Chelmsford Avenue Play Site - STILL CLOSED

Cllr Andy Mann and Havering Park Action member, Kevin Tonks, of the Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association, have hit out at the current situation in Collier Row of yet another park that is closed and not open for children to play in (following the story below concerning the park in Lodge Lane at the Forest Row Centre).

The long running issues at the Chelmsford Avenue play site, behind the shops in Gobions Avenue, saw the park closed by the local Police back in 2006 and remained locked shut for some 18 months. It was then re-opened after much argument from local residents.

During this time, Cllr Mann thought with the Council to start the public consultation into what park equipment was needed after the park was given £50 thousand some 4 years ago as part of a housing redevelopment on part of its land.

The consultation took place last October and the play equipment was installed shortly afterwards, late last year. Now, the park is still closed. After Cllr Mann complained about the situation yet again, he was advised by the Parks Manager that the team of staff responsible for locking and un-locking the parks across the Borough are refusing to lock this particular park up at night.

Now, local children are reduced to having to break into the park to play, as the gates are locked shut and there is a six foot fence all around it. They have no issues about anti-social behaviour; it just seems the Council has.

Havering Councils Mobile Patrol Team (subject to a recent Cabinet report disbanding their service) have refused to lock the park up on health and safety grounds as they feel the park entrance is a danger. This is despite the gates being moved nearer to the pavement to reduce any anti- social behaviour issues. The Councils own Health and Safety team has also visited and given the all clear for the gates to be locked at night.

Cllr Mann said “It is a crime against children that they have this park under their noses, yet for some stupid Council bureaucracy, the park remains closed and the children are barred from entering it, is it any wonder they are climbing the fences to get in there”.

Kevin Tonks said “We have been highlighting this issue for over 3 years; it is not good enough that the young people in the community are losing out yet again, young children need the park open, so they can play and run around without getting knocked over by a car playing in the street”.

Thanksgiving Service - St Johns Church, Mawney Road

On Sunday, 29th March, 2009, both Mawneys Ward Action Members, Karen and Graham Price, joined dignitaries from The London Borough of Havering, to celebrate the ministry of St John's the Divine Church, in Mawney Road, from 1928 until 2009.

Sadly, the Church is to close and the last service is to be held there on Palm Sunday, the 5th April and will be both a poignant and moving occasion for the parishioners who worship there.

The Parish Communion & Thanksgiving Service was a simple yet suitable declaration which underlined the role that the church has played in the local community.

The sermon was given by The Archdeacon of West Ham, and the service was conducted by Rev. Stephen Waine, Vicar of St. Edward’s, Romford, who has been Priest-in-Charge of St. John the Divine for seven years.

Graham Price said "It is a real shame that the church is to close next month, it has been around for a many years and has been part of the community for all of that time, the service was very moving and was wonderful to see so many many people there on the day".

Earth Hour tonight at 8.30pm

Tonight at 8:30pm you can take part in the world wide earth hour by switching off your non-essential lights for one hour.

The aim of Earth Hour is to get people to take action on climate change. The annual event was launched in 2007 by WWF-Australia and the citizens of Sydney, who on 31 March 2007 were asked to switch their lights off for one hour.

2.2 million people participated and the symbolic action attracted global attention. In 2008 the event went global with up to 50 million people across 35 countries participating http://www.earthhour.org/about).

This year the organisers are aiming even higher. The aim of Earth Hour 2009 is to reach one billion people worldwide. So if you'd like to tell the world that you care about climate change , please be one of those one billion people who switch their lights off on 28 March 2009 at 20:30.

To find out more and sign up to the commitment, click here.

Audit Commission brands Havering NEGLIGENT

The Audit Commission have published a damning report which brands Havering Council as negligent by investing money in Iceland.

The report picks out seven local authorities that placed deposits totalling £32.8m in Iceland on or after 1st October 2008. The councils are Havering (£2m), Kent (£8.8m), Redcar (£4m), Restormel (£3m), Bridgnorth (£1m), South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (£10m), North East Lincolnshire (£4.5m).

A total of £954m has been deposited in Icelandic banks by 127 local authorities. Havering has a total of £12.5m deposited whilst, ironically, the Audit Commission have £10m tied up.

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Clarence Barrett, said: “We have been assured all along that the Icelandic deposits met with Treasury management guidelines and I am confident that this £2m was placed prior to the downgraded credit alert rather than after, albeit by just 15 minutes”.

“As with all deposits, the £2million invested on 1st October appears to accord with those guidelines and the existing advice from the treasury credit agency (Sector). However, we need to look at the role of the credit agency and whether the subsequent alert in respect of downgrading the investment could have been issued earlier”.

