Hampden Lodge Update

Another planning application has been submitted by Havering Councils developer for flats and now houses on the former care home site. The new application is for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of 30 dwellings, 13 of which are 3 and 4 bedroom houses, and 17 are one, two and three bedroom flats. However there is only provision being made for 36 parking spaces for the whole site.

We have been contacted by lots of residents about the new scheme, with mixed views, most are happy that the scheme has a reduced number of units, however it still does not deal with the extra traffic coming from the site onto Clockhouse Lane and the impact this will have on the surrounding streets and the closeness to Clockhouse Primary School.

The lack of parking provision is also way below what is needed, only 36 spaces for 30 properties, however if you add the total number of bedroom up, you get almost three times that amount, we know some will be for young families, but over time, these young people will learn to drive.

Cllr Mann, Kevin Tonks and Denis Steven all can not understand why the Conservative Administration are hell bent on flogging of this site at any cost and still refuse to look at options for a desperately needed health centre or other community use.

The Councils Cabinet agreed a secret report last year, reducing the amount of money that the developer ad to pay. Cllr Mann has a copy, as all Councillors are allowed to see it, however he has been warned that he can not disclose the contents as it will be a breach of the members code of conduct. However the local Romford Recorder have printed suggestions that over the last 2 years, the price being paid could have been reduced by as much as £1/2 to £1 million pounds.

If this is true, the loss of £1 million in cash that could be spent in Collier Row is a grave indication of the type of people that are currently running Havering Council. Both of your Tory Councillors for Havering Park ward suggested last year that they had “Saved” Hampden Lodge, yet they are both part of the Administration agreeing to sell it off, Cllr Starns is actually a Cabinet member, who voted to sell it off, yet they both protest that they are on your side !

We would ask all residents that have a view to write to the Head of Regulatory Service, at Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford, RM1 3BD with their comments, it would be a great helpful you could copy in Cllr Mann by e-mail at andrew.mann@havering.gov.uk or by post, address on the right of this page.

We are grateful for the developers for agreeing to host an informal meeting at Clockhouse School, for residents to view the plans recently. However we are not sure how much this was politically motivated, as Cllr Mann was only invited less than 24 hours before the event ! Luckily for us, we were able to get three of our members along on the night and Graham and Karen Price and Joe Webster were able to spend some time, talking to local residents about the revised plans which were on display.

Whatever the outcome, it is likely to come before the Planning meeting just the week before the Local Elections on May the 6th how very convenient. We still feel that on balance this scheme is not as good as it could be, we except they have now proposed houses, which the majority of residents said would be acceptable, however there is still a great amount of flats to houses and the traffic situation is still not going to be resolved properly.

StreetCare Matters, but not in Collier Row !

Kevin Tonks and Denis Stevens have been out and about in the ward recently, meeting residents and discussing their biggest complaints at present, StreetCare and the lack of it.

In particular, the large amount of pot holes that have opened up on our roads like small craters on the moon, well to be honest, some are not that small.

Kevin Tonks said “The down side of any cold spell is the snow and water turns into ice. This then runs through any cracks or pot holes and gets under the road surface. When this freezes again, it expands and blows the road surface out, hence an instant pot hole”.

“These are always made worse by roads that are not well maintained. You are able to tell if a road is looked after by the amount of pot holes in it, the more holes the more neglect”.

Denis Stevens said “Three of the worst roads are Burland Road, Highfield and Hillrise Roads. These are not by any means the only roads, just three that we have found that have more holes in than a bag of Hoola Hoops, there is dozens of them”.

Cllr Mann, Kevin and Denis have all reported dozens of pot holes in the last two months as they continue to appear. We all call on this Conservative Administration to stop spending all their Capital money in Harold Hill and their new priority areas and to start spending more in Havering Park Ward. Of a recent Capital spend of £4 million, over half was spent in just two wards in Harold Hill, with the rest being shared amongst the other 16 wards in Havering !

SUSPENSION OF REFUSE COLLECTIONS

Due to the severe weather conditions Havering Council has stopped all refuse collections for the rest of the week - Thursday 7th January to Saturday 9th January.

Full copy of the details below:

We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but the icy conditions mean that it is impractical to send these large lorries into residential streets.

We plan to start collections again on Monday 11th January, and this will follow the normal collection schedule and not the revised Christmas collection schedule that was due to run until Saturday 16th January.

In order that the collection crews can collect the volume of refuse that will be presented, for one week only both black sacks and recycling sacks will be collected by the same vehicle. After one week, the separate waste and recycling collections will run as normal.

