Researchers from BBC1's Rip Off Britain (with Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Jennie Bond) are looking for people to get in touch and tell them about problems they have had with companies/services. In particular, people who are not camera shy and who have the paperwork/evidence to back up their claim.

Figures released by the Metropolitan Police show a 2.2% decrease in the total number of offences committed in Havering for the year ending June 2010. Motor vehicle crime saw a 13% drop on last year while domestic crime saw a 35% increase. The total number offences for the 12-month period to June 2010 amounted to 17,172 compared with 17,544 for the same period in 2009.

"Heritage" bus service X55 will operate on the last Saturday in August (28th), between Lakeside and Upminster station, serving all existing bus stops along the route.  Services will depart from Upminster Station at 09:05 and then every 30  Minutes until 18:05. Arrivals at Upminster Station will begin at 10.34 and then every 30 minutes until 19:34.

Is there a legal age for a babysitter? What if I need to use my mobile phone in an emergency whilst driving? My neighbours car alarm is always going off, what can I do? What are the rules for towing caravans on cars?

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Havering Council face huge spending cuts as austerity measures imposed by the coalition government will mean a loss of jobs and services. A recent report to the Council set out cuts of £19m for the next three years rising to approximately £50m over five years.

With the start of the new academic year just around the corner you may be thinking of starting a course.  Here at Ardleigh House we offer a wide variety of classes for adults all are tutor lead and are without the pressure of exams,

Elm Park Library, one of Havering's greenest buildings, scooped the gold award in the Community Use category at the recent Green Apple Awards at the Tower of London .

Financial pressures have forced Havering's community radio station to close after 14 years on the air. Link FM, based in Chippenham Road, Harold Hill, will cease broadcast at 12pm on Monday (June 28) after struggling to raise vital funds.

The Cranham Caravan Park in Front Lane, Cranham, suffered serious damage in a blistering inferno on Monday morning.

Plumes of heavy black smoke could be seen for many miles around as the fire took hold at the caravan park at around 8.30am.

Anyone visiting the mini-golf course in Hall Lane, Upminster, will have been disappointed as the facility resembles a neglected open space rather than a course for budding golfers to enjoy the recreational facility.

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Saturday 26th June will mark the second annual Armed Forces Day. In Havering the day will be celebrated with an Armed Forces Parade followed by a Uniformed Youth Festival.

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Tickets for the Olympic Games in 2012 will become available next year, but Havering residents, along with the rest of Greater London, will not receive any preferential treatment for the 10 million tickets.

Boyd Hall in St Mary's Lane, Upminster, was in flames again last night (12th June) which has left substantial damage to the historic building.

The Hall suffered two suspicious fires back in 2005, but the cause of the latest blaze is yet to be established.

Following the announcement of the Conservative Cabinet at Full Council on 26 th May, the Residents' Association have unveiled their Shadow Cabinet line-up for 2010/11.

Message from the Highways Agency.

Please be advised the Highways Agency will be carrying out work in the verge beside the M25 between junction 29 and 30. This work is in preparation for the M25 widening between junction 29 and 30, due to start in June 2011.

With effect from 1 June, work will begin on clearing vegetation in small specific areas to sink trial holes to establish what services and materials are present below the surface.

The position of Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee was a contested issue at Full Council last week. The committee, which comprises of 11 members, is led by a conservative chair supported by three conservative vice-chairs. However, the Residents' Association proposed that, in the interests of fair balance, Cllr Linda Van Den Hende (RA, Upminster) should fulfil one of the Vice Chair positions.

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A welcome announcement from the new coalition government may put a stop to development of residential gardens (commonly known as garden grabbing).

The future of Area Committees was thrown into doubt during a heated debate at the May Full Council.

Figures released by the Metropolitan Police show a 3.2% decrease in the total number of offences committed in Havering for the year ending April 2010. Motor vehicle crime saw a 26% drop on last year while domestic crime saw a 27% increase. The total number offences for the 12-month period to April 2010 amounted to 17,196 compared with 17,761 for the same period in 2009.

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The sky was blue and the ground a long way off as five 'skydivers' plummeted 12,000ft to earth in order to raise money for local charity First Step.

The sky's the limit, or at least it will be on 15th May, when Cllr Clarence Barrett (RA, Cranham) leaps from a plane at 13,000 feet in a tandem skydive before parachuting down to terra firma.

The challenge will takes place at Chatteris Airfield in Cambridge and all monies raised will go to local charity First Step.

Not many people may be aware of this, but as from April 6 th 2010 eligibilty for the older persons Freedom Pass will increase from 60 to 65 over a period of 5 years.

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The Mayor of London published his draft London Plan for consultation late last year.  His plan included the proposal for 42 Pitches for Gypsy, Travellers and Travelling Showmen in Havering. 

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With the tax year at an end the potential for scams offering ‘tax rebates' is set to become more widespread.

The scam starts with cold calls or e.mails informing people that they are due a tax rebate or child benefit refund. The communication can look very realistic even showing the HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) logo. The message will ask for personal details, including your bank account numbers which will then be used to withdraw money from the unsuspecting victims.

Tickets for the Olympic Games in 2012 will become available next year, but Havering residents, along with the rest of Greater London, will not receive any preferential treatment for the 10 million tickets.

Residents may have received a consultation pack and questionnaire on a proposal to build a retirement village on Green Belt land at the end of Moor Lane, Cranham.

An almost identical application to build a Retirement Village on the same site was refused last year as it did not demonstrate the very special circumstances required to build on Green Belt land.

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Following the worst winter for 30 years and the hazard caused by icy footpaths, there was much news coverage about responsibility for clearing away ice and snow and whether householders run the risk of being sued if they were to undertake such a task.

An additional £200,000 for road and pavement repairs, restoring free car parking and reducing Special Responsibility Allowances for councillors were features of the Residents' Association 2010/11 budget proposals (see below for key items) which were considered by Full Council this week. The proposals also set out a further saving of £100,000 on council expenditure which would have translated into a 0.5% reduction in council tax for next year.

On Sunday 25 th April, Cranham residents Gill Walker and her husband Mike (pictured) will be running in the Virgin London Marathon 2010 in support of Bowel Cancer UK, which raises funds for and awareness of bowel cancer.  Gill said: "We have chosen to run for this charity in memory of my dad Albert Cox who sadly died of bowel cancer when he was just 33.

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Figures released by the Metropolitan Police show a 5% decrease in the total number of offences committed in Havering for the year ending January 2010. Motor vehicle crime saw a 34% drop on last year while burglaries saw a 11% increase. The total number offences for the 12-month period to January 2010 amounted to 17,135 compared with 17,992 for the same period in 2009.

Freedom Pass users may have encountered difficulties in obtaining their new pass. According to the scheme administrators, London Councils and the Post Office, the delay in issuing the passes is due to the sheer volume of renewals which is affecting production and distribution, in some cases up to a month.

Works are currently being undertaken at the Upminster London Underground Depot to accommodate additional trains from 2013.

London Underground have released the following statement:

According to the 2008/09 Council accounts, residential Council Tax debt has increased by £2.6m since 2006 and now stands at a breathtaking £13.8m, despite an average of £2.8m being written off in each of the last three years.

Following concerns raised by Cranham Residents' Association councillors, the council refused planning permission (P1537.09) to build an additional shop with a 3-bedroom maisonette on land adjacent to 151 Avon Road (land next to fish and chip shop), however the applicants have lodged an appeal which will be heard at a public hearing.

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The Havering in Winter photograph competition attracted a bumper crop of high quality wintry images, however the winning entry was captured by Phil Wailing of Romford with his composition 'Bedfords Park Winter Foliage'.

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