“It is a matter of deep concern to us that investments are made prudently and in line with agreed treasury management strategy. If there is any substance in the Audit Commission claims that there has been negligence, then we need to re-examine the whole issue again and establish where systems may have failed”.

However, Havering Park Action Member, Kevin Tonks, who works in the Banking Sector, has found numerous examples of warnings being issued by Bloomberg the day before, he said “I am amazed in this day and age with modern technology that the alarm bells were not ringing sooner, there is plenty of evidence in the finance sector warning against investment in Iceland”

To see the full text of the Bloomberg report click here

Former Woolworths store granted alcohol license

Cllr Andy Mann and Joe Webster were at the Town Hall today, for the licensing committee meeting looking at the application for the former Woolworths store to sell alcohol. The application was to sell alcohol from 06.00 to midnight, seven days a week in the store, in Collier Row Road. It has also been confirmed that the store will become a Costcutter.

Havering Police had objected to the proposed hours of use and had suggested a earlier finish time, more in line with other shops in the Town. The applicant made a good presentation on how he was going to run the store and what measures he would have in place to deal with any anti social behaviour, such as cctv cameras, separate area for alcohol, training of staff, etc.

There were only four formal objections allowed to be heard and a two of those spoke at the meeting to voice there concerns. Despite being elected to represent the people, Councillors are not allowed to speak, unless they actually live in the direct area and are personally affected.

After the debate, the three Councillor members of the committee retired to consider their decision, after an hour’s debate, they returned. The committee decided to grant the application; however they only allowed the license to start from 07.30 in the morning and to end by 8.30pm.

If the application was refused entirely, the applicant would be entitled to go straight to a magistrate court and appeal, and would have got far greater hours, so as it goes, this was probably the best outcome that could have been achieved.

Mawneys Action Member Joe Webster said “Despite objections from residents, the decision that was taken to reduce the operating hours was the best that could have been achieved, as a former member myself of the Licensing Committee, I know that the limitations members have under the rules”

Cllr Mann said “We will be watching the store closely over the coming months once it is open, we all except that we need shops and stores open in Collier Row, but there has always been as issue with the amount of alcohol that is available to young people, which has often led to anti social behaviour”.

Untaxed cars - CRUSHED

Havering Council has now crushed 100 vehicles since it hired a new contractor to get tough on people who don't tax their cars. Over 240 untaxed cars have been towed away since the new contractor started in September last year and now the 100th vehicle has met its fate, recently being crushed.

Havering Council appointed a new contractor which uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) equipment to identify untaxed vehicles within seconds. Abandoned vehicles can also be identified and removed before they become vandalised.

Two ANPR-equipped vehicles are patrolling the borough scanning streets and car parks. Once a vehicle is identified, the contractor will seek the authority of the DVLA to lift the vehicle onto a recovery truck and take it to a pound. The new contractor is now removing on average 40 vehicles a month.

To reclaim their vehicles, owners will have to pay a minimum of £100 plus a surety of £160 or show a valid tax disc. If the owner fails to claim their car after 14 days, the DVLA can give approval for it to be crushed.

Cllr Andy Mann, the former Cabinet Member for StreetCare (pictured above) who first introduced car crushing in Havering, some four years ago said “lots of residents get annoyed when they see cars without a tax disc, and now drivers will need to act more responsibly are they will loose their car. Untaxed cars often have no insurance or an M.O.T and have been used for criminal activity”

The owner can verify a removed vehicle's location by contacting http://www.trace.com/ or phone 020 7747 4747. The contact telephone number for the pound is 01702 469 449.

The charges for recovering an untaxed vehicle are:

Within 24 hours of removal - £100, plus a surety of £160 or a valid tax disc
After 24 hours of removal - £200, plus a surety of £160 or a valid tax disc
Storage is charged at £21 per day from the third day after removal

Ascension Road Planning Application

Cllr Andy Mann has been notified by the planning officer at Havering that the planning application submitted for a day nursery for 20 Ascension Road, in Collier Row has been withdrawn by the applicant.

The only reason given by the applicant is "for further discussions with the local authority and clarification of the site ownership and redline boundary".

Applicants are entitled to withdraw before a decision is made, and Cllr Mann understands that the planning officers were set to recommend that this application be refused. They will be entitled to submit a new application free of charge in due course. We will let you know if this happens.

Click here to see our previous story on this issue and to get the full details of the application.

Brand new park, locked shut for 18 months !!

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association has hit out at Havering Council for its failings to open a brand new park, in Lodge Lane, Collier Row.

