All posts by Jeremy Wasden

RAF Northolt

NORFEST – ENHANCED SECURITY AND PROTECTION MEASURES

21 June 2017

From the RAF re Norfest – press release…

NORFEST – ENHANCED SECURITY AND PROTECTION MEASURES

In the interest of ensuring a safe and fun day for all our friends and their families attending Norfest we are sorry to announce that public vehicles can no longer be admitted entry to RAF Northolt on Saturday 22 July. This decision has not been taken lightly and follows clear advice from the Metropolitan Police. We apologise sincerely for any difficulties this will cause those currently intending to arrive by private vehicle, but ask now that all public parking tickets holders use public transport or other means to travel to the event and enter on foot.

In addition, all visitors will be requested to consent to enhanced security screening measures, including 100% bag searches. All visitors are therefore kindly encouraged to bring a minimum of personal belongings, including bags, picnics etc, in order to facilitate a smooth entry to the event. The event starts at 10.00am, but ticket holders will be now be admitted from 09.30am on account of these enhanced protection measures. Anyone attempting to access to the event with a public car pass will be refused entry.

These decisions have been made in the interest of the security and protection of everyone attending Norfest, following the recent tragic events in Manchester and London and after full consultation with the Metropolitan Police. Those that have purchased car passes from See Tickets for the event will automatically receive full refundsThe offer to ‘Blue Badge’ holders remains and will still be able to enter RAF Northolt on the day in their vehicles and gain entry, provided they consent to full vehicle checks of their vehicles by security staff. ‘Blue Badge’ entry and security checks will now be via Crash Gate 3, at the end of Glebe Avenue, off the West End Road, between the A40 and the White House Gate entry to RAF Northolt; signs will be in place on the day to direct eligible traffic.

The Project Officer for the event, Wing Commander Gaz Littlechild, said: “For Norfest our first objective has to be the security and protection of the public. To this end, we are putting in place a full range of security measures in consultation with and as advised by the Metropolitan Police. This includes the prevention of public vehicles from entering the event and personal search procedures. We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this causes but our first consideration is always everybody’s safety and I’m sure our local community will understand, in light of recent events, the reasons we are now required to take such measures. The whole team is working hard to ensure that this causes as little disruption as is feasible and put on a brilliant day for our friends in the local community. We would like to thank everyone for their patience, support and understanding in advance”.

The nearest Underground station to the entry point is South Ruislip on the Central Line, or ‘Station Approach/South Ruislip Station’ on Bus Route E7.

Look out for further updates by following the RAF Northolt Twitter and Facebook pages as they are confirmed, and through local media such as GetWestLondon.

See Tickets:
Online: http://rafnortholt.seetickets.com
Phone: 0871 220 0260

RAF Northolt Social Media. Join us at:
Twitter: @RAFNortholt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rafnortholtoff

Squadron Leader James Tenniswood
Media & Communications Officer, RAF Northolt

Note to editors:

NORFEST takes place at RAF Northolt on Saturday 22 July 2017. The concept behind NORFEST is for RAF Northolt to host a day of entertainment for all the family and give something back to the local communities which support the Station. A very limited number of public tickets priced at £5 are still from See Tickets agency and can be purchased online or by phone.

A whole host of entertainments and attractions for the whole family have been planned including a variety of children’s entertainments, a food court, a small static display of aircraft and the central Performance Arena. The Queen’s Colour Squadron, RAF Regiment; The Band of the RAF Regiment. The most recent confirmations include: BMX stunt bike group Savage Skills who will both perform and hold a workshop; local Cheerleader group The Babettes; Jay Kumar Bollywood Dancers; and children’s entertainer Epico the Dragon. A Dakota aircraft from the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will perform a flypast.

ARLA Development, General, HS2, Lidl, Parks, Planning, RAF Northolt, Rover/Comet Site, Traffic

Minutes of the South Ruislip Residents Association Quarterly Meeting Held at St Mary’s Church On Wednesday 26th April 2017

In attendance were 52 residents and 10 committee members.  Councillors present Cllr Kelly, Kauffman and White.

Apologies were received from: Cllr Lavery & Cllr Barnes.

  • Meeting Opened 20:03.

Minutes signed off.

  • Reports from the Chairman

Collecting emails for invites to the opening of the cinema.  Going to give details to Citygrove with the hope that they invite the attendees of this meeting.

Will discuss HS2, ARLA and Victoria Road and traffic congestion later.

Any comments on the newsletter following the change?  Yes, please make sure we add the date and time of the meeting.  Did you like the mast head with the Polish War Memorial? Positive reply.  This is our local landmark.  Some more work to tidy it up and improve the presentation.

