Harold Hill burglar jailed, final call for Small Business Award nominations, London elections take place next week
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Friday 26 April 2024
Harold Hill burglar jailed
A serial burglar and shoplifter has been jailed for 12 weeks after he breached his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in Harold Hill.
Bradley Thomas, 37, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Barkingside Magistrates Court last week, after he was found to be breaching the conditions of his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
The CBO was granted in November 2021 following multiple burglary and shoplifting offences by Thomas. It prevents him from entering the Co-Op and Boots stores in Farnham Road, as well as having possession of any drugs paraphernalia or open bottles of alcohol on him.
It is part of ongoing action via Havering Council and the Police’s Clear Hold Build initiative in Harold Hill.
Barber Talk training for men's mental health
Sitting and having your hair trimmed is great for some barber shop talk, but did you know it’s been found to be one of the few places that men feel comfortable speaking about everyday life and their mental health?
Therefore, Havering Council has teamed up with the Lions Barber Collective for BarberTalk.
Barber talk provides free mental health training for local barbers. The aim is to help barbers spot signs of mental health issues and point clients to the right support.
Charlie is the owner of Ladies and Gentlemen in Harold Wood, and spoke to us about how important it is for barbers to be properly trained to spot mental health issues in struggling men. You can hear more from Charlie in this video.
The vital training takes place on Monday 10 June at Havering Town Hall, Romford, from 10am to 2.30pm, and there is a free lunch provided.
⇒ Sign up for free Barber Talk training now
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Less than one week until the London elections
The Mayor and London Assembly elections are taking place next week, on Thursday 2 May.
An online tool has been launched to help Londoners locate their polling stations. To use this, please visit the London Elects website.
Remember, voters must now show photo ID to get their ballot paper. Accepted forms of ID include (but are not limited to:
a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
a UK or EEA drivers’ licence
some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card
and the new free Voter Authority Certificate.
Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
If voters lose their ID, or their Voter Authority Certificate does not arrive in time for election day, they can appoint an emergency proxy to vote on their behalf up until 5pm on election day. The person appointed as proxy, voting on someone else’s behalf, must have their own acceptable photo ID.
Information about the new requirement and all your voting options can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.
Last chance to nominate
There's just over one week left for businesses to nominate themselves for the Havering Small Business Awards 2023-24.
Remember, we have changed the way nominations work this year to give businesses the opportunity to state their case for why they deserve to win their category. Business need to submit their own nominations by 5pm on Friday 3 May.
If you know of a Havering small business that deserves to win one of the awards listed below, make sure to tag them on social media, or go and see them in person, and encourage them to nominate themselves.
This year's categories are:
Best Small or Independent Business, sponsored by Oakleafe
Best Beauty or Service Business, sponsored by The Havering Daily
Best Take Away, sponsored by The Havering Daily
Best Hospitality Business, sponsored by Hills Prospect
Best Tradesperson , sponsored by Essex Services Group
Best Customer Experience, sponsored by Oakleafe
Best Shopfront, sponsored by K&T Heating
Best Social Enterprise or CIC, sponsored by Jax Sun Services
Best Newcomer (less than a year old - operating since June 2023), supported by Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry
New for this year: Best Sustainable Business, sponsored by Havering Works, supported by HM Government, Mayor of London and Levelling Up Funding
The Havering Small Business of the Year Award, chosen by the judging panel.
⇒ Nominate your business for a Small Business Award
Bank holiday waste collections
There’ll be no changes to your recycling and rubbish collections over the May bank holidays.
Residents should leave their bags out as normal from 7am on their usual day of collection. If their collections are on a Monday, collections will still be made on both the early May bank holiday on Monday 6 May, and the later Spring bank holiday on Monday 27 May. All collection days stay the same.
Use coffee pods? Sign up to Podback. Once signed up to the scheme, residents will receive bags for putting the pods into and these can be placed alongside their other rubbish and recycling for collection.
Once collected, the coffee pods will be sent to specialist recycling plants.
⇒ Check your rubbish and recycling days
Crackdown on unlicensed waste carriers
Havering Council’s environment enforcement team led action against unlicensed waste carriers as part of two recent operations.
Under Operation Hilt, they worked alongside East London Waste Authority (ELWA) and Renewi staff at the Gerpins Lane tip.
They stopped and inspected 12 drivers to ask them for proof of license for getting rid of the waste they had. All had the correct and legal licenses on this occasion.
Information was also handed out by officers to other drivers as the crackdown continues to help towards the prevention of dumping undeclared commercial waste and fly-tipping.