The Green Waste Collection Service will also be suspended until the week beginning Monday 18th January. If you have excess green waste that can not be contained in the wheelie bin, please present this is an open container or untied sack alongside your green bin and this will be collected.

Please accept our apologies for the disruption and if you have any further questions then please do call us on 01708 434343.

Weather Update - Thursday 7th January 2010

Weather Update - Thursday 7th January 2010

Havering continues to be covered in snow this morning. At the time of updating this post, at 08.30, it is again snowing in Collier Row.

With overnight temperatures as low as minus 5 in Collier Row, the snow has now become compacted and icy. The average daytime temperature is expected to be no higher that one degree today. The daytime temperature for the next four to five days is also expected to be around one degree.

This will therefore not melt the snow and any fresh fall will settle on top, compounding the 6 or 7 inches that have fallen in the last 24 hours.

Almost all school sin North Romford are closed today, Thursday the 7th and a number will be closed tomorrow. Listen out to Time FM on 107.5fm for updates or go to Havering Council website for more information, or click on the Weather button at the top of the page.

Severe Weather warning in Havering

Havering has been covered in a blanket of snow this morning, for more information about school closures and travel information, click on the link above to take you to Havering Councils website.

For school closure information, listen into Time FM on 107.5 FM.

SNT Police meeting in Collier Row

The local SNT Police teams for Havering Park and Mawneys Wards, held their latest public meeting at the North Romford Community Centre in Clockhouse Lane on Wednesday, 2nd December.

Members of Collier Row and Mawneys Residents Association were out in force for this important opportunity to raise matters of concern with local Police representatives. Cllr Andy Mann and Denis Stevens from Havering Park, together with Graham and Karen Price, and Joe Webster from Mawneys.

Graham and Karen raised issues reported to them of concerns in connection with burglaries in Lodge Lane, and also anti-social activities in the Mawneys area. Joe requested clarification concerning whether it is the Police or the Council who hold responsibility for dealing with parking incidents resulting in a blocked driveway ?

The answer given is that the Police only have authority to force drivers to move their vehicles if they are blocking another vehicle which is on the driveway. However, in practice they would not regard this as an emergency!

Graham and Karen Price enjoyed a long session with the Mawneys Safer Neighbourhood Team, as a result of which officers will be making follow-up visits in Lodge Lane and also the Mawneys area.

Cllr Mann was able to answer questions in relation to Havering Council matters, such as the CCTV car and parking enforcement around schools and to update the meeting on the work to try and clean up the road way behind the shops in Collier Row Road.

Graham Price said "It was interesting to observe that, once again, none of the Conservative Councillors from North Romford, nor their representatives, were present at this important meeting".

Collier Row Library closed for update

Collier Row Library closed yesterday for a week to have some maintenance work on the building completed and whilst closed, staff have taken the opportunity to move a few things around.

This work will include:

New partitioning to the front lobby of the library.
Removal of the in and out doors to make one entrance.
Reduction of the main counter size.
Re -location of the PN machines.
Moving the small study area
Re wiring of the electrics
Introduction of RFID
Cleaning of the carpet

Increase of shelving and more books at the branch

Following a meeting Cllr Mann recently had with Simon Parkinson, the Head of Culture, which includes the Libraries, it was agreed that the Library should actually have a sign on the outside telling everyone what the building is.

Also agreed, was the location and style of a new Library notice board with opening times and contact details. Both the signs are on order and may not be installed this week.

Cllr Mann said "I am pleased that after many years Collier Row Library will finally get a sign over its doors advising everyone that the Library is there, the improvement works should also help residents use the Library better".

The works are being funding by Fire Risk Assessment, H&S Budget. The remaining costs are coming from Library and Culture, revenue and capital budgets.

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

Latest Newsletter Delivered

Issue 16 of the Collier Row and Mawneys Residents Association newsletter is now being delivered across Mawneys and Havering Park Wards. Over 10,500 copies are issued free by volunteers across Chase Cross, Collier Row, Mawneys and Havering-Atte-Bower.

Items in this issue include, the alcohol license approved by the Conservative controlled committee for Newsboy, Websters Walkabout, St Francis 25th Anniversary Celebrations, Travellers invade Bedfords Park again and Bower Park exam result success. See the full details by clicking below.

Click here or on the the newsletter to go to our archive and read the newsletters on-line.

