Havering Weather Warnings

Severe weather may continue to affect some services today, Tuesday 22 December. Regular information and updates are available on Havering Councils Website. They have links to other useful websites, such as travel, weather and StreetCare information.

Severe Winter Weather Conditions Questions and Answers from Havering Council

Gritting
The Council has a limited supply of grit and salt available for severe winter weather such as what we are experiencing now. This is not enough to treat every footway and road in the entire borough therefore gritting is prioritised as follows.

Roads
In the instance of severe winter weather the first areas to be gritted will be main roads and bus routes. This is to ensure essential services can still operate within the main road network. Priority 1 roads have been treated continuously over the last 5 days. Priority 2 areas include schools however this is not the case during school holidays.

A full list of priority one routes are shown in the winter service plan which can be found on the council website at http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1024

Footpaths
In the instance of severe winter weather footpaths in high footfall areas such as stations, schools, high streets will be treated as priority 2 after the major road network.

Service Requests
For all icy and snow related service requests please direct these through the StreetCare call centre on 01708 432563. They will deal with these requests in order of priority.

Salt Bins
Salt bins located in the roads are for use by Street Cleansing Operatives and are NOT for the personal use of residents.

What’s happening with Domestic Waste Collections ?
Domestic waste collections are continuing on the normal collection routes however there are a large number of side roads in the borough which the vehicles are unable to access due to icy roads and footways. These collections will be put on a priority list so that once the road becomes accessible again the service vehicles will resume the collection.

Christmas Waste collection schedule
Every year due to the bank holiday season the domestic waste collection schedules change for a short period of time. Please refer to the Havering website for full details of the changes to the schedules affecting your street. If severe weather conditions continue over the Christmas period then these seasonal waste collection dates will likely change again, however residents will be made aware of any changes on the Council’s website. http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4580

Advice
The Council’s advice to residents is to avoid travelling either by foot or by car, the roads and footways are very icy and due to limited supplies of grit and salt the Council is unable to treat every footway and road in the borough. Severe weather conditions are being experienced across the country causing grit stock replenishment to take longer than expected to arrive.

Click here for more info, or on the info panel at the top.

Warning on Selling GOLD

Havering Council is urging people who want to sell their gold to shop around after an undercover investigation discovered huge differences in quotes for customers.

Council officers posing as customers visited eight gold buyers in Romford on the same day and quotes they were offered differed by as much as £160. The officers asked for a quote for four rings, a pair of earrings, a pendant and bracelet. The quotes offered varied from £200 to £360. The average quote was £296.

Some of the gold buyers had signs claiming they were offering ‘the best price in town today’. Others failed to ask for identification from the seller - which helps deter thieves from selling on stolen goods.

Council weight and measures experts have since visited 20 gold buyers across the borough, including one hairdressers which buys gold, to test their scales and ensure that they are calibrated correctly and are suitable for business.

Officers handed out 15 notices to buyers who were not using the correct scales for trade use. Now they must ensure they have the right scales.

In the current harsh economic climate, residents who have hit tough times may be tempted to sell gold jewellery. Quotes that vary from £200 to £360 for the same amount of gold is a cause for concern. The Council is now urging people to shop around to make sure they get a fair price.

Christmas Carols on the Village Green

Cllr Andy Mann and Denis Stevens both attended the Christmas Carols concert on the Havering-Atte-Bower Village Green on Sunday evening. The event was once again organised by HABCOS, the "Havering-Atte-Bower Conservation Society" in conjunction with St Johns Church.

Over 120 local people braved the chilly evening to attend the outdoor service, held around a 20ft Christmas Tree, festooned in lights. Carols were song and prayers said, the service was once again led by the Revd David Marshall, of St Johns Church.

Cllr Mann said "Both myself and Denis had a great time at the concert, it was particularly pleasing to see this event established as an annual, being the 2nd year running and we very much look forward to attending next years concert".

For more information about HABCOS, go to their website at http://www.habcos.co.uk/

Bower Park School Christmas Carol Concert

Cllr Mann attended the annual Bower Park School, Christmas Carol Concert this week, held at St Johns Church, Havering-Atte-Bower. The Concert is long established in the School calendar and attracted approx 100 parents, friends and Governors, who all stayed for mince pies and tea and coffee.

