

Six years on from the Second World War, Britain was still experiencing austerity and rationing. The Labour government led by Clement Attlee was beginning to lose support, and the Festival was designed to showcase Britain’s achievements in the arts and science.

Now, the Southbank Centre is inviting anyone who attended the Festival, either at the South Bank site or at one of the many regional celebrations, to share their memories as part of a 75th anniversary project.

Eight million people visited London during May to September 1951 as the country embraced modern art and

architecture.

The Royal Festival Hall is the last surviving structure from the original festival site and was the reason why the Southbank Centre itself was built.

Completed on 3 May 1951, the hall was finished just in time for the Festival’s opening, with further additions made during the 1960s as the site developed into a major cultural hub.

In 1987, it became the first post-war building to be granted Grade I listed status, recognising its architectural and historical importance.

To mark the Festival’s 70th anniversary in 2021, the building’s listing was revised to Grade II. More recently, the rest of the Southbank Centre complex has also been recognised, with the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall all granted Grade II listed status.

Among those contributing recollections of the festival is Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who recalls that “my parents and I went to the South Bank because there was dancing after dark, which was one of the most exciting things ever.”

PoeT Roger McGough has said, “I remember when I was 14 being brought to London by my parents and being overawed by the Festival of Britain celebrations. “Until then I thought only Liverpudlians knew how to enjoy themselves.”

To submit a memory, head to the Southbank Centre website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ festivalofbritain.

By Issy Clarke

UP TO 4,000 new homes in Canada Water, of which as few as 9 per cent could be affordable, have been approved.

The 9 per cent comes after the Mayor of London gave a £51.3 million grant to developers who said they could only afford to build 3 per cent affordable homes in the massive scheme.

Rotherhithe Labour councillor Stephanie Cryan described the decision as “disappointing” and warned it “sets a precedent, not just for Southwark but London-wide”.

The plans were approved by the Deputy Mayor of London Jules Pipe at a planning hearing in City Hall on Friday 27 March, which saw objections from all three Rotherhithe ward councillors and local campaigners.

The £4 billion regeneration of the 53-acre site by British Land includes up to 4,000 homes, a new town centre with 40 new buildings, and three clusters of high-rise towers.

British Land first received planning permission for the scheme back in 2020, promising 35 per cent affordable housing.

Last year it submitted something called a Section 73 application to Southwark Council asking to amend parts of the scheme to comply with new building safety laws meaning they had to increase the heights of some buildings, amounting to 70 extra storeys across the entire Masterplan.

In November the developer wrote to the Mayor asking him to ‘call-in’ the scheme before it had gone to the council’s planning committee, claiming made that as little as 3 per cent of the entire Masterplan could now be affordable as the maximum amount they could viably build.

However, a £51.3 million grant from the Mayor means the proportion has increased slightly to 9 per cent.

17 per cent - 150 - of the next 1,000 homes will be socially rented, lifting the overall proportion of affordable housing across the whole scheme to 9 per cent however they said this could improve subject to future viability.

Construction work on the next phase will start in 2027.

It was claimed during the planning hearing that the 3 per cent figure included a completed 79-home building on the Masterplan called Roberts Close - meaning that over the rest of the scheme, no additional affordable housing would have been built had it not been for the grant.

Michael Meadows, Head of Planning at Public Affairs at British Land, said the Mayor’s grant would cover £250,000 of the cost of fitting out each socially rented home, adding that the total cost would be £500,000 “at a conservative estimate” with the developer to pay for the remaining half. Meadows said that global factors like the Ukraine war and inflation had led the construction of the Masterplan to stall, along with regulatory changes and building safety laws introduced after the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

“Granting planning permission today will enable the currently stalled Masterplan to progress, securing investment and ensuring much-needed housing is accelerated,” he added.

Jerry Flynn, a campaigner from the 35% Campaign who objected during the planning hearing, criticised that just 9 per cent of homes would be affordable compared to the 35 per cent originally agreed to.

He added: “(The affordable housing) has only been raised to 9 per cent by virtue of public funding - in other words, we are paying for the increase.”

More than 23,000 families in Southwark are on the waiting list for a new home, with 93 per cent of households eligible for

CANADA WATER MASTERPLAN GETS NOD WITH ONLY 9% AFFORDABLE HOUSING - DESPITE £50M GRANT

affordable housing, he continued.

Average social rents in London are £550 per month while affordable rent is £890 per month, according to the Trust for London.

Meanwhile the average market home on the Masterplan would cost £915,000 according to the 35% Campaign.

Rotherhithe councillor Bethan Roberts said the scheme fell “woefully short” of the Mayor’s affordable housing regulations.

Last year the Mayor, with the support of the government’s Housing Secretary Steve Reed, said they would be slashing the amount of affordable housing developers are required to build from 35 to 20 per cent in order to combat a slump in housebuilding across the capital.

Cllr Roberts said: “This application just goes to erode trust in the scheme even further. We’ve lost the cinema, we’ve lost affordable workspace, we’re about to lose affordable provision, we’ve lost the police station.

“This litany of broken promises is something our residents can’t and won’t stand for.”

She explained that the three councillors were “supportive of the development, but it has to benefit the community that is already there.”

Defending the scheme, Meadows said British Land had “completed and opened the council’s new leisure centre” and “invested over £10 million in revitalising

Canada Dock”, including the new boardwalk.

He added that there are also plans for a new cultural venue where Printworks nightclub used to be until it closed in 2023, and that a planning application could go in later this year.

The first phase has also included the construction of 186 market homes and more workspace.

Cllr Roberts later hit back: “The presentation from the developer was: we’ve built you a bridge and we’ve built you a leisure centre - which the council paid for. It subsequently broke and was closed for four months.

“The public good that they keep referring to is just not visible on the ground.”

Southwark purchased the Canada Water Leisure Centre, which opened last year, from British Land for £35 million. That takes the amount paid by the GLA and the council to the developer up to £86.3 million in total.

Stephanie Cryan said the councillors “accept that viability has dropped” but that the 9 per cent promise didn’t take into account how the economy might improve over the next 15 years, the amount of time the entire Masterplan is expected to take to build.

Cryan also warned there was “still no guarantee that even with this really low level of affordable housing that will be delivered, because it’s reliant on a

Registered Provider actually saying, we will take that on.

“We are seeing more and more Registered Providers not taking up schemes. I think there is a real risk that the Mayor puts in a grant, which then becomes community funds as well.”

Cllr Roberts suggested the grant money should be given straight to the council instead of the developer: “We have the land ready to go. We don’t have any money to build social homes and we are willing to take the risk.”

Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Rotherhithe, welcomed the approval, stating: “Phase 2 is now through with 154 social homes coming, which is great news for the families waiting for homes.

“I hope the next stages bring higher levels but 20% is better than some predicted and comes alongside the Surrey Quays station extension, the new police substation and the new sports centre which already has over 6,000 local users.”

Local Lib Dem campaigner in Rotherhithe, JK Doran, said: “Labour have let down local residents, allowing just 9% affordable homes at the Canada Water Masterplan. I directly challenged Labour on this at Council Assembly, because residents deserve answers.

“We were promised a development that would work for local people. Instead, Labour have waved through this scheme and failed to stand up for the needs of local

residents.”

Gareth Roberts, Head of Canada Water at British Land, said: “Approval of our revised Masterplan is vital to accelerating momentum, creating a global destination as part of an amazing new neighbourhood that is uniquely Canada Water.

“The viability challenges we have faced are being felt across London, but with the first phase of development having recently completed, this decision will enable us to bring forward future homes, employment opportunities and investment in local infrastructure.”

Cllr Helen Dennis, Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development said: “Affordable housing is a priority for Southwark and is a key part of any new development in the borough. The ambition at Canada Water is equivalent to that of a ‘New Town’, to create diverse retail, new jobs, excellent facilities for local residents like the new leisure centre, and 3,000 new homes contributing to the housing that Southwark needs.

“The affordable housing proposed in the next phase of Canada Water is a huge disappointment given the affordable housing numbers that this scheme was designed to deliver.

“We intend to maximise the review mechanisms available to us to increase the social rented homes delivered, should viability improve, so that we can deliver the homes that our community deserve.”

EXCLUSIVE

By Rich Brann

EIGHT MODULAR homes installed on a Bermondsey council estate to provide temporary accommodation for rough sleepers have remained empty two months after opening.

The delay, according to Southwark Council, is down to Thames Water not connecting them to the water supply, with the company who built the homes saying trying to get a date from them “has been like pulling teeth.”

Hill Group handed over the eight Solohaus homes to Southwark Council in a grand ceremony in mid-January, with a press release at the time declaring that the innovative modular homes could be built and installed in as little as eight weeks.

However, when this paper revisited the site two months later, it appeared that instead of being used by the homeless it had been returned to a construction site.

Our enquiries to the council and the Hill Group saw both blame Thames Water for failing to inspect the site on Leroy Street, off Tower Bridge Road, and begin supplying water since the site’s opening.

A spokesman for the Hill Group said: “It’s really not what we expected at all… and it’s not the first time we’ve had this problem with Thames Water, it’s a problem that’s become notable over the last 18 months. Trying to get a date (for installation) has been like pulling teeth.”

Cllr Helen Dennis, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said: “The Solohaus housing project on Leroy Street is a brilliant scheme which we’re very excited to see completed.

“There have been some delays in completion due to difficulties that Thames Water experienced in establishing a water connection... although Hill and Southwark have tried to accelerate the process as much as possible, it has not been within our control.”

HOMES BUILT FOR ROUGH SLEEPERS REMAIN EMPTY

The homes have been held back by problems with their water supply says Southwark Council

Hill Group clarified that while it had been deeply regrettable to have had to wait an extra two months for Thames Water to complete the project’s water supply, the company had proven more communicative over time and they hoped to see people move in very soon.

The Solohaus modular homes are

designed and constructed off-site, with quick installation being key to their success in tackling the housing crisis. The whole process is said to take as little as eight weeks, and at the opening Southwark Council said that if the scheme was a success it might lead to more being installed across the borough.

Once opened, the current scheme will support Southwark’s efforts to house its homeless population, on top of rough sleepers 20,000 people currently on their waiting list for a council home and 4,000 households in temporary accommodation.

Hill Group and Southwark Council have both clarified that a meeting last week with Thames Water has helped establish that water supply to the homes will begin soon, though neither could yet confirm when the new opening date would be.

Thames Water declined to comment.

THE NEW SUPERLOOP BUS ROUTE TO LINK DULWICH TO CLAPHAM JUNCTION AND ELTHAM WILL OPEN IN 2027

By Rich Brann

TRANSPORT FOR London has confirmed that a new Superloop bus route will open in 2027providing a new service across a number of south London boroughs.

A public consultation for the SL15 route concluded that residents would “widely welcome” the new service, set to run from Clapham Junction towards Clapham South, Tulse Hill, Forest Hill, Catford, Lewisham and Eltham.

