South London Weekly - February 20th 2026

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Campaign to keep Brixton Police Station’s front counter open 24/7

By Ruby Gregory Local Democracy Reporter

THE LAMBETH Labour Group has launched a petition urging the Metropolitan Police to keep Brixton Police Station’s front counter open to the public 24/7 and not reduce its hours.

Lambeth’s Labour councillors said the police station’s 24/7 counter is “vital” for the safety of residents, especially elderly people, vulnerable individuals and victims who rely on face-to-face support.

Under the plans, Brixton Police Station’s front counter would open from 10am to 10pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 7pm on weekends. If the counter’s hours are reduced, the nearest 24/7 stations would be in Lewisham and Charing Cross.

The Met plans to close 18 front counters, 14 current 24/7 front counters, and four already-reduced front counters as it needs to close a budget gap of £260million.

The Met said its decision to reduce and close some front counters will save around £7million and would cut 3,752 hours of police office time per month.

However Lambeth Labour has called on the Met to reconsider its plans for Brixton Police Station, which it says has had no proper consultation with residents, the council or local stakeholders.

A spokesperson for the Met said they remain in the early stages of the proposals to reduce and close some of its front counters, and have engaged with stakeholders, including unions prior to a formal consultation which they said will occur when a decision is made.

Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities at Lambeth Council, said: “Firstly, we welcome the fact that we’ve just secured extra police officers for Brixton and that we are seeing a fall in violent crime across Lambeth.

“But this isn’t the time to reduce public access to our last remaining police station. This decision affects the whole borough, the police station serves multiple busy town centres and venues across the borough, not just Brixton.”

Cllr Hashi added: “We are calling for a serious rethink of this decision and will be raising residents’ views directly with the Police, to ensure we keep Lambeth safe and secure.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to Mario Schifano, who owns San Marino, a popular Italian-inspired café and bar which has existed in the area for the last 35 years.

Mario said keeping the front counter open 24/7 was a “no brainer” and went on to say “Brixton is in need of a lot of help”.

The café owner grew up nearby and has seen the area change dramatically over the years.

He said: “Brixton needs to be an area where the public feel safe because when they feel safe that means more revenue is coming in, more businesses are opening up and there’s more cash for the businesses to spend on staff and employment. It’s just a full economy.”

Local resident, Anne added: “I’m very rooted in the community and I just think it would be a great pity to cut back on the

hours because I actually think the police are doing a very good job.

“Not everybody is on the internet to report something, there’s all sorts of reasons to go in as somebody could find someone else’s wallet and [needs to] hand it in, to something more serious, you know, some kind of negative experience.”

Anne added: “The community in Brixton is fantastic and it’s intense. It’s lively and I love living here and I’ve lived here a long time, but I just know from my own experience it would be a real, real pity if they cut the hours back.”

When the LDRS got in touch with the Met Police, a spokesperson said: “Just 5per cent of crimes were reported using front counters last year, with only 1per cent of these being made during the night.

“At the busiest front counter in London on average 15 crimes are reported a day – less than one an hour – and in the least busy, only 2.5 crimes are reported a day.”

They added: “Londoners tell us they want to see more officers on our streets. The decision to reduce and close some front

counters will save £7million and 3,752 hours of police officer time per month allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “Nothing is more important to the Mayor than keeping Londoners safe and Sadiq is determined to support Sir Mark Rowley deliver a New Met for London with neighbourhood policing at the heart of communities.

“The proposed changes to Police Station front counters is an operational decision for the Met, based on resources, funding and public demand for services.”

They added: “The Mayor will continue to support the Met to deliver what Londoners want – boosting visible neighbourhood policing on our streets as well as having ongoing discussions with Ministers and the Commissioner about the funding the Met needs to ensure we can continue building a safer London for everyone.”

A link to Lambeth Labour’s petition can be found lambeth-labour.org.uk/petition

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EXCLUSIVE

By Evie Flynn

A LIFELONG Millwall fan has selflessly donated one of his kidneys to a Crystal Palace supporter, who says he woke up from the operation singing Millwall songs.

Garry Tanner, 39, received the transplant on Thursday 5 February at Guy’s Hospital after living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) for the past 30 years.

His brother-in-law, 51-year-old Tony, had anonymously put his own name forward to be Garry’s donor.

Garry said: “I’ve obviously never been Millwall’s biggest fan and, to be honest, I usually hope they lose. When I woke up after the surgery, Tony and his son had me singing a Millwall song, which was a bit tricky, but I didn’t care. He’d effectively saved my life.”

CKD is a progressive condition where the function of Garry’s kidneys decreases over time. There is no cure and, without a successful transplant, it can ultimately prove fatal.

Knowing this, Tony contacted Guy’s Hospital, offering his own kidney “so that Garry can be the best Dad he can be.”

He said: “I decided to put myself forward because Garry and his wife Charlotte have the most wonderful little family with three lovely children, two of whom are under five.”

Tony’s own son, also a Millwall supporter, finds the football rivalry element of the transplant “hilarious”, joking that Garry now has to be a mascot or visit The Den wearing a Millwall shirt. Tony, however, has other ideas. “There’s still no changing Garry from Palace,” he laughed. “I’ve told him he’s not to come to any Millwall games – The Den is my church and he’s not allowed in it.”

Garry said the pair have shared years of Millwall-versus-Crystal Palace banter. He is even considering commissioning a half-Millwall, half-Palace shirt to mark the bond they now share.

Both men live near Sevenoaks with their wives, who are sisters. Garry grew up in the area and says he inherited his Palace support from his father.

Tony grew up in Waterloo but attended the now-demolished Scott Lidgett School in Bermondsey, just five minutes from The Den’s old ground. He was a season ticket holder for ten years whilst his three children were young, but still makes it to the games whenever he can.

“Garry texts me four or five times a day thanking me for what I’ve done,” Tony said. “I tell him it will all be worth it when he’s running around the garden playing with the kids.”

Ahead of the operation, Tony followed a strict fitness regime, losing 24kg to ensure he was in peak condition for surgery.

The men have the same blood type, but Tony explained that crucially they also had the same number of kidney valves, which meant they were a perfect match for the transplant.

Garry has lived with CKD since he was a boy, but in recent years his kidney function had declined to just 10 per cent.

“I’ve known for a long time that I would need a transplant,” he said. “But I didn’t expect it to come from someone I’d only known for a few years. Not many people would do what he’s done for me. He’s an incredible man.”

One of the main symptoms of CKD is extreme fatigue, forcing Garry to work from home rather than commute to the office in the City, where he works for a private bank.

He said: “I have two very young children

CRYSTAL PALACE FAN THANKS LIONS SUPPORTER

and I wasn’t able to be the parent I wanted to be. CKD only gets worse as time goes on, so I knew something needed to be done.”

Guy’s Hospital, where Tony was born, is well-known for its expertise in kidney transplantation. The team at Guy’s began compatibility tests for the transplant long before Garry knew Tony had offered to be his donor.

The operation took place last week and, according to both men, went “as smoothly as it could have done.”

Garry shared the news on X, writing: “Last week I had a life saving kidney transplant, donated to me by a family Millwall supporter.

“Thankfully it was a success, but I do now have a bit of Millwall in me… What an incredibly selfless thing to do, life changing, from a rival…”

The post has received over 40,000

interactions, with good wishes pouring in from supporters of both clubs.

“All the Millwall fans commenting on my X post have been so friendly,” Garry said. “It just shows there are people out there who genuinely do care, rivalries aside.”

Both men now face months of recovery, with Garry currently taking more than 30 tablets a day to prevent organ rejection.

“CKD can eventually lead to death. I’m not saying it was going to happen tomorrow,” Garry added, “but Tony’s selflessness has effectively given me another 20 years of life and saved me a lot of suffering.”

To learn more about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or to donate to leading charity Kidney Care UK, please visit: https://kidneycareuk.org/

LIVE FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY

IMPLEMENTED AT LONDON BRIDGE STATION

It is the first station to go live with the controversial technology recording millions of faces in one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs

By Frankie Hills

BRITISH TRANSPORT Police

(BTP) has announced the rollout of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology at London Bridge railway station as part of a sixmonth trial.

The technology was installed and went live on Wednesday 11th February.

London Bridge is the first station to go live with the controversial technology, recording millions of faces in one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs.

Over 54 million passengers used London Bridge last year and the BTP say they will give dates and locations for other stations taking part in the LFR pilot in the coming weeks, publishing them online before activating the cameras.

The police are encouraging people using the station during the trial to give them feedback with a QR code on posters and have said passengers who don’t want to be scanned by the cameras will be given an alternative route to avoid them.

The use of the camera has drawn much criticism from privacy and civil liberties campaigners, most notably from a group called Big Brother Watch.

The group, alongside 39-year-old Shaun Thompson, have gone to the High Court to challenge the Met Police’s use of LFR, after Shaun was mistakenly identified when passing a camera van two years ago in London Bridge.

He described how he had been returning home from a shift in Croydon with the community group Street Fathers, which aims to protect young people from knife crime. As he passed a white van, he said police approached him and told him he was a wanted man.

Describing LDR as as “stop and search on steroids” he said officers had asked him for his fingerprints, but he refused, and he was let go only after about 30 minutes, having shown them a photo of

his passport.

Lawyers representing the director of Big Brother Watch, Silkie Carlo, and Shaun Thompson told a High Court hearing last month that the police’s use of LFR was increasing ‘exponentially.’

The Met Police used facial recognition 231 times and scanned around 4 million faces last year, Dan Squires KC said during the judicial review at High Court.

There are plans to extend the cameras’ use, although consultation on it is still underway and in Croydon over 100 wanted criminals were arrested in the first months of a pilot where camera were mounted onto street furniture on the high street.

The Met said there was just one false alert during that pilot.

In Elephant and Castle the use of LFR at Sainsbury’s supermarket has made the headlines when earlier this month, Warren Rajah, 42, was mistakenly identified as a criminal at their New Kent Road store and removed from the premises.

Whilst the supermarket chain later apologised for the incident it has fuelled debate as to the effectiveness and potential intrusiveness of LFR.

Big Brother Watch’s Matthew Feeney said of the new pilot scheme in London Bridge: “We all want train passengers to travel safely, but subjecting lawabiding passengers to mass biometric surveillance is a disproportionate and disturbing response.

“Facial recognition technology remains unregulated in the UK

and police forces, including British Transport Police, are writing their own facial recognition rules, including those governing how they use the technology and who they place on watchlists.

“It is especially concerning that British Transport Police are moving ahead with facial recognition deployments before the Home Office has finished its consultation on a legal framework for police use of facial recognition technology.

“The use of this technology is especially offensive in a democracy where neither the public nor Parliament has ever voted on its use.

“Sadly, the UK stands out among democracies when it comes to the widespread use of live facial recognition. The Government must

take immediate steps to rein in police use of this technology.”

Chief Superintendent Chris Casey, the BTP’s senior officer overseeing the project at London Bridge, said:

“[We] want to reiterate that this is a trial of the technology to assess how it performs in a railway setting. The initiative follows a significant amount of research and planning, and forms part of BTP’s commitment to using innovative technology to make the railways a hostile place for individuals wanted for serious criminal offences, helping us keep the public safe.

“People who prefer not to enter the recognition zone will have alternative routes available and images of anyone not on the authorised database will be deleted immediately and permanently.

“We want to make the trial as effective as it can be and we welcome your feedback. You can scan the QR codes on the posters and tell us your thoughts.”

Representing the Met at the High Court Anya Proops KC said officers were searching for “literally thousands” of wanted individuals in London.

She said locating them was “akin to looking for stray needles in an enormous, exceptionally dense haystack” and argued that LFR enabled police to identify people who would otherwise go undetected.

She said officers made 801 arrests last year “specifically as a result of LFR” insisting that intrusion on the public’s privacy was “only minimal”. Data from people not on a watchlist was deleted “a fraction of a second” after creation, she added.

