Forest Row Centre is well on its way

I had a site meeting today at the new Forest Row Centre in Lodge Lane, Collier Row, the building work is progressing at a very steady pace and it will not be long before the work is complete.

You can see from the two photos taken above, the progress being made. The first photo was taken about one month ago, the second was taken today. The picture is of the main sports hall.

I went through some of the minor issues on site with the builders, such as the colours to be painted on the walls in different rooms, going through some details in the reception area and generally looking over the progress of the work.

I also met last week with the Forest Row committee and Council officers to go through some of the finer details surrounding the lease negotiations. As a trustee of the Forest Row Centre, which as now been officially recognised as a charity it is great to finally see something nearing completion that you started over five years ago.

Bedfords Park awarded Green Flag

Bedfords Park in Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower has been awarded the coveted Green Flag status – the first in the borough, along with Upminster Park. Bedfords is also home to Essex Wildlife Trust, with the visitors centre entering its fifth year in the park, bringing in visitors far and wide. The park occupies some 210 acres

Green Heritage Site accreditation – now in its fifth year - is sponsored by English Heritage to promote best practice in the understanding, care, upkeep and promotion of parks and green spaces in England that are of heritage interest. The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces.

Havering Council has made submissions over the last three years, but this is the first time an application has been successful. A great deal of work had gone into the bid and a lot of that work was supported by the "Friends of Bedfords Park" group, a group of volunteers that give up their own time to improve the environment of the park.

Bedfords Park was enclosed in the 15th century by Sir Thomas Cooke, one-time Lord Mayor of London, and remained in his family for almost 200 years. It was acquired in 1771 by John Heaton who built a the manor house of Bedfords on the crest of the hill which was enlarged in the 19th century and extensive gardens laid out around it, much of which still remain such as the monkey puzzle trees, cedars of Lebanon and rhododendrons.

Car Parking Petition reaches almost 20,000

Last week, Havering Council held its full Council meeting and this gave the Residents Association across the Borough to hand in our car park petition to the Mayor.

Graham Price and myself were present and i handed in the Collier Row part of the petition with over 2000 signatures, 2236 to be exact and this figure still goes up each week.

The new measures propose parking charges in ALL council car parks 7 days a week, charging disabled drivers for parking, additional waiting restrictions in residential areas and disc parking largely replaced by 'Pay & Display'.

Residents’ Associations across the borough launched petitions opposing the proposals. A grand total of 16,285 registered their disapproval of the proposed charges with Upminster (4,715), Cranham (2,803), Collier Row (2,236), Hornchurch (2,997), Elm park (2,629) Cherry Tree (344) and the internet petition (561) making up the total.

Although to date, the Conservative Administration running the Town Hall have refused to budge on this issue, we are still hopeful that they will take notice, almost 20,000 have objected to date on this terrible new policy.

It will affect our smaller shopping centres and drive people away to bigger shops such as Tesco at Gallows Corner and Lakside. I accept that the charge at the moment is only small, 20p, but how long before this becomes 50p and then a £1 and then £2, we will wait and see.

Planning Permission for more Flats

At last weeks Planning meeting in the Town Hall, permission was granted for the conversion of 92 The Drive, in Collier Row to be turned into five flats, this was despite opposition from Cllr Mann and local residents.

Although the Residents Association members voted against the application, it was supported by the Tory Councillors, who once again rail roaded more flats into Collier Row against the wishes of the local residents.

Maybe as none of the Tory Councillors are Local to Collier Row they do not care about what we think.

MORE TO FOLLOW LATER

Forest Lodge finally Demolished

The last remaining building of the old Forest lodge School building was demolished this week to make way for the new £2 million Community & Activity Centre in Lodge Lane. The building had been used by the Forest Lodge Activity Centre (F.L.A.C) for the last 15 plus years and found itself in the middle of the new car park.

As a former pupil of the old school, on one hand it was a sad day to see the last remains of the school disappear, however i am looking forward to seeing the new building open to the community, which will be a wonderful resource for both young and old.

The new centre is well under way, with the roof now on and all of the services inside, such as heating, electrics, plumbing etc now being installed, hopefully the centre will be ready by the end of the summer.

I have been very proud to have been involved with this building project from the begining, i have meet with Council Officers and representatives of FLAC for the last five years tha i have been your Councillor in "Havering Park" ward and i am looking forward to the grand opening later in the year.

Summer Newsletter now being deliverd

Our latest newsletter is currently being delivered to almost 11,000 homes, shops and business premises across Havering Park & Mawneys Wards in North Romford. It is filled with dozens of stories about things going on in Collier Row and Havering-atte-Bower and an update on what your local representatives have been doing.