The park was built as part of the new Forest Row Centre, although the park is in the grounds of the centre, it is managed by the Councils Parks Department, but since being finished in Sept 2007, it still remains closed and un-used as officers have failed to install security fencing and dealt with the land ownership issues with the lease holders of the centre.

Despite promises from officers to Cllr Mann that the issue will be dealt with, nothing has happened. The Forest Row Centre gets all of the complaints as the park is on their land at present and it is not fair on them. Children constantly climb over fences to get to the park.

Collier Row Councillor, Andrew Mann said “It is unbelievable that a brand new park can be built by the Council for the youth of Collier Row and then keep it shut for almost two years, they should hang their heads in shame”.

Havering Park Action Member, Denis Stevens (Pictured on the right) said “With complaints from residents about the lack of provision for younger people in Collier Row, it is almost criminal that this new facility, that has never been opened should be allowed to sit and rot, the Council are forever telling us how much they are spending on the parks, yet in Collier Row they are being neglected.

Go to the link below to see the original story when the park was finished and should have opened straight after.

http://andrewmann.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-park-for-collier-row.html

Age Concern Havering

Age Concern Havering is offering residents the chance to have a free home fire safety check. If you live in Havering and you think you could be at risk of fire, you can call 01708 796 600 for more details.

Age Concern will arrange for a safety check and will fit a free smoke alarm with a 10 year battery.

Age Concern Havering is also running a Handyperson pilot scheme with funding provided by the Council's Supporting People Department available free for older people and people with disabilities, who own their own property and receive benefits. Clients only pay for materials.

Fitting grab rails, new shelving, fixing loose carpets or an overgrown bush, can be very worrying to an older person and also can become a fatal health and safety hazard’ said Jan Mountford Age Concern Havering’s Home Support Manager.

Age Concern Havering also has a list of vetted traders for those larger DIY jobs.

More information is available on 01708 796603.

Red nose Day at Bower Park

Hundreds of pupils and Staff at Bower Park School took part in Children in Need day yesterday with a host of events throughout the day. Over 600 children paid £2 to come to school in no uniform, but a dozen or so girls, went one step further and came to school in their pyjamas.

However, they did not stop there, once dressed up in their pink P.J’s they then carried out a sponsored walk to Romford, whilst wearing their outfits. They made their way from the School, to Romford. The walk managed to raise an extra few hundred pounds.

Head Teacher Mary Morrison said “This has been a fantastic effort by the pupils and the staff of the school to raise money for a much needed charity and I am immensely proud of them, they have made a real contribution to the community with their commitment”.

School Governor and Ward Councillor, Andrew Mann said “The pupils of Bower Park continue to surpass themselves with their efforts, in particular, the 12 girls that made the effort to organise a sponsored walk in their pyjamas and then walk into Romford deserve a special mention.

Bower Park School - OFSTED visit

Bower Park School had OFSTED in last week. The inspectors spent two days reviewing data, watching lessons and interviewing pupils, governors and staff.

Although the formal results and the final report are not made public for another two weeks, we have printed below some of the main points from the feedback meeting.

• Cultures work well together
  
  Lessons are focussed on work
  
  Standards are rapidly rising
  
  Attainment has significantly improved
  
  The house system is working well
  
  The students are a delight
  
  Lessons are focussed on work

Just as soon as the report is made public by OFSTED we will publish it on this website.

Newsletters now on Line

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association has now archived all of its newsletters on line. So now residents can look through our back catalogue of issues to see what we have been doing to support the local residents that we represent in Havering Park and Mawneys Wards.

There is now a permanent link on the right hand side bar for you to click on, that will take you to the host page, were you can then click on each issue over the last three years.

Our 12 page newsletter is published six times a year and is delivered free to every house and business in Collier Row, Mawneys and Havering-Atte-Bower, if for some reason you have not received a copy, drop us a line, contact details on the right hand column.

The RA's would have saved you more

Cllr Ray Morgon (R.A Hacton Ward) writes exclusively for the www.collier-row.co.uk web site in relation to the recent Council Tax meeting and outlines how our budget proposals over the last three years would have saved over £1 million.

Since the report in the Romford Recorder (6th March 2009) of the council tax setting meeting, I have received some calls from residents about our proposed alternative budget.

Although an overall increase of 1.9% was agreed by the Council (when taking into account the zero per cent increase from the GLA) this, when compared to previous increases is good, but the opportunity to reduce the increase even further by adopting our alternative budget was a missed opportunity.

Our budget proposed a 1.75% increase and would have reduced council expenditure by £160,000 which is small when compared to the council's overall budget, but when added to the savings that we had proposed in the previous two years would have saved Havering Council over £1 million.

