Author: Blake Foster

Each week Lewisham’s planning portal receives dozens of new applications from developers or residents who are hoping to get their plans approved in the near future. Plans are submitted and validated by Lewisham Council, and are publicly available to residents who can have their say – regardless of whether they are supporting or objecting to a proposed development. Most planning applications are determined by planning officers working for the council under delegated powers however, some will need to be decided by a local planning committee due to factors such as the size of the development and whether there has been a…

The long-anticipated free music weekender in Camden has been given permission to go ahead by the council despite an objection from the Metropolitan Police. Camden Music Festival is set to go ahead in September following last year’s cancellation amid concerns from police that it would not be safe enough. One year on, the Met were back urging Camden Council to block the event because organisers had not sent over “vital information” despite being given “numerous chances” to do so. This included plans for where to put first aid stands, crowd control measures and protections in case “hostile vehicles” tried to…

Baby Cakes, which sells crepes, waffles and hot drinks, submitted an application for a premises licence which was debated by Haringey Council’s licensing sub-committee last month. The owner, Atakan Kartal, had applied to serve hot food at the in West Green Road premises until 2am daily but the Metropolitan Police said the shop needed to be responsible for keeping noise from delivery drivers to a minimum and to install CCTV. Residents Max Duerden and Katja Klier gave a representation saying granting the licence would “aggravate a bad situation” and, due to the off licence next door, which Atakan also owns,…

Security site Reolink released a list of the top 10 “most dangerous” boroughs to be “extra cautious” in. They analyse crime rates and recent headline-making incidents to highlight areas where residents and visitors should remain vigilant. Croydon ranked in sixth and was the two of the 12 south London boroughs to be named, along with Southwark. It is important to note that while Croydon was named, it is also one of the largest and most populated boroughs in south London, so comparing its crime figures directly with neighbouring, smaller boroughs like Sutton and Merton may not provide a fully balanced…

On Thursday (August 14), thousands of students across the country will find out how they did in their A-Levels or post-GCSE exams, which they sat earlier in the summer. The Department of Education will be set to update school ratings following this. Each school is assigned a score reflecting student progress in Key Stage 5 and further education. The data highlights schools where students have exceeded the national average in terms of progress. Below is a list of sixth forms and colleges in Sutton and their current scores. Special schools are not included.   Above average: Wallington County Grammar School…

Ongar Way Village Green was originally designated in 1970, but was officially dedicated as a village green on Saturday, August 2. Havering Council said this dedication shows the borough’s “ongoing commitment to preserving valuable public green spaces”. This dedication is the third of five new village greens for 2025, which will join the five open spaces that were dedicated last year, including Fleet Close, Hitchin Close, Wennington Village Green, Dover’s, and Gooshays Green. Residents and councillors, including Havering council leader Ray Morgon, and South Hornchurch ward councillors Natasha Summers and Graham Williamson, attended the event. Cllr Morgon said: “The dedication…

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The Brentwood Art Trail from Brentwood Connected business improvement district (BID), took place across Brentwood, Shenfield, and Ingatestone in June. Its legacy lives on in the form of a painting by local artist Nicola Osborne, whose work is now on permanent display at Ingatestone station. Nicola’s painting is inspired by Philippa Threlfall’s mosaic titled Peoples Who Used The Essex Road. The mosaic can be found on The Chequers building in High Street. Unveiled in 1969, it’s an 18-foot-tall depiction of the town in the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring Queen Elizabeth I, a Roman foot soldier, a Knight Templar, and a…

The court is located at the Aldersbrook Lawn Tennis Club in Wanstead. A mural covers the centre court and is named The Court of Resilience. Court of Resilience unveiled in tribute to Dimitrov (Image: PAYHAWK) It was unveiled on Thursday, August 7, and is inspired by Dimitrov’s handshake with the umpire following his emotional Wimbledon exit after injury. Dimitrov said: “Tennis has taught me that resilience is the main driver of success in all fields and finding grace under such conditions emphasises that even more. “Seeing that spirit turned into art—and made accessible to a community court —means a lot to me.”…

Ade Adepitan visited the UEL’s physiology lab at SportsDock as part of his medical clearance for ITV’s primetime series Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters. The series marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws and features Adepitan and other celebrities taking on challenges in the Bahamas. He completed a VO₂ max test at the university ahead of the challenge. Richard Avery, an applied sport and exercise scientist who led the test, said: “It was a privilege – and great fun – to welcome Ade to UEL. “He’s an incredible athlete and presenter, and we were delighted to help with his preparations for such a bold and demanding…