The return route from Eltham, meanwhile, will include a stop in West Dulwich, allowing for quick links between busy Clapham Junction and Dulwich.

It comes as TfL continues to expand its Superloop buses since 2023, with two new routes opening in 2025 and other two more routes opening in 2026, linking boroughs of London together that otherwise were

underserved by traditional bus and rail services.

The Bakerloop service that covers the proposed Bakerloo Line extension, meanwhile, has generated

double the revenue that TfL had previous expected since its launch in 2025.

More than 90 per cent of respondents to a TfL survey

described the service as being more convenient for their use and more than 80 per cent said it would cut down journey times, resulting in approval of the route.

Clapham Park Labour Group, meanwhile, were ecstatic that an extra stop at Christchurch Road on the route that they had petitioned for would be implemented, allowing for better connections within Lambeth.

In a post on social media, they said: “Every signature, comment and social media share helped us make the case for better east-west transport links in our borough – connecting places like Brixton Hill, Streatham Hill and beyond to stations, jobs, schools and local services.”

The SL15 is set to run every 12 minutes from Monday to Saturday during the day, and every 15 minutes otherwise, including on Sundays.

TfL cited that the route would allow for interchange with 77 other bus services as well as Northern Line, National Rail and Overground rail links.

Buses will only be single-deck, owing to a low bridge along the route.

JOHN BOYEGA WILL APPEAR IN BBC DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FINAL HOURS OF DAMILOLA TAYLOR’S LIFE

By Issy Clarke

CAMBERWELL-BORN

ACTOR

John Boyega will feature in an upcoming BBC documentary about the final hours of his childhood friend Damilola Taylor’s life.

Damilola was stabbed in the leg and left to die in an apartment block stairwell on the North Peckham estate in 2000.

Damilola, who had recently moved to London from Nigeria, was on his way home from Peckham Library at the time.

The documentary, entitled Damilola Taylor: The Last 24 Hours, will examine the final hours of Damilola’s life leading up to his death, according to the BBC.

It will explore the impact of the tenyear-old’s killing on those who knew him. Boyega and his sister Grace were among the last people to see Damilola alive.

Boyega will give previously unheard testimony along with family members and other close friends about the hours leading up to Damilola’s death and the impact it had on their lives.

The BBC said that Damilola’s story “has never been told through the experience of the young people who

were living it at the time.”

The film aims to show “what it meant to grow up in an environment shaped by fear, bullying and the need to protect yourself - and how those

pressures influenced the choices people made.” Boyega, who grew up on the Sceaux Gardens Estate, was eight when Damilola was killed.

The Star Wars actor previously described how a poem read at Damilola’s funeral spurred him on to become a movie star.

In an interview with John Wilson on

BBC Radio 4’s Last Word two years ago as part of a look at the life of Damilola’s father Richard Taylor, who died in 2024, Boyega said:

“From the hours we left him in Peckham to the hours when I went home, and then the police were at our door and there was a whole investigation that we were involved in, was definitely life-changing for me, definitely altered my perspective,” he said at the time.

“Even though I was young, it was a shock to understand how mortality worked. To think that somebody as young as me could pass away in such a horrific way was hard for me to understand or comprehend.

“And I definitely think [his death] has shaped me through the years and just affected my perspective on certain things.”

He spoke about a poem that Damilola had written and which his father read at his funeral, about, “how far he wanted his dreams to spread”. It “gave birth to this mentality that I had”, Boyega said. “What is truly my dream? Do I have the guts to identify what my dream is? Am I too young to identify my dream and work towards it?

“And after reading that poem, I was just like, yeah, I have no excuse. I want to be a movie star.”

By Kumail Jaffer and Cameron Blackshaw

Local Democracy Reporters

ESTATE REGENERATION schemes across London are leading to worsening living conditions, mass displacement and a loss of social homes, the Mayor of London has been warned.

Green Party Assembly Member Zoe Garbett has claimed in a new report that Londoners are still suffering from “the same failed model of estate regeneration” despite recent City Hall reforms aimed at boosting resident involvement.

From 2018, any landlord seeking to demolish social homes has needed to carry out a ballot of residents, while Mayoral guidance also suggests that there must be a net increase in affordable housing, as well as full rights to return or remain for social tenants.

However, Ms Garbett said that the system “continues to sideline residents and prioritise high-end market housing over meeting local needs”, leading to “degeneration”.

An estimated 139 estates are currently slated for demolition and redevelopment, or are currently undergoing regeneration, in London, with 160 such estates – comprising 55,000 households – have been ‘regenerated’ since 1997.

In her report, entitled “Left to Rot”, the Hackney Mayoral hopeful warned that the current system is failing social tenants, with research from the London Assembly Housing Committee in 2015 showing that 50 estates regenerated between 2004 and 2014 resulted in the net loss of around 8,300 social rent homes, despite the density of the sites doubling.

Classifications of affordable housing include shared ownership and intermediate rent schemes which don’t alleviate housing waiting lists in the same way as social housing.

She warned that communities also suffer from a “democratic deficit”, with residents not having the time, resources or accessible information to engage in the flawed process.

Questioned about the report last week in City Hall, Sir Sadiq Khan said: “We’re the only place in the country that requires that before a regeneration can take place, if people want funding from us, for there to be a ballot of people to make sure there’s an affirmative ballot before the regeneration can take place.

“What we also require in terms of planning if you’re going to demolish any affordable homes – which should be a last resort – they must be replaced with the same amount of affordable homes, if not more so. Planning and funding is something we do uniquely in London; other parts of the country don’t.

“The first thing I’ll do is read her report because it’s really important that we take on board concerns on a cross-party basis.

“The Better Homes for Local People guidance is quite clear in relation to demolition as a last resort and the rights of residents to refuse but I’m more than happy to receive her evidence about what’s happening in practice.”

Ms Garbett told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that she “welcomed his recognition of the issue”, but added: “I’m concerned that the policies he has implemented still aren’t protecting residents from some truly awful experiences.

ESTATE REGENERATION LEADS TO ‘DEGENERATION’, MAYOR WARNED

“The report talks of people feeling they are left to rot, being left in limbo and degeneration. People also speak of the ‘joke of democracy’ as the processes aren’t fair or transparent. These are schemes funded by the Mayor of London, I really hope he reads the report, speaks to residents and takes urgent action.”

Recommendations in the report include reforming resident ballots to better hold landlords to account, creating a ‘Community Plan Fund’ to drive resident-led regeneration, and adding conditions for any Greater London Authority (GLA) funding to ensure investment partners do not displace residents.

TROUBLE IN THAMESMEAD

One estate currently facing regeneration is the Lesnes Estate in Thamesmead, famous for featuring in the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange. Bexley Council rubber stamped plans in December that will allow housing association Peabody to demolish the 1960s estate and build up to 1,950 new homes.

Many have left the estate ahead of its destruction, but several residents who have called Lesnes their home for decades are refusing to leave. They feel threatened by Peabody despite the housing association offering them financial support to move elsewhere.

Andrea Gilbert is a housing activist and Lesnes resident who has been battling through her estate’s regeneration process. She was critical of how Peabody had been communicating with those still on the estate, explaining that many of them felt unsure of their futures and how long they would have until they were forced to move.

Andrea, who attended Ms Garbett’s estate demolition and gentrification event in City Hall last month, told the LDRS: “Residents are still being forced to fight to stay in their homes until the very last moment. Even for

those pushed into negotiations with Peabody, it takes weeks, sometimes months just to secure local viewings for suitable three or four-bedroom homes under like-for-like terms, followed by further delays before they can even move in.”

One Lesnes resident has launched a legal challenge to overturn the 1,950 homes plan. Adam Turk lodged a claim for a judicial review of Bexley Council’s approval decision earlier this year, citing unlawful environmental information provided in Peabody’s planning documents.

Mr Turk said he and the other remaining Lesnes residents were “very hopeful and excited” about the proposition of the decision being overturned. He added: “It doesn’t matter if we’re homeowners, leaseholders or social tenants. We’re all residents and we all just want to stay here.”

Peabody has offered the remaining Lesnes residents financial support to buy another home nearby or elsewhere before the estate is demolished. It is offering residents the market value of their home plus 10 per cent as compensation. The housing association is also willing to bridge potential price gaps between current and new homes by contributing up to half of the equity.

The housing association thinks the redevelopment of Lesnes will benefit the entire Thamesmead community as the 596 homes demolished will make

way for 1,950 new ones, a near 230 per cent increase in available housing.

It also believes that many in Thamesmead back their plans to regenerate the area. A ballot carried out in 2020 by Peabody stated that 70.2 per cent of residents on the Lesnes Estate wanted it to be included in the housing association’s wider plans for South Thamesmead, with 65.4 per cent of residents taking part in the ballot.

A Peabody spokesperson previously told the LDRS: “We’re investing in communities in and around South Thamesmead, supporting people, improving public areas and providing much-needed new homes.

“The planned redevelopment of the Lesnes Estate will help us expand this work and create an even better place

to legal

support

and

By Issy Clarke

FOR THE last 300 years Guy’s Hospital has stood at the centre of the community in South London.

Each year the doctors and nurses at the hospital welcome thousands of babies into the world and care for many more patients.

The hospital’s amazing work today is all thanks to the work of local bookseller and philanthropist Thomas Guy, who gave his name to the hospital in 1725. Born just down the road on Fair Street in 1644, Thomas Guy ran a bookshop and publishing house in the City of London.

Controversially, the man who would go on to found the hospital we know today as Guy’s made his riches profiting off the British Empire.

Thomas Guy bought up government debt issued to sailors which he swapped for shares in the South Sea Company, a British joint-stock company involved in transporting tens of thousands of enslaved Africans to colonies in the Americas between 1710 and 1720.

Tody we rightly condemn those who profited off the slave trade throughout history and now a panel next to his statue outside the hospital addresses the source of Guy’s wealth.

Guy was a governor at St Thomas’s Hospital from 1704. At the time it was one of just two hospitals in London, along with St Bartholomew’s in the City of London, which had survived Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. The 18th century was a different era of medical care; since treatment had to be paid for, most people stayed at home and were cared for by hired nurses or family members.

Nursing wasn’t the specialist profession that it is today; in fact Florence Nightingale, regarded as the

IT’S BEEN 300 YEARS SINCE GUY’S HOSPITAL BEGAN CARING FOR SOUTH LONDON

founder of modern nursing, rather disdainfully claimed at the time that it was left to ‘those who were too old, too weak, too drunken, too dirty, too stupid or too bad to do anything else’.

In the 1720s St Thomas’s Hospital wouldn’t treat patients with long-term or incurable conditions, or those who were mentally ill.

After a concerned physician pointed this out to Guy, the philanthropist got to work establishing a new hospital which would cater to those patients who weren’t admitted by St Thomas’s.

Guy successfully arranged to lease land next to St. Thomas’s - which back then stood where Guy’s Hospital is today - on the south side of St Thomas’s Street for a new ward.

