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Friday 11 September 2020
 This is a crucial moment in our collective efforts to control the spread of the virus in Havering and to keep ourselves and those we love safe.
Even if you don’t feel worried about the health risks of the virus on you, you could unwittingly be passing COVID-19 on to parents, grandparents and other people who are at far greater risk of dying or becoming seriously ill from the virus than you are. Don’t take the risk of that being on your conscience.
Our cases – like those in many other places across the country including nearby boroughs – are increasing.
Our actions have included asking the Government for more testing facilities and it’s good news that our request for more testing in Havering means a site in South Hornchurch will be open for use from this weekend and we are hoping to have a further site open in coming weeks. Read more on that below.
Wear face coverings when being tested and if you cannot wear a face covering to go to the site, you will need to ask for a home test. Don’t travel to the sites by public transport or taxi.
Throughout this crisis Havering has shown so much resilience, civic pride and community spirit. I know we can do it again. We must do everything possible to avoid the impact of more restrictions which could damage our high streets and local businesses, stop us seeing friends and family and put our children’s education at risk again.
If you take or collect children to or from school please always remember to keep your distance. Not congregating outside schools is key to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our borough.
Let’s all do our bit to keep this virus at bay in our borough.
Visit our website for more information on how you can do your bit.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
COVID-19 cases are rising quickly in Havering.
Last week more new cases were reported in Havering than in the week before the lockdown was implemented in March, with new cases in Havering higher than both the London and England average.
The Council has been monitoring the increase and, as part of its response, the Government has agreed to the Council’s request that a new walk-through coronavirus testing facility should open in the borough.
The test centre is at the Council-owned Cherry Tree Lane car park off Rainham Road in South Hornchurch.
Havering Council expects the site to be in use for up to six months. The car park will be out of use from today, Friday 11 September, for as long as the site is needed.
Residents who need to access parking to use local shops in South Hornchurch can use the limited number of spaces at the rear of South Hornchurch library off Nelson Road.
This new testing centre is in addition to the regular testing centre at the rear of the Town Hall in Romford. More information on that below.
Testing at the new site will start tomorrow, Saturday 12 September, between 2pm and 5pm.
On Sunday 13 September the site will be available from 10am to 5pm and from Monday 14 September onwards it will be open seven days a week between 8am and 8pm.
Cases of COVID-19 infection are increasing right across the borough and it may be necessary to open additional sites to cope with demand over the next few months.
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A mobile testing unit for COVID-19 frequently visits central Romford.
If you are planning on going to the test centre, make an appointment.
Testing will be available at Havering Town Hall rear car park between 10.30am and 3.30pm on Monday 14 September, Thursday 17 September and Sunday 20 September.
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. Do not try to enter from Main Road.
Avoid using public transport to get to the test centre. Walk to the testing centre or use a car if possible, or request a test by post.
The testing is in the car park so please do NOT go into the Town Hall or Central Library buildings.
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Anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, can get a free swab test that takes less than a minute.
Tests should be booked online or by calling 119 as soon as symptoms begin. Results should be back by the next day after testing.
Residents in need of a test can also walk in for a test without an appointment, but there is no guarantee they’ll be seen if the site is busy that day, so booking is best.
Residents who walk in without an appointment will also need to bring a smart phone with them so they can register when they arrive.
The two testing sites in Havering are easily accessible with or without a car.
Those being tested must follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout (including travelling to and from the testing centre).
Anyone testing positive for the virus in England will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them track their contacts. This will help people to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission.
Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from NHS Test and Trace, advising them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms.
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As face coverings and masks become an essential part of daily life it's really important that you wear them correctly to protect those you come into contact with, and yourself.
Euronews asked nurse educator Jade Flinn from Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit to myth-bust some common topics including how to properly wear your mask, and what action you can take if you have a beard or wear glasses.
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A survey is being conducted by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of Renewi, the organisation that runs the Reuse and Recycling Centre in Gerpins Lane and others in neighbouring boroughs.
The purpose of this survey is to get your feedback on the centres and the results will be analysed by Keep Britain Tidy and provided in a report to Renewi.
By completing this survey, you will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win one of four £50 Love2shop Gift Vouchers.
Your survey responses will be kept anonymous and no comments or feedback will be personally attributed to you.
The survey takes up to eight minutes to complete and will close at 9am on Monday 21 September.
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If you are over 65 help yourself and others stretch their legs with Streets Apart, the over 65’s walking programme.
