The winners are:

• Best Newcomer (less than a year old – operating since June 2023) , supported by Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry, winner: Jungle Hair and Beauty
• Best Small or Independent Business, sponsored by Oakleafe winner: Wags and Scruffs Dog Services
• Best Beauty or Service Business, sponsored by The Havering Daily, winner: The Hair Lounge
• Best Take Away sponsored by The Havering Daily, winner: Fat Pizza, Elm Park
• Best Hospitality Business, sponsored by Hills Prospect, winner: The Hop Inn
• Best Tradesperson , sponsored by Essex Services Group, winner: Paul Perfect Heating Ltd
• Best Customer Experience, sponsored by Oakleafe, winner: Maa Eyecare
• Best Shopfront, sponsored by K&T Heating, winner: Flower Perfections
• Best Social Enterprise or CIC, sponsored by Jax Sun Services, winner: Thames Chase Community Forest
• New for this year – Best Sustainable Business, sponsored by Havering Works, supported by HM Government, Mayor of London and Levelling Up Funding, winner: Folly London Millinery.

The final award of the night, Havering’s Small Business of the Year, was selected from the category winners by the judging panel.

The winner this year was chosen based on their detailed award entry, which described their deep commitment to sustainability, the environment and social responsibility. It was awarded to our Best Sustainable Business Winner, Folly London Millinery (pictured, above right with representatives from Wates).

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The Romford Town Centre Masterplan, a strategic document aimed at guiding future development within the area, is set to be presented at Cabinet on Wednesday 18 September.

This plan, shaped by community feedback and Council priorities, aims to improve Romford's unique character and history, creating a vibrant, mixed-use town centre. This statutory consultation follows extensive informal engagement in 2019 and earlier this year.

Cabinet will be asked to consider approval to take the Masterplan forward as a Supplementary Planning Document to support the adopted Local Plan, which will then see six weeks of public consultation starting at the end of September.

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The Mayor of Havering, Councillor Gerry O’Sullivan, raised the official ‘999’ flag at Havering Town Hall, Romford, on Monday 9 September to mark Emergency Services Day.

The ceremony, which was attended by Council staff, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ray Morgon, serving personnel of the Metropolitan Police and borough representatives, paid tribute to those who work and volunteer in the NHS and emergency services across the UK.

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With pupils returning to school recently, here are some useful tips from Wellbeing Ambassadors at Royal Liberty School, who help other young people to look after their wellbeing.

Pupils have produced a short film in response to findings from the Havering Youth Wellbeing Census. The census took place in 10 secondary schools and used the #BeeWell survey to understand more about the wellbeing of young people in the borough.

#BeeWell is a programme that encourages young people to lead change and makes the wellbeing of young people everybody’s business. More than 2,000 pupils in Havering completed the survey during summer 2023.  

Watch the video

Havering’s Character Study, a key component in the refresh of the Local Plan adopted in 2021, has been published.

Following extensive consultations and surveys, the study has assisted in gathering useful insights to help to identify the different neighbourhoods and priorities for improvements.

It considers the suburban character of the built environment and the borough’s rural edges and villages. It will be used  to make recommendations for how future development can be designed to benefit the people who live, work and study in Havering.

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With Autumn just around the corner, many residents will now be looking at making sure their gardens are ready for the colder months ahead. Perhaps now its time to consider signing up for the Council's Garden Waste Collections.

Whether you have cuttings from flowers, plants that need to be uprooted, or leaves that have fallen from trees, you can have all of your garden waste collected and sent for composting, which may result in less trips to the tip.

An annual subscription to the garden waste service includes the collection of flowers and plants, weeds and cuttings, hedge trimmings, leaves, small twigs and branches. You will get a bin to put your garden waste in and it will have a sticker so it is collected every fortnight (except for two weeks during the Christmas period).

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A new five-year action plan has been launched to tackle drug and alcohol misuse in Havering.

The detailed plan outlines how the different agencies within the Havering Combating Drugs Partnership (Havering CDP), which will work together to combat substance misuse to ensure a safer and healthier borough.

By joining forces, the partnership hopes to prevent substance misuse by supporting individuals and communities where there is misuse, and tackle the supply chain and reduce demand.

