Havering streets ranked among least healthiest in London

A community group has expressed concern over residents’ wellbeing after Havering was ranked third from bottom for healthy streets in London.

Out of 32 London boroughs, Havering ranked third last in results published on Monday (June 10) by the Healthy Streets Scorecard.

The scorecard measures how healthy a borough’s streets are using ten indicators, including low traffic neighbourhoods, 20 mile-per-hour speed limits and car ownership rates.

Havering, ahead of just Bexley and Hillingdon, was described by the report as a car-dominated environment failing to enable residents to switch to public transport, walking and cycling.

Mark Philpotts of Better Streets for Havering, a community group, said: “We’ve had a new administration for over a year and we have not seen anything change.

“The council has declared a climate emergency, but we are not seeing an emergency response – there’s lots of talk but not much action.”

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Better Streets said it was not looking good for the adminstration of Gillian Ford, deputy leader of Havering Council and Keith Darvill, cabinet member for climate change.

The group added that Havering has not tackled important climate issues.

Cllr Ford disagreed and said the council was working hard behind the scenes to implement a climate policy, improve public transport routes and cycle lanes.

“To say that nothing is happening is a bit of a stretch too far,” she said. “Everything we are looking at does include the climate.

“But all that takes time, money and planning.”

Cllr Ford said that the council needed greater support from Transport for London (TfL) and the Greater London Authority (GLA), which, she said, had promised a station in Beam Park that never came to fruition.

Cllr Ford added that many in Havering do not have access to good public transport networks and have to drive because that transport option is not there.

But Mr Philpotts, referring to the 2021 Census, claimed two-thirds of Havering households either have one or no cars.

“We have got a species of politicians who think cars are the only transport that should be catered for,” he said.

A TfL spokesperson said it does not have any involvement with Beam Park station, which would be on the Tilbury Loop.

Cllr Darvill and City Hall were approached for comment.