Latest news with #Havering
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Builders hit with backlash after shocking act in public park: 'It's beyond unacceptable'
One of the great simple pleasures in life is a long stroll through the park, though encroachments by private property owners can make this increasingly difficult for local residents. Mardyke Open Space in the London Borough of Havering offers a wonderful area for kids to play, dogs to be walked, and anyone to enjoy the meadowy outdoors. That was until, in early May, a group of builders cut through the park's fencing and began cutting down the trees and bushes in the area. An article by The Havering Daily stated: "The workers … were seen using diggers to cut through metal fencing and drive along a public footpath. Residents estimate that approximately 40 feet of greenery was completely destroyed." Protecting communal spaces is a global concern. Recently, a property owner in Florida was penalized for filling in a protected waterway with rocks and dirt, adding to his land and harming the environment. Someone else in British Columbia illegally dredged a creek, detrimentally harming its salmon population. The Havering Daily reported that two nearby residents were called to observe the destruction. In the article, one resident said: "The land there is now completely flat, everything has gone. There are children playing, families walking — and now diggers are being driven over the public paths. It's beyond unacceptable." The outrage from Mardyke Open Space lovers is real, and it speaks to the locals' true appreciation of the area. While requests have been made for the destruction to stop until a proper investigation is launched, park visitors can only hope for a win, as well as for some rebuilding. Though situations like these can feel scary and out of control, the choice to bring in law enforcement and show public disapproval is a step in the right direction. By using their voice and taking local, immediate action, the hope is that public area destruction can be handled and that free, open spaces like this one can continue to thrive. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
20 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
'Not contaminated' designation of Arnold Fields to be reviewed
A council will need to reassess its decision not to call a perennially burning rubbish dump "contaminated".Havering Council's decision was challenged in the High Court on 17 June by Clean the Air in Havering, a group set up to tackle the fires at Launders Lane in landfill site, on Arnolds Field, has caught fire more than 100 times since 2019, sending smoke into homes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) leader Gillian Ford said: "The site belongs to the landowners and it is their responsibility to make it safe – we are ready to work with them to solve the problem." 'Summer of hell' Justice Nathalie Lieven ruled the decision not to designate the land as contaminated by Havering Council in July 2024 as "premature and unlawful".She also found the town hall misunderstood the law by failing to consider smoke as a potential contaminant under contaminated land rules. The council has said its options are "limited".Ford added: "We are now reviewing the detail in the ruling. One thing that is clear is it has asked us to reconsider our decision on whether Arnolds Field is 'contaminated land' or not."Despite the landowner's claims that they're trying to 'improve the site for the local community', the fact remains that they have not yet submitted a formal planning application, and we have seen no evidence to suggest they are serious in finding a solution." Ruth Kettle-Frisby, one of three local mothers leading the campaign, said residents had reported "constant coughing and stinging and irritated eyes," and had been forced to "close all windows during this hot weather"."This month, Rainham residents have reported their understandable distress as they enter 'another summer of hell', with smoke already entering nearby schools," she added. Emily Nicholson, from the law firm Mishcon de Reya, who represents the campaign group Clean the Air in Havering said: "This is the first judgment that we are aware of which deals with assessment under the Contaminated Land Guidance, and it clarifies an important point on smoke being able to be assessed as a contaminant linkage for the purposes of the contaminated land regime. "It also makes clear that where health impacts come from specific sporadic events, such as fires, decisions must be made based on evidence of the impacts of those events."
