Tuesday 27 July 2021
 Last Friday, I talked about my love for swimming and how important it can be in helping kids stay healthy, so it was great to see Team GB's Adam Peaty win our first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday in the 100m breaststroke. Hours later Tom Dean and Duncan Scott also captured gold and silver respectively in the 200m freestyle event.
Who knows, perhaps we have some budding future Olympians here in Havering, waiting to discover their hidden talents? Remember, we're offering free swimming sessions to all school-aged children this summer, so there's never a better time to get in the pool.
Swimming should be accessible to everyone, so I am really pleased to announce we will also be offering free swimming for attendees at all special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) specific swimming sessions at Havering's Everyone Active leisure centres for the rest of the year. This offer will be in place very soon, so keep an eye on future issues of this Living in Havering newsletter for more details.
Did you notice the Essex Flag outside the Town Hall last week? We raised the flag as part of Historic County Flag Day on Friday 23 July.
Flying the flag serves as a reminder of our rich history and is part of the Government's mission to celebrate traditions that bind our communities together and instil pride in the places we live. To many we are the London bit of Essex as well as the Essex bit of London.
Despite a hugely successful vaccination programme, COVID-19 infection rates are still high in the borough, as shown in our local weekly COVID-19 report. It is essential that we continue to be careful and, I hope, also courteous of everyone around us.
It is still really important that if you believe you have COVID-19 symptoms that you get a free PCR test. There are five locations in Havering alone where you can do this and you can also order a home test kit.
Face coverings are still be required in many places including Havering Council buildings, health premises, and on public transport, so please continue to keep one with you. Put one on if you are in a confined space, or can see that someone else is anxious about being close to unmasked people.
Lastly, if you haven't already done so, please back our campaign and sign our petition to get Highways England to rethink their plan to not offer a local discount for Havering residents using the future Lower Thames Crossing.
Highways England are also holding a public consultation looking for feedback on the new Lower Thames Crossing this Saturday (31 July) at the New Windmill Hall, Upminster, midday - 6pm. You can let them know your opinions in person, or using their online form.
As always, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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Last week we launched 60,000 free swimming sessions for school-aged children during all the school holidays until summer 2022.
The free sessions are available to be booked in advance at Sapphire Ice and Leisure, Central Park Leisure Centre and Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre.
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Over one thousand pupils from 14 schools across Havering have been learning skills to prepare them for their next step in life as part of the Junior Citizens Project.
The project, run by Havering Council and the police, saw pupils taking part in a series of challenges and scenarios to help them cope with everyday life.
Situations included how to travel safely on public transport, to be more aware of drugs and knife crime, water safety and bullying.
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Judges from London in Bloom came to Rainham earlier this month to consider two submissions for this year’s awards.
The showpiece that caught the Judge’s attention was new planting at the two Marsh Way roundabouts close to CEME and Fairview Industrial Park.
Together with the London Riverside Business Improvement District (BID) Havering Council commissioned landscape architects Untitled Practice to create a planting scheme sympathetic to the natural environment. It's designed to provide a haven for insects and wildlife, especially bees.
The second project saw volunteers from the Rainham Allotments and the Rainham BID link up with one thousand green-fingered helpers from the local community, including children from Rainham Primary School, Harris Academy, two Rainham Scouts Groups and the Rainham Parish Church.
Between them they lovingly grew over 500 young plants which have been planted out in new raised beds named the ‘Museum of Garden Escapes’. These flower beds mirror the footprint of the historic Ferry Inn.
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 On Saturday 22 May, local club Hornchurch FC lifted the FA Trophy for the first time in the club's history after winning 3-1 against Hereford in the Wembley final.
To celebrate this amazing achievement, Havering Council has organised an open top bus victory tour.
The bus will be touring Hornchurch on Sunday 8 August, starting at 2pm from the Hornchurch FC stadium.
Celebrate and congratulate the players on bringing the 2020/21 FA Trophy to Havering.
Havering Council has been asked by the Planning Inspector to hold a further consultation on Havering's Local Plan.
This is because the Inspector has proposed some changes known as "Further Main Modifications".
This follows examination hearings that took place in October 2018 and May 2019, and a consultation on what were known as the "Main Modifications" to the Local Plan carried out in September and October last year.
One of the ‘Further Main Modifications’ looks at parking provision in the borough. Havering Council has argued that the parking standards imposed by the Mayor of London are not appropriate for this part of London.
Residents can read the dialogue between the Council and the Planning Inspector on this issue, and more about the history of Havering's Local Plan and previous comments on the Local Plan examination page on our website.
You now have the chance to comment on these further changes in a consultation that is open until 26 August.
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Wates Residential are recruiting.
As part of the terms of the joint venture Wates have agreed with Havering Council to redevelop 12 estates across the borough, a number of jobs will be reserved for local residents.
The roles Wates Residential are looking to fill include qualified plumbers, electricians, store person, labourers, administrative apprentices, electrical apprentices and a plumbing apprentice.
Think that could be you, or someone you know? To apply email a CV to recruitment@esgplc.com
The closing date for applications is 4 August.
If you need help with your CV writing skills, please visit the employment section of the Havering Community Hub where you can get help to perfect your CV.