Our proposals this year for instance, would have seen an increase in the tree maintenance budget, increased expenditure for street cleaning, increased funding to help maintain our historic buildings and reverse the Conservative Administration's policy on car park charges which is damaging our town centres.

To fund these improvements we proposed a reduction in Councillor Allowances, a cutback on publicity and information and a rationalisation of expenditure on equipment, furniture & fittings. We also proposed alternative ways of funding graffiti removal and road maintenance to reduce the burden on the council tax.

For the third year in a row our alternative budget proposals would have delivered a lower increase than that agreed by the Conservative Administration.

Our proposals reflect not only our priorities and aspirations, but those of the people of Havering by boosting local trade and economies, improving the environment and maintaining our historic buildings.

The Residents Group are committed to delivering these aspirations while providing value for money to the council tax payers of Havering.

Work has already started work on our budget for next year, in order to put forward again, an alternative budget which is both credible and robust.


Cllr Ray Morgon
Shadow Cabinet Member for Resources
Residents’ Group

The Friends of Bedfords Park

Cllr Andy Mann, invited Lois Amos, of the Friends of Bedfords Park to write for our Web Site on the activities that the group have been taking part in.

Our Group

The Friends of Bedfords Park, originally formed 4 years ago, are a group of energetic volunteers of all ages. We carry out conservation and practical tasks within Bedfords Park and meet on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

The Park is situated in a Conservation Area which is of Metropolitan Importance for Biodiversity, and is duly being considered for registration as a Local Nature Reserve. The habitats and environs provide many opportunities for varied work and over the last few years we have worked in the woodland, meadows, and grasslands and ponds and lakes. We meet at 9.30-45, beginning work at 10.am. Most of us stay all day, but we appreciate any help and would love to have new members. We have formal meetings every two months.

Flower Power!

We also help arrange events to promote the park and our Group have decided this year to focus on the plants in the Park as we feel that the wonderful native plants sometimes get overlooked. So much wildlife depends on the natural flora beneath our feet.

A joint event between the Essex Wildlife Trust has been arranged for Easter Sunday, the 12th April, when there will be a guided spring plant and flower walk. On June 28th from 2.00pm- 4.00pm we will have another interesting floral walk with local expert botanist Mary Smith, who will help us all recognise the fascinating plants that grow in the meadows and woodland. ( Suggested donation of £6 and must be booked)

The Georgian Walled Garden

The Friends Group, in partnership with the London Borough of Havering and hopefully the Essex Wildlife Trust, are applying for a Local Food Grant of £300,000 to resurrect the fabulous Georgian Walled Garden and create a community and social growing project. The feasibility study has been completed and we are working on our bid. The Walled Kitchen Garden Project will provide a large number of volunteer opportunities to get involved in growing fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers.

So you can see we are literally a growing Group and would love you to visit us on a workday or event. If you are interested please contact Lois and Bill Amos on 01708 704619. Or more information is available on our web site at:- www.friendsofbedfordspark.blogspot.com

Street Surgery in Collier Row

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association were out and about in Collier Row today, meeting and talking to local residents about their issues and concerns with Havering Council. All six action members were present, from the Mawneys Ward team; we had Graham & Karen Price and Joe Webster. The Havering Park team were also out in force, with Cllr Andy Mann, Denis Stevens and Kevin Tonks.

The main topic of conversation amongst residents was the lack of activity from StreetCare, particularly after they had made numerous complaints and still got no answer or action from complaints. In particular this involved, pot holes and road maintenance, lack of street sweeping and street lights not working.

Other topics included issues with Homes in Havering, including the CCTV charge that residents have to pay, even if they have do not have CCTV coverage in their road.

Cllr Mann said “It is great to be out and about in our Wards, listening to what residents want and how their every day lives are affected by Havering Council”.

Earth Hour

This year's Earth Hour will take place on Saturday 28th March at 8:30pm and you can take part by switching off your non-essential lights for one hour.

The aim of Earth Hour is to get people to take action on climate change.

The annual event was launched in 2007 by WWF-Australia and the citizens of Sydney, who on 31 March 2007 were asked to switch their lights off for one hour. 2.2 million people participated and the symbolic action attracted global attention.

In 2008 the event went global with up to “50 million people across 35 countries participating”, (source: http://www.earthhour.org/about).

This year the organisers are aiming even higher. The aim of Earth Hour 2009 is to reach one billion people worldwide.

So if you'd like to tell the world that you care about climate change , please be one of those one billion people who switch their lights off on 28 March 2009 at 20:30.

To find out more and sign up to the commitment, click here.