 Poll cards for the local elections to be held on Thursday 5 May have been sent to everyone who is registered to vote.
If you are 18 and you have not received your poll card then you are not registered.
Today (Thursday 14 April) is the last day you can register to vote to take part in the 5 May elections. It only take five minutes and you can do it online up to 11.59pm.
All seats on Havering Council will be up for election on Thursday 5 May.
All Havering residents who are registered to vote in local government elections can take part, including European Union citizens.
Following a review of Havering's electoral boundaries the number of wards in the borough has increased from 18 to 20.
If you vote in person, then your usual place of voting may also have changed.
Please check your poll card carefully for instructions on which polling station you should attend to cast your vote.
The full list of who is standing for election in each of the 20 wards is available on our website.
Havering Council is to provide free parking in all Council car parks across the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
This is to help support local businesses in our high streets and town centres.
Parking fees will be suspended from tomorrow (Good Friday, 15 April) until Monday 18 April inclusive.
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Unfortunately, COVID-19 hasn't gone away.
The Government has published guidance on who can still get free COVID-19 testing.
Vaccinations remain free and are available at vaccination centres, and pharmacies for everyone over the age of five.
See the NHS website for more information on vaccinations, including spring boosters for people aged 75 years old and over, and first vaccinations for children aged five to eleven.
Havering Council's Public Health team produce a monthly report that brings together data from various public sources to provide residents with a clear statement about the coronavirus pandemic in Havering. You can find other up-to-date information on the Government's website.
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Join the free Easter fun and festivities at Romford Market from 10.30am this Sunday, 17 April.
Children can take part in an Easter Egg Hunt trail among the market stalls and meet, greet and get a photo with Peter Rabbit and friends.
To join the Easter Egg Hunt just collect your sheet at the designated stall outside the B&M store.
All children will receive a free Easter egg as part of the hunt.
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Due to the Easter holidays there will be some changes to Havering Council's services.
Libraries in Havering will be closed on Friday 15 and Monday 18 April.
Collections of orange and black sacks, garden waste, clinical and bulky waste will continue as normal on Good Friday (15 April) but there will be changes to collection days next week (beginning Monday 18 April).
See details of these changes on our website.
Please remember to put your orange and black sacks out by 7am on the morning of your revised collection day. Collections return to normal on Monday 25 April.
The Gerpins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre is open every day across the Easter holidays.
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This feature shines a light on local businesses that were winners at the recent Havering Small Business Awards.
This time it's the winner of the "Best Customer Experience" award.
Customer care is vital to the success of a business, and while old phrases like ‘the customer is always right’ might not be the case anymore, it’s important that businesses, especially small and independent ones, maintain good relationships with customers.
The Small Business Awards organisers heard lots of stories during the last year of shops and small businesses going above and beyond to provide great service for customers despite struggles with the pandemic.
The winner of this category was praised not only for their communication with customers, but for their care and passion they show everyone.
The winners were Charlene and Neil Carpenter, owners of Upminster Sports Massage and Pilates Studio. They said that the award meant so much to them because it represented how much effort they put into helping their customers feel better.
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 If you are feeling isolated and would like to meet some new people then the Romford Shopping Hall's friendship group is for you. It’s free to attend - you just pay £1 for refreshments.
The group is made up of a bunch of Havering residents aged 55 plus who love to get out and about. They meet every Thursday morning between 10am and 11am at the Sunrise Café on the first floor of the Shopping Hall. They also hold quizzes, invite speakers and arrange days out.
To find out more call Michelle on 01708 740492, or just turn up.
Children can join in an Easter adventure in nature at Rainham Hall Community Garden.
The National Trust property in Broadway, Rainham is offering nature trails until 18 April.
Find out more about the trails on their website.
Diabetes UK are holding a webinar on the importance of eye-screening for people living with diabetes. It's on Thursday, 21 April from 5pm to 6pm.
Tracy Nobes, from the South West London Diabetic Eye Screening Service, will talk about what to expect at an eye screening appointment and why it's important to attend for screening when invited.
The webinar is being held on Zoom. It is free to attend but you must register beforehand.
