Friday 4 August 2023
 Olympian Becky Adlington OBE joined Havering cabinet members and Everyone Active staff to officially open Rainham Leisure Centre's swimming pool and ‘wet side facilities’ at a special event last Friday (28 July).
She was joined by Cllr Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Paul Middleton, Cabinet Member for Corporate, Culture & Leisure Services, as well as the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Stephanie Nunn, who cut the ribbon and welcomed guests to the pool for the first time.
ReCreation, founded and owned by Olympians Becky Adlington OBE and Steve Parry MBE, developed the new leisure centre on behalf of Havering Council and Everyone Active.
The centre features a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, as well as a state-of-the-art gym and exercise facilities.
The event also saw the unveiling of a mural (pictured), drawn by Rainham Village Primary School pupil Danny Nazm, aged 5. Danny was the winner of a school drawing competition, and his artwork now resides on the wall in the swimming area for all to see.
Danny and his friends were the first to enjoy the new pool on Friday, before the full public opening and family fun day last Saturday (29 July).
Rainham Leisure Centre is now fully open to the public, offering fitness and casual swimming sessions, alongside swimming lessons, exercise classes and more.
Watch our video on the opening, and what this means for the people of Rainham, below.
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 The Upminster ward by-election will take place next week, on Thursday 10 August.
Polls will open at 7am on Thursday, and close at 10pm that night, giving you plenty of time to cast your vote.
There are a total of six polling stations across the ward. For full details, visit the website where you can find your nearest polling station by entering your postcode.
Remember, voter ID is now required at polling stations. Under new rules, residents without a valid form of photo ID will not be able to vote.
Accepted forms include (but are not limited to):
- a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
- a UK passport
- a passport issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
- a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- a Blue Badge
- an older person’s bus pass
- a disabled person’s bus pass
- an Oyster 60+ card.
Voter Authority Certificates are also accepted, however you needed to have applied for this by now. If you haven't, you can still use any of the above forms of ID.
London Councils is asking for your thoughts on the number of parking and traffic penalty charges issues on roads controlled by London Boroughs, including Havering Council.
London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee is responsible for setting parking, bus lane and moving traffic penalty charges on borough roads.
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are issued when motorists do not follow parking, bus lane and moving traffic regulations. Not following the regulations can lead to congestion and have a negative impact on air quality. It also affects how other road users travel and access public transport services in London and can be dangerous.
The committee has not reviewed parking, bus lane and moving traffic penalty charges since 2010 and many of the current charges and additional fees have not changed since 2007.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks.
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Havering Council is counting down to the start of the new waste and recycling contract with Urbaser Ltd.
The new eight-year contract was due to start this summer but will now begin from 22 October 2023.
Works to prepare the depot for the new contract are progressing well and will be ready to support the new partnership with Urbaser. This includes installing charging points for electric vehicles, as well as ground works and installation of essential welfare facilities for staff.
In the meantime residents should keep to the current guidelines for waste and recycling collections. However, after Sunday 22 October, they will see an improved recycling offer – with glass bottles and jars being added to orange sack recycling collections for the first time.
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From Monday 14 August, if you use a van or trailer to take rubbish and items to Gerpins Lane tip, you will need to book beforehand.
The East London Waste Authority (ELWA), which is responsible for the disposal of waste on behalf of the Council, is looking to improve its system to help reduce undeclared commercial waste, lower costs and improve recycling.
Anyone using a van or trailer will be able to book up to 12 visits in a rolling 12-month period, with two of those visits allowing them to get rid of restricted waste.
Residents are advised to check all the details on the ELWA website before planning their journeys to the tip.
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Council Officers are running a drop in session and speaking to residents and businesses of Farnham and Hilldene Estate to understand what interim improvements can be made to the estate until the regeneration starts.
Farnham and Hilldene Estate forms Phase Three of the wider Harold Hill Town Centre masterplan and is estimated to start in 2025.
Phase One, the Family Welcome Centre and Medical Centre, has already started with demolition of the former Abercrombie House Hostel. Phase Two is Chippenham Road, which the Council and Joint Venture Partner, Wates, have been hearing from residents about.
The consultation closes on Tuesday 8 August and can be completed here: www.havering.gov.uk/haroldhilltowncentre
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 Until residents are moved off of Farnham and Hilldene Estate to allow the regeneration to start, we want living there to be as pleasant as possible by making small but significant improvements.