Another operation was carried out by the Council’s enforcement team, alongside police, at Ferry Lane, Rainham (pictured above).
Operation Cubo saw 15 vehicles stopped and inspected for controlled waste, which includes commercial and industrial waste.
Out of the drivers stopped, a Duty of Care Notice (Section 34 Environmental Protection Act 1990) was served to one driver. All other drivers were found not to be carrying controlled waste.
Your Romford, your say
Do you live, work, and socialise in Romford?
Come and find us on South Street, Romford on Wednesday 1 May, 12noon to 4pm. See how your ideas from 2019 helped shape a refreshed Romford Masterplan, and help us finalise plans for the future of Romford.
You can also fill out the questionnaire online before Friday 3 May.
⇒ Have your say on the Romford Masterplan
Protecting our trees
The Council is embracing the natural beauty and ecological benefits of our borough parks, by not cutting the grass under and around the majority of trees to protect and conserve the environment.
This practice will help trees by allowing them to breathe and absorb more nutrients and moisture from the soil, with the longer grass increasing biodiversity, which also supports insects, small mammals and birds.
This approach is in addition to the already established conservation areas in parks throughout Havering. Trees near to benches and paths will still be trimmed to maintain access.
If you wish to promote biodiversity in your own garden, information about growing your own wild patch or mini meadow can be found on the Wildlife Trusts website.
School holiday meal scheme
Applications for the May half term School Holiday Meal Scheme open at 9am on Monday 29 April.
The scheme offers meal support over the Spring Bank Holiday and will allow eligible families to apply for £15 per child to buy food to replace the meals their child would have received at school.
The scheme is run by Havering Council and is part of the government’s Household Support Fund.
Families that have previously received money for their child or children from the scheme and are still eligible, do not need to apply again, and will automatically receive the money into their chosen account.
However, parents and carers should check the claims criteria on the Council’s website as they may now be eligible to make a claim or are able to claim for an additional child.
Applications will close at 5pm on Thursday 9 May.
⇒ Find more information or sign up now
Get your COVID booster
This spring the NHS is offering COVID-19 vaccines to people who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus. This includes those aged 75 and over (by Sunday 30 June 2024), residents of care homes for older adults, and those with a weakened immune system.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is more convenient than ever with thousands of appointments available across the country every day at more sites (including pharmacies and GP practices).
Bookings can be made online via the NHS App or by visiting the NHS website. Those that can’t get online can call 119 for free, where translators will also be available.
⇒ Get your COVID booster
To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
Do you care for someone with dementia? Alzheimer's Society hold regular Living Well with Dementia - Carers Information and Support Programmes to help carers to better support relatives with dementia.
The sessions provide a listening ear, as well as equip carers with the tools to look after loved ones and ensure they are getting the right emotional and financial support.
May's sessions take place every Tuesday, starting on Tuesday 7 May, from 2pm to 4pm at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Hornchurch, RM11 1AX. Please book in advance by emailing, or calling Nyree on 07759 119516 or Anisa on 07720 144231.
St Peter's Church in Harold Wood is hosting a Community Flower and Craft Festival on Monday 6 May, 10am to 4pm, to raise funds for The Alzheimer's Society.
Come along and see the flower arrangements and craft stalls, and take part in taster sessions. There will be homemade cakes and refreshments for sale, and activities for the kids. Entry is free.
St Edward the Confessor Church in Romford Market Place is holding a table top sale tomorrow, Saturday 27 April, from 10am to 2pm.
All Saints Players present Curtain Up!, a comedy by Peter Quilter. It is a funny story of five women who inherit equal shares in a dilapidated theatre and plan to bring it back to life again. They try various fund raising schemes, however their plans go awry and they need to keep their audience from guessing the truth.
Curtain Up! opens at All Saints church Hall, Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch, RM11 2LG from Thursday 9 May, to Saturday 11 May. Shows start at 8pm and doors open 30 minutes before performances start. Tickets cost £8.50, and you can send an email to book your place, or call 01708 456683.
Rainham Library has free junior chess sessions for children aged 8-15 years old. There are two sessions each Monday (during the school term) between 4pm and 5pm, and again between 5pm and 6pm.
Please book by sending an email as sessions have limited availability. Children under eight must be accompanied by an adult.
Also available at Rainham Library is a new monthly table-top market with cakes, jewellery, candles and much more, starting on Tuesday 7 May from 11.30am to 3.30pm.