A singalong club for young children on the autism spectrum will be held at Harold Hill library between 11.30am and 12.30pm on Saturday 23 April. There will be singing along to live nursery rhymes and the use of sensory toys.
This event is for children aged up to 10 years. Parents can stay with their
children or leave them for the hour under the supervision of a qualified and DBS checked youth leader. For more information on this session, or the following one on Saturday 7 May, contact Harold Hill library on 01708 434973.
Green Streets at Langtons is a group that will meet weekly on Fridays between 10am and 3pm, starting tomorrow, 15 April.
The group meets at the Greenhouse at Langtons and is working towards growing plants on a sustainable basis to then plant around Havering. Members of the group will be creating a herb garden in one part of Langtons, and creating a community garden with fruits and vegetables in another area.
For more information on the group's activities send an email.
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The Hornchurch Passion Play is produced every four to five years on the Green outside the Queen's Theatre.
There was due to be a performance at Easter 2020 but then COVID-19 intervened, so that production will finally be seen this Easter.
You can watch the play for free on 15, 16 and 17 April at 7.30pm.
For more information visit the Hornchurch Passion Play website.
A keep fit music and dance session for those over 50 years old will be held on Wednesday afternoons at St. Laurence Church Hall, Corbets Tey Road, Upminster, starting on 20 April. It's from 2pm to 3.30pm and the first class is free. Everyone is encouraged to work to their own ability and needs.
St Thomas’ Church at Noak Hill has a Communi-Tea Catchup every fourth Saturday of the month between 2pm and 4pm, with the next one on Saturday 23 April.
If you fancy a cuppa and would like to enjoy the company of others and chat, go along to the Church Hall, Church Road, Noak Hill, RM4 1LD. It’s free and there is off-street parking.
The Havering Live Well with Dementia programme is a series of sessions for people who have had a recent diagnosis of dementia, or are in the early stages of their diagnosis.
For further information send the team running the programme an email.
Harold Hill Library at 19a Farnham Road holds Baby Bounce sessions every Tuesday morning during school term time between 10.30am and 11am. Email the library if you would like to know more.
Havering Chamber of Commerce's networking breakfast will be hosted this month at Storm In A Teapot in Collier Row. It's on Wednesday 27 April from 8am to 9.30am. It's free for members, £5 for guests. You can reserve a place online.
To sign up for the Chamber's newsletter, or get more information about the Chamber, send an email.
Gidea Park Bowling Club are holding open days on Sunday 15 and Saturday 28 May from 10am to 4pm at Gallows Corner Sports Ground. The clubhouse will be open and there is off-street parking available.
Come along and have a go - just bring flat soled shoes and club members will show you around. For further information contact Gill on 07790 297413 or Des on 07941 674938, or email the club.
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The Romford Film Festival is preparing for its sixth year, and will run from the 19 to 25 May.
It will screen movies ranging from first-time filmmakers to some of the most established names on the independent film circuit.
Also included in the seven day festival are a number of short films including a short documentary-style film about the history of Collier Row and about the local people and the independent businesses that make it thrive today.
The festival runs at Romford's Premiere Cinema in the Mercury Shopping Centre.
More details on the festival's website.
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For World Earth Day on Friday 22 April, Havering Volunteer Centre (HVC) is planning to carry out ‘flash mob style’ clean ups.
They will be targeting small public areas across Havering and giving them a freshen up.
HVC is looking for extra volunteers to take part so if you're interested contact Rebecca Mazrreku, the HVC's Operations Manager, at Community Reach House, 32-34 The High Street, Romford, call 01708 922214, or send an email.
HVC is also running a colouring poster competition for World Earth Day. The theme is ‘Invest in our Planet’.
Winners will have their designs printed professionally and displayed across the borough in both digital and printed format.
Go to the HVC's website for more details. The deadline for entries is 4pm on 19 April.
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There was good news this week from the cancer alliance in the NHS North East London (NEL) Clinical Commissioning Group - that includes Havering.
It was the top performing area in England when it comes to achieving the Faster Diagnostic Standard for cancer patients.
The target is that 75 per cent of patients will be diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days of being referred by their GP for suspected cancer.
The NEL cancer alliance exceeded this standard in January for the second month running.
