Gobions Post Office Campaign Continues

The Post Office campaign continues, both locally and at Parliament yesterday, with a motion put down to halt the closure plan, the Government only just won the vote with over 20 Labour M.P’s voting against the Government.

It is a shame that more did not stick to their principles and vote how there residents wished, lots of the M.P’s have been out in there constituency’s campaigning, yet when the vote comes they follow the whip and do as they are told.

In respect of Gobions Avenue Post Office, we have had hundreds of our petition letters returned to Cllr Mann, the response has been tremendous, with lots of residents copying us into the response back to Post Office Ltd.

The final date for letters to be received is the 2nd April, so if you have not written and objected yet, please do so as soon as you can, we have to all try and send a message to the Government and Post Office Ltd that the closure of our Post Office would have a devastating affect on our community and local area.

Please write to:

Anita Turner
Network Development Manager
C/O National Consultation Team
FREEPOST Consultation Team

No Stamp is Needed

Drop In Surgery, this Saturday

Our latest Residents drop in surgery is being held this Saturday, the 15th March 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 Denis Stevens and Mawneys team Graham Price and Joe Webster 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.

Angry of Havering Webs Site Launched

Following the Residents Associations high profile campaign to highlight the wrongs of the Conservative Councils CCTV Smart Car, local residents and business people have got together and launched a web site to help increase the profile of this issue.

The site www.angryofhavering.com has only been up for less than two weeks and it has already had a massive 2000 plus hits, which we have to say is very impressive, that is even more hits than our own site.

Cllr Mann has been helping residents and shop keepers in the Collier Row area for over six months on this issue, he has been inundated with people contacting him about the car and how the tickets have been issued.

All of this has been reported to Council officers and printed in the local press, however what do our Conservative Councillors do ?

Nothing, they tried to kick a review of the car into the long grass last week, after Cllr Mann moved a motion at a Environment Scrutiny meeting in the Town Hall.

There are some interesting views and pictures on the web site, take a look at www.angryofhavering.com the picture in the "Highway Robbery" section is interesting !

Dont lose your vote

A giant ballot cross will be in Havering this week as part of a London wide campaign to encourage residents to join the electoral register.

Mark, an unmissable pink X-shaped figure, will be in the borough to raise awareness of the election for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly which takes place on 1 May. His simple message is register to vote by 16 April if you want to make your mark on the next four years.

Staff will be on hand to provide residents with key information. He will be in Romford Market on Saturday 15 March at 3pm.

Voter registration forms can be downloaded from http://www.londonelects.org.uk/

For more information on voting in the borough, residents can call 432445 or visit www.havering.gov.uk/elections.

CCTV Car under Scrutiny

Last night saw the Environment Overview & Scrutiny meeting at Havering Town Hall, approx 30 local residents had turned up to see what happened in relation to the CCTV smart Car, that was to be discussed at the meeting.

The whole meeting to be honest was a joke; the Conservative Members (there were four of them) attempted to kick the whole thing into the long grass and refused to discuss it, by suggesting that they need a report on the subject first, what nonsense, you hardly need a report as the thing has been in the press almost on a weekly basis for months now.

It was a shame that the Chairman (Tory, Cllr Binion) refused to allow any member of the public to speak, I know they are not allowed unless the Chairman allows them, however I think there would have been no harm in letting a few people speak.

Myself and Cllr Ray Morgon (R.A Cllr for Hacton ward) attempted to move the discussion on and were eventually successful in getting the committee to agree to our motion to review the CCTV smart car, however as of yet, we have not agreed the reviews groups make-up or its terms of reference. Just as soon as more is known on this issue, we will post it on the web site.

Post Office Closure Campaign Continues

Since Post Office Ltd announced its plans to close five Post Offices across Havering, including our own Gobions Avenue branch in Chase Cross, your Residents Association has been working tirelessly to make sure as many people as possible know about the consultation and encouraging them to write in and object.

We have delivered thousands of leaflets across Chase Cross and Collier Row and we have been inundated with replies from residents who wish to be added to our petition, we have also been sent dozens of copies of letters that people have written.