It opened its doors in 1725 with a stated mission to care for “the indigent and the wretched who should be discharged from other hospitals as incurable”.

Sadly Guy himself never lived to see the moment for himself - he died just a week earlier at the age of 80. In his will he asked for the hospital’s scope to be widened so it could care for “four hundred poor persons, or upwards, labouring under any distemper, infirmity or disorders thought capable of relief by physic or surgery.”

Today Guy’s has 400 beds and several buildings - but to start with just sixty patients were admitted. Those early patients were expected to abide by a strict disciplinary regime and had to help clean the wards and fetch coals.

Those who disobeyed faced a range of punishments. To be caught swearing would mean no meals the following day. Blocking the toilets was by contrast a far more serious offence and resulted in immediate discharge from the hospital. It wasn’t just the disciplinary regime which we can scarcely recognise today; in the 1700s the wards were often filthy and crawling with vermin, while the hospital beds with their wooden canopies were magnets for bedbugs. Matters got so dire that in 1735 the hospital paid £20 - the equivalent of £2,200 in today’s money - to get rid of the pests.

Over the 18th century the hospital leased more and more land from St Thomas’s as it sought to expand into

new wings.

The process continued into the nineteenth century with the 1806 purchase of the Maze Pond Estate to the south of the hospital.

Throughout the 18th century and early 19th Guy’s and St Thomas’s happy coexisted as two separate neighbouring hospitals; but in 1847 they were forced apart by plans to extend the railway from London Bridge to Cannon Street and Charing Cross, the path running directly across St Thomas’s.

St Thomas’s had to be moved down to Walworth, where it was temporarily based out of buildings which once formed part of the Royal Surrey Zoological Gardens, before moving to its new home in Lambeth on the banks of the Thames in 1871 - where it still stands today.

The physical division unleashed a period of competitive rivalry between the two hospitals, particularly on the rugby pitch.

The Second World War was a dark chapter for Guy’s, as the hospital was badly bombed, unleashing a wave of building activity in the second half of the 20th century.

Between 1959 and 1963 an elevenstorey surgical block was built. Soon after in 1976 the iconic 34-storey Guy’s Tower was built opposite London Bridge Station, at one point the tallest hospital building in the world until it was surpassed by the O’Quinn Medical Tower in Houston in 1990 (both were dwarfed by the Hong Kong Sanitorium and Hospital in 2008.)

Guy’s might have changed unrecognisably over the years - but what hasn’t changed is the hospital’s reputation for pioneering research. The hospital is famed for its research into kidney disease - a reputation which stretches back more than 200 years to the time of Richard Bright,

pioneer in the field who is regarded as the founder of modern kidney treatment.

The first successful kidney transplant took place at Guy’s around 150 years later in 1967 - today the Department of Renal and Transplant at the hospital is one of the largest in the UK and cares for patients across south-east London, Kent and even the Channel Islands.

Likewise the hospital leads the way in the UK when it comes to cancer care, consolidated in 2016 with the opening of the new Guy’s Cancer Centre, home to the latest facilities, top specialists and pioneering treatments.

Guy’s and St Thomas’s returned to their tradition of working collaboratively together after the Second World War. In 1982 the Guy’s Medical School merged with St Thomas’ Medical School, forming the Medical and Dental Schools of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals.

In 1991 the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust was formed, with the two hospitals working together to plan the health services all over south east London.

Sir Simon Hughes, the Liberal MP for Bermondsey, which includes Guy’s, between 1983 and 2015 said representing the hospital in Parliament for 32 years was a “privilege”. “I have since 2016 been a Trustee of the Friends of Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital - and more recently been elected an Honorary Fellow of King’s College London, which includes the GKT Medical and Dental Schools, for my work for Guy’s Hospital.”

He paid tribute to the “most skilled and often lovely consultants, doctors, nurses, chaplains, and people in a hundred other professions and jobs – the care, the love, the expertise – and above all the loyalty.”

Sir Simon also recalled the ‘Save Guy’s Campaign’ in 1994, when more

than a million people signed a petition opposing the government’s proposals to shut the emergency ward at Guy’s Hospital. The ward eventually closed in 1998.

He said Guy’s was a place he “visited frequently, including on Christmas Day in 31 of my 32 years as MP, to welcome into the world tiny new babies in incubators and bigger babies in cots, to be with families alongside their loved ones in their health crises, struggles, convalescence and end of life hours, and to see the dedication of all the staff.”

Take a historic stroll through Guy’s Street park in Bermondsey

- see our history feature on page 20

1726 -2026 birthday celebrations

GUY’S HOSPITAL is celebrating its 300th birthday by puting on a week of free and paid activities in May.

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

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

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

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

On Thursday, there will be a special service at Southwark Cathedral from 2-3 PM led by the Bishop of Southwark (£20), followed by an Afternoon Tea and

Reception at Guy’s Marquee and Gardens from 3:30-5:15 PM (£25).

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

The best part is the panel event - which will take place at Guy’s Hospital New Hunts House Lecture Theatre - is completely free to attend although you will need to book. Wrapping up the hospital’s birthday week will be a lavish Gala dinner followed by dancing on Friday night starting at 6:45 PM at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge - but a ticket will set you back £175 a head.

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

More details at www.kcl.ac.uk/events/guys-hospital300th-anniversary-celebrations

OUTCRY AFTER 484 BUS FROM CAMBERWELL TO LEWISHAM CUT TO EVERY 15 MINUTES

By Issy Clarke

A CUT in the frequency of a bus route between Denmark Hill and Lewisham which serves two hospitals has been described as “a slap in the face”.

The 484 bus, which goes through Camberwell, East Dulwich and Peckham, will now run every 15 minutes.

It provides a link between Denmark Hill, Brockley and Lewisham Stations, as well as serving King’s College and the Maudsley hospitals.

The bus used to operate every 10 minutes in the peak and 12 minutes throughout the rest of the day.

The change came into effect on Saturday (21 March). TfL does not have to carry out consultations on changes to bus frequency.

The MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Ellie Reeves, posted on X that she was “deeply concerned” about the changes to the frequency of the 484.

The MP said that she and Vicky Foxcroft, the MP for Lewisham North, had written to TfL commissioner Andy Lord, asking for the change to be reversed.

“I know what a vital route it is for local people and that’s why Vicky Foxcroft and I have written to TfL requesting a meeting to discuss the impacts of these

changes and for them to be reversed,” Reeves said.

Southwark Labour councillor for Goose Green Portia Mwangangye also called on TfL to “look into the implications of the cuts”.

“The proposed reduction of the 484 bus service represents a significant concern for the Goose Green community,” she said.

“This bus serves as a route connecting our residents to Lordship Lane and the Sainsbury’s Superstore. Most critically, it provides a direct link to King’s College Hospital a service which our more vulnerable neighbours really depend on.”

TfL said the reduction would allow it to “operate the service efficiently to meet demand whilst offering value for money” and suggested it would improve reliability.

Luke McSorley, a local Lib Dem campaigner in Goose Green, said the reduction to the service was a ‘slap in the face’. “Local people in East Dulwich rely on the 484 bus to get to work, do their shopping, or just stay in touch with their friends and family. I know I do!” he said.

“It beggars belief that Labour have allowed routes like this to come under threat and face cuts, and are now pretending they couldn’t see it coming.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “London

has one of the most extensive and accessible bus networks anywhere in the world, and we are committed to providing the best service possible. We are making the network safer and greener and are introducing new services in areas of growing demand –including through our game-changing Superloop network.

“We regularly review our services according to customer demand and, following detailed analysis, we have decided to make some changes to the timetable of route 484. Services are now running every 15 minutes instead of every 12 minutes on Monday to Saturday. The change allows us to operate the service efficiently to meet demand whilst offering value for money and allowing buses more time to complete their journeys - which should increase reliability.

“As with all changes, we will consider feedback from local stakeholders and continue to keep the changes under review.”

Cllr Mwangangye continued: “To truly advance Southwark Labour’s ‘Streets for People’ goals, we need public transport to remain a robust and reliable cornerstone of local infrastructure. We will continue to push for a transport strategy that reflects the reality and requirements of our community.”

Self-storage, right round the corner

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

Drummond Rd, Biscuit Factory, SE16 4DG

• Flexible booking, no long-term tie-ins

• Access any time, day or night

• 5 mins from Bermondsey tube

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

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

Ask your GP practice or nurse about the MMRV vaccine

By Frankie Hills

LOCAL MINI-CAB drivers and a man from Bermondsey were part of a conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants out of the UK to France in the back of lorries, organised by an Algerian national living in Camberwell.

The four drivers, two of whom were living in Elephant and Castle, have been sentenced following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.

Kingpin Madjid Belabes, 54, from Camberwell is estimated to have netted nearly £290,000 through the scheme, charging £1,200 per person to transport the migrants them from London to mainland France.

He arranged the movement of migrants to mainland Europe 26 times between December 2022 and September 2023. He was also seen transporting migrants along with those he recruited to help.

In one attempt, 58 migrants who were Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan were discovered by officials in France. All those Belabes and his gang transported had been in the UK on tourist visas before the migrants tried to enter France illegally. The migrants entered the UK specifically as a method of entering mainland Europe.

Algerian-born Belabes was jailed for 10 years and nine months last November for people smuggling and possessing criminal property (£11,000 in cash). This month the four drivers, whom the CPS confirmed are mini-cab rather than taxi drivers as was previously stated, were sentenced for their roles in collecting migrants in London and delivering them to waiting lorries in lay-bys and service stations in Kent for the onward leg.

The drivers, who are all Algerian nationals, Samir Zerguine, 52, and Mohamed Issaoun, 49, both from Elephant and Castle; plus Mourad Bouchlaghem, 44, from Brighton and Mohamed Mabrouk, 44, from Paddington admitted to their involvement with the activities of an organised crime group when they appeared at Kingston Crown Court. Meanwhile, a fifth man, Said Bouazza, 56, also an Algerian national and living in Bermondsey made one trip and was convicted on the same charges by a jury.

GANG SENTENCED FOR SMUGGLING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS OUT OF THE UK

The defendants were sentenced accordingly:

• Samir Zerguine, 52, of Elephant and Castle, was sentenced to two years in jail.

• Mourad Bouchlaghem, 44, of Brighton, was sentenced to two years in jail suspended for two years and 200 hours of unpaid work.

• Mohamed Mabrouk, 44, of Paddington, was sentenced to two years in jail suspended for two years and 250 hours of unpaid work.

• Mohamed Issaoun, 49, of Elephant and Castle, was sentenced to 23 months and one week in jail.

• Said Bouazza, 56, of Bermondsey, was found guilty of participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group. Sentenced to two years in jail suspended for two years and 200 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard that the four drivers made multiple trips and NCA investigators proved there link to

call and

CCTV meeting Belabes in London and placing people in his car. Belabes used cab drivers because if stopped by police they would have a credible reason for having multiple people inside.

