Free Swiming for Under 16's or Over 60's

HAVERING RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO MAKE A SPLASH

From April this year thousands of Havering residents will be able to take advantage of a new scheme providing free swimming to the borough’s oldest and youngest people. Everyone aged 60 and over and 16 and under will be able to swim for free at the borough’s three pools, Hornchurch Sports Centre, Central Park Leisure Centre and Chafford Sports Centre.

With just weeks to go before the scheme starts, residents have been encouraged to register now. Then they will be issued with an Everyone Active swipe card, which they can use at their chosen pool from April 1.

To register, residents must fill in a form which can be obtained from libraries, leisure centres and other Council buildings, as well as on the website http://www.havering.gov.uk/. Completed forms should be taken, along with a valid form of identification such as a driving licence or birth certificate, to one of the leisure centres where the card will be issued.

The initiative aims to get more people active in the run up to the London Olympics in 2012. Free swimming is available during the pools' public opening hours. The scheme is funded by a £140 million package with contributions from the Departments of Culture, Media and Sport, Health, Children, Families and Schools, Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government.

Havering will receive £72,614 per annum to provide free swimming for those aged 60 and above and £135,820 to provide it for those aged 16 and under. It is funded for two years after which it will be subject to a government review.

Friends of Havering Country Park

At the most recent meeting of the Friends of Havering Country Park, the vacant post of Chairman was filled by Gordon Walkley, who was duly elected to represent our Group. Those members holding other Committee posts remain in place.

Mawneys Team member Joe Webster attended and said "I am sure Gordon will make a wonderful Chairman of the group, so much has been achieved over the last two years or so by the group and I am sure he will take things further"

The next event for the group will be its usual public meeting at the North Romford Community Centre on the 19th March, starting at 7.30pm.

Following that is a work day on the 29th March, were the group will be clearing an area near to the bungalow called Charlie's Acre. We will be burning the old wood - baked spuds and bangers will be provided. Bring a flask.

For more information about the group you can visit there web site at: http://sites.google.com/site/fohcpg or e-mail at fohcpg@googlemail.comweb or by text or phone on mobile number 07531-250463

Collier Row Police Matters

Havering Park Ward Councillor, Andrew Mann recently attended the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), ward panel meeting. The ward panel is made up of local residents who live in the ward and is supported by the SNT Police team.

Lots of issues were discussed, not just Police issues, but ones that often cross boundaries with the Council and Cllr Mann was on hand to answer some of the issues raised. The panel also discussed the priorities for the ward Police team.

Cllr Mann said “The ward panel is an important part of the SNT set up and one of the huge benefits of this system is local people set priorities for the local Police, as they are the ones in touch with what is going on in their own neighbourhoods”

Cllr Mann has also recently had a briefing on local Policing issues from Havering Park Ward Sgt, Jon Harwood and Mawneys Ward Sgt, Neil Donohue (pictured above with Cllr Mann). Issued discussed included local ward priorities, general policing matters affecting the Collier Row area and reviewing some of the recent operations that the reams had been involved in.

For more information on your SNT, click here to take you to the Met Police SNT page for Havering, just click on your ward or enter your postcode.

Pinewood School visits the Town Hall

Over thirty five, year six pupils from Pinewood Primary school visited the Town Hall last week and met with school governor, Cllr Andrew Mann and Deputy Mayor of Havering, Cllr Pam Light.

The pupils spent an hour in the Town Hall, after travelling to and from the school by public transport (the 365 bus) and heard about the work that Cllr Mann does as a Councillor and the role of the Mayor of Havering.

The pupils, who all behaved fantastically and were a credit to the school, asked question after question, whilst sitting in the Town Hall Council Chamber. Some of the teaching staff even got the chance to try on some of the gowns, (see below).

As a school governor of Pinewood, Cllr Mann is linked to the year six pupils, which involves meeting with the children in their last year of primary school before they move onto senior school, many of the Pinewood pupils will attend Bower Park school, where Cllr Mann is also a Governor.

Cllr Mann said “As a former pupil of Pinewood Primary school myself it is always great working with the current children, we all had a great time in the Town Hall, with the children getting an insight into how local government works and seeing the Mayor and getting to ask questions, I very much look forward to seeing them back again”

Residents Association Alternative Budget

The Residents Association’ group on Havering Council has today submitted its budget as an alternative to the Conservative Administration proposals.The Residents’ proposals would see a reduction in the 2009/10 council tax increase from the 1.9% set out by the Conservative Administration to just 1.75%.

