‘Please Be Assured That I And The Council Have Expressed Our Frustration And Disappointment To TfL For The Gallows Corner Delays.’

‘We will continue to hold them to account to finish the job as quickly as possible’, Councillor Ray Morgon.

Havering’s Leader of he Council-Councillor Ray Morgon writes a regular column in the Havering Daily.

For residents living in the borough, who need to jump in their car to get to work, go shopping, see a loved one, take their children to school, or make any other journeys, I am afraid, some of you are going to see continued delays on our roads due to the delay in Gallows Corner being finished.

We were all told that the works would finish in September, only now to find that they will be delayed with no end date in sight. This is partly down to problems experienced by Essex and Suffolk Water, who were using the flyover replacement as an opportunity to install new water pipes. They now tell us that they have had difficulties with the ‘ground conditions’and these works will be delayed.

This has a knock on effect of delaying the completion of the flyover and also on works we need to do too. It will also cost businesses money and will have further knock on effects for many. This is very disappointing, and we met with TfL last week at Gallows Corner to express our views and push for an end date and some form of compensation for all those affected.

We will also be meeting the Transport Commissioner on this as well. Don’t get me wrong, these improvements had to happen and I am sure the end result will make a big difference. But it is now turning into bit of a nightmare for many. Please be assured that I and the Council have expressed our frustration and disappointment to TfL for the delays and we will continue to hold them to account to finish the job as quickly as possible.

Another thing that is also concerning residents is this issue about flying the Union Flag or Cross of St George. I, and the Cabinet know, that we live in a patriotic borough. At the Council we are also very patriotic and we fly both flags outside the Town Hall all year round.

I know Andrew Rosindell MP wrote a public letter to us about this subject. My response is that we have no problem with residents showing their patriotism by flying flags at their homes or in the borough. 

However, as the MP for Romford stated in the letter, it must be done safely and with respect. We do need to consider road and other users, and if they are in places that obscure signs or constitute a health and safety issue then they will be removed.

We will therefore leave our flags flying unless it causes a real problem.

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