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Live Healthier Havering is a free 12-week weight management programme run by Everyone Active, on behalf of Havering Council.
There are new programmes starting this month, and in May.
The courses are 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.
One of the courses to be held at Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre is for men only and starts on 19 April.
Residents who are overweight, according to the NHS definition, can join the courses, or speak to their GP or practice nurse to learn more.
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 Hospital A&E departments and 999 responders frequently experience very high demand but many people using their services can be treated safely and comfortably elsewhere. This would mean that people who need to be seen urgently for life saving treatment could be seen quicker.
If you are feeling unwell and need urgent care there are a number of options for you to consider. It's important that you visit the right service for your needs.
If you feel unwell or have a minor injury, your local pharmacy can offer advice and some medicines. This can help you treat your condition yourself at home. Pharmacists can also help you see the right person, if you need to see someone else.
If you have a more serious illness, you should visit your GP practice website or NHS 111 online for advice. If you cannot access the internet, call 111 or your GP practice directly.
A 999 call should only be used for life-threatening emergencies or serious injuries.
Click here if you need urgent dental care.
You can now retrain, explore a new hobby or improve your career prospects with a free course at New City College.
In response to the cost of living crisis, the College will pay the student’s fee for courses which are co-funded by the Government or GLA.
To claim this discount, you must show the College evidence of your income including any benefits you receive when you enrol. The College has also removed the college membership fee for the remainder of this academic year. (This discount does not apply to full cost and commercial courses).
Courses available range from car maintenance, to pilates to guitar lessons. College campuses include locations in Havering, and there are also distance learning options allowing studying at home.
For more advice and information call 0330 135 9000, or apply online.
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London-based crime drama, Top Boy, returned to Netflix last month for its fourth season.
The story is set in and around the fictional Summerhouse Estate in Hackney, but has been filmed in all sorts of London locations, including some in Havering.
The trap house scenes were filmed in the old Waterloo and Queen Street estate, opposite The Brewery in Romford.
That area is part of the 12 Estates programme, a joint venture between Havering Council and Wates Residential.
The old estate has now been demolished before construction begins on new homes.
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Broadway in Rainham, between the War Memorial and the Phoenix pub, is closed to road traffic until around 23 May while developers Persimmon Homes carry out essential building works on the site of the old Rainham Library.
A number of roads in Upminster including Hall Lane, Station Road, St Mary's Lane and Corbets Tey Road will be briefly closed between 10.15am and 10.30am on Friday 15 April for a Good Friday procession.
Unfortunately, the completion of planned resurfacing works in Melville Road, Rainham, that began on 4 April has had to be postponed while some additional, unexpected work is carried out by Thames Water. Havering Council will be writing to residents to let them know when the works are likely to restart and is sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Carriageway repair work by Marlborough Highways in Lower Bedfords Road, Romford, on 21 April means that temporary traffic signals will be in use on that day.
Randall Road in Hornchurch will be resurfaced between 13 and 21 April, as will Rush Green Gardens, Romford, on Friday 22 and Monday 25 April, Garland Way, Hornchurch, on 22 April and Thorn Lane in Rainham on 27 April.
Lastly, a fire damaged bus shelter in Corbets Tey Road, Upminster will be replaced on 26 April. Temporary traffic signals will be in use during the work.
On the tracks
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Due to Network Rail undertaking overhead line work between Grays and Pitsea on Sunday (17 April) c2c trains on the Ockendon line will start and end their journeys at Grays.
Rail replacement buses will run between Grays and Pitsea via Tilbury.
c2c trains on the Rainham line will not be running this Sunday (17 April). Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays, via Rainham.
Due to Network Rail undertaking track maintenance work between Barking and London Fenchurch Street from 8.40pm on Easter Monday (18 April), c2c trains on the Rainham and Ockendon lines will be diverted to start and end their journeys at London Liverpool Street station.
On Good Friday 15, Saturday 16, Easter Sunday 17 and Easter Monday 18 April, there will be no District line tube train service service between Tower Hill and West Ham, or between Earls Court and Kensington (Olympia).
Jubilee line night tube services will return on weekends from the evening of Saturday 21 May, with Northern and Piccadilly lines returning later this summer.
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