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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 COVID-19
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.
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Havering Council has launched a new free-to-call helpline for residents with urgent needs because of coronavirus.
The helpline - 0800 368 5201 - is now live and calls will be answered from staff redeployed from other council services. You can call between 8.30am and 6pm.
We are asking residents with concerns around care, urgent issues around health and wellbeing, lack of access to supplies including food and medicine to call the helpline.
Residents with less urgent needs or needing advice on other council services should go to the Council's website for a range of contact options.
You can also email: covid19support@havering.gov.uk
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 Join the Leader of the Council, Cllr Damian White, tonight from 6pm for a special online question and answer session with leaders in the local voluntary sector, including: Age UK, Tapestry, Havering MIND and the Havering Volunteer centre.
Havering Volunteer Centre is providing a service where local residents can get support during these uncertain times and talk to a friendly voice at the end of a phone line. Currently more than one hundred residents with high needs are being supported and essential food supplies have been delivered today.
If you would like to get involved and support your community by being that friendly voice on the line please email volunteering@haveringvc.org.uk or call 01708 922214 and they will do the rest. At this morning’s count is was 289 volunteers and more have called since to register.
Once all checks are completed and you are registered, you will be matched to a Havering resident who will benefit greatly from a daily call from you to check they are okay.
If you need to chat to someone please also call them on 01708 922214.
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To help everyone cope with the present difficult circumstances please be aware as to how your actions, or those of your family, could give rise to considerable stress and anxiety to fellow residents.
Please consider the following:
- Be aware of the volume of any amplified music played, particularly between 11pm and 7am.
- Noisy DIY should only take place between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays, with no noisy works on Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays.
Please think about neighbours who are elderly, have young children or are self-isolating for medical reasons. Excessive domestic noise, such as banging or dogs barking, particularly at unsociable hours, can cause severe disturbance to your neighbours who may be feeling stressed by being forced to stay at home.
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To the Mercury Shopping Mall in Romford.
They were given thousands of packets of breakfast cereal by Dorset Cereals which they have now donated to Saint Francis Hospice, The Havering Volunteer Centre, and Havering House, as well as NHS Workers and the vulnerable.
And to Hawkins Butchers who are now doing home deliveries, and the management of the Romford Shopping Hall who are collecting and delivering prescription medicines for elderly residents.
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Havering Council has emergency plans in place to keep vital frontline services running. Other services will be subject to change.
Parking permits
We have placed a hold on all permit purchases, or renewals, so there is no need for anyone to purchase or renew any parking permit at this time.
Parking enforcement of permit zones, pay and display bays, business and shared use bays has ceased for the time being in order to help key workers, people working from home, those self-isolating, or shielding vulnerable or sick residents.
Car parks
We are providing free car parking for all customers during the coronavirus outbreak.
This will help key workers, residents, and those working from home or self-isolating to park in on-street bays and in council owned car parks without having to worry about cost or time restrictions.
Yew Tree Centre
The Yew Tree Day Service is currently closed and there are restricted activities at Avelon Road Centre for adults with learning disabilities.
If residents need further help because of this decision, they can contact the Havering Access Team on 01708 432000.
Burial and cremation services
In line with guidelines on social distancing, all cremation services are currently limited to a maximum of 10 mourners in attendance.
All witnessed ashes burials have been postponed and cemetery chapel services and graveside services will also be limited to 10 mourners.
The Tea Room at South Essex Crematorium is closed until further notice and the reception office is closed to face-to-face callers. Staff can be contacted via telephone 01708 434433 or by email to cemeteries@havering.gov.uk
Parks and allotments
Parks and allotments remain open as we are mindful of the health and well-being benefits of being outside.
However, residents must rigidly observe the Government and NHS advice on social distancing, i.e. keep 2 metres away from other people.
That is why play areas, tennis courts and outdoor gyms should not be used at this time.
If the guidance is not followed this position on parks and open spaces will be reviewed.
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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.
Vital information on COVID-19 is also available in 32 different languages.
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At this time please be aware of people offering or selling:
- virus testing kits (these are currently only offered by the NHS)
- vaccines or miracle cures (there is currently no vaccine or cure for the COVID-19 coronavirus)
- overpriced or fake goods including hand sanitisers and anti-bacterial products.
For advice on scams contact the Consumer Advice helpline on 0808 223 1133.
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 Front window of a house in Medora Road, Romford
Tonight at 8pm join in the big applause from your front door, garden, window or balcony for nurses, doctors, GPs, and carers to appreciate their ongoing hard work combatting the COVID-19 coronavirus.
#clapforcarers
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