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On 26th May residents will have an opportunity to explore some of the borough's buildings, open spaces and museums as part of 'Havering Mini Open House'.

The event is free and is a chance to take a closer look at the amazing historical buildings in Havering and discover more recent additions to the local architectural landscape.

The buildings, sites and events open and available to the public include:

• Bower House, where visitors can walk around the grounds and house and enjoy the views towards Kent.

• myplace centre, Harold Hill, where visitors can look around the new building before it opens to public use.

• Upminster Old and New, a gentle stroll through Upminster guided by a local historian.

• Havering College, Hornchurch, with demonstrations and activities available including creative arts, beauty, catering and motorsports.

• Langtons House and Gardens, where guided tours of the Grade II listed Georgian house and gardens will be available.

• St Albans Church, built in 1890, the Victorian Gothic church is displaying 22 contemporary artworks specially commissioned from famous artists.

• RSPB Rainham Marshes, where visitors will be able to see the marshes and explore the new education centre.

• Rainham Hall (pictured), built in 1729 with fine examples of domestic architecture and wrought iron work.

• Upminster Windmill, a listed timber smock windmill that was still in use until 1934.

• Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia, containing a collection of everyday items from the recent past and now featuring an exhibition of the borough's royal connections.

Despite the cost of green waste sacks increasing to £1.17 per bag, the contents are still collected with general household waste and not recycled or composted separately.

Leader of the Residents' Association, Cllr Clarence Barrett (Cranham, RA), who has campaigned on the issue over recent years, is concerned that the green waste sacks are being collected and disposed of along with residual waste.

Cllr Barrett said: "In 2011/12 around 100,000 green waste sacks were sold generating a gross income of some £115,000.

"Residents may well be under the impression that the contents of the sacks are composted in the same way as the green wheelie bins. However, this is not the case as they are collected with the black sacks, treated the same as the black sacks and share the same fate as the black sacks - so how can they cost £1.17 each?

"The green wheelie bin is a good environmental initiative and generates around 4,000 tonnes of green waste for composting each year. However, it's not convenient for everyone, hence the option of the green sacks.

"We shall continue to press for an arrangement whereby the green sacks are collected at the same time as the green wheelie bins. This delivers the double benefit of increasing our composting rates and giving residents an assurance that the green sacks do not just end up with food and general waste”.

Inconsiderate motorists who block driveways are a persistent cause of complaint; however the circumstances in which any kind of enforcement can be applied has often been hazy.

In order to give a definitive guide of what can and can't be done, the following should be of assistance.

Recent changes in legislation (Section 14 - London Local Authorities and Transport for London 2003) mean that a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) can be issued by the council to vehicles which are obstructing a dropped kerb (drive way) whether there is a car in the drive or not.

A PCN can therefore be issued where the kerb has been lowered for the purpose of:

• assisting vehicles entering or leaving the road

• assisting pedestrians crossing the road

• assisting cyclists entering or leaving the road

An important factor is that a PCN can only be issued if an occupier contacts the council with registration details and requests a PCN to be issued. This avoids the scenario where a PCN might be issued to a resident parking across their own driveway or where legitimate visitors are parked with the occupiers consent.

Any resident requiring this course of action should call the Traffic & Parking Control Team on 01708 432787 or 01708 434698 (after 5pm) and provide the registration details whereupon a Civil Enforcement Officer will attend as soon as is practically possible.

It is also important to remember that the call must be done at the time the vehicle is obstructing the drive way as a PCN cannot be issued retrospectively.


We have been sent a suggestion that apparently works very well. If you print off the notice below, place it under the offending vehicle's wiper, they apparently never do it again. It must be worth a try !

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Havering Local police information.

Recently, there has been a rise in burglaries in the Havering area. While the chances of being burgled in this area are statistically low we know that being burgled can be a distressing experience. While we are taking action to target and arrest those responsible, we remind home owners to take some simple measures which can further reduce the chance of them becoming a victim of burglary.

Most burglaries tend to be opportunistic rather than planned. So if your home does not look secure, seems unlived in, or provides unobserved access, it could be at risk. Understanding what burglars look for when choosing their target will help you identify weak spots in your home's security.

Our 10 Top Tips:

Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your house name.

Register items with a serial number at:  http://www.immobilise.com/

Do not leave your car keys or ID documents near doors, letterbox or windows.

Always check who's at the door and don't open it if you feel anxious.

Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you are only going out for a few minutes.

Keep your valuables out of sight.

Leave some lights on if it will be dark before you get home.

Install a visible burglar alarm.

Always keep sheds and outbuildings locked.

Cancel milk or other deliveries if you will be away for days or weeks at a time.

For more advice and information please visit http://content.met.police.uk/Home  or contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods team by visiting the above web site or by calling 101.

