10 March 06

Serco signs new £400m DLR deal

Serco has signed a new franchise agreement to continue to operate, maintain and support the Docklands Light Railway, the outsource specialist said today. The seven year contract, which is scheduled to start on 28 May, may be extended for a further two years and is valued at around £400m over this extended period.

The new franchise will see improvements for passengers such as a maximum of ten minutes between trains at any time and trains every three minutes at peak times on the Lewisham to Bank line.

Police appeal to find sex attacker

POLICE are hunting a man responsible for two sexual assaults. The man was travelling on a number 75 bus from Lewisham to Croydon at 9.30am on February 4.

He sat next to an 18-year-old woman and began chatting to her before sexually assaulting her. The victim was able to get away from him and got off the bus. A short time later the man approached a 17-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her. After she complained he spat at her, followed her off the bus and punched her in the face.

At 3.40pm on November 10 a woman was also assaulted by the same man, who sat next to her on a number 75 bus. Detective Sergeant Jeff Edwards from the Croydon Sapphire Unit, which investigates rape cases, said: "There may be other victims out there who are yet to come forward." Anyone with information should call 020 8649 1379.

Water firm says pipe ban looks ‘increasingly likely’

WATER firm bosses say hosepipe bans will probably come into effect this summer. London supplier Thameswater says hosepipe and sprinkler bans are likely to be slapped on residents due to last year being the third driest since records began in 1897.

In January this year, 19mm of rain fell across south London just 29 per cent of the rainfall level of 66mm expected for the month. However, February bucked the trend with 39mm of rainfall 2mm more than the expected 37mm for the month. But water bosses say Lewisham and Greenwich's underground water reserves are still low and more rainfall is needed to replenish supplies.

Call to unite after attacks on centre

AN IMAM is calling for greater unity within the non-muslim and muslim community following two racial attacks at an Islamic centre. Shakeel Begg, from Lewisham and Kent Islamic Centre, is supporting Greenwich Islamic Centre in its fight to find the culprits, who damaged the property twice within three days last week. The first incident happened at the centre in Plumstead Road, Woolwich, at 1.30am on March 2, when the offenders started a fire after breaking a window and pouring fuel through it.

Free Condom Cards for college students

More than 1,000 students at Lewisham College are set to receive a Condom Card which will give them free access to the contraceptives at the college and in sexual health clinics across the borough.

Students aged between 16 and 19 will receive tutorials on condom use over the coming months. They will then have to pass a test about condom use to qualify for the Condom Card.

Inspection success for school

Catford Business Enterprise College, Bellingham Road, received a "good" rating from inspectors last month, recognising its "significant" improvement since its last inspection six years ago.

The school, formerly known as Catford Girls' School, has doubled the number of pupils gaining five A*-C GCSE grades from 21 per cent to 42 per cent since 2001.

Looking out for Army recruits

SOLDIERS are to pay a visit to talk to people interested in a career in the Army. Blackheath Army careers adviser sergeant Jeff White said: "This is a great chance for everyone to meet the soldiers. "The Army is committed to developing individual skills and offering opportunities for personal development through training, sport and travel." To find out more about the Army, call 020 8852 1464.

Goodbyes to old friends.

So today I took a trip into Central Lewisham and the Riverdale Centre. It's been a while but I always end up needing to stop there for something.

Coming out of the lifts by WH Smiths I noticed the first loss of the day - the Childrens Play Area has not only gone, but the area has been filled with concrete. The climbing camels went many years ago but it's nice to have a central point of reference for the toddlers and this area always seemed packed and well loved. In recent times I've even seen a clown (no truth it was an ex-mayor) painting faces and making balloon animals. Oh well - another link to my early years has gone!



If you've ever found yourself standing outside by the Clocktower I'm sure you've seen Bill - the little old man who sold the Evening Standard in a booth outside Barclays Bank.

Through rain and storm, heatwave and hail I've seen the old guy stand in his dirty old coat and cloth cap selling the paper. Always friendly and happy - he made a great alternative to WH Smiths.

Imagine my sadness to find out that Bill has passed away. Sad news.

05 March 06

And another delay on posting as I sort out the next few steps in the stumble that is my life! Two weeks left before I leave Lewisham for good and despite looking forward to the challenge ahead I still have a tinge of sadness about cutting ties with the area. But that's in two weeks so lets get back to some news...

Leicester Robbery with Lewisham link.

A man who robbed two teenagers after offering to sell them cannabis will have to prove to a judge he can keep out of trouble if he wants to avoid imprisonment.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Timothy Nicol had been drinking when he approached two 15-year-old boys in St Mary's car park, Melton. Nicol, formerly of Melton, who later moved to Lewisham High Street, London, admitted two charges of robbery on September 9, last year. Judge Michael Stokes QC deferred sentencing Nicol for six months and told him to prove he had changed his ways - or he would receive a custodial sentence.

Teens groped by bus sex attacker

A BRUTAL sex attacker has struck at least three times on the same bus route. The beast has groped two teenage girls and pounced on a third young woman on board the No 75 route through Lewisham. When one 17-year-old victim fought back he spat on her, followed her off the bus and punched her in the face in broad daylight.

Gardener is sacked 24 hours after his death

Michael O'Connor, 39, had a fall at his home on November 22, just 24 hours before he was due to have an interview about his absence from work. Mr O'Connor, of Montpelier Row, Blackheath, suffered from epilepsy and had not been at work for several weeks.

