Friday 24 December 2021
 Merry Christmas to you!
Christmas this year isn't quite as we hoped.
I am sure many of us will be taking a lateral flow test before meeting up with older and vulnerable relatives, and opening the windows a bit more than we would usually do at this time of the year, but a little inconvenience is worth it to keep us and our loved ones safe.
I would like to thank everyone working in social care and the NHS, and those supporting them, this festive season. Particular thanks to everyone involved in supporting the incredible booster vaccination campaign: from medics and nurses, to Armed Forces personnel, to the wonderful volunteers. Many of them are working every day over the holiday season to get jabs in arms and win the race against the Omicron variant.
This week Matthew Trainer, the Chief Executive of our local hospitals, said that eight in ten people currently in intensive care units across north east London with COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated.
On Wednesday (22 December) there were more than two thousand people in London in hospital with COVID-19. That's dramatically up from just over one thousand last week. Coronavirus infections are also rising steeply in Havering as our weekly COVID-19 report published on Tuesday highlighted.
So, as always, the message remains to be careful. Get fully vaccinated, test and wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering in public enclosed spaces, and let fresh air in.
The next edition of this newsletter will be published on New Year's Eve, so until then I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and stay safe.
If you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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Havering Council offices will be closed on 27, 28 and 29 December and 3 January so if you need to contact us urgently, please use our out of hours emergency number, 01708 433999 on those days.
Our coronavirus helpline will be open.
Our website has more information on library opening hours and Christmas tributes in our cemeteries.
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The festive season can be difficult for those in hospital, so our local BHRUT hospitals have updated their visiting guidelines so that patients can see their family members.
On Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, every patient will be able to have one named visitor per day at a time agreed, in advance, with their ward.
Usual visiting restrictions will apply on all other days. Visitors are asked to take a lateral flow test before coming to hospital.
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Getting fully vaccinated is the best way of protecting you and others against COVID-19.
If you are an adult you can book your COVID-19 vaccination appointments online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy.
Vaccination reduces the risk of serious disease, and if you haven’t had the chance to get vaccinated before Christmas, there are slots available to book after Christmas and into the New Year.
Alternatively, you can find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment. Some vaccination clinics in East London will be operating on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
If you cannot book appointments online, you can call 119 free of charge. You can speak to a translator if you need to.
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 Last week more than 3,700 people in Havering were infected with COVID-19. See the full details in the latest Havering COVID-19 report.
Find out if you, or members of your family, are infected by ordering a lateral flow test (LFT) kit online, or pick one up from many places in Havering.
Take a rapid LFT before you attend any social events where you are likely to be mixing with people indoors, and also before going to see anyone who may be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a PCR test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
Isolating after a positive test
People who receive negative LFT results on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period – with tests taken 24 hours apart – no longer have to self-isolate for the full 10 days. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period.
Those who leave self-isolation on or after day 7 are strongly advised to limit close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, work from home and minimise contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID- 19.
There is no change to the government guidance for unvaccinated contacts of positive COVID-19 cases, who are still required to self-isolate for 10 full days after their date of exposure to the virus.
You can check and show your COVID-19 vaccination status, including your booster jab, by using an app.
You can view and download your COVID-19 vaccination status using the NHS App.
You need to create an NHS login to use the NHS App, if you do not have one already.
This app is NOT the NHS COVID-19 app.
The NHS App is available on iOS and Android. To use it you must be aged 13 and over and registered with a GP surgery in England.
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Advertorial
Are you a parent of a child aged three or four?
If so, your child is due to start at an infant or primary school in September 2022 and you should apply now for your child’s place.
If you live in Havering, you can apply online.
If you live outside of the borough you should apply to the local authority you pay your Council Tax to.
If your child attends a school nursery then please remember that you must still apply online for a place in the Reception year.
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Dozens of residents will benefit from more help over the festive period thanks to a gift of more than 30 Christmas boxes from Havering Council’s Community Hub in Harold Hill.
The Christmas boxes, each consisting of quality fresh and non-perishable foods, toys and toiletries, have been supported by Peabody and generous donations from Wates, Madigan Gill, Time FM and local businesses.
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As part of Havering Council's regeneration work in Harold Hill, drop-in events for the public were held recently.
Those events updated residents on proposals for the redevelopment of Harold Hill Town Centre, including Chippenham Road, Farnham and Hilldene Estate, and the Abercrombie Hostel.
The primary focus of these sessions was to explain the improvements needed in the area as a whole, as well as the more detailed design proposals for the redevelopment of Abercrombie Hostel as a new family welcome and medical centre.
Over fifty people attended and the response was overwhelmingly supportive of the plans. A new video has been produced to provide an update for those that couldn't attend the drop-in events.
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The Big London Energy Switch is a way of saving money on your gas and electricity.
Residents group together and then the energy companies bid against each other in an auction to get their custom.
By grouping together residents can get lower tariffs as the energy companies want to get lots of customers in one go and so offer lower tariffs than if an individual customer had contacted them.
To benefit, you need to register.
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On 1 January full customs controls will be introduced for anyone importing goods from the European Union.
HM Revenue and Customs are reminding traders to prepare for changes to customs declarations and border controls.
