News in Brief

The current London Mayor, Sadiq Khan is hoping to get re-elected. Pic: Dan Kitwood

London Mayoral Elections

The capital heads to the polls today to vote for the London Mayor. 

A YouGov Poll shows that the Labour candidate and incumbent mayor, Sadiq Khan will lead the first round of voting by 12 points and is set to comfortably win the second round. 

The labour leader, Kier Starmer and Sadiq Khan were in Lewisham on the campaign trail earlier this week as polling day drew closer.

On Monday, May 3 the pair visited the Evelyn Community Store in Lewisham to speak to volunteers.

The Evelyn Community store is run by residents from Lewisham Homes to offer people fresh and affordable food.

Houseboat owner faces substantial fines for illegal parties in Hackney

Boats along the Regents canal in Hackney Wick. Pic: Andrew Sutcliffe

A houseboat owner in Hackney has been warned he faces “substantial” fines after hosting a party with over 30 attendees, breaching Covid regulations.

Jordy Nicholas Van Duijvenbode, 31, pleaded guilty to holding a gathering of more than 30 people and a second charge of participating in a gathering of two or more people in an indoor space.

Police broke up the parties on his vessel after reports from members of the public of large music gatherings on February 5 and February 13.

Van Duijvenbode was paid between £300 and £700 for the use of his boat which has since been seized by the Canal and River trust.

He claimed he had been going through a “bad batch” struggling to find work during the pandemic.

The district judge, Susan Holdam, at east Londons Stratford Magistrates Court heard on Friday April 30 the matter could have ended with an £800 penalty notice if dealt with in February but Van Duijvenbode faces a harsher financial hit as the matter has gone through the courts.     

NHS Test and Trace was working with Tower Hamlets Council

Rapid Antigen Test for SARS Covid-19. Pic: Basilico Studio Stock

Surge testing was deployed in Tower Hamlets on Sunday May 2 after several cases of the South African and Brazilian COVID- 19 variants were detected across parts of East London.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that NHS test and Trace was working with Tower Hamlets Council to provide additional testing and genomic sequencing, which allows researchers to compare different strands, in targeted areas within the E1 postcode.

Community dance project in Hackney Wick

Group ballet class. Pic: Joy Real

A former ballet dancer is setting up a new community dance project in Hackney Wick to help people with their mental health.

Connor Taylor, 25, trained and toured with the Royal Opera house and his partner Joe Watson, 28, was raised by a dance teacher mother.

The couple came up with the idea for Adore dance classes during lockdown.  

You can book an adult class or for children here

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