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Monday 14 September 2020
 From today social gatherings are limited to a maximum of six people indoors and outdoors. This is not a choice or informal advice: it is against the law to break that ‘rule of six’.
The new rules come as cases of COVID-19 sadly continue to rise. To keep each other safe, help businesses stay open, and avoid further restrictions you must, without exception, follow the hands, face, space advice:
- Wash your hands regularly in soap and water for 20 seconds
- Wear a face covering indoors and on public transport
- Keep two metres of space between yourself and other people wherever possible.
This simple advice will protect all of us from catching or spreading coronavirus to friends and family.
Throughout this crisis Havering has shown so much resilience, civic pride and community spirit. I know we can do it again.
Despite what some claim on social media, COVID-19 is a real virus that has already killed 900,000 people around the world and more than 41,500 here in the UK. More than 270 families in our borough are dealing with coronavirus-related bereavement. I want our actions in coming weeks to prevent as much as possible any of that pain being felt by more families in Havering.
Catching COVID-19 is much worse than the flu. 54 cases were reported in Havering last week, an increase of 17 cases compared to the previous week. The risk of a significant resurgence in our borough is clear.
You might be quite confident that COVID-19 won’t have significant impacts on you personally, but your actions can either save lives or put them at risk. It is likely that we will see the increased number of cases translate into more people becoming very ill unless we take action now.
Do the right thing, don't run the risk of a £100 fine and make sure you’re #DoingMyBit to protect those around you who may be more vulnerable.
Last week at short notice we provided space in South Hornchurch for a new test centre. You can find out how to book a test at that site below. I know the quick turnaround in the Government’s provider Deloitte getting the site up and running led to a number of concerns within the local community and we’ve demanded that Deloitte take action to make sure they respond to those concerns.
See our website for more information on how you can be a part of our #DoingMyBit campaign to help keep us all safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Coronavirus testing is available in Romford and Rainham.
The Rainham test centre is at the Council-owned Cherry Tree Lane car park off Rainham Road in South Hornchurch.
However, this centre is not run by Havering Council. It is run by Deloitte for the Department of Health and Social Care. It is a ‘walk-through’ not "walk-in" testing site so you should still book an appointment before attending.
From today (Monday 14 September) it will be open seven days a week between 8am and 8pm. It will remain open for as long as it is needed.
This new testing centre is in addition to the regular testing centre in the car park at the rear of the Town Hall in Romford. (The testing is in the car park so please do NOT go into the Town Hall or Central Library buildings).
Testing will be available in Romford between 10.30am and 3.30pm on 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.
Before you attend either test centre please make an appointment. You may find that a home test kit delivered in the post is more convenient than a visit to a testing centre.
If you do chose to visit a testing centre, avoid using public transport to get there. Walk to the testing centre or use a car if possible.
The majority of results for tests are delivered the day after the test is taken.
If you are getting a test because you have symptoms, you and anyone you live with must stay at home until you get your result.
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The limits on the number of people you can see socially have changed.
From today (Monday 14 September), when meeting friends and family you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with) you must not meet in a group of more than six, indoors or outdoors.
The police will have the powers to enforce these legal limits, including to issue fines (fixed penalty notices) of £100, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £3,200.
There are a number of exceptions to the "rule of six", for example for supervised activities provided for children, weddings and funerals.
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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 until 27 September.
Once booked, you will be able to pick up the equipment from the Council’s Harrow Lodge Depot in Hornchurch Road.
To book email: environmental.maintenance@havering.gov.uk.
The Council’s street cleaning team will collect the litter following any events.
Next month the Friends of North Thames Estuary will be holding another litter-pick.
They will meet at the Concrete Barges, Rainham RM13 9YQ, from 10.30am to 2pm on Saturday 24 October.
The group will be walking at least one mile collecting river rubbish along the foreshore and from the reed beds.
Equipment will be provided but if you have your own equipment – litter picker, bag hoop, gloves – please bring them along.
Dress for the weather conditions and bring along your own hand sanitiser, face covering, and drinking water. There will be no facilities available to use at the site.
There are 10 spaces available. Due to COVID-19, pre-booking is required.
Please contact Steve Catchpole (litterpickingsteve@outlook.com) if you would like to attend or need more information.
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Most families have experienced upheaval in their daily lives during the pandemic.
With children and young people now back at school or college, Public Health England (PHE)’s new Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign provides NHS endorsed tips and advice to look after children and young people’s mental wellbeing.
