New garden villages and towns 'to help create 200,000 new homes'

Staff reporter(wp/es):

The first wave of garden villages planned to help create 200,000 of new homes in England has been given the go-ahead.

Ministers have backed 14 bids across the country that will develop new communities with between 1,500 and 10,000 properties.

Larger scale garden towns in Harlow and Gilston, on the Essex-Herts border, Aylesbury, Bucks, plus Taunton in Somerset have also been signed off by the Government.

The new villages include Dunton Hills near Brentwood, Essex, and Longcross in Runnymede and Surrey Heath.

The plans are expected to create a series of new communities with green spaces, good transport links and high quality affordable homes to help tackle the country's housing crisis.

Some £6 million in funding will go towards developing the new villages, which could generate 48,000 new homes, while £1.4 million has been earmarked for the towns.

Combined with seven garden towns and cities already announced, the initiative has the potential to deliver 200,000 properties, the Government said.

Homes are already being built in Aylesbury, Taunton, Bicester and Didcot in Oxfordshire, Basingstoke in Hampshire, Ebbsfleet in Kent, and north Northamptonshire.

Housing minister Gavin Barwell said: "Locally led garden towns and villages have enormous potential to deliver the homes that communities need.

"New communities not only deliver homes, they also bring new jobs and facilities and a big boost to local economies. 

"These places combined could provide almost 200,000 homes".

Victoria Line partially closed after man falls onto tracks

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Highbury and Islington station was reportedly evacuated after a man fell onto Tube tracks on Monday, closing part of the Victoria Line.

Police and paramedics raced to Highbury and Islington station where the incident took place at around 9am, according to British Transport Police.

The man was rushed to a north London hospital with minor injuries. 

A spokeswoman for Transport for London said the Victoria Line was temporarily blocked between Kings Cross and Walthamstow Central northbound  but was up and running again by 9.30am with minor delays.

The A1 road was blocked northbound outside the station due to emergency service attending the scene.

CCTV footage from the main road shortly after 9am showed a line of police and ambulance cars blocking the road. 

Bus routes were also diverted in Highbury due to the incident. 

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesperson said: "BTP officers were called to Highbury & Islington Station  on Monday, January 2, after a report that a man had fallen onto the tracks.

"Officers from the BTP attended the incident, which was reported to BTP at  9.02am and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.

"Medics from the London Ambulance Service also attended and the man was taken to hospital with minor injuries."

Hackney Wick 'on lockdown' after spate of knifepoint robberies

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A corner of east London was placed on lockdown after a spate of knifepoint muggings in the area, frightened residents say.

Boaters and residents living in Hackney Wick told of their fear after four people were robbed by thugs armed with knives over three days just before Christmas.

Christina Kime, 26, and her close friend 30-year-old Drew McEwan, were violently robbed as they made their way home through the Olympic Park at about 10.30pm on December 22, the Standard reported on Friday.

Assistant fashion merchandiser Ms Kime and Mr McEwan, a management consultant, told of their ordeal as police confirmed  two other robberies involving a knife and at least two male suspects took place in the area over three days. 

On Wednesday, December 21, shortly after 10pm, a man aged in his 20s suffered a slash wound to the hand after he was mugged of his phone and wallet by at least two suspects less than a mile away next to Parnell Road Bridge.  

Police said that shortly before midnight on Friday, December 23, another man reported having two phones and a wallet stolen by a pair of male suspects in Mandeville Place, also in the Olympic Park. A spokesman for the Met said the victim reported seeing a knife during the robbery.  

Scotland Yard said it was not yet clear whether the attacks were linked.

Greg Keegan, a 36-year-old boater, told the Standard that the robberies had left the community feeling too afraid to go out after dark. 

Mr Keegan, a photographer who has been mooring his boat in Hackney Wick for about two years, said: “Everyone is feeling very anxious about it. There is a feeling of anxiety in the Hackney Wick area and the boating community.

“The neighbourhood has been really quiet. Everyone has sort of been on lockdown and trying not to go out after dark.

“Every single night there have been reports of a mugging posted on social media. It has brought the Hackney Wick community together trying to tackle this.” 

But he also said he feared vigilante groups would form to try to tackle the thieves if police did not step up patrols in the area.

Mr Keegan added: “This is the biggest problem we have ever had.

“People are afraid to do the usual things they would do at this time of year, it’s taken the fun out of it.”

 A 35-year-old man, who was the victim of the mugging on Friday, December 23, told of his terror after two suspects allegedly held a knife close to his face and ordered him to hand over his mobile phones and the contents of his wallet.

The victim, who was too afraid to be named, was walking home from a night out through the Olympic Park when he was attacked.

The digital business owner, who has lived in the area for about nine years, said: “As I was going through the park I saw one of them riding a bike. 

“The moment I saw them, I knew something wasn’t right, one of them had their face covered.

“I started to walk really quickly but I knew I couldn’t out-run them. I knew what was going to happen next. 

“I didn’t expect to see a knife. One of them held it about two inches from my face. They took everything from me. 

“I tried to lift my head up but they said ‘don’t look, don’t look’. He was tapping with the knife on my head. I was literally petrified.

