Our winter crews have been out across the borough this week as temperatures dropped below zero and snow arrived.
Gritters have covered over 1,500 miles so far this week, using over 300 tonnes of salt.
Street cleaning staff have also been out daily, salting pavements around schools, sheltered housing, bus stops and many other areas where residents need to get about.
After focusing on main routes, the teams have worked to help clear other roads to assist emergency services and waste crews.
While temperatures are set to slowly rise this weekend, there is still a yellow warning which may bring snow flurries and ice, plus heavy frost and fog.
Keeping warm
If you're worried about the cost of keeping your home warm all day long, you can take advantage of the warm spaces we have set up with partners across the borough.
These include libraries, community centres and many shops and business. Take a look at our full warm spaces list for times and locations, and the Cost of Living Support Page for advice on tackling the rising cost of living this winter.
|
Havering Council and Wates Residential Joint venture laid on a free Christmas lunch last week to thank volunteers for their work over the past year.
Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Lead for Development and Regeneration, joined Council officers and colleagues from Wates Residential to serve lunch to Salvation Army volunteers – the first festive get-to-together of this kind since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The event saw volunteers from the Council, Wates Residential and The Salvation Army cook and serve meals to 55 local volunteers from The Salvation Army in Romford.
Wates Residential colleagues working across the borough have also been assisting the Salvation Army with their Christmas present collection. More than 100 gifts were donated by workers across the Havering sites to help provide gifts for children this year.
|
The Havering Place Based Partnership, a collaboration between Havering Council and local voluntary sector, health, care and community organisations, has launched a new funding grant to support residents.
The Community Chest grand fund is open to all small to medium-sized charities, voluntary and community groups, faith and social enterprise (VCFSEs) organisations operating in Havering, that provide services and activities that support residents' health and wellbeing.
This is a pilot programme to support the VCFSEs to deliver activities for community members around specific needs directly linked to health inequalities that have been identified across the borough.
VCFSEs can apply for up to £10,000 in funding from the Community Chest.
The key themes identified for the grants include activities related to the list below, however we welcome applications from new and innovative ideas.
- Cost of living
- Learning difficulties and disabilities
- Long term conditions
- Mental health.
For guidance about the Community Chest Grant including eligibility, please visit our website to download the pack.
The deadline to apply for a grant is Tuesday 10 January 2023 at 5:30pm. All projects must start before Friday 31 March 2023, but can continue past this date.
|
Havering Council’s Cabinet has agreed to award its waste collection and street cleaning service to a new contractor.
Following a standstill period after awarding the contract, the name of the new service provider will be announced in early January 2023, with the new contract starting on Sunday 30 July 2023.
The new contractor will take on the current in-house street cleansing service, as well as the existing outsourced waste and recycling and weed control services.
The agreement will also include the green garden waste service, fly-tipping clearance, graffiti cleaning and collection of clinical and bulky waste.
The agreement will also include the green garden waste service, fly-tipping clearance, graffiti cleaning and collection of clinical and bulky waste.
|
We are supporting Havering police in reminding residents to keep their cars protected from thieves this winter.
Advice ranges from locking your vehicle not just when parked outside your home, but also when you are filling it up at the petrol station.
There is also information about what security devices you can fit in your vehicle, to help deter thieves.
East Area Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, for Havering, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham, said: “We recognise the impact that vehicle crime can have on our community.
“The Havering Joint taskforce, along with my teams from emergency response and neighbourhood police officers, are working hard day and night in areas that have recently been blighted by vehicle crime.
“We would like to ask residents to take a look at the advice to help them keep their vehicles safer. We also encourage them to report any information they may have, so we can look to catch those responsible and also just as importantly, work towards preventing this crime as much as possible.”
|
Congratulations to Coopers’ Company and Coborn School in Upminster which has been named as the highest performing comprehensive school in London in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2023.
The school is now ranked 77th in the top 100 state secondary schools in the country, having jumped 131 places in the national rankings.
|
Vaccination UK are hosting catch-up vaccine clinics for school-aged children that have missed a vaccine.
There is still one catch-up clinic left, which will take place on Tuesday 20 December, 10am - 2pm at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane RM11 1AX.
The full list of possible missed vaccinations include:
- Flu Vaccinations - Reception to Year 6
- HPV - Year 8 to Year 13
- DTP & Meningitis ACWY - Year 9 to Year 13
- MMR - Reception to Year 13
- Polio Booster - 6 to 9 Years Old
If you would like to attend, please email Vaccination UK at appointments@v-uk.co.uk or call 0203 343 2400
|
 More than 3,000 people have now taken part in our budget consultation. If you haven’t already, It’s not too late for you to have your say on our budget proposals for 2023.
Please visit the consultation page below, take a look at the proposals, and help us to understand how they will impact you.
 To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
Havering Changing is hosting a free Winter Warmer event in Rainham Hall tomorrow (Saturday 17 December), 12noon - 4pm.
Make your own festive headband garland and snazzy snowman, try your hand at some festive floristry and create a colourful collage using winter-themed materials.
