MILLWALL
LIONS LAND LEGEND
Shortlisted for Scoop of the Year & Small News Brand of the Year - Regional Press Awards 2026
Issue 1773
Established: 1987
SHED LOAD OF LOVE
50p
January 29 2026
southwarknews.co.uk
RENTERS’ RIGHTS ACT will only work if councils enforce it
See page 8
THE SOBER STORY BEHIND PARK FOUNTAIN
See page 21
See page 4
EXCLUSIVE
SEE PAGE 11
Bighearted locals get Rotherhithe Shed users back in twice a week See page 11
SUPERMARKETS INSTALL FACIAL RECOGNITION CAMERAS
See page 6
2 NEWS Andy Burnham
Contents NEWS Pages 2-15 OPINION Page 16-17 ARTS Pages 19 EVENTS Page 20 HISTORY Pages 21 CLASSIFIED Page 23 PUBLIC NOTICES Pages 24-26 SPORT Pages 29-32
SOUTHWARK MPs DIVIDED OVER BURNHAM’S BLOCKED PARLIAMENTARY BID By Issy Clarke THREE OF Southwark’s MPs are divided over the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham’s blighted attempt to become an MP, after he was blocked from standing by the Labour Party over the weekend.
Burnham, widely seen as a potential leadership challenger, had sought approval from Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) on Saturday to stand as the parliamentary candidate for a seat in Greater Contact us Manchester, after a by-election was triggered if you have a due to the resignation of previous MP Andrew story on editor@ southwarknews.co.uk Gwynne. However, the NEC blocked his attempt to stand in Gorton and Denton, ostensibly to avoid an “unnesseccary” election which would “use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources”, according to the BBC. It is widely believed that one of the reasons that Burnham sought to return to Parliament We are a London was in order to challenge Keir Starmer for the Living Wage employer leadership. Lewisham’s MP Ellie Reeves, the party chair DO YOU HAVE A STORY and a member of Labour’s 10-person NEC, is for our news team? believed to have been among those who voted Call 0207 231 5258 to block Burnham from standing. You can WhatsApp According to the BBC, the vote was 8-1 in
L-R: Neil Coyle, Ellie Reeves, Miatta Fahnbulleh favour of blocking Burnham’s candidacy. Justice secretary Shabhana Mahmood, the chair of the NEC, abstained from voting, while Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell voted to allow him to stand. Neil Coyle, the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, defended the party’s move to block Burnham, telling the News: “Burnham has stood twice for leader already and failed. He has a fantastic job in Manchester to improve people’s lives and it would be a huge waste to run a £5million by-election across the city for his replacement at a time when finances are tight. “His ego will have to be contained until the next general election when he’s entitled
us on 07494 070 863.
MILLWALL
Shortlisted for Scoop of the Year & Small News Brand of the Year - Regional Press Awards 2026
Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporters: Issy Clarke, Evie Flynn Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Will Scott Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin, Mandy Stong Design: Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 em@cm-media.co.uk Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly on a Thursday at: Community Matters Media Ltd 1 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN. News and Sport: 020 7231 5258 Advertising: 020 7232 1639 News: news@southwarknews.co.uk Advertising: hello@cm-media.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk
Issue 1772
Established: 1987
50p
January 22 2026
LOCAL PUBLICANS FEEL CRIPPLED BY A COCKTAIL OF TAXES
EXCLUSIVE
southwarknews.co.uk
KNIFE CRIME
MISSED CHANCES HAUNT LIONS INVESTIGATION
WHAT DO THE FIGURES HIDE?
‘WILD SWIMMING ON OLD KENT ROAD’ See pages 4-5
See page 4
See pages 6-7
EXCLUSIVE
Ambitious plans announced for former gas works See page 3
to stand. If members and supporters don’t want Reform to win they need to campaign for whoever our candidate is – whether they did politics at Cambridge, spent 20 years in Westminster previously or not.” Burnham previously served as the Labour MP for Leigh between 2001 and 2017. He ran unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Labour Party in 2010 and 2015. However Peckham’s MP Miatta Fahnbulleh, a parliamentary undersecretary of state in the housing department, suggested she would support allowing Burnham to stand and that he would be an “asset” to the parliamentary party in the fight against Reform. She told the Guardian: “We’ve got the fight of
our lives on our hands to beat Reform, which we have a moral duty to the country to do, and we need our best team on the pitch. “So if he wants to put his hat in the ring and if he can persuade his members and persuade the electorate to bring him in then I think he would be an asset.” Andy Higson, Secretary of the Southwark Green Party, slammed the Labour Party’s move to block Burnham’s candidacy: “Ellie Reeves and other Labour MPs are addicted to doing neither the right thing nor the smart thing, but the thing they can get away with. It’s why they are so massively failing as a government.” The London Labour Party were contacted for comment.
