Galllows Corner Flyover to close for three months !!

TfL have announced that the Gallows Corner Flyover will shut for three months from 28th May for repair works to be carried out.

Additional works to repair the parapets was identified in April last year and the necessary off-site construction of the support structures is now complete. However, it will take at least three months, working 7 days a week, to install the new parapets.

During the period of works the flyover will be fully closed with traffic diverted around Gallows Corner Roundabout. There will be partial lane closures on the roundabout and its approach during off-peak periods and there will be inevitable delays to motorists. It will also affect certain bus routes, including, the 174, 496 and 498.

The Gallows Corner two-lane flyover was erected as a temporary structure in the Sixties, for an intended 12 to 15 year period. Since then, the flyover has been maintained by a succession of organisations since its construction, comprising of Havering Borough Council, the Department for Transport, the Highways Agency and, since 2000, Transport for London (TfL).

Cllr Mann, who met TfL representatives at the flyover last year to discuss the issue said “The delays over this repair work have been a nightmare for local residents and commuters to and from London, most of this delay was unnecessary if a proper inspection had taken place prior to the works being started last year”, lets hope that once this work is completed, the flyover will operate for many years without any trouble”.

After the Elections in 2010 ?

We noticed with interests the Leader of the Council's comments at the last full Council meeting that there will be no increases in the Special Responsibility Allowances until after the next local election in 2010. But what else is waiting until then? Firstly there is there new swimming baths originally promised in the Conservative manifesto of 2002. Then there is the rebuilding of Clockhouse School. The start of this was promised for 2011 but our information suggests that the cost of a complete rebuild would take the whole of one year's schools' capital budget for the whole of Havering.

And now the long awaited review of secondary school provision has been delayed until after May 2010. We know from the primary review of six years ago that numbers of Havering children entering secondary schools are falling. At present numbers are being kept artificially high by importing pupils from outside the borough. We do not know for how long this will last.

And yet the Council has agreed to proceed with a scheme to build a new academy on Harold Hill without having any real idea of the projected numbers over the next few years. The capital cost will be provided by the Government but the cost of maintaining empty places subsequently will have to be met by the schools' budget.

Joe Webster
Mawneys Team

Rev. Bernadette Hull takes up the reins

A licensing service was recently held at the Church of the Ascension in Collier Row, when the Reverend Bernadette Hull was appointed as Priest-in-Charge. She has taken on the role after the previous Vicar retired after some 20 plus years at the Church.

The beautiful service was conducted by the Bishop of Barking.

Joe Webster and Denis Stevens were invited and represented the Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association at the event.

Afterwards they were able to welcome Bernadette to The Ascension Church and Collier Row.

Celebrate St Georges Day

Romford Market stallholders will transform the market place into a colourful pageant of banners, streamers and bunting this Saturday, 25 April for their annual celebration of England's patron saint.

The spectacular all day event is being held on the closest Saturday to St George's Day, 23 April. Entertainment will be provided by the Royal Liberty Morris Dancers and the Havering Majorettes, while a magician will mingle with the crowds to perform tricks and add to the fun.

Children will be able to enjoy themselves at face painting sessions.There's bound to be plenty of fun for everyone, so bring the family along, make a day of it and celebrate in style.

The entertainment runs from 11am to 3pm.It is important to celebrate the Patron Saint of England and where better to do that than at an English market that has been around for 750 years. St George's Day is a fun reminder to celebrate our country's traditions, culture, heritage, history and natural beauty - something we can be very proud of in Havering.

Romford District Scouts will also be on parade in Collier Row on Sunday, for their annual St Georges Day Parade, the march past starts from Clockhouse Lane at 2.30pm on Sunday and ends at the Corpus Christi Church in Lowshoe Lane, Collier Row.

Dont lose your chance to Vote

Don’t lose you chance to vote in next months European Parliament elections. The elections take place on Thursday 4 June - but the deadline for registering to vote is much earlier - Tuesday 19 May.

