The victim has been identified as Adam Chambers, who lived in Charlton. A post-mortem found he died after a stab wound to the chest.
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling of the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command said he wanted to trace two men who were seen near the location before heading towards Troughton Road.
“They are both described as black men, aged around 20 years,” he said. “One man was taller than the other, and both were wearing dark clothing.
“I would urge any witnesses, or anyone with information that may assist the investigation, to call police.” (Read the full police statement)
Police were called to the scene at 5.44pm. Any witnesses or anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4205.
To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit the crimestoppers-uk.org website.
A tribute video has been posted to YouTube, featuring bike riders who rode around the area on Wednesday evening.
The Springfield Grove estate was among those reclad by Charlton Triangle Homes in 2012
Charlton Triangle Housing has told residents the cladding used on its blocks is safe and will not easily catch fire, following the the disaster at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington.
On Friday, police confirmed at least 30 people had died in the west London fire, with the final figure feared to be many more. Media speculation has centred on the cladding recently fitted to the 24-storey tower, which was enveloped by flames within minutes in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The block’s managers have been accused of ignoring safety fearsraised by residents.
Most of the blocks run by Charlton Triangle, including those on the Springfield Grove and Cherry Orchard estates, were reclad in 2012 as part of an energy efficiency programme. The housing association, which also operates the Harold Gibbons Court, Mascalls Court and Valley Grove blocks, says its homes are not at risk.
A statement issued to residents reads: “There has been a lot of speculation and coverage in the press about the impact of external cladding in spreading the fire at Grenfell Tower.
“Whilst it is still far too early to determine the cause of the fire, this has caused concern amongst our residents given that all of our older blocks, with the exception of Valiant House, were overclad in 2012.
“Our external cladding is a mineral based system. It has a fire standard rating that means the materials used will prevent the spread of fire. The mineral insulation itself is non – combustible.”
Mascalls Court and Harold Gibbons Court were constructed after World War II. They were also reclad in 2012
Valiant House – a 16-storey block behind The Valley built in the late 1970s – was the only block not given cladding.
Charlton Triangle says it will be carrying out additional inspections over the coming week to double-check safety doors and escape routes, with caretakers reminded to be extra vigilant.
The association, which will soon become part of the giant Peabody group, took control of the blocks from Greenwich Council in 1999, refurbishing and remodelling the estates over the following years. Unlike many other London authorities, Greenwich retains direct control of most other housing estates in the borough.
On Wednesday, Greenwich released a statement saying it was carrying out extra checks on the cladding used on 11 of its high-rise blocks, with fire safety officers examining escape routes at the six 24-storey blocks.
It added that all 93 high-rise blocks in the borough had current safety certificates, with the exception of two on John Wilson Street in Woolwich which had interim certificates because they were undergoing refurbishment. Those two blocks would be given updated risk assessments once work had been completed, it said.
To donate to the London Fire Relief Fund, visit the British Red Cross. For details of how else you can help, or support if you have been affected by the disaster, visit the Red Cross website.
We have been very busy co-ordinating all the lovely people and groups who are taking part in this event and here is your reminder to get your picnic baskets out and ready!
We are delighted to announce that our recently re-elected MP Matthew Pennycook has agreed to open the event for us. Following that, there will be:
– Plenty of space for picnics
– Ice-cream van, a stall selling soft drinks, locally brewed beer and wine and Feast will be selling small hot snacks. There will also be elderflower cordial and jam for sale and there might even be cakes somewhere
– Games and races for all – large and small
– Live music from our very own Jim Kinsella, the local Recorder Ensemble and a special guest appearance from some members of the East London Brass Band with DJ slots in between courtesy of Ed Simmons
– Dance performances from the Mulvihill Academy of Irish Dance and the Marjorie Hawkins Dance Academy
– Boxing (non-contact and child centred) demonstrations and ‘have a go’ fitness workshops run by the local St Paul’s Boxing Club
– Judo demonstrations from the club who practice in New Charlton Community Centre
– Local group stalls including Riverwood, who make wonderful things out of reclaimed wood, Riding for the Disabled, Friends of Charlton Lido, the WI, Bexley and Greenwich Hospice, Friends of Maryon Parks, St Thomas Church & The Tuesday Group, Thorntree PTA… and possibly more.
– Information and energy-saving advice provided by South East London Community Energy who have very kindly donated a solar powered generator to us for the day
– Opportunities to visit the Growing Garden and see all the great work being done there helping local people grow their own food
Make sure you bring some cash with you as there will also be:
– A qualified massage therapist offering massage to help raise funds for Friends of Maryon Parks
Plants for sale (and from 10am in the Growing Garden)
– Bric-a-brac, raffle and tombola
Entry is free, but we will be doing a bucket rattle to help with the costs of the publicity, incidentals, insurances and licenses over and above any funding we might receive. Anything left once we have covered costs will be donated to the St Thomas Church Nightshelter project.
Flowers, candles and beer left behind Phipps House on Wednesday evening
Police have launched a murder inquiry after a man died after being stabbed behind Phipps House, off Woolwich Road, on Tuesday.
Flowers, candles and bottles of beer were being left at the scene on Wednesday evening, with neighbours gathering to mourn the 30-year-old victim, who has not been named by police.
Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 17:49hrs on Tuesday, 13 June to reports of a man stabbed behind Phipps House, located off Woolwich Road.
Officers and London’s Air Ambulance attended and found a 30-year-old man injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:27hrs.
Next of kin have been informed.
A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.
Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) are investigating.
There has been no arrest at this early stage.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information should call the HMCC incident room number on 020 8721 4205.
To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit the crimestoppers-uk.org website.
Last summer, the station broadcast from a studio inside the Valley Central community centre run by the Charlton Athletic Community Trust. Weekly Addicks radio show Charlton Live also appeared on the station, which plays a mix of music from the 1980s to the present day with local news coverage and events listings.
Founder and presenter Duncan Martin said: “It’s great to know that next time we go on the air, it will be full-time! The previous seasonal broadcasts were a huge success and our team strongly believe that we could deliver a radio service to Greenwich on a full-time basis. We’re thrilled that Ofcom also share our opinion!”
The station says it had 7,000 listeners during its 2016 run. It hopes to go on air in the first half of 2018, and is looking for advertisers to help fund its output.
Crowds watching April’s Tall Ships Regatta from in front of the development site
A property developer has revealed plans for a 25-storey tower for land next to the Thames Barrier – flying in the face of Greenwich Council’s proposed new masterplan for the Charlton riverside.
Komoto Group Limited wants to redevelop the site to the west of the Barrier to provide 570 homes plus commercial and retail space and up to 500 car parking spaces.
The company owns the site, which is currently home to the Raceway go-kart track, Bunker 51 laser-tag centre, a church, and other firms. The land was formerly home to the Johnsen & Jorgensen glass works, which closed in 1981.
But the plans directly contradict Greenwich’s proposed new masterplan for the area, which envisages mostly low to medium-rise developments of up to 10 storeys. There is a get-out plan which would permit taller buildings if there is “adequate public transport”, which certainly does not apply here.
However, the masterplan has not yet been legally adopted, so Komoto is clearly hoping to squeeze this through before then. The company is currently asking for a “scoping opinion” – an early opinion from the council’s planners on what the main issues with the development are likely to be.
This latest planning application fills in the detailed design for the scheme, with construction due to take place on weekdays only between June and September.
A viewing mound will be created, while the existing table tennis tables will be moved. One tree will be lost to create the skate park.
Rather embarrassingly for Greenwich Council, which is commissioning the facility, the designers have managed to spell “Greenwich” wrongly.
The Charlton Champion 