North Romford Area Committee

The next meeting of the North Romford Area Committee will be held this week, on Thursday 22nd October, starting at 7.30pm. StreetCare officers will be present from 7pm, along with Cllr Mann and other members of the Residents Association.

The meeting is being held at Clockhouse Primary School, in Clockhouse Lane, Collier Row.

Items on the agenda include a report about proposed yellow lines in the new Havring's estate (the former Gobions school site) and in Litten Close, off Lodge Lane.

Their is also the opportunity to raise question in a public forum for 30 minutes. For more information and to see the agenda, click on the link below.

http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=19542&p=0

Police SNT are on their bikes

The Havering Park Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team has recently taken delivery of five new cycles for use by the team’s Police officers and P.C.S.Os. Pictured above on the bikes recently in Havering Village, are L to R (P.C. Di Hefferan and PCSC Pete Watts)

Havering Park Ward is one of the largest wards in Havering, covering two Country parks. By having the bikes, it has allowed the team to get around the ward much easier and quicker.

The bikes were funded through a capital grant of £5,000 from the North Romford Area Committee in the budget year 2007 / 2008. An allocation of this years budget has not yet been made, the year runs out on the 30th March, so Cllr Binion (The Chairman of North Romford A C) needs to get a move on, as valuable money is not being spent in the community.

Bus Stop Improvements

I had a meeting tonight with the Chairman of the North Romford Area Committee and Havering Councils Technical Services Manager concerning improvements to bus stops in Havering Road.

The improvements are funded by Transport for London and basically do just that, they improve access to the disabled and elderly and for parents with prams, they also improve the paving and crossing points to make them safer.

The plans have already been agreed in principal and all residents that were affected have been notified, the meeting was to iron out any final issues and to make sure that the Council took on board all of the points that have been raised by residents.

Area Committee

This Thursday will see the last Area Committee of this municipal year, being held at the usual location of the Immanuel School, Havering Road North, the formal meeting starts at 7.30pm, with StreetCare staff on hand from 7pm.

Do you have any issues with the local Council that you would like to discuss, there is one report on the agenda dealing with an upgrading of bus stops in Havering Road and Pettits Lane North.

A repoert requested by myself concerning the River Rom has failed to appear on the agenda, as i write this post i am still waiting to hear why this is the case.

Area Committee Funding

Each Area Committee has been allocated £5,000 for environmental improvements in its area and the chance to bid for a further £5,000 from a central pot of money. Unfortunately, the Administration has been very slow in bringing forward its proposals and now we, the residents of North Romford run the risk of losing that funding.

The money can only be spent on what is called “Environmental Improvements” which includes such things as rubbish bins, seating, dog bins, cycle racks, flower planters, additional park play equipment or any other small scale improvement that would benefit the local area.

As the only Residents Association Councillor in North Romford, I am keen for the local residents to decide where any money should be spent and not just decided upon by Councillors that have no knowledge of North Romford.

I already have a small list of projects that residents have raised with me, but in order to make sure we receive in North Romford all of our money, may I ask that you write to me at the Town Hall (main Road, Romford, RM1 3BD) or e-mail andrew.mann@havering.gov.uk with any suggestions as soon as possible.

North Romford Area Committee

The first North Romford Area Committee was held this week, it was always going to be fun with 5 tories and just little old me as the only Residents Assoicaton Councillor. Anyhow, we got off to a good start, i nominated myself for Chairman, but low and behold, none of the Tories would vote for me, so i thought i would try for the vice chairman spot, but no, they would still not support me, oh how they must hate me sitting at that table with them.

The meeting was o.k, a few complaints from residents about parking on pavements, which i have to say is becoming an increasing problem, as the Council push for issuing more tickets to bring the money in, if anyone gets issued with a dodgy ticket, just drop me a line.

A resident wanted to talk about the flats in Essex Road, but the Chairman would not let her, suggesting that because a report was in front of full Council next week we could not talk about it, i dont actually go along with that, but she is the chair, if she wants to stop the residents of North Romford having their say its up to her, come back soon for a full report into the goings on of ex Cllr Tebbutt and the very dubious decission to approve planning permission.

We talked at length about a traffic calming scheme in Havering Road, it would seem that that the officers report was upside down, as the slowest part of the road was going to receive the speed warning signs and the fastest part was to receive nothing. So after a quick change around and a suggested change by me and i must say supported by my old tory friend Cllr Starns, we changed the oficers report.

At the end of the meeting, i presented the Chairman, Cllr Binion with a petition from some residents in Chelmsford Avenue, concerning the state of the play site, unfortunately she did not seem that interested and went on about how she was going to present it at Council next week.

I seems to have rattled the Torries a bit over this park, they have to be seen to be doing things at all costs, but upto only a month ago, they had no interest in the park, yet your Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association had actually highlighted it in our election material for action if elected as it has been neglected for years, would you beleive that on visiting last year, one of the Councils Parks officers did not even know it was there.

Watch this space for more on the park.