|
Wednesday 5 August 2020
 I need your help.
I need you to sign our petition as we lobby Highways England to give Havering residents the same discount they are planning to offer to residents living in Thurrock and Gravesham when the new Thames river crossing opens.
Havering residents are already discrimiated against by not being eligible for the local residents discount scheme that applies now to journeys on the Dartford Crossing by residents from Thurrock and Dartford, and I want to make sure that our residents don't lose out again.
You can read more about our campaign below.
I am delighted that we now have an official name for our new sports and leisure centre in Hornchurch.
The Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre is just one further example of this Council's absolute commitment to providing first-class, up-to-date leisure facilities for all the residents of our borough.
Lastly, if you have any COVID-19 symptoms - stay at home and get tested as soon as possible and follow the instructions of NHS Test and Trace if they contact you.
A mobile testing unit will be visiting the Town Hall again tomorrow and will also be operating in neighbouring boroughs when it’s not in Havering.
If you test positive you must isolate for 10 days. This will keep the borough out of lockdown – and protect vulnerable people from serious harm.
Please do your bit to keep yourself, and all of us, safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Havering Council has hit back at Highways England after a U-turn on their decision to give Havering residents a discount on the charge for the future Lower Thames crossing.
The Council is also urging Highways England to revisit a consultation held earlier this year after Havering residents were left silenced following the early closure of the consultation, due to COVID-19.
In an open letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Damian White, has called for the local Havering discount to be reinstated and for Highways England to re-open the consultation (beyond the design refinement consultation Highways England are currently consulting on) to give local residents a proper chance to have their say on the plans.
|
Hornchurch’s new leisure centre, currently under construction next to the existing sports centre, has been officially named as Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre.
The centre will replace the existing Hornchurch Sports Centre and is part of the Council’s drive to provide new and improved sports facilities, in partnership with Everyone Active, who manage the Council’s leisure centres.
Once open, residents will be able to enjoy a 25m eight-lane swimming pool, a 20m wide learning and diving pool with movable floor to change the depth, a 100 plus station health and fitness suite, a sports hall, three exercise studios and top-class changing facilities.
Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre is part of a huge investment in leisure and sports facilities across the borough by Havering Council, which includes Sapphire Ice & Leisure in Romford.
|
Parking in on-street parking bays and in all Council car parks is free on Sundays, starting this Sunday, 9 August.
Remember also that when when parking in our car parks on other days of the week you can get a 20 per cent discount if you pay via the RingGo App.
It is also a COVID-19 secure way of paying. It’s more hygienic than cash and you don't need to touch any buttons or screens on parking machines.
NHS and key frontline workers can apply for a Havering Hero parking permit.
The permit allows the holder to be able to park in resident parking bays for a maximum stay of three hours with no return to that bay for two hours, and also in Council-run car parks for a maximum stay of three hours with no return to that bay for two hours.
|
It's even more vital now that we all do our bit to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus and help save lives.
The Government’s guidance on face coverings was updated last week to reflect changes on when face coverings should be worn.
From this Saturday, 8 August, the list of places where members of the public will have to wear a face covering will be expanded to include libraries, museums, galleries, community centres, cinemas, bingo halls, and places of worship.
The Government recommends face coverings are worn in these settings now, but this will not be mandatory until Saturday.
You are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you may come into contact with people you don’t normally meet.
If you can, please use a reusable face covering that can be washed and then worn again. This helps reduce the amount of rubbish generated and littering.
|
A mobile testing unit for COVID-19 will be at Havering Town Hall again later this week.
Before you attend the site in Romford, you will need to make an appointment.
The testing at the Town Hall rear car park is between 10.30am and 3.30pm, tomorrow, Thursday 6 August, and this Sunday, 9 August.
Vehicles and pedestrians should enter via Park End Road, Romford RM1 4AU, where a one-way drive and walk through system will be in place. Please do not try to enter from Main Road.
|
Havering Together is a scheme where people and businesses can crowdfund for projects which improve or celebrate our local area.
Not only does it give you the opportunity to raise money from the community, but the Council can also pledge up to £5,000 per campaign through the Havering Together Innovation Fund, to support campaigns which have strong community backing and that will deliver a big impact for the local area.
If you would like to find out more on why this programme is so important, what funding and support is available for projects, and best practice tips from previous project creators, then join our online Crowdfunding Workshop tomorrow, Thursday 6 August.
|
With temperatures expected to soar again across London later this week, please make sure to keep hydrated, stay in the shade and wear suncream.
Temperatures are most likely to peak on Friday.
It's important you take action to protect yourself and stay healthy in the heat, especially if you're still shielding or are unable to go outside.
Please also look out for others, including neighbours, family or friends, who may be shielding or unable to care for themselves. If someone you know is self-isolating with suspected COVID-19 symptoms, keep in contact with them to make sure they're safe.
