Scouts Giant Sleepover World Record

Havering Park Councillor, Andy Mann was on hand recently to officiate for the Guinness World Record attempt for the biggest sleepover in the world. The event was organised by Save the Children and local Scout Group, 3rd Collier Row who meet in Carter Drive, Collier Row.

Thousands of Children from all around the world joined together on the same night to take part in the event, have some great fun and to raise money for charity. Approx 25 Cubs and Scouts took part in the event for the group.

As well as being the local ward Councillor to the Scout Group, Cllr Mann is also a Scout Leader himself in Romford, a role he has been doing for almost 20 years. He said “It is fantastic that 3rd Collier Row Scout Group has got involved with such a worthwhile and great event, not only have they raised money for much need camping equipment for the group and Save the Children, but had fun whilst doing it”

Guinness World Records have now confirmed that the total amount of young people to take part was 33,093, which breaks the record set by this event in 2006.

Cub Leader, Linda Day said “We had a great evening; all of the children enjoyed themselves and we raised lots of money. We are also always looking out for children to join, boys or girls from the age of 8 can join Cubs and from 10 they can join Scouts, if you would like more info, please call 01708 750667”

For more info in the World Record attempt, go to www.giantsleepover.com

New Shop opens in Collier Row

Collier Row Councillor, Andrew Mann (R.A Havering Park) officially opened Collier Row’s newest shop this week. “Cyclelife Collier Row” is a new shop, working in partnership with cycle manufacture, Rayleigh.

The shop has been the brainchild of Collier Row Resident, Cliff Boness, who has spent the last month re-fitting the former green-grocers shop into a state of the art cycle shop. Apart from selling bikes, the shop will also sell cycle accessories and will operate a workshop for repairs and servicing for local people.

Cllr Mann was on hand with shop owner, Cliff Boness to cut the ribbon as the shop officially opened for business and it only took 5 minutes for the first customers to walk through the door and start looking around.

Cllr Mann said “I think it is fantastic that a new shop is opening in Collier Row, sadly we still have a few empty properties and this new venture helps keep the Town Centre vibrant and alive and hopefully will help bring more shoppers to Collier Row”

BOWER PARK SCHOOL

STATEMENT OF FACT ON BOWER PARK SCHOOL

Last week, a leaflet distributed by the Conservative Party in Collier Row suggested that Bower Park School was to close and it urged you to sign a petition. However there is no truth in any of this, Bower Park school is not going to close.

Yes, Bower Park School was named last week on a list of 600 or so schools across the Country, the reason it was on the list is simple, it needs to achieve 30% of pupils gaining 5 A-C grades including English and Maths, currently we are a few points behind on this, everyone in the School and the Local Education Authority knows this.

Cllr Mann Said, As a Governor I feel very passionate about Bower Park, I have been here six years and since the arrival of Mary Morrison just under four years ago, the school has gone from strength to strength, to such a level that this year we now have a full intake of 180 pupils wishing to join us"

We have posted the letter from Mrs Mary Morrison, sent to all Governors, pupils, parents and feeder primary Schools, earlier this week. Below that is a copy of a letter sent by Cllr Mann to the Chief Executive of Havering Council and to those Conservative Members named on the leaflet objecting to the contents and informing them of the damage they have done to the school.

COPY OF LETTER FROM HEAD TEACHER

Dear Parent/Guardian

Re: Recent Conservative Leaflet concerning Bower Park School

As you will be aware last week the Government launched an education initiative to raise standards nationally. The benchmark stated that there is the expectation that all schools will achieve 30% 5A*-C including English and Maths.

Our predicted target grade for this year is 43% 5A*-C and 32% including English and Maths. This is in line with the sustainable improvement that we have achieved over the last 3 years. This means that as a school we will not be labelled or categorised as a school needing extra public funding.

As the Head teacher I feel very privileged to be working with such a dedicated body of staff and focused group of Year 11 students who are going beyond the call of duty (sometimes completing a 7 day week) working together to achieve students’ potential.

Unfortunately many of you will have received a Collier Row Political Party newsletter (Sunday 15th June 2008) urging you to sign a petition to keep our school open, there is no need to sign this petition. I am telling you as the Head teacher of Bower Park School that this storyline is factually untrue Bower Park does not need saving.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Michael White and the Lead Member, Cllr Geoffrey Starns visited the school on Monday to assure me that we have the full support of the Council. Our Action Plan is robust and the Council is convinced we have an assured future.

The School has the full support of the Local Authority. We continue to be a moving, improving school and look forward to our examination results in August.