Residents who usually vote at the Central Library, Romford, which is currently closed for refurbishment, will need to go to Romford Baptist Church, Main Road. This site opposite the Town Hall has parking facilities and disabled access.

Elections to the European Parliament take place every five years. There will be seventy-two members of the European Parliament (MEPs) representing the United Kingdom after the 2009 elections. Eight of these MEPs will be elected to represent the London region.

European elections are held using proportional representation, which means the number of seats a party gains is directly related to the proportion of votes their party receives.

The parliament has a significant influence on the lives of EU members. For example, many laws passed by Westminster are drafted in response to European directives.People may feel that what happens in Brussels doesn't matter to them - but that is not the case. Every vote will count - don't waste yours.

The deadlines for the election are as follows:

last day to register to vote is Tuesday 19 May
last day to request a new postal vote is 5pm Tuesday 19 May
last day to request a new proxy vote is 5pm Wednesday 27 May

Forms for any of the above are available by contacting 01708 432444/5 or emailing elections@havering.gov.ukFor more information please go to the Elections page on Havering’s web site.

Danger Toys !!

Havering Council is warning parents not to save money during the credit crunch by buying dodgy toys - or they could regret it.

Council officers have noticed a rise in the number of unsafe toys being sold and have seized hundreds at discount shops, boot sales and markets. Last month dozens of small battery operated cuddly toys were seized from a man selling them from a shopping trolley in Romford town centre.

The toys - which included kittens, puppies, rabbits and tiger cubs - were very badly made and the bells eyes and noses could easily be removed and could be a potential choking hazard. On another occasion the Council seized miniature cars which have extremely high levels of lead in the paint. Once lead enters a child's blood stream it can, in the most serious cases, cause damage to the brain and nervous system or growth problems.

Other toys seized across the borough that do not comply with United Kingdom safety regulations include counterfeit Barbie scooters, Winnie the Pooh toys and fake Incredible Hulk action figures.

A Council Spokesman said "Officers have noticed a rise in the number of counterfeit and unsafe toys over the past year - they have seized hundreds. Times are hard and people are cutting back on their spending - but you cannot put a price on a child's safety."

If you shop at well-known reputable stores then you should have no need to worry - but if you are not sure where a toy has come from then it is better to be safe than sorry.

Anyone with any concerns about a toy should call 01708 433484.

New Activities at Forest Row Centre

New and exciting activities continue to be added to the range at the Forest Row Centre, in Lodge Lane, Collier in particular a new Pilates Class (matwork based) that is about to start.

Treat yourself to Pilates, a combination of movement and breathing, great for relaxation and improving your strength, flexibility, balance and posture.

For all ages and abilities. Qualified and experienced instructor. Classes at Forest Row Centre, Lodge Lane, Collier Row, starting Wednesday 22nd April, 10.30-11.30am. £4.50 pay as you go or £24 for a 6 week block of classes.

Phone more information phone 01708 431742.

Hampden Lodge - New Planning Application

It seems the Conservative Administration at Havering Council are determined to continue with selling off the former care home, Hampden Lodge, in Clockhouse Lane, Collier Row and filling it with dozens of flats up to four stories high.

Following a massive outcry last summer - when Bellway Homes submitted an application for 58 flats and associated parking - they withdrew the planning application as it was set to be refused. Since then, Havering’s Cabinet has reconfirmed its desire to sell of the land, by reducing the cost. Although the amount was contained in a confidential report, the Romford Recorder reported it as approx a £1/2 million reduction.

The new application is for 48 flats and associated parking, a reduction of just 10 flats from the original plan; they will still be three and four stories high. However, gone are the 6 x studio flats and 4 of the 1x bedroom flats, they have now been replaced with 5 x three bed and 5 x four bed flats.

The Residents Associations objections still remain the same as last time, with over development of the site, traffic implications in Clockhouse Lane, out of keeping with surrounding properties, in particular the 3 and 4 story height and over looking into houses in Highfield Road and Clockhouse Lane.

