10/07/2017 London News

Plus the JamBus - providing music lessons for Croydon school children.

All thanks to one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, Ed Sheeran.

Welcome to BBC London News with me, Riz Lateef.

It's one of London's most famous landmarks,

and is now at the centre of a conflict between

the Mayor of London, an embattled local authority,

and a Malaysian-led property consortium.

Plans to slash the number of affordable homes at Battersea

It would reduce its affordable homes commitment to just 9%. The

developers insisted because of rising costs.

For many years this was the engine of London, but for many years the

question has been what to do with this building. Many projects have

come and gone and it's usually about the figures. This latest one will

cost ?9 billion to live, but before that they are going to deliver some

flats. That will range in price for up to those with very deep pockets,

about ?4 million for a four bed apartment. The big row here is about

how many of those will be affordable. Originally, it was going

to be more than 600 facts. That has now been cut to just 286. Or 9% of

the total number. As prom to be Mayor of London to intervene. --

prompted. Since it closed, rose over this

building has been as dominant as its place on the skyline. What to do

about a problem as complex as Battersea Power Station has occupied

the experts for many years. Battersea Power Station is to be

redeveloped. That is a sentence I accept three times in the past. I

have been covering stories on Battersea Power Station for around

20 years. In the mid-19 90s, the plan was for a theme park your, but

one that was derailed, it was eventually sold to Hong Kong firm at

part of you who put forward multiple plans, including one for a

restaurant at one of the top of the towers. And that guilt, the

financial crash hit in the whole lot came bubbling down. Then the

Malaysians stepped in. They launched the project in Malaysia and when the

then mayor was firmly on board, his successor has criticised Wandsworth,

the local council, for allowing affordable homes but to be reduced.

Londoners will not be... Wandsworth pointer it has delivered the second

number of affordable homes in London and this project will deliver a new

chip stop and 25,000 jobs in the area. The developer says it will

deliver for the giving idiot. Battersea is about homes and jobs.

50% commercial, 50% residential. 20,000 new jobs across the site and

?2 billion in terms of tax revenues. Now what we have is an agreement

that it isn't capped at 15%, if we provide more than that, we perform

more than that. So many people are still on housing waiting less. The

impact that this has on the housing crisis really shouldn't be

underestimated. Rents and home ownership is coming down. This is

because we don't have enough homes and genuinely affordable homes. --

vents are going up. Developers wriggling out of producing them make

things worse. But we definitely need is politicians at every level

sending strong signal that this is unacceptable. There is no doubt this

development will finally breathe life into this area. How much it

will truly benefit the minute he remains up for debate. Adamant

anybody begrudges this project been delivered. This area was once

Catholic and derelict and instead we are promised that the streets will

be vibrant with restaurants, cafes and bars. Goodness for the area.

Shelter pointed out today that there are currently 230,000 households on

waiting lists, 90,000 jobs and in temporary accommodation. No wonder

it is frustrating position when so little of the flats will be

affordable. The mayor said he had set up a task force to drop the

plan. In future, they will insist on 35% of affordable housing in all

projects and hope for a 15%. Saying that is one thing, delivering it is

another thing altogether. Thank you. Traders say they have lost

everything in a massive fire that broke out overnight in Camden

Market. It took 70 firefighters to get

the blaze under control, but there are no reports

of any casualties. It's the third major fire to hit

the market in a decade. Just after midnight at Camden Lock,

millions come here every year to shop in the market. For some hours,

it looked like it might be lost. Firefighters managed to contain the

blaze and thankfully no one was hurt, but dozens of London traders

had lost their livelihoods. Yvonne had just been taken to be the shell

of her jewellery store she had run for the last 15 years. My friends

called me at 12am and I was sleeping. I did know of is

happening, I thought it was an emergency agriculture back into said

it was on fire. Everything gone is all gone. It is the central market

hall with what the fire started. Another guess kids all but drives

store was also lost. -- decades-old guitarist. Tens of thousands of

pounds have gone up in smoke. Coming here and seeing all the glass

smashed in and the roof completely gone, I felt very emotional and

quite shocked and devastated. Can fire engines were on the scene in

minutes. 70 firefighters fought to stop the spread to nearby pubs and

restaurants. An investigation into how the fire started is underway. It

was a big fire woman got here. The fire crews worked very hard. Be

contained within that eerie. We managed to save the rest of the

property. Is the second time in recent years that the north London

market has been hit by a serious blaze. In 2008, a fire pit many

traders out of business for 15 months. The issue we had there was

that it took weeks for traders to be relocated to position to trade. For

a lot to trade. Free water market traders, if you miss a week of trade

you can lose your business completely. The question isn't about

the fire was being damaged and loss, it's about getting traders back to

work as soon as possible. Be traders are confident this tight-knit

immunity will pull together to support those who have lost. Many

are grateful that it could have been worse.