A High Court judgement by Lord Justice Holgate and Mrs Justice Farbey will be handed down at a later date.

Further information on the London Bridge pilot is available on the BTP’s website www.btp.police.uk/policeforces/british-transport-police/areas/ about-us/about-us/facial-recognitiontechnology/

By Issy Clarke

POLICE ARE searching for information after an 18-yearold man was stabbed to death in Peckham last Saturday night (14 February).

Police were called to reports of an assault on Rye Lane, near the junction with Heaton Road, at 7:09 pm on Saturday.

The Met and the London Ambulance Service treated a man for wounds before taking him to hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead.

The victim’s next of kin have been

informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

No arrests have been made at this stage.

Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, from the Met’s Central South Command, said: “No one should lose their life because of knife crime.

This morning, family and friends are waking up without their loved one.

Our thoughts are with them at this incredibly difficult time.

“We understand the impact a crime like this has on the community and you can expect to see an increased police presence in the area. If you are a local resident, please do share

any concerns with our officers on the ground.

“In the meantime, our detectives are working meticulously to identify those responsible, and piece together what happened.”

Police are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was near Rye Lane on Saturday, 14 February between 18:30hrs and 19:30hrs.

Those with information are urged to contact the Met via 101, quoting 6065/14Feb.

Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

St

Thomas’ admits ‘increased demand’ has led to delays with pregnancy scans, after woman says she waited weeks for a slot

EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke

St Thomas’s Hospital has admitted there are delays to pregnancy scans after a woman said she had to wait weeks for a slot, and was eventually booked in three weeks after the last recommended date.

The News contacted the Trust after a woman, who asked to be kept anonymous, told us she spent weeks calling and emailing the hospital trying to book her first maternity scan, but was repeatedly told that none were available.

She was eventually offered an appointment scheduled 17 weeks into her pregnancy - around three weeks later than the last date she should have received a scan.

The Guy’s and St Thomas’s Trust website states that women should receive a maternity scan within the first 11-14 weeks of pregnancy.

The scans check how far along a woman is in her pregnancy and whether the baby is developing as expected.

After the News contacted the trust to ask if there was a delay, a spokesperson admitted some pregnant women had been forced to wait longer for their first scan because of ‘increased demand and capacity pressures’.

The spokesperson said: “We recognise

that some women have experienced longer waits than expected for their first maternity scan at St Thomas’, and we are sorry for any frustration or worry this has caused.

“The delays are due to increased demand and capacity pressures within our ultrasound services. We have put a number of measures in place to reduce the backlog, including additional support from our doctors to help our sonographers, and recruiting to the vacancies we have within the team.

“We are continuing to closely monitor the situation and are working hard to bring waiting times back down as quickly as possible.”

The spokesperson did not directly comment on how many patients at the trust have been affected.

Asked why demand was up even though birth rates in London are falling, Guys and St Thomas’s said their maternity unit is extremely popular, meaning it has bucked the trend and actually seen an increase in referrals.

Only Fools and Horses’ Racquel to star in show at playhouse

By Evie Flynn

TESSA PEAKE-JONES will lead the cast of Invisible Me, a comedy drama running at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 8 April to 2 May.

The play, written by Bren Gosling and directed by Scott Le Crass, follows three working-class Londoners navigating love and loneliness in their sixties.

Tessa Peak-Jones is set to play Lynn, who works as a hotel cleaner who rattles around a house she inherited from her mum.

68-year-old Peak-Jones rose to fame after playing Racquel Turner, the longterm partner of Del Boy, on the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

The second story follows Jack, a newly widowed and HIV-positive gay man who is hurled back onto the single scene after 35 years.

The final story is about Alec, divorced and estranged from his grown-up kids, he is still convinced he’s the same person he was in 1982.

The play is recommended for ages 16 and above due to themes of domestic abuse, bereavement, loneliness, online sex, and drug use.

Price: £22 standard, £18 concessions

Location: 77-85 Newington Causeway,

London SE1 6BD

Dates: 8 April – 2 May southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/ productions/invisible-me/

LUNAR NEW YEAR AT THE GREENWICH PENINSULA

By Evie Flynn

GREENWICH PENINSULA is set to host a vibrant celebration of the Lunar New Year on Saturday 21 February, bringing traditional performances, East Asian food and a range of £5 workshops.

From 12pm - 5pm, head to the Peninsula to welcome the Year of the Horse and take part in a range of free and paid-for activities encouraging health and prosperity.

From dragon and lion dances to food trails and high-energy cultural performances, expect a blend of art, culture and community.

Take part in a range of workshops, including traditional Chinese calligraphy, knot-braiding and paper cutting. Also, expect roaming stilt walkers and performers weaving through the crowds throughout the afternoon.

If you are unable to make it on 21 February, the Firepit Art Gallery will be hosting an ongoing exhibition, showcasing the artistic traditions of the Henan province until 14 March.

Address: Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0ES

PERFORMANCES:

Dragon Dance:

As a spectacular opening to the celebrations, a traditiona Dragon Dance will bring energy and good fortune to the Peninsula.

Featuring rhythmic drums and sweeping movements, the dance symbolises peace, prosperity and the promise of a bright year ahead.

Time: 15:00 - 15:30 and 16:15 - 16:30

Location: Peninsula Square

Lion Dance:

A Chinese New Year Lion Dance will combine impressive acrobatics, sounds of live percussion and movement in a powerdul display.

Lions embody good fortune and protection, encouraging unity and celebration.

Time: 14:30 - 14:45 and 15:30 - 16:00

Location: Peninsula Square

MUSIC:

LOOSE.fm DJs:

DJS from LOOSE.fm will bring vibrant music sets from day to night, combining contemporary sounds with traditional global rhythms.

Time: All day

Location: Canteen Terrace & Barton

Yard, Design District FOOD:

Take your tastebuds on a journey across the Peninsula to discover a range of Asian street food- from homemade dumpling and noodles to grilled skewers and sweet treats.

Head to Canteen Food Hall & Bar for global flavours from a range of independent kitchens. Kiki & Miu Miu will be selling Asian groceries, baked treats and bubble tea.

Visit Cakes & Layers for indulgent pastries and French-inspired desserts or explore the wider line-up of cafés, bars and restaurants, from Eat Fan’s pan-Asian plates to Caspino’s two for one cocktails.

Market:

Eastern Margins will return to host a range of community traders with a curated market of East Asian food, arts and crafts.

Discover independent makers, artists and designers as they share their homemade pieces, prints, ceramics and homeware.

Time: 12:00 - 17:00

Where: Design District

WORKSHOPS- PRICED AT £5 EACH:

Get creative with hands-on sessions celebrating lunar New Year traditions. Each workshop will offer the chance to learn something new and experience traditional Chinese artistry. Workshops are £5 per session and can be booked on the Greenwich Peninsula Eventbrite.

Paper cutting:

Have a go at paper cutting - a delicate art form symbolising luck and happiness. The workshops will guide you through the creation of your own designs to take home.

Time: Sessions every hour from 12:00 - 16:00

Location: Long Table Room, Design District Coworking

Woodblock Printing:

Discover the art of traditional Chinese woodblock printing and create your own Year of the Horse print to take home. The accessible session will give attendees a chance to experiment with ink and learn about different motifs and techniques inspired by heritage patterns.

Time: Sessions every hour from 12:00 - 16:00

Location: Long Table Room, Design

District Coworking

Calligraphy:

Explore the art of Chinese calligraphy with guidance from an expert. The session will teach attendees to write specialist characters and take home a Year of the Horse keepsake.

Time: Sessions at 12:15, 13:15, 14:45 and 16:00

Location: The Hub Mezzanine (Floor 1), Sale and Lettings Suite

Chinese Knot-Braiding:

Take part in a centuries-old tradition celebrating luck and prosperity in a Chinese knot-braiding workshop. Create your own keepsake under the guidance of Octavia Yang, jewellery designer and art facilitator.

Time: Sessions at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00

Location: Firepit Art Gallery and Studio

ONGOING EXHIBITION:

The Splendours of Henan Exhibition: Firepit Art Gallery and Studio will be hosting a special exhibition, celebrating the artistry and traditions of China’s Henan province.

Dates: 17 February - 14 March

Location: Firepit Art Gallery and Studio

PENINSULA

Saturday 21 February 12pm - 5pm

Celebrate the Year of the Horse with Dragon & Lion Dances, art exhibitions, vibrant markets, DJs and a feast of cultural experiences. @greenwich.peninsula AT

POLICE APPEAL AFTER 22-YEAR-OLD LORIK ABAZI IS KILLED IN CROYDON

By Maya Sgaravato-Grant

THE VICTIM of a fatal stabbing in Croydon last weekend has been publicly identified for the first time after murder detectives made a string of arrests.

Lorik Abazi (pictured ) from Croydon died in hospital after being found with stab wounds on Hesterman Way, Croydon in the early hours of Sunday morning February 15.

Officers attended the scene with the London Ambulance Service at 1.15am and found three men with stab wounds including 22-year-old Lorik. He was taken to hospital but despite the efforts of medical staff he sadly died.

In a statement, Lorik’s family described him as a ‘caring, smart young man’.

They said: “A light has gone out in our lives, and we are devastated beyond words by his loss.”

Two 25-year-old women and a 28-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the case on Sunday afternoon. One of the

women has since been released on bail.

Four additional people were arrested on suspicion of affray, including two 21-year old men who also suffered stab injuries in the incident. One of these men remains in potentially critical condition in hospital.

The other suspects are a 21-yearold woman, who has been released on bail, and a 22-year-old woman.

Chief Superintendent Nick Blackburn said that detectives were ‘working around-the clock’ to bring the culprits to justice.

He said: “We believe this to have been an isolated incident and I hope the fact we have a number of suspects in custody provides some reassurance to people in Croydon.

“We have increased patrols in the local area and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to my officers.”

Anyone with any information is requested to call 101 quoting ref CAD511/15Feb, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Neighbourhood wardens to patrol Balham in £170K trial to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour

By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter

NEIGHBOURHOOD WARDENS are set to patrol a Balham for the first time in a new trial scheme.

Wandsworth Council plans to roll out the £170,000 pilot for six months to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, with the potential to introduce it in other parts of the borough if it is successful.

The core team is set to consist of the council’s parks police constables, without impacting their regular service, with extra support from council officers. They will patrol the area four days a week at peak times, including after school, commuter windows and in the evening, starting in March.

The pilot will be funded from developer contributions, costing £170,000 for the six-month trial. The funds will be used for staffing, training, uniforms and operational requirements, including vehicles.

The success of the pilot will be assessed using performance indictors that are still being finalised, but are likely to include resident feedback, breaches of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), enhanced referrals to support services and incidences of shoplifting and fly-tipping. The Labourrun council’s cabinet will make a final decision on whether to approve the trial on February 23.

The council proposed the pilot

after launching the Balham Forum in November to explore residents’ views on the town centre and propose improvements, which could also be rolled out across the rest of the borough.

A new report by council officers said that while most residents who gave feedback generally felt safe in Balham, some concerns were raised about perceived rises in levels of antisocial behaviour, street cleanliness, enforcement of PSPOs and the need for long-term, compassionate solutions to homelessness.

The neighbourhood wardens will engage with residents and businesses, provide targeted education and intervention and use enforcement powers where necessary to address anti-social behaviour.

The report said: “The overarching message received from residents was that they broadly value their area but feel that growing pressures could risk undermining the positive aspects which contribute to the ‘village feel’ of Balham.”

It added: “National and local learning consistently shows that visible patrols used as part of a wider joined-up council response are key to improving public confidence and safety. The aim is therefore to deter and tackle anti-social behaviour, while ensuring the team connects people in need to appropriate support services.

“Residents have been clear that they want to see people in need of services such as rough sleepers given help with

clear outcomes, not just moved along. As well as the strong steer we have received from residents via the forum, the Balham area makes sense as a pilot area due to its representative mix of economic, residential and transport hubs, further supported by strong resident engagement through the Balham Forum.”

