 Yesterday I wrote to the boss of Network Rail to protest at that company's actions in cutting down trees alongside the rail line between Romford and Gidea Park and the branch line between Romford and Upminster.
I appreciate that Network Rail has to maintain the railways and ensure their safety and smooth running. However, in this case, local residents, the local MP and the Council are united in condemning this action. The much loved trees not only provide a wildlife habitat, but also help achieve our air quality targets by reducing carbon emissions.
No meaningful consultation took place with residents or any other interested parties and most residents living near these lines were not aware of the planned works until the cutting of trees began.
I have asked Network Rail to halt this work and for a formal meeting to discuss this further.
The NHS is still under enormous pressure with many beds filled with patients suffering from COVID-19. Even if you have recently had COVID-19 - and that's been the case for many thousands of people in Havering - it's still important to get your COVID-19 jabs and the booster. You can get a jab 28 days after your last positive test result (or from the day symptoms started, whichever was later). Two doses of vaccination does not give you enough protection against catching Omicron so you should get the booster too.
Getting COVID and recovering (known as "natural infection") doesn't appear to create protection as strong as that produced after vaccination. Vaccination boosts your antibodies and reduces the risk you'll get re-infected and is the most reliable way to protect you and your loved ones.
See below for details of vaccination centres across Havering that are open over the next three days.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
 Former Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington helped the start of building works for the new Rainham Leisure Centre go swimmingly this week.
The four-time Olympic swimming medallist joined Cllr Viddy Persaud, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure (both pictured centre above), and children from Rainham Village Primary school for the groundbreaking event.
They saw the first spade dug into the ground to mark a significant milestone in the construction of the new state of the art centre, on part of the Rainham Recreation Ground.
The new centre will be built using a modern design and will include a range of facilities such as a six-lane swimming pool, dance and spinning studio and a 72-station fitness suite.
It is expected to be completed and handed over to Everyone Active, the company that runs the leisure centres on behalf of Havering Council, in May 2023, and open to the public shortly afterwards.
Havering's annual Holocaust Memorial Day service will take place in Coronation Gardens, Romford, on Sunday 23 January at 2pm.
The theme for 2022 is One Day.
The actual Holocaust Memorial Day is January 27. That's the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
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Last week more than 4,000 people in Havering were infected with COVID-19, the third highest weekly figure since the start of the pandemic.
Find out if you, or members of your family, are infected by ordering a lateral flow test (LFT) kit online, or picking one up from a pharmacy, asymptomatic testing site or library in Havering. See details on our website.
Take a 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.
If you test positive with a LFT you no longer need to follow-up with a PCR test. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms. should still book a PCR test.
If you take a LFT and it shows you are positive (i.e. have COVID-19) you must self-isolate. The Government announced yesterday that from Monday 17 January you will be able to end that isolation period after five full days, provided you have negative LFT tests on days five and six. The day when you first tested positive counts as “day zero”.
Individuals who are still positive on their lateral flow tests must stay in isolation until they have had two consecutive negative tests taken on separate days.
The default self-isolation period continues to be 10 days, and you may only leave self-isolation early if you have taken two LFTs and do not have a temperature in line with the guidance.
There is no change to the 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.
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Live Healthier Havering is a new 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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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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Havering Council's Health and Sports Development team are looking for enthusiastic sports coaches to join their team.
They are particularly interested in candidates with experience of Latin and ballroom dance, golf, netball, or sport for the disabled.
If you have any questions send the team an email.
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 You can join the RSPB team for a winter wildlife walk at Rainham Marshes.
You don't need to book in advance - you can just go along and pay on the day. Adults £5 (£4 for members). Wear weather-appropriate clothing, and meet at the reception desk in the visitor centre in New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet, RM19 1SZ. The walks are usually two hours long.
Walks will be held on Friday 21 January starting at 10am, and on Sunday 23 January starting at 1pm. Please ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the event start time. See their website for more details and future walk dates.
The Havering Antiques Club meet on the third Friday of each month at the Harold Wood Neighbourhood centre, Gubbins Lane where there is parking available. The 248 and 256 buses stop outside the centre.
The next meeting is on Friday 21 January at 7.30pm. Guests are welcome for a small charge.
Each month the Club has a speaker. Past topics have included metal detecting, globes, posters, and miniatures. Annual Membership is £30. For more information call 07947 367258.
The Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry is hosting a breakfast networking meeting for members on Wednesday 26 January. It starts at 8am and will be held at Bunno,14 South Street, Romford, RM1 1RA.
Breakfast will be provided, and is free attendance for members, £5 for guests. At this meeting Julie Frost from Romford BID and Executive Committee member of the Chamber will update members with news for 2022.
You can reserve a place via Eventbrite.