Havering Cyclists are holding a charity sponsored off-road bike ride on Sunday 28 April from 9:45am, to raise funds for the Mayor's Charity, First Step.
The bike ride will travel a 12-mile route starting at Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre in Hornchurch Country Park. The event is a family-friendly event, and riders can enter for a £5 fee, with under 16s riding free (but they must be accompanied by an adult). If you'd like to enter, you can visit the Eventbrite page. For more information, please email Jeff Stafford, or call/text him on 07710 302603.
Calling all Collier Row and Orchard Village residents, World Kiosk, a new art installation is coming to you this April and May.
Take part in an experience that brings the world closer together with the Variable Matter collective, led by local artist David Shearing.
It will transform a space on your doorstep, create a space for conversation, sharing stories and making new connections. Pause and take a moment to reflect over a cup of tea. The event takes place in Orchard Village, Rainham, RM13 8QR, Friday 26 April until Sunday 28 April 10am to 6pm, and on the Highfield Estate, Collier Row, RM5 3BW, Friday 3 May until Sunday 5 May, 11am to 7pm.
Upminster Sports and Pilates Studio is offering free educational talks on Osteoporosis.
The talks, led by Charlene (Osteoporosis Exercise Specialist) and Jenni (Osteoporosis Nutritionist) will help you learn what Osteoporosis is, what the risk factors are, and what specific forms of Exercise and Nutrition can help prevent or mitigate Osteoporosis.
The next talk takes place at Upminster Pilates Studio, rear of 304 St Mary’s Lane, RM14 3HL tomorrow, Saturday 27th April at 3pm. No need to book. For further information visit the website, or send an email.
Roads and rails
Upcoming road closures
Cavendish Avenue in Hornchurch will be closed between its junction with South End Road and its end for resurfacing works, 8am to 5pm on Monday 29 April. Cavendish Crescent and Park Lane will also be closed at their junctions with Cavendish Avenue during this period.
Havering Road in Romford will be closed at its junction with Mashiters Hill for maintenance works, 9:30am until 3pm on Monday 29 April.
Suttons Lane in Hornchurch will be closed overnight at its junctions with Airfield Way and Gladiator Way for traffic calming works, 7:30pm until 6am from Monday 29 April until Tuesday 30 April.
Ashvale Gardens in Romford will be closed between its junction with Highfield Road and its end for resurfacing works, 8am to 5pm on Tuesday 30 April and Wednesday 1 May.
Hilldene Avenue in Harold Hill will be closed nightly between its junctions with Gooshays Drive and Straight Road for resurfacing works, 7:30pm to 6am from Thursday 2 May until Saturday 4 May. Edenhall Road, Chatteris Avenue and Charlbury Crescent will all be closed at their junctions with Hilldene avenue during this period.
Ongoing closures
Rosewood Avenue in Hornchurch remains closed daily to the outside of numbers 1-5 Station Parade for a crossing installation, 8am to 5pm until Friday 3 May.
Maylands Way in Romford remains closed daily from its junctions with Johns Terrace and Colchester Road A12 westbound for excavation works, 10am to 3pm until Sunday 5 May.
Sylvan Avenue in Hornchurch remains closed daily from outside number 3 to its junction with Wingletye Lane for gas mains work, 7am to 7pm until Sunday 12 May.
Wingletye Lane in Hornchurch remains closed daily at its junction with Sylvan Avenue for gas mains work, 7am to 7pm until Sunday 12 May.
Parts of the A127 (Southend Arterial) remain closed to all traffic for drainage works, between 10pm and 5am, until Tuesday 18 June. The on-slip road connecting the eastbound carriageway with M25 junction 29 roundabout, and the off-slip road connecting the M25 junction 29 roundabout with the A127 will be closed during this time.
Public transport
Due to engineering works between Barking and Grays via Rainham, the c2c Rainham line will not run on Sunday 28 April. A rail replacement service will be in place.
Engineering works between Grays and Pitsea via Tilbury are affecting the c2c Ockendon line on Sunday 28 April. Services will not run between Grays and Pitsea. A rail replacement service will be in place.
Engineering works between Liverpool Street and Barking are affecting the c2c Basildon line on Sunday 28 April. Services will not stop at Stratford but will be diverted to Fenchurch Street and West Ham.
Engineering works in the Barking area are affecting night services on the c2c Basildon and Ockendon lines from Monday 29 April until Thursday 2 May.
Check the website for full details on all c2c service changes.
Maintenance work is affecting Greater Anglia services between Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria, and Southminster on Sunday 28 April. A rail replacement service will be in place for parts of the route.
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