An important message from Havering's Director of Public Health, plus the latest test on road repairs.

Living in Havering masthead with Sapphire centre at night

Friday 16 July 2021  

Cllr White blog masthead Doing my bit left hand image

From Monday (19 July) the legal position on many of the lockdown rules change.

However, Havering Council will continue on a COVID-19 footing to keep our staff and the people we serve, you, safe.

For some this may not be popular, but we need everyone to support this approach when COVID-19 infections in Havering and across the country are rapidly increasing as our latest weekly report shows.

If our staff are impacted by becoming ill, or being required to isolate after coming into contact with infected people, this will affect the services we provide to you and those services will have to stop or be reduced.

We know people want to go back to normal, and so do we, but we need to keep our staff and the public safe.

Please do your bit by continuing to observe the Hands, Face, Space guidance when visiting any of Havering Council's buidlings including libraries, Langtons and the Town Hall.

Wearing masks won't be the law from Monday but we still want you to wear one in our buildings or in other enclosed spaces like shops. TfL have also made the decision that masks will still be required on public transport, including buses and tube trains in London.

It isn't just the immediate risk this month of infection, hospitalisation or death we should worry about. 

Patients with long COVID have reported more than 200 symptoms affecting 10 organ systems, according to a new study led by scientists from University College London and published this week. Although the most common symptoms were fatigue, particularly after physical or mental exertion, and brain fog, many other symptoms were identified. Long COVID leaves people to suffer with no end or cure in sight for their illness.

Isolating legal requirement 495px

All of this means it's down to us to try and protect each other from the spread of the virus.

So we must get vaccinated, test regularly, continue to wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, and keep rooms well ventilated.

Remember that it remains a legal requirement to self-isolate when positive with COVID-19 or when contacted by NHS test and trace. 

See below for more details on vaccinations and testing in Havering. 

Lastly, diversity is a strength as our wonderful national football team showed us recently by reaching the first final in a major tournament for 55 years.

Please don't listen to the hateful minority who use the anonymity of social media to racially abuse our footballers. Now, more than ever, we need to forget any old prejudices and work together to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

If you want to contact me directly, you can email me.

Cllr Damian White

Leader, Havering Council 

Walk in vaccination clininc Fri 16 July 2021

Mark Ansell DMB Living masthead Jan 2021

I encourage all residents to keep doing all the things that have helped keep so many of us safe over the last 18 months.

Those actions, like frequent hand washing and wearing a mask are summarised in our "Swiss cheese" graphic below.

By continuing to follow these practices we limit the transmission of disease and protect residents who may be particularly vulnerable and anxious about the removal of the legal backing for COVID-19 control measures. 

My team of public health professionals will be helping Havering Council carefully risk assess its services in light of the current spike in coronavirus infections before making any changes to keep staff and residents safe. We will be assisting businesses in the borough to do likewise. 

Mark Ansell

Director of Public Health, Havering Council

DMB May 2021 Cheesegrater graphic

Walk right in

Walk in vaccination clinics 17 and 18 July 2021

You can get your COVID-19 vaccine at walk-in clinics at sites in Havering today and tomorrow, as local GPs again run walk-in sessions to meet the demand for vaccines.

You will be asked your name, date of birth and postcode, and it would help if you can provide your NHS number.

If you aren’t able to join the walk-in clinics this weekend, the North East London Health and Care Partnership has published a list of all the places in Havering, and in neighbouring London boroughs, where you can get vaccinated close to your home.

You can also still book appointments online using the national booking system, or by calling 119.

To find out more about the vaccine, visit the vaccine facts website.

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Vaccine volunteers needed

Get tested quick

Rapid testing mini poster Apr 2021

COVID-19 is still with us, and infection rates have shot up in recent weeks in Havering as our weekly COVID-19 report shows.

To help make sure you're not passing on COVID-19 without knowing, regular, twice-weekly rapid testing for people without symptoms is available for everyone in Havering.

You should still use testing even if you have had one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.

You can order a test kit online or pick one up from many places in Havering. Find your nearest testing site and collection point.

If you aren't sure how to do a rapid test at home, visit one of these centres first and be shown by the professionals. You can then take a test kit home with you to use in subsequent weeks. 

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Have symptoms?

It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

DMB hand washing

Hidden Gems banner

Today's hidden gem is the Sensory Blind Garden in Harrow Lodge Park.

This garden will be celebrating its 60th birthday on 22 July.

It is the only walled garden in Havering that is dedicated to the sensory impaired. The flowers, plants and shrubs are all grown with different touch, smell and colours. 

The garden sadly fell into a dilapidated state and was closed for many years but was then taken over by the Havering Volunteer Centre in 2016 and since then it has blossomed into a little colourful gem.

Sensory garden 2021

The garden (pictured) is full of wonderful wildlife, stag beetles, butterflies and recently, hedgehogs.

You will find this hidden gem in Harrow Lodge Park, next to the new leisure centre. 

If you would like your photos or videos to be a part of this campaign, please email your submissions to the Communications Team with "Hidden Gems” as the subject line.


Roads and rails

Road improvement sign June 2019

Road resurfacing work in Cherry Tree Lane in Rainham will continue until  Monday 19 July. During these daytime works the road will be closed to through traffic with diversions in place.

On Thursday 22 July temporary traffic lights will be in use for work by a contractor on behalf of Openreach in Pettits Lane at the junction with Pettits Close in Romford. The signals will be in use between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

The A1306 London Road bridge over the A13 will be closed for inspection and survey work between the Wennington Interchange roundabouts from 9pm on Monday 19 July to 5.30am on 26 July. A diversion route will be provided.

Broxhill Road will be closed between its junctions with North Road and Orange Tree Hill, and Lower Bedfords Road and Noak Hill Road when it is resurfaced between 20 and 23 July. The work will take place between 8am and 5pm and a diversion will be in operation.

Carriageway resurfacing work will take place in Wren Gardens, Romford on 26 July between 8am and 5pm, and also in Catherine Road, Romford on  27 and 28 July, Berkeley Avenue, Romford on 29 and 30 July and Wilton Drive, Romford on 2 and 3 August during the same hours.

Heath Park Road will be closed between its junctions with Princes Road and James Close, and Manor Road closed at its junction with Heath Park Road to allow for sewer repairs. This work will begin on 26 July and may last until the end of August.

Temporary traffic lights will be in operation in South Street, Romford, near Roneo Corner, to allow for Essex and Suffolk Water work between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on Tuesday 3 August.

On the tracks

Due to Network Rail engineering work in connection with the Barking Riverside Project, c2c services will not run on the Rainham line on Sunday 18 July. Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.

c2c train

Also on Sunday rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Pitsea via Ockendon.

District Line tube trains will not run this Saturday and Sunday (17 and 18 July), between Tower Hill and Upminster. Replacement buses will operate.


Summer 2021 meal scheme girl and boy