Friday 20 August 2021
 As part of our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Havering Council wants to hear from residents, businesses and visitors about how we can improve our local town centres.
We want to enhance their look and feel, and encourage shoppers back to our local businesses following the pandemic.
Now is an opportunity for you to have your say on how we can make our town centres more attractive places to visit.
I want these changes to be led by the people that use these spaces most. As such, we need local businesses, residents and the wider community to share their ideas. Read the article below and please comment online.
To help keep this awful coronavirus in check we must keep on doing our bit.
Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing we, and now our children aged 16 or over, can do to help us all get our lives back on track. Vaccination can help make sure that the start of school or college in a few weeks' time doesn't provide an opportunity for a resurgence in COVID-19 cases in Havering.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Havering Council wants to hear from residents, businesses and visitors about how we can improve and revitalise five of our town centres.
Have your say on how we can make Collier Row, Elm Park (pictured), Hornchurch, Rainham and Upminster town centres healthier, greener, safer and more attractive places to visit.
We want to enhance the look and feel of our great town centres, and encourage shoppers back to local businesses following the pandemic.
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Free swimming sessions for school-aged children are available during all the school holidays until summer next year.
The free swimming sessions are available to be booked in advance at Sapphire Ice and Leisure, Central Park Leisure Centre, and the recently opened Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre that includes a 25-metre, eight-lane swimming pool and a 20-metre-wide learning and diving pool.
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It's a statutory requirement for Havering Council to have a Local Plan, which ensures that any development in Havering is shaped by local residents, businesses and organisations.
It provides residents with certainty about the development strategy and future land uses within our borough.
A further consultation on Havering's Local Plan was requested by the Planning Inspector to take into account what are known as "Further Main Modifications" around parking and home-building.
This consultation is open until Thursday, 26 August.
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People aged 16-17 can now get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves, and those around them.
Young people can book their vaccine on the national booking system, by calling 119.
They can also use local vaccination sites and walk-in clinics in Havering, including a walk-in clinic at Roneo Corner on Monday (see below).
If you are aged 16 or 17 you do not need to come with a parent or guardian, but please bring proof of age.
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If you’re a clinically extremely vulnerable person and unsure of what you can and can’t do now that lockdown has ended, support and advice is available online.
If you’re struggling with social isolation and would like some support, contact Havering Council's COVID-19 hotline on 0800 368 5201 during office hours or at weekends for emergencies. Or visit the Community Hub.
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COVID-19 infection rates are still high in Havering as our weekly COVID-19 report shows.
To help make sure you're not passing on coronavirus without knowing, use rapid testing at home 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.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
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If you’re fully vaccinated or under 18, you don't now have to self-isolate following close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Young people and double vaccinated individuals identified as close contacts will continue to be advised to take a PCR test, to detect the virus and variants of concern.
Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status.
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If you haven't yet entered this year's Havering in Bloom competition, there's still time.
By taking part, you will be helping to make the borough a bright and attractive place to live, work, visit and go to school.
There are six categories for you to choose from ranging from 'Best Front Garden' to 'Tallest Sunflower'. There is also an award for best school display.
The closing date for entries is Friday 10 September. Entries can be submitted by email.
Judging will be completed at the end of next month and the winners will be announced shortly afterwards.
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Havering’s Housing Service is holding the last of its current series of community roadshows this Tuesday in Harold Hill.
The event, takes place at Hitchin Close between 11am and 3pm on 24 August.
It will provide the opportunity to speak to staff from across different services, receive advice and support regarding queries you may have if your are a Council tenant or leaseholder, and give you the chance to feedback on how Havering Council engages with residents.
The roadshow is weather permitting.
If you can't make this date, Havering Council would still like your views on its engagement strategy for tenants and leaseholders living in Council managed homes.
You can give your views online.
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Sue (pictured on the left) and Jackie can be seen tending to their plots at Rainham Allotments when they're not helping other plot holders and various community groups such as Avalon House and Playways Nursery.
They are hoping to expand the allotments further by creating more plots and outdoor community events.
Plans are also underway to have a sensory garden, picnic area, outdoor stage and growing zones that are inclusive of all abilities. Jackie is also Secretary to the Hornchurch and District Allotment and Gardening Society that covers 15 sites in total.
Together Jackie and Sue organise Rainham’s London and Britain in Bloom entries which have achieved Gold awards over the past three years.
This coming Bank Holiday Monday, the dynamic duo have arranged a fun day at Harris Academy, complete with fun fair rides, bouncy castles, outdoor cinema and stalls.
You can follow them on Facebook for all the information on their upcoming events.
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Havering Adult College provides an opportunity to develop your professional and personal skills.
