With the recent worrying rise in violence and hate crime across parts of the UK, it's never been more important to look out for each other and not let hatred and discrimination take place in Havering. 

Crimes committed against someone because of their disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender-identity are hate crimes and should be reported to the police.

Hate crimes can include:

• threatening behaviour
• assault
• robbery
• damage to property
• inciting others to commit hate crimes
• harassment
• online abuse.

Call 999 if you’re reporting a crime that’s in progress or if someone is in immediate danger.

If the crime isn’t an emergency, call 101 or contact your local police. You can also report hate crime online.

Further support is available through CATCH (Communities against Hate).

Children and young people are being invited to shape the future of the borough’s library service in The ‘SHOUT about Libraries’ survey. We want to hear from young residents on proposed changes to Havering’s library service, including the potential closure of four branch libraries.

The ‘SHOUT about Libraries’ survey, created in partnership with Mind Of My Own, is designed to be accessible and engaging for a wide age range. Children and young people who live, work, or study in Havering are encouraged to participate. The survey can be completed in just 5-10 minutes and is available online.

The survey has been designed in conjunction with the Council’s wider public consultation on the draft library strategy. SHOUT about Libraries closes on Saturday 31 August.

SHOUT about libraries

Havering Council has announced plans for nine new lifts at a number of sheltered housing schemes to help residents live easier and happier lives.

The Council’s Cabinet agreed to award the contract to install the new lifts at Beehive Court, Ravenscourt Grove and Garrick House at the Cabinet meeting last month (Wednesday 17 July). 

It forms the third of three contracts to replace the lifts in Council communal tower blocks, low-rise and sheltered schemes, as part of a £6 million, two year improvement plan.

The work is scheduled to start in October 2024 and is expected to take approximately 10 months.

Read more

Havering Council’s licensing and trading standards teams have been out across the borough to prevent local retailers selling age-restricted products such as vapes and tobacco to young people aged under 18.

The teams visited eight different premises in Hornchurch, Rainham, Upminster, Harold Hill, Harold Wood and Romford recently, with volunteers all aged under 18 as part of the operation.

The volunteers helped officers by going into the businesses to attempt to buy tobacco or a vape, also known as e-cigarettes. These products are illegal to sell to anyone under the age of 18. 

All businesses visited on this particular operation, refused to sell any of the age-restricted items to the young people.

Read more

A new consultation has opened on new plans to determine how waste is managed in East London.

Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Newham, and Redbridge will be consulting on the draft East London Joint Waste Plan from Monday 29 July to Monday 16 September.

The draft Plan provides the strategic vision, objectives and policies for the sustainable management of waste in East London until 2041.

It will also help ensure that there continues to be enough capacity to manage waste in East London and that waste facilities are located in the right areas to reduce the impact on local communities and the natural environment.

The Plan also contains policies on how developers should consider the management of waste during demolition and construction of buildings, and when a development is occupied.

Have your say

Havering Council has launched a new initiative that could save local businesses money and combat climate change. The Greener Futures initiative is completely free and offers businesses a suite of training and support to help them save money by lowering emissions. Here’s what’s included:

• E-learning sustainability training
• Decarbonisation training
• Carbon calculator
• One-to-one mentoring
• Decarbonisation Advice Directory
• Marketing materials and support
• Greener Futures Badge and certification

Register your business

We’re carrying out a stock condition survey of all the Council homes we maintain using an external surveying consultant, Savills.

The results allow us to have up-to-date information and help us to plan replacements or improvements, as part of the Decent Homes Standard, set by Government.

This takes approximately 30 minutes and focuses on property condition and a health and safety assessment. Visits will take place between now and Thursday 31 October and all Council tenants have been sent a letter with full details.

Residents are reminded to ensure their waste and recycling bags are placed for collection on the ground at the front of their properties near to the pavement, not on top of a hedge.

Putting them on top of hedges or walls makes it more awkward for crews to collect, and can cause more spillages. The bags should be just inside the boundary of the property but not on the pavement.

Advice on how to help prevent split bags includes:

• Place your bags at the front of your property/drive way near to the pavement by 7am on the morning of your collection day if possible, rather than the night before.
• Prevent the bags being split open by animals by ensuring items such as food waste and animal bedding are well wrapped before placing into the black sack.
• Dip a kitchen roll towel in bleach (whilst wearing gloves) and then place it inside the black sack on top of the waste. The smell should keep animals away. Ensure the black sack is securely tied.

For more advice on waste and recycling, visit the website.

Read more

Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre in Hornchurch is in the running for a prestigious national honour after being selected as a finalist in the ukactive Awards.

The centre, run by leading operator Everyone Active on behalf of Havering Council has been shortlisted in the ‘Regional Club/Centre of the Year – London category and will also be considered for the ‘National Club/Centre of the Year’ award.

The ukactive Awards celebrate the best of the physical activity sector and are designed to recognise excellence and innovation across health, wellbeing and fitness. A not-for-profit body, ukactive comprises members and partners from across the active lifestyle sector.

The regional winners and national champion will be announced at a gala dinner at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Thursday 3 October.

The theme for World Breastfeeding Week is ‘Closing the Gap - Breastfeeding Support for All’.

Breastfeeding has long-term benefits for infants, lasting right into adulthood. Some of these benefits include reduced risk of infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), obesity and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Any amount of breast milk has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits. The World Health Organisation recommends that infants receive nothing but breast milk for the first 6 months of life.

Havering Council and local services want to ensure that residents feel supported with breastfeeding. Support available includes:

• Infant Feeding Café at St Kilda’s Children Centre – Wednesdays, 1:30pm to 3pm
• Breastfeeding peer support from LatchOn Havering – Mondays at 12noon to 2pm in Hornchurch Library, and Fridays in The Hub (Harold Wood) at 12noon to 2pm
• Telephone support from the Havering Health Visiting Team - 0300 300 1635 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

Visit our infant feeding webpage for further information about local support.