  • Secretary Report

Noted that the meeting is recorded for the benefit of the minutes.

  • Treasurers Report

As at last night current account £505.94 and Reserve £13,365.79.  Out-standing is a cheque for insurance for £156.75.

Colin placed on record thanks to John Davy for auditing the accounts. Accounts accepted by the meeting.

John said thank you for not claiming expenses to the committee.

  • Chief Road Steward

Vacancies for road stewards in West End Road (side that backs onto Wingfield Way)(12), Bourne Court and Station Approach (6), Cavendish Avenue and Dudley Drive (13) and part of The Fairway, odd numbers (19).    Not an onerous task;  Delivering four times a year and collecting subs. Have taken on a few Road Stewards recently.

Going to deliver newsletters to the flats on the ARLA site to encourage them to join the resident’s association.

  • Election of Officers
Officer Person
Vice Chairman Sid Jackson
Treasurer Colin Hook
Chief Road Steward Geoff Taylor
Secretary Jeremy Wasden

 Officers were duly proposed and seconded.  All voted in with approval of the AGM.

Mr Sohal asked Sid whether he would become Chair.  Sid mentioned he felt he was unable to attend to meetings at the council and similar activities which meant that he could not do the job of chair with 100% commitment.

Question from the floor.  Did Sid not take the Chair role and stay Vice-Chair so that he didn’t have to remain neutral as a Chair should do?  Sid said he was unaware of such a rule.  Secretary commented that it is better to be impassioned and take a view to move the association forward but we would always give both sides of the argument the opportunity to put their case (within reason).  

  • ARLA Site

ASDA opens 22nd of May.  Looking to recruit within 5 miles of the store.  Manager did say he was coming to speak tonight but has clearly forgotten.  Nando’s has opened.  The Cinema will open in July.   Looking to invite members to the opening.

  • Has applied for license to sell alcohol until 3am.

Live music, dance and recorded music and food until 5am.  More like a nightclub than a cinema.

Judy was the only complainant previously and encouraged people to write in to the panel and complain.

Might be hard to object when the restaurants and the BP have a license.  But reason to be concerned with the nightclub elements.  Have approached Cllr Kauffman for a form to object.  A concern about anti-social behaviour and planning permission creep.

Agreed to raise a petition against (which was done with 54 signatures).

Question from the floor.  What licencing committee would allow that variance?  The government changed licencing laws, with more freedom of the sale so can only really object to poor behaviour after the permission has been granted.  When rejected from the council licence committee they have then appealed and gone to a magistrate who has accepted the conditions and granted the application.   Very hard to stop the agreement, only get refused later after complaints.

The council would put on conditions which help restrict this, such as two trained staff needed at BP to sell alcohol at night.

Do the Cinema need to change their planning use?  Cllr Kauffman said they would go back and follow up with the council officers.

  • LIDL

The Comet building has gone.  Bensons of Bed’s is still trading and construction work is ongoing.

  • HS2

Sid attended a meeting with HS2 staff about the amenity work.  They have appointed contractors Costain and Skansa who will work between 8am and 6pm.  Due to start March 2019 digging up the roads.  Will drill small bore holes for samples along the route.  Dig up the road between Sainsbury’s and the Fishing Net and under the bridge and at Bridgewater Road bridge and along West End Road.

Sid has written to the chair of the HS planning committee to ensure that the window for works is large enough to complete the works without running at the same time.

The lorries will be circa 50 lorries a day as they remove spoil from the vent shaft at the ARLA site.

Looks to be a computer modelling exercise for the planning rather than carefully planned locally on ground.

Read in paper Brexit may delay and if delayed by a couple of years it may kill off HS2.

  • RAF Northolt Open Day

22nd of July.  Some tickets still available £5 each.  As a resident’s association we will be at the show.  Enough people to man the stand.  We have pictures to use.  Will hand out newsletters and a perhaps a canvas bag.

  • RAF Northolt Runway

They have the go ahead for the replacement for the runway which will mean the runway is closed between April to October next year to fix wing aircraft.  Still open for helicopters.

Carried out scans on the remains of the crash spitfire from WWII.  It is not a war grave.  Looking to excavate during the refurb of the runway.

Large amount of people on the site.  BFPO, Central Band, RAF Band, some thirty units there.  Quite a complex base with a fair amount of scale there.

Response from the Cllrs to Ealing’s proposal to but 20,000 houses on the site.  – Can you imagine what the impact would be?  Total no no.  Last surviving Battle of Britain airport. They have a restriction that they can’t take scheduled flights, nothing that gets in the way of short term needs of the military.    Can’t take any airplanes over 28 seats.