Our newsletter has now grown in size, with so much to write about in Collier Row and a waiting list for advertisers, we have added an extra 4 pages to its size taking our booklet up to a 16 page bumper issue. The newsletter will stay at the new 16 page size for the rest of the year.

Dont be fooled by big full colour glossy leaflets from other parties trying to re-invent themselves as local Conservatives. Dont forget this is the party that says its Councillors are local, however one of them lives in Cranham and not one lives in a ward that they represent.

On a recent leaflet, they even tried to fool the good residents of Mawneys ward by suggesting that one of their Councillors lived in the ward by using the address of a local person on their leaflet. If they are proud to represent you, then they should say they live in Gidea Park, Hornchurch and Cranham, thats what you call Local i suppose !!!

If you would like to read the newsletter on line, then please CLICK HERE, or on the picture of the front cover, above.

A Royal Village through the Centuries

Havering Council's latest Heritage walk will take place on Saturday, the 14th July 2007 around Havering-atte-Bower (Havering Village). Havering-atte-Bower has a long and very rich history and it was once the home to a royal palace.

The palace had a continuous use as a royal residence from the 12th century to the time of Charles I. There are also many other interesting things to see and stories to hear about the Village.

Local historian Brian Evans will again be leading this walk, which starts at 10.00am on the Village Green and will finish at the Royal Oak Public House at approx 12.30.

Havering-atte-Bower is a wonderful place, often forgotten by people, that it belongs to my ward "Havering Park", two, it is part of Romford and three, that it is still in the London Borough of Havering, something the Mayor of London often forgets.

Collier Row CCTV Consultation

As you will know, following a successful campaign by your Residents Association, the Council have finally brought forward plans for CCTV in Collier Row, something only the Residents Association campaigned for during the last local elections.

In order to get the system right and cameras in the correct locations, council staff are now undertaking a CCTV Consultation day on Thursday 5th July at Collier Row Library between 10am and 4pm. For people who are unable to attend, questionnaires will be available at Collier Row Library. If you can not get along to the Library, just drop me a line and i will be able to post or e-mail you a copy of the questioner.

The purpose of this questionnaire is to establish the areas within Collier Row town centre that are of greatest concern to local businesses and residents.

In a statement, Council officers said;

All responses to this questionnaire will be given careful consideration alongside other available crime and disorder information. All efforts will be made to meet the needs of the community, however it may not be possible to meet all expectations as the funding available is limited.

Please note the installation of CCTV cameras is a complex and lengthy process. We will, however, be working to keep the disruption to the town centre to a minimum.

Smoke Free Havering

By the time you are reading this, the nationwide smoking ban in public places will have just started. On the 1st July, new regulations banning smoking in every workplace and public place will start and it will have huge implications for everyone, not just non smokers.

The key points are:

From 1 July 2007 it will be against the law to smoke in virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces.

Public transport and work vehicles used by more than one person will also need to be smokefree.

No-smoking signs will have to be displayed in all smokefree premises and vehicles.

Staff smoking rooms and indoor smoking areas will no longer be allowed, so anyone who wants to smoke will have to go outside.

Managers of smokefree premises and vehicles will have legal responsibilities to prevent people from smoking.

If you are uncertain where you can or can't smoke, just look for the no-smoking signs or ask someone in charge.

If you don't comply with the new smokefree law, you will be committing a criminal offence and local Councils across the Country will have enforcement officers issuing fixed penalty notices if you commit an offence.

For more on the new regulations, the campaign and full information see the official government site: http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/

Two Tier Parking Penalties

Motorists are being reminded that the country's first city-wide two tier parking penalties scheme based on the seriousness of the contravention committed will be introduced in London from 1 July.

The scheme will mean drivers parking at bus stops, on pedestrian crossings, or in the safety zones outside schools will receive a higher penalty than those overstaying at a parking meter.

A £120 penalty will be applied to serious contraventions in central London, while lesser contraventions will attract a penalty of £80. In outer London the penalty will be £100 and £60. All penalties will be reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.

This new system will mean that motorists committing some parking contraventions will receive a £20 lower penalty then they currently do.

The introduction of the scheme follows an extensive consultation with the public, motoring organisations and other interested parties carried out last year by London Councils and Transport for London (TfL).

More than 80 per cent of those who responded to the consultation said that acts of illegal parking causing the most disruption, frustration and danger to other road users should be penalised more heavily than others.

Motorists wrongly using bus lanes or committing moving traffic contraventions - including entering a box junction when their exits are blocked and going through a no entry sign - will receive a £120 penalty from 1 July.