There will also be changes to rules of origin requirements (for imports and exports), postponed VAT accounting and commodity codes.
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Advertorial
Are you missing out on free childcare for your 2 year old?
You may be entitled to claim a maximum of 11 hours free childcare per week throughout the year, or a maximum of 15 hours per week during term time.
You may qualify if:
- you have a child aged two years (funding will be available from the term after their second birthday)
- your family is living on a low income or claiming income based benefits
For more information and to apply please visit www.havering.gov.uk/earlyyears
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A new free weight loss programme to help local residents develop a healthier lifestyle is due to be launched in January.
Live Healthier Havering is a 12-week programme run by Everyone Active, on behalf of Havering Council.
It is aimed at helping people to lose weight, increase their energy levels and feel better, whilst reducing their risk of diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and strokes.
Residents who are overweight, according to the NHS definition, can join the programme or speak to their GP or practice nurse.
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 The RSPB has organised an adventure trail at Rainham Marshes that is available every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
You can walk a section of the nature reserve to complete the Robin Robin adventure trail. You also have the option to continue around the full circular loop of our nature trail which is 2.4 miles in total.
Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear for your adventure. You can bring binoculars if you would like, or you can always hire them from the RSPB at reception.
The main trail includes access to the main walk, hide and adventure play area. The paths are good hard paths or boardwalks - suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Dogs, other than assistance dogs, are not permitted on this trail.
There is a car park, toilets, cafe and shop at the nature reserve. Find more details online.
The Arts Society Havering holds monthly lectures. The next one is on Tuesday 11 January when Adam Busiakiewicz will be giving a talk titled The Queen of instruments - the lute within Old Master paintings. Find out more online about joining this society.
Aladdin - this year's pantomime at Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch is for everyone. That's why special access performances have been arranged.
At 2pm on Thursday 30 December there's an audio described performance, and later that same day at 6.30pm a British Sign Language interpreted show.
There will also be a relaxed, SEN and autism-friendly performance on New Year's Day at 6.30pm.
Details of these special shows can be found on the Theatre's website.
Havering Museum's photographic group meet on the first Thursday of every month from 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm. It's just £5 to attend and the next meeting is on Thursday 6 January. Send them an email if you want further information.
Thursday 3 February at 2.30pm sees the return of a long-awaited blast from the past packed with singalong tunes, jokes and fun as the Marvellous Music Hall performs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.
This tribute to good old-fashioned East End variety entertainment features regular and new stars, forming part of the Queen’s Theatre’s Magical Matinee series.
Tickets can be booked online. Group discounts available. To book, call the Box Office on 01708 443333. Dressing up is encouraged!
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No Congestion Charge will be applied from tomorrow (Saturday 25 December) until Monday 3 January (inclusive).
From 21 February the operating hours for the Congestion Charge will be 7am to 6pm on weekdays, and midday to 6pm on weekends and Bank Holidays.
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This year, over the festive season, recycling, refuse, clinical and bulky waste collections will be made on the usual collection days.
The only collection service that will see a change is garden waste collections.
Green bin collections will be suspended from tomorrow (Saturday 25 December) until Monday 10 January.
Gerpins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre in Upminster is open every day over the Christmas and New Year period, with the exception of Christmas Day.
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A free wellbeing event for people working in the NHS, and health and social care roles in north east London will be held on Tuesday 18 January between 10am and 4pm.
The event will provide theoretical and practical advice and guidance on recognising the challenges and triumphs of the last 18 months, and burnout and compassion fatigue training.
It will also help health and social care workers support each other with mental health training.
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Road works outside 199 to 241 Rainham Road, Rainham on 5 and 6 January will mean that temporary traffic signals will be used to control traffic.
Water supply connection work in London Road, Romford will mean that temporary traffic signals will be in use from 5 to 11 January.
Work outside the Methodist Church Hall in Hall Lane, Upminster, to replace a telecoms pole will mean 4-way temporary traffic lights will be in use on 6 January.
BT Openreach will be working in Suttons Lane, Hornchurch on 6 January to carry out cabling and duct work. Temporary traffic signals will be used during the day. They will also be working in Front Lane, Upminster on 7 January. Temporary traffic signals will be in place during the cabling work.
Essex and Suffolk Water will be working in the Broadway in Rainham from 7 to 11 January. During this work on a water main, temporary traffic lights will be used. The same company will also be working in Collier Row Lane on Tuesday 25 January, and renewing a water main in Highfield Road, in Chase Cross, between its junctions with Avelon Road and Highfield Link, from 24 January to 18 February.
Temporary traffic signals will be in use in Upminster Road North in Rainham at its junction with King Edward Avenue on Thursday 13 January to allow for sewer cleaning work.
Cadent Gas will be working in Sylvan Avenue, Hornchurch from 17 to 21 January.
On the tracks
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Travel on trains will be affected by planned closures throughout the festive period, from today (Friday 24 December) to Monday 3 January.
Check TfL's Festive travel page for more information.
Tomorrow (Christmas Day) there will be no service on Docklands Light Railway, Greater Anglia, c2c, London Overground, London Trams, London Underground and TfL Rail services.
TfL Rail, c2c, and Greater Anglia will not be running any trains on Boxing Day, Sunday 26 December.
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