Yours faithfully

Mary Morrison

Mary Morrison
Head teacher

C.C.
Bower Park Staff
Bower Park Governors
Head teacher Clockhouse Primary School
Head teacher Pinewood Primary School
Head teacher Dame Tipping CE Primary School

COPY OF CLLR ANDREW MANN'S LETTER

To:
Cllr Michael White
Cllr Geoff Starns
Cllr Sandra Binion
Andrew Rosindell M.P.
Mr Billy Taylor

Dear All

Re: Recent Conservative Leaflet concerning Bower Park School

I have seen the newsletter that you have distributed over the weekend suggesting that Bower Park school is going to close and that you have launched a petition to save it, apparently you quote Gordon Brown as saying Bower Park is a “Failing School”, this is, as you all know, completely untrue and I would go as far as saying an out an out lie.

I phoned Cllr Starns at home last night and asked him to stop anymore leaflets being delivered to the Ward and informed him of the unhappiness of the Chairman of Governors, I am informed that you did indeed do this Geoff, however the damage was probably already done. I am also somewhat surprised that during this conversation Cllr Starns told me he had not seen the finished leaflet that was now being delivered across Collier Row, I am amazed at a statement such as this, who else had not seen it and who produces your leaflets ?

Geoff more than anyone as a Governor at the school and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services knows what is going on. Your newsletter suggests that an action plan is being launched by Cllr Starns and White to save the school, what action plan is this ?

Is it the one put in place by the school and the LEA that Geoff was given a copy of, on Tuesday night ? As it is certainly not being written by either of you two, or is there another action plan that nobody in the school knows about.?

You also suggest that all of you are working with the Head Teacher, staff, parents and Governors to ensure the school survives, if this was the case, why does non of the above know about it ?

I also feel that as both Cllr Starns and Binion are Governors of Marshalls Park, a more common sense approach may have been taken, Geoff as you know amongst some Governors, there is a little bit of unhappiness that you are the Chair of the neighbouring senior school, this will do nothing to help that situation.

You say the Government want to close Gobions Post Office, well this may be true, but when have they said they wish to close Bower Park School.

The only statement made, was from OFSTED last week, it was reported in the Evening Standard and the School and Council moved quick to make sure a positive story came out of it; both I and Mark Leech from Communications contacted the Time FM radio station to correct their story that suggested the school could close. The Recorder ran a very positive story on the school and all of its good work. The Yellow Advertiser is also coming in this week to meet pupils and staff to do the same.

The statement which OFSTED made, said that of the 800 or so schools on the list had three years to improve their exam results to above 30% for A-C grade including Maths and English, which with the dedicated help of staff working weekends and holiday with pupils, we will be well on track for this August, therefore we will be removed from the list and any possibility of closure. As it is, Bower Park is in the top quarter of Schools on the list anyway and it would be very unlikely they where even on the list this August, let alone in three years time.

I do not think I can find a single statement in your newsletter that is true, the whole thing is completely made up and extremely damaging to the school. I have already received phone calls and e-mails from parents and Governors demanding to know what is going on, your actions have diverted the teaching staff from doing the one thing that will improve the school and that is helping the year 11 pupils to pass their exams.

I will leave the school to make any formal complaint and raise any issues with you; I am writing to you as a Ward Councillor who also happens to be a Governor at Bower Park, not on the Schools behalf. At the very least you owe the school and the whole community a public apology and retraction to the words you have used.

To watch kids come into the school crying because they think their school is closing and to set staff panicking about the future in the middle of our exam session is just terrible, what you have done is utterly shameful and beyond contempt and I feel that you have brought your offices into disrepute by putting your name to the leaflet.

To that end, whilst the school is still to consider their own response, I will be forwarding this e-mail to the Chief Executive, Andrew Ireland and Christine Dooley to lodge a formal complaint and to ask the Monitoring Officer if she feels that you have breached the member’s code of conduct in any way.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Mann

COUNCILLOR ANDREW MANN
Shadow Cabinet Member for StreetCare & the Environment
& Havering Park Residents Association Ward Councillor

Bower Park School

To read about just some of the news on Bower Park, please click on the link below and it will take you to some of my posts over the last 12 months on the School.

PLEASE CLICK HERE

Residents Drop in Surgery

Our latest Residents drop in surgery is being held this Saturday, the 21st June at our usual location of the Forest Row Centre in Lodge Lane, Collier Row, between 10.00 and 11.00, all you have to do is drop in, no need for an appointment.

Our Residents Association Councillor for Havering Park, Andrew Mann will be on hand along with Mawneys team members Graham & Karen Price and Joe Webster and Havering Park member, Denis Stevens to help with any issues you may have about havering Council, such as Housing, StreetCare, Council Tax, Education or any other matter that you may need help with.

