Author: Blake Foster

More than 100 demonstrators assembled outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Sunday (July 20) evening, with some chanting “save our kids” – following beliefs that it is being used to house asylum seekers. Essex Police said six people were arrested that evening and remain in custody, including a 17-year-old male on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a police car. Four were arrested on Sunday for alleged offences during Thursday’s protest, police said. A 16-year-old male from south London was arrested on suspicion of going equipped to cause criminal damage, it added At 10.15pm, Essex Police said: “There were…

Following a visit on May 7 and 8, inspectors found the St John Baptist Southend Church of England Primary School had “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. “Pupils consistently live and breathe the school’s rules of being kind, respectful and trying one’s best,” the report said. These values help them to “embody the school’s values and its vision, which is to ‘be a shining light’”. Inspectors highlighted that pupils “show these values through their compassion towards, and celebration of, each other’s achievements,” creating a “strong sense of community, belonging and inclusion”. Children are “happy,…

Eccles, of Eastbourne Road in Pevensey Bay, East Sussex, told our reporter “no photos please” as he left the Old Bailey a free man.  Nigel Eccles pictured leaving the Old Bailey (Image: Josh Bolton) ‘I dropped my phone’ In February 2023, a mum and her very young daughter were getting changed in a cubicle after they had been swimming at the leisure centre.  The mum noticed a mobile phone being held under the partition, hovering slightly off the ground with the camera pointing up at her.  When challenged, Eccles claimed he dropped his phone.  He later changed his story to say he…

A beloved lollipop lady who helped generations of children cross the road safely has been forced to step down after 48 years of service, following a decision by Lewisham Council to end school crossing patrols. Sheila Richards, 88, has been a constant presence outside John Stainer Primary School in Lewisham for nearly half a century. Come rain or shine, she was there – smiling, waving, and proudly holding her lollipop sign as she guided children and parents across the road. Sheila Richards at work (Image: Sheila Richards) On Friday, July 18, Sheila completed her final day in the role, heartbroken…

Patients across the country shared their views in the annual GP Patient Survey, giving honest feedback about what their local surgeries are really like. In Sutton, Wrythe Green Surgery, Grove Road Practice, Park Road Medical Centre and Maldon Road Surgery came out on top, with most patients reporting a positive overall experience. At the other end, Manor Practice, Circle GP Surgery and Cheam GP Centre were rated the lowest for overall experience. Some of the lower-rated surgeries did perform well in other areas, such as helpful reception staff, phone access or how easy it is to get an appointment. This…

Patients have had their say on receptionist helpfulness in this year’s GP Patient Survey and some surgeries stood out more than others. Stovell House Surgery, Queenhill Medical Practice and Selsdon Park Medical Practice were rated the best for helpful reception staff. At the other end of the scale, London Road Medical Practice, Woodcote Medical and Greenside Group Practice were ranked the worst. It’s worth saying that these results focus purely on how helpful patients found receptionists. The full survey also looks at other things like phone access, booking appointments and overall experience. Some of the surgeries that scored low here…

A Croydon shopfront could see a £2 million transformation. The former Marks & Spencer store at 135A North End is set for changes to its shop frontage and upper floor glazing. The proposal was submitted by Topspot Investing Limited. Located in the Central Croydon Conservation Area, the project is expected to be completed this month. Public comments on the application are invited by Croydon Council and must be submitted by July 31. They can be made online, by email to dmcomments@croydon.gov.uk, or by post to Development Management, Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery Department, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk,…

Greenwich Council has launched a six-week consultation on its “sustainable streets” programme in six areas of the borough, including Shooters Hill. If implemented, the scheme would include introducing parking permits and designated parking bays. But some people living in Shooters Hill have told the News Shopper that the local authority is trying to solve a problem that does not exist, claiming that there are very few parking problems in the area. Tim Waters, who finished fourth in the Shooters Hill council by-election last month as a Conservative candidate, said: “I’m absolutely fuming. “Controlled parking zones (CPZs) originated around high streets and stations.…

In the past eight months alone, the Brent & Kilburn Times has reported on a total of five victims of shootings in Brent. This includes three people shot in Gilford Road, Harlesden, on December 14 – resulting in the death of 44-year-old Michelle Sadio. Five days later, a man in his 20s was shot in Washbourne Road, between Harlesden and Stonebridge. On July 7, a 30-year-old man was shot in Tanfield Avenue at 9pm. Statistics show that gun crime is becoming a more apparent issue in the area – however police believe these are “isolated incidents”. High spike According to data published by…

The go-ahead was given at the local authority’s cabinet meeting last week (July 15) to establish the ‘registered charity’ body to organise the festival independently and be able to get outside commercial sponsorship. Haringey got an extra year’s advance notice from the Mayor of London in 2024 that it was to host the 2027 festival. The extra time compared to previous ‘year of culture’ awards to other boroughs has given the council a new approach like setting up a separate organisation for the festival that wouldn’t need to rely on the public coffers. “This decision is major step for our year…