Pettits Residents Association will be holding their monthly meeting in the Havering Museum on Wednesday 11th April 2012 at 19:30pm. All parking restrictions in Angel Way cease at 18:30pm. All are welcome.

CAR PARK CHARGES IN PARKS SET TO PROCEED

Despite vigorous opposition, plans to introduce car parking charges at Lodge Farm, Cottons and Upminster Park took a step closer on Thursday as the Highways Advisory Committee agreed by a majority to recommend the proposals for implementation.

Speeches from the Romford Bowls Club, Upminster Cricket Club, the Director of London Playing Fields Association and Cllr Linda Hawthorn (RA, Upminster) all centred on the detrimental impact the proposals would have on the sports club, park users and nearby residents.

Cllr Linda Hawthorn made an impassioned plea to consider the consequences of the proposals on the viability of the New Windmill Hall and also the park users. She said:

 “The Windmill car parks already have barriers in place until 9.30am to deter commuters and this works well. There is no need to introduce these charges as we should be encouraging people into our parks not charging them for the privilege”.

FOR THE FULL STORY CLICK HERE

Phil Wailing and Denis Stevens attended the Pettits Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel Meeting on Wednesday 14^th March .

Please be aware in Pettits ward there has been a significant increase in the instances of burglary, particularly in the area of the A12 corridor.

Please be extra vigilant and don’t forget ‘Lift and Lock’ and remove the key.

The police have told us if you even suspect there may be strangers, who are possibly burglars watching your home, do not hesitate.

Dial 999

The recent spell of very cold weather has unsurprisingly triggered extra £25 ‘cold weather payments' for pensioners and other eligible residents living in Havering, but in an extraordinary twist of postcode lotteries, those living in RM4 area are already due two payments while the rest of Havering have one!

Payment is made when the average temperature is recorded as zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days during the period 1st November to 31st March. However, temperatures recorded for the RM4 area are taken at a weather station in Dunmow, Essex while temperatures for the rest of Havering are taken at a weather station at Gravesend, Kent - 55 miles apart.

This bizarre arrangement has led to pensioners receiving cold weather payments despite living opposite pensioners who do not - yet they share the same weather! The arrangement is made even more bizarre when neighbouring Ilford and most of London is determined by a weather station in Heathrow!

The Met Office advises the Government which weather stations cover which postcodes and is reviewed annually. We have written to the relevant government department to address this oddity.

Cllr Clarence Barrett, (Residents' Association), who was interviewed last week on BBC Radio London about the issue, said: "This is a very helpful scheme for those in need, but there is something clearly amiss when a resident living on one side of the road is eligible to a cold weather payment while their neighbour living opposite is not.

"Having the temperature of the same road measured by weather stations 55 miles apart is simply bizarre. Given the technology at our disposal, there should be some form of consistency when measuring temperatures that is equitable to all and doesn't leave some residents out in the cold."

To find out if your area qualifies for a cold weather payment simply click on the link below and enter your post code.

CLICK HERE

Consultation has begun on controversial plans to introduce charges to park in three of the boroughs parks.

The proposals will see car parking charges applied from Monday to Saturday at Lodge Farm Park , Cottons Park and Upminster Park .

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Clarence Barrett, said: “The Residents' Association totally oppose these charges. People should be encouraged into our parks, not forced to pay for the privilege.

“This Administration is trying to justify the charges by claiming the parks are full up with commuters. However, Upminster Park has a barrier in place until 9.30am every morning to overcome this problem. Similar methods of deterrence, such as maximum stay lengths, can easily be introduced to deal with commuter parking issues without having to charge.

“It appears that the real motive behind this is simply a money making exercise which penalises genuine park users and I would encourage everyone to respond to the consultation accordingly.”

Any person wishing to object to the proposals or make other representation should send a statement in writing to:

David Pritchard

Traffic & Parking Control Group Manager

StreetCare,

Mercury House

Mercury Gardens

Romford

Essex

RM1 3SL

or e.mail david.pritchard@havering.gov.uk

Please quote reference LBH/645
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL CONSULTATION LETTER

The consultation closes on 24th February 2012.

Over the last couple of months there have been some very positive developments with regard to the future of Tweedway Hall. 
In the not to distant future we very much hope we will be able to inform you that a Community Group has taken over the lease of the hall and the future of both the hall and annex are secure. 

The Pettits RA meeting is this Wednesday 8th February at 19:00 pm in the Havering Museum, South Street, Romford.

If you have any concerns in either Pettits or Romford Town wards pop along and see us.

Residents are urged to beware of a recent scam involving a bogus BT communication. A resident who recently came across the scam explains how it happens. I received a phone call from BT, informing me that he was disconnecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31 or it would be £118 to re-connect at a later date.

For the full story CLICK HERE.

Havering council intend to introduce Pay & Display outside your paper shop.

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We are receiving many complaints about the dire state of Pettits Wards roads and pavements. We have taken up several of these issues with Havering councils Streetcare and we are waiting their response.