Is there a relationship with London Docklands airport?  No only shared management of VIP area.

Sid saw the commitment of the runway refurb as positive, but no guarantee.

  • Improvements to South Ruislip

Field End Recreation ground.  Proposal was to add two buildings, but stopped as ceiling for boxing ring is 12ft.  Going to be rebuilt now.    Will be a car park, fencing and MUGA pitch there.  Sports hall, changing facility, canteen and office.  All covered by CCTV.  Cost will be £1.4Million plus £400k for the pitch.

Good use for field only used once a year.

Skateboard Park.  On the Field End Rec near the road, but far from housing.  Funding in place.

Road resurfacing.  Victoria Road to Eastcote Arms.  Station Approach to West End Road.  Then footpaths.  The Fairway and Queens Walk to receive the attention.  Pavements are more expensive than roads to do.  Quicker to do via tarmacs.  400 miles or road in the borough and around 800 miles of pavement.

Break for tea

The Fairground at Field End Road.  If crime can’t be controlled the fair will be stopped.

Great Central Avenue.  Not many objections raised to addition of further flats and petitioners did not turn up.

Concern over what is left at the bottom of the stairs.  Based on information from a former fire chief will look at the law and Allan will check it out.

Bonnells Electric Contractor.  Fenced off pavement and dumping cable reels in the front of the building.  Concern about it looking a mess and parking on the front yard.

Eastcote Arms.  Looking to be turned back into a pub, planning application in with Harrow to turn into 16 flats.

  • Victoria Road Traffic Parking and Traffic

David Seaman’s speech.  He thanks the council for the resurfacing of the area between Field End Road and Royal Crescent.

“Due to cars parked in Victoria Road between South Ruislip and Ruislip Manor it can be difficult, if not impossible to pass a large vehicle, coming in the opposite direction.   Not long ago I personally experienced what can happen when large vehicles come head to head and cannot find enough room to pass each other, and are unable to reverse due to the traffic that had quickly built up behind them. As result of this a large number of motorist had no option but to do a u turn in Victoria Road in order to find another way around this obstruction.   How this blockage was resolved I have no idea as the large vehicles were still head to head when it came my turn to leave the scene by doing u turn. What would happen if an emergency vehicle would want to go down there?

Both our Vice Chairman and Councillor Kauffman have told me that the council are aware of this problem and that the council intend to do something about it, but nothing seems to be happening.

In view of the inaction may I request that our association writes to the council on a formal basis asking them. “What and when do they propose to do something about this problem?”

 Sid followed up the Cllr Burrows and the council have looked at various issues with the road, widening, parking, the trees and it’s a difficult problem which they don’t want to tackle in his opinion.

Linda raised a petition about the parking some 15 months ago, so it being looked at as a parking issue rather than a vehicle access.  Sid wrote to say that the road is not fit for purpose as an HGV access route to South Ruislip.

Kris – same problem in Great Central Avenue.

Cited as a good example, Eastcote Road in Harrow, seems to have worked.  Have removed the trees countered Allan.

Sid keen for the council to walk the site at Victoria Road.

ALDI/B&M Removal of superstore sign.  Needs to be either give way or filter light.  Concern still of people turning right into West Mead.

  • Cllr Judy Kelly

Attended petition hearing from two years ago.  Part of the pavement to be divided on West End Road cycle road. Still looking for a crossing over the A40 for children from Harvey Road.  Historic objection from TFL for zebra crossings on the A40 slip road.  Concern for speed.

  • AOB
    • Extend lanes on two lanes on West End Road

Suggestion following the improvement in to junction at The Fairway and Victoria Road.  Up to TFL to develop the area.  Glebe Farm owned by an offshore insurance company.  Pinch point at Glebe Farm.  Might ease traffic into West End Road.

  • Pavements Being Broken by large lorries in the area

Encourage residents to take photographs where possible and the council will prosecute and make for example builders pay for it.

Complaints about vehicles parking on pavements and grass verges.

16.3      Bus Bin West Mead

Needs to be on the other side, located against solid wall with advertisement.

  • Flower & Plant Sale Ruislip Lions

6th of May at the Rugby Club, West End Road.

Meeting Closed.

RAF Northolt

NORFEST TICKETS – SECOND BATCH ON SALE 14 APRIL 2017

If you are interested in tickets for Norfest event on the 22nd of July here is your next opportunity to purchase tickets.  What follows is the full press release from RAF Northolt….

Following massive demand for NORFEST tickets, RAF Northolt is very pleased to announce that a second batch of tickets for the event will go on sale on 14 April 2017 at 0900hours, available through the ticketing agency See Tickets.