The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper. It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn. Former reporters for Southwark News, they bought the title in 2002, after the founder Dave Clark died suddenly from cancer four years earlier. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that a community-led, independent newspaper can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.
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Southwark News is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk
NEWS 3
DISCOVERING THINGS TO DO ACROSS SOUTH LONDON
Mudlark on Thames
TAPESTRY WEAVING FOR BEGINNERS, BELL HOUSE, DULWICH Fancy picking up a new hobby this year? Bell House in Dulwich is hosting a tapestry weaving class this February, led by an award-winning tapestry weaver. Learn how to do a plain weave, then experiment with blending colours and making simple shapes. By the end of the session, you will even have your own tapestry to take home. Date: Saturday 7 February Time: 10:00 - 13:00 Price: £60 Location: Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Rd, SE21 7BG www.bellhouse.co.uk
SECRETS OF THE THAMES AT LONDON MUSEUM DOCKLANDS Discover objects revealing stories from London’s past at London Museum Docklands. Over 350 artefacts salvaged from the Thames - ranging from the historically significant to the more personal - will be on display until 1 March, in the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to mudlarking. End your experience with a moment of reflection on the mysteries of the moon and tides, which make the discovery of these treasures possible.
© London Museum
By Maya Sgaravato-Grant and Evie Flynn
From the Thames foreshore to Station Hall in Herne Hill there is plenty going on
Date: Ends Sunday 1 March Time: 10:00 - 17:00 daily Price: £16 adult, free for children under 12 Location: London Museum Docklands, No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL www.londonmuseum.org.uk
“ALL ABOUT LOVE” HARMONY SINGING WORKSHOP AT STATION HALL, HERNE HILL Spend your Valentine’s Day singing about love. Janna Goodwillie will take you through a selection of uplifting repertoire, with no previous musical training required - just a passion for song. A special discount is available to couples celebrating the occasion! Date: Saturday 14 February Time: 11:00 - 14.00 Price: £22 for a standard individual ticket, £40 for a standard couples ticket; concessions available Location: Station Hall, Railton Road, SE24 0JW www.stationhallhernehill.org
KIMCHI FERMENTATION WORKSHOP IN PENGE Not feeling in the mood for a traditional Valentine’s Day event this mid-February? Learn to make Kimchi instead! South London Ferments will be hosting a hands-on fermentation workshop in Penge, where you will get to prepare the iconic spicy Korean condiment made from fermented cabbage. No
Harmony singing workshop
need to bring anything along - all ingredients will be provided. Date: Thursday 12 February Time: 19:00 - 20:00 Price: Starting from £41.34 Location: Kingswood Road, London, SE20 7BL https://tinyurl.com/mr3cz5f8
JORVIK AT OLD YORK THEATRE Head down to Old York Theatre for the London debut of Jorvik, an interactive, immersive Viking play, set in the aftermath of the conquest of Eoforwic (York). Filled with celebration, song, and fighting, the play touches on the heart of the human condition. Date: Until 9 February
Mike Urban’s Mega Pop Party at Effra Social
Time: 19:00 - 20:00 daily; also at 14:00 - 15:00 on Saturdays Price: Tickets from £10 Location: The Glitch, 134 Lower Marsh, SE1 7AE https://tinyurl.com/4exfdwu5
CATASTROPHE CABARET AT THE HALF MOON, HERNE HILL Watch celebrated screenwriter, actress and comedian Alison Spittle perform at Catastrophe Cabaret - a monthly live comedy and music night - this January. With award-winning supporting acts, the event promises an evening of laughs to ward off the January blues. Date: Thursday 29 January Time: 19:00 - 22:00
Price: £8.25 - £10.45 Location: The Half Moon, 10 Half Moon Lane, London, SE24 9HU https://tinyurl.com/3ac8sbhf
MINDFULNESS IN NATURE, BROCKWELL PARK COMMUNITY GREENHOUSES Learn to be present in nature with a Mindfulness in Nature workshop. Trained yoga and mindfulness teacher Deepti will guide you through the process of meditation in the green and lush gardens of the Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses - just remember to bring warm layers! Date: Sunday 1 March Time: 12:30 - 15:30 Price: Pay what you can
(recommended price £35) Location: Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, Brockwell Park, London SE24 9BN https://tinyurl.com/nhhhwnym
MIKE URBAN’S MEGA POP PARTY AT EFFRA SOCIAL Dance the night away in Brixton at Mike Urban’s Mega Pop Party. Expect Fleetwood Mac, Abba, A-ha, Cyndi, Dolly, Shania, Blondie, and good vibes. Entry is free. Date: 6 February - 7 February Time: 22:00 - 01:00 Price: Free to attend Location: Effra Social, 89 Effra Rd, London, SW2 1DF effrasocial.co.uk
4 NEWS By Issy Clarke
SOUTHWARK OPPOSES ANY CHANGES TO FREEDOM PASS
SOUTHWARK COUNCIL has said it will oppose any changes to a travel pass which lets older people use public transport in London for free, after suggestions the scheme could be scaled back.