“I literally haven’t had a proper night’s sleep since. I called the police within 10 minutes. 

“I am still in after shock. Hopefully it will fade away. I have never before felt unsafe.”

A Met Police spokesman said: "Police were called shortly before midnight on Friday, December 23, to reports of a robbery involving two suspects on bikes in the Olympic Park area.

"A man reported having two phones and the contents of his wallet stolen. A knife was seen. Officers from Newham borough are investigating."

Government defends New Year Honours after 'croynism' claims

Pic:Theresa May's government have defended the New Year Honours list
Political reporter(wp/es):

 The government has defended the New Year Honours and insisted it is unfair to criticise awards given to Tory donors, despite allegations of cronyism.

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously pledged to shake up the system and in November joked that she "retched" when she saw David Cameron's resignation honours list.

But Labour has slammed the Tories for rewarding "cronies" in the New Year Honours.

Tory donor David Ord, who has given the party £930,000, has been knighted for "political service".

Dominic Johnson, associate treasurer of the Conservative Party and now CBE, gave the Cameron family somewhere to stay when they left Downing Street in July.

The Government emphasised the independent oversight of honours nominations, which can be submitted by Whitehall departments and members of the public.

A Government source said: "Honours are rewards for hard work and contributions to civic society. 

All nominations for honours are assessed by one of the nine independent honours committees.

"It is unfair to criticise individuals being honoured just because they have also chosen to donate to a political party.

"Donations should be transparent, but it's not an excuse to knock people for broader philanthropy, enterprise and public service."

But a spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "The Conservatives are making a mockery of our honours system.

"Every crony appointment is an insult to the incredible people from right across Britain who are rewarded for the great contributions they make to our national life."

The Prime Minister could also face complaints over the 14 honours handed to officials from the Home Office, which she ran from 2010 to 2016.

The New Year Honours have also faced criticism for "rewarding failure", with the head of Britain's foreign aid department coming under fire after being awarded a knighthood.

Mark Lowcock has been honoured just weeks after the Department for International Development was reprimanded for building a £285 million airport on the remote island of St Helena, where it is too windy for commercial planes to land.

The Beatles' first manager Allan Williams dies aged 86

Pic:Allan Williams has died aged 86 
Entertainment reporter(wp/es):

The man credited with discovering the Beatles, Allan Williams, has died aged 86.

The owner of the Jacaranda Club in Liverpool took the fledgling musicians under his wing after employing them to clean and decorate his business.

He then drove the foursome to Hamburg, Germany to hone their skills and kick-start their path to stardom.

The Jacaranda announced the death of the stalwart of the city's music scene on Friday, writing on Facebook: "Today is one of the saddest days in our history.

"The Jacaranda's original owner and the man who discovered The Beatles, Allan Williams, has sadly passed away at the age of 86.

"All of our thoughts and wishes go to his family and his wife Beryl.

"His legacy has allowed us to remain at the heart of the Liverpool music scene for almost 60 years and his memory will live on through every band that plays our famous stage. 

Allan, you will be missed."

When the band first asked to play at the Jacaranda, Mr Williams instead gave them jobs renovating the venue in Slater Street before deciding to send them to Hamburg. 

Mr Williams, from the Sefton Park area, parted ways with the band - then comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best - in 1961.

Sir Paul described him in The Beatles Anthology as "a great guy, a really good motivator".

They signed with Brian Epstein the following January.

The Beatles Story exhibition said Mr Williams' role as their first booking agent and manager "helped shape the band in to what we see and know today".

Its director Martin King said: "Allan was a friend to many of us at the Beatles Story and his legacy will continue to be told for years to come." 

Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn tweeted: "No Allan Williams, no Hamburg. No Hamburg, no Beatles."

Man fighting for life and police officer mowed down after assault outside east London DLR station

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A man is fighting for life and a police officer has been injured following an assault outside a DLR station in east London in the early hours of New Year’s Eve.

The victim, aged in his 30s, was found with head injuries close to Star Lane DLR station shortly after 4.45am on Saturday.

He was rushed to a hospital in east London where he remains in a critical condition.

A man was arrested at the scene in Bidder Street on suspicion of attempted murder.

A car then ploughed through a police cordon outside the station and mowed down a police officer, Scotland Yard confirmed.

He was treated by paramedics before being taken to an east London hospital with minor injuries shortly after 5am.

The driver of the car has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, police said.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Enquiries continue.

“Whilst a scene remains in place, trains will not be stopping at Star Lane DLR station.”

Young man stabbed to death outside block of flats in south London

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A young man was stabbed to death in the street outside a block of flats in Peckham.

The victim, aged in his 20s, was knifed outside the Deerhurst House apartment block on Friday afternoon. 

Medics fought to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Murder detectives have launched an investigation following the fatal stabbing in Haymerle Road at about 5.30pm.

Scotland Yard said the man’s next of kin have been informed but he has not yet been formally identified.

A post-mortem was scheduled to take place on January 1.

A Met Police spokesman said: “An incident room has opened under Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling of the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

“Detectives would like to hear from anyone who was in the area of Haymerle Road at the time who may have information that will assist the investigation.  

“There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.”