Newsboy granted alcohol Licence

Denis Stevens was on hand at the town Hall this week, speaking on behalf of Cllr Mann who is on holiday against a licensing application for an off license in Chase Cross Road. Sadly, Councillors decided to grant the license, despite objections from the Police, albeit with some restrictions.

However, local residents have vowed to boycott a newsagent after councillors gave the green light for them to sell alcohol. At the end of the licensing meeting on Monday August 10, residents said that they would take action after the committee agreed the application for Newsboy in Chase Cross Road, Romford.

Resident Julie Green said: "I feel very disappointed because the committee has not fully grasped the weight of people's anger. "I think he will definitely see a decline in his sales because people will boycott the shop."

Councillors agreed for the off licence to sell alcohol but they also put on conditions restricting the sale of alcohol in the shop from 10am to 9pm for seven days a week, two people have to be on duty at all time and staff training to be provided.Other conditions included restricting two young people to the shop at one time, bottle and can marking, a refusal register to be kept and CCTV cameras to be installed.

Earlier the councillors heard a presentation from resident George Higgins who was against the application because he believed that it would add to the problems already in the area. He said: "If alcohol was introduced in the shop public safety and crime is going to take a bad turn and I can only see bad news coming in the future."

The residents were also concerned that more people were not able to respond against the application because it was advertised in a paper that was not delivered to all residents and advertised behind the counter in the shop.

Denis Steven, speaking on behalf of Cllr Andy Mann, (Havering Park, Resident's Association) said: "I am disappointed that the formal legal adverts about this application were placed in the Yellow Advertiser, a paper which is not delivered to the new Havering's estate and, living in Havering Road myself, a paper that is only delivered every other week or so."

Homes in Havering lose out on £100 Million Grant

Havering Council has demanded the reversal of a shock Government announcement that will see the withdrawal of millions of pounds earmarked for council housing improvements in the borough.

The funding, to bring the borough's council homes up to the 'Decent Homes' standard, was dependent on Homes in Havering achieving two stars in its September inspection. £9 million would have been available this year, with a further £21 million next year. The remainder of £82 million would then be spent over future years to ensure that all council homes have modern windows, kitchens and bathrooms.

This funding had been promised to the Council if it gained its 2 stars, however the money will now not be available until at the earliest 2011 or 2012 and only if Homes in Havering gain 2 stars in September.

Cllr Mann said “It is deplorable and typical of this Government. They have not only moved the goalposts, but taken the pitch and turned it upside down”.

However, we should remember why we are in this position in the first place. Access to additional funding of £112 million depended on Homes in Havering getting a two star assessment. The last assessment by the Audit Commission awarded just a single star, highlighting such weaknesses as poor handling of complaints, low satisfaction in dealing with anti-social behaviour, lack of customer focus, poor level of first time repairs, no clear programme of decorating and an inconsistent quality of cleaning to communal areas.

This bleak picture was further impaired by the discovery of a £2m black hole in the accounts last year and a very generous payment to a chief executive who simply failed to deliver. Although this decision by the Government has let our tenants and leaseholders down, they were already let down by Homes in Havering.

Cllr Mann went on “I am not saying that improvements have not been made, but it is far from clear that HiH will receive 2 stars at the next assessment and time will tell. What is clear is that our tenants and leaseholders deserve is a service which provides prompt attention, clear planning and value for money and this is what we must strive to achieve”.

The £30m additional funding in 2009/10 and 2010 would have been used for:

1,515 families benefiting from new, energy-efficient boilers, thus tackling the fuel poverty they are experiencing at this time of economic uncertainty
1,118 new bathrooms and 1,682 new kitchens, including water-conservancy features
153 families benefiting from extensive works to poor quality homes of non-traditional construction types
Window replacements to 349 homes and door replacements to 241 properties, in support of the Government's energy efficiency and climate change agendas
115 extra properties receiving improvements to their electrics
13 properties having renewed roofs

New Dentist officialy opened

Collier Row Councillor, Andy Mann attending the opening of the new NHS Dentist in Collier Row Road today, the project funded partly by Havering NHS and Dr Patel was officially opened by the Mayor of Havering.

Over 70 people from the NHS, Havering Council, local partners and family and friends of Dr Patel attended the event and were able to see the excellent facilities for themselves.

The clinic will be specialising in treating nervous and anxious patients and children and the elderly. The surgery opened in the Councils old Housing office, that it sold off some three years ago and has laid empty ever since.

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 Andy Mann said “I was very pleased to be invited to the opening, I have known Dr Patel for over 25 years and was more than happy to support the planning application for this 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 practice up and running”.