It offers a variety of accredited and non-accredited courses to strengthen your core English, maths and ICT abilities.
It also offers creative courses in textiles, fashion, food and drink, floristry, gardening, plus mental and physical first aid.
In addition, there are courses to look after your wellbeing and to help and support families with difficulties.
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 Havering Arts Festival Online will be promoting and celebrating arts and cultural activity across the borough throughout the summer.
Local artists, performers and arts organisations are invited to contribute content and opportunities for people of all ages.
To share your event as part of 2021’s Festival, please email arts@havering.gov.uk
The October lecture for The Arts Society, Havering, will be held on 12 October at 10am at New Windmill Hall, St Marys Lane, Upminster, RM14 2QH.
The subject will be the work of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Originally a Dutch painter, he settled in London in 1870 and spent the rest of his life here. A
classical-subject painter, he became famous for his depictions of the luxury and decadence of the Roman Empire.
The talk will be given by Daniel Robbins and is open to members and guests. It's just £8 to attend. Find out more on the Arts Society's website.
Every Wednesday morning between 10am and midday from 8 September to 13 October children can join the RSPB for nature exploration and adventure in their Woodland Discovery Zone at Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve, New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1SZ.
These events are suitable for any child who can walk confidently (guide age: 18 months to five years). One parent or carer can accompany their child. There is no charge for the parent or carer, or for accompanying younger siblings up to 18 months old.
Find out more online.
You can access support every week at the Rainham Pop-up Hub.
It's available on Wednesdays between 10am and 12.30pm at Rainham Library.
the Hub can provide you with advice and support on Council housing issues, including repairs that need resolving, paying household bills and managing debt, supporting a child who has additional needs, or improving your health and wellbeing.
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A week on Monday, 30 August, is the late Summer Bank Holiday.
As a result, refuse and recycling collections that week will follow a revised schedule for all properties, except for residents living in blocks of flats.
The Council's refuse and recycling collection contractor, Serco will collect bins from flats on their normal collection days during the week commencing 30 August.
See below for details of collections from houses.
Heath Park Road is closed between its junctions with Princes Road and James Close, and Manor Road is closed at its junction with Heath Park Road to allow for sewer repairs. This work may last until the end of August.
Glamis Drive in Hornchurch will be closed between its junctions with Glebe Way and Westland Avenue from 8am until 5pm until 23 August as the road is resurfaced.
Wilfred Close in Rainham will be closed at its junction with Ellis Avenue between 8am and 5pm from 24 to 25 August for carriageway resurfacing work. Ellis Avenue will also be closed at its junction with Wennington Road, and Findon Gardens and Pallister Drive will be closed at their junctions with Ellis Avenue to facilitate these works.
On Monday 23 August between 10am and 3pm a wooden telegraph pole will be replaced in Moray Close, Rise Park, and on Tuesday 31 August, Bowden Drive and Inskip Drive in Hornchurch will be closed to through traffic between 8am and 5pm as carriageway resurfacing takes place.
Part of Balgores Lane in Romford wil be resurfaced between 1 and 3 September. Work will take place between 9.30am and 3pm each day. During the work the road will be closed between Station Road and The Drill roundabout to through traffic with diversions in place.
Link Way in Hornchurch will be resurfaced between 6 and 9 September. Work will take place between 8am and 5pm and during these road works the road will be closed to through traffic with diversions in place.
Roneo Link in Hornchurch will be closed overnight between 7.30pm and 6am from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 September for carriageway resurfacing. Diversions will be in place.
Be aware
The Vitality Big Half marathon will take place on Sunday 22 August. As a result, there will be a number of road closures throughout Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich, from as early as 6am until 4pm in some areas. Plan ahead and use alternative routes as delays are expected.
On the tracks
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On the District line there will no service between Tower Hill and West Ham this weekend (21 and 22 August).
Tickets will be accepted on enhanced local bus route 238 between Stratford and East Ham.
Rail replacement buses will run between Tower Hill and Barking.
Transport for London (TfL) is warning customers that planned strike action by the RMT union next week will cause severe disruption across the Tube network if it goes ahead.
The action, which is due to begin on Tuesday 24 August, would mean a significantly reduced service on all Tube lines for most of the week, and that journeys may need to be completed early on some days.
Further information will be available ahead of, and during, the strike on the TfL website.
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Due to Network Rail engineering work in connection with the Barking Riverside Project, c2c train services will not be running on the Rainham line this Saturday and Sunday (21 and 22 August).
Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
Also on Sunday, due to Network Rail undertaking overhead line maintenance work between Grays and Pitsea, Ockendon line services will start and end at Grays.
Rail replacement buses will run between Grays and Pitsea via Tilbury.
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