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Friday 28 August 2020
 As you're aware, earlier this week we launched our #DoingMyBit public health campaign. The goal is to raise awareness of the continuing threat of the coronavirus, and ensure we're all doing our bit to avoid a second lockdown, and the huge challenges that would bring.
According to the London Coronavirus Response Cell, rates of COVID-19 infections in young people have risen substantially over the last two weeks across the capital. The highest number of positive test results in London are now among those aged 20-29.
I know the constant messaging can be overwhelming, and that it's easy to become complacent and feel like the threat is over, but these numbers show that it is still very real. We can all enjoy going on holiday, shopping, and eating out with friends, but these activities are among those that can cause the highest infection rates if we don't stick to social distancing and face-covering guidance.
We have a Bank Holiday weekend ahead of us, and I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy themselves, but please do so safely and sensibly. Wear a face-covering in public, preferably a reusable one, and ensure you're storing it in a clean plastic bag when not in use. If you do wear a single-use mask, please ensure you dispose of it properly. Keep your distance from other households, and wash your hands regularly.
And if you have any of the coronavirus symptoms, such as a consistent cough, a high temperature, or loss of taste and smell, get yourself tested and self-isolate.
Let's all do our bit to keep Havering safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
If you've been out around the borough this past week, you will have seen posters, banners, or even an ad van promoting our new public health campaign - #DoingMyBit.
We're hitting the ground running with #DoingMyBit, and we're encouraging everyone to join us in helping to keep Havering safe and COVID-19 secure.
#DoingMyBit means:
- maintaining social distancing
- complying with NHS test and trace
- observing Government quarantine measures when travelling
- isolating immediately and getting tested as soon as possible if you develop symptoms
- wearing a face-covering in shops and on public transport unless you are exempt by Government guidelines
- continuing to protect and support neighbours, family and friends and those who are highly vulnerable to the virus
- supporting local businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19.
Over the coming weeks, we're asking you to share your stories of coronavirus with us. How are you doing your bit to avoid a local lockdown? Are you wearing a reusable face-covering in public? Reconfigured your business to aid social distancing? Tested positive and isolating to stop the spread? Share your stories and pictures on social media using #DoingMyBit, and don't forget to tag us.
Check out the link below where you can learn of other ways to do your bit to help Havering, and please keep checking Living in Havering for more updates in the future.
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If you're a Havering Council tenant or leaseholder, we want to know what you think.
Despite the unusual time that we find ourselves in, Havering's Housing Service would still like to find out what you think about the services we provide to our residents.
A company called Kwest Research has been asked to carry out an independent and confidential survey of tenants and leaseholders as part of our commitment to creating a way in which your views will be heard, listened to and acted upon. The idea of the survey is to see what you think about your homes and services and provide an opportunity for you to help shape services and make them better.
If you're a Havering Council tenant or leaseholder, you should now have received a postal and/or email version of the survey. We would be very grateful if you could spare a little of your time to complete our questionnaire. The information you give will help us to provide feedback and improve the services that you receive. Kwest will keep your answers to the questionnaire and the views you express absolutely confidential unless you give permission for your details to be shared. It will provide us with a summary report of the findings and we will share the results with you later in the year via our At the Heart e-newsletter.
All competed questionnaires will be entered into a prize draw, run by Kwest, giving you the chance to win one of 12 £50 supermarket vouchers.
If you have any questions about the survey, please don’t hesitate to call Kwest on freephone 0800 634 8260.
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A mobile testing unit for COVID-19 will be visiting the car park at the rear of Havering Town Hall frequently in the coming weeks.
If you are planning on going to the test centre you will need to make an appointment.
Testing will be available at the Town Hall rear car park between 10.30am and 3.30pm this Sunday, 30 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.
The testing is in the car park so please do NOT go into the Town Hall or Central Library buildings.
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Havering Council will be hosting two Zoom sessions offering reassurance to parents and carers whose children are returning to school.
Our first session will take place on Tuesday 1 September at 7pm.