If you can not make the surgery, you can always phone us for an appointment at a different time or drop us an e-mail or letter, contact details on the right hand column.

Planet Havering to be scrapped

Councillor Andrew Mann has hit out at Havering Council for not doing enough to safe guard the environmental show Planet Havering, which has been cancelled this year.

Cllr Mann who is the shadow opposition member for the environment said “I can not believe that after all the fuss made last year by the Administration about safeguarding this show, this year they just scrap the whole thing and try and combine it into the August Havering Show”

In a letter to schools sent out recently, the Council informed them that the annual schools day would be scrapped, over 2,500 children from almost every primary school in the Borough attend on the Friday as part of their education, the day is then open to the public on the Saturday, where over 10,000 local residents turn out.

Now the Council is planning to combine the Planet Havering Show with the annual Havering Show, which is also hosted by the London Borough of Havering and held during the August Bank Holiday weekend. There will be a ‘Planet Havering Village’ area within the Havering Show grounds at Harrow Lodge Park on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 August.

However, unless the Council is going to scrap the cost of entry into the Havering Show in August, you will now have to pay, to take part in the Planet Havering show.

Cllr Mann said “Planet Havering has been the highlight of the year for a lot of pupils; my own daughter included, will miss out on this years show with her school. It is well known that getting the environmental message over to people is by starting early, which is why this show has been so popular over the years, other Councils even come and visit us to see how to do it themselves”

The Residents Association wanted to improve this years show, so to that end increased the amount of funding in the show in their opposition budget early this year, which was defeated by the Administration at the budget setting meeting in March.

Leader of the opposition, Cllr Clarence Barrett said “As part of our budget options last year, the Residents' Association put forward proposals to build on and improve the Planet Havering event; I am very disappointed that the Administration have now decided not to proceed with it."

New Bus Service for the Village

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association were very disappointed with Arriva Buses, following their decision to scrap the 500 bus service, in Havering-Atte-Bower. This would leave the whole village without a bus service, effectively cutting it off from the rest of Romford.

Cllr Andrew Mann has been campaigning for a better bus service in the village, since he was first elected in 2002. Something the previous Mayor of London and Transport for London has constantly refused to consider. However, TfL and the Mayor have now been forced into dealing with this situation as hundreds of people would have been literally cut off from the outside world.

Cllr Mann has recently written to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and TfL and asked them to come to Havering-Atte-Bower to meet with residents, Councillors and our Member of Parliament to see for themselves the current situation.

Following the letter he sent, TfL have now contacted Cllr Mann and outlined a new service that will be introduced on Monday 7th July to replace the old 500 bus.

The service will operate from Monday to Saturday (no Sunday service) from 07.00 to 19.00 on a 90 min frequency from Romford Station to Passingford Bridge, where the bus will turn and then run back to Romford. The number allocated to this service will be either the 335 or 375.

Havering Park Councillor, Andrew Mann said “I am glad that the Mayor and TfL have listened to the residents of the village about this very serious issue, hundreds of residents would have been cut of from basic daily chores such as shopping, work and medical appointments, whilst the service is only every 90 minutes, it is far better than the other option of nothing, I am pleased that the Residents Association, on behalf of the residents in the Village has played a part in bringing this new service into our area”.

Havering Park Action Member, Denis Stevens said “We know this new service is not 100% perfect as it is only 90 minutes, has no Sunday service, will not go to Collier Row and will not go out into Essex. All of these issues were raised by residents to us. However, Tfl have assured Cllr Mann, that once the service is up and running, they will be open to consider changes and improvements if we can increase passenger numbers, so all is not lost on these issues”

This will be good news for the thousands of visitors each year to both the St. Francis Hospice Centre and the Essex Wildlife Trust visitors centre in Bedford’s Park, they would have found the traveling almost impossible if they do not happen to drive a car.

Bedfords Park Visitors Centre 5th Birthday

Following the lead from the great day in King Georges yesterday, Cllr Mann popped in on Bedfords Park, to the Essex Wildlife visitors Centre, who were holding their 5th Birthday celebrations. And there was not a traveller in sight, with the parking looking like normal again, following our recent invasion.

The park was buzzing with, young and old taking part in the various celebrations and activities put on by various groups, including the Friends of group, led by Lois Amos. there was loads to do, from nature trails, sun bathing, ice creams, face painting, a live band and much more.

If you have not been to the centre before, then please take some time out this summer to pay it a visit, you will not be disappointed.

Bob White Classic Car Show

The 2nd Bob White Classic Car show & Family day take place in King George Playing Fields tomorrow; the day is once again aiming to raise money St Francis Hospice & Little Haven Children’s Hospice.