A 13-year-old boy has died after suffering an allergic reaction

He passed away in hospital yesterday.

Another teenage pupil from the school has been arrested

Sonja Jessup is in Greenford for us now.

What more can you tell us? Tonight the school has named the boy who

dies. They say he was a popular and bright year eight students here at

William Perkin Church of England High School, who excelled in maths.

They say we don't know exactly what his allergy was, but what we do know

is that almost two weeks ago now, he suffered a severe allergic reaction.

Staff say they were quick to step in and called the London ambulance crew

into trying to help them. They rushed him to hospital in a

life-threatening condition, but sadly on Sunday he died with his

parents by his side. What do we know that the police investigation?

That's right. Police were called in to investigate because an incident

had occurred leading up to him coming into contact with whatever it

was that he was allergic to. They arrested a 13-year-old boy, a fellow

pupil here at their school and they released him on bail. Of course, it

has been a difficult time for staff and pupils here. We spoke to the

executive head teacher earlier about the impact his death has had. He was

really well integrated into his year group. These students have sent a

lot of good wishes to him in hospital. Subsequently they have

spent time in the chapel expressing their grief. As been a very sad time

for the school. The school says it will review its care procedures with

students with identified medical requirements. Though it says it is

confident it does have robust measures in place. The school says

it spots and players are with his family. -- thoughts and prayers. As

you say, a very difficult day for the school and his family.

Police investigating an acid attack in Beckton last month

Resham Khan and her cousin Jameel Muhktar suffered face

and neck injuries when the acid was thrown through their car window.

24-year-old John Tomlin handed himself in to an east London

Guards and drivers from the RMT Union on Southern Rail are on strike

until midnight tonight in the on-going dispute over

the removal of guards from the platforms.

However, Southern expects most services will run

on an amended timetable, and advised passengers to check

It's been at the centre of planned change in the NHS

But could the future of St Helier Hospital in south-west

London have just become a bit clearer?

Today, bosses there released plans to build a new ?400 million

More from our political correspondent, Karl Mercer.

CROWD CHANT Over the years, politicians have

been left in no doubt about what campaigners think to change things

have a hospital. This was former Nick Clegg. This was Health

Secretary Jeremy Hunt making a surprise visit before the last

election. Lets hope you never need an A E, Mr Hunt! Today, the latest

in a long line of plans aimed at transforming local health care. A

pitch by local hospital bosses here for a new hospital either at Epsom,

sat in order here. The video explains why they say they need the

new site. The windows have been replaced, but the are still very

draughty and when it rains, water will come through the ceiling, so we

have to move the bed away from the walls. A indifferent to say that the

500,000 people that we provide health care to have not been served

well by these reviews. It is finally time to come to a conclusion about

making a case to invest. Campaigners remain unconvinced. This would mean

the loss of one blue light ENT department were ever the hospital

goes. Usually there is a preferred scenario in there between the lines.