The Residents Association in Collier Row has vowed to fight this closure programme to the bitter end, the Havering Park Action Team led by Cllr Andrew Mann and working with team members Denis Stevens and Kevin Tonks (pictured recently outside the shop) to work with residents to fight the closure plan.

Cllr Mann has also urged all local residents to write in during the consultation, petitions are great for gaining lots of numbers and looking good, but individual letters will have a far greater impact on the process, you should write to;

Anita Turner
Network Development Manager
C/O National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
No stamp is needed.

You only have 6 weeks to write, all letters must be received by 2nd April. Please copy in Cllr Mann on your letters, you can send a copy via the Town Hall, or 380 Havering Road, Romford, Essex, RM1 4DE

Police Mounted Branch in Park

The fight against anti-social behaviour has stepped up a gear this week, with the Metropolitan Police Mounted section operating in the park. Two officers on horses have been patrolling the park with the Havering Park Safer Neighbourhood Team this week.

Cllr Andrew Mann said “The extra resource that has been made available to the local SNT is great news for local residents and park users, those irresponsible people that use our parks for the wrong reason need to be caught and taken to task for what they are doing”

The Friends of Havering Country Park has been doing a great job, working with the Police and local Council, Cllr Mann has also been attending the groups meetings over the last few months, if anyone is interested in getting involved, just drop us a line and we will pass on your details.

Council Tax Meeting

The Residents Association group’s budget was voted down by the Conservative Administration, last Wednesday, which is a shame as we aimed to reduce the Council Tax rise and implement improved services for North Romford.

The proposal, would have seen a reduction in the increase from the Conservative Administration’s 3.5% to only 3.3%, however the main themes of our budget would have seen;

= Reinstate free car parking in our out of town shopping centres.
= Scrap Sunday charging across Romford.
= Bring back free parking for the disabled.
= Increase road sweeping and staffing in our Parks.
= Re-Instate the School Uniform Grant.
= A second Park Ranger in Havering Country Park

These would have been funded by the reduction in the frequency of the Council’s Living Magazine, efficiency gains on furniture and equipment, cutting the Council publicity budget and a reduction in Councillors special responsibility allowances.

Cllr Andrew Mann said “Our proposals to scrap the parking charges in out of town car parks is in direct response to the many thousands of local people who have expressed their objections to it. Whilst the Administration has not listened to residents, we have. We would also have scrapped the charge for disabled drivers”.

Our proposal to increase funding in our parks is also in response to residents wishes, in particular in Havering Country Park, where we only have one park ranger and desperately need another.

CCTV Car Review

Following a question from Cllr Mann to the Chairman of the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee at the last Council meeting, the chair has agreed to consider a review into the use of the car.

The issue was raised following hundreds of complaints to Residents Association Councillors about how the car was issuing tickets, from people being pictured with one foot hanging out of the door, to disabled drivers being wrongly issued tickets.

Recently the Council supplied information to Cllr Mann outlining the top ten locations for tickets across the Borough, with over 9% of the total tickets being issued in Atlanta Boulevard alone. See story below.

The Environment Overview & Scrutiny meeting is being held at Havering Town Hall on Thursday 6th March at 7.30pm, although this is a public meeting that anyone can attend, it is up to the Chairman if you can speak. So its over to Cllr Binion on that one !!

Living Magazine Poll

The issue of how often Havering Councils ‘Living' newspaper should be delivered across the borough attracted heated debate in the Town Hall at the recent meeting to set the 2008/09 council tax.

Included in a series of budget amendments set out by the Residents' Association was a proposed budget saving of £50,000 to be achieved by reducing the current distribution of 'Living' from 10 issues a year down to 5.

However, the Conservative Administration propose to increase the distribution of ‘Living' to every two weeks, or 24 issues a year.

But what do residents think? We have launched our own on-line poll to measure the mood of the borough. The poll asks:

"The Council plan to increase distribution of the 'LIVING' newspaper to fortnightly, but what do you think? Should 'LIVING' be distributed"

- Every month
- Every other month
- Every two weeks
- Not at all

Cllr Andrew Mann (Havering Park, RA) said: “We are not against the publication of ‘Living' but would rationalise its distribution down to 5 a year. We consider that a reasonable number and, at the same time, make a modest saving.