John Turner, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “We know that some gangs and drivers involved in smuggling migrants out of the UK are involved in smuggling into the UK too. Like Madjid Belabes, their only concern is making money. Belabes and these taxi drivers

didn’t care about the potentially fatal dangers facing migrants hidden in lorry trailers.

“These criminal networks treat human beings like commodities. Tackling organised immigration crime is a key priority for the NCA, and alongside our international law enforcement partners, we are relentless in our efforts to dismantle these networks wherever they operate.”

Andrew Hudson, a specialist prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Smuggling people across borders in lorries is highly dangerous but thankfully in this case it was not fatal.

“These five men played their part in an organised crime ring out of pure greed and selfishness. Not only does people smuggling put lives at risk but it’s also an attack on UK border security. The CPS and our law enforcement partners will continue to build the strongest cases against suspects, whatever role they play.”

The CPS con�irmed this week that the drivers were “licensed minicab drivers, not black cab drivers” after we asked for clari�ication. In press releases from both the CPS anbd NCA they were referred to as only taxi drivers, which most people use in reference to black taxi drivers.

Child rescued from above Bermondsey shop that caught fire due, it is believed, to a ‘lithium-ion battery failure’

By Issy Clarke

A FIRE that broke out in a mobility shop last week is believed to have been caused by the ‘failure of a lithium-ion battery’.

Lithium batteries are rechargeable batteries found in e-bikes and e-scooters as well as common household items like laptops and phones.

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze at the City Mobility shop on Southwark Park Road in Bermondsey just before 6pm on Wednesday, 25 March.

It is believed the shop was closed when the fire broke out.

The ground-floor shop was destroyed and a small part of a first-floor flat was damaged by fire.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led a child to safety from a third-floor flat using a fire escape hood.

There were no reports of any injuries.

The brigade said that the fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the

failure of a lithium-ion battery.

Station Commander Tony Perks, who was at the scene, said: “Initial crews faced a very intense fire on arrival and worked swiftly to bring it under control and ensure residents in flats above the shop were safe.”

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson added: “Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.

“You should unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.

“Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged too.

“Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.”

By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS TO revive one of London’s oldest street markets with new stalls, a central piazza, restaurant, bar and roof terrace have been submitted.

Operator Between the Bridges said it wants to transform Kingston Ancient Market so that it thrives for “generations to come”, after taking over its management in April last year. Between the Bridges has submitted plans to Kingston Council to replace the market’s existing stalls and redesign their layout to improve flow. It would install new public toilets, seating and shaded areas across the market to improve its facilities.

The firm would move the existing statue away from the centre to the edge of Market Square to create a central piazza, which would have space for up to 45 stalls to host pop-up and themed markets and events on the weekend. A roof terrace with more seating would also be installed overlooking the square.

In another major proposed change, the Grade II* listed Market House, which has mostly sat empty for the last few years, would be revamped to bring it back into use. A restaurant and café would open on the ground floor of the building, along with a bar and events space on the first floor.

The scheme aims to restore the market as the “beating heart of Kingston’s Old Town”.

Planning documents said: “Kingston Ancient Market Square is the historic heart of the town – a place where civic life, commerce, and culture have converged for centuries. The square’s rich heritage, anchored by the Grade I listed All Saints Church and a tapestry of surrounding listed buildings, provides a powerful backdrop for renewal.

REVIVING ANCIENT MARKET

“This proposal reimagines the market square as a vibrant, flexible, and inclusive public realm – one that celebrates its historic character while equipping it for the needs of a 21st-century community.

The project builds upon Kingston’s legacy as a trading hub, creating a dynamic marketplace where food, culture, and civic activity thrive side by side.”

The market, which opened around 1170, is currently home to 28 permanent stalls and open every day from 10am to 5pm.

Between the Bridges took over

management of the market from Kingston First, which had been running it under a 12-month rolling agreement, in April last year as part of owner Kingston Council’s plans to revive the attraction. The authority brought together Kingston Ancient Market, Market Square and Ancient Market House under a longerterm lease held by Between the Bridges to better support traders and boost footfall.

Kingston Council will decide on the plans in due course.

CROYDON FACES A £10 MILLION REFUND BILL AFTER SIX LTN SCHEMES WERE QUASHED

By Harrison Galliven Local Democracy Reporter

CROYDON COUNCIL will have to revise its annual budget for the coming year because it faces a potential £10million refund bill for unlawful traffic fines.

A landmark court ruling found six of the authority’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes (LTNs) were unlawful, meaning they have to be removed and driver penalties refunded.

The knock-on effect to Croydon’s 2026/27 budget is significant as the cash will need to be found from somewhere.

The controversial LTNs were removed earlier this month following a High Court ruling that found the council had unlawfully introduced the schemes to help plug its finances, rather than for road safety or environmental reasons.

The council has said it will not appeal this decision, describing an appeal as a “poor use of public funds”.

In its first public discussion since the ruling, the council revealed it could now be forced to repay a total of £10m in fines issued to drivers under the LTN schemes since their formal introduction in 2024. At a Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting on Tuesday (March 24), members heard the authority expects to lose up to £7.5 million this financial year from the fines

it would have collected.

It also anticipates a further £2.5m-£3m in lost income in the forthcoming 2026/27 financial year, meaning it must now rethink its budget. However

Councillor Jason Cummings, Cabinet Member for Finance, noted: “We are in a position now with a significant underspend that we currently have where that’s not going to push us over the top in our budget.”

The council’s newly appointed Section 151 officer (Chief Financial Officer), Conrad Hall, told the chamber that although the lost income from the now-quashed schemes will require adjustments to financial plans, he reassured councillors that the loss will not affect Croydon’s stabilisation plan—the framework guiding the borough’s cost-saving strategy.

He also noted that the council now expects to be making fine repayments for several years, before adding: “It is likely that after a few months the significant majority of claims will have been received.”

Cllr Cummings also used the session to defend the Conservative council’s actions, arguing that the judge’s unprecedented ruling could not have been foreseen.

In his High Court ruling, Justice Pepperall concluded that the primary purpose of the schemes was to raise revenue, a finding that was shaped

Cllr Cummings told the chamber that Mayor Perry’s statements—in which he admitted he could not remove the schemes due to over £20m of future camera enforcement income built into the budget by the previous administration—had been reviewed and signed off as low risk by the council and its legal team. “It was not said off the cuff,” he told members.

He added: “What is unusual about the judgement that was made was that it didn’t query the decisionmaking process made by reports or the decision-making process that took place in Cabinet. It went to public statements around some of the thinking that was going on in terms of getting to the point where some of those decisions were being made.”

He went on to say: “That’s quite a departure from normal legal cases that look at council decision-making processes, but the judge was free to make that interpretation.”

Committee Chair Leila Ben-Hassel suggested the council had failed to properly assess the legal risks before the LTN decision. She said that the fact it was not included on the risk register represented a council oversight and emphasised the need to ensure such an incident does not happen again.

However, Vice Chair Alasdair Stewart

arguing “it would be incorrect to say it was a failure”.

He reiterated that the council had been advised the risk was low and could not have foreseen the judge’s unprecedented ruling.

Later in the meeting, Conservative Councillor Mario Creatura pressed Cllr Cummings on whether the council was considering changes to other traffic-calming policies in the borough in light of the ruling. In response, Cllr Cummings said: “I have to be very, very careful here.”

He then added: “There is not going to be a whole load of other parts of the

back of this.”

Cllr Cummings also confirmed that the council will not seek to replace the LTNs through other traffic

means.

Croydon Council is now encouraging drivers who were fined on the Albert Road, Dalmally Road, Elmers Road, Holmesdale Road, Parsons Mead and Sutherland Road LTN schemes to seek a refund. The council has contacted residents where email addresses are held and has launched a new online claim form.

By Ruby Gregory

Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS TO redevelop two-council owned sites in Brixton have been approved, despite fierce opposition over the displacement of more than 100 charities and community groups.

Lambeth Council has partnered with developer London Square to bring forward a mixed-used residential and commercial development at 49 Brixton Station Road and 6 Canterbury Crescent. The plans, which were approved by Lambeth Council’s Planning Applications Committee on Tuesday March 24, will see the delivery of 288 homes of which 98 will be social rent while the remaining 190 will be for private sale.

London Square, a property development company owned by Aldar Properties, the largest real estate developer in Abu Dhabi, also intends to deliver new workspace, community facilities and public realm improvements.

Under the plans the homes will be split across four blocks, ranging from six to 20 storeys high.

The site at 49 Brixton Station Road is currently home to Pop Brixton, a popular food and drinking spot complete with workspace units, which will be flattened to make way for one 18-storey and one 20-storey building that will provide 84 affordable and 121 private sale homes respectively.

The site located at 6 Canterbury Crescent is home to a former council office block called International House, which will be retained and refurbished with two extra storeys added on top to deliver 69 of the private sale homes. The site will also see the construction of a new six-storey building and will provide 14 affordable homes.

International House is currently home to London’s largest affordable workspace and is occupied by more than 100 notfor-profit organisations, charities and community groups with many paying reduced or peppercorn rents.

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting a petition set up by campaign group, Save International House, had urged the council not to go ahead with the plans. The petition, which had been signed by more than 1,000 people, stated that all of the charities would be displaced, with many organisations saying they won’t be able to continue their work outside of

MAJOR PLANS APPROVED IN BRIXTON

A lot of the organisations are Black-led and carry out important work including HIV awareness, mental health support, youth crime prevention and refugee justice.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the committee heard from one of the tenants at International House, who said:

“International House is at risk of being destroyed entirely, the [planning] officers’ report claims that a relocation strategy is on offer but there are no alternative spaces that have been sighted so far.

“Instead, the report claims that some of the uses in the proposed development could support these businesses in the future; this misrepresents the manner of the organisations based there – they are not businesses, they are largely Black-led community organisations with turnovers of under £10,000 annually and they will not be able to afford the so-called affordable workspace being provided.”

Cllr Scarlett O’Hara, who represents Brixton Windrush ward where the redevelopment is located, said the

development brings “much needed” improvements to the public realm, and said the project was a large and complex one that was 17 years in the making.

She said she was aware of the “strong feelings” expressed by organisations at International House and had asked council officers to meet with them to help them “through the process over the next year”.

She told the committee: “In 2018, workspaces at International House were offered to organisations on a temporary basis or meanwhile basis at very low or even no cost, a good deal and a way for small organisations to set up and grow before moving on.

“There are some excellent organisations based here and we want to see them settle in new affordable spaces and thrive in the borough where possible together, which I know is something that many of them would like.”

When it came to closing statements, Cllr Malcolm Clark said: “I think it’s just worth stating the social, cultural and economic benefits of the meanwhile uses have been

ALBERT BRIDGE WILL REOPEN WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER A £8.5M REPAIR JOB

By Katherine Gray Local Democracy Reporter

AN £8.5 million repair job to get Albert Bridge open within 12 months has been approved.

