Friday 14 June 2024
 The final round of the Havering Small Business awards is now open to the public, and you can vote for your favourite businesses in the borough.
This year, the awards format changed to help encourage even more businesses from across the whole borough to enter, with the first round of nominations open for businesses to nominate themselves.
It is now over to the community to show some love for the small and independent businesses across the borough that continue to serve us.
Voting opened at 9am on Monday 10 June and will close at 4pm on Friday 19 July 2024, giving Havering residents five weeks to vote for their favourite businesses for each of the categories.
The voting form is available on the Havering Council website and only takes a couple of minutes to complete. Only one vote per person will be counted.
The Havering Small Business Awards main sponsor is Havering’s 12 Estates Regeneration Joint Venture Partner, Wates. The media sponsor is TIME 107.5 FM.
Havering Council has launched a new website – putting resident needs at the heart of what we do. The new site went live on Wednesday 12 June offering a fresher look and making it even easier for site visitors to navigate and get to the places they want much faster.
When visiting the new website, residents will spot a number of changes and improvements. These include:
- a new look, offering better accessibility with a clearer colour pallet and font and easier to see links
- a better more mobile friendly layout (65% of site visitors use the website from a smartphone or tablet)
- an improved search function making it quicker and easier for site users to get to the information they need.
The new website is part of the Council’s wider commitment to improve customer services for residents, and follows the roll-out of new and improved online reporting forms and the Council joining the Institute of Customer Service (ICS).
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 The next General Election will take place on Thursday 4 July.
If you're not already registered to vote, you need to register by 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June. You can check if you are registered or get registered through our website. There are also details for those with friends and relatives who cannot access the internet.
You do not have to vote in person. If you're unable to attend the polling station on election day, you can either apply for a postal vote, or have someone vote on your behalf.
If you want to vote by post, you must apply on our website by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June. This is also the deadline for cancelling or making changes to an existing postal vote. Postal votes can be sent back in the pre-paid envelope provided, delivered by hand to Havering Town Hall, or taken to your polling station on the day. If you are posting your vote, please be sure to allow enough time for it to reach us.
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Havering Council’s Cabinet has formally approved the establishment of a wholly owned community interest company (CIC) to manage private sector leased housing.
CICs are limited companies which operate to provide a benefit to the community they serve.
With the demand for local social housing higher than supply, the new management company will be part of the Council’s efforts to increase the stock of affordable properties.
Urban Impact Ltd will acquire properties (on a freehold or long leasehold basis) from the open market and lease the properties to the Council for a term of 10 years.
The properties will reflect the borough’s social housing demand based on the needs of applicants.
By the company leasing these properties on behalf of the Council, it will reduce the cost to the Council by up to £13 million over the 10 year period. Last year, the Council was forced to overspend its temporary accommodation budget by £6 million.
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 May was another busy month for the Havering Joint Taskforce - also known as the Section 92 officers or S92s.These are the five police officers funded by Havering Council to fight crime and issues across the borough that matter to residents, including burglary, robbery and theft of motor vehicles.
Last month (May) saw the team make 14 arrests for various crimes. They also assisted Council officers on visits to unlicensed HMOs, fly-tipping investigations, carried out weapon sweeps and recovered a number of stolen vehicles across the borough.
You can keep up with the S92s on Twitter/X.
Children’s charity the NSPCC has officially launched its London-wide Talk PANTS campaign in Havering, Hillingdon, and Hounslow.
Talk PANTS, which features a friendly dinosaur called Pantosaurus, helps children understand in an age-appropriate way that their body belongs to them, they have the right to say no and they can speak out if anything does not feel right.
As part of the campaign, the NSPCC will be giving out Talk PANTS resource bags to local schools across Havering. These bags were made possible by generous donations in memory of the NSPCC trustee Anita Green, and will include a lesson plan, Pantosaurus plushie, and storybook.
There will also be a Talk PANTS Week to celebrate the campaign to be held in October.
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The Mayor of Havering, Councillor Gerry O’Sullivan, has announced the mayoral charities he will be supporting and fundraising for over the coming year.
The two chosen charities are Havering MIND and Havering Association for People with Disabilities (H.A.D).
Havering Mind is a local charity that provides support and guidance to empower those experiencing mental health difficulties, encouraging them to live a full and rewarding life.
Havering Association for People with Disabilities (H.A.D) provide a broad range of services and activities for residents with physical disabilities and carers in Havering with the aim of improving their quality of life.
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A crowd of 1,800 guests gathered last weekend to enjoy a classical music show-stopper at the Council’s Langtons Summer Concert on Sunday 9 June.
Thanks to all attendees who turned out and contributed to a special atmosphere, the Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra who delivered a selection of classical favourites, and the Friends of Langtons Estate who provided refreshments on the day.
Special thanks also to our main sponsor West and Coe Funeral Directors, and co-sponsors Mullis & Peake LLP Solicitors, Sovereign Holidays, HATS Group and Everyone Active for their kind support.
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A new team of barbers have been trained up in Havering to help them speak to their clients about their mental health.
The suicide prevention training will equip barbers to have open discussions with their clients and direct them to where help and support are available locally.
In England and Wales, suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under 50. Three in four deaths by suicide are by men.
The course, BarberTalk Live, is tailored for barbers, created and run by barbers.
It was delivered to Havering barbers by BarberTalk founder Tom Chapman.
Tom lost a close friend to suicide, which led to him establishing the Lions Barber Collective, a group advocating for men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Since its inception in 2015, the BarberTalk programme has recognised barbers as mental health champions and has trained barbers across the UK.
The programme plays a vital role in providing training in how to recognise symptoms of mental ill health in clients and signpost them to relevant support services.