The Freedom Pass, used by 1.2 million Londoners, allows those aged over 66 to use the bus, tube, tram, DLR and National Rail services for free during off peak hours. On 5 January it was reported that London Councils, the body which manages the scheme on behalf of the 32 London boroughs, would be reviewing the pass, the cost of which is set to reach £372m from April 2026. Cllr Ian Manders, one of the Liberal Democrat representatives on the committee responsible for overseeing the administration of the scheme, described it as an “expensive burden”. One idea allegedly floated was to restrict free travel to the bus only, which it was suggested could save councils £100 million a year. However on Wednesday (14 January) Labour councils in London issued a joint statement warning they would oppose any move to restrict the eligibility criteria or the transport services it can be used on. Cllr Claire Holland, Labour leader in Lambeth and the Leader of London Councils, offered assurances that there would be no move to restrict eligibility or the modes of transport the pass applies to. She said: “The previous Conservative government slashed funding for the Freedom Pass scheme, leaving councils to foot the bill. “It’s clear that we need to ensure the Freedom Pass is funded sustainably, but this cannot be done at the expense of older Londoners. “We know the Freedom Pass is a vital lifeline for our older residents and we must defend it. Labour councils will oppose any changes that would see restrictions placed on who can use it and which modes of transport it applies to.” Sarah King, the leader of Southwark Council, welcomed the news that the pass would be ‘protected’: “Keeping
costs down for our residents is our top priority, which is why we were very clear that the freedom pass should be protected and it is fantastic news that we have managed to save it. “With Lib Dems refusing to rule out cutting the pass, it’s clear only Labour is focused on helping local people with
rising prices and ensuring our over 65s have full access to public transport in Southwark.” The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also threw his weight behind calls to retain the pass in its current form, although he has no responsibility over it. He said: “The Freedom Pass is crucial
for older Londoners, enabling them to travel around the city and stay connected to friends and family. “While I have no control over the 66+ pass, Labour councils have my full support in committing to keep it. “As Mayor, I am ensuring hundreds of thousands of older Londoners are also
able to enjoy free travel by continuing to provide the 60+ Oyster card alongside other concessions for Londoners. “The previous Tory government wanted to get rid of the 60+ Oyster card. It’s clear that only Labour can be trusted to protect concessionary travel for Londoners.”
By Issy Clarke A 21-YEAR-OLD man ‘involved in a major people smuggling ring’ has been extradited to Belgium more than a year after he was arrested in Bermondsey.
Zeeshan Banghis, an Afhgan national, was apprehended at an address on the New Kent Road by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) on 18 December 2024 after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Belgian courts. Another man, 24-year-old Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai, was apprehended at an address in Hemel Hempstead a few days later on 30 December. In November 2024 both men were tried by a court in Antwerp in their absence. Ahmedzai was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, while Banghis was sentenced to three years in jail. Both were also fined 3,000 Euros.