Other measures introduced by the council to help residents feel safer

include increased CCTV coverage and improved lighting. It also pledges to fix graffiti, a dangerous pothole or a broken street sign within seven days of it being reported.

Labour council leader Simon Hogg said: “Safer neighbourhoods is a top priority for the council. Cuts to police funding over the last decade mean they have to focus on more serious crime, but we know that low-level nuisances

like graffiti, noise and other antisocial behaviour have a big impact on residents’ lives.

“Wandsworth is the safest inner London borough, but we are determined that local people should always feel safe out on the streets.”

The council will gather feedback from residents on the pilot to measure its success and whether it should be rolled out to other town centres.

CRUCIAL PECKHAM THOROUGHWAY COULD SEE TRAFFIC CHAOS IF CLOSURE PLANS GO AHEAD, SAY LOCAL RESIDENTS

The proposal is to

EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke

RESIDENTS HAVE expressed concern about the council’s plans to close off part of a major road in Peckham to traffic.

Southwark Council wants to close the road on the eastern side of Peckham Rye Park to cars, with only buses and cyclists allowed through.

It will mean cars are forced onto the western portion of the road on the other side of the park, which residents have warned will create a bottleneck.

The southbound bus shelter on Peckham Rye West would be moved further north to a narrower section of the

road, which residents warned could make traffic worse by leaving less space for cars and cyclists to get past.

There are also fears the changes could pose a safety hazard by potentially leading to a build-up of traffic at the junction of East Dulwich Road and Peckham Rye West, near the Harris Academy secondary school and a nursery.

The council said the changes to the road layout were designed to make it safer, improve the reliability of buses and upgrade walking and cycling routes.

Liz Brough, Chair of the Friends of Peckham Rye Park, said: “The Friends of Peckham Rye Park have severe issues with the closure of through traffic along the north eastern side of the Common apart from buses, resulting in all traffic

East Dulwich Road/Peckham Rye West

being forced onto the junction of Peckham Rye West and East Dulwich Road.

“The busy junction is already congested and a danger to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. It is of concern that during events on the Common the footfall of traffic and pedestrians will increase, resulting in further danger and risk of accidents. It is not necessary to close the north eastern side of the Common – there

Bermondsey foodbank fears future after

Zipcar’s exit trebles transport costs

By Issy Clarke

A BERMONDSEY foodbank is fearing for its future after Zipcar’s retreat from London tripled their transport costs.

Children at Boutcher Primary School in Bermondsey, Bird in Bush Primary School in Peckham, Cathedral Primary School in Borough and Rye Oak Primary School in Peckham get regular meal kits from the South London Mission.

The charity based on Bermondsey Street delivers 147 meal kits, stuffed

with healthy ingredients and recipes, to children at the four primary schools and used to pay £50 to hire a Zipcar van every Friday afternoon to deliver the boxes.

But since Zipcar pulled out of London in January, their transport costs have trebled. It now costs them £150 to hire a van from the next-cheapest company once the congestion charge and insurance are factored in. Without a more affordable option, the charity fears they might have to stop their weekly mealkit delivery round.

It will also mean they can’t get to a central London donation hub once

a week where they pick up food and health products for their Wednesday food bank at the Bermondsey Central Hall Methodist Church on Bermondsey Street.

The charity has launched a fundraiser in the hope of securing enough donations to enable them to buy their own van.

The fundraising goal is set at £20,000, but to begin with they need to raise £5,000 by March 13.

After that, the donations will be eligible for match-funding from the Big Give, the fundraising platform, which will hopefully push them towards their target.

is plenty of space for vehicles and cyclists.

“The relocation of bus stops along Peckham Rye West and Nigel Road will cause further congestion, danger and pollution to residents living near the northern end of the Common.”

Iain Johncock, a local resident near East Dulwich Road, said, “Southwark Council’s £3.4m windfall from traffic cameras in Dulwich Village last year, as reported

by Southwark News, should alert local residents to its intention at Peckham Rye East.

“The closure of the road should not go ahead – forcing all the traffic to the west side will not only slow bus services but also increase the risk of accidents for cyclists. The Council needs to think again.“

Southwark Council was contacted for comment.

CHURCH ROOF COLLAPSES IN CAMBERWELL DUE TO ‘DODGY VICTORIAN WORKMANSHIP’

EXCLUSIVE

By Issy Clarke

THE ROOF of a church in Camberwell came crashing down last month due to ‘dodgy workmanship’ from more than 150 years ago.

Cottage Green Chapel is an 180-yearold Baptist church on Cottage Green, between Southampton Way and Wells Way.

Last month Haydon Murr, who runs the church with his wife Alison, arrived one morning to discover that one of the wooden supports holding up the tile roof of Cottage Green Chapel had snapped – causing the entire ceiling to come crashing down.

“I eventually managed to push my way in and realised the ceiling was collapsing. Long story short, one of the major roof trusses which support the slate roof had just snapped off and fallen through.”

“Initially I thought it was damp,” the church leader said – before discovering dodgy Victorian craftsmanship was to blame.

“Two of the trusses were added a few years after the rest of the church was built, and for some reason they’re narrower than the rest,” he explained.

“Then they put a bolt in at the angle that is not dead centre.”

He added: “It’s incredible it’s lasted the length of time it has.

“The other one that’s narrow is also cracking in the same way.”

Haydon said the disaster was

“definitely a shock. We have got plans to redevelop – but not on this time scale.”

Currently, the roof is being hoisted up while they wait for the surveyors to come over and assess the extent of the damage.

“The repair of the roof is going to cost

hundreds of thousands. It may be that it can’t be hoisted up and that the entire timber substructure will need to be replaced.”

He said that because he believes the craftsmanship is what caused the roof to collapse, he fears they probably won’t

be able to get it covered by insurance –but they’ll hopefully be able to get it for some of the secondary damage. They plan to launch a fundraiser in the coming weeks once they know what the next steps are to help them raise money to repair the roof.

16 NEWS

By Harrison Galliven Local Democracy Reporter

A HISTORIC Croydon park is “not for sale”, the council has insisted, but users say it is falling behind a neighbouring green space in Lambeth.

Norwood Grove was once described as one of the most beautiful parks in south London, yet locals say it urgently needs investment as it approaches its centenary.

“It really does need some tender loving care and investment to bring it back,” said Mark Leggett, chair of Friends of Norwood Grove. “Otherwise, it will continue to crumble.”

The Upper Norwood park sits on a hill overlooking central Croydon and adjoins Streatham Common and the Rookery. Its rolling fields and woodland have made it a popular spot for dog walkers.

“We have an amazing community of dog walkers here,” said regular visitor Nikki Izzard, who described it as one of the borough’s best-kept secrets.

However, another regular user told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the park has “seen better days”. Unlike Streatham Common, Norwood Grove was recently named in CPRE’s Cashing in on London’s Countryside 2026 report as a green space “at risk” of further deterioration.

NOT FOR SALE

The report referred to concerns among residents that Croydon Council “may sell off parts of the grounds for development”. The council has confirmed to the LDRS that this is not the case.

Croydon Mayor Jason Perry said: “Claims that Norwood Grove is being sold or earmarked for development are simply wrong.

“The site has never been marketed for sale, is not included in any councilapproved disposal programme, and there are no plans to sell any part of the grounds. Norwood Grove will remain a public green space, protected for current and future generations.”

FLOODING, PATHS AND OVERFLOWING BINS

Concerns remain about the condition of the park, its 200-year-old Grade II-listed house and the surrounding public gardens, all of which are the council’s responsibility.

The fountain and gardens around the historic White House — which contains flats and a nursery — provide the most visible signs of disrepair. The fountains run dry and sections of fencing and gates appear damaged.

Such is the state of disrepair that the gardens are currently listed on the latest Historic England – Heritage at Risk list. It notes that conditions are “declining” and “generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems.”

The problems continue behind the house, where the former stable block has remained boarded up since a fire, hidden from view behind graffiticovered hoardings. This area is also a littering hotspot, and has previously been targeted by fly-tipping and vandalism.

Flooding is another persistent issue across the park, worsened by record rainfall over the past month. Water collects along the eastern edge of the park, creating boggy, marsh-like conditions.

“The real issue is the ground itself, it doesn’t drain particularly well,” Mark

NORWOOD GROVE ‘NOT FOR SALE’ BUT IS IN NEED OF SOME TLC

told the LDRS. “Water runs down the park and collects at the bottom. I have to wear wellies to get in, and I don’t know how anyone using a wheelchair would manage.”

The saturated ground, combined with a lack of paved paths, makes large areas difficult to access. “We need to make sure it is accessible to more people,” he added.

Dog walkers also feel the park is lagging behind others. During a visit, long-time Norwood Grove dog walker Graznya Bednarek said: “It seems like the council doesn’t do much to clear the flooding.”

Amber Page agreed, adding: “If you compare it to places like Crystal Palace, it could do with proper pathways. Enough people use it to justify paths all the way round.”

Overflowing bins were another common complaint, with dog waste bags often spilling onto the ground.

“Then the foxes go after them, even the crows,” Graznya said.

Residents also called for more benches so visitors can better enjoy the panoramic views across Croydon.

CHANGE ON THE HORIZON?

While the council continues to provide core services such as grass cutting, shrub weeding and hedge pruning, Mark believes larger investment is currently out of reach, largely due to Croydon’s financial position and its historic £1.4bn debt.

“The current state of the park reflects Croydon’s inability to invest sufficiently over the past 10 years,” he said. “It is a real shame, but it is probably the harsh reality.”

He said the contrast with Streatham Common is striking, noting its wellestablished friends group and close working relationship with Lambeth Council.

“They have seen real success at Streatham Common and the Rookery

by working closely with Lambeth to get things done,” he said.

Friends groups, he added, help councils prioritise funding and drive improvements. After years without one, the creation of Friends of Norwood Grove has raised hopes of progress. The group now has an eight-member committee, a bank account and clear ambitions for the park.

With this development, the group hopes to raise the park’s profile through events, attract more volunteers and lobby the council to give it greater priority. “There is more of a drive within the council to do something about it,” Mark noted.

He believes National Lottery funding bids could help restore the park’s historic features while council finances remain stretched.

The council confirmed it is working with the Friends group, Historic England and local partners to secure funding and deliver long-term improvements. There are also plans to bring the stables back into use, potentially as a café.

“That is a business that would generate income for the local authority,” Mark said.

Although funding has not yet been secured, the progress has given the Friends optimism ahead of the park’s centenary year. “I’m positive, I just want it to get going,” he added.

Jason Perry added: “Norwood Grove is a valued historic and environmental asset. While it is the historic garden — not the house — that was placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, that designation reinforces the need for active stewardship.

“Protecting green spaces is a core commitment of my mayoralty. Croydon

is one of London’s greenest boroughs, with 127 parks and open spaces, and I am determined they are protected, maintained and enhanced — not quietly eroded.

“Elsewhere, the direction of travel is worrying: Sadiq Khan has U-turned on protecting the green belt, a move supported by Reform UK in the London Assembly. In Croydon, my position is clear — we will not concrete over valued green spaces, and the only party consistently standing up for our parks and green belt is the Conservative

PUTNEY PRIMARY SCHOOL SET TO CLOSE LESS THAN A DECADE AFTER IT OPENED

By Charlotte Lillywhite

Local Democracy Reporter

A PRIMARY school is set to close less than a decade after it opened due to falling pupil numbers.

Oasis Academy Putney said it had not been able to find a solution that would secure its long-term financial viability, despite extensive work with Wandsworth Council.

Leaders of the school, run by Oasis Community Learning, said it had not managed to attract enough pupils as families increasingly moved out of the area. Latest Government figures showed the school only had 121 pupils, aged four to 11, despite having capacity for 420 students.

The school opened less than a decade ago, in 2017, on the site of the former Putney Hospital, which was demolished in 2012.

Wandsworth Council, which is not part of the decision, said it would continue to work with leaders to “compassionately plan” for the school’s proposed closure.