Havering Park Councillor Andrew Mann said “This application is nothing short of a slightly scaled down version of the last application, with only a small reduction of the amount of flats being crammed onto the site, it would seem that Bellway homes and Havering Council have not listened to the many hundreds of residents that objected to the previous scheme”.

Havering Park Team Member, Denis Stevens said “Over 1000 people signed a petition last summer against the plans for the site, all of which, it would seem have been ignored, as the Tory Council have continued to push this application along. Once again by doing a deal that only sees the Council receive the money once planning permission is granted”.

Cllr Mann has called this application into committee, so that if and when it comes before Councillors it can be discussed in full. If you would like to object to the plans, please write to the Head of Regulatory Services at Havering Town Hall, setting out your objections. Please copy in Cllr Mann into your objections.

You can also e-mail your objection to planning@havering.gov.uk Please quote the planning application number when you write, it is P0453.09.

Patrick keyes
London Borough of Havering
Mercury House
Mercury gardens
Romford
RM1 3SL

Please click here to see our previous stories on this issue.

Easter Refuse Collection dates

Havering Council has announced amended dates for refuse and recycling collection over the Easter holiday.

Revised collection days are:

Good Friday, 10 April - Saturday 11 April
Easter Monday, 13 April - Tuesday 14 April
Tuesday 14 April - Wednesday 15 April
Wednesday 15 April - Thursday 16 April
Thursday 16 April - Friday 17 April
Friday 17 April - Saturday 18 April

From Monday 20 April, collections will be back to normal.

Gerpins Lane Easter Opening Times

Gerpins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre opening times are as normal, 7.30am until 5.45pm every day.

Easter Fun at Bedfords park

There's a great chance this Easter Sunday 12 April to get involved in some fantastic fun activities at Bedfords Park, north Romford between 10am and 4pm. You can also find out more about Havering's plans to declare Bedford's Park a Local Nature Reserve.

You'll be able to try out the trails and guided wildflower walks, find out about Easter crafts, indulge yourself in preserves & pickle tasting, and treat the children to face painting. Most activities are free apart from a £3 per child donation for the trail and Easter crafts.

During the day you'll also be able to find out more about the exciting plans to declare the park a Local Nature Reserve. These are places that are of special interest locally and where people of all ages can enjoy coming into contact with nature. With the Local Nature Reserve designation comes better protection and potentially more opportunities for external funding.

Havering Council's Countryside Team are organising the day in conjunction with Essex Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Bedfords Park.

As part of the Easter Sunday event we'll be asking people what they think about the proposed Local Nature Reserve declaration. Bedfords Park is already a popular site with local residents and school groups who visit regularly for walking, informal recreation and events put on by Essex Wildlife Trust who manage the visitor centre. It's a great place to see wildlife, with important habitats such as woodlands and wildflower meadows and animals including bats, great crested newts and a huge variety of dragonflies and damselflies in summer.

In Havering we already have five Local Nature Reserves - The Manor at Harold Hill covering Dagnam Park and Duck Wood; The Chase at Rush Green; The Ingrebourne Valley covering Hornchurch Country Park and the adjacent marshes; and most recently, Cranham Marsh and Cranham Brickfields in Upminster.

For further information contact:Benjamin SandersonCountryside Projects OfficerEnvironmental StrategyMercury HouseMercury Gardens RM1 3RXTel: 01708 432873e-mail: benjamin.sanderson@havering.gov.uk

Special Bus Service to run for 2 days only

Two special "one off" services will be operating over two days to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of RT buses from passenger services in London.

There will be a 175A Romford Station to Ongar Station service operating on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th April. The route will go via South Street, Mercury Gardens, Havering Road and Orange Tree Hill towards Ongar.

The service will pick up and set down passengers at existing bus stops along the route. The vehicles used will be double deck buses. The service will be hourly from Romford Station with the first service departing at 09:18 and the last departing at 16:18. The first service from Ongar Station will depart at 10:24 and the last service will depart at 17:24.