“However, the decision to increase distribution to every two weeks is not something we agree with and do not believe the residents of Havering will agree with.

“The best way to measure support for this proposal is to ask the people what they think, hence we are running a poll in which residents can vote and we shall await the outcome with considerable interest”.

Log on to http://www.haveringra.org.uk/ to cast your vote.

Residents Association Opposition Budget

The Residents Association group on Havering Council has today submitted its opposition budget as an alternative to the Conservative Administrations.

The proposal, would see a reduction in the increase from the Conservative Administrations 3.5% to only 3.3%, however the main theme of the budget has been to reinstate free car parking in our out of town shopping centres, to scrap Sunday charging across Romford and introduce free parking for the disabled and increase road sweeping and staffing in our Parks.

Key Budget points:

Free Parking in out of Town Shopping Centres

Free Sunday Parking in Romford

Free Parking for the Disabled

Phased Re- Introduction of Park Keepers

A second Park Ranger at Havering Country Park (to help combat ASB and increase maintenance)

Increase Road Sweeping staff in StreetCare

Re-Instate the School Uniform Grant

All of the above pressures will be funded by:

Reduction in the Frequency of the Councils Living Magazine

Efficiency gains on Furniture and equipment

Cut in Council Publicity

Reduction is Councillors Special Responsibility Allowances

Cut in provision of Overview & Scrutiny

Better marketing of sports pitches

Increase Technical fees for TfL work

Shadow Chancellor for the Residents Association, Cllr Clarence Barrett said “Our budget proposals, whilst only marginally lower than the Administrations, still reduce the burden on our over stretched residents and at the same time better reflect the wishes of our residents, following our own surveys and comments from local residents”

Cllr Andrew Mann, the Residents Association Shadow Cabinet member for StreetCare & Parking said “Our proposals to scrap the parking charges in out of Town Car Parks is in direct response to the many thousands (over 20,000) of local people who have objected to us, whilst the Administration have not listened to residents, we have, we will also scrap the charge for disabled drivers”.

He continued “Our proposals to increase funding in our parks is also in response to residents wishes, in particular in Havering Country park, were we only have one Park Ranger, but Hornchurch has two, we wish to even out this provision”

SAVE Gobions Avenue Post Office

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association have hit out at the Government and Post Office Ltd in its decision to consult on closing Gobions Avenue Post Office in Collier Row. Gobions Avenue is one of five post offices across Havering earmarked for closure out of a total 171 across the whole of London. (the others are in Hornchurch, two in Emerson Park and Harold Hill)

On hearing the news that Gobions Avenue would be included for possible closure, Residents Association Councillor for Havering Park Ward, Cllr Andrew Mann said today “This post office serves hundreds of local residents from across Chase Cross and Collier Row, its closure will have an adverse affect on those that use its services, in particular the elderly and those less able to get around”

He went on “Havering Council has done a lot of work recently to improve the Gobions Avenue area with recent pavement and lighting upgrades, without our post office bringing in residents, it puts the whole shopping parade in jeopardy of becoming like a ghost town”

The Residents Association in Collier Row has vowed to fight this closure programme to the bitter end, the Havering Park Action Team led by Cllr Andrew Mann and working with team members Denis Stevens and Kevin Tonks (pictured recently outside the shop) to work with residents to fight the closure plan.

Cllr Mann has also urged all local residents to write in during the consultation, petitions are great for gaining lots of numbers and looking good, but individual letters will have a far greater impact on the process, you should write to;

Anita Turner

Network Development Manager

C/O National Consultation Team

FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM

No stamp is needed.

You only have 6 weeks to write, all letters must be received by 2nd April. Please copy in Cllr Mann on your letters, you can send a copy via the Town Hall, or 380 Havering Road, Romford, Essex, RM1 4DE

CCTV Crackdown in Havering Country Park

Cllr Mann and Havering Park Action member, Kevin Tonks were on hand this weekend to see how a new style CCTV vehicle can help against the fight of motor bikes and other anti-social behaviour.