Health advice for those sensitive to air pollution is available from UK AIR by calling 0800 55 66 77 (recorded information) or online.
Public Health England has advice on staying safe in a heatwave during the coronavirus pandemic.
|
We’ve been asking residents to have their say on plans to introduce safer streets around schools in Havering from next month.
The new School Streets scheme would introduce pedestrian areas in September around 18 of the borough’s schools at set times of the day in a bid to reduce traffic and improve safety and air quality.
Although parents won’t be able to use their cars to drop children off by the school gates under the new scheme, residents living in the affected streets will still be able to access the roads and also register for an exemption to the scheme so they aren’t at risk of a penalty.
A special Question and Answer event is being held with Cllr Osman Dervish, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Environment, and Havering Council's traffic and parking team, to help answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Join the event on our Facebook page tomorrow, Thursday 6 August, from 2.30 - 3.30pm.
|
Our next fostering open evening takes place tomorrow, Thursday, 6 August, from 6pm.
Potential foster carers are invited to meet staff and find out more about becoming a foster carer in Havering.
If you would like to attend one of our fostering evenings you can make a booking by clicking on the link below or you can just turn up on the night.
If you would prefer to speak to someone before that time email the team or call 01708 434574.
|
Meanwhile, Havering's fostering team are proud to announce that they are now an official member of New Family Social (NFS).
NFS is a UK charity set up by LGBT+ adopters and foster carers that fully understands the process of becoming a foster carer, but also the unique challenges and queries faced by LGBT+ people who want to foster or adopt.
They currently have over 250 member agencies across the UK, providing training, advice, and support to social workers to help attract, assess and retain LGBT+ foster carers and adopters.
Being a member of NFS entitles Havering's foster carers and potential foster carers to become members of NFS, where they will receive free membership to the agency with access to all of their services including holiday camps, outings, and support.
If you are currently a foster carer in Havering from the LGBT+ community a member of Havering's Fostering team will be in contact to explain how you can obtain your membership.
|
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has opened a public consultation on its draft recommendations for new electoral boundaries for Havering Council.
The consultation is open until 5 October 2020.
The draft recommendations, which have been put forward by the independent commission, propose that 54 councillors should be elected to Havering Council in future, and proposes new electoral ward boundaries, or wards, across the borough.
Interactive maps of the proposals can be found on the Commission’s consultation portal, where you can have your say on the proposals, or submit alternative suggestions for consideration.
Once the Commission has considered all the responses to the consultation, it will aim to publish final recommendations in January 2021.
|
Extra weight puts extra pressure on your body. Which makes it harder to fight against diseases like cancer, heart disease and now, COVID-19.
Losing weight can help reduce your risk.
For many, the past few months have been a wake-up call, with people realising how precious their health is and recognising that it is time to get back on track.
One way you can do that is to follow the NHS 12-week weight loss plan, tailored to your needs.
|
With more Londoners returning to public transport, Transport for London (TfL) has released a new travel app to make it easier for customers to plan their journeys.
Services on TfL's Tube, rail and bus services have been restored to normal levels during weekdays and near-normal levels at weekends.
The new iPhone app called TfL Go provides real-time train times in a mobile-friendly way and information to enable travel at quieter times outside peak hours to help customers maintain social distancing.
The app also offers alternative routes and walking and cycling options.
Future updates to the app will provide additional live bus information and there will also be an Android version available by the autumn.
|
National Lottery Project Grants, is a fund for all individual artists, community and cultural organisations.
You can apply to it for funding to support arts, museums and libraries projects that benefit the public in England.
The fund has changed some of its guidance so that it can support more individuals during the coronavirus pandemic.
|
 Pictured locking the gate for the last time are, left to right, Assistant Principal Catherine Foley, Deputy Curriculum Director Sunny Bamra, Colin Moore, Wendy Kane and Elaine Prior.
Staff and students at Havering Colleges have said a fond farewell to Quarles campus in Tring Gardens, Harold Hill, which is closing after 47 years – just as a new £15m Construction and Engineering Centre is to open in Rainham early next year.
Having been the base for the college Engineering, Plumbing and Welding courses for many years, and more recently for Foundation Learning students, the site is now earmarked for housing.
The gate was locked for the final time by Engineering Technician Colin Moore who has worked for the college at Quarles for 40 years and who was also a pupil at the original Quarles County Secondary School which occupied the site before it became part of Havering College in 1973.
Also saying goodbye to the campus was college Receptionist Wendy Kane, 72, who has worked at Quarles for 27 years, and long-serving Cleaning Supervisor Elaine Prior. Wendy was also a pupil at the old Quarles Secondary School when it was just a girls’ school, leaving to find a job at 15 years old in 1962.
Students due to start some engineering courses in September will commence their studies at the Ardleigh Green campus and move to the new Rainham Construction and Engineering Centre once it opens.
|