This includes graffiti removal, repairing security gates and working with the Housing Team, Police and Safer Neighbourhoods Team to address antisocial behaviour. Please see recent before and after photo of graffiti removal to one of the blocks.
All council tenants will have the right to return to the estate once the regeneration is completed.
 The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is looking for dedicated people to become Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and help keep Havering and the capital safe.
You’ll work in the heart of London’s communities alongside police officer colleagues, to solve problems, reduce crime and tackle anti-social behaviour together.
To find out more information about this role and the eligibility criteria, visit the Met Police website.
Young people and residents were joined by the Mayor of Havering, Councillor Stephanie Nunn, as they came together recently for a Community Spirit event.
They shared food, chatted and discussed some of the issues they were facing as individuals and in the community.
On hand to hear their stories and join the discussion were officers from Havering Council’s housing service, The Cocoon, leaving care service, Havering Works and the local police, amongst others.
Residents were pleased to meet the Mayor, who also happened to be the local ward councillor for one of the young people, and to tell her about some of the issues they were having, such as a faulty communal pipe and the need for better security, while she was able to hear more about the work of The Cocoon.
She said she had an interest in young people and was looking forward to visiting The Cocoon. She added that she had recently joined the corporate parenting team and hopes to help in any way she can.
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Havering has achieved third place in the 2023 London Youth Games, including first place in the Female Athletics, Male Swimming and Male & Female Tennis categories.
During the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July, over 4,000 youngsters from 33 London Boroughs travelled to the Olympic Park in Stratford to compete in a variety of sports and disciplines, striving to be awarded the Jubilee Trophy.
The sporting event, which occurs every four years, began over 50 years ago in 1977, and allows children between the ages of 7 and 19 to compete in sports, including tennis, athletics, road cycling, BMX, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, aquathlon, table tennis, netball, hockey and many more.
Councillor Stephanie Nunn, Mayor of Havering, collected a salver on behalf of the winning team, presented by Professor Geoff Thompson, Chair of the Games.
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If you have post COVID-19 syndrome, also known as Long COVID, we’d like to hear from you.
We’re working with Healthwatch Havering and the Havering North Primary Care Network to find out more about residents’ experiences of living with Post-COVID Syndrome.
The causes of the syndrome are not yet known, the recovery times varies for each individual and the treatment received varies.
The survey will help us to find out more about what is happening locally. It can be completed online. If you’d prefer to speak to someone directly, you can contact the team via email or on 01708 303300.
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If your child is aged 4-11 years old, they may be overdue for their polio and/or MMR vaccinations.
Pop-up vaccinations clinics are taking place across the borough (appointment only).
- Sunday 6 August (9:30am - 1pm) at Fairkytes Art Centre, RM11 1AX
- Thursday 24 August (10am - 3pm) at Rainham Library, RM13 9GP
If you would like an appointment at the pop-up clinics, please call 0208 017 4292 or email appointments@v-uk.co.uk.
For more information on child vaccinations, visit the website.
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Former Cllrs Dodin and Matthews, c.Havering Council/Havering Libraries Local Studies
Former Hacton Ward Councillors Nic Dodin and Barbara Matthews have passed away.
Former Councillor Dodin served as a councillor for Hacton Ward between 2010 and 2022. He was a member of the Residents' Group and served on a number of committees including Environment, Children’s and Health overview and scrutiny committees
He also supported a number of local charities and organisations. This included Havering Association for People with Disabilities and Havering Police & Community Consultative Group.
Councillor Matthews served as a councillor for Hacton Ward from 1986 until she stepped down in 2018. She was former leader of the Residents' Group from 2000 to 2008, and served as Deputy Mayor in 2014 to 2015.
She also supported and represented a number of outside bodies and local charities and organisations. This included Local Government Association General Assembly, Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, Havering Arts Council and Havering Association for People with Disabilities.
Our condolences go out to their friends and families at this sad time.
 To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
Author Cathy Lake will be on zoom for a Meet the Author online event at Havering Libraries on Monday 21 August from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. She will talk about her latest book “The Country Village Allotment,” a feel-good summer read involving the power of community, female friendships, and nature.