For more information, contact the practice on Romford 728 715

Chase Cross Road Closed

Chase Cross Road, in Collier Row will be closed Eastbound, on the 16th, the 17th and the 20th July for major resurfacing works between the hours of 09.30 and 4.00pm.

Local diversions will take you down Gobions Avenue and Havering Road and are best advice is to avoid the area unless you need to travel that way.

The road is being resurfaced as part of the Councils Capital funded programme and follows numerous complaints from you Residents Association and local residents about the state of the carriageway, particularly outside the shops.

New Vicar arrives at Good Shepherd

Cllr Mann recently attended the Good Shepherd Church, in Collier Row Lane, for the licensing service of the new vicar, Revd David Hague, pictured 2nd from left next to the Bishop of Barking, the Deputy Mayor of Havering, pictured 2nd from right and myself on the far right.

A wonderful evening was had by all who attended; some 200 plus people crammed into the church to celebrate David’s arrival to the parish, with both the formal licensing stuff and song and prayer, accompanied by the excellent in house band.

Cllr Mann said “I am sure David will be very much at home in Collier Row, he and his family are committed to working worth the community, to bring the life and work of the Good Shepherd Church to as many people as possible, I am sure he will build on the good work that the church has been doing for many years”.

Hampden Lodge Refused – for now !

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association are pleased that the Planning Committee refused permission for the former care home to become 43 flats. Over the last two years, the application has gone from 58 flats, down to 48 and then rather controversially mid way through the recent consultation, reduced down to 43.

Cllr Mann who was joined by Joe Webster and Denis Stevens at the planning meeting said, “I am pleased that the Committee agreed with all those who objected by refusing the scheme, I struggled to find a single positive point, the flats were too high, out of character, a danger to the highway in Clockhouse Lane, loss of light and there is also a lack of education places in North Romford.

However, the Conservative controlled Council need to take some responsibility for this whole debacle, they are the ones that sold the land, (subject to planning being granted) they are the ones that reduced the price by an alleged £1/2 million (as reported in the Recorder) to get shot of it and they are the one who have now made it a planning condition that 100% of the flats are offered as affordable housing to a Housing Association.

Over 1000 people signed the original petition that was presented to the Mayor last year, however it seems that your Tory Councillors are hell bent on doing anything for money, and could not give a damn about what local people want. Earlier this year, Tory Cllr, Geoff Starns said he was resigned to taking the big bucks for the land and at the Planning meeting, Cllr Tebbutt, said it was the Councils job to squeeze every pip of money out of a piece of land they sell, so plenty of hope there then !

Almost every resident we have spoken to would accept some sort of housing on the site and that is what we need “housing” not flats. Havering Council now need to go back to the drawing board, look at what money they want for the site and balance that against what is best for a family town like Collier Row and come up with suitable plans, perhaps houses, maybe a Health Centre.

The developer has spent a lot of money trying to get planning permission and will undoubtedly appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Or will the Tory run Council shelve plans until May 2010 when the next Local Elections take place, hoping people will forget ?

Hampden Lodge Planning Meeting

URGENT – PLEASE READ – Hampden Lodge

As you may or may not know Havering Councils Regulatory Services Committee will be deciding the outcome of the planning application to turn the former care home into 43 flats on Thursday of this week (the 25th).

Over the last 12 months the applicant, Bellway Homes and Havering Council have submitted plans for 58 flats, then 48 flats and now revised plans for 43 flats, the latest revision has included a planning condition that 100% of the flats are for social housing and will be handed to a Housing Association.

This will therefore stop local people actually being able to buy the flats and as you have to offer properties across East London as part of the choice based lettings scheme Havering are part of. There is no guarantee that Havering people will get a flat, if they are approved.

The level of support against this development has been fantastic, with hundreds writing to object and over 1000 people signing the original petition; please join us for the last push at the planning meeting this week at the Town Hall to show the level of objection.

Please meet at the Town Hall from 6.30pm for a demonstration this Thursday, the 25th June, then stay on for the planning meeting at 7.30pm. Your support on Thursday could make all the difference.

Cllr Andy Mann

New Dentist opens in Collier Row

Cllr Andy Mann was on hand today, as a new NHS dentist opened its doors for the first time, the Collier Row Dental Surgery is the first new dentist in Havering for many years. The first patients was Mrs Driscoll, from Collier Row (pictured in the chair with Dr Patel and Cllr Mann).

