By John Hugill

A 16-YEAR-OLD was stabbed and his 48-year-old dad suffered head injuries after a group of youths fought close to Lewisham Fire Station.

Cops were called to Lewisham High Street at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

When they got there they found the man and his son, who were then taken to hospital.

The 48-year-old has been discharged while his son remains in hospital. His condition is described as "stable".

Six youths have been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and are in custody at a south London police station.

The Secretary of State for Health has just published his decision on A Picture of Health following the Independent Reconfiguration Panel's review. The outcome is good for Lewisham. There was a risk that emergency surgery at Lewisham Hosptial would be restricted to 8 am until 8 pm. This will not now happen.

The full IRP report and recommendations are at www.irpanel.org.uk.

Clearly, the listing is a major embarrassment for Lewisham Council, and officers admitted they had got it wrong in not foreseeing that English Heritage might list the building. That lack of foresight is going to cost us dearly: financially and in terms of the delay in getting the extra secondary school places which virtually everyone agrees the north of the Borough needs. As the Defend Education in Lewisham campaign wrote:

Councils can obtain a certificate of immunity from English Heritage if they are concerned that a building might be listable and wish to avoid a last-minute listing. Why did they fail to apply for one?... Did they spot it was listable and decided to ignore it? No listing should come as a shock to a Council"

Having said that, we are (to coin a cliche) where we are. I still think that Lewisham Bridge is the best, or rather the least bad, site for a new secondary school. It is certainly a lot better than Ladywell Pool, which was the other alternative which the Council was considering until the Save The Pool campaign stopped them. If the Council's appeal against listing fails, and they can't then find a way of incorporating English Heritage's concerns in a redesign, that will set back the provision of proper secondary school provision in Lewisham by years.

"Dear all, Hither Green Week is well underway and already we've had fun with banner-making, the art competition, knitting and much more! Here's a taster of some more activities coming up later this week.

Sat 9th May 10am to 4pm – Arts, Crafts and Food Spring Fayre, Meridian South on Hither Green Lane (nr the clocktower). Members of the HGCA steering group will be buzzing about there if you want to find out who we are. If you're interested in having a stall yourself drop me an email.

Sat 9th and Sun 10th May – come and enjoy a coffee in the newly opened Café on Mountsfield Park. Rumour in the park is there's an official grand opening on Sunday.

Sun 10th May 2pm to 5pm - planting on Springbank Road. Everyone very welcome!

Sun 10th May 10am or 2pm - local historical walk. Want to find out more about the local history of your neighbourhood? Well why not join a walk and gain knowledge and fitness at the same time! Take a walk through the history of Hither Green Sunday 10th May

Walk 1 - 10am beginning at the clock tower.

Walk 2 - 2pm beginning at the clock tower

Each walk will be lead by a local historian and will last between one and a half and two hours. <> Please sign up for a walk at the HGCA stall at the Spring Fayre on Saturday.

Each walk is limited to a maximum of 15 people per group.

You can also find out what's going on in Hither Green Week on ourhithergreen.com

Best wishes,