The RA proposals include the reinstatement of free car parking in our out-of-town centres, additional funding for historic buildings, an increased tree maintenance programme and an improved street cleaning regime whilst also making a £160,000 budget saving.

The budget increases will chiefly be met from savings in publicity and information, special responsibility allowances for councillors and rationalising expenditure on furniture and equipment.

Key Budget Growth Items (£410k) -

Restoring Free Car Parking to out-of-town centres

Increase budget for Historic Buildings in Havering

Increase budget for Tree Management Programme

Provision of two street cleaning machines

Introduce enhanced facility for school uniform grants

Key Budget Savings Items (£570k) -

Rationalising expenditure on equipment, furniture & fittings

Reduce publicity and information

Reduce Special Responsibility Allowances for councillors

Leader of the Residents’ Association Group, Cllr Clarence Barrett said: “For the third year in a row, we are proposing a council tax increase which is lower than the rise put forward by the Conservative Administration.

“Rather than the once a year consultation exercise undertaken by the Tories, our priorities are gathered on an ongoing basis all year round through our newsletters, websites, ward meetings and going out to see what the residents of the borough really want.

“At a time when many residents are feeling the full impact of the economic downturn, it is very important to us that resources are used prudently and in line with residents' expectations. I believe that the proposals we have set out meet those expectations and, while delivering a reduction on the proposed increase, serve to demonstrate our commitment to the residents of Havering.”

Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Cllr Ray Morgon, said "The Residents Group has again shown that, not only are we the only credible opposition to the current administration, but are willing and able, to put forward our ideas and priorities that reflect the feedback that we have received from our growing membership across the borough".

Havering Park Councillor, Andrew Mann said "We have made School Uniforms, the Environment, Car Parking and StreetCare in Havering a priority, our residents have told us these are the main concerns and our budget has tried to provide slightly different priorities with the money available"

New Toilets at Bower Park School

A recently renovated toilet block at Bower Park School has opened last week, by the Mayor of Havering. The prototype toilets are the first in UK to be completed under a new set of national guidelines for school toilets which aim to bring a positive influence on pupils welfare, behaviour and attitude.

The cutting edge design aims to overcome problems commonly associated with school toilets, including bullying and anti social behaviour and brings a new hygienic and healthy approach to the design of school toilets.

Design features of the new toilet block include:

• hand wash area is open and accessible which facilitates easier supervision and make pupils feel safer
• clear view from the hand wash area to area directly outside the toilet cubicles to help deter anti-social behaviour
• open spaces within the toilets are kept to a minimum in an effort to limit possible anti social behaviour or bullying
• the cubicles are a new design of top to bottom doors allowing complete privacy and urinals are set within cubicles to maximise privacy
• sensor-operated taps which discourage the spread of bacteria and minimise waste of water
• cartridge type liquid soap dispensers, easy to clean interiors and wall-hung toilet bowls to avoid the build-up of germs and dirt
• Sleek continuous wash troughs replace individual wash basins as they are easier to clean and reduce the potential for pupils to flood the toilets.

Research has shown that most anti social behaviour occurs when pupils gather in open spaces in the toilet area. To combat this, open spaces are kept to a minimum and careful attention in the design has gone into protecting pupils' privacy.

The new toilets were funded through an £118k capital works grant from DCSF for an upgrade of the old toilet block.

Head teacher at Bower Park, Mary Morrison, said: "We have always had high standards of education at Bower Park and this new block compliments the approach we take to the welfare of our pupils. Proper, clean, hygienic and safe toilets are an essential part of creating a positive educational experience. We are delighted to be the first school in the UK to have toilets based on the new standard designs."

School Governor and Havering park Councillor, Andrew Mann said "We are all grateful to DCSF for making the funds available for the school to be able to build and install the new toilets, they will be a great asset to the improvement of our School".

New Police Phone Number non-emergency

The Metropolitan Police have issued a new contact number for non-emergency situations. The number, 0300 123 1212 , comes into effect immediately and is available 24 hours a day all year round.

In an emergency always call 999. This is when a crime is happening or about to happen. For example, if your house is being burgled (or the suspect is nearby) call 999, if your house has been burgled call 0300 123 1212 .

Similarly, if your car is being stolen (or the suspect is nearby) call 999, if your car has been stolen call 0300 123 1212.

