Havering Council is still responding to the tragic fires that ravaged Wennington on Tuesday.

The Council immediately opened a rest centre at the Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre to assist any residents who had been evacuated and were unable to return to the homes of family or friends.

Later, the rest stop was converted into an assistance centre to help residents affected by the fires. Housing, finance and money support, health and mental health services, educational therapists, and help from the North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), Havering Mind, and the British Red Cross were all available at the assistance centre.

Unfortunately, many homes and buildings were destroyed or damaged by the fires, as Havering Council Leader Cllr Ray Morgon witnessed during a visit yesterday.

A number of roads in and around Wennington village are expected to remain closed today.

These roads included Lambs Lane at its intersection with New Road, New Road at its intersection with Sandy Lane, Wennington Road at its intersection with New Road, East Hall Lane at its intersection with New Road, and Eastwood Drive at the time of writing.

Wennington’s St Mary and St Peter’s Church reopened on July 20, 2022, following a fire.
The emergency services and Havering Council have worked tirelessly to make Wennington village safe, and the village was reopened to residents whose homes were evacuated but not destroyed by the fires this afternoon (Thursday).

The only way in will be on foot. Residents should leave their vehicles at the Willow Farm Premier Inn. If residents are unable to walk, Havering Council has arranged for shuttle buses to transport them to their homes.

Havering staff will be on hand to assist residents, and more information about ongoing support for those affected in the community will be provided.

Emergency power has been restored to the properties that were not destroyed in the fire. Unfortunately, some properties are still without gas at this time. Cadent, the gas provider, will be on-site to provide temporary assistance, including electric hobs.

Please keep in mind that the electricity supply is only a temporary emergency supply, and returning residents are advised to use as little electricity as possible until normal supply is restored.

Our website includes emergency contact information for power companies.

Havering Council workers are now putting up hoarding around the affected buildings, clearing up debris, removing spoiled food left in undamaged houses that had to be evacuated, and installing traffic lights to ensure safe pedestrian crossings.

If you have been displaced by the fire in Wennington but do not have access to a car and require transportation, please contact Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre at 01708 454135.

If you were evacuated from the Wennington fire area but are not receiving Havering Council’s special text messages for those directly affected by the fire, please email us with your name, address, and phone number and we will add you to the list of people receiving those messages.

If you are unable to email, please call 01708 432824 (9am to 5pm weekdays) or 01708 433999. (5pm to 9am and at the weekend). Please forward this message to anyone you know who is affected.

The response to this tragedy has been overwhelming, with many generous residents and businesses donating items and establishing online fundraising campaigns to assist those recovering from the effects of the fires.

Havering Council will specifically seek to assist residents whose homes have been damaged or destroyed and who do not have insurance.

The Wennington Fire Support Fund, established by The Salvation Army and supported by Havering Council, will coordinate and distribute assistance to families and individuals affected by the fires, as well as provide some additional assistance to those in need.

The funds raised will be allocated by a panel comprised of representatives from the Council, The Salvation Army, and trusted partners to ensure that all funds are safely directed to the appropriate places and people.

As the community works to rebuild and restore, the fund will build on the acts of kindness and donations seen since the fires.