“I was very saddened to hear about the death of Romford Rabbi, Lee Sunderland. Although I only knew him well for the two years that I have been Leader, I am aware that the Council has enjoyed a valuable working relationship with him and the Romford Synagogue for many years. 

“He was always happy to work alongside the Council, other faiths and communities, and was a great champion for positive and cohesive community relations.

“One example of this was the Rabbi’s work to ensure that Holocaust Memorial Day is now marked as a true multi-faith service in Havering.

“Lee will be missed from our community and my heartfelt feelings go out to his family, friends and wider congregation at this difficult time.”

Havering Council has responded to claims that it didn’t consult with all the out of borough schools used by children with special educational needs in its home to school transport consultation. 

SEND parents raised concerns that not all schools were contacted as part of the process.

In response, the Council confirmed that it did consult with every school – both inside and outside of the borough – where a child with special educational needs used transport assistance. Schools who do not have pupils who claim travel assistance from Havering however were not consulted.

In addition, every parent of a Havering pupil has been consulted about the new policy.

The new home-to-school transport policy was approved by Cabinet on Wednesday 15 May. It introduces flexible transport assistance options to provide a more bespoke service to meet the individual needs of each child that needs support. The needs of each individual child are the Council’s priority focus.

Havering Council provides transport assistance to nearly 800 young people with SEND up to the age of 25.

⇒ Read about the new home-to-school transport policy

Havering Council’s environmental enforcement officers joined local police on an action day tackling knife crime and anti-social behaviour.

The operation took place recently in Harold Hill, focusing on Farnham Road, Petersfield Avenue and the Briar Road Estate.

A number of weapon sweeps were carried out along with investigations into fly tipping to crack down on those who illegally dump rubbish.

Both the Council and the police have been speaking with residents and businesses in the area about their ongoing concerns over crime and anti-social behaviour.

The day is part of ongoing action via the Council and the Police’s Clear Hold Build initiative in Harold Hill.

⇒ Report concerns and issues using OWL (Online Watch Link)

Havering Council has now completed the installation of new modern Pay and Display parking machines in Council car parks and its on street parking bays across the borough.

The new machines no longer accept coins and people are able to pay contactless with debit and credit cards. They also accept smartphone payments (Apple Pay and Google Pay). Customers can also use the RingGo app to pay for parking across Havering online.

Those wishing to still pay cash, can use nearby PayPoint facilities, including in local shops.

You can request a receipt at the parking machine for paid parking sessions by selecting the SMS or email button on the bottom of the screen before selecting the time required for parking.

The new payment machines are provided in all our town centres and busy locations replacing the previous machines which were regularly vandalised by thieves for cash.

Residents are still eligible for the free 30 minutes parking in on-street parking bays and council car parks, except in Romford.

We have been made aware of an issue affecting a small number of EE customers in certain parts of the borough when using the RingGo app. We advise those affected to get in contact with EE directly so the problem can be resolved.

In the meantime, they can pay for their parking using a bank or credit card as mentioned above, or by calling RingGo on 01708 201311.   

⇒ Find out more about parking in Havering 

Residents and visitors to town centre Council car parks should watch out for bogus QR code signs that are being put on some parking machines by scammers trying to get money.

Havering Council does not use QR codes for paid-for-parking in any of its car parks or on-street parking bays.

Drivers should only download the RingGo App or pay for their parking using the other options shown on Council signage.

Residents can report any concerns to Citizens Advice

⇒Find out more

Transport for London (TfL) has published a report on  Phase 1 of the e-scooter rental trial, which collected data from June 2021 to September 2023.

The trial took place in ten boroughs across London (not including Havering), with 4,000 e-scooters for hire with 600 designated marked parking bays. During the trial, 3 million trips were made and 7.5million+ km was travelled. On average, there was one ride per scooter per day and a scooter trip was 17 minutes long and 2.4km in distance.

The UK rental trials are set to continue until May 2026. But remember - it remains illegal to use private e-scooters in Havering and elsewhere in the UK. 

⇒ View the TfL report

Residents can have their say on how they feel about crime and community safety in a survey by the Havering Community Safety Partnership.

The online survey will help to shape the work of the partnership, which includes representatives from Havering Council, Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade plus probation and health services.