The council fired him because he didn't turn up for the hearing. A verdict of accidental death was recorded by Southwark Coroner's court last month.

Future of London's oldest baths secured

THE future of London's oldest swimming baths has been secured, after council bosses agreed to give the building a multi-million pound revamp. Residents feared the 120-year-old Forest Hill Pools would be knocked down and replaced with a new, smaller facility.

But Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock has now confirmed the Victorian building, in Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, will be spruced up and retained, thanks to the £4m investment.

Developer to oversee homes project

PLANS to build hundreds of new homes have moved a step closer after a developer was chosen to front the project. Last year Lewisham Council announced around 1,250 new homes will be built on the Heathbridge and Lethbridge estates in Lewisham by 2010.

Now the Family Housing Association has seen off more than 50 competitors to win the right to oversee the development. Up to 470 of the homes will be reserved for current residents who want to stay in the area.

Cocaine use in men's lavs at town halls

A SPECIAL South London Press investigation has uncovered damning evidence of cocaine abuse inside town halls. Our undercover team gained access to town halls in Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham and Wandsworth.

Our team found no traces of class-A drug cocaine in the toilets at Wandsworth and Lewisham. A Lewisham spokesman said: "We take the issue of drugs extremely seriously.

27 February 2006

Masterplan aiming to revamp site

The Giffin Street masterplan would see the area around the road, near Deptford High Street, transformed by a new-look school, more homes and extra business premises. The plan, first seen by Lewisham's Mayor and cabinet committee last week, puts forward two proposals. The first would see Tidemill Primary School, Frankham Street, Deptford, rebuilt on a new site in Giffin Street.

Police hold woman over £6000

A NURSE wept last night as she told how police swooped as she tried to pay £6,000 into a building society, suspecting it was Securitas stolen cash. Mum-of-three Dawn Bailey, 41, was opening an account at the Portman in Bromley, Kent, with a bundle of £50 notes when staff became suspicious. They delayed her for half an hour saying there was a computer problem. Dawn, of Brockley, South East London, had drawn the cash out of her Halifax account in Catford. Dawn, a Salvation Army care nurse, said: "It was taking a long time but I thought it was only because it was so much money. Then suddenly I was surrounded by uniformed policemen who handcuffed me and marched me to a police car.

Sleuth seeks clues to student lodger’s death

AN INQUISITIVE resident is appealing to News Shopper readers for information on a mysterious death more than 30 years ago. Tony Mclaren and his family moved into a house on Bromley Road, Catford, in 1977 where they heard a student lodger had died at the address following an electric shock in the bathroom.

24 February 2006

£40 Million theft takes Lewisham Twist

Police have arrested two people over the record £50m robbery of a security depot on Wednesday but officers believe some or all of the armed gang may have escaped to the Continent.

Last night, a man aged 29 and a woman aged 31 were arrested in the Forest Hill area of south London. They were being held at undisclosed police stations in Kenton suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery. Adrian Leppard, Assistant Chief Constable of Kent Police, said the two arrests were "significant and directly related to the investigation". He said the two people were arrested at separate addresses in Forest Hill, which were both being "extensively searched" and examined by forensic scientists.

From ‘tired’ centre to tree-lined streets

PRESSURE from a residents' group has paid off as a "tired" town centre looks set to get a £500,000 makeover. The Sydenham Society last year drew up its vision for the Sydenham Gateway, which includes the creation of new open spaces and a tree-lined high street. Now this dream is set to become a reality after transport bosses put up the cash for the work.

Hoping to be Maines attraction

LIB Dem candidate Chris Maines is ready for a new challenge. This is why he is set to hang up his boots as an Orpington councillor after 20 years and vie to unseat current Mayor Steve Bullock in the upcoming May elections.

He has recently moved to Blackheath and says if he makes it to office as Lewisham's directly elected mayor, he will improve people's quality of life. Providing a cinema for the borough is on his hit list of things to do, and he is also keen to expand leisure facilities.

A week in the life of a campaigner

Max Calò's local leisure centre, Ladywell Pool in Lewisham, is under threat of closure. This week he'll be keeping a diary of the highs and lows of his fight to save the pool, and how he fits his campaign work into his life as a new dad.

Victim calls for better security

A FORMER councillor who was attacked at a mugging hotspot is calling for security to be upped in the area. Cathy Priddey was going to meet her partner for a romantic Valentine's Day meal when she was jumped on by an attacker near Hither Green Station.

Now the former Lib Dem councillor is urging those now serving in the town hall to improve safety in the area, which is a notorious haunt for muggers. Ms Priddey, 40, was attacked at around 8pm, on February 14, as she walked towards the station down Beacon Road, Hither Green.

Tributes stolen from graveside

THE mother of murdered teenager Rochelle Holness has spoken of her anger after floral tributes were stolen from her daughter's graveside.

Jennifer Bennett says her family is devastated by the theft of flowers and teddy bears from the grave at Hither Green Cemetery, Verdant Lane, Hither Green.

Body found in the Thames

The body of a 20-year old South African man has been found in the Thames two days after he disappeared, police revealed today. Police were called on Sunday evening just after 10pm after the bosy was spotted on the shoreline opposite Caledonian Wharf in east London. The identity of the dead man is believed to be that of Levier Van Der Hoven, who was living in Lewisham.