The major Thames crossing between Chelsea and Battersea was closed to motor traffic in early February, after a crack was found in one of its components. Its closure has been causing significant disruption to Londoners, with around 15,000 drivers being diverted each day the bridge is shut.

Kensington and Chelsea councillors have said they are adamant that the incident will not become another Hammersmith Bridge.

At a leadership meeting on Wednesday March 25, the cabinet approved plans to spend around £8.5 million on a full

repair job for the bridge, which would take around 12 months to complete. The council is also seeking a temporary fix in the interim which could allow the bridge to open to motor traffic sooner, although this remains “unlikely”.

Lead Member for Housing, Councillor Sof McVeigh, said that the council’s approach to the bridge closure had been “the complete opposite” to the sevenyear-long Hammersmith Bridge closure.

The Thames crossing has been closed to motor traffic since 2019, reopening to pedestrians and cyclists in April 2025.

“I just think the situation has highlighted how important the bridges are, but for so many people who don’t live in the borough as well. I think our approach to this has been absolutely excellent, our complete commitment to get the bridge back working – really the

complete opposite to what’s happened with Hammersmith Bridge and Hammersmith and Fulham,” she said during the leadership meeting.

Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Environment and Planning, said:

“We know the closure of Albert Bridge is frustrating and inconvenient and I’m very grateful for everyone’s patience. It’s not just important for our residents; it’s a national landmark and a vital river crossing for London. We are committed to reopening the bridge to traffic and protecting it for generations to come.

“After the initial investigations, we’ve decided to not just fix what is broken, but to also put in extra measures to try stop this happening again in the future.

“The bridge is unique, which makes the repair complex and costly. We’re taking the prudent step of accounting for the

very significant and I actually think that’s a credit to the planning authority and to the way that our planning is working.

“We’ve managed to secure those benefits during this meanwhile period – that meanwhile period is now ending though I was reassured that there is still a year left in terms of the lease and therefore up to a year of further support [for] organisations affected, even though they would have been already well-aware of the meanwhile use and the timings.”

Ultimately the plans were approved by all of the Labour councillors sitting on the committee while Cllr Scott Ainslie, who is leader of Lambeth Greens, did not vote in favour.

In an official statement, London Square’s Founder and CEO, Adam Lawrence, said: “At a time when housing delivery in London is at a critically low level, our partnership with Lambeth Council will deliver much needed affordable homes and make a significant contribution to addressing housing pressures in the borough.

“We’re committed to creating homes

and neighbourhoods where people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy a great quality of life.”

He added: “This project has been a genuinely collaborative process, shaped by many months of engagement with locals, businesses and stakeholders. The approved plans reflect that input and will support what makes Brixton a special place to live and work.”

Following the approval of the application, local campaign group, Save Nour, accused the council of approving “the destruction of a crucial cornerstone of South London’s Black communities to make space for an Emirati billionaire”.

The group said: “Lambeth’s relocation offer to the tenants is insulting at best, and social cleansing at worst – proposing that they move to spaces that cost £20,000 a year. How is that affordable for organisations with an annual turnover of less than £10,000?

“We need more social housing, but the mere promise of it cannot come at the cost of the free support that has been keeping us afloat.”

pressure of a permanent repair in our capital programme, whilst we actively explore external funding options with the Department for Transport.

“The repairs will involve repairing the cracked component and unseizing the axle in the structural joint which is believed to have caused the damage.

The figure also includes improvements to the bridge’s structure, such as a new

road surface, refurbished toll booths and preventative measures to stop components seizing again.”

Nicknamed ‘The Trembling Lady’ shortly after it opened in 1873, Albert Bridge is designed to move slightly, to accommodate a change in temperature or traffic. The bridge is currently being monitored by sensors to ensure that its condition is not worsening.

We’re speeding up bus journeys in Lambeth

Tell us about your experience of bus journey’s on Acre Lane and Norwood Road

We're working with Transport for London to make bus journeys faster, safer, and more reliable on Acre Lane (A2217) and Norwood Road (A215). They’re two of eight bus priority corridors across Lambeth.

Engagement open 19 January to 15 February Scan for Acre Lane Scan for Norwood Road

what’s on

London in the 18th Century: Street by Street ‘London is a mirror of mankind and of the world.’

I RECENTLY became the proud owner of London in the 18th Century: Street by Street, a book of maps created by John Rocque in the 1700s and republished now with contemporary updates and information. Where we might feel surrounded by old fogeys forever complaining about ‘too much change’, this book highlights how very little has changed in 300 years, and most of that change could arguably be put down to Hitler’s Luftwaffe, writes Michael Holland. Yes, there are big changes to my hometown of Rotherhithe; there were

always houses and wharves next to the riverfront, and just one dock, but the rest of the peninsula was then farmland and open space. It is only when you get round to Bermondsey and London Bridge that you can see the beginnings of what would become South London as we know it today.

Looking through the book, you can’t help but feel a connection to those times when you see streets that you know and walk along today: Redriff Road, Rotherhithe Street, Jamaica Road, Tooley Street, The Borough, Guy’s Hospital, and Shad Thames. The list of familiar places is endless.

The Museum of Edible Earth Sustainability in Somerset House

FOR MANY years, Somerset House was the Public Record Office and held the country’s birth, marriage, and death certificates, plus storing much of the nation’s important history and past in its many governmental departments. For the past 40+ years, though, it has evolved into a centre for arts and culture where great old master and impressionist paintings are held and exhibited in the Courtauld Gallery that occupies the North Wing. In the South Wing, however, there is a much more down-to-earth exhibition - literally - I went along to actually eat soil in the Museum of Edible Earth, an exhibition that looks to the future, writes Michael Holland.

Some people would cry away from such strange behaviour. And there were several at the ‘tasting session’ who did just that, standing away from the dining table, clutching their necks with one hand and filming proceedings

The capital was much smaller then; the countryside began just after Shoreditch in the north, and just beyond Walworth in the south; you could walk the main thoroughfares in a day, yet Rocque, with his basic surveying equipment, took nine years to make his map.

Steven Brindle is one of the world’s leading authorities on the history of London, so he was asked by the publishers to ensure this latest edition gets everything right. Steven says, ‘The road markings and names are now crystal clear; you can see things like the gallows where Marble Arch now stands, as well as the newly built Buckingham Palace.’

From an early age, Steven liked history, and after a degree in History, followed by a doctoral thesis about medieval architecture in Spain at Oxford, he started working with English Heritage as a historian, working his way up to Senior Properties Historian in the Curatorial Division, a role he has held since 2008.

I wanted to know what this expert on old London thought contemporary Londoners would feel about this book:

‘They would see London as it was in 1746, in beautiful and accurate maps, showing the fine detail of the city. You can still walk down many of the same streets and past many of the same buildings, parks, and squares on the map, but it also tells you the history.’

What are the highlights of the book?

‘Each section of Rocque’s detailed map reveals stories of different areas. At a

time when Bermondsey was the centre of ropemaking, Marylebone fields was hampered by highwaymen, Bethnal Green was a country retreat where gentlefolk went for fresh air, cake, and ale, and Mile End was a small country town.’

I wanted to know what Steven’s favourite parts of the book were:

‘On the Thames, you can see tall ships and barges. It really shows that London was this huge centre of commerce, and the Thames was a great highway for shipping and boats. Then there is the growth of the West End. You can see the different layout of the old medieval city of London with the new West End where grand mansions were going up surrounded by new streets and squares.

All of South London is orchards and gardens to feed the city so that goods did not have to be transported too far. Areas that are now Islington, Camden, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, and Lambeth are just fields – it’s quite extraordinary.’

As a historian, do you embrace the changes London inevitably has to go through?

‘London is a world city, one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally

on their phones with the other.

The Museum of Edible Earth has been touring the planet more or less since its 2013 inception, surveying the globe for edible soils while exploring how different places use earth as nourishment, healing, ritual, and cooking. This is its first time in the UK.

The exhibition displays a wide selection from over 600 samples it has collected from 44 countries. Britain’s inclusion in this worldwide study is its Cambridge Chalk. Each day, guided sessions take place where visitors can taste some of the earth that they live on.

On the menu when I visited was Luvos Healing Earth, made exclusively from glacial loess (sediment) deposited in the last Ice Age and widely used in German naturopathy for digestive support. The loess contains calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, copper, and zinc. It had a good crunchiness that did not overwhelm taste-wise, which means it could be added to many dishes to add texture, as well as the health benefits,

and you would not know it was there.

The second course was Diatomaceous Earth from Mexico, composed of the fossilised remains of aquatic organisms. Over millions of years, the silica-rich skeletons accumulated in lake beds to form a porous deposit that can be crushed into a fine powder and eaten with just about anything.

On its own, however, it quickly clogs up the mouth and palate, but is easily washed down with a few sips of water.

One of Somerset House’s missions is to champion sustainability and be

environmentally friendly. Hence the Edible Earth exhibition. But outside in Fountain Court is Dana-FionaArmour’s Serpentine Currents, a 3D, three-part sculpture of an endangered sea snake. Its mesh LED surface is animated using historic and predictive ocean data from the British coastline, with patterns and luminosity shifting in response to rising sea temperatures and decreasing salinity. Serpentine Currents mirrors the movement of tidal waters, turning scientific research into a living, responsive form.

richest places in the world. It has had

richest places in the world. It has had this quality and status since the 18th century, since Rocque’s time. London is a mirror of mankind and of the world. To any historian, it is an exciting and inspiring place.’

London in the 18th Century: Street by Street is published by Atlantic Publishing on 26th March and available from all good bookshops and online from Waterstones here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/ london-in-the-18th-century/crawfordsnowden/9781915143068

It looks very much at home amongst the ever-changing water spouts that catch the sunshine and flash out their own personal rainbows, but at night time the serpent comes to life in its own light.

Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA until 26th April.

Sun–Wed 10am–6pm; Thu & Fri 12–8pm; Sat 10am–8pm.

Admission: Free - Pay What You Can Full details:

https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/

History

By Debra Gosling

COME WITH me, let me entice and let me show you the green spaces and the history you can experience right now on your doorstep.

Let’s go to the park - Guy Street Park, in the spooky shadow of Guy’s Hospital. If you want to get a sense of old ghosts this is the place. Notice how high the railings are surrounding this park - they look dark and funereal because this was once a burial ground for the patients of Guy’s Hospital.

Beforehand the land had been a tenter ground, a place where newlymade fabric was hooked onto frames (tenters) and stretched tightly to dry and flatten it. The phrase ‘on tenter hooks’, meaning to feel anxious, and the word ‘tent’ originate from this practice. In this vicinity it was the tanners that used the ground to dry hides. But then Guy’s Hospital bought the land.

Until 1855 the hospital authorities used the burial-ground for its poorer patients. A pauper’s grave with no ceremony. In the early nineteenth century the dreaded ‘bodysnatchers’ raided it in the dead of night to retrieve cadavers for medical students. In fact, it was such big business that there are probably only a few people still lying beneath.

