15/08/2017 London News

Tonight on BBC London News: Commuters are hit by a triple whammy

of travel disruption, including a derailment at Waterloo.

There have been trained ailments, platforms closed. I don't know if

they have told us anything, really. Just that it took an hour and a bit

to get into Waterloo. We will have the latest

and find out how journeys Also ahead: She took

her own life in jail - now her mother calls for better

protection of prisoners Her death, it still nonsense. If

people had done their proper job, she would still be here.

Plus the Dartford sprinter who helped Britain win relay gold.

Adam Gemili reflects on his moment of glory at the London stadium.

And swapping the cloakroom for the stage - how standing

in for a sick soprano turned this student into an overnight star.

A very warm welcome to the programme.

First tonight, there was huge rush hour disruption for thousands

Three separate incidents on the transport network causing

First a train derailment at Waterloo, then problems

at King's Cross after a train crashed into platform buffers,

On the Underground, Holborn station was evacuated

Here's our transport correspondent, Tom Edwards.

At 5:40am this morning, just outside the UK's

busiest station, Waterloo, a passenger service collided with

All day, commuters have been warned not to use the station.

I was trying to get out of London, there were no trains,

One thing on top of another, signal failures, derailments,

train breakdowns, half of the platforms are closed anyaway.

I do not know if they have told us anything, really.

Slow and taking an hour and a bit to get into Waterloo.

No-one was hurt but investigators are trying to find out why

the passenger train went onto the wrong track.

At 6:20am this morning, this train failed to stop in time

at platform nine at King's Cross, and hit the buffers at speed.

They said they were sent flying due to the impact.

And at 9am this morning at Holborn tube station,

it was evacuated after a train motor caught fire.

It later reopened, but there was panic as many passengers wrongly

It is the second tube train fire in four days.

There was a lot of people being really aggressive.

There was a kid with her mum and a scooter.

And she was trying to get to the platform, but she couldn't

turn around because there were so many people running out.

A lot of people sort of rushing toward escalators.

It was completely packed, there was nowhere to move.

At one point, the doors were closing and some people

Before the train had stopped, a massive bang.

Then immediately, the carriage I was in, at the end,

People rose from their seats and try to funnel out of the doors.

People were just manic in trying to get out.

Back at Waterloo, workers are in the middle of a huge redevelopment.

Ten out of 24 platforms were already caused.

Ten out of 24 platforms were already closed.

The concern is that the planned reopening date of 28

We are obviously very concerned about the derailment at Waterloo,

We do not want the Waterloo upgrade to overrun.

And if it does, we will be calling on Network Rail and the Government

Very few trains are running in and out of Waterloo at the moment.

The disruption is expected to last until tomorrow.

What's the latest update on the disruption?

Well, it's not very nice year at Waterloo, if you are a commuter. It

is extremely busy. Lots of cancellation, lots of delays and

lots of crowds. These are crowd spotters. There are watching here

for any potential problems. I am afraid if you are a commuter uses

Waterloo, there is some bad news. Network Rail have said you should

avoid Waterloo Station tomorrow. We are working very hard to ensure

that we are able to safely re-rail the train that partially

derailed this morning. We will then look no

surrounding area for any damage that may have been done,

in order that we can rectify that. And actually then get train

services back up and running And obviously huge

redevelopment going on here. 28 August is the finish

date for that. Are you confident you will finish it

on time on 28 August? So work has continued,

including today, since this And we are continuing

to monitor the progress. The project has actually been

progressing very well and we will clearly continue

to monitor it very closely. Network Rail don't know

categorically say that this project will finish on time. Also, they

might have to deal with other problems because this franchise

changes on 20 guest. Talk about timing. Thank you.

