Opinion – Southwark News

£30 million for late-night youth clubs, but the devil is in the detail

News Desk — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:07:00 +0000

As with all grand political announcements, especially when an election is on the horizon, the devil is in the detail. And the Mayor of London’s visit to The Marcus Lipton youth centre in Loughborough Junction last week is a case in point. There he announced a £30 million promise to set up a youth club […]

Your vote at next month’s local election will count more than ever

News Desk — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:47:17 +0000

Next month is your biggest chance to influence how your local area is run for four years. The local elections on Thursday May 7 will pit incumbents Labour against the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and to a lesser degree the Conservatives. The News does not back any single party so cannot make your decision […]

Councils powerless against developers?

News Desk — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:32:00 +0000

The sprawling 53-acre Canada Water Masterplan was approved by the Mayor last week, giving British Land the go-ahead to press on with building 4,200 homes, just 9 per cent of which will be affordable, after the scheme stalled for more than a year. It wasn’t a surprising decision; the writing had been on the wall […]

‘After 16 years in control Labour say Southwark doesn’t need fixing – this is what we promise to do if elected’ says Lib Dem leader

Columnist — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:16:00 +0000

After sixteen years of Labour running Southwark, with Labour in charge locally, in London and now nationally, you would expect things to be working better. But ask residents what they think, and you hear a very different story. Council tax going up. Streets that don’t feel as safe. A housing service that too often lets […]

‘I love Southwark but it and London has become too expensive – this must change’, writes leader of Southwark Council

Columnist — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:10:00 +0000

I love Southwark. Our borough is diverse, it’s vibrant, it’s busy. It’s a bustling, amazing place. From Peckham’s food scene to Dulwich’s parks and sports grounds, Bermondsey’s estates to Walworth’s street markets and Bankside’s heritage. Southwark has it all. We are a green borough, with stunning parks and hundreds of thousands of trees. Our schools […]

Peckham MP is hoping for business revolution on her patch

Columnist — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:04:10 +0000

Behind Peckham’s vibrant markets, buzzing high streets and unmistakable creative pulse lies something deeper: a powerful collective movement of local entrepreneurs shaping our neighbourhood. That movement came together in full force in March, at the newly refurbished Palais on Rye Lane. Under the banner “Your Business, Your Voice, Your Power”, local traders, organisations and partners […]

Neil Coyle’s column: ‘My thoughts on housing, foodbanks and this year’s local election’

Columnist — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:45:00 +0000

Housing is the number one issue local people raise with me so it is brilliant to be ‘breaking ground’ this week, the builders’ term for beginning the work for 338 new council homes on the Bermondsey site of the old Peek Freans Biscuit Factory.? Southwark’s Labour council has built more homes in the last five […]

Who made mystifying decision to close homeless addiction unit?

News Desk — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:30:00 +0000

We reported last week that a hospital unit which specialises in treating homeless people for drug and alcohol misuse will close at the end of March. The detox unit at St Thomas’s Hospital is the only NHS initiative of its kind in London and has treated more than 1,000 homeless patients since it opened four […]

Don’t sideline Peckham residents on the Rye

News Desk — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:04:00 +0000

A popular route in the heart of Peckham could soon become a lot busier if plans to reorganise the road go ahead; at least that’s what some local residents think who are objecting to the plans. A consultation closed this week on a council proposal to shut off the prong of the road which runs […]

‘Southwark is more affordable and our streets are safer,’ says Greater London assembly member

Columnist — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:32:00 +0000

The new year has brought lots of good news, with new policies aimed at making Southwark more affordable and keeping our streets safe. The recent government announcement that ground rents are going to be capped at £250 per year is great news for many struggling with these payments. With over 1 million households across London […]