You can also call 0300 123 1212 when you want to speak to your local police, seek advice on police matters or comment on the service you have received from the Police.

Visit http://www.met.police.uk/for more information.

Whats going on at Woolworths

An application to be able to sell alcohol at the former Woolworths store has been received by Havering Council.

Cllr Mann has written to the Administrators of Woolworths to see what is planned for the former store, now the freehold owner has made an application through a solicitor for permission to sell alcohol from the store between the hours of 06.30 to midnight, seven days a week.

We are informed that the plans for the store, involve it opening as some sort of convenient store open for approx 18 hours a day.

Apart from that, everyone involved with this store is being very vague as to what is planned for it, legal notice is on the door which outlines the alcohol application.

As soon as we have any more information, we will update you on the web site.

Ascension Road Planning Application

We have been contacted by dozens of local residents who are objecting to plans to convert a bungalow in Ascension Road, Collier Row (pictured above) into a day nursery for forty (12 x 0-2 years and 28 x 2-5 years) children. The centre is planned to be open Monday to Friday, 07.30 to 6.30pm.

The application in full, is to turn the detached residential property into a day nursery for 40 children, to form a drop off area and parking spaces on the front driveway, the installation of a cycle store and new fencing to the rear. There will also be internal alterations such as toilets and play rooms.

The site is planned to have ten members of staff, with only provision in the application for three bays for parent pick up and drop off. They suggest that staff and parents will either cycle or walk, or take the bus to the nursery, therefore not needing lots of parking spaces.

Havering Park Ward Councillor, Andrew Mann said "Whilst the provision of pre-school education is to be welcomed, the idea that a nursery for forty children can be crammed into a converted bungalow in a residential side street of Collier Row is just ridiculous, there would be cars coming and going all day, the plans only allow for three spaces, which is wholly inadequate for this application".

He went on "I have written to the head of Regulatory services at Havering "Calling in" the application, which means officers can not approve the application using delegated powers and it will have to go to a committee of Council Members to decide its outcome. I have also outlined my objections to the scheme"

The Residents Association would urge anyone that is against this plan to e-mail or write to Havering Council to object, please include the address and the application number, which is P0114.09, the deadline in next Wednesday, the 18th February 2009. You should write to;

Patrick Keyes
Head of Regulatory Services
London Borough of Havering
Mercury House
Romford
Essex
RM1 3SL

Or e-mail them: planning@havering.gov.uk

Half Term Activities to keep the kids busy

Havering Council has a range of fun activities taking place to keep the borough’s school children entertained this half-term, which begins on Monday 16 February.

Children aged three to seven can enjoy Bedtime Stories at a number of Havering Libraries throughout the break. They are invited to put on their pyjamas, bring their favourite teddy bear, and listen to bedtime reads.

There will be a free Sport Camp taking place all week (Monday to Friday) with activities including football, cricket, rounders, tag rugby, a non-contact form of the sport, and uni-hoc, which is street hockey. In addition, there will be specialist disability sports, including table-cricket.

Sessions run from 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm, with groups split into two age groups, eight to 12 and 13 to 18. The Sport Camp takes place at Brittons School and Kingswood School.

Teenagers have their own Teenzone at Gidea Park Library on Tuesday 17 February from 6pm to 7pm where they can take part in activities including table football and the music video game Guitar Hero.

On Thursday 19 February, children aged six and above can take part in a Cross Stitch Initial workshop from 2pm to 4pm at Gidea Park Library. There they will learn to cross stitch their initials.

Also on Thursday gaming fans can head to Hornchurch Library to take part in the weekly Warhammer sessions from 4.30pm to 6.15pm. Entry costs £1 and young people aged up to 20 are welcome.

To book onto a Sports Camp Session call 01708 433 818 or 434 743 or book online at www.havering.gov.uk/sport. Youngsters attending morning and afternoon sessions must take a packed lunch.

For more details on the specialist disability sports taking place call 01708 433 818. Bedtime Stories are on Monday 16 February at South Hornchurch Library, from 2pm to 3pm, Rainham Library, Collier Row Library and Harold Wood Library, all from 6pm to 7pm.

On Tuesday 17 February at Gidea Park Library from 4.30pm to 5.30pm and Hornchurch Library, 6pm to 7pm.

On Thursday 19 February at Harold Hill Library from 6pm to 7pm.