All of the songs were sung by pupils, with music also played by the students, with a few of the more vocal music teachers joining in. Some of the pupils were singing and playing as part of their B-Tech courses and will count towards their exams.

The Service was overseen by Revd David Marshall, the Vicar of St Johns Church.

Romford Christmas Market

From today, Friday the 11th December, Romford market will be open every day until Christmas Eve, the market is open from 9am until 4.30pm

This Christmas, you can find something special at Romford Market. Such as the freshest Orkney salmon, the most succulent free range turkey or the perfect roasting chestnuts. Gift ideas include the latest men's and ladies' fashions, homeware, music, art and jewellery.

Romford Market has been attracting shoppers for over 750 years - why not discover its secrets for yourself

Winter Photo Competition

The Havering Residents' Association has launched a photographic competition with the theme of ‘Havering in Winter'.

First prize is two tickets to "The Pyjama Game" to be performed at the Queens Theatre on 14 th and 15 th February 2010. The tickets have been kindly donated by the producers, the Havering Music Makers. There will also be prizes for 2nd and 3rd places.

Cllr Clarence Barrett, competition organiser and editor of the Havering Residents' Association website, said: “We are fortunate to live in a borough with so much natural and constructed beauty. This competition seeks to capture images which show the splendour of the winter season against the backdrop of a typical winter in Havering”.

“Images will be posted on an on-line gallery at http://www.haveringra.org.uk/where anyone can view and the winners being announced on 1 st February 2010”.

Images can be sent to mailto:haveringwinter@yahoo.co.ukor call 07863 116029 for other arrangements. Please include full contact details.

Havering park Councillor Andy Mann, has posted some of his winter shots from the last few years below.

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".

12 Safety tips for Christmas

Havering Council will be handing out free security devices to protect resident’s homes and personal property in the run-up to Christmas. Council officers will hand out the devices as part of its 12 Safer Days of Christmas campaign to make residents safer while shopping, out at night, and their homes more secure over the festive season.

Around 6,000 property marking kits, 6,000 purse chains and 3,000 timer switches bought by the Council will be given out at events across the borough in the 12 days between Monday 7 and Saturday 19 December.

There are 12 key messages that the Council and police want to get out at this time of year. These include ensuring that PVC doors are locked properly, setting timer switches so that lamps come on in living rooms before it gets dark when you are out, protecting yourself against pickpockets, and making sure you do not become a victim of crime after a night of revelry.

Other messages include not leaving presents on view, disposing packaging of expensive goods carefully, not loading your car with presents and then leaving it to continue shopping. Police officers from the Mawneys & Havering Park Wards, local Safer Neighbourhoods teams will also be on hand at each location.

Wednesday 16th December - Clockhouse School Christmas Fete – 3 – 5pm

Saturday 19th December - Collier Row Library – 11 – 2pm

Cllr Mann said "Having been a victim of crime myself recently, it can be very upsetting at any time but it can be particularly distressing at Christmas. That’s why the Council and the police will again be handing out thousands of free security devices over 12 Safer Days of Christmas”.

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.

Havering Chief Executive ignores Councillor concerns

Cllr Mann has hit out at Havering Council Chief Executive, Cheryl Coppell for failing to reply to an e-mail concerning a financing issue around funding for the Freedom Pass. The e-mail was marked urgent and was sent on the 2nd November, and as of the 1st December, she had failed to reply or even acknowledge it.

However, Cllr Mann sent it with an auto acknowledge and he can see that the e-mail was opened on the 5th November. The e-mail was sent, following Cllr White, the leader, failing to answer a simple question in Full Council concerning a leaflet that the Tories had circulated suggesting that the Government had cut £1.8 million form Havering's Freedom Pass budget.

This was later found to be untrue, however Cllr White refused to answer and instead went into a rant at the Full Council meeting. Cllr Mann then sent the request to the Chief Executive, for her to answer and is still waiting.

Cllr Mann said "It is totally unacceptable that the Chief Executive of Havering Council should fail to answer such a serious question, in over 4 weeks, without so much as an acknowledgement, let alone a proper answer. I am concerned that she is setting a bad example to Council officers that dealing with members enquires should be dealt with in a speedy and professional manner.

Also more worrying is that by failing to answer me,she is becoming involved politically, by protecting the leader from having to tell me the truth in relation to my question".

The Corps needs your vote

The Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps could be the winners of £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund with your help!

