Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
Transport for London has begun a second public consultation regarding a planned extension of the DLR service to Thamesmead.
The service could continue from Gallions Reach, through to Thamesmead via the Beckton Riverside. Two new stations are part of the plan – one at Beckton Riverside and the other at Thamesmead Waterfront – alongside a tunnel built under the River Thames.
TfL claims that the journey times could be cut to 25 minutes to Stratford and 35 minutes to Tottenham Court Road.
A further 30,000 homes, 10,000 jobs and an economic impact of £15.6billion may be on the horizon if the plans do go through.
A partnership has been created for the Greater London Authority, Greenwich Council, Newham Council and several major landowners for the plans to go through (subject to consultation), with a spokesperson for Greenwich Council saying: “Thamesmead is the only London postcode without a direct train link, and our residents deserve the same connectivity as the rest of the capital. As we've seen with the Elizabeth Line in Woolwich, a new station could reimagine Thamesmead”.
The closing date for the consultation is Sunday 17th August and you can have your say here.
Crazy News
A phone thief has been dubbed ‘Cinderella’, after he was linked to the crime as he lost a shoe from the scene – containing his DNA.
28-year-old Spencer Duarte was knocked off his e-bike from members of the public after staling the device from hands of the victim in Ludgate Hill, only wearing one shoe as he ran away from the scene.
Andrew Walker, physical forensics manager at the City of London Police says: “We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the national DNA database. The slipper fitted our Cinderella, and we were able to bring him before the courts”.
Happy News
During last weekend’s heatwave, a delivery rider came to help stranded passengers on board a train held up by a fault – by chucking a bottle of water to the passenger standing by the open doors.
The Just Eat driver had great aim as the bottles landed inside and dished out to the passengers as local CCTV footage shows.
There was cheering heard too, from those inside the train.
The driver also received attention to England Cricket, who commented “passing this on to our scouts…”.
Not all heroes wear capes!
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