The MP told us it was to go to the milestone because the Mazda needs

acute services. We are going to lose our acute services in Epsom and St

Helier's Hospital. Up to ?4 million for one London Hospital is a big ask

for a central Government. Once we have the business designed up and we

know the site and the cost, then we can go to the Treasury and look at

alternative sources of funding. Perhaps borrowing money from pension

funds, which is what I be talking about a little while. Today starts a

long process, even if it goes well, it could be many years before we

have a new spittle. Zane Gbangbola was just seven

when he died in his home. It was during the Chertsey

floods, three years ago. An inquest said it was

because of petrol pumps being used in the basement

to remove flood water. His parents have always disagreed,

blaming a landfill site by their home for releasing toxic

fumes when it flooded. Now this programme has seen letters

from the council offering to protect their homes

from the landfill. As you can see from Zane's

pictures, a beautiful boy. He was always smiling,

always having fun. Our life is destroyed,

as you would expect All we've ever asked

for it is answers. For Zane's family,

there are still so It may not look it, but this

is an historic landfill site. Zane Gbangbola's parents have always

maintained that their son died a result of toxic gases

released from there when the family home and other properties here in

Chertsey were flooded back in 2014. But that theory was rejected

by an inquest last year, which ruled instead that Zane died

from carbon monoxide poisoning, from a petrol pump his parents

were using in the basement Surrey County Council has written

to nearby properties. Mr Gbangbola showed me the letter,

which offers to pay Specifically replacing any sealed

air bricks that might The letter raises concerns for any

properties in proximity to landfill. Advising them that there will be

migrating landfill gases that will This is essentially

what we've been saying all along. The letter came

after Zane's inquest. And, of course, now it's quite

clear that what we've been saying has been

a problem from the outset. In response, Surrey County Council

released a statement, And the local District Council also

underlined how this was merely a precaution,

relating to potential risks from landfill

in general and not

specifically the site. It is of no comfort to Zane's

father, who is now calling for an independent public enquiry

for the answers he still seeks. Join us later on a programme. , Join

us on an amazing musical... And Santa Claus roof at the ready,

London is finally getting some rain this month. All the details later.