Lorry company operators and drivers breaking the London Lorry Control Scheme will also receive £550 and £120 penalties respectively from 1 July.

Friends of Havering Park Meeting

This Thursday (the 21st June) a meeting is being held by the "Friends of Havering Country Park" at the North Romford Community Centre, in Clockhouse Lane, Collier Row at 7.30 pm. If you are interested in what goes on in the park and would like to have a say about its future, then you should turn up.

The meeting has been put together by the Havering Park Safer Neighbourhood Team, under Sgt Andy Barnes and his team of Officers. The aim of a friends group is to bring together like mined residents to support the work in the park and to raise money from external sources, something the Council can not do, unless it is supported by local residents.

It is not run by or organised by Councillors, Friends Groups can only attract outside money if is run by local residents, however any residents that joins the group will have the full support of the Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association and our Ward Co-ordinators in making it a success.

I hope to see you at the meeting.

Planet Havering - The show goes on

Despite the rain threatening to wash out the whole day, I made it to Planet Havering yesterday, numbers seemed lower than in previous year, which im sure was down to the rain, however that did not stop the show from going on !

I managed to do a whistle stop tour of the show with my eldest daughter in an hour and a half; we visited all of the marquees and managed to pick up a few goodies to take home, such as pens and pencils and the odd ruler.

The show is a great way of promoting and educating people in recycling and showing the benefits of environmental improvements that we can make to our homes and lives, with some simple changes in our life styles.

A lot of work goes into putting the show together, the staff that organise Planet Havering do a fantastic job, with not a lot of resource. However, I do think that the show suffered in a little way by lack of support from the Administration, it was very late in the day that they agreed to fund the short fall after a major environmental backer pulled out.

The Residents Association made a budget allocation to expand this show from this year, however the Tories voted down our budget, so there was no extra money. We do hope though that they take note from one, our budget and secondly this web site (as I know the Tories read it, how else would they know what goes on in Collier Row) and actually put the proper resource behind the show next year.

Residents Association win the St Andrews Ward By-Election

Hornchurch Residents’ Association candidate Mike Winter has won last Thursdays by-election held in St Andrew’s ward, in Hornchurch, by a massive 400 majority.

Married dad-of-one Mike represented St Andrew’s on Havering Council for a number of years before last years elections and is now welcomed back to continue working for the community.



The poll results are as follows:

Durant (Third Way) 184
Kamal (Lib Dem) 80
Logan (BNP) 580
Murphy (Conservative) 583
Vincent (Labour) 511
Webb (UKIP) 169
Winter (Hornchurch Residents’ Association) 993

Turn-out was low at 29.6%.

Planet Havering Show - this Saturday

This weekend see the ever popular Planet Havering Environmental show.

Come and join in the fun on 16 June. It's designed to promote environmental awareness whilst having fun! We've only got one planet! So let's learn how to care for it! Admission FREE!
It is being held at Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

It will be a chance to learn about protecting our environment and you can get useful tips on how to apply green ideas in your home.

There will be displays and demonstrations about recycling, wildlife, healthy living, travel, energy and heritage.

You can visit the Croissant Neuf Circus and the Green Roadshow or if you're feeling inspired, you can have a go at some arts and crafts. If you're feeling peckish, there will be a yummy selection of food to choose from and plenty of juicy drinks to quench your thirst.

If you are feeling active, you can try some of our energetic activities but if you want to relax, you can sit back and enjoy some music!

There's plenty to keep you amused all day long - and the good news is, that admission is free!!

Its an Honour !

At the Annual meeting of Havering Council held in May, Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association member, Graham Price received an award of Honorary Alderman of the London Borough of Havering. He was presented with a certificate from the new Mayor and is inscribed “In gratitude for the long and eminent service rendered to the people and Borough of Havering” He was nominated for the award by Cllr Andrew Mann and the Residents Group of Councillors. You can only receive the award if you are an ex Councillor and should have served a minimum term of 16 years.

On receiving the award Graham said “This is an award that I greatly appreciate, indeed so does my family. I am grateful to members of the Council for conferring it upon me and to the Residents Group for nominating me. My public life in Havering began way back in 1974, when the Council appointed me as a member of the old Romford Area Youth Service Consultative Committee and I was also appointed as a school governor for the first time.

I served as a Councillor for the first time from 1978 to 1990 and then again from 2002 to 2006. During those 16 years, I served on various Council committees, in particular Health and Housing. I was also involved with the London Accident Prevention Council. Although, no longer a Councillor, I still continue to serve as a Governor on both Crownfield Infant and Junior schools”.

There are only eight Honorary Freeman of the Borough, five were created last year, the two others were appointed with Graham and are sitting members of Parliament in Havering, and were both Councillors for a total of sixteen years between them, which Graham did on his own !

