Public Consultation for Gidea Park Station

Local residents and other users of Gidea Park station are invited to take part in a public consultation to express their views on the proposals. The consultation will run from Friday 4 to Wednesday 23 November. There will also be the opportunity to talk to planners in Gidea Park library from 10am - 2pm  on Friday 11 and Thursday 17 November, 4pm - 8pm.

Romford Station improvements

Improvement works around Romford Station start next month

​Havering residents will soon benefit from brand new trains and direct access to central London and Heathrow airport thanks to Crossrail. 

​As part of the multi-billion pound project a £28.5m fund was set up by Transport for London (TfL) and councils were invited to bid for that money to improve public areas around Crossrail route stations.

Havering Council successfully bid for money and is now investing £4.1million that will be spent on works around Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood stations – the three Crossrail stations in the borough.

Civil engineering consultants Jacobs have worked up plans for Crossrail “Complementary Measures” around the three stations and the green light has been given for work to begin outside Romford Station on Monday 10 October.

The works are designed to improve the environment around the station and to make interchange with buses and pedestrian access to the station easier. They will complement work in the station itself that will result in a re-designed ticket hall appropriate for increased passenger numbers, step-free access to all pavements, an additional pedestrian entrance on the north side of the station, and extended platforms that will be required for the new 12 carriage Elizabeth Line trains that will service the station from 2019.

The Council’s contractor Marlborough will start the work on the eastern side of South Street along the stretch of pavement between the junctions with Eastern Road and Victoria Road. The plan is to improve the pavement surface to complement works that have already taken place in recent years in Victoria Road and the stretch of South Street between Eastern Road and Western Road. The works will include providing step free access to buses stopping outside the Haart estate agency offices. Other improvement works will deliver better lighting, signage, tree planting, bins and seating, the creation of a larger pedestrian plaza to accommodate the increasing number of people using Romford station and better pedestrian crossings in South Street and Eastern Road.

The work on the footways and roads outside Romford Station will be split into two phases with a suspension of the works between 25 November and early January 2017 to minimise any disruption to Christmas shoppers and travellers. Any temporary road restrictions will be lifted at weekends and taxis will still be available from the rank in Eastern Road. 

Councillor Jason Frost, Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment at Havering Council said: “These works will make travelling to and from Romford station a much more pleasant experience. This investment coupled with the dramatic improvements to the train services including new rolling stock next year and longer trains from the end of 2018, will help our borough’s businesses thrive and residents  enjoy speedy direct access to central London and Heathrow airport.”

The stretch of South Street Romford where the first phase of the works outside Romford station will commence on 10 October 2016.

Please offer Me a Seat badge

TfL trials new 'Please Offer Me a Seat' badge.

A new trial will see disabled passengers and those with hidden conditions, illnesses and injuries receive a blue badge to alert fellow passengers to their need for a seat on public transport.

The “Please Offer Me a Seat” badges, which are similar to the popular "Baby on Board" badges, are being trialled from next month to help passengers who need a seat, but often have difficulty getting one.

The Hopper

The Hopper arrives on buses

A second bus or tram journey made within one hour of the start of your first journey will be free, if you’re using contactless or Oyster pay-as-you-go.

From 2018, passengers will also be able to make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour – once TfL has upgraded its ticketing technology.

The Hopper in 2016:

The Hopper fare applies automatically to passengers who are using contactless or Oyster pay-as-you-go

Passengers can switch between buses and trams in any combination, within an hour

New Leisure centre

Leisure Centre shapes up

The Council’s multi-million poundRomford Leisure Centre is taking shape. The frame of the three storey building is now in place at the Western Road site. The new centre will include two pools, a 25m eight-lane lane main pool, and a 15 x 8m leaner pool, a fitness area with two studios, sauna and steam rooms; along with the boroughs only ice rink. It is due to open in April 2018. You can see the building work happen live using this time lapse camera link www.romford.photosentinel.com.au.

Shared Lives Carers

​The Council is appealing for residents to become Shared Lives Carers. The Shared Lives Service offers adults with social care support needs the chance to receive that care in a family home with a Shared Lives Carer in the local community.

Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health, said:

“The Shared Lives Service means that people live in the homes of carers who have been recruited, trained and approved for this purpose. Arrangements can be short term, lasting anything from one night to several weeks, enabling both the person and their carers to have a break. Or, they can be more long term, providing the opportunity for the person receiving support to live as part of the family.

“It is meant for people over the age of 16 who live in the borough and need some extra support to live independently, for example, adults with physical, sensory and or learning disabilities, mental health support needs or people finding it more difficult to manage as they get older.

“To access this service, residents need to have been assessed and be eligible for social care services.”

A young man who has lived with his Shared Lives Carer for three years says:

“I have not regretted a second. She is the most fantastic, the most extraordinary and most amazing carer I have ever known.”

Residents who are interested in using the Shared Lives Scheme are matched with a carer with similar interests and lifestyle. Those people applying will be able to go and visit the carer several times before deciding if they want to live with them.

Anyone who has a spare room, and wants to share their lives with someone who needs some extra support, can apply to become a Shared Lives Carer. Our team will fully support you through the application process, and offer on-going training and support to make sure the experience is a really positive one. Shared Lives Carers are paid for the support they provide individuals. Shared Lives Carers do not need to have lots of experience or qualifications, it is more important that they respect and value people as individuals and are willing to learn and attend training as necessary.

Residents who would like to know more about becoming a shared lives carer or want to find out how the scheme could support them are invited to a coffee morning and chat on Tuesday 27 September 10.00-12.00pm at Havering Volunteer Centre.

New trials for A&E

Queen's promotes alternative to A&E in new trial

A new approach is being trialled at Queen’s Hospital to redirect people who go the Emergency Department (ED) but could be treated elsewhere. Anyone who does not need emergency care will be redirected to the most appropriate care in the community, such as their GP or local pharmacist, during the two-week trial, which runs from 8am to 8pm. There are plenty of other places to go in the borough if someone needs medical attention including walk-in centres at Harold Wood Polyclinic, RM3 0AR, and at South End Road, Rainham RM13 7XJ, where you can get advice for any health problem. You can also book urgent on-the-day GP appointments at our GP hubs – call 020 3770 1888 to book or find out more online.

Somme remembrance

The Council is holding a two-minute silence at 11am today (Friday 1 July) in tribute to those who lost their lives and loved ones on the French battlefields. Britain observed a two-minute silence at 7.28am to mark 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme, at the moment when the first wave of soldiers went ‘over the top’ for the Allied offensive in Picardy in 1916. However, as most staff would have been travelling to work at that time, we will pay our respects at 11am. The ‘alarm’ bell will sound at the start and at the end of the silence at 11am and then at 11.02am at the Town Hall, Mercury House, and Romford Library. The service to the public will continue and visitors will also be able to join in the silence if they wish.

Launch of advice stand in the Market

Information where you need it. Council launches advice stand in Romford Market

Carepoint stand in Romford Market

​From last Friday (3 June) information and advice on subjects ranging from looking after yourself and getting out and about right through to your rights as a carer were available in a stand at Romford Market Place.

​The staff on hand at the stall can help with questions you may have on:

• Your health and wellbeing 
• Getting support to live in your home 
• Your housing options 
• Paying for care 
• Being a carer 
• Getting out and about 
• Being safe 
• Your benefits 
• The support services available in your area

 

As well as any other care and support enquiries you may have.

 

Barbara Nicholls, acting director of adult services, said: “This is just one of the ways the Council is adapting to ensure it reaches the residents who need its help.

 

“Our service provides free, confidential information to anyone over the age of 18 on your social care circumstances, wellbeing, getting out and about, housing and your rights as a carer. The service will also help you to find the services available in your area that may be able to support you or someone you know.

 

“We’re working hard with Family Mosaic who provide the Care Point service so residents can drop in and have a chat with one of the advisors at any one of the locations. You can find Care Point in Romford Market every Friday, at myplace Youth Centre on certain days or at Holgate House, Romford. Or you can visit Care Point at one of the drop-in’s across the borough.

 

“So, if you have a question, why not pop along and have a chat with one of the expert advisors on hand? They’re there to help.”