The clinic will be specialising in treating nervous and anxious patients and children and the elderly.The surgery opened in the Councils old Housing office, that it sold off some three years ago and has laid empty ever since.

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 the planning application for this 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.

Hampden Lodge You Tube Video

Local resident and Hampden Lodge campaigner, Jeff Terrell has made a short video and posted it on You Tube, click on the link below to view it.

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE VIDEO

Lynwood Drive Planning Application

Another planning application has been submitted by the Lynwood Drive Medical Centre to extend its size by converting the house a no.2 to form part of the surgery.

It also proposes a Change of use from residential to D1 for pharmacy, consulting rooms and administration, alterations to the driveway of 2 Lynwood Drive to form parking for patients and staff of adjoining medical centre located at 2A, 4 and 6 Lynwood Drive.

The pharmacy also seeks permission to be open Monday to Saturday, from 06.00 to 23.00 and on Sundays from 09.00 to 13.00, that is a total of 100 hours a week.

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association is sympathetic to the needs of the community in improving the facilities available to patients and to improving the care they receive.

However, this site is just not capable of being extending any further; the surgery is already located within three converted houses in Lynwood Drive. The parking situation in the surrounding roads is already at breaking point and the six extra spaces that are proposed will not be enough, as they will be taken up by extra staff parking.

The location of the pharmacy on the junction of Lynwood Drive and Clockhouse Lane will be a traffic nightmare, it is also less than 100 metres from a school, and the traffic at start and finish times is already of concern.

There is also issues around why a Chemist needs to be open 100 hours a week !

Havering Park Ward Councillor, Andy Mann said “This application was refused last summer and as far as I can see, there is no difference to the new plans, I am deeply concerned about a dispensing chemist being available for over 100 hours a week, from 06.00 in the morning to 11pm at night, its not like the surgery is open for 17 hours a day”. “To that end, I will be writing to the Head of Planning at Havering Council and calling in tis application and to express my concerns and objections”.

Hampden Lodge Public Meeting

The Collier Row & Mawneys team were out in force last night at a public meeting held with local people who are un-happy about Havering Council and Bellway Homes plans for 48 flats on the former care home site.

Over 50 local people turned up at the North Romford Community Centre to have their say. Cllr Andrew Mann was present, along with Havering Park Ward colleagues, Kevin Tonks and Denis Stevens and Mawneys team members Graham and Karen Price. Also present was Romford M.P, Andrew Rosindell and the two Tory Councillors, Starns and Binion (who are part of the Administration selling the land).

Over 20 local people had the chance to speak and ask questions of the Developer, Architect and Cllr Starns who as a Cabinet member agreed the sale of the site. Both Karen Price and Denis Steven were able to ask questions and make comments.

Karen raised the issue around the four story height of the proposed flats and suggested that residents take a trip to Essex Road to see the impact of a four story block of flats next to a two story house, the block is often known as “Tebbutt Towers” after the former Councillor approved in using his casting vote.

Denis Stevens raised issues around the environmental impact of the scheme, in relation to the loss of grass land, the impact of shadows and the loss of sun on local houses and the allotments, which are behind the scheme. He also raised issues around the extra surface and foul water that would be pushed into the over stretched local network and how flooding would be prevented.

Cllr Mann who spoke at length, highlighted some of the faults with the scheme, such as the reduction of 10 flats from the original plans, from 58 to 48, however the new scheme has an increase of bedrooms from 90, up to 103. He also spoke about his anger that the Council and developers have been secretly being doing deals to turn the whole development over to social housing landlords, something that Bellway Homes were forced to admit after being pushed by a local resident.

Cllr Mann said “I have been dealing with anti-social behaviour problems on the former Gobions School site, where developers could not sell all of the homes on the open market and then dumped the remaining un-sold flats and houses onto numerous registered social landlords, thereby creating a mini housing estate, but without any proper provision for the extra young families and children”.

He went on “we will now get the same issues in Collier Row with 48 flats sold not to the open public, not available to local people, but dumped onto a social housing landlord who is then able to offer flats to people form all over East London and Essex, therefore letting local people miss out on the chance of living there.

Local residents last night confirmed that they are not against the development of the site, they are grown up enough to expect some sort of building on the land, however 100% said they would only accept low level two story housing at the most, that do not overlook back gardens and that are available to local people.

It is still not to late to object to the plans, you can do so by writing to Patrick Keyes, Head of Regulatory Services, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford, RM1 3SL or e-mail planning@havering.gov.uk