Questions in the online survey will ask residents to give their views about crime, anti-social behaviour and other local issues.

It will help to give the partnership a bigger picture of what issues there are, what needs to be prioritised and how they can best work together with communities to tackle those issues and help to prevent crime.

⇒ Have your say on crime and safety

Havering’s Early Help Service is looking for volunteer Young People’s Mentors to provide support and guidance to young people aged 10-18. 

Volunteers have the opportunity to empower young people to make positive life choices, and help them to achieve their goals. 

If you have two to three hours to spare each week to meet a young person in the community, contact the volunteering team.

Havering Council has teamed up with five other East London local authorities to recruit more foster carers in the borough.

The new partnership is called Local Community Fostering Greater London East. It has now officially launched and will see Havering working in partnership with Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Newham, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets councils to improve the recruitment process in order to increase the number of enquires and recruit more in-house foster carers.

The new partnership comes at a time when the number of enquires in London has dropped by nearly a third in the last 10 years.

A survey carried out ahead of the launch showed that almost a third of respondents said they were unlikely to foster because of a lack of space.

⇒ Find out how you can foster for Havering

83 incredible young people from Havering received their prestigious Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards presented at a live event at Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch.

The live event celebrated Achievement Award winners aged 11-25 from Havering for their contributions to their youth group community, where winners received medallions and framed certificates from the Foundation, along with a £300 grant to spend for the benefit of their organisation.

In addition, four adults were awarded Leader Awards for demonstrating outstanding ability to motivate young people. They also each received a medallion and a framed certificate.

Donna Fraser, former Team GB Olympian, who handed out the awards on the night, said: “It is always a pleasure to be able to celebrate the success and the perseverance of our young people and Team Leaders. They should be proud of what they've achieved. Continue to shine and thrive all of you!”

The Administrator for Hylands Tennis Club, which is based at Hornchurch High School, was a finalist for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Club Hub Awards 2024 earlier this month.

Giorgio Bugnatelli BEM is the Administrator for the club, which is a not-for-profit group registered with the Lawn Tennis Association, and boasts a comprehensive Learn and Play programme, competitive events, and tennis camps for children aged 4 to 14 years.

Giorgio said that the nomination 'recognises the journey we've embarked on at Hylands Tennis Club, dedicated to positively impacting children's lives through tennis'. 

Congratulations to Giorgio and the team at Hylands Tennis Club.

Tickets are on sale for Langtons Summer Concert on Sunday 9 June.

Held in the gardens of Langtons House, the event features an afternoon of both classical and popular music performed by Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra led by Jonathan Butcher.

The annual event attracts around 2,000 attendees and is traditionally a sell-out audience of families and friends.

Tickets can be purchased via the Queen's Theatre Box Office.

⇒ Get your tickets now

Hornchurch Library is hosting a Meet the Author event on Thursday 6 June, 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Meet Ingrid Persaud, award-winning author of 'Love after Love', as she discusses her new book 'The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh' - the tale of four women whose lives are connected and controlled by one man, the notorious, charismatic gangster Boysie Singh. There will also be a chance to purchase the book and have it signed at the event. 

Entry is free, but please book in advance to reserve your place at any Havering Library.

National Trust Rainham Hall is hosting two great events in the coming weeks. Tomorrow (Saturday 1 June) children aged 6 to 12 years can join the Young Rangers Club between 11am and 12:30pm.

Learn new skills and meet new friends, whilst taking part in gardening and craft activities. A parent or carer must stay on site for the duration of the session. £2 per child, £1 sibling discount. Book online to reserve your space, as there are limited walk up spaces on the day.

On Saturday 8 June, join the Big Help Out from 12noon to 3pm. Everyone is welcome to drop-in for the community gardening session as part of the Big Help Out. Stay for as long or little as you like. Find more information for either event, or book your places on the website.

Upminster Windmill will be hosting a Father’s Day Craft Market on Saturday 8 June, 10am to 3pm.

The event will include homemade crafts, sweet treats, artwork, trinkets, personalised gifts, and foodie goods.

Windmill Tours are also available. Visit the website for more information. 

Havering Museum is hosting its next lunchtime lecture on Thursday 13 June, 12noon to 1pm, on New Zealand. 

