Romford Town Conservatives

HAVERING PARKS PROTECTION TEAM
The Havering Council Parks Protection Team can be contacted on the mobile telephone number 07904 805972 if you see anything untoward happening in a park. You can also contact them by email at: Parks@havering.gov.uk. We were very impressed by the very efficient way in which they dealt with an animal welfare issue at Bedfords Park on Boxing Day.
RAPHAEL PARK RESTORATION BID
Thank you to everyone who took part in consultation on drawing up the bid to Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of Raphael Park. The bid has been submitted and we understand that the lottery may decide on the application to restore this significant historic landscape in May. If successful it is likely that work will commence in 2012 and will include new staffed public toilet provision as well as improvements in nature conservation and other areas. The Council works with Friends of Raphael Park and Lodge Farm Park to improve the park.
ROMFORD CONSERVATION AREA
An excellent planning application has been approved to begin the restoration of the Golden Lion public house. Work will begin by stabilising the condition of the low-level wooden extension to the pub in North Street. We have enquired about a planning application relating to the
ARTS IN ROMFORD.
The Visual Arts Centre at Frances Bardlsey School in Brentwood Road offers an excellent programme of exhibitions and arts activities for all residents to take part in. Over recent years the centre has hosted an exhibition of prints by Salvador Dali, a symposium on the role of photography in contemporary art and holds its highly successful series of summer exhibitions each August showcasing the work of local professional artists. The

HORNCHURCH HIGH STREET IMPROVEMENTS
The organisation Transport for London would like to fund major improvements in Hornchurch High Street to improve traffic flow and improve the environment in this important location joining St. Andrew’s and Langtons Conservation Areas. We will update residents on the progress of this scheme in future newsletters.

PARK END ROAD/ CHURCH LANE
We were glad to support residents in their opposition to a proposed coach parking bay at the junction of Park End Road and Church Lane and are glad that the proposal was rejected by the Council.

REGARTH AVENUE
Many thanks to residents in Regarth Avenue for contacting us regarding concerns about the bridge over the River Rom at the end of the Avenue. We have raised these matters with the local authority.

MANOR CLOSE
We have supported residents in their opposition to a planning application at the end of Manor Road, backing on to Manor Close, which would have a negative impact on quality of life in the close.

BENTLEYS BAR, SOUTH STREET
We objected to a licensing application for another licensed premises on the first floor at this location almost opposite the station on all four grounds permissible under the licensing act and the license was refused.

SYDENHAM CLOSE
Many thanks to residents of Sydenham Close for their kind hospitality while we have been working with them on areas of concern to them. The focus of attention remains the state of the first property by Harefield Manor Hotel in Pettits Lane, which is owned by the hotel.

VICTORIA ROAD
The Council rejected proposals to alter parking arrangements for businesses in Victoria Road between the Ring Road and South Street following concerns raised by local businesses about the proposals. We have raised the issue of the carriage surface at the junction of Victoria Road and South Street with the local authority.

MILL PATH
We are grateful to the Council for ongoing work to resolve rubbish dumping and security issues raised with us by residents of Station Parade in Mill Path. The authority has commenced a piece of work to ensure that businesses have the correct waste disposal procedures in place throughout the borough and this will also involve the businesses backing on to Mill Path. We have raised issues relating to domestic rubbish disposal and also the maintenance of the "alley gating" scheme which has helped to improve matters for residents here.façade of Quadrant Arcade in South Street in the conservation area, and understand that good progress is being made on persuading the owners to remove the scaffolding from Tollgate House at the Ludwigshafen Place end of the conservation area.café "Arty Place" has recently opened next to the centre selling tea and cakes to go with the art every Wednesday and Friday between 10am-4pm. For more information about what is on at the centre please see the website http://www.fbsarts.co.uk. St. Edward’s Music Society organise regular concerts involving outstanding musicians, often at the start of their professional careers, in St. Edward’s C. of E Church in the Market. For more information please see posters displayed outside the church or visit the website stedwardsboxoffice.org/ The Salvation Army Citadel in the High Street hosts the highly successful annual Havering Young Musician and Havering Junior Musician competitions, coordinated by Havering Music School. The Young Musician Finalists concert will take place on Saturday 26th March 2011, The Junior Musician Finalists concert on Saturday 12th March 2011. For ticket information please contact Havering Music School on 01708 458728 or by email at musicschool@havering.gov.uk.