The problems with bikes has been an issue for years, largely due to lack of decent funding in the park, however over the last 12 months, the local Havering Park Safer Neighbourhood Police Team have done a lot of work to combat some of the problems. Working with the Council the Team have been able to secure extra PCSO’s to work with the existing team.

With the introduction of the “Friends of Havering Country Park” group being set up by local residents and the increased Police presence, over the last 6 months, we have seen a marked difference with bike riders being prosecuting and the Police issuing confiscation orders for the bikes to be destroyed.

This weekend, saw a mobile CCTV van being operating by the Havering Park team on site around the park monitoring any anti social behaviour, the van was supplied by “DSSL Group” to the Havering Community safety Partnership.

Cllr Mann said “It is good news that the Police have been given the use of this vehicle to help combat the problems with bikes and anti-social behaviour in our park, the local SNT have done a great job, working with Council partners and local residents in cracking down on this issue”

Action member Kevin Tonks said “Havering Country Park is one of the best in the Borough, the mindless people who feel they can use it as there personal motor bike playground have no respect for local residents are the wildlife of the Park and deserve all the Police can throw at them”

For more information about joining the Friends of Havering Country Park group, please drop me a line by phone (number at top of page) or e-mail on haveringpark@hotmail.co.uk and we will pass on your details.

Mayors Charity Dinner

Tonight, the Residents Association team went along to the Mayors Charity fund raising dinner, held at Maylands Golf Course, in Harold Wood. Cllr Georgina Galpin had chosen Age Concern-Havering as her charity for the year.

There were approx seventy people in attendance and a good night was had by all, we had a table of nine, and made the most of it. The evening was supported by the Residents Association with Councillors past and present in attendance. We had our own Cllr Andrew Mann and Mawneys Team, Graham & Karen Price, along with Joe Webster and Havering Park member, Kevin Tonks.

Also in attendance were R.A Cllr’s Ray Morgon, Mike Winter, June Alexander and Barbara Matthews. Past R.A Cllrs included Louise Sinclair, Owen Ware, the Camerons and the Lewis’s.

There was a distinct lake of Conservative members at the dinner, four Councillors and an odd M.P amongst them, not very supportive to Madam Mayor !

For more information about the Mayors Charity, please drop us a line, contact details on the right.

Friends of Havering Country park

Tonight saw the latest meeting of the "Friends of Havering Country Park", over 25 residents turned up for the monthly meeting at the Community Centre in Clockhouse Lane, it was good to see some new residents turn up after a leaflet drop to advertise the time and venue.

As usual we had the Havering Park Police SNT and James Rose from Havering Council's Parks Department in attendance, both Cllr Andrew Mann and Mawneys Action member Joe Webster were in attendance.

Lots of issues were discussed about the park, including the maintenance and cleaning of the park, along with how to spend the Capital provision the park was allocated last year.

Cllr Mann said "The group is going from strength, with lots of local residents joining up to try and help make improvements in the park, if you are interested in coming along or joining up, just drop me a line, details at top of the page"

Residents Drop in Surgery

Our latest Residents drop in surgery is being held this Saturday, the 19th January 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 Graham Price and Joe Webster 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.

CCTV Car's Top Ten !

In a question to the Cabinet Member for StreetCare (Cllr Tebbutt) at Full Council last week, Cllr Andy Mann was given the breakdown of the top ten spots for CCTV issued Parking Tickets in Havering.

Cllr Mann also asked about how many tickets had been issued in total, the answer comes to a mind boggling, 15,300 since the car started, which according to Cllr Mann’s sums, could net the Council over £1.7 million in a full year.

Victoria Road, Romford, is the top location for tickets issued by the CCTV parking enforcement vehicle this year, with the top ten looking like this.

1. Victoria Road 880 (8%)
2. Atlanta Blvd 654 (6%)
3. Mungo Park Rd 292 (2.7%)
4. Brentwood Rd 242 (2.2%)
5. Camborne Ave 190 (1.7%)
6. Upminster Rd South 175 (1.6%)
7. North Street (Romford) 158 (1.5%)
8. Market Link 133 (1.2%)
9. Station Rd (Gidea Pk) 133 (1.2%)
10. Mercury Gardens 99 (0.9%)

BNP Councillor Resigns

Alan Bailey, the BNP Councillor for Gooshays Ward in Harold Hill, unexpectedly resigned this week from Havering Council, he has given his reason as moving to Coventry with his family, rather than actually being “Sent to Coventry” by the other 53 members on Havering Council.