John Barneby, CEO of Oasis Community Learning, said the trust had not taken the “incredibly difficult” decision lightly, but it had been unable to find an alternative to continue delivering the education every child deserved.

Mr Barneby said: “For almost ten years, we have provided the children of Oasis Academy Putney with an excellent education. Their results exceed the national average, and we have continued to receive positive responses from visiting Ofsted inspectors.

“However, we have not been able to increase the number of children joining our school because fewer children and families now live in the local area, with both the impact of Covid-19 and the increased cost of living contributing to this shift.

“This trend is not unique to our community, schools across London

RICHMOND AIMS TO GROW WITH 5,500 NEW HOMES

By Charlotte Lillywhite Local Democracy Reporter

HUGE PLANS have been announced for Richmond to grow with at least 5,500 new homes, 20 per cent more jobs and 10 per cent more businesses over the next decade.

Richmond Council has approved its draft growth plan, which sets out a framework to attract more investment, workers and visitors by 2036.

The plan sets out ambitious targets to achieve this growth over the next decade, including building more homes, workspaces and infrastructure and growing the number of jobs and businesses. Improving career progression, earnings and sustainability are also central to the plan.

The council’s finance committee approved the draft plan last Thursday February 12, which will now be finalised by officers before it is launched later this year.

The specific goals of the document include meeting or exceeding targets in Richmond’s new Local Plan, which was adopted in October, to build 5,500 new homes over the next decade –including 500 affordable homes.

The authority plans to work with developers to identify and unlock sites for new housing and maximise funding to deliver a “sustainable pipeline of new homes”.

A total of 2,527 households were recorded on the council’s waiting list this month, with 761 families in temporary accommodation.

The plan also sets out targets to increase the number of jobs in the borough by 20 per cent, the number of trading businesses by 10 per cent and the earnings of the lowest paid by 20 per cent over the 10-year period.

It aims to slash unemployment to pre-pandemic levels and return the borough’s economic activity rate to a level consistently above 80 per cent, along with increasing the proportion of “high growth” businesses employing 10 or more people from 5.5

and the country are facing similar challenges, with falling pupil numbers making it increasingly difficult to maintain financial viability.

“Despite extensive work with the local authority and other partners to explore every possible alternative, we have not been able to identify a sustainable solution that would allow

us to deliver the excellent education that every child deserves.”

The school kept its “Good” rating at Ofsted’s latest inspection in December 2024, where it was described as providing pupils with a “rich and ambitious curriculum”.

The trust will now consult on the proposed closure with parents,

staff and the wider community. This feedback will be considered by the Department for Education (DfE), which will make the final decision on the proposed closure.

Mr Barneby added: “We know this news will be deeply upsetting for many. Our priority is to support our pupils, staff and families through this potential transition. If the closure goes ahead, we will work closely with our community to help secure alternative school placements and provide emotional and practical support. Staff would be offered personalised HR guidance and support, and access to wellbeing resources.

“During this process, we remain fully committed to delivering the best possible education and care for every child. We will continue to uphold the values and standards that make Oasis Academy Putney such a special place.”

A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: “Oasis Community Learning have taken the difficult decision to propose closure of Oasis Academy Putney at the end of this academic year. We recognise this isn’t a decision they have taken lightly, but one reached as they are unable to secure the long-term financial viability of the school and continue to deliver the excellent education that every child deserves.

“Wandsworth Council will continue to work positively with the trust and school as we navigate this process together and to compassionately plan for possible closure. This is to ensure that every child is provided with – and transitions smoothly to – an alternative local school, and where possible to retain their highquality teachers and support staff within our Wandsworth family of schools.”

The school will close in July if the proposals are approved.

per cent to 7 per cent.

A new report by council officers said: “Given the headwinds faced by businesses and employers in recent years along with the impacts of technological change, particularly the likely deployment of Artificial Intelligence at scale, these are challenging targets but ones which can guide action and seek to maximise economic wellbeing for the borough.”

Lib Dem councillor Phil Giesler, business and growth lead member, told the committee the borough had a “good foundation but we can grow much further and much faster”.

Councillor Giesler said: “I think this is a really important statement of ambition for Richmond as a borough and a vital move forward in terms of our overall search for growth.

“I want to make the note that, of

course, we are already a successful borough in terms of our growth record. We have a good track record over the last 25 years, we’re the second-fastest growing borough in London, so not to be ashamed of, but we think we can do more.”

The council aims to launch the plan later this year. It will set up a “growth coalition” to oversee the delivery of the plan up to 2036.

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

Charles Bronson is Free and in Peckham Review: Dear Liar

I WAS intrigued enough to go along to see an exhibition of artworks by the notorious criminal that some newspapers say is the ‘Most Violent Prisoner’ in our penal system and who has been locked up - most of the time segregated from other inmates - for over 50 years! That’s two of my lifetimes, writes Elizabeth Paul.

I was warmly welcomed by Nik Cornwell, the curator of Life as a Lifer; a huge, smiling man who offered wine and canapés (‘Made by Peckham’s best chef,’ he informed me) and gave me some information about the show.

I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Everyone there was just like the art gallery people who I regularly see at art exhibitions. Perhaps I thought I was going to enter a rogue’s gallery of old jailbirds, talking in slang out of the side of their mouths! How wrong was I? I heard one woman tell another that she already had ‘two Bronsons in my lounge, and now I need one for my holiday cottage’, while also praising the amuse bouche. It

BRENDAN MURRAY’S play examines grief, human weaknesses and the power of shared memories, writes Barbara

Buchanan

Retired nurse Terry potters around a breakfast table decked with daffodils, a jug and mug of tea when he has an unexpected guest. There is a knock on the door and Matt (Darren Cheek) bursts in assailing Terry (Brendan Murray) with a barrage of angry questions.

Terry knows Matt is the son of his married lover Barry; now he was discovering Barry had died. Matt, though, has only just discovered his father had been unfaithful, not with a woman but another man and is seething with anger and resentment. “What you did to my Mum was unforgiveable,” he shouts. Terry is too sad and overwhelmed to offer any resistance. The charged atmosphere subsides as they realise they have something in common – grief and a shared history with Barry.

“It isn’t that you didn’t know who he was, it’s that you’re getting to know him better,” says Terry.

Brendan Murray authentically conveys

was obvious the collectors were in.

Charlie Bronson first started his sentence in the 70s as Micky Peterson; a sentence that was initially just 7 years long but has evidently been extended over the years to ensure this prisoner never gets released, it seems, going by the present consensus around me.

Richard Booth came over and introduced himself as the artist’s Power of Attorney, which gives him the power to speak for Charlie, whose own voice has been silenced. He spoke about the art and how Charlie is spending his time in prison (painting, writing poetry, raising money for charity, exercising…) and explained that Charles Bronson, as he was known for years, after the hard man actor, is now Charlie Salvador, after the artist that has most influenced his work. And that was something I could very much relate to because the art does have that feel to it. I could see the progression from the early works to the most current. Those from before were focussed on his own predicament of solitary confinement,

similar to a simple cartoon with a few lines and little colour, but lots of white space. Nowadays, Mr Salvador is filling the whole sheet with multiple images, more colour, more text and he has opened the art out to more people depicted within. Granted, the other people are prison warders and criminals who have been in cells just along the landing to Charlie, showing that, even though he is kept segregated for much of the time, he has spent some years with the general prison population, and he has included some of them in his art.

But, the work is much more complex now. Each painting tells more than one story, and many are multi-media, invariably against a backdrop of brick walls, barred windows and security cameras. From a distance you could quite easily confuse them with a page from The Beano, but close up there is no room for Dennis the Menace or Roger the Dodger here; these picture, according to the catalogue, are populated by The Krays, Great Train Robbers and several SE London villains.

MOVING ON WITH HUMOUR AND GRACE

As I studied one such painting a voice close to me asked, ‘Do you have a favourite?’ I turned to see a man who I had earlier overheard saying he could see snatches of Juan Miro in the art.

I replied that I find them intriguing but did not like one more than the others.

‘Don’t believe what you read in the papers,’ he said, going off-piste. ‘He’s one of the nicest, politest and most generous people I’ve ever done jail time with.’

Swallowing hard and finding myself speechless at the same time must have made me look quite awkward. ‘He’s served about five life sentences now and he’s never killed anyone, never raped anyone, never nonced children.’

When my power of speech returned I managed a querying ‘Oh, how so?’ Then I learnt more about the person others only form an opinion of through outrageous headlines that spread terror and fear. I heard another side to that image. ‘Micky’ - no surname, and I dont think that’s his real name - let on that he had two originals from when they were together on D Wing in Long Lartin. ‘He was always giving his art away. That’s the kind of geezer he is.’

Richard Booth returned with canapés and explained that if his friend was released on parole he would have his art and writing to earn a living (His paintings have garnered over £100,000 for charitable causes).

I checked the catalogue of the man whose art had gathered us all here and saw that the prices range from about £1750 - £3950. For a split second I wished I’d been banged up with Charlie Salvador and been given a painting…

Lily Selavie Gallery, 1st Floor Unit 10, Aylesham Centre, Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 5EW(Entrance through the Market Place Food Hall). Until 12th March.

12.30pm - 6pm.

Book tickets here: https:// lilyselaviegallery.com/

Terry’s sadness and bewilderment as he moves around the stage in a tired downtrodden way while he analysises his predicament. There’s the occasional raise of an eyebrow in reaction to his fate as an ageing single gay man.

Darren Cheek’s softening voice and empathetic eyes portray Matt’s shift from

self-righteous indignation to someone who feels for Terry.

Willie Elliott’s tight direction gives the play pace, with Murray’s natural dialogue taking us to the believable conclusion of Act One that Matt and Terry will keep in touch.

Act Two and the breakfast table

has morphed into a dining table with sympathy cards, a box of old photos and Barry’s old suitcase. His widow ,Jill (Karen Spicer), is absent-mindedly perusing the sympathy cards while coming to terms with a life alone,when Matt enters.

“Was it alright?” she asks.

“The sausage rolls were fine. It was all fine,” he replies.

The script shows how the mundane enables people grieving to cling on to a sense of normality without having to touch on deeper feelings. In many ways, Jill’s relationship with Barry is like Terry’s. They have both evaded confrontations to avoid losing the person they love.

Learning How to Dive illustrates the human desire to see what they want but ignore uncomfortable truths. This play shows the transformative power of debunking old secrets and having the courage to be yourself.

White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ, until 21st February and full details www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk

JEROME KILTY’S Dear Liar is based on the exchange of letters between prolific writer George Bernard Shaw and brilliant actress Mrs Patrick(Stella) Campbell. After they began negotiations for the London production of Pygmalion, Shaw developed an infatuation for Campbell that resulted in a passionate, unconsummated love affair of mutual fascination, writes Linda Emmanuel.

As we take our seats to the sound of classical music we see the set: a gramophone, a couple of swag curtains, a chair, a typewriter upon a small table, and a step ladder in the middle with a hat box beneath, indicate an Edwardian living room - cleverly designed by Tom Paris.

The actors, Rachel Pickup and Alan Turkington enter the space wearing Edwardian costume. They move to the front of the stage to introduce the premise of the play - breaking the fourth wall. Campbell opens the hat box containing letters that Shaw had written to her over the years. The correspondence between them reveals the intensity of the unconsummated love they shared. Letters full of sharp witticisms; Campell writes to Shaw that “Somebody ought to have told you to hush just once”, with Shaw’s reply “…the only word I could find that rhymes with Stella is Umbrella”. Similar exchanges kept the audience entertained.

Rachel Pickup’s portrayal as Campbell is assured, strong and confident, she was not afraid to give Shaw as good as he gave. In another reply she implores, “One of us must behave like a gentleman”. In one scene, we were treated to a rehearsal of the reverse elocution lesson in Pygmalion, where a very wellspoken Campbell is learning ‘Cockney’, delighting the audience.