The event kick of at 10.00 and goes on to 4pm, there is plenty to do for everyone, including Bouncy Castles, Balloon Race, Beer Tent, Climbing Wall, Fair Ground Rides and loads more.

Why not turn up and show your support, the Collier Row & Mawneys team had a stool at the show last year and great fun was had by all who turned up on a glorious day, lets hope the weather stays dry.



Both Graham & Karen Price and Cllr Mann spent some time over at the park today, and we have to say what a fantastic job was done in putting it all together again, the weather stayed on our side and the sun shone, despite the terrible rain the night before. We very much look forward to the 3rd Annual show, well done.

500 Bus Update in H-A-B Village

Below is a copy of a letter I have written to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson in relation to the 500 bus being scrapped and the situation that Havering Village will find itself in when the service ends next month.

Boris Johnson
Mayor of London
City Hall
The Queens Walk
London
SE1 2AA

Dear Mayor Johnson

Re: Bus Service in Havering-Atte-Bower

Thank you for your letter of the 20th May 2008, following your successful election as the new Mayor of London, may I take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the next four years and beyond.

I would very much like to take you up on your offer of working together, whatever political affiliation we are from; to that end a very urgent and pressing matter has arisen in my ward of “Havering Park” at the very northern tip of the London Borough of Havering, to which many residents need your help in resolving.

As you may recall, Assembly Member, Roger Evans recently raised the issue with you at your first Mayors Question time; concerning the situation that has arisen with the withdrawal of the 500 bus, by Arriva Buses Ltd, which now leaves the whole village of Havering-Atte-Bower without a bus service from next month.

For many years, myself, the Member of Parliament for Romford and other organisations such as St Francis Hospice and Essex Wildlife Trust have tried to secure a better bus service; one option was to re run the 499 service to part of the village when it was first introduced by TfL in 2001 / 2002. The second option was to look at the possibility of changing the 103 and 175; both over the years (many years, I might add) used to run up to the village. However, TfL and the previous Mayor would never investigate this any further, than to say it was not feasible.

Havering transport officers have informed me that a meeting is hoping to take place with yourself and TfL shortly to discuss the issues with local politicians, to that end, so that we are truly working for the residents of Havering and the City of London as a whole cross party, I would very much like to meet you to discuss the issues at the same time.

I know you have a busy schedule, however it may also be of benefit if you could visit Havering-Atte-Bower, it is often the forgotten part of London, as once you are there, it is very easy to forget you are still in Greater London and not in fact in the middle of the Essex countryside. I know you spent some time in Romford during your election campaign, something that the previous Mayor never did, I think he only ever visited the Borough of Havering twice in eight years, which is terrible.

I am sure TfL officers will have all the previous correspondence and details of this situation, however I can supply copious amounts of paperwork on this issue if required.

I very much look forward to meeting you to discus the issue further and to welcome you to Havering-Atte-Bower, as I am sure would Roger Evans and Andrew Rosindell.

In the meantime, if I can be of any further assistance on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me, either via the Members Room at the Town Hall or on Romford 432034. You can also contact me via my e-mail address: andrew.mann@havering.gov.uk

With every best wish

Yours sincerely,


COUNCILLOR ANDREW MANN
Shadow Cabinet Member for StreetCare & the Environment
& Havering Park Residents Association Ward Councillor

Park is all Clear again

As you may know, earlier this week, a group of travellers invaded Bedford’s Park again; they arrived late on Wednesday afternoon with approx 6 to 8 caravans and trucks, they informed the Council they were going to a funeral, however later they admitted they had come from Surrey and were on holiday !

Cllr Mann reacted quickly to this new threat - following the last illegal camp in August 2007 – by e-mailing the Chief Executive and senior officers at Havering Council and the Police, warning them of the situation; this allowed them to act quickly in starting the process to remove them the following morning.

Sadly, travellers are allowed to use their human rights and the only way we can remove them is by a legal process. Council officers and the “Havering Park Ward” Police Safer Neighbourhood Team served an eviction notice on the site on Thursday morning under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act, which gives the travellers 48 hours to leave the site.

However, after receiving the notice and the threat of a warrant for arrest on Monday morning if they had not left within the 48 hour time limit, they obviously thought twice about their actions, and decided to leave the camp late on Thursday evening without the need for further legal process. The fact that a temporary Parks Security company with huge dogs was placed in the park overnight, we are sure, also made them think twice and told them that they are un-welcome in our Borough.

All three of your Residents Association Action members, Cllr Andy Mann, Kevin Tonks and Denis Stevens spent some time up at the park, talking to local residents and the saw for themselves the situation. May we thank everyone for their help in supplying information to us, so that we could then in turn inform Council Officers what was going on more easily.