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment dive-bombing buzzard that has terrorised village tries to get into house before being attacked by magpies and crows
A dive-bombing buzzard that has terrorised villagers for months has been captured attempting to enter a house before being attacked by magpies and crows. Residents in Havering-atte-Bower, Greater London, say they are 'living in fear' after being attacked by the menacing bird of prey which has even caused a local primary school to stop their pupils from going outside during break time. The buzzard, nicknamed Brenda by local school children, is believed to be part of a mating pair and was last week captured narrowly missing resident Louise Whittle's head as it swooped down on her. Now, fellow local Nick Woodgate has captured the bird looking to continue its reign of terror on the community by entering a nearby house. The footage shows the buzzard attempting to fly through the closed window before it flies onto the roof of the house opposite Mr Woodgate's property. It is then circled by crows looking to knock the swaying buzzard off its perch, before a group of magpies seemingly arrive to help oust the bird. She is said to be defending her nest in Havering Country Park, and due to buzzards being protected under UK law, Havering Council has said its intervention options are 'very limited'. It is then circled by crows looking to knock the swaying buzzard off its perch, before a group of magpies seemingly arrive to help oust the bird When Miss Whittle was almost hit in the head by the bird earlier this month she said the situation was 'absolutely bonkers'. And after children at Dame Tipping Primary School were forced to stay inside since Easter through fear of injury, Miss Whittle said it was a 'brilliant' way to handle the issue. She added: 'The school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out. 'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children - they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.' However, Miss Whittle admitted being concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'. Headteacher Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' to keep the children inside was made after the birds became 'highly present' in the playground. She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.' The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds. Headteacher Ms McCarthy added: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust mini bus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm. 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' The bird also dive-bombed on local resident Nikki Dix, 37, as she took a walk in the park. Miss Dix said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head. She said: 'I was scared, I was taken back by it. 'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'. 'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.' The school has been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue. The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and the hiring of a falconry expert. A Havering Council spokesperson said previously: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. 'Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. 'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
A buzzard named Brenda has caused a school playground ban
A buzzard named Brenda has been causing a bit of chaos in the village of Havering-atte-Bower, in bird of prey has been spotted swooping down at people - so children at the nearby local primary school have been told they cannot play outside while the bird is RSPCA thinks that Brenda's behaviour could be because she is protecting a nest or are one of the most common birds of prey in the UK, and are a protected species under UK law, meaning that the options on what to do about Brenda "are very limited" according to the local council. Havering Council said its health and safety team has given "detailed advice to the academy trust which looks after the school", including things they can do to safely deter Brenda from swooping at people, including hiring a falconry expert who understands the bird's school's Head Teacher Stella McCarthy told the BBC they were trying to figure out a way to allow children to play outside where possible, including taking pupils to a nearby school for outdoor play and finding a different location for sports day."We had to think about how to risk assess this... it's quite an unusual situation, having to risk assess a buzzard," she said. After accepting that "there was nothing we could do" to remove the bird of prey, the school decided to embrace her instead."The children named the bird Brenda and put out posters for protecting Brenda and looking after her... they've been writing stories, reports; next week they'll be doing newspaper articles, they've done artwork."As part of their learning, they even had a bird of prey expert visit the school - bringing with him a Chilean blue buzzard eagle called Ross Hicking said: "Guido (can) help educate the children about what Brenda the buzzard is dong, why she's behaving like this, the natural habits of buzzards, to foster interest in birds of prey and also to teach them about conservation and what we can do to protect birds of prey in the wild."He also said that, while "99% of the time" buzzards would avoid people due to fear, Brenda's swooping could be connected with the nesting also said that living in an area near to people meant that "she's a lot more comfortable around people and lot less fearful than most buzzards would be."
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Terrifying moment dive-bombing buzzard attacks woman in her dressing gown and slippers - as bird of prey's reign of terror forces primary school pupils inside at break times
This is the terrifying moment a buzzard swoops down and attacks a woman in her dressing gown and slippers, as the bird continues to terrorise a village. The bird has terrorised villagers in Havering-atte-Bower for months and has forced one local primary school to temporarily ban pupils from going outside during break time. The buzzard, nicknamed Brenda by local school children is believed to be part of a mating pair. Local resident and parent Louise Whittle, narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard, while in her dressing gown and slippers. Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mum's head. She quickly ducks and manages to run away from the bird, which landed on a fence nearby. Louise said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people.' Children at Dame Tipping Primary School have been forced to stay inside since Easter through fear of injury by the bird of prey, believed to be part of a mating pair. But, as buzzards are protected, the school says 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban. Louise said the school has handled the issue 'brilliantly'. She added: 'The school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out. 'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children - they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.' However, Louise added that she is still concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'. Headteacher Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' to keep the children inside was made after the birds became 'highly present' in the playground. She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.' The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds. Headteacher Ms McCarthy added: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust mini bus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm. 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' The bird also dive-bombed on local resident Nikki Dix, 37, as she took a walk in the park. Ms Dix said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head. She said: 'I was scared, I was taken back by it. 'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'. 'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.' The school has been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue. The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and the hiring of a falconry expert. A Havering Council spokesperson said: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. 'Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. 'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.