The event is completely free, and you can book your place via email.
Join us for a Summer Community Fun Day at Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch, on Wednesday 9 August between 12pm to 3pm for a free fun day that the whole family can enjoy and get involved in.
The activities provided will include sports, face painting, housing services, youth services, arts and crafts, a petting farm, a bouncy castle, lunch and fruit pots all completely free.
The Sapphire Jubilee Community Centre is hosting a new skill share social on Saturday 12 August from 4pm to 8pm for those who live or work in Collier Row.
Within this creative community project, free refreshments will be supplied, along with lots of fun activities, including crocheting, phone photography, headdress making, printmaking and online graphic designing.
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The 8ft larger than life, interactive robot TITAN is entering The Brewery this summer! He will be performing next to Costa between 11am and 3pm and entertaining the crowds with his unique blend of robotic comedy, dancing, theatre, and music.
It is a free event that will be an enjoyable experience for the whole family, as he is great for children of all ages and guaranteed to make you smile.
There is no pre-booking, so you can come along at the time that suits you best.
For more info contact Sarah Gregory on 07725 041862.
A Table Top sale is taking place on Saturday 19 August, between 10am and 1pm at Elm Park Community Hall, Eyehurst Ave, RM12 4RA. Lots of great items with low prices will be on display, and a raffle will be held. A tearoom will also be available for refreshments. There is no entrance fee for this event, so head over and you could find yourself a bargain.
For more information, visit the website, or contact Mrs. Julie Wilkes via email, or call 07903 820584.
Havering Museum is hosting a special Celebrity Photographer Illustrated Talk with a former press photographer John Gordon, about the celebrity news and events he's covered, and the stories attached to the great shots he's taken on his career.
The event takes place at Havering Museum, Romford RM1 1JU, and costs £5 for non-Friends of the Museum members. See the website for more details.
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Ockendon Road will be closed from its junction with Pea Lane for a bridge inspection, 10pm on Saturday 5 August to 6am on Sunday 6 August.
High Street Hornchurch (westbound only) will be closed for maintenance works between Station Lane and Billet Lane (from number 78 to 152. Closure in place from 7:30pm on Monday 7 August to 6am on Tuesday 8 August.
Northwood Avenue will be closed for resurfacing works between its junctions with St Nicholas Avenue and Warren Drive, 8am to 5pm on Monday 7 August and Tuesday 8 August.
Woodcote Avenue will be closed for resurfacing works between its junctions with St Nicholas Avenue and Warren Drive, 8am to 5pm on Wednesday 9 August and Thursday 10 August.
Bridge Road, Rainham will be closed for maintenance work between New Road/Rainham Road and Viking Way from 7:30pm on Wednesday 9 August to 6am on Thursday 10 August.
Malvern Road will be closed for resurfacing works between its junctions between Globe Road and Park Lane, 8am and 5pm on Friday 11 August.
Mellowes Road will be closed for resurfacing works at its junction with Malvern Road, 8am and 5pm on Friday 11 August.
St Clements Avenue remains closed at its junctions with Wessex Lane and Wildcary Lane until 5:30pm on Wednesday 16 August.
St Clements Avenue will then be closed at its junctions with Elderberry Close and Copse Avenue, from 8am on Thursday 17 August, to 5pm on Friday 8 September.
The bus gate restriction on St Clements Avenue will be lifted during this time to allow access. Those needing to reach the Harold Wood Walk-In Centre can access via Lister Avenue and the bus gate.
Hall Lane remains closed for drainage works between The Fairway and Ingrebourne Gardens until 5pm on Sunday 3 September. Closures will not be in place Thursday 24 to Monday 28 August.
As part of these works, there will be no waiting, loading or parking at any time on The Fairway, Ingrebourne Road and parts of Holden Way.
Public transport
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Due to engineering works between Fenchurch Street and Barking, all c2c lines will be diverted to Liverpool Street via Stratford on Saturday 5 August and Sunday 6 August.
There are engineering works between Fenchurch Street and Barking/Upminster, affecting evening services on all c2c lines on Monday 7 August to Thursday 10 August. Check the website for full details.
Due to action by the ASLEF trade union, there will be a number of train cancellations on Greater Anglia lines today, Saturday 5 August, and Monday 7 to Saturday 12 August. Check the website for full details.
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