The concept behind NORFEST is for RAF Northolt to host a day of entertainments for all the family and give something back to the local communities which support the Station.  Public tickets, priced at £5, and a limited number of car parking tickets, priced at £3, will be available from See Tickets agency and can be purchased online or by phone.  Blue Badge holders will not require car parking tickets and will be admitted access to dedicated disabled parking.

The original round of tickets sold out in just a few hours and demand for the second batch is expected to be just as high.  Tickets, including parking, will again be on a strictly first-come, first-serve basis, so people are advised to try and purchase their tickets as soon as they can after they go on sale.

A whole host of entertainments and attractions for the whole family are being planned, including: a variety of children’s entertainments; a food court; a small static display of aircraft; and the central Performance Arena.  The Queen’s Colour Squadron, RAF Regiment; The Band of the RAF Regiment; and ‘The Imps’, the World’s foremost Junior Motorcycle Display team, have already confirmed.  The most recent confirmations include:  BMX stunt bike group Savage Skills, who will both perform and hold a workshop; local Cheerleader group The Babettes; Jay Kumar Bollywood Dancers; and children’s entertainer Epico the Dragon.  A Dakota aircraft from the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will also perform a flypast during the day.

The Project Officer for the event, Wing Commander Gaz Littlechild, said: “The programme for the day is already packed with things to see and do; there really will be something for all the family.  We’ve also had a huge response in our call for stalls and there will be dozens of local groups, charities and societies represented.  Demand for the tickets has been huge so we’re delighted to be able to put more on sale, though those interested will need to get their order in quickly to avoid disappointment.”

With the focus on local communities, the residents of Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon are our priority for ticket purchasing and so our advertising has been deliberately targeted locally.  Local residents will need to give their postcode in order to be able to purchase tickets.  The issue with some UB postcodes not being recognised for online purchases has now been rectified and we thank everyone for their patience.

Look out for further updates by following the RAF Northolt Twitter and Facebook pages as they are confirmed, and through local media such as Hillingdon People, local papers and GetWestLondon.

See Tickets:

Online:  http://rafnortholt.seetickets.com

Phone:  0871 220 0260

RAF Northolt Social Media.  Join us at:

Twitter:           @RAFNortholt

Facebook:      www.facebook.com/rafnortholtoff

HS2, HS2 Updates

Hillingdon Against HS2 – Newsletter 48

Here is the latest full newsletter sent by ‘Hillingdon Against HS2’ on 13th March 2017.

Dear Supporters,

It has been sometime since our last news update, largely because the last few months have been such frustrating times. We are sure by now you are aware that HS2 has received Royal Assent in parliament and the project has been given the final approval to go ahead.

Hillingdon Against HS2 have worked hard over the last 6 years, to campaign on your behalf against HS2 at every opportunity. We have engaged in every official parliamentary process, all consultations,meetings,court cases and even petitioned The House of Commons and The House of Lords. We have lobbied MPs and prominent politicians, held countless public meetings,organised protests, marches and publicity stunts, gaining much media coverage along the way.

You can listen to our reaction to the news of Royal Assent on BBC Radio London HERE

However all of our efforts have not been in vain, whilst we may not have achieved our goal of stopping HS2, Hillingdon Against HS2 have secured major changes to the project, to help our local area and those affected by the construction of the line.

Since the original plans were released back in 2011, Hillingdon Against HS2 have helped secure tunnelling of the line through Ruislip and subsequently Northolt, Greenford and Perivale. We instigated the scrapping of the ‘Heathrow Spur’ part of the route, saving a whole swathe of our borough, not to mention millions of pounds being wasted. We also helped win changes to the compensation boundaries which has allowed residents in Ickenham and Harefield to be included in compensation schemes.

Hillingdon Against HS2 are very proud of these significant changes to the project, much of which we achieved with the help of Hillingdon Council and we are grateful for their ongoing support of our action group and their opposition to HS2.

So what of the future?  
We are continuing to work with Stop HS2 and HS2 Action Alliance, who are dedicated to exploiting every and any future opportunity to stop HS2.
Just because Parliament has given HS2 the go ahead, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will definitely happen.
No business Case, No Environmental Case and No Money To Pay For It. This has always been the campaign strap line and it is even more true today than ever.
With the NHS in crisis, ongoing public sector cuts, concerns over Brexit and the British economy, we still hold out hope that common sense will prevail,somewhere in government…

For now, it is clear that Hillingdon Against HS2 will be kept busy on everyone’s behalf but we will have a slightly different focus. With preliminary ground investigation works already starting and the threat of construction creeping nearer, we will be monitoring local activities and developments and aiming to keep HS2Ltd on their toes.
We will continue to work with Hillingdon Council and liaise with the appropriate bodies to respond where and when we can.