Following applications from over 800 bodies in the London Region for the Peoples Millions, the Corps are in a final head-to-head with a Hackney music club to win the cash which would be used to establish a permanent home.

The band has been going for 52 years and has played in front of world wide audiences, at the FA Cup Final and performed to Heads of State

Voting begins at 9am on Monday and lasts until midnight. The number to call will be advertised on Monday at http://www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/.

THE CORPS NEED YOUR VOTE !

Over £1,000 raised for St Francis Hospice

Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association members, Cllr Andy Mann and Kevin Tonks, took part in a charity sponsored abseil back in September and two months later the amount raised has been announced.

Andy and Kevin dropped down the 120 foot YMCA building, at Roneo Corner, in aid of St Francis Hospice, who are based in Havering-Atte-Bower. The hospice offers specialist care to patients who have cancer or other life-limiting illnesses. It costs over £6.5 million every year to run the service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can care for more than 1,600 patients and their families each year.

Including Gift Aid contributions, Cllr Andy Mann & Kevin Tonks, raised over £1,017 in much needed funds for St Francis Hospice, which they recently handed over to staff nurse Ann Macleod at the Hospice.

Cllr Mann said “We both enjoyed ourselves taking part in the abseil, its great to be able to raise money and enjoy what you are doing at the same time. It’s a long way down from the top of the building with some fantastic views across Romford, but we were both glad to be back on firmer ground, with over £1000 for St Francis Hospice”.

Update on 177 - 179 Mawney Road

Update on Planning Application no. P0986.09 in respect of 177-179, Mawney Road

Over fifty Mawneys Ward residents were in attendance at the Town Hall this week, for the Regulatory Services Committee. They were supported by Graham Price, of the Mawneys Action Team.

The application, to provide a residential care home for twelve residents with learning and or physical disabilities who would require constant supervision, had attracted fierce opposition from Mawneys residents. Over 200 had signed a petition, and there had in addition been 163 letters of objection sent in.

Last week, Graham Price had downloaded the committee report and delivered a hard copy to a local resident who had called a meeting of objectors the weekend before the Regulatory Services meeting to discuss it. Immediately prior to the meeting in The Town Hall, Graham Price spoke at length to Mr Andy Green, a local resident who would be making a two-minute speech as the lead objector on behalf of all the other residents who had objected.

Whilst the officers’ recommendation was to refuse the application, when the item was reached, a brief debate ensued as to whether there was a perceived need for the residential care home. Cllr Misir (Tory, Mawneys Ward) received rapturous applause when he suddenly moved the recommendation for refusal, but he rather spoilt the effect of this, when he appeared to second a supplementary motion from Cllr Tebbutt to defer a decision on the application until a later date, so that a stronger case for refusal could be established. Undoubtedly, many of the local residents present were thoroughly mystified and disappointed, and possibly angered, by this confused development.

Graham Price said after the meeting “In the event, I think that the decision made for deferral was a correct one. I had expressed my view to some of the residents, which was that the report seemed to be unbalanced. Several pages were taken up explaining how the proposal met every criteria and all the policies laid down. And then right at the end there was the recommendation for refusal, on grounds that seemed to be very thin and lightweight. The fear that I had was that a straight refusal on the night, for the reasons stated, could quite probably have led to the refusal being overturned on appeal.”

Further Bus Strikes

Further Industrial action is expected to take place from 0300 Friday 20 November until 0300 Sunday 22 November, with all of the listed routes subject to possible withdrawal or reduction of service.

Core Routes: 5 8 15 (including Routemaster Heritage service) 25 26 30 48 55 56 62 69 86 97 101 103 104 106 115 145 147 158 169 175 205 230 238 241 247 257 262 276 277 287 294 296 300 325 330 366 369 376 387 396 473 496 D3.

School Routes: 608 647 674 678 687.

Night Routes: N8 N15 N26 N55 N86 N550, which will operate throughout Thursday night/Friday morning, but will be affected on Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning.

For further information and updates please go to:http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

The Village Stocks & Whipping Post

The Stocks and Whipping Post on Havering Village Green have recently been temporally removed to carry out repair and conservation works.

The proposed works to be carried out have been agreed with English Heritage. The works will involve repairing the Whipping Post and the end post for the stocks, refurbishing the ironwork and installing small timber props to the end posts (that previously existed and were shown on the old photographs).