I am in the oldest allotments in London. Should they be knocked down

to make way for social housing? The words of a mother whose

32-year-old daughter took her own life inside

Holloway Prison. Sarah Reed had mental health issues

when she died last year. An inquest found a series

of failings by staff Now her mother is calling for better

protection of vulnerable prisoners, This is Sarah Reed in

2012 being assaulted by a Metropolitan Police officer,

after being accused of shoplifting. He was later charged

with assault and dismissed. She struggled with mental health

issues for years after the death She would have seasons

where she would go into dark moods. You know, whenever she thought

about the child that she lost. Because she never

recovered from that. In 2015, she was admitted to the

Maudsley Hospital in south London. Her family claim she was sexually

assaulted by another Afterwords, she was

transferred to Holloway Marilyn says her daughter

needed care, not custody It needs to stop, it

needs to be investigated, we need to have things put in place,

that mental health is dealt It's something that if people had

done their proper jobs, At her inquest last month,

Peter Thornton QC raised concerns about the care Sarah received

and highlighted The jury found amongst

the shortcomings there'd been a failure by staff here to treat

sera in a timely manner. A failure in the management

of her medication and monitoring. And an unacceptable number

of cancelled visits by staff. It found that all of these failings

significantly contributed Holloway Prison closed last year

after being branded as inadequate Sarah's inquest revealed how

some national policies Now campaigners say Sarah is just

one example of how the system is failing prisoners

with mental illness. What we need to do is invest

in quality specialist services in the community,

especially mental health services, given that we know the majority

of women who are sent to prison have The Government say they take mental

health of prisoners extremely seriously and have launched

a suicide and self harm reduction I would go as far as to say

she was like my friend. Marilyn remembers her daughter

with fondness, and hopes her death In what's believed to be

the first case of its kind, a cyclist is facing charges

of killing a mother-of-two after Let's cross to Charlotte Franks

who's got more details. Charlie Alston is on trial for

manslaughter. He was allegedly riding his might at 80 mph when he

crashed into a 44-year-old mother of two. She had been on her lunch

break. She was crossing the road at the time of the incident in February

last year. Following the crash, she suffered catastrophic head injuries,

including two skull fractures. She was taken to hospital but died a

week later. What was heard in court? Well, today in court, witness

described what they saw. They said following the crash they saw the

cyclist go over to her and start shouting at her as she lay injured

on the floor. He told the court the cyclist clamped her to the ground.

The journey had already heard that Charlie Alston had been riding a

fixed wheel track bicycle was no front break. These bikes are not

legally allowed to be on the road unless they have a modification.

That is an extra front break. The court was told how a few days after

the incident he posted on an online forum. In it, he wrote, it is a

pretty serious incidents I won't bother saying she deserved it. It

was her fault but she did not deserve it. He went on to claim that

she had been on her mobile phone at the time. He said people either

think they are invincible or have zero respect for cyclists. Charlie

Alston denies the charge of manslaughter and the case continues.

Thank you. It is a row which pits campaigners

for two of the capital's most On one side are those who want

more affordable homes. On the other, those

who want London's green The disagreement is over London's

oldest allotments in Ealing, as Caroline Davies has been finding

out. I've really struggled,

but these are supposed I've really struggled, but these

are supposed to be parsnips. There are a few and that is sort

of what is coming up here, but parsnips are notoriously

difficult. Nolan is new to

Northfield allotments. It's really about bringing my kids

down here and actually letting them understand how fruit and veg

and flowers grow. Just a short time been here,

I have been able to feel that The allotments were much bigger

than they were founded in 1830s. Now the charity that owns the land,

Pathways, want to develop more. Every bit of land from here back

to the road is the area that the charity want

permission to develop. It's only 4% of the overall

allotment, which might not sound like a lot, but the people

here are worried that So if I said you, just eat one

little cube of that bar of chocolate, you will realise how

good it is and eventually you will come back for more

until there is nothing left. The homes the charity

want to build would be for older He lives across the road

in another Pathways flat. Due to unforeseen

personal circumstances, and I was basically homeless,

jobless and if I hadn't come to Pathways, I believe

I would still now be homeless. For the sake of a few allotments,

you know, something can be achieved for people that are in the position

that I was in eight years ago. Some of the properties

might be sold privately, but the charity says that will only

happen if they need the funding. They say they can't promise

they will never build on more of the allotments because they don't

want to bind future boards, What do you say to people That

say this is nimbyism? We realise we are in politically

difficult situation because we most definitely need social housing,

but everything I read says So we have to find

a balance somewhere. I mean, that is for

the politicians to decide. But all I can do is fight for my

side which is for the green space. The allotment owners want

the charity to look at other options to build on because once this

Greenland has gone, they don't So what do we prioritise? Green

space of social housing? The mere has spoken about building more

genuinely affordable homes. This case shows it is almost impossible

to do. It is something the council and the Mayors office will have to

grapple with. Because sometimes finding a compromise really isn't so

simple. The stuff of dreams. House standing

in for a six soprano turned the student into an overnight star.

Monday took the title for the warmest day in August so far. Today

was not too bad either. Could it be three in a row?

Since the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been lots of attention

on the estimated 700,000 or so Londoners who

BBC London has spent a week meeting the residents

of one of the capital's first residential blocks.

Trellick tower, in was designed by the architect Erno Goldfinger

as an inspiration for the future living by creating

In the first of our series of films, we hear from Chris Paulsen,

who has lived there since the 70s, on whether that vision

Sorry, I called you by accident.

My name is Chris Paulsen and I'm originally from Cape Town.

I've lived in Trellick Tower since '77.

One of the problems we have here is the rubbish chutes

are not built properly, there is some kind of kink in it.

Occasionally, it gets blocked up and it ends

up with people dumping their rubbish out here.

We will have to see if we can clear it up quickly

They have way too much on their plate.

And, of course, people on your own landing, taking in, say,

a parcel in from the postman for your neighbour,

What was it like when you first moved in?

They expected the place to run itself, really.

There were laundry chutes, with quite expensive equipment in it.

That is what you expect with coin-operated machinery

There's never really been any serious trouble.

Just the one time, I think a woman got raped during the carnival.

It's one of my favourite areas in London.

For him, it really was a super Saturday.

Dartford sprinter Adam Gemili has been talking about that moment

of triumph at the London Stadium when he helped Great Britain become

sprint relay World Champions for the first time.

Reflecting on the greatest achievement of his career -

he says he had something to prove, as Chris Slegg reports.

Great Britain, four by 100 metre relay world champions.