Romford Town Swimming Club is based at Abbs Cross Everyone Active but members also swim at the Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre in Romford and Central Park in Harold Hill.
Currently it has approximately 300 members ranging from 4 years old to adults. The club offers children the opportunity to learn and to keep fit and active in a safe environment.
Children can start with the Club as a Romford Otter and join the learn to swim pathway which teaches Swim England Levels 1-8. Once these have been achieved swimmers are invited to join the development squad to continue their learning to Level 10.
For more information email either Romford Otters or the Swimming Club.
To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and historic 70 year reign, Havering Council is encouraging residents to commemorate the celebrations by hosting street parties and join in with the ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’.
The Platinum Jubilee celebrations take place over the extended bank holiday weekend commencing on Thursday 2 June.
Further information and guidance on hosting a street party, including the application for a road closure can be found on the Council's website.
The deadline for receiving applications is Thursday 7 April. Applications sent after this date will not be considered.
All road closures are subject to approval, and a traffic management impact assessment.
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The Home Office is hosting two webinars providing an overview of the points-based immigration system for the social care sector.
Brexit ended free movement with the EU and the UK introduced a new points-based immigration system.
The webinars will include new information about the Migration Advisory Committee’s recent recommendation to add care workers and home carers to the Shortage Occupation List and the Health & Care Visa.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Email for more information.
You can sign up online for seminars at 11am on 21 January or 3.30pm on 25 January.
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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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South Street, Romford is closed between its junctions with Clydesdale Road and Rom Valley Way for scaffolding work on Vickers House.
This work is expected to be complete by 4 February. A diversion will be signposted.
Overnight work to modernise the traffic lights at the junction of Pettits Lane, Pettits Lane North and the A12 (Eastern Avenue East) is likely to continue until 12 February.
The Lanes Group will be cleaning sewers in Gubbins Lane at the junction with The Drive today (Friday 14 January). During the work temporary traffic signals will be in use.
Starting on 17 January, Essex and Suffolk Water will be working in Collier Row Road (near the Scout hut), 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.
Essex and Suffolk Water will also be working in Gerpins Lane at its junction with Warwick Lane in Upminster, from 17 to 19 January. Temporary 3-way traffic signals will be used during the work on an underground chamber.
Pipe and manhole work by Thames Water between 105 and 119 Upper Rainham Road in Elm Park will begin on 17 January and may run until 28 January.
The installation of new waste water pipes in Nags Head Lane in Upminster, near the junction with Warley Road will mean that temporary traffic signals will be used until the work is complete. That's expected to be by 27 January.
Angel Way in Romford is closed between its junction with St Edwards Way to Rubicon Court to allow for new building work. The road is expected to re-open by 19 February at the latest.
Telecom ducts and chambers are being installed in St Mary’s Lane at the side of Monks Farm Cottages until January, and also in Hall Lane at the side of St. Kathryn's Place, near Upminster Station, over this weekend (15 and 16 January).
Cadent Gas will be working in Sylvan Avenue, Hornchurch from 17 to 21 January.
From 21 January the southern section of Queen Street in Romford will be closed from its junction with St Andrews Road to allow for demolition and building work.
Heath Park Road and Manor Road in Romford will be closed from 7pm on Friday 21 January to allow access to a manhole in the middle of the road. A diversion will be signposted and the work is expected to be complete by the morning of 24 January.
Lambs Lane South in Rainham will be closed between its junctions with The Glen and Primus Close for electrical work from 8am on Friday 21 January. Work is expected to be complete by 28 January, and a diversion route will be signposted.
Nightime road resurfacing work by Marlborough Highways in Brentwood Road, Romford from Osborne Road to The Drill roundabout will begin on 24 January. The work is expected to be complete by 27 January. Overnight on these days Brentwood Road will be closed in sections to through traffic and diversion routes will be in place.
Following the completion of that work in Brentwood Road, Marlborough Highways will move to Collier Row Lane to complete the resurfacing of a section of carriageway between Havering Road and Rosedale Road on the night of 27 February. During this work Collier Row Lane will be closed to through traffic from the A12 to Mawney Road with diversions in place.
On the tracks
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This weekend (15 and 16 January) there will be no service on the District tube line between Turnham Green and Ealing Broadway. Replacement buses will operate. Trains will also not be stopping at Whitechapel Station.
On Sunday (16 January) between 10am and 11.30pm TfL Rail will be operating a reduced service of four trains per hour between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.
Due to Network Rail engineering work, c2c trains on the Rainham line will not be running this weekend. Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
Due to engineering works on the line between Grays and Pitsea, c2c services on the Ockendon line will start and end at Grays. Rail replacement buses will be in operation between Grays and Pitsea via Ockendon, and Leigh-on-Sea and Shoeburyness.
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