Currently there are two important issues we need to bring to your attention:

SETTLEMENT DEEDS
If you live or have property within 30 meters of the the HS2 tunnel on plan, then your property will have been ‘sub surface safeguarded’ and you may be concerned about possible damage to your property during construction of the tunnels, or the running of the railway line. Not all properties will qualify for ‘before and after surveys’ but if you have not already, you should make sure you
pre-register your interest in a ‘Settlement Deed’ .
The eligibility criteria for benefitting from a settlement deed is complicated but this document may help HERE
At this stage we would urge you to make sure you register your property.
Send an email to  HS2settlementdeeds@hs2.org.uk
Or
Write to “HS2 Phase One Settlement Deed pre registration”
HS2 Ltd, One Canada Square,London, E145AB

Simply include your full name and the address you wish to register, with your full contact details for future communication.
For more information see our website page HERE 

COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS FUNDS
There will be many hundreds or us that will be affected by HS2 locally, who don’t qualify for any compensation for the disruption that 7-10 years of construction will cause.
Whilst we fought hard for as much mitigation as possible ( and we are continuing to put pressure on HS2Ltd to do more) many parts of our communities will still suffer disruption or financial losses.
To help offset this, HS2Ltd have set aside £40 Million, in 2 different national funds which are available to apply for now.
This is an opportunity for community groups, schools ,charities, sports clubs,
local businesses,resident associations, etc. to put in bids for a share of these funds.
This is a rare opportunity to find some benefit from HS2 and it shouldn’t be passed up!
If you have a connection to any group or business who you think might be eligible, PLEASE encourage them to apply and share this information on.
There is more information and detail to help you HERE

Keep in touch.
Please do keep in touch regularly, we post daily updates,articles and photos on our Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360986966901/
More news and photos on our website
https://ruislip-against-hs2.co.uk/
Or follow us on Twitter
@HillingdonAHS2    @Mrs_angryjones 

If you have any concerns or complaints about any aspect of HS2 work there are some important contacts listed below. If you do have a need to contact HS2Ltd – and particularly if you have a complaint – please remember to copy in your MP ( and us!)

HS2Ltd
Hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk  or their 24hour helpdesk 0207 944 4908 ( this is not a free number)

HS2 Resident’s Commissioner 
residentscommissioner@hs2.org.uk

HS2 Construction Commissioner
complaints@hs2-cc.org.uk

MPs
boris.johnson.mp@parliament.uk
nick.hurd.mp@parliament.uk

Once again,many thanks for your continued support and interest.
Hillingdon Against HS2

RAF Northolt

RAF Northolt Open Day 22th July 2017 – Tickets Go On Sale 13th March 2017

From RAF Northholt…

raf-northolt-logo

“Dear all,

At out last Community Liaison Meeting we spoke about our Communities Day which was being planned for 22 July.  We wanted to give you an update on planning.

The event will be called NORFEST and we are now in a position to confirm the ticketing information; please see the attached press release.  Feel free to the information on via your residents’ associations.

7500 Tickets and a limited number of car passes will go on sale on 13 March 2017 through the ticketing agency See Tickets.

Residents of Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon will be able to book with them online, or by phone.”

Full press release…

NORFEST TICKETS TO GO ON SALE 13 MARCH 2017

 Following the recent advertising of NORFEST 2017, RAF Northolt is pleased to announce that tickets for the event will go on sale on 13 March 2017, available through the ticketing agency See Tickets.

The concept behind NORFEST is for RAF Northolt to host a day of entertainments for all the family and give something back to the local communities which support the Station.  The 7,500 public tickets priced at £5 and a limited number of car parking tickets priced at £3 will be available from See Tickets agency and can be purchased online or by phone.  Tickets, including parking, will all be on a strictly first-come, first-serve basis.

A whole host of entertainments and attractions for the whole family are being planned including a variety of children’s entertainments, a food court, a small static display of aircraft and the central Performance Arena.  Confirmed so far are: The Queen’s Colour Squadron, RAF Regiment; The Band of the RAF Regiment; and ‘The Imps’, the World’s foremost Junior Motorcycle Display team, with many more awaiting to be confirmed.

The Project Officer for the event, Wing Commander Gaz Littlechild, said: “The organisation for NORFEST continues to progress apace.  It’s shaping up to be a fantastic day and we are continuing our discussions with a range of performers, local groups and societies. It will be a real festival of the rich and varied communities that make Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon Boroughs such exciting places to live.  I’d also like to again thank Hillingdon Council who could not have been more supportive with the organisation.”