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Works to improve the lake at Harrow Lodge Park began earlier this week.
It consists of re-building soil around the lake banks and removing retaining wires. This will help to better stabilise and improve access to the area.
The works at the park in Hornchurch, are being carried out by Ebsford Environmental on behalf of Havering Council. Certain areas around the lake will remain fenced off while the works take place and for some time after completion, to allow for vegetation to bed in.
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New City College (NCC) Havering Sixth Form has won an award for its Education and Tottenham Hotspur Women's Football Development Centre programme at the Women's Football Awards 2024.
The event is Europe’s biggest awards presentation in women’s football, which celebrates outstanding achievement and recognises the people, organisations and brands who promote women’s football.
It celebrates all levels of the game, from grassroots to superstar players on the pitch. The evening presentation was attended by some of the biggest names in international football.
The ceremony took place in London on Thursday 30 May, and was hosted by former Lioness Eni Aluko and Sky Sports presenter Jamie Carragher.
The NCC Education and Tottenham Hotspur Women’s Football Development Centre, which is offered to young female students with talent and potential at the sixth form campus, won the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award, sponsored by the Premier League.
The award was presented to NCC Principal Janet Smith and Paul Griffiths, NCC and Tottenham Hotspur Football Development Centres Manager. You can read more about the achievement on the NCC website.
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The NHS are inviting anyone aged 75 or over, or who has a weakened immune system, for a free Covid-19 vaccine at the following local walk-in clinics, no booking required.
- Saturday 15 June, Hornchurch Library, 11am – 2pm
- Thursday 20 June, Hornchurch Library, 11am – 2pm
- Friday 21 June, Harold Wood Library, 11am – 2pm
- Saturday 22 June, Hornchurch Library, 11am – 2pm
- Thursday 27 June, Hornchurch Library, 11am – 2pm
- Friday 28 June, Harold Wood Library, 11am – 2pm
- Saturday 29 June, Hornchurch Library, 11am – 2pm
Seasonal vaccinations will be available until 30 June, for more information visit the NHS website.
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 Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating Eid al-Adha in Havering this Sunday.
 To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
Brookside Theatre is looking for talented young performers, to take part in the Havering Youth Theatre production of Matilda this summer.
Based on the Roald Dahl classic, all roles are yet to be cast, and auditions are open to anyone aged 8 to 18 years, regardless of experience.
For more information, visit the website, or send an email to the theatre for an audition pack. Auditions take place this Sunday (16 June), so you must get in touch by 3pm tomorrow (Saturday) to register.
The Cappella Singers of Upminster are hosting their Summer Concert on Saturday 29 June, from 7:30pm until 9pm.
The concert will feature a performance of Mathias' Missa Brevis, alongside a variety of choral music from the Renaissance to present day.
The concert takes place at Trinity United Reformed Church, Upminster. Tickets are free, and donations are welcomed. Find out more on their website.
Havering Antique Collectors Club is hosting a talk with Dominic Strickland on Walking Sticks and Walking Canes.
The talk takes place on Friday 21 June, 7:30pm until 9:30pm at the Harold Wood Neighbourhood Centre, Gubbins Lane, RM3 0QA. Tickets cost £6.
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Do you care for someone with dementia? Alzheimer's Society holds a weekly Carers Information and Support Programme to help carers to better support relatives with dementia.
The sessions provide a listening ear, as well as equipping carers with the tools to look after loved ones and ensure they are getting the right emotional and financial support.
The sessions take place at MyPlace, 343 Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN. The next session is next Tuesday 25 June, 11am to 1pm, with further sessions the following three Tuesdays. Please book in advance by emailing or calling Nyree on 07759 119516 or Anisa on 07720 144231.
Havering Community Learning Disability Team will be celebrating Learning Disability Week with an event at The Liberty Shopping Centre, Romford (between River Island and WH Smith Post Office) on Wednesday 19 June (9am to 5pm).
Learning Disability Week is celebrated annually in the UK and will be held this year from Monday 17 June to Sunday 23 June. This year’s theme is “Do You See Me?” and the team’s continual aim is to work towards being seen, heard and valued.
The team will be joined by partner agencies from across the borough to celebrate this event and will offer advice and information on the services they provide.
Diabetes UK - Havering Group runs regular meetings offering help and support to local people living with diabetes along with their families and carers. The group is holding its next meeting on Monday 17 June, with a talk about ageing and immunity.
The meeting takes place at 8pm at Large Hall, 24 North Street, Hornchurch, RM11 1QX, and is completely free to attend. Call the group secretary on 01708 935779 for more information.
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Upcoming road closures
The A12 eastbound exit slip road from the M25 will be closed for installation of a new culvert from 10pm tonight, Friday 14 June until 5am on Monday 17 June.
Hornchurch Road will be closed daily from outside number 1 to number 18 for maintenance work, 7:30am to 6pm from Monday 17 June until Friday 21 June.
Bush Elms Road will be closed daily from outside number 117 to number 119 for excavation work, 8am to 6pm from Monday 17 June until Friday 21 June.
Briscoe Road in Rainham will be closed daily at its junction with Upminster Road North for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm from Monday 17 June until Saturday 6 July.
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 19 and Wednesday 26 June.
Blackwall Tunnel
Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic across a number of weekends in June and July 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 from Saturday 29 June to Monday 1 July.
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
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.
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
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Engineering works between Limehouse and Barking are affecting services on all c2c lines on Saturday 15 June.
Engineering works between Fenchurch Street and Barking are affecting services on all c2c lines on Sunday 16 June.
Further engineering works between Fenchurch Street and Barking, and between Barking and Upminster are affecting late night services on all c2c lines between Monday 17 June and Thursday 20 June.
Check the website for full details on all c2c service changes.
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