Havering’s high streets, like most across the country, are facing a tough time in the light of huge structural changes to local economies and the challenge of online trading.
Some of those changes are inevitable but together we have the means to change the tide on others. We will make significant investment, measured in the millions, as well as attracting government funding, to address these issues together.
Over the last year some of the frustration at those wider high street issues has been focused on the Council’s car parking policy, which were implemented a year ago. We have listened and learned to what shoppers and traders have said and we’ve developed an affordable, fair compromise, which gives shoppers a good deal and encourages them back to our high streets. It will be debated at Cabinet and Council meetings later this month.
We’ll do more to promote our fantastic high street shops and services. By bus, bike, foot or car we’ll show everyone that they’re worth a visit. It will be up to residents to use them rather than out-of-town or internet shopping.
Lastly, I was pleased to meet the new police officers who will be patrolling our streets thanks to our funding. Read more about this below and see my video.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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Havering Council has announced “significant investment worth millions” to help the borough’s businesses tackle the challenges of changing shopping habits and online competition.
The changes include free Sunday parking in all Council car parks from 1 April 2020. There will also be 30 minutes free parking in all on-street pay and display bays across the borough from the same date. A 20% discount will be introduced on all parking charges paid by borough residents using the new Havering parking app, due to launch on 1 May 2020.
The high streets investment and changes to parking charges will be proposed at the Council’s Cabinet next week ahead of a full council meeting later this month to agree the borough’s budget for the next financial year.
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 Havering Council is flying the Rainbow Flag to mark LGBT History Month.
At a special ceremony held at the Town Hall, Romford, Cllr Michael Deon Burton, Mayor of Havering, and Cllr Robert Benham, Deputy Leader of Havering Council, were joined by Council staff, councillors, and residents to raise the Rainbow Flag.
LGBT History Month celebrates and recognises the achievements and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. This year’s theme is ‘What Have We Learned?’
Five new Council-funded bobbies have arrived in Havering as part of the Council’s commitment to make the borough safer.
The officers will work as part of Havering’s new enforcement and safety team, ensuring that there is a consistent presence on the streets and that resources are being used in the best way to tackle crime and disorder.
Since starting in early January, the new officers have arrested eleven people including burglars, suspected drug dealers, and seized sixteen stolen vehicles.
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Construction of a £6.3 million extension to Marshalls Park Academy in Romford has been marked with the burying of a time capsule, under what will be the ground floor corridor in the new building.
Barnes Construction started work in September last year on the two-storey extension, which will provide 16 new classrooms, a dance studio and changing facilities.
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It's your final chance to comment on plans to tackle homelessness and make Havering a place where nobody needs to sleep rough.
Havering Council has set out its draft Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy, which includes new plans on how to tackle rough sleeping over the next five years.
The consultation ends on Monday, 10 February.
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Congratulations to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch that has won the London Theatre of the Year Award at The Stage Awards 2020.
The award marks a transformational year for the theatre. It has undertaken a £1 million facelift to refresh its front and back-of-house spaces, and created new rehearsal, learning, research and development facilities - carrying out the entire project without closure.
The Stage Awards launched in 2010 to highlight the achievements of theatre companies and individuals across the UK and globally. The winner of each category was announced at the awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House, London.
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Congratulations to Micheal Ward on winning the EE Rising Star Award at the BAFTAs earlier this week.
The star of Top Boy, Blue Story, and The A-list was raised in Romford.
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Havering will celebrate the VE Day 75th anniversary weekend with an event in Romford Market on Saturday 9 May, from 11am to 4pm, which will include a host of attractions for all the family and sing-alongs.
The Council is also encouraging residents to hold street parties on the VE Bank Holiday, Friday 8 May, or over the weekend of 9 and 10 May.
Guidance on holding a street party and how to apply for a road closure is available on the Havering Council website.
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There's still time to vote for your favourite adult fiction book as part of the Havering Reads initiative to get more adults reading.
You have until 16 February to vote for any adult fiction book that was published between 2018 and 2020.
Voting slips and boxes to cast your vote are available in libraries, and votes can also be sent by email to kathy.scourfield@havering.gov.uk.
The winning book will be celebrated with events in libraries throughout May.
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It's National Apprenticeship Week 2020 (3 - 9 February).
This annual event celebrates the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
An apprenticeship fair was held at the Mercury Mall in Romford earlier this week to showcase the wide range of apprentice opportunities for young people across many industries including working with the Council's joint venture partners, one of which (Wates Residential) helped to organise the event.
There's another opportunity to find out more about local apprenticeships today (Thursday 6 February) between 10am and 4.30pm, at the Mercury Mall, where Havering College will be running an open day to help prospective apprentices with their CVs and explore current opportunities.
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Pledge to go fizz free this February and prove that you can kick the sugary drinks habit.
On average, fizzy drinks contain 29% of your daily sugar intake, with most products containing six or more teaspoons of sugar per can.
That’s why Fizz Free February is a great way to reduce your sugar intake by cutting out fizzy drinks and setting you on a journey to reducing sugary drink consumption for the rest of the year. Give it a go this year and #gofizzfree.
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Havering Council is looking for people who are motivated to help children and young people who cannot live at home.
Could you be a foster carer? Do you know friends or family who might be interested in fostering?
Foster carers receive financial benefits, full training, and dedicated support from an experienced and friendly team.
Find out more by talking to the team at one of their monthly information evenings held on the first Thursday of every month from 6pm to 7.30pm, at Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB.
The next event is tonight (Thursday 6 February).
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