News for the community, by the community.
Across Havering, countless residents are opposing proposals for development on Green Belt land. Let us take a step back in time. Spring and summers were full of birds. Trees were their habitat and swallows marked the start of summer. Endless insects arrived, noticeable in your garden. Foxes were heard at night. Badger setts were visible in fields. Our wildlife was present.
Local environmental activists in Hornchurch have come together to build a hopeful resolution with Network Rail and their contractors, Homegrown Timber, for 40 carefully and collaboratively planned new trees.
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Residents in Havering will be paying almost 5% more in council tax from April. Havering Council is set to approve a tax hike of 4.99% for 2026/27, according to a recently published report writes Sebastian Mann.
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Animal Justice Project (AJP), with the support of TV celebrity Peter Egan, has secured sanctuary placement for 51 Jersey cows at Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk and has launched a nationwide petition urging the farmer to relinquish the animals. Campaigners say that a sanctuary home would allow these “working mothers” to live out the rest of their lives in peace, free from the threat of slaughter.
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Havering should have had an updated Air Quality Action Plan in 2023. But it’s been put on hold yet again by the council’s Havering Residents’ Association administration. And now we’re in 2026. We have been told that this urgent unfinished business is now being left till after the May council elections.
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A new report from the public policy think tank Re:State is calling for a major overhaul of how London’s local government is organised, suggesting a dramatic reduction in the number of boroughs and the creation of an official “opposition mayor” role to strengthen democratic checks and improve strategic governance across the capital.
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Residents fighting the proposed East Havering Data Centre are stepping up pressure on Havering Council, demanding the maximum possible consultation
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Havering is singled out as one of the worst-affected boroughs, with four Green Belt and open land sites- Lodge Farm, Baldwins Farm, Benets Road and a proposed data centre in North Ockendon, highlighted as being under threat.
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Eating more fruit and vegetables is one of the simplest ways to boost your health and wellbeing. But as we head to the supermarket, one thing becomes immediately clear: the majority of our produce is wrapped in heavy plastic. From organic apples to sweet long peppers, our fruit and vegetables sit on the shelf tightly sealed, often in layers of packaging.
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Kaleidoscope is currently the only dedicated LGBTQ+ space in Havering, providing monthly community meetups for locals aged 17-24, since it was established in 2022. The success of Kaleidoscope has now led to a new 5-month project aimed at providing a social and creative space for those aged 25+, funded by Havering Council’s ‘Community Chest’. The outcome of this project will be a series of community-designed LGBTQ+ Pride stickers which will be displayed in shop windows around Romford to foster a more welcoming atmosphere for a marginalised community.
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A study launched this week by Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) has found residues of the weedkiller glyphosate and its toxic breakdown product AMPA in English playgrounds raising serious concerns about children’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals in public spaces.
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Labour councils across London have committed to defending the Freedom Pass in full after strong opposition to proposals that could
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Havering has done it. Our borough has been crowned first place winner at this year’s London New Year’s Day Parade, beating every other London borough in the capital’s biggest and most celebrated annual event.
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Havering has weaker public transport links than many other London boroughs, particularly compared with inner London areas. Large parts of the borough have low public transport accessibility levels (PTAL), meaning many residents are not close to frequent rail, Tube or other rapid transit services. Much of Havering outside key centres like Romford and Upminster scores low on access scales, reflecting limited options for walking or public transport and a reliance on cars.
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Residents in Havering received practical support to reduce energy bills and stay warm this winter, thanks to two Energy Doctors drop-in events held in December at Harold Hill Library Hub and the Low Energy Visitor Centre.
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For pensioners in Havering, the Freedom Pass is a lifeline. Taking it away would isolate older residents and strip them of their independence”-Andrew Rosindell MP.
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As the New Year’s Honours List is announced, Havering is proud to recognise some truly remarkable individuals whose dedication and selflessness make our borough a better place. Behind the scenes, these outstanding members of our community work tirelessly, often without recognition, putting Havering first.
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A major international wellbeing study has delivered a stark warning for the United Kingdom, revealing that the nation is falling significantly behind its global peers when it comes to physical health, happiness, purpose, and general quality of life. The research, carried out by Harvard University, compared 22 wealthy nations and ranked the UK near the bottom for overall wellbeing.
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Five people in Cambridge have been found guilty of burglary and are now awaiting sentencing, following the removal of eighteen beagles from a lab where animals are used for testing purposes. Under UK law, animals used in scientific research are considered property, meaning the removal constituted burglary.
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Anti-Semites are idiots. All racism is idiotic. Anyone reading this who is a racist should stop reading now because they are about to become convinced they were right to be anti-Semitic because this is one angry Jew who is coming after you and your stupidity and your hatred.
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