 

The service is based in myplace, 343 Dagnam Park Drive, Romford RM3 9EN

Monday 9.00am to 2.00pm 
Tuesday 12.00pm to 5.00pm 
Wednesday 9.00am to 2.00pm 
Thursday 12.00pm to 5.00pm

 

or can be found in Romford Market every Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm until the end of August.

 

For more information and a list of drop in sessions, visitwww.haveringcarepoint.org.

Compost Awareness Week

Havering Council gets kids composting for Compost Awareness Week

​International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW, May 1 - 7) is the world’s largest education initiative to promote composting.

​During this week Havering Council ran Compost in a Bottle workshops at three different primary schools within the borough – St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Clockhouse Primary School, both in Collier Row and Elm Park Primary School in Elm Park.

 

The workshops informed parents/ carers and their children of the benefits of composting. Children, parents and carers built a mini composter in a bottle by layering waste such as fruit/vegetable peelings, shredded paper, used teabags, egg shells and more.

 

The finished bottle will be observed over the coming weeks to see the production of compost which will be used in their home gardens and at school.

 

Steve Moore, Head of Streetcare at Havering Council said:  “We encourage residents to recycle their organic waste to create compost which can be used in their gardens. It’s great that young children are getting involved with composting. It’s important that we get everyone in the borough involved - schools, businesses and residents.

 

“Nearly half of the waste from an average household bin can be composted in some way. It currently costs the Council £6m a year to treat waste that could be composted, a considerable sum in these austere times. It could also save residents money when gardening and would benefit the air quality in our borough.”

 

Havering Council runs free compost workshops for residents as well as offering subsidised bins. New workshop dates and locations are to be added soon.

 

Visit www.havering.gov.uk/compostdoctor to register interest and to order a free compost guide.

 

To make sure Havering residents have the right equipment to allow them to compost their waste, Havering Council has teamed up withwww.getcomposting.com to provide reduced priced environmental products such as home compost bins, water butts and more for residents in the borough.

 

Residents can also find exclusive offers on caddy liners and other products atwww.caddyliners.com.

Havering residents cheer as Beacon lit to celebrate Queen’s 90th birthday

​The Mayor of Havering lights the Beacon.

​More than 250 residents joined the Mayor of Havering at The Green in Havering-atte-Bower on Thursday when a special beacon was lit to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

​The Mayor of Havering, Councillor Brian Eagling, said:  “It was a lovely evening with more than 200 people joining us at St John the Evangelist Church to celebrate Her Majesty’s 90th birthday and then to light the beacon as darkness fell. The Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums Romford played the National Anthem which was extremely moving.

 

“The Queen has had a remarkable reign and I was proud to be at this special event along with residents, local politicians and dignitaries. Havering was one of a 1,000 beacons lit across the UK and overseas in celebration of her birthday.”

Charlbury Court, Harold Hill, resident, Rosie George, said: “Everyone was made very welcome, both at the church service and at the beacon lighting which was a lot of fun.

 

“Reverend David Anderton conducted a lovely service and it was very emotional as the band played in the beacon’s light.”

 

The Mayor added: “I’m now looking forward to attending some of the street parties that are being planned for Sunday 12 June.”

 

The Council is encouraging local residents to hold street parties to mark the Queen’s official birthday, which is on Sunday 12 June. To apply to hold a party in your street on that weekend, fill out the form at www.havering.gov.uk/streetpartiesno later than Friday 29 April.

Remembering the Blitz

Havering remembers casualties of the blitz

Thursday 21 April 2016

​Families gathered in Romford Cemetery on Tuesday 19 April to remember and honour the lives of ordinary men, women and children in Havering who were among approximately 17,500 London civilians who perished in air raids during World War Two.

​The Mayor of Havering, Councillor Brian Eagling, laid a wreath at the foot of the granite memorial dedicated to Havering Civilians who lost their lives during the 1939-1945 conflict, followed by the Last Post and Reveille.