It is hoped the work will not take to long and will be back as soon as possible.

Bus Strikes - Monday 9th November

Industrial action affecting local bus services run the the East London Bus Group is expected to take place from 3am on Monday 9 until 3am on Tuesday 10 November.

All routes below are subject to possible withdrawal or reduction of service:

Routes 5 8 15 (including Routemaster Heritage service) 25 26 30 48 55 56 62 69 86 97 101 103 104 106 115 145 147 158 169 175 205 230 238 241 247 257 262 276 277 287 294 296 300 325 330 366 369 376 387 396 473 496 D3.

School Routes: 608 647 674 678 687 (although it is hoped that these routes will operate).

Night Routes: N8 N15 N26 N55 N86 N550. These will operate throughout Sunday night/Monday morning, but may be affected by the action throughout Monday night/Tuesday morning.

For more information and updates please go to the Transport for London website

Havering Remembers

Cllr Andy Mann, Kevin Tonks, Denis Stevens and Joe Webster attended the Havering Remembrance Service this morning at the Coronation Gardens in Main Road, Romford.

Service to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who lost their lives or suffered during the two World Wars and in conflicts since were held throughout Havering on Remembrance Sunday.

The Service started at 10.55am and was conducted by Reverend Stephen Waine, Vicar of St Edward's Church. Musical accompaniment was provided by the Romford Salvation Army Band.

Along with ourselves, the service was attended by The Mayor of Havering; The Deputy Lieutenant of Havering, Air Commodore Brian Batt; The Member of Parliament for Romford, Andrew Rosindell; Chief Inspector John Harlow, on behalf of the Havering Borough Commander of Police; Councillors and representatives of local uniformed and civilian organisations.

After the Service there was a parade and march-past by veterans and uniformed organisations with music from the Royal British Legion Band. The salute was taken by The Mayor and the Deputy Lieutenant.

On Armistice Day, Wednesday the 11th November, the Mayor will attend the Armistice Day Service organised by the Royal Naval Association and the Royal British Legion. This will be held at the western end of Romford Market Place between the Lloyds TSB and Co-op banks starting at 10.45am.

Fireworks Night on its way

Havering Council, Havering Police and the London Fire Brigade have launched a crackdown to prevent the sale of fireworks to under-18s. They will be making visits to remind retailers that it's illegal to sell fireworks without the necessary licence from Trading Standards.Havering Trading Standards takes a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of the stringent conditions governing the storage and sale of fireworks, which will result in legal proceedings and the confiscation of such products.

Though current legislation allows some businesses with special authorisation to sell fireworks all year round, most fireworks can only be sold between October 15 and November 9. It is illegal to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, though on special occasions like Bonfire Night they may be set off up until midnight, unless special permission for them to continue until 1am has been granted.

It is also an offence for anyone under 18 to possess fireworks in a public place. Using fireworks in an anti-social way is irresponsible, dangerous and unacceptable, so Havering Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be operating additional patrols throughout the borough at this time.Remember; fireworks are mini-explosives dressed up in colourful packaging – they are NOT toys. Most injuries caused by fireworks happen to children under 16, with many of them ending up with burn scars for life.

So please take care this bonfire night. Go to http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Fireworks.asp for helpful safety advice from the London Fire Brigade.If you wish to report illegal sales of fireworks, you can call a special hotline 01708 433428 in confidence.

Romford Christmas Lights Switch On

Bob the Builder will be at the Romford Christmas Lights Switch-on, in Romford Market Place on the 12th November and will be doing the honours by turning on the lights.

There will be a packed schedule of fun, which starts at 4.30pm and runs until 6.30pm, with something for everyone. Entry is free. Among the entertainment will be the Kryptic Fusion Dance Crew, Lydia White and the winners of the recent Havering battle of the bands, Kid Neon.

The event is organised by Havering Council and Romford's four shopping centres - The Brewery, The Liberty Shopping Centre, The Mall and Romford Shopping Hall together with Romford Market.

Children's favourite Bob the Builder and his friends Spud and Wendy will light up Romford Town Centre as the Christmas illuminations are switched on at 6.30pm.

Among the other highlights in the Market Place will be a special visit from Santa and his reindeer and Panto favourites from the Queen's Theatre as well as a spectacular fireworks display.