-- centre court. He's been looking after 2,500

acres for over 30 years, but now the Richmond Park

gamekeeper is retiring. He's written a book

about his time there, calling it the best job

in the world. Gareth Furby's been to meet

him, and be warned - you may find a few of the images

in this report upsetting. After 30 years, John is saying

goodbye to the workplace he's loved. And to see why, you only have

to look at his office. All you deal with is

animals most of the day. John Bartram has spent most

of his life as the gamekeeper in We are going to go

looking for stags. I'm going to show you things that

I used to have to do on a daily basis, which I felt

made the job great. Every day, he has

checked on 600 deer. And every year, searched

for newborns in the bracken. The calves and fawns are born

in bracken like this and our job would be

to walk through here I have done it

sometimes, and the baby I have gone to walk away

and he's running behind me. But as well as new life, John has

had to deal with a fair bit While we were filming,

another call came in. If you find the sight of dead

animals upsetting, you may But for John, this is

just part of the job. There have been times

when it's been hit by a car and it still alive,

but it is in serious trouble and it needs dealing with,

so you might have to shoot it. As gamekeeper, John was also tasked

with the annual cull. For three months of

the year, selected deer are shot to keep

the population to 600. For John, it adds up to thousands

of weaker or older animals You've got to be talking the few

thousand I should have thought in You're going for the worst

animal every time. So, you're looking for one

that is, you think, in the natural world,

a pack of wolves would take it out. I mean, not everybody

is happy with killing There are people who think

we should leave these alone. But up until now,

the only perfect system And until the policy

changed, John would prepare venison meat

from the cull for Buckingham The Queen would draw up a warrant

list and on that list, would be all members of Parliament,

whoever was in power at the time. So, it would be from

the lowest minister up to They would get a free

haunch, which was a back Tony Blair stopped it

and the Labour Party. She gets all the venison

she needs and requires from her own

estate at Windsor. Some things may have changed,

but in many ways, Richmond Park is still the place it was

when first established in 1637. And now it's saying

farewell to a gamekeeper who gave it the best

years of his life. It's been another successful day

for Brits at Wimbledon. And waiting in anticipation

for their turn are our The sport is continuing

grow at the tournament. But as Emma Jones reports -

one London player can currently only dream of competing there -

that's despite victories An historic moment at Wimbledon,

as last year the Championships hosted singles wheelchair tennis

for the first time and celebrated

with a British winner, Gordon Reid. But for Andy Lapthorne,

the wait continues. At the weekend, he did play on grass

at the new warm up event for wheelchair tennis players,

but at the moment, the six time Grand Slam winner can't play

at his home Championships. I would honestly give it all back

for one chance to play at Wimbledon, because that's

what every young kid in this country It's a dream of mine,

a dream of many members of my family that want to see

me play at Wimbledon. So hopefully in the future,

we can get that. The obstacle for Andy is that

while Wimbledon does now have wheelchair doubles and singles

tournaments, it doesn't stage a quad tournament for players whose

impairment affects three or more And while there is now

talk of that changing, It's clearly something that would be

appropriate one day, I'm sure. We need to look at

all sorts of things, scheduling, the impact on the courts

and all that sort of thing. We want to bed in the

singles events, which got off to a fantastic start last

year and one day I don't doubt that Grass courts are more physically

challenging any hard quiz of the Australian and French opens,

but for those players who will be at Wimbledon, there is

lots look forward to. It's our home Grand Slam,

it's an honour to be there, the public are fantastic, the spectators

bring such an atmosphere. It is really good

tennis to watch and to For now, Andy can only watch

and wait and hope that one day he will have the chance to celebrate

his own Wimbledon success. This bus has been converted

into a classroom for music lessons thanks to one

of the world's leading Ecclesbourne Primary School

in Croydon had struggled to teach music in the past because of a lack

of facilities, but one of it's teachers decided to call

in a favour from a friend - who just so happened to be

popstar, Ed Sheeran. The bendy buses stopped

carrying London's passengers When the new music

teacher here discovered there wasn't a suitable

room in the school, I was really confused,

like, OK, a bus. But the thought of it

actually surprised me and I thought, "This

is going to be really

good music lessons". The teacher had the idea,

but the school didn't have Because before some of his

students were even born, Mr Sproerer had made friends

with another musician, called Ed. I first met him when he first

arrived in London. I was pushed into them

by my manager at Just do what you can do,

do what you can do". And it formed a lasting

friendship and I asked him. I thought that all

the success, do you And he was dead

on board straightaway. And I was so pleased

that he said the cash and Without his support, I don't think

we would have got there. I just want to thank

Ed Sheeran for doing it and his money, because most

superstars would just be greedy and keep

You can make as much noise as you want.

It just seems that great space to do music.

But the project is not finished yet, the school is trying to raise

another ?20,000 to make the bus were comfortable.

Please, could you donate anything you can? Give the temperance, ?100,

anything. They have the rhythm here, but why not the funds? We are

ranking in a time when children how to make big decisions about how

money is spent. -- the schools. It is unfortunate that we are having to

go to the public and have him to back the bus. When it comes to the

road, the public were divided over the bendy bus, but herewith the

musicians of Croydon, it has introduced them to a whole new

musical world. Let's head over to the All-England

Club and to Wendy to see how Hello. It was Isa Nacewa five Remy,

because I knew there was a chance of a thundery shower breaking out here.

They have kept away for most of Essex, Hertfordshire. One or two

developed across Sussex late afternoon. There is this malt risk

of getting them here or elsewhere in London. For the rest of the evening

and overnight, we have seen a shower as commie may continue to see one or

two more. You have been quite heavy with thunder as well. The second

part of the night will become largely dry and it's going to be

quite one again. Throughout the night, there is clouded creeping up

on us. Tomorrow, as you look up, not much blue sky overhead. It will be

quite leaden. From the word go, one or two outbreaks of light rain as

well and that might stop plate here at Wimbledon. It will be mostly

stopped coming afternoon. Perhaps under the clouds roof, because it is

a very good chances going to rain all afternoon once it gets going.

Some places will get heavy bursts of rain as well. The only thing about

tomorrow is it will be a good deal cooler. Temperatures of around 21

Celsius compared to the 26 we had today. That ring continues overnight

on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. If you're up early, you

might see the end of it, but Wednesday will be largely dry with

sunny the afternoon. Average temperatures for the time of year.

On the outlook, you will notice that there is a pretty good day as well.

On the cool, dry with sunny spells. Then it looks like we are going to

throat drying a bit of worry can the South East on Thursday. Tebbutt is

picking up a notch or two on what we will have tomorrow. Friday largely

dry after one or two showers in the morning. Don't get caught out

tomorrow, take a number like to murk. A few are watching tennis it

will be under the roof at Centre cloud. A lot of rain tomorrow

afternoon. I will remember my umbrella. Thank you, windy.

The parents of the terminally ill baby Charlie Gard who's

in Great Ormond Street Hospital have returned to the High Court to hear

people escaped the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington last month.

At least 80 people are thought to have died in the blaze.

President Trump said he did not know his sun and son-in-law met with the

Russian lawyer with links to the Kremlin during the US presidential

campaign. More on the stories on our website and please get in touch on

Facebook. I'll be back later during

the 10:00pm news, but for now from everyone on the team,

have a lovely evening.