Listen to the magical and soothing sounds of Musicians Muqi Li playing the Guzheng, a 21-string, Chinese harp and Manuel Jimenez playing the Mbira, a traditional Zimbabwean instrument and enjoy the delicious, warm food boxes from around the world by CREM Kitchen. Book online.
Havering Singers are hosting their Christmas Concert 2022 at Holy Cross Church, Hornchurch, on Saturday 17 December, 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Come along and listen to the choir sing popular carols, and maybe join in on a few yourself. Book tickets online, or by calling 07342 883211.
Fairkytes Arts Centre is hosting a Christmas Personalised crafts. Bookings are now open for our festive craft activities. Come along and join us in making some personalised Christmas decorations on Friday 23 December between 10am - 12noon. Sessions are for ages 5 and over at a cost of £6pp. Book now- Events Calendar - Havering Active.
Join Fairkytes Arts Centre for personalised Christmas decoration and card making on Friday 23 November, 10am to 12noon. Sessions are for ages 5 and up, and cost £6 per person. Book online.
|
 The Elf Car Experience comes to Havering from Tuesday 20 December. The experience features a free fun photo booth and a control centre where children can FaceTime Father Christmas. Check out the video now.
Times and dates as follows:
- Tuesday 20 December - Outside Costa Coffee in the Brewery (10am-4pm)
- Wednesday 21 December - South Street at the junction with Arcade Place (10am-4pm)
- Friday 23 December - South Street at the junction of Market Place, High Street and North Street (10am-4pm)
- Friday 23 December - Romford Market, by Tollgate House (10am-4pm)
- Saturday 24 December - Romford Market, by Tollgate House (10am-3pm).
Events for 2022 are sponsored by Romford Business Improvement District.
Havering Active are hosting a series of Christmas events for all ages across the borough, including a Rainham Reindeer Trail, Para Active Christmas fun, ice skating and more. See the Havering Active website for more details, and to book a place on any of their activities.
If you're aged 55 and over, why not head to Havering Indoor Bowls Club on the last Friday of every month for Tea, Cake and Chat? Don't sit at home, head along to keep warm, meet new friends, and socialise with fun events like bingo, arts and crafts, and a raffle.
The next event is Friday 30 December from 1:30pm to 4pm. Entry is just £5, and you can email Lauren for more.
There's still time to visit Havering Christmas Land at Harrow Lodge Park this year.
Presented by Havering Mind, and taking place in the gated 'Secret Garden for the Blind' beside Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre, this festive event is a treat for the whole family.
Guests can walk the Christmas walkway, featuring lights and decorations as far as the eye can see, visit Santa in his grotto, ride the Christmas attractions and grab some great food. All the money raised goes to supporting Havering Mind's community work.
Havering Christmas Land is open on selected dates through to Friday 30 December. Book you place online.
|
There will be no access to visitors by vehicle into Bedfords Park on Monday 19, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 December, due to road improvement works. This includes from The Drive and Broxhill Road and the car park will be closed during the works.
Parts of Helmsdale Close will be closed for a street party on Wednesday 21 December between 3pm and 8pm. The road will be closed from numbers 9 to 31, with access to Isbell Gardens available.
Market Place Car Park in Romford remains closed until 9pm on Christmas Eve, for the Christmas in Romford Market events.
As part of the Christmas events, Market Link is closed from its junction with Ducking Stool Court. There is no parking, waiting or loading in Market Link, Ducking Stool Court and parts of The Mews.
Public transport
|
Rail unions have been on strike this week as the dispute over pay and working conditions continues.
The strike is scheduled to continue tomorrow, Saturday 17 December, causing major disruption to train timetables on Greater Anglia and c2c services and a likely knock-on effect on other services.
A bespoke service will be in place on c2c lines, running on the following routes and frequencies:
- two trains per hour Fenchurch Street – Stanford-le-Hope calling at all stations via Rainham and Tilbury
- two trains per hour Fenchurch Street – Grays calling at all stations via Ockendon
- West Horndon, Laindon, Basildon, Pitsea, Benfleet, Leigh-on-Sea, Chalkwell, Westcliff, Southend Central, Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness will NOT BE SERVED by trains on this day and no rail replacement services will run.
The first trains will start much later than usual and the last trains will finish much earlier.
Sunday’s service (Sunday 18 December) will start later as a result of the industrial action on the previous day.
There will also be a reduced timetable on Greater Anglia services:
- Trains will run from 7:30am, with all last trains completing their journey by 6:30pm
- Reduced service of one train per hour between Norwich, Colchester and Cambridge and Liverpool Street
- Reduced service of two trains per hour between Southend Victoria and Liverpool Street and on the Stansted Express
- No services on regional or branch lines, or rail replacement buses for them.
Avoid travelling on strike days where possible.
The day after a strike day is also likely to see disruptions to morning services, with the first trains of the day likely to be busy so try to catch a later train if you can. Please check train times at least a day before you travel.
Due to track maintenance next week, the c2c Rainham, Ockendon and Basildon lines will start and terminate at either Upminster or Barking from 10:30pm on Monday 19, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 December. Day services will run as normal. Check the website for up-to-date timetables.
|
|