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 Today's Havering Hidden Gem combines natural beauty and local history.
Hornchurch Country Park is part of what used to be RAF Hornchurch, one of the most famous Battle of Britain fighter stations.
To find out more about the history of the airfield you can join a heritage walk organised by Havering Museum.
The walk, led by Peter Owen (pictured) on Wednesday 15 September begins at 10.15am and will last approximately two hours.
It will visit a number of sites of the old airfield fortifications against enemy attack. Just one example of this is pictured below.
You can see and hear more details about the walk in Peter's short video and sign up via Havering Museum's website.
Havering Museum itself is now open two days a week on Wednesday and Fridays from 11am till 5pm, last entry is 4pm.
If you are making a special visit to the Museum in High Street, Romford, the volunteers who run it advise that you phone first. They are running the Museum with a smaller team of volunteers than usual and if some of them get asked to isolate they may not have enough staff to open safely.
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 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.
Residents and business owners in Harold Hill are being encouraged to share their views on proposed plans for Farnham and Hilldene shopping area.
The site is part of the 12 Estates housing project across Havering.
The joint venture partnership between Havering Council and Wates Residential is working on the neighbouring Chippenham Road development, with Havering Council delivering the Farnham and Hilldene scheme directly.
A series of ‘meet the developer’ sessions are being held at the new Harold Hill Community Hub, Chippenham Road, where you will be able to meet representatives from the Council and design consultants working on plans for the site.
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 Every week Havering Council publishes a report on coronavirus in the borough on its website.
It includes data on infection rates and testing, as well as the vaccine roll-out. It also compares the success of that programme in Havering with other parts of London and the rest of the country.
The graph above is taken from the report. It shows the number of Havering residents testing positive for coronavirus each week since 6 March last year.
There were 939 cases reported in the last week, 33 less than the previous week.
This corresponds to an incidence rate on 23 July of 362 new cases per 100,000 population. This is slightly lower than the London (365/100,000) and the whole of England (399/100,000) figures. There has been a very large increase in the incidence rate in Havering since the beginning of June.
Sadly, a total of 925 people in Havering have now died with COVID-19.
Vaccines
The latest data shows that by 18 July more than 77 per cent of all adults in Havering have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
More than 60 per cent of all adults in Havering have now received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Hospitals
As of 24 July there were 54 inpatients admitted due to COVID-19 to our local hospitals.
The trust that runs those hospitals, BHRUT, also publishes weekly data on the number of patients it is treating.
The Government also provides daily COVID-19 data broken down by town or even postcode level. For example, you could check the data for the RM7 7EP part of Romford.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has completed its Electoral Review of Havering's ward arrangements.
There will be an increase of wards from 18 to 20, which results in changes to the current ward boundaries and the Polling Districts within them.
As a consequence, Havering Council has to conduct a review of polling districts and the location of polling places and stations for use at both national and local elections, in order to mirror the changes to the ward boundaries.
You can now comment, by email, on the existing and proposed arrangements.
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South Essex Crematorium's inter-denominational memorial service will be held on Sunday 31 October at 3pm in St. Edward the Confessor Church, Romford Market Place.
It's an opportunity to join in a shared act of remembrance. Anyone who has lost a loved one during the last eighteen, difficult months is welcome.
The service will be led by Fr. David Simpson and attended by the Mayor of Havering.
On arrival you will be offered a candle and during the service you will be invited to take part in the Act of Remembrance by bringing your candle to the front of the church where you can light it and place it with others.
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At the end of this month Thames Chase are embarking on their first outdoor theatre event, bringing the Pantaloons performance of the family classic tale Wind in the Willows to Upminster.
The Essex-based Pantaloons Theatre Company will be putting their own anarchic spin on Kenneth Grahame’s classic countryside caper, suitable for the whole family.
The performance takes place at Thames Chase (RM14 3NS) on Friday 30 July at 6pm. The performance is outside, and will take place in nearly all weathers, so dress accordingly.
Ticket information is available online.
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On Thursday 29 July, from 10 to 11am there's a Wild World Heroes children’s event called Upcycling and Living Kitchen.
In this online session award-winning author Michael Holland will show children some great and fun ways to reuse ‘rubbish’ and turn them into new things.
He'll also talk about why it’s a good idea to reduce what we throw away and introduce the children to some of his recycling heroes.
He’ll also show some simple ways to grow seeds that are easily found in your kitchen cupboards and fridge into beautiful houseplants.
It's free to attend. Email to book a place.
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Havering Active's Summer Holiday Sport and Activities Programme has also begun.
There is a huge range of activities for people of all ages this summer, from athletics and football, to dance classes and para sports.
Bookings and registrations are open. Visit the Havering Active website to view the events calendar and sign up.
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Yesterday, Public Health England launched the latest Better Health campaign, to encourage adults to lose any excess weight, eat more healthily and get active this summer.
The new campaign offers free support and guidance to those working towards a healthier weight.
There are a variety of NHS endorsed apps that can help you eat better and get active this summer, including the newly updated NHS Weight Loss Plan app.
New research suggests that those who used and followed the NHS Weight Loss Plan app over 12 weeks, reported a loss on average of almost a stone (5.8kg).
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