Tennis players wanting to use the courts at Southwark Park will need to make an online reservation when a new system is introduced from Thursday 9 July.

The online booking system was due to be launched in April but was delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Bookings can be made up to seven days in advance using the Tennis in Southwark website, and individuals can reserve up to one hour a day.

Southwark Council says the booking scheme will “address the frustration of waiting for courts that is experienced at the moment”.

Network Rail has worked with community groups and Millwall Football Club to celebrate the team’s symbol – a rampant lion – with a new mural in Zampa Road pointing the way to The New Den.

It’s the latest in a number of collaborations between Network Rail and artist Lionel Stanhope.

Lionel Stanhope said: “I’m really happy to have worked with Network Rail and Millwall Football Club on this mural and I’m pleased with the outcome. It sits well on the wall with strong colours and I’ve received positive feedback from people walking past.”

Steve Kavanagh, Millwall chief executive, said: “I’d like to thank everyone involved at Network Rail for assisting with this project and we’re also incredibly grateful for the efforts of Lionel, who has done a superb job with the new mural. I’d like to extend our thanks to members of Millwall Supporters’ Club who have overseen an initiative organised by the fans, for the fans.”

Eddie Burton, community engagement manager at Network Rail said: “It’s great to see this wall looking so good and I’m really pleased we could do this for Millwall Football Club. We hope the fans and local community will treasure this artwork and the mural will offer a great photo opportunity for years to come”

Millwall Community Trust is seeking additional Trustees from diverse backgrounds who can bring to the Trust their enthusiasm and experience gained in the local community and/or in business, industry or a profession.

MCT welcomes applications from suitably-qualified people to join its Board of Trustees to contribute to setting the strategic direction of the Trust and overseeing the Trust’s effective management.

Trustees have ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the Trust and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been established.

Further details

Hollywood Bowl at the Surrey Quays Leisure Park has reopened after a £350,000 makeover.

The bowling centre has been refurbished despite plans for the redevelopment of the Surrey Quays Leisure Park as part of British Land’s masterplan for Canada Water.

The 28-lane centre now has six VIP lanes as well as a new diner and bar.

“This is a massively exciting time for our centre – we’re getting a makeover that befits our glamourous name and stylish London location,” said general manager Dan Martinez.

“We can’t wait for our customers to see the new-look centre.”

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A proposal to install a floating swimming pool in Greenland Dock has been turned down by Southwark Council planning officers.

We first reported the scheme back in May.

The proposal was put forward by South Dock-based architect Adrian Priestman.

At a recent overview & scrutiny committee Cllr Mark Williams (cabinet member for regeneration and new homes) revealed that Mr Priestman’s proposal did not have the support of the council administration.

The planning application attracted more than 50 objections and 20 letters in support.

This week officers used delegated powers to refuse the planning application, citing the lack of an ecological impact assessment, adding that “the council are not therefore in the position to fully assess the impact of the proposal on the Site of Importance of Nature Conservation that is Greenland Dock”.

Greg Rusedski this week visited Southwark Park to unveil two new tennis courts.

The new courts were funded with £80,000 through Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council’s Cleaner Greener Safer grants fund, with the London Marathon Charitable Trust also contributing £50,000 to the project.

Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member of public health, parks and leisure said, “The demand for tennis facilities in the borough has been increasing amongst local people of all ages, especially with the recent success of some of the UK’s top players.

“With almost 10,000 people visiting the park’s existing courts last year, these two new courts will provide accessible and quality facilities, and mean greater availability for everyone – especially children and young people in the borough keen to take up the sport.”

Former British number one Greg Rusedski said: “It is fantastic to see councils like Southwark investing in grassroots sport in this way.

“Accessible facilities are so important to getting young people especially involved in tennis, and who knows they could be playing at Wimbledon one day too.”

Last week the vexed question of where a new leisure centre to replace Seven Islands should be located was the topic of a further lengthy session at Southwark’s overview & scrutiny committee.

Cllr Mark Williams (cabinet member for regeneration and new homes) and Jon Abbott (head of regeneration north) gave a presentation on the various options, including refurbishment or rebuilding on the Seven Islands site.

Watch it in full here:

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Southwark’s cross-party overview & scrutiny committee spent nearly two hours debating the future location of a leisure centre to replace the current Seven Islands centre on Monday night.

The meeting followed last month’s decision by regeneration boss Cllr Mark Williams to designate a strip of land to the west of the current Surrey Quays Shopping Centre car park – next to a realigned Deal Porters Way – as the preferred location for a new leisure centre.

The committee heard from Pauline Adenwalla of the Canada Water Consultative Forum as well as Lower Road resident Tom Holder and Catherine Whitaker of the newly formed Canada Water West Action Group.

Cllr Mark Williams and council officers Jon Abbott and Tara Quinn also addressed the committee.

The council will consult local residents on the proposals during the autumn.

You can watch the whole session online, courtesy of the Southwark scrutiny team.

Part one:

Part two:

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Simon Hughes & Neil Harris

Millwall FC manager Neil Harris has endorsed Simon Hughes’s campaign for re-election in Bermondsey & Old Southwark.

Neil Harris said: “Simon Hughes has been a great friend and supporter of Millwall over many, many years – no Member of Parliament could have done more.

“I personally really hope that he will be the Bermondsey & Old Southwark MP again after the election.”

Harris isn’t the only local sporting figure to back Mr Hughes.

Danny Maguire, captain of Fisher FC, said: “Simon has been instrumental in bringing Fisher FC home. As always, he has been fully committed to our community and he recognises the importance of having a local football club back in Bermondsey.

“I will be backing Simon Hughes in the upcoming election. He has been extremely helpful to me in my attempts to get onto the property ladder in Bermondsey and goes above and beyond to serve our community with genuine gratitude.”

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Simon Hughes & Danny Maguire