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This is your regular Living in Havering email bulletin designed to keep you up-to-date with how Havering Council is responding to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
For all the latest information see our website or follow us via our facebook and twitter channels if you can.
You can find details of any confirmed changes to Council services, or opening hours, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the regularly updated, service disruption pages.
All the other regular pages with information on reporting, for example, a missed refuse collection or a pothole in a road, are still available.
Why not save our website as a favourite on your phone, tablet or PC for quick, easy reference? www.havering.gov.uk
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As residents face the reality of coronavirus, I know many of you will be concerned about what this means for you, and the impact it may have on the services we provide.
I have directed officers to take every possible step to prepare for what will be a difficult and challenging time ahead. Our priority is to ensure that the Council continues delivering vital front line services in the coming weeks – and months, and to help those most at risk in our communities.
We are working closely with our partners, GPs, community leaders, businesses and the voluntary sector to ensure the most in need are supported in the best way possible. Not only is a huge amount of work ongoing as I write this, but there is an equal amount of planning for a range of possible scenarios.
During this difficult time, I urge everyone to remain calm and follow the self-isolating and social distancing advice that is being given by the government. It is also important that we look out for our friends and neighbours – please give a helping hand where it is needed and safe to do so.
I have today requested that due to the threats presented by coronavirus to movement around the borough, Havering Council will only seek to enforce parking restrictions that pose a danger to other road users.
I urge residents to park considerately and lawfully. Bad parking could prevent emergency service vehicles from reaching residents in real need. They could prevent disabled residents from parking to secure vital medicine or supplies.
Our enforcement of parking restrictions will be focused on keeping the emergency services and key workers vehicles moving. It is more important than ever over the next few weeks that we all behave considerately and courteously, and that includes in our parking.
I also encourage everyone to subscribe to our regular Living in Havering email newsletter and to look out for our service disruptions webpage.
Cllr Damian White,
Leader of Havering Council
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Havering Council is working to ensure emergency plans are in place to keep vital frontline services running.
Some non-vital services will be subject to change.
Schools and Colleges
Schools in Havering and across the UK will close as part of the government’s response to curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
From today (20 March) schools will be closed until further notice but will remain open to children of key workers and vulnerable children.
The government has asked parents to keep their children at home from Monday, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
Schools are being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children – those who are vulnerable and for children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.
A list of key workers has been published by the Government, so you can find out who this applies to.
Havering Adult College is temporarily closed, other than for the delivery of the Education for Independence provision, which is for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Parents of students in further education colleges are advised to check with their place of study for specific closure information.
Registrar Services
From Monday 23 March 2020 death registration appointments will no longer take place at South Essex Crematorium. Instead, all bookings made will be held at Havering Register Office, Langtons House, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1XJ.
Langtons House will be closed to visitors unless you have a pre-booked appointment but please call beforehand to check this can still go ahead.
For urgent queries please email or call 01708 433481.
Rubbish and recycling
Due to staff shortages, Serco will not be collecting garden or bulky waste.
We are attempting to contact bulky waste customers and apologise for the inconvenience caused.
Because of staff shortages there may be occasions where some collections of black and orange sacks are missed. Please check the rubbish and recycling page for updates.
For all the latest advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) click on the Government website.
It includes information on how to protect yourself and guidance for employers and businesses.
To avoid spreading or catching the virus everyone is asked to:
- only travel if it is absolutely essential
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin straight away
- wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
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Read our important advice on waste disposal around COVID-19.
Working in partnership with Learning Nexus, we are offering all local residents free access to an Effective Hand Washing online course.
Effective hand washing is one of the key methods to keeping both yourself and your family protected against coronavirus. This course takes you through the key stages of hand washing to help stop the virus spreading.
Coronavirus survives on our hands for roughly 10 minutes, and can enter the body if we touch our faces during this time. It is reported that we touch our faces an average of 16 times per hour, meaning it is imperative to have clean hands to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
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Karen Tweddle, the Manager of Havering Music School writes....
"People are totally amazing, and I have been truly touched by the kindness shown by all parents and staff who are going above and beyond in what is such an unusual time."
Havering Music School will be providing access to online independent learning. Pupils at the school are being offered online lessons which will be free of charge.
For more information go to Havering Music School’s website from Tuesday 24 March.
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Havering-atte-Bower based Saint Francis Hospice's CEO, Pam Court, is calling for your support.
The COVID-19 pandemic means they need help more than ever before as they continue to care for those who need them in increasingly restricted conditions.
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Due to the rapid changes affecting every sphere of daily life, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided it would be inappropriate to deliver Living in Havering magazine next week, as planned.
This is because many items of information included in it will be out of date, and potentially misleading.
However, much of the content including the Youth Takeover features will appear in an edition later this year.
Our apologies to readers and advertisers.
Please encourage friends and neighbours to sign up for our regular Living in Havering email bulletins on the Council's website. Ask them to sign up at this address: www.havering.gov.uk/newsletters
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