© NCA
21-YEAR-OLD MAN ‘INVOLVED IN A MAJOR PEOPLE SMUGGLING RING’ EXTRADITED TO BELGIUM AFTER HIS ARREST IN BERMONDSEY
Zeeshan Banghis and Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai Ahmedzai was extradited to Belgium in June last year. Banghis was extradited to Belgium on 15 January 2026 and both will serve the remainder of their sentence in a Belgian jail. Belgian prosecutors believed both to have been part of a major
people smuggling gang involved in organising the transport of migrants from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey and the Balkans into western Europe, mainly France and Belgium. The NCA said many would eventually be put on small boats from northern France to the UK, with
the gang suspected of transporting thousands of people this way. They added that the group also committed serious sexual offences against male migrant minors, including rape which they would video and use footage to blackmail the victims into criminality and further sexual abuse. NCA investigators supported the Belgian investigation for around two years, supplying intelligence and evidence to the Belgian Federal Police around suspected members of the network. In November 2024 a court in Antwerp convicted and sentenced the pair and 21 other members of the gang to a total of 170 years’ imprisonment, with sentences ranging from two to 18 years. Eleven members were tried in their absence, including the two men arrested in the UK. Officers also worked with
colleagues from Border Force and Immigration Enforcement to identify migrants and victims of the network who had been transported to the UK, conducting safeguarding checks. Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s National Extradition Unit, said: “This gang operated across the globe and piled misery on migrants they transported, all for the sake of making a profit. “Many of these people would have been extremely vulnerable, which makes it all the more shocking that disgraceful sexual offences were committed against some of them. “Our joint investigation with Belgian law enforcement is another example of international action succeeding against a global threat. “These extraditions display a very strong message that work to disrupt and dismantle the gangs behind this horrendous trade will never slow down.”
NEWS 5
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON ADMITS BUS LANES AND LTNS ARE SLOWING DOWN TRAFFIC IN SOME PARTS OF THE CAPITAL
By Kumail Jaffer
Local Democracy Reporter
Carl Eddleston, Director of Streets and Network Operations, TfL
EXTRA BUS lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have increased congestion for private cars on some of London’s streets, Transport for London (TfL) officials have admitted.
© London Assembly
The transport body has been shifting policy away from accommodating private vehicle use as part of an overall aim to ensure 80 per cent of journeys made in the capital by 2041 are by walking, cycling or public transport. This has involved carving off some road space for extra bus lanes and implementing around 100 LTNs across London. Measures such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) levy and the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) are also part of City Hall’s drive to reduce reliance on cars within the capital. The Mayor’s pathway to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2030 relies on a 27 per cent reduction in kilometres travelled by car. Officials say that increased use of buses, trains and cycle lanes are far more efficient than private cars and will, overall, lead to less congestion and more importantly, faster journeys for those who rely on a private vehicle for business or accessibility reasons. However, with bus speeds falling and London today topping the list of the world’s slowest driving capitals,
the effectiveness of the measures have been questioned. Earlier today (Wednesday 21 January) TfL officials admitted to the London Assembly Transport
Committee that the implementation of LTNs has increased congestions in some areas. Carl Eddleston, Director of Streets and Network Operations, said: “There
are around 100 LTNs, mostly installed during the Covid period. “They provide significant safety and active travel benefits. Most of them are on borough roads, so they’re not a TfL decision. “In some locations they have added congestion to the local area, but nearly all of them have been huge successes. “We do need to continue to actively review them – there’s been a huge amount of listening to communities and tweaks to LTNs.” He also suggested that some instances where cycleways have been installed have ended up reducing bus speeds, however, forcing TfL to “claw that back” through imposing further bus priority lanes elsewhere. However, officials insisted that various policy decisions taken to shift the balance towards active travel and public transport would, in the long term, reduce congestion. Christina Calderato, Director of Transport Strategy and Policy at TfL, acknowledged that one in every five trips made in London will still need to be made in a car, van or lorry, and that the network was working to ensure those journeys remained as efficient as possible. “Everything we’re doing in shifting people towards more sustainable modes is aimed at traffic reduction,” she told Assembly Members. “We need a functioning and effective road network for freights, taxis, private
car trips – but we need to make sure that most of the time for most people, there is an attractive alternative.” Ms Calderato also said London’s growing population meant that every bit of road space, especially towards the centre of the capital, needed to be used efficiently. “We have seen car use and traffic continuing to decrease, but a change in the types vehicles used on the network. In a growing city, to accommodate more people and move them efficiently, we need to consider how best we use that road space. “Some of that means reallocating that space towards more space-efficient modes such as buses. That does reduce the amount of space for general traffic in some locations where appropriate. “You are still managing to move many more people through that corridor in the same amount of time. “If it means we can accommodate greater people moving through the area, we’re for more people having a smoother, more reliable journey.” She referred to TfL reallocating road space so that the maximum number of “switchable trips” that could be taken by car or public transport are done via the latter mode. “There are trips that weren’t switchable before but there are now – our job is to keep doing that, if we create a new bus service, put a new Superloop in, we can reach that 80 per cent target,” she added.