There will be an opportunity to ask experts from our Public Health and Education teams questions and pick-up practical tips to support your child’s emotional wellbeing.
Please submit questions in advance to publichealth@havering.gov.uk or via the comments below, and we will answer these during the sessions.
Meeting ID: 951 3318 7763
Passcode: 545707
A second session will be held on September 23 at 7pm.
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Havering businesses have been sharing their coronavirus experiences with us as part of the #LoveHaveringShops campaign, which is working to provide reassurance to residents that they can continue to shop locally and stay safe.
Romford Shopping Hall has been a part of the local economy for 95 years, and are used to going through changes and adapting to the current times, so it’s no surprise that they have adapted so well to COVID-19 measures.
The collection of small businesses and cafes have all been doing their bit to keep staff members and customers safe, including passing a ‘COVID-19 safe’ exam, encouraging the use of hand sanitiser before touching merchandise, spreading tables out to a safe distance and leaving returned books off display for at least 72 hours.
The Hall’s cleaners have also been working extra hard to ensure the cleanliness of the whole centre with an increased cleaning regime.
Be a part of the #LoveHaveringShops campaign and share your story with the borough. Send an email using the link below with the subject heading 'Love Havering Shops', and we'll include you on our email and social media channels.
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If you own or run a business that will need to complete customs declarations after the end of the EU Exit transition period, you can now apply for grants to help you manage the changes from 1 January 2021.
You can apply to get funding for:
- training that helps your business to complete customs declarations and processes
- hiring new staff to help your business complete customs declarations
- IT improvements to help your business complete customs declarations more efficiently.
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 Havering Council has launched a consultation seeking views on plans to extend the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Romford Town Centre.
Created to crack down on anti-social drinking in the town centre, the existing Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been in place since 2017, and is set to end this October.
The proposals would ban people from consuming or carrying open containers of alcohol except in licensed premises.
Those breaking the rules could be given a Fixed Penalty Notice.
The PSPO will not affect the possession or consumption of alcohol in clubs, pubs and bars and other places licensed to serve alcohol, and will not affect the purchase of alcohol from off-licences within the town centre for consumption elsewhere. It only applies to public places.
With lockdown providing plenty of time for residents to work on their gardens, this is the perfect opportunity to enter into this year’s Havering in Bloom competition.
Categories include:
- Best Allotment Plot
- Best Front Garden
- Best Back Garden
- Best Communal Garden
- Best Hanging Basket.
There is also a Tallest Sunflower category. Residents need to ensure they send in the height details for their Sunflowers as well as a photo, for it to be considered.
There are voucher prizes for the top three in each category with £50 for the winner, £25 for second place and £15 for third place.
Entries are open until 18 September.
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Havering roads
Road resurfacing work continues to take place in Havering Road, Rise Park, between the Pettits Lane and Chase Cross Road junctions until Saturday 29 August.
The high friction surfacing of the pedestrian crossing on White Hart Lane outside Crownfield School, Collier Row, will be replaced on 4 and 5 September.
Tube trains
On the District line, there will be no service between Tower Hill and West Ham from Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August. Rail replacement service DL6 will run instead.
On the Hammersmith & City line, there will be no service between Hammersmith and Barking from Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August. Rail replacement service DL6 will run instead.
On the Northern line, there will be no service between Moorgate and Kennington from Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August. Please use alternate Tube and local bus services.
On the DLR, there will be no service between Stratford and Canary Wharf (via Bow Church and Poplar) from Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August. Please use alternate Tube and local bus services.
There are several planned changes to the London Overground service over the Bank Holiday weekend. Click the link below to see all planned works.
Buses
As schools return in September, buses are likely to see an increase in demand. To help manage this and allow for safe travel, TfL is introducing dedicated school travel only bus services across various routes during term time on weekdays from 07:30-09:30 and 14:30-16:30.
These buses will have clear signs to differentiate them from regular bus services and information will be posted at bus stops and online.
Please plan and allow more time for your journeys, if you are travelling by bus during school travel times as you may have to wait longer. Please travel during quieter times where possible. Check to see if your route is affected or view a full list of bus routes affected.
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