The one-hour lecture features travel photographs and anecdotes from the beautiful country of New Zealand, and includes light refreshments. Book online or by visiting the museum (open Wednesdays to Fridays, and some Saturdays).

All Saints Church (Squirrels Heath) in Ardleigh Green is hosting a Flower Festival on Saturday 1 June, 10am to 4pm and on Sunday 2 June, 12pm to 4pm. The event includes children's craft activities plus baby and toddler play area.

Entry is free with light lunch and refreshments on sale.

Keep fit with Harold Hill Running Club. Members meet weekly in Harold Wood park at 6.30pm on weekdays and 8am on Sundays. All abilities welcome. Email for a free 2-week trial membership. 

Get ready to be swept away into the dazzling world of Bollywood, with Queen's Theatre Hornchurch's new British musical, Frankie Goes To Bollywood. 

Frankie Goes to Bollywood is a breathtakingly colourful journey of romance, epic songs, and spectacular dance –  inspired by real stories of British women caught in the spotlight of the biggest film industry in the world.

Frankie never wanted to be a star, and after a chance encounter with a director, she finds herself transported to the ruthless world of Bollywood. As she climbs the sparkling staircase of stardom, Frankie must confront what she is willing to do for fame and fortune. Can she stay in the Bollywood family and still be true to herself?

Frankie Goes To Bollywood runs at Queen's Theatre from Tuesday 4 June to Sunday 9 June. Book your place on the website.

Upcoming road closures 

National Highways will be closing the M25 anti clockwise entry slip at junction 28 to carry out essential drainage and street lighting works. The entry slip is closed from today (Friday 31 May) until 5am Monday 3 June. During the closure drivers are being advised to travel to Gallows Corner and use the A127 to join the M25 and at junction 29.

The A12 eastbound exit slip road will also be closed for installation of a new culvert from 10pm on Friday 7 June until 5am on Monday 10 June, and again from 10pm on Friday 14 June until 5am on Monday 17 June. 

Lamson Road, Rainham, will be closed from its junction with Ferry Lane to Bridge Road for bridge maintenance, 10pm to 6am from Monday 3 June to Tuesday 4 June. 

There will be no waiting or parking on Brookdale Avenue in Upminster between its junction with Bridge Avenue and Boundary Road for a school sports event, 7.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesday 5, Wednesday 19 and Wednesday 26 June.

Ernest Road, Hornchurch, will be closed outside number 1 for desilting work between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Monday 10 June. 

Havering Road in Romford will be closed overnight, 8pm to 5am, from outside number 406 to its junction with Glenton Way for speed table installation, between Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 June. 

Havering Road in Romford will be closed at its junction with Mashiters Hill for lining work, between 9.30am and 3pm on Monday 12 June. 

Blackwall Tunnel

Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic across a number of weekends in May and June to help support carriageway works on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel approach. 

The closures are required to help implement the road configuration for the new Silvertown Tunnel which will open in 2025. The closures will take place across Saturday 1 to Monday 3 June, Saturday 8 to Monday 10 June and Saturday 29 June to Monday 1 July.

During these weekends, a range of works will be undertaken, including resurfacing roads and pavements on the tunnel approaches, installing safety barriers, work to retaining walls and landscaping works.

The closures will all start at 12am on the Saturday morning, with southbound traffic being restored by 5am on the Monday morning at the latest. Further information about the closures can be found on the TfL website.  

Ongoing closures

Maylands Way is currently closed from the A12 for utility works until 9am on Tuesday 11 June. 

King Edward Road in Romford remains closed daily from its junction with Victoria Road for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Saturday 15 June. 

Victoria Road in Romford remains closed daily from its junction with South Street for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Saturday 15 June.

Maylands Way in Romford will be closed daily from its junction with Johns Terrace for excavation work, 9:30am to 3pm from Tuesday 28 May until Tuesday 11 June.

Parts of the A127 (Southend Arterial) remain closed to all traffic for drainage works, between 10pm and 5am, until Tuesday 18 June. The on-slip road connecting the eastbound carriageway with the M25 junction 29 roundabout, and the off-slip road connecting the M25 junction 29 roundabout with the A127 will be closed during this time. 

Public transport