Turkington’s enjoyable Shaw establishes a prickly and quarrelsome, spoilt man who was averse to considering opposing ideas. Stella sadly lost her first husband in the South Africa war, and then her son to the First World War. When she shares the letter notifying of the death of her son with Shaw, he refuses to console her as he is fiercely anti-war. Though later, nearer the end of their lives, he writes of his sadness at his uncaring response.

Sound designer Harry Blake makes use of the rhythmic clatter of a vintage typewriter to denote the movement of time throughout the play, while Stella Powell-Jones’ direction perfectly captures the physical distance between two characters experiencing an unconsummated love affair.

Scholars and fans of English literature will thoroughly enjoy the biographical and intellectual aspects of this production.

Jermyn Street Theatre until 7th March 2026.

Booking and full details: https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/ show/dear-liar/

At a pivotal moment for our organisation, Southwark Pensioners’ Centre (SPC) are looking to recruit new trustees to help make a lasting positive impact as we move into this new phase in a specially designed building.

You will provide SPC essential leadership at this exciting and crucial time.

We are particularly keen to recruit trustees with professional or board level experience in:

Finance and accountancy / Communications Marketing / Legal

We welcome applicants with a range of lived experience, backgrounds and experiences and aim to maintain a diverse Board of Trustees, one which is representative of the diverse communities we support.

Please send a full CV and two page cover letter, by Feb 27th setting out your relevant skills and experience and why you are interested recruitment@southwarkpensioners.org.uk

If you’d like an informal chat or further information, please contact our Chair Charlie Smith (Charlie.smith@southwark.gov.uk) or Gill Henderson (gillhenderson@talktalk.net).

To place a funeral announcement, birthday, death notice, birth, anniversary or memorial in the paper, please email katie@cm-media.co.uk and she will price it up for you Announcements must be placed by 4pm on the Tuesday before that week's publication

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

In loving memory of My Mum 15 years have passed and sadly missed and loved by all the family. Love from Carol and family x x x

Notice of application for the grant of a Premises Licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

Notice is hereby given that HMSHost UK Limited has applied to London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Premises to be known as Terracotta, Unit B2, The Balcony, Waterloo Station, London, SE1 7LY. The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: 1. The sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises between 08:00 and midnight each day, 2.The provision of late night refreshment between 23:00 and midnight each day, 3. To permit opening hours to the public of 07:00 to 00:30 the following day each day. 4. All licensable activates from the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. Any representations regarding the above-mentioned application must be received in writing by Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk no later than 10th March 2026 stating the grounds for representation. The register of Licensing Department and the record of the application may be inspected at the address of the council, given above, during normal business hours or on the council’s websitewww.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing/ It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. A person is liable to an unlimited fine on conviction should such a false statement be made.

Poppleston Allen, 37 Stoney Street,The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LS

LICENSING ACT 2003

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF A PREMISES LICENCE

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT Capital QSR Limited t/a KFC has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth on 10th February 2026 to vary a premises licence for KFC, 348 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5HY.

The variation is to extend the opening and licensable hours to enable the restaurant to open and trade late night refreshment from 10:00 until 04:00 every day, to remove condition 15 from the current Licence restricting trade to delivery only after 02:00 and to add SIA door staff as a condition on Friday & Saturday nights from 01:00 until closing and SIA to be risk-assessed at all other times.

The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at :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 e-mail to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 10th March 2026.

Note: It is an offence, under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person is liable to an unlimited fine on conviction should such a false statement be made.

Dated: 10 February 2026 Shoosmiths LLP

View all weekly and archive public notices at www.southlondon.co.uk/ category/public-notices/

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

Love Sushi Limited has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a premises licence, in respect of the followingpremises: Love Sushi, 111 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AU which would authorise the following licensable activities: SALE OF ALCOHOL – SUN-THURS

12:00-23:00, FRI & SAT 12:00-00:00. LATE NIGHT REFRESHMENT FRI & SAT 23:00-00:00 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 10/03/2026 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

LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE NOTICE IS GIVEN

Transport for London Public Notice

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

THE A205 GLA ROAD (UPPER RICHMOND ROAD, LONDON BOROUGH OF WANDSWORTH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF STOPPING) ORDER 2026

1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Traffic Order under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specified in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable street lighting replacement works to take place on the A205 Upper Richmond Road.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from stopping in the:

(1) Parking and Disabled Persons’ Vehicle Bay outside Nos. 188 – 196 Upper Richmond Road;

(2) Loading and unloading only bay opposite Nos. 210 - 212 Upper Richmond Road;

(3) Licensed Taxi Bay outside Nos. 147 – 151 Upper Richmond Road;

(4) Loading/Unloading and Disabled Persons’ Vehicle Bay outside No. 176 Putney High Street;

(5) Loading/Unloading and Disabled Persons’ Vehicle Bay opposite Nos. 178 – 182 Upper Richmond Road

The Order will be effective at certain times between 23rd February 2026 and 11th March 2026, every night from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibitions will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of:

(1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

Dated this 20th day of February 2026

Andrew Ulph

Co-ordination Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

Notice of Application for a Variation of the Premises Licence Under Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Notice is hereby given that Mr Velautham Sivakumar has applied to the London Borough of Merton Council for a variation of the premises licence for Friends Food & Wine, 172B Church Road, Mitcham, CR4 3BW to: 1) Extend the permitted hours for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises to be from 07.00 to 01.00 the following day all week & 2) To remove conditions 6, 7 & 8 from Annex 2 of the premises licence.

The address of the Licensing Authority where the register is kept and the application may be inspected during normal business hours is The Regulatory Services Partnership, London Borough of Merton, Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, SM4 5DX or on the Council`s Website: www.merton.gov.uk Email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

Any representations by any other person or responsible authority must be received in writing by the Licensing Authority by 12th March 2026 stating the nature and grounds for making such representation.

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

and must be received no later than 12/03/2026. IT IS AN OFFENCE KNOWINGLY OR RECKLESSLY TO MAKE A FALSE STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THIS APPLICATION. THE MAXIMUM FINE LIABLE ON CONVICTION FOR THIS OFFENCE IS UNLIMITED.

Date: 13/02/2026 Signed: ADA GROUP

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

The Thirsty Farrier Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: The Thirsty Farrier at Southbank Centre, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 8XX which would authorise the following licensable activities: Supply of Alcohol - Monday - Sunday 11am-11pm

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

A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application.

Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 22nd February 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).

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

Jimmy Garcia Restaurants has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Jimmy’s Pop Up, Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 8XX which would authorise the following licensable activities: Sale of alcohol, 20/4/26 - 23/09/26 - 11:00 - 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 Town Hall, Basement Room B08 & B09, 1 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW, or via the licensing authority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing

A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application.

Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 17/03/2026

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).

Transport for London Public Notice

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

THE A3203, A3212 AND A3036 GLA ROAD AND SIDE ROAD (LAMBETH BRIDGE, LAMBETH ROAD, MILLBANK, HORSEFERRY ROAD, ALBERT EMBANKMENT AND LAMBETH PALACE ROAD, CITY OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON BOROUGHS OF LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) ORDER 2026

1. Transport for London in consultation with the City of Westminster, London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Traffic Order under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specified in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable resurfacing works to take place on the A3203 Lambeth Bridge, Lambeth Road, A3212 Millbank, Horseferry Road, A3036 Albert Embankment and Lambeth Palace Road.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from: (1) entering, exiting or proceeding on the A3203 Lambeth Bridge between its junctions with Millbank and Lambeth Palace Road/Albert Embankment; (2) entering, exiting, proceeding or stopping on the A3212 Millbank between its junctions with Thorney Street and Dean Stanley Street. Local access will be maintained between its junctions with Great Peter Street and Dean Stanley Street and Atterbury Street and Thorney Street;

(3) entering, exiting or proceeding on Horseferry Road between its junctions with Millbank and Thorney Street. Local access will be maintained between its junctions with Tufton Street and Thorney Street;

(4) entering, exiting or proceeding on the A3203 Lambeth Road between its junctions with Lambeth High Street and Albert Embankment/Lambeth Palace Road. Local access will be maintained between its junctions with Kennington Road and Lambeth High Street;

(5) entering, exiting or proceeding on the A3036 Albert Embankment and Lambeth Palace Road between its junctions with Black Prince Road and the south-western kerb-line of the access road to St Thomas Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road. Local access will be maintained on Albert Embankment between its junctions with Vauxhall Bridgefoot and Black Prince Road and Westminster Bridge Road and the south-western kerbline of the access road to St Thomas Hospital.

The Order will also:

(6) lift the banned right turn for traffic coming out of Atterbury Street onto Millbank;

(7) lift the banned right turn for traffic coming out of Lambeth High Street onto Lambeth Road.

Marshals will be available to assist pedestrians and vehicles when required. Works will be phased such that some restrictions will apply only at certain times.

The Order will be effective at certain times between 9th March 2026 and 27th September 2026 each night Monday to Saturday from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM (ceasing each Sunday at 5:00 AM), or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of:

(1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

(2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

5. At such times as the prohibitions are in force an alternative route will be indicated by traffic signs for Millbank/Horseferry Road and Lambeth Bridge eastbound diversion via Albert Embankment, Vauxhall Bridge, John Islip Street, Bulinga Street, Herrick Street and Marsham Street or in reverse to normal route of travel. For Millbank westbound diversion via Lambeth Palace Road, Westminster Bridge Road, Westminster Bridge, Bridge Street, Great George Street, Parliament Square, St Margarets Street and Abingdon Street or in reverse to normal route of travel. For Horseferry Road westbound diversion via Lambeth Palace Road, Westminster Bridge Road, Westminster Bridge, Bridge Street, Great George Street, Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary, Victoria Street, Great Smith Street and Marsham Street or in reverse to normal route of travel. For Lambeth Bridge westbound diversion via Lambeth Palace Road, Westminster Bridge Road, Westminster Bridge, Bridge Street, Great George Street, Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary and Victoria Street or in reverse to normal route of travel. For Lambeth Palace Road/Lambeth Road and Lambeth Bridge westbound diversion via Millbank (northbound), Abingdon Square, St Margaret Street, Bridge Street, Westminster Bridge, Westminster Bridge Road and Kennington Road or in reverse to normal route of travel. For Albert Embankment/Lambeth Road and Lambeth Bridge eastbound diversion via Millbank (southbound), Vauxhall Bridge, Vauxhall Bridgefoot, Kennington Lane and Kennington Road to normal route of travel. For Horseferry Road during Albert Embankment/Lambeth Palace Road/Lambeth Road and Lambeth Bridge closure eastbound diversion via Kennington Road, Kennington Lane, Durham Street, Harleyford Road, South Lambeth Road, Parry Street, Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall Bridgefoot, Vauxhall Bridge and Millbank (northbound) to normal route of travel.

Dated this 20th day of February 2026

Andrew Rogers Performance and Planning Manager

Transport for London, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

To place a public notice in this

Deadline is 3pm Wednesday

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

Notice Under The Town and Country Planning Acts

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council is considering applications as set out below under the following categories; FUL – PLANNING PERMSSION

LB - LISTED BUILDING

PIP – PERMISSION IN PRINCIPLE

ADV – ADVERTISEMENT CONSENT

Written representations should be made within three weeks of the date of this advertisement to the Director of Planning, PO Box 734, Winchester SO23 5DG. Any comments made are open to inspection by the public and in the event of an appeal may be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Confidential comments cannot be taken into account in determining an application.