The Mayor of Havering said:

“The Last Post was an unusual, but fitting tribute for civilians, allowing us to remember them with the respect and dignity they deserved”

Head Teacher Mark Patient, whose pupils read the poem “We remember them”, said:

“It was a great privilege and honour to be asked to take part in this very special remembrance service. I was extremely proud of our pupils and our thoughts and prayers are with all the families that were affected by the bombings back in 1941.”

Those present, processed from the Cemetery Chapel to the Essex Road Memorial Garden led by Standard Bearers of the Royal British Legion, the Mayor of Havering, Cllr. Brian Eagling and the Mayor’s Chaplain the Revd. Canon David Banting.  Amongst the procession were those who had experienced the enduring loss of family and friends and representatives of the rescue services including the London Fire Brigade.  The graveside service was accompanied by members of the Salvation Army. 

From BHR hospitals re industrial action

Keeping our patients safe during the industrial action

 

This note is to provide you with an update on the plans we are putting in place to make sure we provide safe levels of care to our patients during the junior doctors’ strike.

 

The strike, which is taking place next week on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 April, will be the first where they will not be providing emergency care.

 

We are putting robust plans in place to ensure we can provide safe and compassionate care during this time and would like to let you know that this means we will only be treating those patients who need immediate care in our emergency departments (EDs) during the strike. Anyone who comes to an ED requiring non-emergency care will be redirected to primary care and will be informed of the different treatment options available to them – we will be issuing  information leaflets issue during the strike to signpost these patients to the most appropriate care.

 

Our CCGs will be providing 16 additional GPs in the hubs across the three boroughs during the strike to give extra appointments, until 10pm on both days of the strike, which can be booked from 12noon, rather than the usual 2pm. These can be booked by calling 020 3770 1888. We will provide GP information on the leaflets issued on the strike days too.

 

The most important message during the strike is not to come to ED unless you require immediate, emergency care and we would appreciate your support in helping us to inform your residents by signposting people to the right services and sharing this message wherever possible.

 

 

Further information, as well as the information leaflets which you can share, are on our website.

 

Havering MIND

Havering Mind is holding a very special fundraising spectacular at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch.
The RULE BRITANNIA concert will feature the ESSEX CONCERT ORCHSTRA who will be performing a show of all your favorite patriotic numbers including land of hope and glory, the dambusters, the great escape and of course Rule Britannia This will be a great night of nostalgia and flag waving.

For tickets see the Queens Theatre website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk<http://www.queens-theatre.co.uk>
01708 443333

St George's Day

Flying the flag for St George at Romford Market

Saturday 23 April will see Romford Market celebrating St George's Day. Visitors will be able to enjoy FREE face painting, The Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums Romford, TheHornchurch Drum and Trumpet Corps, The Haverettes All Girls Marching Band, Rock Band Nice n Sleezy, and the Town Crier in fine voice.  Two artists from the Romford's Talent Event are also appearing - Aaron Floyd (Winner) andSammy-Jo Evans (from BBCs "The Voice ").

Party for the Queen

Party for Queen's Birthday

On Sunday 12 June 2016, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 90th birthday. 

Communities across Havering can be part of this national celebration by organising a neighbourhood street party.  Street parties are a great part of British life and an opportunity for communities to come together and celebrate national occasions. The deadline for street party applications is Friday 29 April.

Romford Leisure Development

Work starts on Romford Leisure Development

​The Council has completed its land-swap deal with Morrisons foodstore and is gearing-up to start building the long-awaited leisure development in the heart of Romford town centre.

​The £25 million scheme will make the development one of the Council’s most ambitious to date, with the investment aimed at regenerating the area and providing competition-level sporting facilities for the entire borough.

Willmott Dixon, will begin surveying and preparing the land on Western Road this week, with building work on the leisure development expected to start in the early part of May.

New Library hours

New opening hours for libraries

New opening hours The opening hours for Havering libraries have changed and now are: Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood and South Hornchurch: Monday and Tuesday closed; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm;Thursday 2pm - 8pm. Harold Hill, Romford and Upminster: Monday andThursday 10am – 8pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 10am – 4pm. Hornchurch:  Monday to Friday inclusive 1pm - 10pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm. Rainham:  Monday and Wednesday 10am – 8pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm.