This new short walks programme gives you the chance to join a regular walking group in your neighbourhood, regain fitness, build confidence and reconnect with others.
It might be a nature walk, local history walk or just stretching your legs to the shops - you decide.
Walks commence on 5 October.
Groups will be small and socially distanced and complying with the "rule of six", so that everyone can stay safe.
Walks begin in Hornchurch, Harold Hill and Harold Wood so if you live nearby and you’d like to join a walk, or volunteer, just call.
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Extra weight puts extra pressure on your body.
This makes it harder to fight against diseases like cancer, heart disease, and now, COVID-19.
Losing weight can help reduce your risk.
One way you can do that is to follow the NHS 12-week weight loss plan, tailored to your needs.
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Despite coronavirus, Havering's Housing Service would still like to find out what its tenants and leaseholders think about the services it provides to residents.
A company called Kwest Research has been asked to carry out an independent and confidential survey of tenants and leaseholders.
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.
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.
All completed questionnaires will be entered into a prize draw, run by Kwest, giving you the chance to win one of twelve £50 supermarket vouchers.
If you have any questions about the survey, please call Kwest on freephone 0800 634 8260.
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Havering Council is supplying litter pickers for residents to borrow and hold their own socially distanced community clean-ups in the areas where they live this month.
This is in support of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British September Clean, which runs from today until 27 September.
Once booked, you will be able to pick up the equipment from the Council’s Harrow Lodge Depot in Hornchurch Road, from today.
To book a litter pick email: environmental.maintenance@havering.gov.uk.
The Council’s street cleaning team will collect the litter following any events.
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Havering Council is running a survey to ask about your experience if you have had to recently use our formal complaints service.
An official complaint means you will have filled in our complaints form or phoned us to have your details taken and we will have responded by phone, email or letter. Conversations on social media would not be classed as official complaints.
If you wish to take part, please register your interest in being involved to help us gather feedback on the service.
We also want to speak to any of you who have recently lodged a Freedom of Information (FOI) request so we can gather thoughts and feedback on the current service.
If you would like to be involved in this research please register your interest.
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With the nights drawing in it's that time of year when many people think about having a bonfire in the back garden.
Havering has been designated as an air management zone so if possible, please avoid having one.
We do however recognise that some residents do wish to burn garden waste.
In such circumstances the following guidelines should be followed:
1) Only garden waste should be burnt. A maximum of two bonfires per year.
2) All material to be burnt should be dry to avoid any unnecessary smoke.
3) No household material to be burnt.
4) Fires are to be small scale and preferably within a small garden incinerator.
5) There are no set times when you can or can't have a bonfire. However, consideration should be shown to your neighbours and where possible they should be given suitable prior warning.
6) In general the Council recommends that bonfires should be of a short duration and preferably one hour after sunset to minimise the impact on nearby neighbours.
If fires are being held more frequently, this can be classed as a nuisance. If this is a problem for you, please use our log sheets to record this.
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 Each year Havering's Election Services team must review and update the Electoral Register.
To do this, forms were sent to every residential property in the borough during the months of August and September addressed to ‘The Resident’.
Residents are required by law to check the information on the form is correct and update it if necessary.
If you have not completed and sent back your form, please do so as a matter of urgency, this will avoid a member of staff having to visit your property and will save the Council money.
Anybody not currently registered to vote will need to register to vote at www.gov.uk/registertovote even if you added their name to the form.
Is the communal garden where you live the pride of your community?
Do you have the tallest sunflower in your road?
If you think it is or you do, then make sure to enter it into this year’s #HaveringInBloom competition.
You have until Friday 18 September.
Entry is free and there are voucher prizes for the top three entries in each category.
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Temporary traffic lights will be in use in Butts Green Road, in Emerson Park, between 9.30am and 3pm from Tuesday 15 until Thursday 17 September.
Havering Council will be carrying out overnight carriageway resurfacing work in Petits Lane North in Rise Park between Monday 21 and Wednesday 23 September.
Carriageway resurfacing work is also planned to take place in Launders Lane, Rainham, near the junction with Warwick Lane between 7.30pm on Wednesday 23 September and 6am on Wednesday 24 September, and between 8am and 5pm on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September.
Following those works, North Hill Drive in Romford will be resurfaced with overnight work commencing on 28 September. During this work North Hill Drive will be closed to traffic in both directions with diversions in place.
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On Sunday 13 September, there will be no service on TfL Rail between Liverpool Street and Stratford until 10am.
Use Central line services to continue your journey.
Check before you travel and plan your journey ahead of time.
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