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We have also produced a video so that you can learn more and hear from our partners about the new five-year plan to tackle drug and alcohol misuse in the borough.

Watch now

There was plenty of fun for all the family at the Harold Hill Community Fun Day in Central Park last Saturday.

Residents joined police, service teams from Havering Council and the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Gerry O’Sullivan, Ward Councillors, and emergency services including London Fire Brigade and St John Ambulance.

There was face painting, a bouncy castle and a chance to meet police dogs and horses, as well as get advice on community safety and more.

This event was part of an ongoing Clear Hold Build (#OurHaroldHill) partnership working with Havering Council’s community safety and enforcement teams and Police in the Harold Hill area. The aim is to work with the local community to look at ways to prevent and tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, towards stopping the return of persistent crime.

Suicide Prevention Strategy consultation

On World Suicide Prevention Day, Tuesday 10 September, Havering launched a new consultation to request feedback on the proposed Suicide Prevention Strategy. The aim of the strategy is to strengthen and improve suicide prevention activities within Havering, leading to a reduction in the number of deaths by suicide over the next five years.

The views of residents, employers, health and social care professionals and those with lived experience will help to inform and improve the proposed five year strategy which focuses on identifying people most at risk, increasing knowledge and reducing stigma, and supporting those affected by suicide.

Suicide prevention is everyone’s business. We want organisations to work together and for communities, employers, colleagues, friends and families to know how to support the prevention of suicide.

The consultation runs until Friday 18 October.

Have your say

Havering Safeguarding Priorities 2024-27

Havering Safeguarding Partnership works to keep adults and children safe in Havering by working together with all statutory agencies, the voluntary sector, our community and faith groups. Whether you are an adult or child, young person, student, resident, worker or volunteer, please let us know what your priorities are for us to help keep people safe. 

Please let us know your priorities for safeguarding adults and children in Havering for our Safeguarding Partnership.

The survey closes on Monday 30 September.

Have your say

Havering Libraries is hosting a National Poetry Day competition. Write a poem for the 30th Anniversary of National Poetry Day (Thursday 3 October) on the theme of 'Counting'.

The competition is open to all ages, you just need to be a member of Havering Libraries to enter (sign up for free today). Winners will receive book prizes and their poems will be displayed in all libraries across the borough. 

The competition closes on Saturday 9 November. Drop your entries into any Havering Library, or send it via email, along with your name, age and library card number.

Friends of Langtons Estate is hosting its annual Dog Show on Sunday 15 September on the Queen's Theatre Green, raising funds for Langtons Gardens and Fielders Field. Find more information online.

Havering Fabian Society is hosting a talk with Romford-born writer David Eldridge, who has written and produced plays in the West End and Broadway, as well as screenplays for TV and radio. David will be giving a talk on the arts at Langtons, Hornchurch, on Thursday 19 September from 7:30pm. 

Elm Park Baptist Church is hosting a Coffee Morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. Pop in for home made cakes, tea and coffee and a nice chat on Friday 27 September, 10am to 1pm. 

Bower House in Havering-atte-Bower is holding an Open House event as part of the London-wide Open House Festival, giving architecture fans a chance to go behind the scenes of some of London's Grade 1 listed buildings. 

Drop in on the nearly 300 year-old building with breath-taking views and beautiful artwork on Saturday 14 September. Find more information online.

Over 50 and looking for a way to stay active? Keep Fit 50+ is a weekly exercise, movement and dance class for mature movers over 50 who want to keep fit and active. 

All are welcome, regardless of ability. The group meets weekly at St Laurence Church Hall, Upminster, RM14 2AJ on Wednesdays at 2pm. Your first class is completely free.

Havering Community Creativity presents its Wellbeing Day tomorrow, Saturday 14 September, 11am to 4pm. It's open to all ages, with food, performances, music workshops and more. Entry is free, and it takes place at MyPlace, 343 Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN. 

Upcoming road closures 

There is restricted parking on St Mary's Lane, Argyle Gardens, and Howard Road in Upminster for the Coopers School open evening from 12noon until 9pm on Wednesday 18 September. 

Ongoing closures  

Lambs Lane North in Rainham remains closed daily from its junction with New Road to its junction with Todd Close for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Monday 23 September.

Public transport