Ben Crouch, the son of a Guy’s Hospital carpenter, was leader of The Borough Gang, a notorious mob of grave robbers. The surgeons were no better than their employees - once they had finished picking bits off corpses they threw what remained into the drains. Such contempt and disrespect for those poor people. Is it any wonder visitors exclaimed that Bermondsey smelt? This awful crime was stopped with the Burial Act of 1832 and the land repurposed as builder’s yard. Victorian Bermondsey was cramped and congested with housing and factories. An open space was required for people to get some much needed air and sunshine. The Nelson Recreation Ground, as Guy Street Park was previously known, addressed this need.

It opened on 30th March 1899 to great acclaim. There was a children’s gymnasium, flower beds, seating and Sunday band concerts. Recently the Friends of Guy Street Park got down to planting 750 spring bulbs so that will be a sight for sore eyes soon. Perhaps those below will push up a few daisies too!

Now, let’s cross Weston Street and head to Leathermarket Gardens, a more recent green asset to this lovely area. Walk through to the rose garden and find a bench. But before you do, search for the old manhole cover which says Borough of Bermondsey, an old relic from another time.

For centuries, this part of Bermondsey was dominated by the leather industry, where malodorous deep tan pits, animal carcasses and smoking chimneys neighboured residential properties. These gardens are on the site of a tannery which was destroyed in World War Two, along with many more in the area.

The bombsites are gone; from trauma and darkness has emerged birdsong and beauty. This park has more than a touch of magic - see all the busy little birds in the bushes. There are sparrows

A TOUR THROUGH BERMONDSEY’S GUY STREET PARK AND LEATHERMARKET GARDENS

here - they used to be everywhere but suddenly disappeared from London. There has been a programme to reintroduce our ‘cockney sparrers’and they are happily thriving here. Like I say, this was a bombsite.

With peace restored, the derelict site, managed by the London County Council, was laid out as public gardens and opened on a cold January day in 1958. The magnificent roses (in June!)

in the formal garden were provided by the LCC from their nursery at Avery Hill in Eltham. The park was extended to Weston Street in the 1980s, when the remaining wartime rubble was cleared away.

The Shard dominates the park’s skyline. The architect was Renzo Piano, who created this most fabulous building. It opened to the public in 2013. Special white glass had to be

invented to clad the frame and ensure its reflections are always different.

Two scale models were constructed in Europe to test this, one of which was dangled from a high crane and rotated to ensure the desired effect was achieved. It’s London’s kaleidoscope.

Now as you walk out of the gate into Leathermarket Street you will find the old blacksmith’s shop, now a garage. The smithy was established in the

early 1840s, when the street was just fields.

The original farrier (horse veterinarian) lived upstairs in the premises. The iron rings, where the horses were tethered whilst being shoed, remain. The façade, adorned with horse head sculptures, dates from 1890. It is so amazing that a simple stroll in this little patch of London can throw up so much history.

Easter activities at the Brunel Museum

CRAFTERNOONS AT WOOLWICH WORKS

Easter ‘Crafternoon’ sessions are coming to Woolwich Works from 7 – 10 April, with tickets just £3 per child. Woolwich works are hosting Easter fun for the whole family with a range of spring-inspired arts and craft activities. Choose from making bouncing bunnies, beautiful bonnets, daffodils or Easter Eggs in a supervised session. Crafternoons are designed to be simple and accessible, to be completed at your own pace- super fast or you can grab a drink and take your time.

Date: 7 – 10 April

Time: Sessions at 2pm, 3pm or 4pm

Location: The Fireworks Factory, 11 No. 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6HD

Tickets: £3, book online at www.woolwichworks.com

UPCYCLING FLOWER MAKING WORKSHOP:

Using newspapers and recycled materials, families can create colourful upcycled flowers while learning about the decorative arts and creativity of the French Revolution period. As the last opportunity to see their French Revolution display, the workshops will run daily during the Easter holidays and offer a free dropin activity included in general admission.

Date: 28 March – 12 April

Time: 10:30am – 3:30pm

Location: Brunel Museum, Railway Ave, London SE16 4LF

Tickets: Free, no ticket required

FAMILY SPRING TRAIL:

Perfect for young explorers, pick up your watering can, activity sheet and follow an exciting spring trail around the Brunel Museum.

Along the way children can discover nature hints, fun challenges and fascinating historic facts about the Brunel Tunnel and the local Rotherhithe area.

Date: 28 March – 12 April

Time: 10:30am – 3:30pm

Location: Brunel Museum, Railway Ave, London SE16 4LF

Tickets: Free, no ticket required

FREE EASTER TRAIL AROUND THE GREENWICH PENINSULA

This Easter, Greenwich Peninsula are hosting an Easter trail through the businesses and green spaces in the area. The whole family are invited to explore and create together with a series of riddles, sketches, creative selfies and hidden details along the way. Families can collect a map from Firepit Art Gallery & Studio before embarking on a trail capturing public art, riverside paths and local landmarks. At each stop, there will be a challenge to complete and children can collect stamps and sweet surprises along the way.

Date: 12 April – 3 May

Time: 10am – 5pm

Location: Firepit Art Gallery and Studios CIC, Ground Floor, Retail Unit, 10 Cutter Ln, London SE10 0XX

Tickets: Free, no booking required

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

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that WYLIE'S COFFEE & CO LTD has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Wylie’s Coffee, 66c Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1EQ for the sale of alcohol by retail on and off the premises Monday to Sunday 07:00 hrs to 23:00 hrs.

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 24/04/2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the above mentioned address between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence is unlimited.

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

Mary Lanches Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Mary Lanches, 15 Streatham High Road, Leigham Hall Parade, London, SW16 1DR which would authorise the following licensable activities: Sale of alcohol (on and off license) Monday to Sunday from 09:00am until 23:00

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 20.04.2026

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

Take notice that I/we: The Padel Pals Ltd have made an application to Lewisham Council acting as the Licensing Authority, for a New Premises Licence in respect of Unit B3 & B4 Trade City, Bell Green Retail Park, SE26 4PR

The application seeks authorisation for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises between 11:00 and 23:00 Monday to Sunday. No off site sales will be permitted at any point. Alcohol sales will be ancillary to the primary use of the premises as a padel club & gym, and the premises will not operate as a drinking establishment or promote itself as such.

The application and the Licensing Authority’s public register can be inspected at: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, 9 Holbeach Road, London, SE6 4TW by appointment between Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm; or at www.lewisham.gov.uk

The last date by which responsible authorities or other persons may make representations to the Licensing Authority in relation to this application is: 22/04/2026

Any representations must be made in writing to the above address or by emailing licensing@lewisham.gov.uk

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

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE

Brazil Cafe Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Brazil Cafe, 519 Norwood Road, London, SE27 9DL

The nature of the variation is as follows: To extend the sale of alcohol hours (on and off) Fridays and Saturdays from 00:00 to 00:30am; to add regulated entertainment and late night refreshment Friday and Saturday from 23:00 until 00:30.

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.

View all weekly and archive public notices and sign up to the

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).

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

Nomaru Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: 292 Streatham High Road, Streatham, London, SW16 6HG which would authorise the following licensable activities: 1. Supply of Alcohol (8am - 11pm) 2. Live music (8am - 11pm) 3. Recorded music (8am - 11pm)

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 16.04.2026

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

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 20.04.2026

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).

Application for the grant of Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 Venn House Limited has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a premises licence, in respect of the following premises:Venn House,Venn Street, London, SW4 0AT which would authorise the following licensable activities: Showing of films – cinema only. 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 23rd April 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). Keystone Law 48 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1JF

To place a public notice, email hello@cm‐media.co.uk

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

Please take note that I MR BABUL LOTLIKER has applied to Merton Council for a premises licence at: LEOPOLD NEWS-2, 16 LEOPOLD ROAD, LONDON SW19 7BD to provide the following licensable activities: THE SALE BY RETAIL OF ALCOHOL PROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION Sunday to Saturday 06:00 to 00:00

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 23/04/2026

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

Street-trading@lambeth.gov.uk

notices placed in local newspapers across the UK, where you can search with ease for any kind of notice in your area.

COMMERCIAL ENTITIES

Demonstrating similar project approvals makes planning applications are far more compelling – search previous approvals by notice type, by area and time.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Now there’s an easier way of searching archived notices to create the evidence needed for Planning Inspectorates – you can even search by Local Authority.

PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS

Check to see if a family member’s estate was intestate, or if a house you’re looking to buy has ever had any ‘unexpected’ planning permissions made on it.

Station London SE1

18 Hilldown Road London SW16 3DZ Reinstatement of timber window units to the rear and front of the property. 26/00428/FUL

Royal National Theatre South Bank London SE1 9PX Temporary attachment of festoon lighting on the northern elevation of the

26/00868/LB

10 Albert Square London SW8 1BT Repair and reinstatement of deteriorated basement render and balustrades on the front facade. 26/00636/LB

Adjacent To Clapham Common Underground Station The Pavement London Display of non-illuminated fixed panel sign. 26/00869/ADV

490 Brixton Road London SW9 8EQ Display of 1 internally illuminated fascia sign and 1 internally illuminated projecting sign. 26/00859/ADV

Piano House 9 Brighton Terrace London SW9 8DJ Replacement of existing entrance gate. 26/00884/FUL

45 Walcot Square London SE11 4UB Application for Listed Building Consent for internal and external alterations including: replacement of the existing roof with fibre cement slates and replacement of the lead valley gutter. Replacement of flat roofs to the outrigger with

the

Refurbishment of

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

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

publicnoticeportal.uk

cases in win

By Manuel Salazar

DULWICH HAMLET will finish this season in mid-table but they are determined to at least give their fans something to shout about as they defeated Potters Bar Town 4-1 at Champion Hill last weekend.

Despite a season that promised much before fizzling out, the crowds are still flocking to East Dulwich and there were 2,929 present to see David Smith and Luke Wanadio fire Mark Dacey’s side into a two-goal lead.

Damaray Anyadike halved the deficit two minutes before half-time.

Smith scored his second in the 74th minute before Lonit Talla added the fourth eleven minutes from time.

Dacey had asked his players to prove they were worth new deals for next season, and they responded in style.

Dulwich are eleventh in the Isthmian League Premier Division table ahead of their trip to Canvey Island on Saturday (3pm).

RECORD CROWD SEE LIONESSES HELD

By John Kelly

MILLWALL LIONESSES played in front of a record crowd since they reformed in their 2-2 draw against Sutton United in the L&SERWFL Premier Division last Sunday.

An attendance of 1,407 saw Ted Jones’s side denied a win late on.

Ciara Watling gave the hosts the lead in the 26th minute before Amelia Cutler levelled on 38 minutes.

Liva Helt restored Millwall’s advantage in first-half added-time and they held the lead until Sutton were awarded a penalty nine minutes from time. Beth Humphrey scored it as the points were shared.

“We feel quite frustrated because we dominated the game for large periods,” Jones said. “A questionable penalty has come back to kill us at the end.