You can keep up to date with our progress by visiting the Roads and Pavements section of Pettits Ward Forum.

TO VISIT OUR FORUM CLICK HERE

Pettits Residents Association meeting will be held at Marshalls Park School, Pettits Lane, Romford from 19:00 to 21:00pm Wednesday 11th January. All are welcome.

Controversial plans by Havering's Conservative Administration to introduce charges to park in three of the boroughs parks were slammed by the Residents' Association last week as the Highways Advisory Committee agreed by 5 votes to 4 to proceed with the proposals.

The proposals will see car parking charges being introduced at Lodge Farm Park, Cottons Park and Upminster Park. Users of Raphael park will also be affected. As you are probably aware the Lodge Farm Main Road car park is shared with the users of Raphael Park. 

Cllr Linda Hawthorn, who spoke at the meeting on behalf of the Upminster ward, said: “The car park by the New Windmill Hall in Upminster Park is set aside for users of the hall and the park. Only a few weeks ago the council agreed to press ahead with plans to lease the hall to a community group, now it has made that more difficult by introducing unnecessary car parking charges.”

Cllr Clarence Barrett (Cranham, RA), who sat on the Highways Advisory Committee and voted against the proposals, said: “There should be absolutely no car park charges in any of our parks.

“ The Administration is trying to justify the charges by claiming the parks are full up with commuters. However, Upminster Park has a barrier in place until 9.30am every morning to overcome this problem. Similar methods of deterrence, such as maximum stay lengths, can easily be introduced to deal with commuter parking issues without having to charge.

“However, the real motive behind this is simply a money making exercise which penalises genuine park users.”

The voting saw all 5 conservatives vote for the scheme while the Residents Association, Labour and the Independent Residents' Group members all voted against this proposal.
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Havering Museum will be hosting an exhibition dedicated to Crime and Punishment from 14th January to 17th March.

The exhibition explores crime, punishment and law enforcement through the ages. Visitors will be amazed by stories of witchcraft, smuggling, murder, wartime black market and crimes of today.


An exciting programme of six talks and children's half term activities will also take place.

The museum, which is located at 19-21 High Street , Romford, is open Wednesday to Friday (noon to 5pm) and Saturday's from 11am to 5pm.

For more information call 01708 766571 or visit,

www.haveringmuseum.org.uk

SATURDAY 14TH JANUARY

11am in ROMFORD MARKET

Havering is one of the 13 identified “biking boroughs” within the Metropolitan Police district. The Police are encouraging cyclists to have their bikes marked and registered to prevent cycle theft and ensure stolen bikes are returned to their right full owners.

The bikes frame is marked with a unique code in ultra violet ink. The ink moulds to the frame ensuring a permanent invisible mark.

The code is stored on a national database with the owners details, should your bike be stolen and recovered it will be returned straight away.

THE BEST THING IS IT IS COMPLETELY FREE.

At the ward panel meeting on Thursday 8th December the ward priorities were set as:

1) Burglary.  

2) Theft of and from motor vehicles in the A12 corridor.

There were 32 burglaries committed in the ward in the 3 months from Sept 2011.

16 during the day and 16 at night. Of the day time burglaries half were committed in the school run hours 08:15am and 15:15pm and in a quarter of all thefts unlocked UPVC doors were the means of access to the property.

Houses are also targeted for the keys for high value motor vehicles left on driveways. Always  LIFT AND LOCK and remove the keys. Do not leave your keys anywhere near the door. 

The next ward panel meeting will be on March 15th 2012 from 7:00pm - 9:00pm at Marshalls School, Pettits Lane. Your Pettits Residents Association members will be in attendance. If you have concerns with crime in your area come along and meet the team. All are welcome.  
We have been asked by the Pettits SNT to make you aware that the next 3 Pettits Ward Street Briefings will be held at:

Pettits Lane shops (white shops)

Wed 14th December 2011 – 14:00 to 15:00pm.

Fri 06th January 2012 – 14:00 to 15:00pm

Raphael Park

Tuesday 17th January 2012 – 17:00 to 18:00pm

If you have any concerns with crime in your area please pop along and talk to the team. They will be only to pleased to see you.                                                                                                      

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.

We have been contacted by 2 residents, one in Pettits ward and one in Mawneys ward asking if we are aware the Londis store at 5 - 7 Collier Row Lane has applied for a variation of premises licence.

The application is for the sale of alcohol off premises, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and to sell late night refreshments from 23:00pm to 05:00am.

Your Residents Association is fiercely opposed to this application and will be writing to the Licencing Section raising our objections.

Objections should be sent to:

The Licencing Team

5^th Floor Mercury House,

Mercury Gardens,

Romford,

Essex.

RM1 3SL

                                 CLICK HERE
To read the licence application in this weeks Romford Recorder go to  page 56 (bottom R/H corner).