The advice available on the Better Health - Every Mind Matters website has been developed in partnership with leading children and young people’s mental health charities.
It is designed to help parents and carers spot the signs that children may be struggling with their mental health and show the actions they can take to support them.
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As part of National Children’s Art Week Havering Council's fostering team held their first art competition this summer.
There were two categories; under 18’s and over 18’s.The art came in many forms, including poetry, music and painting.
If you believe you could support a child or young person develop their creative side, grow their self-esteem and support them to reach their goals in life then fostering could be for you.
In Havering we are always looking for Foster Carers from all walks of life to support children to be the best version of themselves.
Call today for more information about fostering: 01708 434574.
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Due to the establishment of a new coronavirus testing facility in the Council-owned Cherry Tree Lane car park off Rainham Road in South Hornchurch, that car park is now out of use.
We expect the site to be in use as a test centre for up to six months.
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.
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Public Health England has produced advice on how you can help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in a number of different languages.
The guidance is available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Urdu, and English.
We all have a role to play in reducing the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The actions outlined in this guidance will reduce your chance of catching COVID-19 or passing it on to others.
If appropriate, please share this information with friends, family or neighbours who may find this hepful.
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Havering Council's Local Land Charges service maintains the statutory Local Land Charges Register.
The team is currently experiencing a high volume of searches, which has meant that the estimated return time for official searches has increased to 12-15 working days.
To reduce this turnaround time, a decision has been taken to focus on completing searches. This means the team is unable to answer any phone or email enquiries from the public regarding the current status of any searches.
Instead, we ask that you help to reduce the turnaround time by contacting your solicitor, estate agent, search provider or other third party representative directly if you have any questions regarding progress.
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HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has written to VAT-registered businesses in Great Britain trading with the EU and/or the rest of the world, highlighting actions they need to take to continue trading with the EU from 1 January 2021.
The letters explain what businesses need to do to prepare for new processes for moving goods between Great Britain and the EU from 1 January 2021, including:
- making sure they have a UK Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number
- deciding how they will make customs declarations
- checking if their imported goods are eligible for staged import controls.
These actions will not change regardless of the outcome of the Government’s negotiations with the EU.
Businesses can keep up to date with these changes by registering for HMRC’s email updates.
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 Havering Music School has re-started music lessons for adults and children.
They welcome beginners, those who want to continue, or just brush up their skills.
Lessons available include singing, piano, violin, sax, and most orchestral instruments. All lessons take place online via Zoom at the moment.
Recorded playing separately, tutors from Havering Music School have come together to perform their own special piece for the borough,called The Rainbow Connection.
During the coronavirus pandemic there are some people using the situation to steal your personal data, scam you out of your money, or lead you to click on websites designed to install viruses or spyware on your PC, tablet or phone.
The latest scam we are are aware of involves letters that pretend to come from Havering Council offering recipients the chance to avoid paying Council Tax.
The letter (pictured below) carries a Havering Council logo but is NOT from Havering Council.
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It asks recipients to click on a bogus website.
Do not do that, or share any information with that website.
As is often the case with these scam letters there are some tell-tale signs that it is not genuine that you should look out for:
Poor grammar: "starting with the 26th of August".
Poor layout: Address and reference details not aligned with the body of text in the letter.
Fake website address: Havering Council's website is www.havering.gov.uk and the Government website is www.gov.uk.
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The exhibition of London's largest ever Bronze Age hoard, found in Havering, is now on show.
Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery is at the Museum of London Docklands.
The exhibition puts the 453 tools, weapons and other objects that make up the entirety of the hoard on display to the public for the very first time.
The exhibition runs until 18 April 2021 and is free with a timed entry ticket to the museum.
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Brookside Theatre are looking for local male performers to join the cast of their forthcoming Christmas production of The Wizard of Oz.
This much-loved show features all of the classic songs including ‘We’re Off To See The Wizard’, ‘The Merry Old Land Of Oz’, and, of course, ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’.
Following on from the first set of auditions, the theatre are keen to hear from talented and enthusiastic adult male performers well as boys aged six plus (maximum height 5ft 2ins) to take on various roles.
Rehearsals commence Sunday 27 September at the Brookside Theatre in Romford and anyone interested in joining the cast should email auditions@brooksidetheatre.com for more information. (Rehearsals are socially distanced).
The show will run from 9 - 23 December 2020.
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