PHE issues health warning to middle-aged Britons

A Government-backed health drive said to be the biggest since the Change4Life anti-obesity campaign is to warn the middle-aged of the risks of a poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking alcohol. Professor Dame Sally Davies, England's chief medical officer, said the drive would help people to achieve "simple and small changes" which could help reduce the growing burden of obesity. The £3.5m campaign across the internet, TV, social media and in public places will urge people to take an online test called the How Are You assessment, which determines how healthy they are. However, the move has been criticised by some, who say the expenditure by Public Health England (PHE) is wasteful and the campaign patronising. PHE said evidence shows that living healthily in midlife can double a person's chances of staying well aged 70 and older.

Stroke services

Have your say on proposed changes to stroke rehabilitation services

The local NHS want to make changes to stroke rehabilitation services, to make sure people recover better and more quickly. A consultation to see what local people think of the proposals is currently underway. 

At the moment if you have a stroke, the current rehabilitation service means:

• You’ll spend more time in hospital than you need to, even when it is better for you to be at home
• You won’t always have specialist stroke staff taking care of you
• Your recovery will take longer.

More people surviving strokes means more people need local rehabilitation and support services which is why the NHS thinks now is the right time to make changes.

The changes being proposed would mean patients would spend less time waiting in a hospital bed for the right sort of care, and instead receive rehabilitation more quickly to help them go home sooner and there would be a single specialist stroke rehabilitation unit at King George Hospital.

No decisions have been made and there is still time to have your say - the consultation closes on Friday 1 April 2016.

Opening times for libraries

New opening times

From Monday 21 March 2016 library opening hours are changing. The opening hours for each library are set out below.  Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood andSouth Hornchurch: Monday and Tuesday closed; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm; Thursday 2pm - 8pm. Harold Hill and Romford:  Monday and Thursday 10am – 8pm, Tuesday, Wednesday andFriday 9am - 5pm Saturday 10am – 4pm. Hornchurch:  Monday to Friday inclusive 1pm - 10pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm. Rainham and Upminster:  Monday and Wednesday 10am – 8pm, Tuesday, Thursday andFriday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm.

Ambassadors for autism honoured at Town Hall

'Ambassadors for Autism' honoured at Town Hall ceremony

Wednesday 27 January 2016

​The Mayor, Mayoress and Council Leader with Frances Bardsley Academy teacher Ivan Corea and the school's Autism Ambassadors

​Students from Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls in Romford were rewarded for their efforts to support young people with autism at a special ceremony at Havering Town Hall on Monday.

​Cllr Roger Ramsey, Leader of Havering Council, and Cllr Brian Eagling, Mayor of Havering, presented certificates to recognise the service of the Frances Bardsley Autism and Disabilities Club to the community.

 

The Frances Bardsley Academy Ambassador Programme has brought together sixth formers from the school and young people with autism at a joint club that meets at the Romford Baptist Youth Lounge.

 

The project has been run in partnership with the Romakey International Education Empowerment Service (RIEES), a charity set up by Havering parents Ade and Ronke Ogunleye, who have two children with autism, and Ivan Corea, a teacher at Frances Bardsley, who has a son with the condition.

 

Cllr Ramsey said: “To my memory, there has never been such a successful relationship between a secondary school and a local charity regarding autism in this borough and the FBA Ambassador Programme has been of supreme service to the community. Through volunteering in the community, members have helped support those with autism, as well as their parents and carers, who are often just as much in need of support.”

 

The Mayor said: “We commend the work of the Frances Bardsley Autism and Disabilities Club and the successful partnership between the school and Ade and Ronke Ogunleye’s RIESS Autism Club and hope that it can continue for many more years.”

Crackdown at recycling centres

Crackdown at recycling centres

From January, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be in use at the four Reuse and Recycling Centres (RRC), including Gerpins Lane, Upminster,available for Havering residents to dispose of unwanted items.

The ANPR cameras will be used to challenge drivers of vehicles suspected of carrying trade waste as each tonne of trade waste fraudulently left at an RRC costs Council Tax payers £130 to dispose of.

When visiting an RRC please have your driving licence or current Council Tax bill available as proof of where you live.