Look out for further updates by following the RAF Northolt Twitter and Facebook pages as they are confirmed, and through local media such as Hillingdon People, local papers and GetWestLondon.

With the focus on local communities, the residents of Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon are our priority for ticket purchasing and so our advertising is deliberately local.  Tickets for RAF Northolt’s Centenary Open Day in 2015 sold out very rapidly, so those interested in attending are advised to reserve their tickets promptly.  No public or car parking tickets will be available on the day.

See Tickets:

Online:  http://rafnortholt.seetickets.com

Phone:  0871 220 0260

RAF Northolt Social Media.  Join us at:

Twitter:           @RAFNortholt

Facebook:      www.facebook.com/rafnortholtoff

ARLA Development, Community Voice, Democracy, HS2, HS2 Updates, Lidl, Police, Quarterly Meetings, Retail, Rover/Comet Site, Safer Neighbourhoods, Traffic

Whats Happening in South Ruislip?: Latest Updates! January 2017

Calling them meeting minutes gets a little dull.  But if you want to know whats happening with Lidl Planning or a devious thief in B&M/ALDI or whether HS2 building has started, it is all below!

In this age of the demise of newsletters it’s probably one of the best sources of local South Ruislip information…

Minutes of the South Ruislip Residents Association

Quarterly Meeting Held at St Mary’s Church On Wednesday 25th January 2017

In attendance were 52 and 14 committee members.  Councillors present Eddie Lavery, Judy Kelly, Michael White, Allan Kauffman and Teji Barnes.  Henry Neel of Lidl and South Ruislip SNT Sgt James Wright.

Apologies were received for Mrs Val Blacker and SRRA committee member Geoff Taylor.

1.0        Opening Remarks & Welcome & Matters Arising from the Minutes & Signed Minutes. 

2.0          Police  by South Ruislip SNT Sgt James Wright

The meeting was joined by South Ruislip SNT Sgt James Wright.  Discussed recent crime figures with concern over burglary and car crime.  Assaults put down to police recording of even playground scraps where informed.

Burglary the police feel there are two teams operating on the area, one has been disbanded with arrests made and they are working on the second.  They are working in Thames Valley and the Met mixing this up with vehicle crime.

Theft of personal property also high due to retail parks.  Police disappointed B&M and ALDI are not paying for security.  Local police targeting a prolific female thief in B&M/ALDA, with thefts “almost daily”.  Sgt Wright suggested not taking whole bag there only credit cards which can be replaced with little loss.

They are working on the robbery in Victoria Road.  The perpetrators left behind vehicle forensics and items dropped which have created a number of leads for the police but they are waiting on those forensics results.

3.0          LIDL Henry Neel

Have planning consent at committee on the 11th January.  They are discharging planning conditions, agreeing S106 and 278 highway works. The next stage for confirmation of the build is from the Mayors office/ GLA an then Hillingdon will give Lidl formal confirmation.   Approval is expected and they look to start on site April and open by Christmas.

Question regarding S106 spend.  Henry Neel suggested looking online for full report on planning website.  But the exact details of the planned costs are still being agreed with London Borough of Hillingdon officers.

Source Minutes and agenda report pack

Plans for the site can be found here.

4.0          Treasurers Report

As at 30th December 2016 current account  £247.24 Reserve account  £13,365.46.  Full accounts at the AGM but we made a small surplus.

5.0          Chief Road Steward Report

Thank you to Lynne Kauffman for organising with distribution of this month’s newsletter with various members of the committee and to the Road Stewards for their delivery.

We are seeking Road Stewards for Station Approach, Bourne Court, Melthorne Drive, Queens Walk, Queens Walk Terrace, West End Road and Wingfield Way

6.0          ARLA Site

Handed over with fit out expected by May.  Small delay caused by a power cut.

Developers hope to host an open evening event, which we will make open to SRRA meeting attendees, if we can.

Sid keen to look at the cinema as it built so following that closely.

Citygrove has purchased a sculpture which they will unveil.

Bellway housing opening on a different timescale.   The walkway to open linking to Station Approach as the commercial site opens.
7.0          HS2

Looks like it will go ahead.  Work to start at the end of the year.  HS2 forced to reveal data on housing purchase and compensation deals to make a more level playing field for people.

Tunnel from old oak common.

Need to dig up for sewers on Long Drive/Station Approach/Bridgewater Road/West End Road.  Concern the work will take a couple of years rather than just months.  The impact will be massive as Allan pointed out to parliament at HS2 hearing.