There will be a 247 Romford St Edwards Way to Brentwood service operating on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th April only. The route will operate via Mercury Gardens, Balgores Lane and Shepherds Hill towards Brentwood.

The service will pick up and set down passengers at existing bus stops along the route. The service will operate every 30 minutes during most of the day with the first service departing Romford at 09:08 and the last departing as 17:08. The first service departs Brentwood at 10:08 and the last service departs at 18:08.

Havering Card Launched

Havering Council are launching a new to allow residents to be able to access money savings, discounts and special offers on goods and services simply by showing their card when they use local businesses who are part of the scheme.

For local businesses, the Haveringcard is a chance to attract more custom from people living on their doorstep in return for a discount or special offer. The scheme is free to join.

What businesses offer is up to them: it could be a free taster session or introductory offer; 10% off certain goods or services, a buy one, get one free offer or discounted entry.

Already more than 100 local businesses – from shops to shoe repairers; driving schools to dry cleaners; plumbers to opticians and hairdressers - have expressed an interest in the scheme.

The Haveringcard is free to residents and officially launches in mid April. Residents should receive two cards with their next copy of the Living newspaper which is out shortly.

Additional cards will be available to residents in the Public Advice & Service Centres and in the borough's libraries.

Businesses interested in signing up for the Haveringcard should download application form by clicking here.

New Dentist for Collier Row

A new NHS dentist will be opening its doors in Collier Row later this month, the first new dentist in Havering for many years. The clinic will be specialising in treating nervous and anxious patients and children and the elderly.

The surgery will be opening the Councils old Housing office, that it sold off some three years ago and has laid empty ever since. Building work is still being completed and is due to be finished in the next week or so after the applicant received planning permission recently.

Dr Patel, the lead clinical principal dentist said “We have been working with the NHS to develop a modern family friendly practise and are delighted to offer all aspects of NHS dental care. It is especially important that children’s teeth and gums are looked after in their early years to ensure dental health is maintained for life”.

Cllr Mann said “I was very pleased to be able to support this planning application for a new dentist in Collier Row; a NHS dentist is very much needed in the area and will be a wonderful asset for the community and I very much wish Dr Patel the best of luck as he get the dentist up and running”

For more information, contact the practice on Romford 728 715.

StreetCare savings exposed

Cllr Andy Mann, (Residents Association, Havering Park Ward) has hit out at the secretive manner in which Havering’s Cabinet member for StreetCare and the Council have acted with a £330k thousand saving in this years budget.

The savings proposal was put up by StreetCare as part of this year’s Council Tax proposals and despite numerous requests for information over the last 2 months to give more details, Council Officers have been both vague and slow in coming forward with the full details.

Maybe there was good reason for the secretive behaviour, as despite making press comments about how much extra they were investing in StreetCare, Cllr Mann has discovered the truth behind what services they are cutting to make their savings.

To make the £330k saving, StreetCare is getting rid of over 20 vehicles and trailers from its fleet, which in itself is not too bad; however many of them are front line street sweeping vehicles.
The full reduction of the fleet includes, 3 No, 3.5ton small cage tippers, 2 No, pedestrian applied sweepers, 5 No, small Mechanical sweepers, 3 No, linkpacker 7.5t vehicles, 4 No, small Trailers, 2, No Highways tippers.

Cllr Mann has now managed to extract the information from Officers after 2 months of waiting, he said “I can understand reducing the fleet by taking out a few trailers and a few older vehicles; however the reduction of seven sweeping machines and the three linkpackers, which are used for collecting fly tips is not acceptable. At no time during the scrutiny process of the Councils budget, was there any mention of the drastic cut in front line services”.

Cllr Mann, who was formerly the Cabinet Member for StreetCare at Havering was responsible for bring in many of the vehicles in one of the biggest fleet purchases in 20 years, with over £2 million spent across five years to upgrade the service an improve cleansing standards. It has been suggested that four new vehicles will be purchased, however this will only happen once the Council has finished its new StreetCare depot.