“But the girls did really well, it was a good crowd, really supportive of us. We’re really grateful for that.

“But it sums up our season a bit, we’ve dominated games but just haven’t been able to get over that final line.

“Over all, I don’t think we can be too hard on the girls and their performance.”

The Lionesses’ next league game is at Ebbsfleet United on April 19.

‘Bully’ Dubois makes ‘nightmare’ threat

By John Kelly

CAROLINE DUBOIS has been blasted for her behaviour by rival Terri Harper ahead of what is shaping up to be an explosive lightweight world championship bout this Sunday.

The pair have traded strong words since their first face-to-face meeting, with Dubois mostly the aggressor.

The unifying bout is for the WBC title, held by Greenwich’s Dubois, and Yorkshire fighter Harper’s WBO belt.

“I don’t like rude people. I don’t like bullies. That’s the vibe she gives me. She just rubs me up the wrong way,” Harper said. ”It’s great, though, because that’s what I need - because I probably am a bit laid back.

“She gives me that fire in my belly that I need. I actually want to go out there and do the work on her.

“For me there’s no pressure, Caroline’s the one who’s been running her mouth.

“I’m glad she’s had a lot to say. She’s done the dirty work for us and she’s selling the fight. It would have been quite hard if we were both quiet and polite like myself.

Caroline’s done the work now and it’s time for me to do the work on Sunday night.”

Harper predicted how the fight would go.

She said: “She will tire, 100 per cent. The pattern’s set, you can see it.

“Caroline going over to America for three weeks’ training, it’s not going to miraculously improve her fitness. I’ve just got to focus on myself and do what I do best.

“You can see that she fades the second half of the fight, so I’d be quite surprised if she carried that power through.”

Dubois, meanwhile, continued with her threats in the build-up.

Dubois has an unbeaten professional record of 12-0-1, while Harper’s is 16-2-2.

“I’m going to take her back to that dark place. I’m going to take her back to whatever feeling she was feeling when she was losing,” Dubois said.

“When she gets hit with a big shot, I’m going to bring her back every nightmare she’s ever had. That’s the intention.

“I think it’s going to be a late stoppage. I’m going to go out there to get the late stoppage.”

The fight at Kensington’s Olympia is live on Sky Sports on April 5.

Ellie Scot-key promise

By Shane Stapleton

ELLIE SCOTNEY has been promised a flash new motor if she becomes the undisputed champion this weekendeven though she hasn’t got her driver’s licence yet.

Catford’s Scotney (11-0), who holds the IBF, WBC and WBO super-bantamweight titles, faces WBA belt-holder Mayelli Flores (13-1-1) from Mexico on the Caroline Dubois-Terri Harper undercard.

Scotney is signed to Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.

The 28-year-old said she has to get two trains, a tube and a bus to training as she doesn’t drive. Scotney said: “I allow myself to have an Uber from [around] five weeks out [from a fight]. You’ve got to stay humble.” Paul posted on Instagram: “If she wins I’m going to buy her a car.” Scotney, will become the UK’s youngest undisputed champion in the four-belt era if she beats 33-year-old Flores.

Surrey re-sign leg spinner Rahul Chahar

The leg-spinner took ten wickets against Hampshire in 2025

By Sports Reporter

INDIAN LEG-SPINNER Rahul

Chahar will return to Surrey for the last eight Rothesay County Championship matches this summer.

Chahar, who starred for Surrey in last September’s stunning victory at Hampshire with ten wickets on his debut, will be available for the final eight matches starting with the clash with Hampshire at the Kia Oval starting on June 7.

In his sole appearance for the club last year, Chahar impressed with his resilient and innovative bowling,

which saw him take eight secondinnings wickets as Surrey squeezed to an impressive win. His 8/51 is the best first-class bowling figures by a debutant for the club, breaking William Mudie’s 166-year-old record when he took 7/61 in 1859.

The 26-year-old plays for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy and has represented India seven times in white-ball cricket. He has taken 101 first-class wickets in 27 matches.

His IPL journey started at Rising Pune Supergiants, but it was at Mumbai Indians where his career took off. Chahar was a key part of the MI team that won the 2019 and 2020 IPL tournaments. He was bought by Punjab Kings in 2022 and moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023. He will be spending the upcoming tournament at Chennai Super Kings.

“I’m so excited to be coming back to Surrey this season,” Chahar said.

“I really enjoyed my short spell in 2025 and jumped at the opportunity to come back this season when I spoke to Alec Stewart.

“Surrey is a successful club and I want to help the team achieve its goals in 2026.”

Surrey director of cricket Stewart added: “Rahul came in last year and did an excellent job at Hampshire, showing his qualities.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming back to the group and seeing how he can contribute to winning games of cricket for Surrey.”

By Sports Reporter

FISHER SLIPPED to a 2-1 defeat at SCEFL Premier Division playoff rivals Bearsted.

James Bessey and Sam Stace’s deflected effort within five minutes in the first half put the hosts in control. Michael Sarpong pulled a goal back on 79 minutes but Ajay Ashanike’s side couldn’t find an equaliser as Bearsted drew level on points with them in second place. The Fish are above their rivals on goal difference and have two games in hand.

Fisher travel to champions-elect Whitstable Town on Saturday (3pm).

By Sports Reporter

THE LEGACY of Surrey and England legend Graham Thorpe is continuing with a new programme to support people across the country with their mental health and wellbeing using cricket.

Over £170,000 was raised as the sport rallied together in support of one of the legends of the game. The amount will support ten of the Thorpey’s Bat and Chat programmes across the country this year. Thorpe took his own life in 2024 at the age of 55.

Thorpe’s wife Amanda said: “We want to celebrate Graham and his memory, as well as remove some of the stigma around mental health, especially for men. Thorpey’s Bat and Chat will help to do just this.”

30 NEWS

Troy shows How it’s done

By Mark Doig at the Maurice Rebak Stadium

TROY HOWARD’S equaliser two minutes from time lifted Welling United out of the Isthmian League Premier Division relegation zone after a well-deserved 1-1 draw at Wingate and Finchley.

It was Welling’s first-ever league visit to the Maurice Rebak Stadium and both teams had to cope with a strong, icy wind.

The Wings hit the frames of both goals and missed a penalty but kept plugging away to claim what could turn out to be a crucial point.

It ended a bountiful month of March in which they won three, drew one and lost just once. The point took the Wings out of the bottom four for the first time since the penultimate weekend in August, and they still have a game in hand on the clubs around them.

Playing into the wind in the first half, Welling struggled to come to terms with the conditions in the early stages and they went one down before they had settled. A high cross into the penalty area was allowed to bounce and Loic Hernandez got on the end of it to force it into the net in the eighth minute.

Once they had come to terms with the additional weatherrelated challenges, the Wings repelled everything thrown at them and created opportunities of their own, the best of which was a header by Lekan Majoyegbe which struck the far post.

After the break, Welling again hit the woodwork. Howard had the initial shot that was saved brilliantly by Joel Halliday and the Wingate custodian was back on his feet quickly to push Jamie Reynolds’ follow-up effort on to the post and out.

They then had an even better chance when the hosts’ captain Billy Cracknell dragged down Majoyegbe and a penalty was awarded. Ade Azeez took the responsibility but fired over.

John Ufuah had a deflected shot saved by Halliday before Welling’s goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley was called into action to make a good low save from Caoillan McGettigan. Majoyegbe then caused further problems when he headed down another Smith corner and Dean Gunner’s effort was cleared off the line.

Wings substitute Noah Stewart shot inches wide from the edge of the penalty area before Welling levelled the score with two minutes remaining.

Foley picked out Howard with a raking 80-yard pass and he controlled it superbly before planting it inside the far post.

Over 150 Welling supporters contributed to the hosts’ best home gate of the season of 391, and they certainly played their part in Welling’s well-warranted point.

Welling host mid-table Chichester City at Park View Road on Good Friday (3pm).

RAVENS’ LONG RUN ENDED LOCK, SHOCK AND BARROW

Woodman: ‘If I was their owner I’d wonder where they’ve been all season’

By John Kelly

ANDY WOODMAN urged Bromley to start another unbeaten run after their 21-game streak without defeat in League Two came to a shock end at basement side Barrow at the SO Legal Stadium last weekend.

Danny Rose scored a 67th-minute

winner eleven minutes after Josh Gordon had levelled.

There wasn’t much hint of what was to come after the visitors’ Ashley Charles had curled home a 20-yard free kick after 35 minutes.

Barrow hadn’t won any of their previous eight games but climbed off the table to 23rd and within two points of safety.

It was the Ravens’ first league defeat since November 29, when they lost 3-1 at Walsall.

Bromley are still five points clear at the top of the table with six games left.

It could have been worse for the visitors as goalkeeper Grant Smith denied Gordon in a one-on-one and he also saved from

Rekeem Harper and Jack Earing.

“Disappointed to lose at Barrow, it would have been nice to keep the gap a little bit more than it is,” Woodman said.

“But credit to Barrow, they made it difficult for us in difficult conditions. We didn’t adapt well and we didn’t make good decisions. And we got punished.

“I know the saying ‘[the conditions] is the same for both teams’, but it does make it a little bit more even and it does make it a little bit more of a lottery. The lottery didn’t go our way but credit again to Barrow. They’ve turned up and if I was their owner I’d wonder where they’ve been all season.

“I knew second half we had to do certain things to win this match and we didn’t do them. That’s the frustrating thing for me.

“We didn’t gain territory, we didn’t put the ball in the right areas. We started slashing and lashing clearances. We started looking panicky, we give them a lift. When you give a team a lift and they’ve got the wind behind and the crowd behind them it’s going to be tough. We just couldn’t get to grips with it.

“We give them a chance to get back into it and I felt it was going to be tough after that.”

Bromley travel to Barnet on Friday. Woodman added: “We have to start another run. That’s pretty much what we’re going to try to do. If we can start a five- or six-game run we’ll be okay.

“Listen, we haven’t changed our mantra. It will probably give one or two teams a lift like we’ve had a lift when we’ve seen other results, but we’re in a place where everyone wants to be. So I don’t think we should be too down, we should be upbeat and respectful of the 21-game run and try to start another one.

“It’s a much nicer journey back if you’ve won, I’ve got to be honest, but it might give us a chance to reflect and regroupand get ready to go again.”

Dons lack County Edge as boss left baffled

By Patrick Fanning

JOHNNIE JACKSON was left scratching his head wondering how AFC Wimbledon didn’t score in their 3-0 League Two defeat to Stockport County at Edgeley Park last weekend.

Adama Sidibeh opened the scoring in the second minute before Kyle Wootton added the second six minutes before half-time.

Ollie Norwood scored Stockport’s third in the 97th minute.

Jackson’s Dons had more possession than County and numerous chances to score, but they couldn’t beat inspired 6ft8ins home goalkeeper Corey Addai.

