21 October 2005

Flat murder victim identity appeal

ONE POSSIBLE identity of a murdered man has been ruled out after someone sharing his name was found alive and well.

A mystery was sparked when the 30-year-old was found shot dead in his flat in Lucas Court, Bell Green Lane, Sydenham, on September 19.

Police could not identify him and he is known to have gone by two different aliases, Donaghue Dennis and Biggs.

Officers have now managed to trace the real Donaghue Dennis living close by and have confirmed he is not the victim.

Detectives suspect the murdered man had been living under a false identity prior to his death and after issuing a picture of him in a bid to name him are still appealing for information.

Detective Inspector Julian Wyard said: "We believe the victim was known as both Donaghue Dennis and Biggs, however, neither of these are his real name. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who may know the victim's true identity to please contact me at the incident room.

"Maybe you know something about the murder? Did you know the victim perhaps? Were you in the area at the time? Did you see or hear anything? I would urge anyone with information to please call me on: 020 8721 4960, or anonymously call Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111.

Search called off for origin of Legionnaire’s disease

Investigations into an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that may have originated in Wandsworth have ended after no new cases were reported for the past five weeks.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has now called off the investigation after a series of meetings with Wandsworth environmental health officers but it is still monitoring for any reports of new cases.

The outbreak has affected 13 people, all of whom are from or have travelled through Lewisham, Bexley, Wandsworth and Southwark.

HPA workers were in touch with all the relevant councils.

Postal worker Eric Brittle was worst affected and is now in a stable condition at Lewisham Hospital.

An HPA spokesperson said: "It looks like the infection site has gone away, we never find some sources. It may have been treated but obviously part of the job is to keep on monitoring because there is a possibility of a return."

Letters have been issued to businesses advising them about the waterborne disease.

Businesses in Wandsworth were advised to keep industrial cooling towers, taps and air-conditioning systems maintained up to Government standards.

Police appeal on fatal crash

POLICE are appealing for information after a fatal road traffic collision.

A Rover 620 knocked down a husband and wife in Bromley Road, Catford, just past midnight on October 15.

Les Ennis, 45, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Lewisham Hospital and his wife, Jackie, 43, still remains in a seriously-ill condition.

The occupants of the Rover were two men, aged 27 and 28, who were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

They were bailed to return to a south London police station on December 13.

Officers from the Collision Investigation Unit at Catford Traffic Garage are investigating and urging witnesses to come forward.

Sergeant Simon Seeley said: "Even if you think it is something insignificant, it might not be to our investigation."

Anyone with further information should call 020 8285 1574.

Homes driven by wind power

A GROUNDBREAKING energy-saving scheme means 12 homes will soon be powered by the wind.

The homes, on the Sanford estate, New Cross, are getting their very own wind turbines to power everything from their lighting to their television sets.

The scheme, believed to be the first of its kind in an urban residential setting, will reduce carbon emissions from the houses by 60 per cent.

The Sanford estate was built in 1971, is co-operative run and largely funded by its 150 residents.

Lewisham Council has already given planning permission for the 1.75m-diameter turbines, to be attached to the side of the buildings.

The turbines, which cost around £1,500 each, will save around 5kg of CO2 from being produced every hour enough to fill nearly 60,000 balloons a week.

They are being funded by the council and a £100,000 grant from the Energy Saving Trust.

A larger turbine is also being planned next to the railway line in New Cross to generate 6kw of electricity an hour.

Resident Mark Roper, 36, has welcomed the move towards renewable energy.

He said: "I think this is a really great idea.

"We have modelled the whole co-operative on the idea we should be self-sufficient and this is just another example of that.

"In this day and age, particularly with what is going on elsewhere in the world at the moment, we need to be more conservative with our energy use."

Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock announced the plans at the Sustainability Energy Beacon conference at Lewisham Town Hall on Friday.

Mr Bullock said: "It is frightening when you consider the impact CO2 is having on our climate and the potentially-devastating consequences this will have on our environment.

"It is no good to sit around waiting for each other to do something or thinking we will worry about it in 20 years' time. We have to act now."

MUSICAL MESSAGE: A free music concert is being held to highlight the dangers of taking cannabis.

The concert, on November 18, from 4pm, at The Albany Theatre, Douglas Way, Deptford, will launch a two-week campaign to promote awareness of the perils of using cannabis and alcohol to combat depression.

SWITCHING WARDS: Lewisham Labour group chairman Councillor Madeliene Long will stand in Deptford at the council elections next year after 22 years representing Lee Green ward. She joins Labour councillors Paul Maslin and Stephen Padmore, who are also standing in Deptford.

WARDEN HONOURED: Former college warden Dr Richard Hoggart visited Goldsmiths College, New Cross, on October 11 to celebrate the re-naming of the main college building in his honour. Dr Hoggart unveiled a plaque which marks his service to the college between 1976 and 1984.

DROP IN: Lewisham Association for Dyslexia Support holds a drop-in session on the first Tuesday of the month, from 6.45pm to 7.45pm, at Lewisham Library in Lewisham High Street. Call 020 8692 8611.

OVER 55S: U3A South London runs a host of courses and meeting groups for people aged 55 and over at Goldsmiths College, New Cross. Call 020 7919 7171.