Havering Council is set to lobby the nationalised rail company, C2C, to restrict advertising of unhealthy food on its trains and platforms.
The move was suggested by Councillor Gillian Ford, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, during a meeting of the Health & Wellbeing Board on Wednesday, July 30th, 2025. The suggestion came during a presentation of the annual report for the Havering Healthy Weight Strategy 2024-2029: Everybody's Business, presented by Luke Squires, Public Health Strategist. The strategy aims to address the high rates of overweight and obesity in Havering, particularly among children. In 2023/24, 38.4% of year 6 children (aged 10-11) were overweight or obese, a figure that has remained steady since 2019/20 and significantly above the England average.
The Healthy Weight Strategy aims to create an environment where residents can achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and where the healthier choice is the easier choice. Squires noted that overweight and obesity rates are high in Havering, particularly among children aged 10 to 11.
The strategy employs a whole systems approach, recognising that no single organisation or service can solve obesity alone. It involves bringing together all parts of the system, from schools to planners, health services to housing, transport to the community and voluntary sector.
Councillor Ford highlighted the need to ensure all transport providers adhere to the same standards, noting, We do have other transport providers, C2C, which is now a nationalised company because that's come back under the government... So potentially there's some lobbying to do as to what they're going to be doing with their advertising and cycling, not cycling, food advertising.
Key achievements in the first year of the strategy, as detailed in the Healthy Weight Strategy Annual Report - Year 1 - 2025-26 Health and Wellbeing Board Report, included:
- Establishing governance structures to support the strategy's delivery.
- Improvements to food options across Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) hospital sites.
- Introducing a High Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) advertising policy.
- Implementing 400-metre exclusion zones around schools to restrict new fast food takeaways.
- Increasing free school meal uptake.
- Establishing a food alliance by Tapestry Care to tackle food insecurity.
- Launching new tier two weight management services for families, adults, and adults with learning disabilities.
The board also discussed the importance of balancing support for individuals with creating a community that doesn't promote overweight and obesity. Lynn Hollis emphasised the need to tap into every opportunity to support healthy weight, considering sustainability, air pollution, and creating pleasant places to live. Andrew Blake-Herbert added that there are interdependencies between the healthy weight strategy and other strategies, such as sports, arts, and culture.
The Health & Wellbeing Board meets regularly to discuss and address health issues in the borough. Agendas and minutes are available on the Havering Council website.