Blog Update

Its been a few weeks since i have posted any new stories, lts of reasons for this, which i shall list in no particular order,

I.T issues with my p.c not allowing cookies, which blogger needs to work.

Have been busy in the Town Hall, in particular with the Car Park campaign

Have been putting together our next news letter which will be out shortly, with an increased size of 16 pages of local news.

Anyhow, come back over the weekend as i attempt to upload a few of the things that have been going on over the last few weeks. Today is also our monthly residents drop in surgery, so will be meeting people later to discuss issues and concerns.

Andy

Latest on the Parking Report

This Wednesday, the Tory Cabinet agreed the Parking Strategy Report, despite a lengthy debate and opposition from many Councillors.

Much was said by the Tory Cabinet members why this was the best thing since sliced bread, they just can not see what damage they will be doing to our small town centres.

However all is not lost, as the opposition spokesman on Environmental matters i will be "calling in" the report, which means that the Cabinet can not act on the proposals until a meeting of the Environment Overview & Scrutiny meeting has been held.

This will then give Residents Association and other opposition Councillors the chance to question the Cabinet on why they are bringing forward the plan and all of its 28 recommendations. Once the meeting date has been agreed, i will post more info.

In the mean time, the on line petition is increasing in size every day, if you would like to sign it, follow the link below.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/12181.html

Residents Drop in Surgery

We had another successful Residents Drop in surgery this Saturday at the Forest Lodge Activity Centre, in Lodge Lane, Collier Row. A number of residents came along to discuss issues that are concerning them and to meet the team.

Our next surgeries are held the second Saturday of the month, from 10.30 to 12.00 at the Forest Row centre in Lodge Lane, the next surgery is being held on Saturday

If you need any help or advice, just drop in and speak with us, or if your situation is more urgent, you can e-mail, andrew.mann@havering.gov.uk or phone on 01708 768 008.

The site currently has building work going on, however the centre it is fully open and operational, so don't be put of by appearances. Click here, for a link to see a map of the location of the centre.

Say no to Car Park Charges in Collier Row

The Conservative Administration ruling Havering Council this week launched a “Parking Management Strategy” report, with a 28 point action plan to agree the future management of the Councils Parking Services and associated operations. The report and press release sent out this week would have you think its all good stuff, but read deeper into the 40 page report and the real truth comes out.

The main changes in the report include:

The introduction of pay and display machines in all of the Boroughs Car Parks and new parking charges, this includes Rex Close, behind Tesco in Collier Row.

Restrictions changed so you can not park on single yellow lines on a Sunday.

Parking Permits to be linked to Vehicle Emissions, so families with people carriers and large family cars will be hit hardest.

For those that live in a controlled Parking Zone, a huge increase in charges, with the 3rd car costing £100 (there are non in Collier Row at present)

A special pass for Council workers to park illegally in residents and visitors bays and some single yellow lines, free of charge, whilst residents and visitors have to park up and walk to there destination.

Parking Charges for Blue Badge holders in all Car Parks (except level 1 disabilities) therefore affecting many elderly and disabled residents.

Disk Parking bays to be scrapped if Pay & Display machine recover there money within 2 years. (currently quite a few in Collier Row)

Changes to allow just a select few to agree to installing double yellow lines, therefore removing local Councillors and residents views.

Consent for CCTV cars to enforce no right turns, yellow box junctions, no U turns, One way streets and other moving traffic offences, which could be a huge income generator for Havering.

Charges for Blue Badge Applications, affecting the elderly and disabled again.

Charges for traffic orders dealing with Carnivals, marches and parades, risking these free events to residents by huge charges.


If you wish to oppose this new parking regime, drop me a line via the Town Hall, or sign the residents Associations on line petition at the following web site. http://www.gopetition.com/online/12181.html

Friends of King Georges Quiz Night

I have been a little behind with my posts over the last 2 weeks, so most apologise for the delay in reporting on what i have been up to. Two weeks ago, i joined Karen & Graham Price (From our Mawneys team) and Cllr Ray Morgon and our family and friends to attend a Quiz Night in aid of the Friends of King Georges Playing Fields.

It was a great night, with over 50 local people present to raise funds for this wonderful organisation that has put the improvement of the park t the top of the local agenda. Well, we did not come last, that's all i can say, there was some debate on when we should play our joker, if we had played it on "Sport" we would have come forth, however due to our choices on the night, we came fifth and no, before you all wonder, there was more than five teams, i think there was ten.

Well done to Linda Trew and her team for putting it all together. Graham Price presented Linda with a framed photo highlighting some of the work that has been achieved.