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

90-96 Norwood High Street London SE27 9NW Demolition of existing buildings at 90-96 Norwood High Street and erection of a part 3-storey, part 4-storey, and part 5-storey mixed use development comprising of 14x residential units (3x 1-bed, 1x 1-bed and 10x 2-bed), and 615m2 of Use Class E(g) with refuse and cycle storage provision at ground floor level. 24/03306/FUL 80 Camberwell New Road London SE5 0RS Replacement of the bathtub with a wet floor shower and the relocation of the radiator. 26/00018/LB

4 Pearson Mews London SW4 6EL Alteration to fenestration including enlargement of ground-floor bi-fold doors and front door and first-floor door / window, insertion of a new rear ground-floor window, and installation of new roof lights. 26/00419/FUL

345 Clapham Road London SW9 9BT Removal of chimney stack. 25/03965/FUL

South Bank Riverside London SE1 9PZ Display of non-illuminated name board sign to each cabin above and/or below the serving hatch. (Please note: The reference number for this Advertisement Consent application is 26/00333/ADV but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 26/00332/FUL). 26/00333/ADV South Bank Riverside London SE1 9PZ Temporary installation of 21x (10ft x 8ft) wooden cabins, 12 seating pods and picnic benches (5 x 7ft) and 1x (30ft x12ft) wooden cabin. Each unit will have a height of around 2413mm between 27th April 2026 and 31st December 2026 for Urban Spoon Market. (Please note: The reference number for this application for Full Planning Permission is 26/00332/FUL, but there is also an associated application for Advertisement Consent related to these works with reference number: 26/00333/ADV) 26/00332/FUL

Advertising Right - BT Inlink O/S 87-89 Albert Embankment London Removal of the existing BT InLink unit and installation of a new Street Hub unit, including the display of two internally illuminated digital LCD screens. (Please note: The reference number for this application for Advertisement Consent is 26/00331/ADV, but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 26/00330/FUL) 26/00331/ADV

21 - 25 Beehive Place London SW9 7QR Change of use from education use (Use Class F1) to 3x residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and installation of balcony for each unit (east elevation). 26/00413/FUL

496 - 498 Brixton Road London SW9 8EQ Division of existing commercial unit into 2 together with installation of new shopfront doors (Number 496), bring forward frontage and creation of rear access( Number 498). 26/00335/FUL

14 Tinworth Street London SE11 5AL Change of use of floors 4-6 from purpose-built student accommodation (Sui Generis) to aparthotel (Class C1). 26/00432/FUL Outside 76 Upper Ground London Removal of an existing InLink Unit, and the deployment of a replacement Street Hub 3 unit 26/00319/FUL

53 Killieser Avenue London SW2 4NX Erection of a single-storey detached garden room in rear garden. 26/00339/FUL

3 Bondway London SW8 1SJ Installation of 4x External Condenser units to south west elevation at ground floor level. 26/00343/FUL

The Old Vic Theatre 103 The Cut London SE1 8NB Display of 1 no. show neon sign (illuminated) on The Cut; 3 no. digital LED screens - 2 no. for The Cut and 1 no. for Waterloo Road; 1 no. THE OLD VIC stencilled signage on Waterloo Road; 1 no. THE OLD VIC stencilled signage on The Cut; 1 no. projecting neon sign on Waterloo Road (secondary entrance); 1 no. projecting neon STAGE DOOR sign on Webber Street (secondary entrance); 3no. Non-illuminated signs to Webber Street; 1 no. THE OLD VIC signage above entrance on Waterloo Road; and 1 no. THE OLD VIC signage above entrance on Webber Street. 26/00249/ADV

55 Endymion Road London SW2 2BU Replacement of all existing windows and doors with double glazed timber windows and timber doors. 26/00410/FUL

25-26 The High Parade Streatham High Road London SW16 1EX Alteration to shopfront including the installation of 2 sliding doors with fixed glazed panels, 2 roller shutter and 2 retractable awnings. 26/00411/FUL

17 Whittlesey Street London SE1 8SZ Application for Listed Building Consent for the replacement of existing ground floor rear extension and replacement of existing garage roof with a green roof.

External works: replacement of first floor WC windows with timber windows. Replacement of rainwater goods and cast irons vent with plastic together with repairs and making good of existing pointing. Replacement of existing ground floor rear door and windows with aluminium framed door and fixed windows.

Internal works: Replacement and enlargement of existing basement with the installation of underground heating. Replacement of fireplaces and surround, removal of existing partition to first floor rear bedroom WC and installation of new cast iron radiators. (Full Planning Permission ref: 26/00346/FUL application received).

26/00347/LB

Piano House 9 Brighton Terrace London Lambeth SW9 8DJ Erection of an amenity terrace to the rear of Piano House.

25/03958/FUL

1A Woodland Road London SE19 1NS Permission in principle for the erection of a maximum and minium of one dwelling.

26/00206/PIP

Bus Shelter Outside 382 Brixton Road London Installation of internally luminated sequential advertisement, capable of statis and dynamic content display with automatic rotation of images. 26/00380/ADV

15 Grant House Albion Avenue London Lambeth SW8 2AT Retrospective listed building consent for the removal of an internal wall at the ground floor and the installation of a lintel. 26/00172/LB

6 Orlando Road London Lambeth SW4 0LF Front Drive re-surfacing and alterations to front masonry fence wall. 26/00315/FUL

Bus Shelter Outside 14 Clapham Common South Side London Installation of internally luminated sequential advertisement, capable of statis and dynamic content display with automatic rotation of images. 26/00381/ADV

Advertising Right BT Inlink Outside Phoenix House Wandsworth Road London Two digital 75-inch LCD display screens, one on each side of the Street Hub unit.

(Please note: The reference number for this Advertisement Consent application is 26/00326/ADV but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 26/00325/FUL) 26/00326/ADV

InLink Advertising Right Outside 18 Clapham Road London Replacement of existing Street Hub Unit, including the display of 1x static internally illuminated double sided digital LCD screens (associated full planning application: 26/00257/FUL). 26/00258/ADV

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that Table 5 Ltd has applied to Richmond Council for a new premises licence at The Hope, 115-117 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2PN for licensable activities of Films – indoors, Live Music – indoors, Late-Night Refreshment – Both indoors and outdoors, Supply of Alcohol – On and Off-Sales Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 16th March 2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

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

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

Section 17 Licensing Act 2003

Licencing Act 2023 Application for a New Premises Licence

Application Reference: 99P7P3HR3D2X

Notice is hereby given that Brasserie Summer Limited has applied to the City of Westminster on 12.12.2025 for a new premises license for: 178 - 180 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9ER

The proposed application is to permit: Sale by Retail of Alcohol, Monday to Thursday: 10:00 to 23:30, Sunday: 09:00 to 22:30

Seasonal Details: From the end of permitted hours on New Year's Eve to start of permitted hours on New Year's Day. On Sundays immediately prior to Bank Holidays 23:00 to 00:00

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing of his/her representation by 10 March 2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Licensing Service, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5QP.

The public register where applications are available to be viewed by members of the public can be accessed online by visiting at www.westminster.gov.uk/Licensing and following the link to the public register.

The Licensing Authority must receive representations by the date given above. The licensing Authority will have regard to any such representation in considering the application. 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 for premises licence and the maximum fine on being convicted of such an offence is £5000.

LICENSING ACT 2003

1. NOTICE IS

LONDON BOROUGH OF

due to the likelihood of danger to the public caused by an increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic and parked vehicles due to the BAFTA Awards event taking place at the Royal Festival Hall, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE

Tedros Mesgna has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth to vary a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Angela’s Bar, 262A Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1HP

The nature of the variation is as follows: To extend the sale of alcohol hours on and off licence, Fridays and Saturdays from 00:00 until 02:00am; to add regulated entertainment and late night refreshment on Fridays and Saturdays from 23:00 until 02:00am (on and off licence).

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

A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application. Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 06.03.2026

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).

LICENSING ACT 2003

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

Dated this Friday 20th February 2026 Rob

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE

Name of applicant: Dancing Wines LLP

Postal address of premises: 51 Onslow Gardens, Wallington, SM6 9QH

Application details:

Sale of alcohol (off the premises) Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 hours

Full details of the application can be inspected on the licensing register online at www.sutton.gov.uk, or in person at the address given below.

Deadline for representations: 13 March 2026

Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Authority by post: Licensing Team, London Borough of Sutton, Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1 1EA or by email: licensing@sutton.gov.uk

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

Between The Bridges Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Hungerford Car Park, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XZ which would authorise the following licensable activities: Supply of Alcohol on and off sales; SundayThursday; 10:00 - 22:45 and Friday - Saturday; 10:00 - 23:45. Late Night Refreshment; FridaySaturday; 23:00 - 00:00

Provision of plays, films, indoor sports, live and recorded music and performances of dance; Monday - Sunday; 10:00 - 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 Town Hall, Basement Room B08 & B09, 1 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW, or via the licensing authority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing

A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application.

Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 17/03/2026

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).

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Notice of application to vary a Premises Licence under the Gambling Act 2005

Notice is hereby given that MERKUR Slots UK Limited of the following address: Second Floor, Matrix House, North Fourth Street, Milton Keynes, MK9 1NJ are applying under Section 187 of the Gambling Act 2005 to vary a Bingo Premises Licence issued under that Act.The application relates to the following premises: MERKUR Slots, 40 Deptford High Street, Deptford, London, SE8 4AF. The application is to vary the licence as follows:To remove condition 1 of Annex 1 and replace with the following: The provision of gambling activities and the premises opening hours are: 09:00 to 06:00 the following morning Monday to Sunday.

To also update condition 13 of Annex 1 and to state: “There shall be no pre-planned single staffing between 20:00 and 06:00”. The application has been made to: Licensing Team, London Borough of Lewisham, 4th Floor Laurence House (West End), 1 Catford Road, London, SE6 4RU. E: licensing@lewisham.gov.uk

Information about the application is available from the Licensing Authority, including the arrangements for viewing the details of the application.

Any of the following persons may make representations in writing to the Licensing Authority about the application: A person who lives sufficiently close to the premises to be likely to be affected by the authorised activities. A person who has business interests that might be affected by the authorised activities. A person who represents someone in any of the above two categories. Any representations must be made by the following date: 12 March 2026

It is an offence under Section 342 of the Gambling Act 2005 if a person, without reasonable excuse, gives to a Licensing Authority for a purpose connected with the Act, information which is false or misleading.

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

The Lewisham (Prescribed Routes) (Various Roads) (No. *) Traffic Order 202*

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Lewisham (“The Council”) proposes to make the above mentioned Orders under the powers of sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Act”), as amended, the effect of which will be to:-

(a) prohibit all vehicles:-

(i) proceeding in a north-easterly direction on RANDLESDOWN ROAD from turning left into FRANTHORNE WAY; and (ii) proceeding in a south-easterly direction on PERRY RISE from turning left into PERRY HILL;

(b) prohibit all vehicles, except buses, proceeding in a north-westerly direction on HITHER GREEN LANE from turning right into DUNCRIEVIE ROAD;

(c) prohibit all vehicles proceeding in a westerly direction on MORENA STREET from proceeding into BROOKDALE ROAD in any direction other than left;

(d) revoke “The Lewisham (Prescribed Routes) (No.4) Traffic Order 2025” in its entirety.

Copies of the draft Orders, plans and Statement of the Council’s Reasons for proposing to make the Orders may be obtained by emailing a request to trafficorders@lewisham.gov.uk quoting reference ‘PTO 1107’. Comments on the proposals for or against, together with the reasons for which they are made should be sent in writing to trafficorders@lewisham.gov.uk or Lewisham Transport Policy & Development, 5th Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU, quoting reference ‘PTO-1107’ to arrive by 12 March 2026. All written representations received concerning Traffic Management Orders are public documents that may be inspected by any person on demand.

Dated 20th February 2026.

Zahur Khan – Director of Public Realm, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU.

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – TREMADOC ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable telecommunications repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of Tremadoc Road which lies between its junction with Clapham High Street and opposite the south-eastern boundary wall of No. 51 Clapham High Street.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Tremadoc Road, Kenwyn Road, St Luke’s Avenue and Clapham High Street, or via Clapham High Street, Cato Road, Kendoa Road and Tremadoc Road.

3. The Order would come into force on 25 February 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of one month, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 3 days to complete.

Dated 20 February 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – POMFRET ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out telecommunications repair and maintenance works replacement works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of Pomfret Road which lies between its junction with Coldharbour Lane and outside the north-western boundary wall of No. 184 Coldharbour Lane.