8.0          London Green Belt Council

No Issues

9.0          RAF

22nd July is the date for the family day only a little flying.  Circa 8000 tickets, meant to be a local event. £5 adults £3 children.

10.0        Community Voice

Linda typed up the minutes from the last meeting of Community Voice and we will circulate.  [Secretary – see the post here]

11.0        Youth Centre

Update from Allan and Lynne Kauffman.

Now organised by Dettie Quirke (who is running youth centres across the borough) who is actively seeking to regenerate activity for local children and aim to get the children back in with a series of targeted activities.  Open evening there tonight.  Youth workers will be full time over summer holiday.

“The centre is gradually starting to come back to life.”

On a day to day basis four youth workers at the moment.  Lynne Kaufman confident in roving care taker, Bill who looks to take pride in the centre.

Seeking Youth volunteers.  Dettie Quirke will come and talk to us at a future date.

12.0        Improving South Ruislip

After hearing a rumour from Sainsburys staff at SR that the store might close, Sid rang the David Mills Property Manager who said that it was a good store, trading well and not closing. Sid asked him about improving the store, and offered some suggestions and he will hopefully come back to us.

From Cllr Allan Kauffman.  Looked with officers at the parade as the area looks poor compared to the modern Dairy Development.  The trees to be pollarded or replaced and new pavements with more trees and seating.  Lots of planters by the railings and modular flower display – possibly paid for my SRRA.  Price set to be around £200,000.  Paid on S106 and TFL funds. Should happen in this year.

Concern expressed that once work done it will be dug up again and ruined by work such as HS2 and ARLA in the area.  Sid said that contractors would be obliged to return the site to the same condition.

Good Christmas lights next year.  Asked for green, white and red rather than colder blue and white ones.

Bridge works. Plans drawn up to clad the brickwork, with a higher walkway and better lighting.  Taken up with TFL.  Cost is circa £350,000.  Allan to continue to work on this.

Positive response to road changes at the junction of Long Drive and Victoria Road but request for better signage and consideration for speeding the southerly route onto West End Road from Station Approach.   Discussed difficulty in doing that and the knock on effect of heavy traffic and poor road layout at the Target roundabout.

Cars on Victoria Road, concern with parking both sides of the road.  Looking at changes to either one side of the road or both.  Likely to lose trees but will replant.

13.0        Great Central House, Great Central Avenue Opposite Station.

Aware of planning and councillors aware but it is not on planning schedule as yet.  Concern re overcrowding in the area.  Ex-Fireman expressed concern about buggies etc left in the stairway as it is a means of escape route and should be clear at all times.  Councils responsibility under the regulatory reform order.  It’s a protected route.  Allan said he would follow this up with enforcement officers.

14.0        SR Chamber of Commerce Update

Buying flowers in the parade on Long Drive, Sid asked in the Florist about the chamber of commerce and said that the response was so enthusiastic he was greatly encouraged.

Next meeting of the Chamber in Feb. Plenty of space for meetings without over reliance on the Ramada.  We support and Sid will attend a future meeting. Sanjay chair been trading for 30 years in car repair and we know he is very keen on the area.

Nursery expanding into adjacent buildings with positive trading.

15.0        SKLP

Historically disruptive to neighbours.  Not so bad last year.  Revitalise efforts and awareness amongst police and Hillingdon council officers when close to festival season.

16.0        Brackenbridge House – Slip Road

Corsa being sold from the area.  Illegally running a business.  Plan to block the area with no parking between 10am and 12am to stop vehicles being left there, such as the van advertising the hand car wash which does not seem to have moved in 5 years.  It is also bad for the nursing home at Brackenbridge House.  Parking changes have gone to consultation.

17.0        Alleyway Royal Crescent and Field End Road

Road resurfaced, part of this is due to work by David Seaman campaigning.  Needs bollard placing to stop cars cutting through in a somewhat dangerous fashion.  This element to be done at residents cost by a resident builder.  Resurface work paid for by the Chrysalis fund.

18.0        Boundary Changes

Keen to stay with rest of Ruislip rather than split off with Ealing wards and Hillingdon area.  Lady wrote asking what is happening.  We await the Boundary Commission’s recommendations in due course but it will take a while as due to affect 2020 elections.

19.0        AOB

19.1        Scam Email HMRC 

From Cllr Teji Barnes – Watch out for scam emails which contain promises of tax refunds.  Such as this one.

hmrc-email

19.2 Building to rear of Lidl Columbus House

Allan Kauffman – Bought by a worship group in 2013.  They put in a change of use to change to worship use and a retail use below.  A tiler currently works below.  This was refused for numerous reasons, mainly as an industrial area not for worship.

