Author: Blake Foster

According to Rightmove, respondents to its annual Happy at Home survey led to Havering falling to 210th out of 220 boroughs nationwide for happiness.  The ranking comes after more than 35,000 people completed the study by Rightmove for 2024.  The study asks respondents across Great Britain about 15 happiness factors to help rank their area not just based on their properties.  READ MORE: See inside Romford shopping centre’s newly reopened jewellery store after refit These factors include access to amenities such as good schools, employment opportunities, access to green spaces, and even the sense of community in their area.  Out of all 33 London…

Purley Way has been closed for hours today (June 12) after medics were first called at 10.36am. An eyewitness told Your Local Guardian that they were one of the first responders when a cyclist was hit by a car on the A23. A woman was treated with several injuries and she was taken to hospital. The road reopened hours after the incident, just before 4pm. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.36am today (12 June) to reports of a road traffic collision in Purley Way, Croydon. “We sent an ambulance crew, two paramedics in fast response cars and…

Havering Council issued its decision on the proposal for development at 1-5 Writtle Walk on June 4, after an application was entered in March.  The plans sought approval for the addition of a two-storey upward extension to create four one-bed flats and a single one-bed studio flat.  According to documents accompanying the application, the host building has a current class C3 residential use as well as shops.  However Havering Council’s planning committee has rejected the plans, providing a number of reasons to justify the decision.  They claim that there is an “outstanding” enforcement notice relating to 1/1A Writtle Walk that has…

Abdul Jalloh, 23, died after being attacked last year (August 5) while unarmed and vulnerable behind the wheel of his car on New Union Close. Emergency services were called at around 4.15pm and despite the best efforts of emergency services, Abdul died a short time later as a result of a stab wound to his neck. Two men, 18-year-old  Shamiah McKenzie and 19-year-old Codee Godfrey, have been convicted after appearing at the Old Bailey today (June 12). Police showed the jury how the pair had been circling the Isle of Dogs on bicycles for more than an hour looking for…

Shamiah McKenzie, of Colvin Close, was found guilty of murdering 23-year-old Abdul Jalloh after appearing at the Old Bailey today (June 12). The 18-year-old was also convicted along with Codee Godfrey, 19, of Grosvenor Road in Tower Hamlets, who was found guilty on manslaughter. Police were called to New Union Close, Tower Hamlets, on August 5 last year at around 4.15pm. The jury were told Abdul was attacked while unarmed and vulnerable behind the wheel of his car. Shamiah McKenzie has been convicted (Image: Met Police) Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Abdul died a short time later as…

Shamiah McKenzie, of Colvin Close, was found guilty of murdering 23-year-old Abdul Jalloh after appearing at the Old Bailey today (June 12). The 18-year-old was also convicted along with Codee Godfrey, 19, of Grosvenor Road in Tower Hamlets, who was found guilty on manslaughter. Police were called to New Union Close, Tower Hamlets, on August 5 last year at around 4.15pm. The jury were told Abdul was attacked while unarmed and vulnerable behind the wheel of his car. Shamiah McKenzie has been convicted (Image: Met Police) Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Abdul died a short time later as…

Rizwan Goni, who lives in Shirley Gardens, was given the ticket late in the evening of May 21 while he was watching the Europa League final at home. It comes after Barking and Dagenham Council started to enforce dropped kerb restrictions, effectively preventing anyone without a waiver from parking outside their own homes. Although Mr Goni has a waiver, this is only valid for his father’s car, which means he risks a fine every time he parks one of his own cars outside his driveway. He has asked the local authority for another waiver, which cost £30 for a year,…

Fiongal Greenlaw and Jamie Meek are understood to run The Wellness Foundry on Black Prince Road, Lambeth. According to according to a list of passengers published online, the couple were on the flight which crashed today (June 12). The flight was departing from Ahmedabad airport, with 242 people onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. It’s reported that 53 of the passengers were British nationals. The couple posted on their social media accounts on Tuesday (June 10) talking about how they would be documenting their “magical experience” in India and would be telling their followers further details. Fiongal said: “It’s our…

The road will be shut to traffic between Samos Road and Weighton Road from Thursday, June 12, at 8pm until Saturday at 6pm. The closure is part of preparation for the emergency demolition of a building, which is set to begin next week. During this period, diversions for all vehicles, including buses, will be in place. The initial work includes putting up hoardings to keep the wider area safe during the demolition process. TT Pharmacy, located on Croydon Road, is expected to be closed during the road closure period. Residents are advised to use alternative pharmacies, with locations available on…

The Royal Free Music Society is proudly celebrating three decades of making music in the community with a summer concert in Belsize Park. The much-loved choir was founded in 1995 by medical students at the Hampstead hospital with a shared passion for music. The Royal Free Music Society choir at a previous concert. (Image: The Royal Free Music Society) The founding conductor Andrew Rochford is now a consultant gastroenterologist at the Royal Free and has watched it grow into a cornerstone of North London’s choral scene. For the past 15 years, the choir has been led by Dr Benjamin Wolf, whose inspirational leadership helped them to navigate the challenges of…