2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Coldharbour Lane, Luxor Street and Flaxman Road, and vice versa.

3. The Order would come into force on 25 February 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of one month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 2 nights (21:00 to 06:00) to complete.

Dated 20 February 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS –NATAL ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable access for articulated vehicles which would be used in association with maintenance works taking place at Streatham Leisure Centre, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle or parking at all times, in those lengths of Natal Road (both sides) which lies between the south-western boundary of No. 394 Streatham High Road and its junction with Ellora Road.

2. The Order would come into force on 23 February 2026 and will continue in force for a maximum duration of three months to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 6 days to complete.

Dated 20 February 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

LICENSING ACT 2003 Notice of application for a Premises Licence

Notice is hereby given that DOLCE CREMA LTD has applied to Richmond Council for a premises licence at Dolce Crema, 3 The Broadway, Barnes SW13 0NY to provide the following licensable activities: Sale of Alcohol, Mon-Sun 10:00-23:00 Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 12/03/2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.richmond.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

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.

Little gem in Bermondsey

From day one, the emphasis has been on quality and freshness and the restaurant uses only high quality fresh products sourced locally – fish and meat is delivered daily from local London markets and bread and cakes are baked in the restaurant.

All dishes are freshly prepared and cooked to order and served by friendly staff who will work hard to make your dining experience as enjoyable and memorable as possible. On a sunny day guests of Amisha can enjoy their food and drinks in the new outside terrace opened in 2023. With its simple and inspired cooking and exceptional customer service Amisha offers unique dining experience in Bermondsey area and with the highest quality fresh ingredients creates the genuine and authentic Italian ‘Mamma style’ food.

With love, Francesco & Leonardo Café Amisha, Bermondsey SE1 – Since 2012

HAMLET’S PLAY-OFF DREAM FADES AS INVICTA CONQUER

Lioness Bailey makes long-awaited return

By Sports Reporter

MILLWALL LIONESSES defeated Newhaven 3-1 in the L&SERWFL Premier Division last weekend as Ella Bailey made her return from a long-term injury.

Maisie Joyce scored her fourth goal in four games after Toni-Anne Bussey and Ciara Watling had put

Ted Jones’s side 2-0 up at St Paul’s. Bailey came on for her first appearance in 448 days for Florrie Winfield with fourteen minutes left.

Emilia Rahaus scored an 87thminute consolation for the visitors.

Millwall are sixth in the table with 24 points from sixteen games and travel to Princes Park to face thirdplace Dartford aiming to close the four-point gap this Sunday (1pm).

Dubois on the Ward-path

By John Kelly

DANIEL DUBOIS will challenge Fabio Wardley for his WBO world title in Manchester in May.

Wardley, 31, is undefeated in 21 professional contests with 20 winsnineteen by knockout - and one draw, and won his current belt after shocking Joseph Parker with an eleventh-round TKO last October. Wardley then claimed the full title after it was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk, who declined the mandatory defence against him.

Dubois, 27, lost his rematch against Usyk after a fifth-round KO last July. Dubois’ record stands at 22-3-0.

“I’ve never been in this game to mess around or play small - big fights only,” Wardley said.

“I’m the champion, this is a voluntary defence. I picked him.

“One thing you can’t say about me is that I’ve ever shied away from a challenge. I’ve always continuously picked the biggest challenges out there. I’m not scared of any man in this division.

“This is one of the biggest fights out there now that could of been made in the heavyweight division.

“With me you’re always guaranteed an all-action fight, but this one is going to be fireworks from the first bell.”

It could be a thrilling year in the heavyweight division with Tyson Fury’s return and both Dubois and Wardley targeting a fight against the Gypsy King.

Wardley and Dubois will face off at The Co-Op Live Arena on May 9.

By John Kelly

MARK DACEY believes Dulwich Hamlet lost to this season’s champions as Folkestone Invicta won 2-0 at Champion Hill - and added his side were “waving goodbye” to the play-offs.

Jake Hutchinson gave the visitors the lead in the 70th minute before Ryan Kingsford added the second three minutes into stoppage-time.

Invicta are fourteen points clear of Aveley at the top of the Isthmian League Premier Division table, while the Hamlet are thirteen points off the top five with thirteen games left.

“They look like champions, no question about it,” Dacey said. “You can see why. They’ve got great experience, they’re incredibly fit. They can move the ball but they’ve got a front two - and if you chuck in Ade Yusuff on the bench - a front three to die for.

“My disappointment is the goal we have conceded has happened too often, we’re switching off in an area that we’ve consistently told the players not to.

“As much as Toby [Bull] has made an unbelievable double-save first half and another one second half he’s not really

Surrey’s Farrant forced to retire with back injury

By John Kelly

TASH FARRANT said it was “with sadness” that she announced her decision to retire at the age of just 29 due to a back injury.

Farrant captained South East Stars in the 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and was given a fulltime domestic cricket contract in December of that year.

The left-arm bowler signed for Oval Invincibles in 2021 and helped them win the inaugural Hundred title.

Farrant joined Surrey in 2024 after they replaced Stars as an entity for their first-ever professional season last year.

Farrant was part of the first set of women players awarded England central contracts in April 2014, and at the age of eighteen the youngest of them.

She was first troubled by a back injury in 2022 and despite surgery has not been able to reach the required physical level to keep playing professionally.

“It is with sadness that I will be stepping away from playing professional cricket,” Farrant said.

“Despite all the amazing support I have received and my best efforts to overcome injury, I have come to accept that I can no longer reach

the level of performance required to compete at the standard needed.

“Throughout my career, I have always given everything to every team I have represented.

Not being able to perform to the high standards I set for myself, combined with the mental and physical toll of ongoing injury, has ultimately brought this chapter to a close.

“Cricket has been my passion and my life. From my first game for Kent as an eight-year-old, to my England debut at seventeen and being a member of winning Ashes dressing rooms, winning The Hundred in front of a packed crowd at Lord’s, and being part of an incredible club like Surrey. I am so grateful for all the amazing opportunities and the pure joy it has given me.

“I am incredibly proud to have worn the England shirt, and although my career didn’t always pan out the way I had imagined, I guess the hard work and comebacks were all part of the fun.

“I believe that sometimes in life you have to be bold, brave, and seize the new opportunities that come your way. I am now very excited to begin a new chapter in my life that I hope will allow me to stay involved in the sport that means so much to me.”

had to do much else. I thought it was good in that aspect, as much as they had a fair amount of possession they’ve not created too much.

“Then when we’ve had opportunities - you can’t miss open goals against top of the league.

“I said to the boys in there it’s frustrating, and I think we’re slowly starting to wave goodbye to the playoffs. We’re closer to the relegation zone than we are to the play-offs, I’m aware of that, but there’s not any worry in our camp because our next games are against teams in and around us so if we pick up points there we’ll push as much as possible [up the table].

“We’ve proved that we can compete with what really is a National League South squad, for me. But, it doesn’t mean anything because all everybody sees is the result and another loss under the belt.

“We just have to dust ourselves off and look to progress against Cray Valley.”

The Millers appointed former Charlton Athletic striker Kevin Lisbie as their new manager last week as they battle against relegation. They are just a point above the bottom four.

The game at The Artic Stadium kicks off on Saturday at 3pm.

By Sports Reporter

FISHER MOVED to within a point of the SCEFL Premier Division play-off places after a 4-1 derby win against Stansfeld in Eltham last weekend.

Don Macaulay headed over and Flavio Jumo fired into the side-netting in a goalless first half.

The second period was a completely different affair. Just four minutes in, Jumo beat his opponent on the right flank before crossing for Alex Kozak to finish from six yards.

In a frantic five-minute period after that goal, Fish midfielder Sha’mar Lawson was sent off for retaliation and then Ajay Ashanike’s side went 2-0 up through Lorenzo Duncan’s brilliant strike into the top corner.

Glen Bain got the hosts back into it with a close-range finish to beat goalkeeper Isaac Ogunseri.

Fisher withstood pressure from the home side and then regained their two-goal advantage after Duncan played a one-two with Festos Kamara before firing home. It was Duncan’s thirteenth goal of the season, with eight of them scored from open play from left-back.

Rafael Garcia came on and set up the fourth with a cut-back that Kamara drove in with six minutes left. Fisher were seventh with games in hand on three of the five play-off rivals above them ahead of a midweek clash against Corinthian at St Paul’s.

BROMLEY PAY PENALTY

By John Kelly

BROMLEY

BOSS Andy Woodman

felt his side’s 1-1 draw against Notts County in their top-of-the-table League Two clash hinged on two penalty decisions - and hinted he expected another apology email from a referee on Monday.

A Matthew Dennis own goal put the hosts in front in the 28th minute at Hayes Lane.

The visitors levelled six minutes into the second half when Jodi Jones fired home

from the spot after he had been brought down by Marcus Ifill.

Ravens goalkeeper Grant Smith denied Jones a second an hour in before County’s Scott Robertson was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on Jude Arthurs with seven minutes left.

Woodman wants something done to help officials make the right decisions.

“That’s cost us at one end, and then we have got a stonewall penalty at the other, so it just feels like we keep getting these emails every Monday from the referee apologising, it’s probably six or seven

“I think we did a decent first half and we started well the game in the first 20, 25 minutes,” Stephan said.

“We created some different situations but unfortunately we conceded two easy goals in the first half.

“We had a good reaction after their first goal, we conceded and we equalised. I think it was logical to score at this moment before half-time. But to concede the goals we did, it’s not usual for us.

“And I think after, we dropped too much mentally and the performance was not good enough for sure in the second half.

“So this is a big disappointment for everybody, of course, for the players first, for us as well, for the fans.

By John Kelly

QUEENS PARK Rangers head coach

Julien Stephan said his side lacked belief in their 3-1 defat to Blackburn Rovers at Loftus Rpad last weekend.

Koki Saito equalised after Mathias Jorgensen’s opener, before the Danish midfielder scored again to make it 2-1 at half-time.

Ryoya Morishita scored four minutes after the break to give Blackburn boss Michael O’Neill three points in his first game in charge.

“But when you don’t take your chances and when you don’t use your chances in this kind of game, you can struggle after.

And it was the case today.

“We need to learn from this because it’s not the first time since the start of the season that we concede some goals and after, we drop mentally.

“It’s a part of the development of this team and we need to be better in this situation and to believe more, to trust more in our qualities because I think we needed probably 20 or 25 minutes after the third goal to restart - it’s too long in a game like this, it’s too long.

times now,” Woodman said.

“For me, we have not got VAR in this league, but it is so simple to put an analyst beside them with an iPad, and just look over it really quickly.

“It is really disappointing because it is going to cost clubs big prizes at the end of it, and it is such an easy fix.”

Bromley were four points clear of Cambridge United as County dropped out of the automatic promotion places to fourth.

Bromley were in action at home to eighteenth-place Cheltenham Town in

“We needed more quality in possession, more connection, probably more belief as well. We played too long. We had some good ideas in the first half and technically and collectively we had some good connection I think because we wanted to play like this and we prepared well the game during the week.

“But we forgot a lot of things in the second half and we played too long, we played too direct in fact.

“If we don’t find the collective connection, it’s more difficult for us, especially in this kind of situation.

“It was not a good second half for sure and I need to review probably some sequences, but my first feeling is we played too long and without enough connection between the players.”

QPR are thirteenth but only three points off the top six ahead of their trip to fifthplace Hull City this Saturday at 12.30pm.

Stephan added; “All the players, they try to do their best They try to give everything. Of course, it’s not a question of mindset. It was more a question of quality in the second half, and we didn’t have enough quality.

“So, first, this is my responsibility to find the solution and to give some solution to the players for the next game in order to have more consistency.”

Ravens boss suggests change after hosts denied

midweek.

Woodman added: “I thought that we played some good football in the right areas, we pressed them high, and we didn’t

create loads of great chances, but at the end of the day it was always going to be a tight game.

“I’m really proud of my team. We are unbeaten at home and that is nothing to be disappointed at.