Omar Bugiel headed wide from Steve Seddon's free-kick before Callum Maycock missed the target from close range and then Addai

produced his first brilliant save to deny Junior Nkeng.

Addai excelled again to tip defender Ryan Johnson's header on to the crossbar in the 58th minute.

Zack Nelson’s close-range attempt and substitute Kai Jennings’ longrange strike were also stopped by Addai.

Wimbledon are fourteenth and not yet out of relegation danger with seven games left as they are only seven points above the bottom four.

“It's a bit strange standing here talking about positives having watched the game we've just watched that we've lost it 3-0. I don’t know how we haven’t scored a goal,” Jackson said.

“Their keeper's made some unbelievable saves, in fairness to him, but we've had some other unbelievable chances where we've got

to score. So, yeah, that bit's on us, isn't it, that we've created so much. We came here, I thought we dominated the ball, dominated a lot of the play, a lot of the possession, a lot of it spent in their half, and not a lot of teams come here and do that to Stockport.”

Jackson explained his decision to start four central midfielders against the play-off contenders.

He said: “We wanted to come in and be brave with the ball and try and sort of out-number them in those central areas, and we've done that.

“Whether that was passing through our shape or when we did go over their press to Omar, to have numbers in and around him, probably meant we had less of a threat when the ball went wide and balls were going in the box. Some of it had to give, really, losing [the injured] Matty [Stevens] and Browney [Marcus Browne] there.

“It certainly worked in the game, but you've got to do the last little bit, which we haven't. So I just said to the lads in there, it's not through tactical element or lack of effort on their part.”

It was a Dons league debut for 20-year-old midfielder Jennings days after he had been recalled from a loan spell at National League Sutton United.

Jackson added: “He was bright when he came on in the game. Like I said, I didn't just call him back for the sake of it. I think we're going to need him and we're going to use him, whether that's to try and help us get back into a game, to see a game out, whatever. He's got a big role to play, he's got a big future for the club. So obviously that's a massive positive coming out the day that he gets his league debut.” Wimbledon travel to Lincoln City this Good Friday (3pm).

COOPS’ TROOPS EMBRACE EXPECTATIONS

Lions skipper: ‘We play with freedom - but can we achieve something?’

By Will Scott

MILLWALL CAPTAIN Jake

Cooper is embracing the higher expectations around the side and believes the club is “a great spot” - but he insisted the Lions are blocking out all talk of what could happen in May.

The Lions are fourth in the table with seven games to go and are well-placed to make the second-tier play-offs for the first time in 24 years.

Alex Neil’s side could even go one better. They are just two points off the top two and take on second-placed Middlesbrough in their first game after the international break.

With Ipswich, who Millwall are level on points with after a 1-1 draw before the last break of the campaign, not playing until Easter Monday, a win at the Riverside Stadium would move the Lions into the automatic promotion places.

“If you’d said that we’d be level on points with Ipswich at the end of March, I think any person related to Millwall would have bitten your hand off,” Cooper told our paper. “We’re in a great spot. We’re just trying to enjoy where we’re at.

“That underdog mentality is something that this football club really thrives on anyway, from a fanbase, a player and staff perspective. We can just go into every game now with

that freedom that we’ve had a good season - but can we try and achieve something?”

Millwall may be in the hunt for automatic promotion, but there are sides lurking below who are still within striking distance of them. Sixthplaced Southampton and seventhplaced Wrexham are six points off the Lions, while Hull City are three points behind in fifth.

Cooper has confidence in a squad that is the strongest the club have built since Mark McGhee’s side fell at the play-off semi-final hurdle over two decades ago.

“We’ve got really ambitious players, and we added people like Tommy Watson and Anthony Patterson

who’ve been through it before, and Barry [Bannan] has got so much experience,” Cooper said. “He’s been in the play-offs before and in the Premier League. It’s not like we feel like we’re inexperienced in these situations.

“It’s just about keeping that same mentality that the gaffer gives us about going into every game to try and win and not focusing on games in advance or the end of the season yet or anything like that. It’s just taking each step at a time.

“My role is saying that to the lads.

Whenever anyone speaks about what could happen come May, then it’s just brushing that to the side and focusing on what we’re doing right now.”

Winning games raises expectations,

Tristan Crama: ‘This group has big character’

By John Kelly

TRISTAN CRAMA revealed just how much risk Millwall took in the second half at Ipswich Town - and said it would be impossible to do it for 90 minutes.

The Lions were given the runaround in the opening 45 minutes at Portman Road and could have been more than one goal down against the second-best side at home in the Championship this season.

But boss Alex Neil changed tactics at the break as well as introducing Mihailo Ivanovic for Macaulay Langstaff, with the visitors going man-to-man against the Tractor Boys all over the pitch.

Kieran McKenna’s side had scored 36 league goals in their own backyard by the half-time break, including Jack Clarke’s low shot that beat goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. But the Lions kept their automatic promotion rivals goalless for the rest of the game and

earned a point through Josh Coburn’s third goal in four games.

“It was a game of two halves. If you take the first half we were all disappointed with our performances. But if you take the second half we were all disappointed not to get the three points,” Crama said.

“We showed our character. The message at half-time was clear: ‘We’ve got nothing to lose now, let’s get out there.’ We basically went one-v-one all over the pitch, we got the goal early [in the second half] and I think we did well until the end of the game. We had some good chances to get all three points, but at this stage of the season every point counts so we’ll take that.

“They have the [second] best record at home this season. They’re one of the best teams in the league. We planned that if we needed a goal we could go two up top and press onev-one. At the back we went one-vone - that’s something you cannot do for 90 minutes. It’s very tough,

it’s very demanding but we did it for 45 minutes. Everyone was tired at the end of the game. That’s what we needed to do and that’s why I say this group has a lot of character.”

Over 2,000 Lions supporters made the trip to East Anglia to see their side battle back.

Crama said: “They were amazing from the first minute to the last second of the game. Amazing. Wow - we can’t thank them enough for this.”

Neil’s side face another top-two rival next when they travel to the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough on Friday. Crama was relieved the squad didn’t have almost two weeks to stew over a poor result.

“It was good to get a point because [normally] in the Championship you’ve got a chance to bounce back straight after,” he said. “But we had two weeks so it was good to get a point.

“We have some rest and then prepare for one of the most important games of the season.”

and Neil has often said his players can sense it.

“I felt it in the summer, with obviously how well Alex did with us towards the end of the season, and the chairman, the way he spent his money and the sales we made and then the reinvestments that he made, especially last January,” Cooper said.

“It’s just been gradual, so I don’t think it was an overnight thing.

“The players and the staff, we feel like we’ve got a good team and a good set-up, and we feel like we can win every game. It doesn’t feel like it’s an expectation that is above our reach.”

Compared to previous top-six challenges, Millwall have been in and around the play-off places since

October, and the mantra under Neil has been to approach every game looking for the three points, regardless of the opponent.

“Confidence is high because we’ve won a lot of games this season,” Cooper said. “We fully go out there looking to win, and the manager sets us up in that way, and speaks in that way.

“That is everybody’s mentality. I know the Burnley game didn’t go well [on the final day of last season], but even when we go to top sides, like when we went to Crystal Palace [in the EFL Cup], the ambition is to go and try and win those games. That’s been our mindset over the past fourteen, fifteen months that we’ve had the manager.”

Sport INSIDE

AUDITIONS JAPANNED

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer among those who failed to impress Surrey re-sign leg spinner Rahul Chahar

Promotion fervour grips Bermondsey

By John Kelly

MILLWALL HAVE sold out their remaining home games of the regular Championship season as play-off and promotion excitement and anticipation builds in Bermondsey.

The Lions are in fourth place in the table with seven games left ahead of their trip to the Riverside Stadium to face second-placed Middlesbrough on Good Friday. A victory on Teesside would take them a point above Boro.

Alex Neil’s Lions face Norwich City on Easter Monday at 1pm.

The Canaries are top of the Championship’s form table and have an outside chance of finishing in the top six as they are nine points off the play-offs.

Norwich sold out their allocation of 3,000 tickets, their biggest away following of the campaign.

Julien Stephan’s Queens Park Rangers make the short trip across London on Saturday, April 18 at 12.30pm.

The last game at The Den of the regular season is against Oxford United on Saturday, May 2, also at the earlier 12.30pm kick-off time.

After the fixture against Boro, Millwall have away games at West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Leicester City.

The club are enjoying their highest home attendances in more than 50 years.

Meanwhile, former Scotland striker and football pundit and broadcaster Ally McCoist said you would be a “mug” to rule Millwall out of automatic promotion.

McCoist had an unsuccessful spell at Boro’s rivals Sunderland in the early 1980s before returning to Scotland to join Glasgow Rangers and becoming a legend at Ibrox.

“I need to be honest, I’m in a kind of no-lose situation here because I love Boro,” McCoist said when asked about who he is leaning towards in the toptwo race.

By John Kelly

THOMAS TUCHEL was critical of England’s attackers including Chelsea’s Cole Palmer after a number of Three Lions fluffed their auditions in the absence of regular starters as the hosts were booed off the pitch at Wembley following their 1-0 defeat to Japan on Tuesday night.

Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma's side-footed past Jordan Pickford in the 23rd minute after he had dispossessed Palmer to start the move. Palmer started in the number ten position behind false nine Phil Foden of Manchester City.

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon started on the wings but also offered little.

England looked toothless without injured captain Harry Kane. They only really threatened late on when substitute Marcus Rashford had a shot saved by Zion Suzuki and another replacement, Harry Maguire, saw his effort cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara .

The majority of the 79,233 attendance at Wembley were left worried about their World Cup prospects after two games without a win in the international break and with questionable strength in depth.

England play friendlies against

New Zealand and Costa Rica in June.

"I'm not the biggest person to talk about individuals, but if we put offensive players on the pitch, we demand offensive actions, creativity, dribbling, shots and assists and we clearly didn't have enough,” Tuchel said.

“We made it difficult for ourselves to find them in the half-spaces. We played against a deep 5-4-1. We didn't use the width of the field enough and our offensive players struggled to make a difference in one-on-one situations.

"Against that formation, you get no superiority through passingit's through winning one-on-ones.

"In the second half Japan got a

bit more tired, we invested more on the sides to open up the middle and it was difficult for them to get their chances.

"We had three camps where we didn't open the door a lot for newcomers and in this one, we did. We had to adapt to seven or eight injuries but I can put it into perspective. It's just the way it is."

Tuchel added: "The players tried. It’s difficult because we try to learn stuff in two days and I'll take the responsibility for that, but the group was new, and some of the group heard the voice and principles of me for the first time."

England start their World Cup tournament against Croatia in Toronto, Canada, on on June 17.

“I want all the north-east teams [to be in the Premier League]. I love the northeast, but I also love Big Alan Brazil, he’s my mate, and he’s an Ipswich man through and through.

“So the Tractor Boys back in the top flight absolutely would not be a disaster, [but] you’d be a mug to rule Millwall out.”