Read more

Havering Council was successful in receiving funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to deliver School Superzones.

School Superzones aim to protect children’s health and enable healthy behaviours, using local authority powers and place-shaping potential to implement environmentally friendly actions.

One of the School Superzones covers a group of schools within the Rainham area including Harris Academy, Rainham Village Primary, Parsonage Farm Primary and Brady Primary School.

Each of the schools received a school walking map tailored to their school area with three themed (nature, lifestyle/wellbeing and sport) routes. To launch the walking maps, there were interactive assemblies and poster making sessions at each school covering air pollution, road safety tips, and the physical, mental, and social health benefits of travelling actively. 

Councillor Gillian Ford, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, joined to support the launch event at Parsonage Farm Primary School and can be seen with some of the pupils in the photo above.

Read more

The decision to vaccinate your children is yours and it’s natural to have questions about whether it is the right thing for you and your family.

Next week’s Free Family Fun Day will include a free child vaccination clinic to help support parents to catch up on any missed NHS vaccinations for their children, or to ask for more information, no booking required.

The event takes place on Wednesday 7 August, 12noon until 3pm at MyPlace Community Centre, 343 Dagnam Park Drive, Romford RM3 9EN.

The on-site clinic within ‘Health Zone’ will be offering help and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations for children aged 0 to 5 years old, no booking required.

Get free information, advice or ask any questions on the protection child vaccines provide and their availability.

Please remember to bring your child's Personal Child Health Record (PCHR) also known as the "red book" if available, to help keep track of their vaccinations.

For more info on NHS child vaccinations visit the website.

Read more

Join Havering Council for a series of free Family Fun Days taking place across the borough this summer. 

Activities include bouncy castles, face painting and children's activities, as well as free lunch and the chance to speak with Council services.

Events take place on Wednesdays between 12noon and 3pm.

• 7 August - MyPlace Community Centre, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN
• 14 August - New Zealand Way, Rainham, RM13 8JD
• 21 August - Play park at Macon Way, Upminster, RM14 1NS
• 28 August - Queen's Theatre Green, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT

Visit the website for more information.

Kaleidoscope is a free social group for LGBTQ+ young people aged 17 to 24, offering a safe space with support and advice for those that need it. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month, with different activities and games each meeting, and is always welcome to new members and allies. 

The group meets at Premiere Cinemas in The Mercury Mall, Romford. 

MyPlace Youth & Community Centre is hosting a range of Summer Activities across the six-week summer holidays for children aged 2 to 14 years. 

Activities include arts and crafts, games and amateur theatre, with different themes each week. Events run until Friday 30 August. You can find more information on the MyPlace Facebook page.

Havering Council has joined with the Metropolitan Police to host a series of free football and basketball events for children aged 6 to 17 years this summer holiday, funded by the Havering Activities Fund. Events take place at various locations across the borough on the following days: 

• 8 August - Lawns Park, Horndon Road, RM5 3HB
• 18 August - Spring Farm, Acer Avenue, RM13 9TA
• 20 August - Harrow Lodge Park, Upper Rainham Road, RM12 4AE
• 23 August - Brittons Park, Ford Lane, RM13 7BB (football only)
• 28 August - Upminster Park, Corbets Tey Road, RM14 2BE
• 9, 16, 21 August, and 1 September - Central Park, Dagnam Park Drive, RM2 9DL

Football starts at 11am for 6 to 11 year olds, and 12noon for 12 to 17 year olds. Basketball events start at 12noon for 6 to 11 year olds, and 1pm for 12 to 17 year olds. No booking required.

Havering's Waste and Recycling Team will be hosting 'Let's Waste Less' roadshows next week, helping residents to understand how they can cut down on household waste. The roadshows will be providing Love Food Hate Waste tips to reduce food wastage, as well as giving you advice on composting, clarifying which items go in which household waste collections, and encouraging the use of reusable cloth nappies. 

The roadshows take place between 10am and 4pm on Tuesday 6 August at Upminster Library, and Wednesday 7 August at Collier Row Library. There is no need to book a place, just come along and meet the team.

Upcoming road closures 

Station Lane in Hornchurch will be closed outside numbers 28 to 32 for sewer cover works, 7pm to 11:30pm on Tuesday 6 August.

Jutsums Lane in Romford will be closed overnight for railway bridge structural work from 10pm on Tuesday 6 August, to 5am on Wednesday 7 August. 

Ongoing closures

New Road bus lane in Rainham remains closed daily from outside Suttons Business Park to Rainham House for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Sunday 4 August. 

Ockendon Road in North Ockendon remains closed from its junction with Fen Lane to the junction of B1421 for cable installation, 8am to 5:30pm until Tuesday 6 August.

Carter Drive in Romford remains closed daily from its junction with Firbank Road to the junction of Thistledene Avenue for drainage works and crossing installation, 8am to 4pm until Friday 9 August. 

Great Nelmes Chase in Hornchurch remains closed daily at its junction with Wingletye Lane for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Sunday 11 August.

Ingrebourne Road in Rainham remains closed daily from its junction with Wennington Road to the junction of Lambs Lane South for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Saturday 17 August. 

Rainham Road remains closed daily at its junction with Southend Road for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Monday 19 August.

Pettits Lane in Romford remains closed daily at its junction with Main Road for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Monday 26 August. 

Lambs Lane South in Rainham remains closed daily from its junction with Wennington Road to the junction of New Road for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Monday 9 September. 

Public transport