“We have just got to take care of what we do, we have got two more games this week and we need to make sure that this point becomes a good one on the back of the two games that we play next.

“Four points clear at the top, and for all the noise on the outside we are still bang on target.”

Delap recovers from Friday 13 horror

By John Kelly

LIAM DELAP admitted he had been “silly” in a horror Friday 13 error before he provided three assists in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Hull City in the fourth round of the FA Cup at The MKM Stadium last weekend.

Pedro Neto scored a hat-trick and Estevao got the other as Liam Rosenior’s visitors went through against his former side.

The Blues should have been in front before Neto’s 40th-minute opener when Delap blocked goalkeeper Dillon Phillips’ attempted clearance before the ball hit the crossbar and bounced down on the line. Delap started to celebrate thinking it was over the line when he could have tapped the loose ball home to make sure. When the referee’s whistle didn’t sound, Delap gathered the ball but Phillips recovered to make the block.

“I swear on my life, I almost ran off,” Delap said. “I thought it went in and was waiting for the referee to blow his whistle. It was silly from me, but I thought it was in.

“We came here with one task and that was to win. We showed we can battle and also play some good football, so we are happy.

“Pedro Neto is an incredible player. He is playing in a position he is not even used to (number ten) but he showed his quality.”

Rosenior said: ”Pedro Neto has been outstanding. He works so hard and he has so much quality. I am delighted to see him get the goals he got. Everyone worked really, really hard for each other.

“The most pleasing aspect was the mentality. They were a credit to the club. It was a really strong performance in terms of the mental application you need to be successful.”

Rosenior added: “I had over 20 of my family here. This club means a lot, not just to me but also my family, for many reasons. I really appreciate the reception I got from the club and it was nice to get a good reception from both sets of fans.”

Chelsea host Burnley at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday (3pm).

MACCA TWISTS THE KNIFE

Forward produces brilliant finish to send Lions third and inflict ninth successive loss on Owls

By Will Scott at Hillsborough

ALEX NEIL thought the three points were the most important takeaway as Millwall battled to a 2-1 win against relegation certainties Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

The Lions were sub-par for the first hour at Hillsborough, dominating possession and chances but often failing to find the right final ball against a side rooted to the bottom of the table on minus-seven points.

The Owls took a shock lead when Max Crocombe spilt the ball, and Jamal Lowe tapped in from close range on 60 minutes, Wednesday’s first goal in eleven games since Boxing Day.

Neil reacted immediately to bring on Macaulay Langstaff and Tommy Watson,

and both substitutes helped turn the game around.

Watson fired the ball across the sixyard box and Cole McGhee turned into his own net in the 72nd minute. Then two minutes later, Langstaff produced a neat finish from Femi Azeez’s cross.

Millwall hit the bar late on through Mihailo Ivanovic as they went close to scoring a third.

It was a ninth consecutive league defeat for the Owls but Neil wasn’t surprised it proved trickier than many had expected against a side that had been beaten 4-0 by Swansea City in their previous game.

“I thought it was always going to be a challenging game, purely because I think the last result against Swansea gave everybody a bit of a sort of skewed narrative that it wasn’t going to be

competitive,” Neil said. “I didn’t ever think that was going to be the case. I always thought it was going to be a tough match.

“In the first half, we had enough opportunities to score the first goal. We just didn’t take it. We weren’t clinical enough at times.

“Then I think a little bit of anxiousness crept into our game because we didn’t get that first goal, because we understand the importance of the game.

“We made an error, they managed to then score, and strangely, I thought it sort of settled us down a little bit – right, okay, that’s happened, now we need to respond and react.”

It was Langstaff’s third winning goal of the league season.

Neil added: “The lads who came on

helped us. They had a good impact in the game. Tommy does a great bit of footwork for the first one. Then Macca’s movement [for the second]. Extra man in the box, gets under the ball, across the back of his centre-back.

“We’re a bit unfortunate with the other one, I think [it] was about two centimetres from crossing the line. I think we all expected that to be a goal.

“Can we play better? Yeah, of course, we can. But what I will say at this level, when you’ve got a team that sits in, they defend well, they’re steadfast, they’ve lost their last game 4-0, the last thing they want to do is go and concede goals. They’re at home. You’ve got the whole Barry [Bannan] coming back as well to contend with for us.

“I’m not making excuses for us because,

ultimately, if we scored in the 93rd minute off somebody’s backside, I would have taken it. The simple fact is, the points at this stage are the bits that you remember come the end of the season.

“What I’m pleased with is we know we can perform better – we’ll have to, certainly in the next game – but we still managed to get the job done. We still had a good response. We still had guys coming off the bench and having an impact on the team. So although there’s a little bit of frustration attached to some things, there’s also a lot to be pleased with.”

The Lions are third in the table with an eight-point buffer back to Preston North End in seventh.

Neil’s side host Portsmouth, who are 21st, at The Den on Saturday (3pm).

Boss can’t explain Palace collapse Eagles bust-up revealed

By John Kelly

OLIVER GLASNER was at a loss to explain Crystal Palace’s collapse as Burnley came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Selhurst Park last week - the Clarets’ first Premier League victory in seventeen games.

January signing Jorgen Strand Larsen’s double put the Eagles two goals up inside 33 minutes.

But in a stunning finish to the first half, Hannibal Mejbri reduced the deficit on 40 minutes before Jaidon Anthony fired low inside the near post four minutes later.

Scott Parker’s side completed their comeback two minutes into added-time when Dean Henderson parried Bashir Humphreys’ header on to the foot of

Jefferson Lerma who couldn’t stop the ball going in for an own goal.

Palace had two big chances to get something from the game in the second half, but Daichi Kamada headed wide from Daniel Munoz’s cross and then Martin Dubravka produced an outstanding save to deny Ismaila Sarr with almost the last action of the game.

“I can’t explain it,” Glasner said. “We gave the game away too easy. Maybe it was too easy. There was a lack of intensity and we didn’t defend well. We can’t show a consistent performance over 95 minutes very often. Once it’s this, once it’s that – and you get punished.

“The start was good, scoring very nice goals. We controlled everything. I’ve watched all the goals back and it’s

just not acceptable how we defended as a team. Just jogging around, not in the duels, not in the second balls.

“In the second half we tried everything, but we don’t deserve to win.

“I praise the boys very often for their effort. We had a great effort three days ago at Brighton, so it’s not about the character. I don’t know the reason [for the collapse], the players usually work hard. When you throw the game away like we did, you don’t deserve to win.

“We start with a kick-off after the 2-2, we play the ball long, then they have a big chance – it’s not acceptable.

“Right now, we don’t have someone on the pitch who leads the team in these moments, who makes the players calm and decides about the meaning of the game. That’s why we lost.”

By Sports Reporter

MACCLESFIELD ASSISTANT manager Francis Jeffers claimed he saw Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Eagles captain Marc Guehi having a half-time bust-up during the holders’ defeat in the FA Cup third round last month.

Palace were 1-0 down at the break before losing 2-1, the biggest shock in terms of league places between teams - 117 - in the competition’s history.

The game was Guehi’s last in a Palace shirt before he joined

Manchester City for £20million. Macclesfield are managed by John Rooney, Wayne’s younger brother, and Jeffers was speaking on the latter’s podcast.

“I will say it and I don’t know if I should be saying it but Marc Guehi and Glasner are going at it in the tunnel at half-time,” Jeffers said.

“I’m walking past them and I thought, ‘I like that’. There is an edge to that.

“I did [tell the Macclesfield players]. I said, ‘Look, there’s big disagreements there between the manager and the captain’. So you’ve clearly rattled their cage.”

Sport INSIDE HAMLET

KAMI-KAZE

Jacko unhappy at Welsh gifts

By John Kelly

JOHNNIE JACKSON felt AFC

By Paul Green at The Valley

NATHAN JONES admitted

goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski should have done a lot better to prevent Portsmouth gaining the lead in Tuesday’s vital Championship relegation encounter at The Valley.

The Addicks remain seven points above the drop zone after a 3-1 defeat to their fellow strugglers, who moved to one place and three points behind them in nineteenth.

The hosts squandered a glorious opportunity after just 36 seconds when Harry Clarke fired straight at Nicolas Schmid.

Pompey made them pay midway through the first half as Kaminski made a complete hash of Terry Devlin’s 30-yard drive, which went straight through his hands.

A hotly disputed penalty awarded after Amari’i Bell was adjudged to have handled Gustavo Caballero’s

delivery was converted on 35 minutes by Colby Bishop.

Things went from bad to worse ten minutes into the second period as Devlin grabbed his second of the evening with another long-range strike.

And although substitute Jayden Fevrier pulled one back on his debut on 64 minutes, it proved a mere consolation with the boss far from impressed with what he had witnessed.

Jones said: “We were poor tonight. We had a glorious opportunity in the first minute which would have really set the tone for the night.

“We missed that and then we got dominated physically between both boxes. I can moan about the goals because [the first], it has gone straight through our keeper and shouldn’t go in.

“The second was a penalty which touched his chest first and then

is [given] handball and then they scored another one from distance.

“We have chances for me from five yards, TC (Tyreece Campbell) has another chance so we probably had better chances on the night.

“But in between both boxes we got dominated physically and that’s not like us. I have no idea why. It wasn’t that we didn’t prepare, we did in training.

Boss unhappy with keeper - and confronts fan

can do exactly what he wants.

“I disagreed with what he said but that is fine.”

Defeat ended Charlton’s threegame unbeaten run, something Jones was left to lament.

“It is the worst thing about it,” the Valley chief said.

“They played on Saturday so we should have been fresh. Physically we shouldn’t have had a problem but they dominated us today.”

On Kaminski’s mistake, Jones said: “It’s poor, I expect him to save that.”

Jones became involved in a heated debate at the end of the game with a home supporter but the manager claimed it was a storm in a teacup and instantly forgotten.

He said: “It was just a disagreement with a fan. He wants to vent, he has paid his money so

“Obviously in the Championship you can’t take it for granted. We are new to the Championship so we are learning lessons all the time and tonight was a lesson.

“It came in the worst type of game, really.”

The manager also remained tight-lipped on speculation linking the Addicks with 35-year-old former West Ham United striker and free agent Michail Antonio.

Jones added: “There is nothing to say on that yet. The wheels are still in motion but that is where we are.”

Charlton travel to Southampton for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.

Wimbledon should have made League One leaders Cardiff City “worker harder” for their goals in a 4-1 defeat in South Wales on Tuesday.

It was 1-1 at the break after Matty Stevens levelled following Joe Colwill’s opener.

But Brian Barry-Murphy’s side ran away with it in the second half with goals from Perry Ng, Ollie Tanner and Omari Kellyman.

The Dons are six points above the relegation zone, while the Championship-bound Bluebirds are fourteen points clear of third-place Bolton Wanderers.

“They're a good side, one of the best teams in the league. They've shown that consistently throughout the season,” Jackson said.

“In the end, that's telling, but I felt for long periods we were in the game.

“I’m disappointed with a couple of the goals. Obviously they've got the ability to unlock you - they probably did with their third and fourth - but the first two, set-pieces, and to give two away in that way is disappointing.

“You want them to have to work harder for that. The third one probably takes the game away from us, but the second one, when we started the second half so well and I felt like we were actually in control of the game, then we give up a corner from a counter-attack and they score from it and now we're chasing again.

“So probably, in those moments, have cost us tonight. We kept going for it, kept pushing forward to try and get back into the game. We've had sixteen shots. We've hit the post at the end there.

“We continued to go for it and it can leave you open. We got picked off for probably the third and fourth, but I'd much rather that than come here and just try and shut up shop, stay in shape and all that and not create anything and get beat anyway.

“So I'm not happy that we've lost, but I think we've still seen enough from the team going forward. If we continue to play the way that we're playing, we're going to pick up a lot of points, but tonight they just had too much quality in certain moments.”

Wimbledon host Bradford City at Plough Lane on Saturday at 3pm.