Gallows Corner Update

Havering Park Ward Councillor, Andrew Mann has recently been briefed by Andrew Miles (pictured above on the left with Cllr Mann) from Transport for London, about the on-going situation with the Gallows Corner Fly-Over, below is copy of the briefing note.

Contractors for Transport for London have now carried out the necessary investigation and feasibility design work for the permanent repair of the safety parapets that their inspections had shown had become heavily corroded.

As the flyover is a ‘temporary’ structure, its design is not compatible with modern standard parapet design solutions. A customised design will therefore be necessary, which will be manufactured off-site to achieve the necessary quality control and to minimise installation difficulties.

TfL have completed initial designs and testing of materials and their contractors are currently carrying out the detailed design specifications, which are scheduled to be complete by the end of this month. After this time TfL will be in a much better position to confirm the start date for their manufacture, the date they will be installed and the impacts the installations could have on traffic.

From the end of February TfL also expect to have a programme for the refurbishment of the flyover completed, so that they can estimate more precisely an end-date for the works.
Installation of the parapets will require TfL to find the balance in terms of not unduly inconveniencing residents and road users with excessive disruption, whilst completing the repairs as quickly as possible so that the flyover can be reopened.

In this context, they intend to carry out the repair works outside of the busy peak periods and at weekends, with night-time working where this will not contravene environmental health constraints or safety considerations.

We remain on track to complete the works by summer 2009.

Highfield Towers

Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association, Action Member for Havering Park, Kevin Tonks (pictured above) has hit out at the current situation at Highfield Towers, in Collier Row, with the electric front doors to the Towers still not working after some seven months of being out of action.

He Said "Homes in Havering promised to fix the doors last August and here we are now, seven months later and they still have not been fixed, this is an unacceptable delay to the residents of Highfield Towers, who are being charged a service charge and not receiving a proper service"

Havering Park Ward Councillor, Andrew Mann, said "I have spoken with the HiH CCTV control room manager and been informed that the anti-social behaviour has increased ten fold over the last 7 months, it is putting unnecessary extra work on the local Police teams. It is beyond contempt that HiH have still not carried out this basic repair and they are letting their residents down badly".

Cllr Mann has now written to the Acting Homes in Havering Chief Executive, formally complaining about the situation.

Missed Refuse Collections

Biffa, Havering Council's waste collector will be operating today to catch up on any missed collections from this week, any waste not collected on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, will be collected, today, Saturday.

Collections that should have been made on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd February, will be made on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th February. They will clear all household rubbish and recycling presented on these days.

Collections for the wheeled bin garden waste collection service will continue as usual and bins that were supposed to be collected on Tuesday will be cleared throughout the week.

FREE Sports Camp

Havering Sports Development are running some great fun sports activities during the February half-term. And they're all free!

For more details call our Sports Development team on 01708 433818 or you can download the Sport Camp leaflet via the pdf download at the bottom of the this page. The February half-term Sport Camp is operating from Monday 16th until Friday 20th February.

Click HERE to download the information and booking form.

How are Havering's Roads Gritted

Cllr Andrew Mann, who was Havering's Cabinet Member for StreetCare for three years, gives an overview of how the gritting operation works in Havering. During his time as the Cabinet Member, he spent a night out with one of the crews seeing how the whole operation works (pictured above at the salt store during loading, pre diet I have to say)

This week's extreme weather conditions saw Havering Council bring into operation its most extensive road gritting programme for over 15 years.

The Council has five gritting vehicles. Usually four vehicles operate, with one spare. This week during the heavy snowfalls all five operated. The grit is loaded at the Councils small depot in Rainham Road, the vehicles and the JCB needed to load them, are all kept at the Purfleet Depot.

During periods of heavy snow and ice, StreetCare suspend road sweeping and staff switch to gritting important pedestrian areas, such as shops, school entrances, old peoples homes. Teams of staff from Parks, will use grit to clear entrance roads and paths around some of the bigger parks, see picture below of staff at Bedfords Park on Monday.

Prioritising roads

The total length of roads in Havering is 618 km, excluding trunk roads where gritting is carried out by Transport for London (TfL) and The Highways Agency. The total length of priority one roads is approximately 288 km. This is approximately 47% of the Boroughs roads. In Havering the only roads covered by TfL are the A12, A13 and A127. The Highways Agency is responsible for the M25.