Cllr Mann continued, “It is time for the Administration to be honest and upfront with its plans, what is the point of trying to sneak through such savings in its budget without proper consultation, when was a single resident asked if they would like to see a reduction of street cleansing in the Borough, our own research shoes people want more of it, not less”

Easter Activities & Sports Camp

A range of activities will be taking place throughout the holidays this Easter, which run from Monday 6 April to Friday 17 April, to keep Havering's children and young people entertained.

Havering libraries have a number of craft events taking place including making Easter cards and baskets and a fantasy story making activity.

The popular Sport Camp will also return, allowing eight to 14-year-olds to play sports including football, cricket and rounders.The sport camp, which runs from Tuesday 14 April until Friday 17 April is held at Brittons Astroturf Pitch, Brittons Playing Fields, with sessions running from 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm. Booking is essential, call 01708 433818.

For full details download the Easter sports camp leaflet, by clicking here.

Library events as follows, Collier Row Library, on Saturday 4 April from 2.00pm to 3.30pm, children of all ages can make their own Easter basket and egg card complete with an Easter chick. Tickets cost £3 and include materials.

On Wednesday 8 April at 10am there will be a morning of magic and fun and games with Mr Custard and Lollipop the Rabbit. Tickets cost £3 and the event is for children aged five and over.

There will be an afternoon of scrap booking with a local crafter who will give demonstrations on Wednesday 15 April. It runs from 2pm to 4pm, tickets £6.50.Book tickets by calling 01708 760063.

April Fools - No its all TRUE

Members of Parliament will receive a 2.3% pay rise today, taking their annual salary from £63,291 to £64,766, an increase of just under £1,500 a year. This is no April Fools joke, it really is real.

The 2007 - 2008 Members of Parliament expenses have been published this week and although the full breakdown has not yet been released (after Parliament lost a court battle to do so) the headline figures make interesting reading, in particular as two of Havering’s three M.P’s claim for a second home, yet only live less than 18 miles from Westminster, or a 40 minute train journey.

Andrew Rosindell (Romford) claimed the maximum allowed of £23, 083 for his second home on the South Bank of the Thames. Angela Watkinson (Upminster) claimed £21,234 for her Westminster flat. However, James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) claimed just £368 for costs associated with staying away from home, choosing instead to come home to his family each night.
The total amount claimed by all three M.P’s including office running costs, postage, I.T equipment and second homes allowances comes to;

Andrew Rosindell £ 152,284
Angela Watkinson £ 126,083
James Brokenshire £ 107,093

The expense claim of Romford M.P Andrew Rosindell is even higher than the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and Conservative Leader, David Cameron.

Less than 24 hours after the claims being made public, M.P’s now want the taxpayer to increase funding to their pensions of another £800k a year. M.P’s currently pay 8% or their salary into their pension, whilst the tax payer puts in almost 29%.

The Prime Minister has announced a review looking at the whole scheme will now be speeded up; however this will not be completed until the end of the year.

M.P’s recently lost a court battle, to make their full claims public, which is only right, as it is tax payers money after all. The lists will show every penny claimed, so we will be able to see if any of our M.P’s have made claims for new T.V’s, shopping from Sainsburys, kitchen sinks and anything else you could ever dream off.

Cllr Andrew Mann said “In this day and age, it is beyond contempt that M.P’s can claim such vast amounts of tax payers money and yet hide behind secrecy rules, so nobody can see what they are claiming. It is, very much in the public eye if an M.P claims for his parents shopping, or purchase two new flat screen T.V’s, the time has come for all 600 plus M.P’s to do the decent thing and be up front about what they claim for”

“I as a Councillor at Havering and an employee of another London Council have to account for any expenses I claim for and all of them are open to public inspection. It seems the Countries rule makers are trying to make the rules suit their own end, is it any wonder residents have such a low opinion of elected representatives”