In just under two years, since being elected in 2006, from memory, he has only spoken once, at last years budget meeting and it was for no more than 2 minutes, that’s all he has ever said in the Town Hall. As he is a party of one, he does not have any positions on any of the scrutiny committees either.

The Gooshays ward was a close run thing in May 2006 (click here for details) the BNP came top followed by two Conservatives, the three Labour candidates were just a few behind, with Labour’s Yve Cornell losing to Conservative Keith Wells on the toss of a coin as there vote was the same after four recounts.

No details have yet been published about the election timetable and date of the by-Election; however it will have to be started ASAP as it will affect the start of the London wide, GLA elections that kick off the second half of March.

Low Emission Zone

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone kicks of his latest scheme for London today, along with Transport for London (TfL) are introducing a low emission zone (LEZ) for vehicles to cover most of London (excluding the M25 corridor) from 4th February 2008.

It’s aimed at improving air quality standards in London which are currently amongst the worst in Europe. The LEZ will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The scheme aims to encourage the use of vehicles with ‘cleaner’ engine technology (either modern vehicles designed to comply from ‘new’ or those ‘retro-fitted’ with equipment to reduce their harmful exhaust emissions) otherwise the operators will have to pay a charge of up to £200 each time they enter London.

The scheme is based on ‘Euro’ standards for vehicle exhaust emissions. Cameras on Havering's key road approaches to London such as the A12 and the A13 will check vehicle registration details against a database to see if the vehicle meets the right standards for emissions or is required to pay the daily charge. Large green signs have recently been installed alongside these routes about the LEZ.

The scheme will apply to older lorries, buses, coaches and mini buses, motor caravans and specialist vehicles such as horse boxes. It will not apply to cars and motorcycles. A small number of vehicles will be exempt from the LEZ and TfL have details of these types.

The scheme will have a phased introduction from next month beginning with the heaviest vehicles. At first, diesel-engined lorries of more than 12 tonnes will have to meet Euro lll emission standards to enter London free of charge.

From July 2008, vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes will also need to meet Euro III standards. Tougher requirements and a wider range of vehicles needing to comply will be introduced from 2010.

The scheme will be fully in place by 2012. Full details of the Low Emission Zone can be found on TfL’s website : tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon or by calling the information line 0845 607 0009.

Cllr Mann said "Who knows if this will be a good thing for London, Ken said the same about the congestion charge, it was meant to cut the amount of traffic and increase the level of carbon in London, now that the charge for the congestion is £8 a day and has done nothing to improve air quality in London". "All I would say about Ken, is lets all be pleased that we have London Elections on the 1st of May, not long to go know".

Billboard Madness 2 !!!!!

Following a recent decision by the Tory Council to hawk is greenways and open spaces to the highest bidder for advertising hoardings, yet another illegal bill board has been built at the North Street / A12 Junction. This is the second time a hoarding has been built here since the Council announced its decision to sell of the space.

When the decision was made at the end of last year Councillor Mann said “This is another attempt by the Administration making a fast buck because it can not get its finances in order, the fact that they have overspent £5 million this year is no reason to go about covering every green space and road side green in the borough with a bill board, where will it end, Havering Village Green ? Hornchurch Stadium ? What about Bedfords Park ?

“This Borough is famed for its green and open space and the Tories seem heel bent on paving the lot over with flats and bill boards”

You did have to be quick however to catch the new sign though, it was built and then pulled down by the Council all within 3 days, it seems amazing that someone keeps building a bill board in this location.

The Council has now taken a formal report to Cabinet to agree to a £1/2 million contract with a private company to cover the Borough in bill boards, advertising hoardings and signs all over roundabouts.

The Decision was “Called In” by the Residents Association and it is now set to go before a special Overview & Scrutiny Committee next week to discuss why the decision was made and to ask about the reasons behind erecting billboards across the Borough.