Gritting operations during the night of Sunday 1st / Monday 2 February, the night of heaviest snowfall, the gritting crews put down 125 tonnes of salt – the most they have put down in 15 years. A normal night would see 20 to 30 tonnes. All five of Havering’s gritting vehicles were out, with crews started gritting a 5pm on Sunday and worked until 5am Monday. A new team carried on the operation from 7am.

Roads are gritted in the following priority order:

Main roads and bus routes including the accesses to emergency service centres. Gritters will only move onto other roads once these roads are clear.

Highways to essential industrial establishments, mainline and underground stations, bus garages, shopping centres and pedestrian areas.

Other commuter routes.

Single accesses to schools.

Residential roads and footways.

Roads to single premises.

For more information about Havering Council's Snow Plan click on the following link. http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=11637&p=0

Snow Update - Wed 4th Feb

The snow and ice is still affecting some Council services today. Romford market will be closed today, possibly re-opening on Friday, however further announcements will be made about that later today or tomorrow.

Havering's waste contractor, Biffa have not collected any waste on Monday or Tuesday. As of 07.00 this morning, they are Havering have not made any announcement on how they will deal with the back-log or when they plan to collect the normal rounds for this week.

We have not been informed of any school closures in North Romford today, we know that the following will be open as normal.

Bower Park

Pinewood

Rise Park J & I

Clockhouse

For more details about school closures, listen to Time FM on 107.5fm or confirm with your own school, you can also look up the details at Havering on http://www.havering.gov.uk/

Snow Update - Tues 3rd Feb

Following the heavy snow fall yesterday and the overnight icy conditions, a number of schools in Collier Row are still closed for today, Tuesday 3rd Feb, they include;

Bower Park
Marshalls Park
Pinewood
Rise Park
Parklands
Crownfield
Clockhouse



Havering Council has announced that no buses will be running today, for special school journeys are for the elderly at day centres across the Borough.

No rubbish or recycling was collected by Biffa, the Councils collection contractor yesterday, there may also be no collection today, more updates will be available later.

As a result of the extreme weather conditions, transport services are severely disrupted and driving conditions are poor today, Tuesday 3 February. Council staff are still working to clear and grit roads in the borough.

For news on buses and trains, the Transport for London (TfL) website has more information at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/livetravelnewsThe London Travel Info 24hrs telephone helpline is on 020 7222 1234. BBC Ceefax, page 436, or ITV's Teletext, page 164.

For more information on Council services, go to; http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15164

For more information on school closures, listen to Time 107.5fm or contact your school direct.

The Council have also had its fleet of five gritters working through the night, spreading over 100 tons of salt on the roads, priority is always on the main roads, bus routes.

Smaller roads are dealt with only once the others are completed, StreetCare have been gritting outside shopping centres, libraries and other Council buildings.

2nd Feb is now known as Snow Day !!

With almost every school in Havering closed and parents not able to get to work for the day, it would seem that almost all of them headed for Bedfords park, in Havering-Atte-Bower this morning.

Cllr Mann, was in the Park with his family (pictured above, with his youngest daughter and friends) and approx 1,000 plus people. The park road was gritted by staff early on to make getting in and out easier, however by mid morning the park was packed, to the degree that at 12.00 the park had to be closed to any more cars, as it was full up, with nowhere to park and was causing massive traffic problems.

Almost every school in the Borough is now closed (see list below) with quite a few announced they will be closed tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd Feb) as well, for full details about closures, contact you school web sites direct, listen to TIME FM on 107.5fm in the morning or go to Havering Councils web site at http://www.havering.gov.uk/.

I have posted a selection of photos taken today in and around Collier Row today.

The View from Collier Row Roundabout

Bower Park School, closed for the day

Havering Council Parks Department gritting the road in Bedfords Park

Bedfords Park

Bower Park Head Boy, Chris Webb enjoying the day off in Bedfords park.

Travel & School Update

Almost all schools in Havering will be closed today, a number have already been announced they are closed today in North Romford, these include:

Bower Park School

Mannor Primary

St Peters

Crownfield

Pinewood

Clockhouse

Parklands

Rise Park

Crowlands

Dame Tipping

Redden Court

Emerson Park

Ardleigh Green

St Patricks

Marshalls Park

For more information about school closures, go to Time FM at 107.5fm, who will announce them on air.

London Buses and some rail routes have also announced that they will not be running, go to National Rail Enquiries.