If they got planning permission it would add traffic and block the road.

[Secretary : It sounded like the application was not formally refused for change of use.]  They’ve also set up marques and events (non-permanent) which we would expect them to hold license for to operate.

Sid wanted to know what they could put in a petition against Lidl who is trying to act correctly legally and they stopped planning (albeit temporarily).  Can’t the council refuse the petition because it comes from a body operating illegally? Why are planning enforcement officers not following this up on it?

Cllr Lavery spoke (as a councillor who chaired the planing committee meetings).  They were presented with a  valid petition (which just needs 20 Hillingdon residents signatures to be valid regardless of anything else) at the meeting but it was never considered or explored as Lidl agreed to make changes to the plan to move things around.  However the committee can only rule on the proposition that is presented not one changed.  Thus the planning decision was deferred.   The meeting did not get further to consider the decision.

Lidl  came back with a revised scheme.

The councillors will follow up on the Columbus House site.  “It is being actively followed up on.”

19.3        Thank you

Thank you for the tea and coffee and the all the help getting the newsletters out.

19.4        Meeting Closed

Next SRRA Quarterly meeting is the AGM Wednesday 26th April 2017

 

 

Community Voice, NHS

Community Voice : NHS Updates from Linda Clarke of the SRRA

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In September speaker was Dr Richard Grocott-Mason he is the Medical Director Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS FT. (RB&HT).

He spoke on ‘New Threats to the Royal and Harefield Hospitals in 2016’

The aim of both hospitals is to be the leading in their field of expertise, serving its patient population (who come from every part of the country) in treating heart and lung diseases.

The Trust’s work covers every stage of life, anti-natal diagnosis, child care, adult services, chronic diseases management and end of life care. The trust has 500 beds just for heart and lung diseases. It has three (3) sites Sydney Street, Fulham Road at R.B, Chelsea and Harefield.

NHS England (NHSE) has presented 14 standards for centres of Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) and it claims that RB&HT fails to meet some of these. It proposes to decommission RB&HT CHD services from April 2017; the Trust is now in talks with NHSE about this. There is to be a 3 month public consultation on the new proposals and a decision is to be made in March 2017, there will be no change to current services in April 2017 as previously planned. Community Voice has sent letters in support of RB&HT to NHSE.

Part Two Q&A

October our speaker was Caroline Morison Chief Operating Officer, Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group (HCCG)

A few facts about Hillingdon they are: London’s second largest borough, with a population of 304,000, it has also one of London’s highest number of over 65’s (predicted to be 42,000 by 2020), life expectancy is higher than national average but there are difference between the north and south of the borough.

HCCG long term vision is to provide a high quality of services in both physical and mental health. In December 2015 Hillingdon became involved with Harrow, Brent, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing & Hounslow to work together to improve health and wellbeing in ‘The Sustainability and Transformation Plan’ (STP) each borough is developing its each local plan it is hoped to sort out uneven funding. The latest STP draft can be read on the CCG’s website at www.hillingdonccg.nhs.uk

Novembers speakers were Dr Peter Ostler, Consultant Clinical Oncologist Mount Vernon Caner Centre (MVCC) and Ms Sarah Brierley representing the management team at East & North Herts NHS Trust (E&NT) who own and run the cancer centre. Dr Ostler talked about the currant problem with NHSE and the Cyberknife. Because of an administrated error on a form that was submitted to NHSE the cyberknife was omitted from the official list of approved centres. NHSE was made aware of this error but is unwilling to correct its list. Without this approval MVCC is limited to the use of the cyberknife. Looking ahead MVCC are exploring options to work with a partner that does have a contract with the NHSE.

Ms Brierley spoke of developing a forward looking strategy and vision for MVCC and continuing talks with their ‘landlord’ Hillingdon Hospitals NHS FT to the replacement of the wards and other old buildings.

Please go to Community Voice website to see over a 100 videos of our speakers and the workings of both hospitals www.communityvoicehealth.org.uk

Entertainment, General

Countdown to Christmas at the South Ruislip Library

Have you heard about the fantastic opportunity to visit Hillingdon Councils living advent calendar?

It starts on 1st December at Uxbridge High Street at 6pm.

All the libraries are taking part and there are some fabulous ticketed events across the borough every day up to 24th December

In our wonderful South Ruislip Library…

When our door is opened on at 4.15pm 6th December, please come and join in the singing and carols with Bourne School Choir, feast on delicious free Christmas biscuits and drinks and dip into our bran tub for a Christmas tree decoration for your own Christmas tree.

For details, see Nov/Dec Hillingdon People or the Hillingdon Library website..