For Adam Gemili, Saturday night is still sinking in.

It was the best I have ever felt on track.

To get a gold medal, not just with three of my good mates,

but do it in front of a home crowd of 60,000 British fans,

Jamaica's Usain Bolt pulling up injured in his very last

So how far did gold going to make up from the disappointment

of being left out of Britain's squad for the 100 metres and 200 metres?

It was tough to watch the individual events in London.

And know that I wasn't going to be competing.

They were so open, especially the 200 metres.

The first time watching a race that I thought anyone could sort of when.

The first time watching a race that I thought anyone could sort of win.

But I got on with it and dealt with it.

I just had to go out there and do my bit for the really.

I just had to go out there and do my bit for the relay.

I was fortunate enough then pick me, I had a point to prove

and I was just going to go as fast as I can.

This was the verdict of Michael Johnson.

But it is the support from Mum Sasha which has meant the most.

My whole family and my friends were lucky enough

And to see them, it was the best feeling to show

And to see them, it was the best feeling to share

Share it with them and with 60,000 others who will never forget 2017's

Chris, Adam Gemili is one of a number of athletes who come

from in and around the capital who flourished at

Who else should we be keeping an eye on in the run-up to the next

British athletics had a medal target of 6-8 for these championships. They

got to that tally. Opinion is split on the true health of British

athletics. And looking at the positives, one of those is Blake.

Born in new one. He finished fourth in the 200 metres and ran the anchor

that we have been speaking about. His mum lives in Jamaica. They

hadn't seen each other for three years until she was in the stadium

cheering him on. Also 21-year-old Dina Asher-Smith who we have seen a

lot of on this programme. She finished fourth. She broke her back

in February, so just to be at these championships was an achievement.

Incredible. One athlete promised gold on this programme in Tokyo?

Caroline Flint. To speak that confidently to the media is rare. He

did so after finishing fourth and just missing out on bronze in the

800 metres. He was speaking with so much confidence. His parents run a

fish and chip shop in Watford. He has true faith in his ability. We

shall keep an eye on all of them. Thank you.

It is the break many performers dream of.

One of the main singers is taken ill, you are asked

to step in at short notice and you play a blinder.

That's what happened to a 23-year-old student

from Chiswick who works evenings at London's Wigmore Hall.

Alice Bhandhukravi has been to meet the rising star.

I do a couple of shifts here a week waiting for patrons. She has worked

in the cloakroom and onstage as page turner. So what happened at the last

concert of the summer season didn't quite fit her job description.

When one of the sopranos went off sick, music graduate Millie was cold

by the director to take her place. But she had left her mobile phone at

home. I had loads of mist calls, texts and e-mails. I phoned John

Gilhooly and he asked if I could step in for the concert on Saturday

because the singer has tonsillitis. I said yes. I felt very rocky. It

could have been anyone. There are some fantastic singers who work

here. I didn't hesitate. I went straight to learning the music.

That's the priority. Jesse Norman opened the season here in the 1980s.

Wigmore Hall is one of the most prestigious classical music venues

in the world. On the night in question, Milly got a mention in a

5-star review. It is a tall order to perform on a night like that when

you are surrounded by very well established singers, ten or 15 years

older than her in many cases. They were thrilled to welcome somebody

knew a long. She will be returning to job in the cloakroom, but his

plans to return to the stage for an next year.

It was a lovely day to go to the park in Chiswick. As we move into

tomorrow, it is looking like another lovely day. Dry and bright with some

sunshine around as well. We have high pressure pushing in and it will

keep things settled through the evening and overnight and into the

beginning of tomorrow. Looking to the west, weather front is pushing

across and it will bring some outbreaks of rain into Thursday. A

lovely evening with plenty of late spells of sunshine. And overnight

law between 12 and 14 Celsius. Single figures possible in rural

areas. Some sunshine around first thing. Some patches of cloud.

Temperature is not doing too badly. A maximum of 23 or 24 degrees.

Moving through tomorrow evening and overnight, the weather front will

start to creep across, bringing outbreaks of rain. It could be quite

heavy as we move into Thursday morning. The rain continues to make

its way eastwards as we begin the day on Thursday. Starting to see

some bright intervals developing from the West. Sunny spells and some

scattered showers to look out for. Temperatures not too bad. As we move

to Friday, we started hitting the breeze picking up slightly, not

feeling quite as warm with some scattered showers in the mix.

Maximum temperatures of around 20 degrees. We start the weekend on a

similar note. We saw to see some improvement. At the moment, it looks

like it will be dry on Sunday as well.

Recapping the headlines: The government has set out its plans

for trading with the EU and the rest of the world after Brexit.

Ministers want a temporary relationship with Europe,

while a more permanent arrangement is developed.

The EU parliament's chief negotiator described that as a fantasy.

The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire -

which left more than 80 people dead - is officially under way today.

It will examine how the blaze started and the actions

Millions of rail passengers will see the biggest rise

They are going up by 3.6% in January, because of a rise

That's it for now, thanks for joining us.

I'll be back with our late news at 10:30pm.

You're always welcome to get in touch on Facebook.

From all the team, have a lovely evening.