HS2, HS2 Updates

Ruislip Against HS2 – Newsletter 43

From local campaigners against HS2 Ruislip……

Dear Supporters,

2015 is well under way and HAHS2 have already had a busy start to the year. As ever, there is much to update you with;The HS2 Select Committee started hearing petitions from along the route and in January we had our ‘site visit’ from members of the committee. Hillingdon petitioners are preparing for their appearances before them – some will be heard in parliament before the general election in May. Hillingdon Council have produced a ‘Tunnel Report’ to support the calls for further mitigation for Ickenham and across The Colne Valley and following on from the last consultation, new compensation changes have been announced.The next couple of months will see local parliamentary candidates stepping up their own campaigns to win votes at the election and we expect HS2 to feature on their agendas.
HS2 Select Committee visit.
On January 15th some of the MPs who sit on the HS2 Select Committee visited Harefield, Ickenham and Ruislip to see for themselves the areas that are expected to be most directly affected by the construction and running of HS2.
HAHS2 accompanied the visit along with our local MPs, LBH Councillors ,Officers and HS2Ltd .We were able to highlight the realities of the biggest concerns for the area.The visit included significant stops at various roads, homes, HOAC, potential construction sites and spoil dumping land.They heard and saw for themselves how serious and damaging the plans are here, including details of traffic construction routes.
We think that the visit was a success in that we were able to bring the route maps to life and the committee were genuinely interested in what they saw and heard from local residents, who had gathered at each of the stops along the way. We are very grateful to everybody who turned out on a cold, wintry day to greet the committee and those who helped organise the great banners and posters that adorned the route.The committee have the power to make changes to the plans for HS2 within the hybrid bill. Now that they have visited the area, they will have a better insight into the requests being put forward by petitioners and we hope they will be persuaded that our calls for further tunnelling are justified.
You can read more about the visit and see pictures HERE with more on our Facebook Page
We are expecting a return visit from the Select Committee later in the year, when we hope they will take a tour of the rest of Ruislip where the route is tunnelled. We will keep you updated when we are advised of a date but we hope that we can replicate the turnout
from residents that we had for The Colne Valley visit.
Hillingdon Petitions.
HAHS2 helped organise a day of meetings on January 21st to help all of those in Hillingdon who have submitted petitions. The sessions were well attended and advice was given by the Borough Solicitor and Parliamentary Agent on how to present individual petitions to the Select Committee.
If you have submitted a petition and you couldn’t make the meetings or haven’t already been in touch, please contact us so we are aware of your petition ( and number) and we can extend some support, advice, and forward you the slides from presentations.
More workshops are being planned and groups of petitioners have already visited The House of Commons with Nick Hurd MP to get a feel for what to expect from an appearance before the committee.
We now have confirmation that petitioners from Harefield will be called to present their petitions from March 17th,with Hillingdon Council, Ickenham and Ruislip petitioners expected to appear after the election.
The timetable for hearings is published by parliament, a month in advance and all petition appearances can be followed on the parliamentary website, either watching parliamentary T.V live or reading the transcripts.
You can find links to this and more HERE
LBH Tunnel Report.
Hillingdon Council continue to support our campaign against HS2.As ever our priority is to campaign against HS2 in it’s entirety. However, we must engage with the parliamentary process at each stage.So, as part of our ongoing calls for better mitigation, LBH have commissioned a study into the feasibility of extending the Northolt Tunnel beneath The Colne Valley. Not only does this study show that an extended tunnel is possible, it shows that the costs are comparable to the much more damaging overland option.
HS2Ltd have yet to respond to the outcome of this study which has been made public.
LBH have chosen to hold back their appearance and presentation of their petition to the Select Committee whilst waiting for a response from HS2Ltd.
You can read the report HERE
West Ruislip Depot.
You may be aware that as part of construction plans at West Ruislip, HS2Ltd intend to build a temporary rail head to carry away tonnes of excavated spoil across Ickenham. If the Select Committee don’t agree to extending the tunnel then we need a fallback position for lesser mitigation – but for the best outcome.
As such Hillingdon Council have proposed an alternative site for the rail head at West Ruislip Depot as part of their petition.
LBH  recognise that there are potential downsides to this proposal, not least because of the homes (that have already been mitigated by the Ruislip tunnel) now stand to be affected by the new plan,and there are also more traffic implications.
However relocation of the rail head to the West Ruislip Depot is a less disruptive option which would facilitate more spoil being carried away by rail and less need for lorries on the road.
The proposals are currently being discussed with Transport For London in order to ascertain feasibility.
If it’s seen as a viable option then the idea will be developed in more detail and LBH will draw up further plans with TFL and then consult with anyone who might be affected to help with mitigation of any negative
impact it might have.
If the Select Committee don’t grant us a tunnel extension but they consider the West Ruislip Depot proposals as an alternative, they will issue what is called ”an additional provision”
This is a change to the HS2 Hybrid Bill and as such opens up the option for people to submit further petitions on the new proposals in the future.
You can read more from Hillingdon Council on the proposals HERE
Compensation.
Following the last consultation on compensation,the Government have announced their final package of compensation measures. Thank you again to everyone who took time to respond – over 1300 of you in Hillingdon!
There have been some improvements in rural areas but the scheme is largely a rehash of the last proposals with a new name.Sadly the Government have not seen fit to listen to public concerns to make enough of a difference for many people.
Once again those in urban areas,above tunnels or close to construction have been ignored.
However HS2Ltd will now accept applications for the Voluntary Purchase, Cash Offer and Need To Sell scheme. These supplement those launched last year,namely Express Purchase and Rent Back.You can find more information and detail HERE
London MPs along the HS2 route have come together to call for better mitigation and compensation in urban areas. Please help support this message by signing this petition.
PLEASE  SIGN AND THEN SHARE IT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
 
General Election.
The general election will be held on May 7th this year and the candidates from all parties will undoubtedly be out canvassing in earnest for your votes. HAHS2 remain a non politically aligned campaign group and we will leave it up to you to decide
who – if anyone – will have the most influence to help Stop HS2 should they be elected.However we would strongly urge you to raise HS2 as an important election issue with anyone who should come knocking on your door to looking for your vote!
Funding.
We are very grateful for all the donations we have received recently and much of the progress that has been made over the last few years could not have happened without your generosity.
Please do think about make a donation if you can.
If you can contribute in any small way, donations will be gratefully received either via Paypal on our website by clicking the donate button HERE or by sending cheques to Hillingdon Against HS2 to: 8 Almond Close, Ruislip , HA46EB
 
You can also help raise funds really easily – FOR FREE! as you do your everyday shopping online – please register HERE
Once again,Many Thanks for your continued interest and support.
Police

Update from the Police on Vehicle Crime – Kroklocks Back in Fashion

Hillingdon Police has seen a increase in theft from motor vehicles over the last few days. This is just a quick bit of useful information to help you all protect your car/van from crime.

We are still seeing peoples cars stolen even ones with sophisticated entry/alarm system’s are being taken. A good investment is an old style Kroklock which goes around the steering wheel and one of the pedals. It is a good deterrent.

Please ensure that you leave nothing on display in your car at all, this is the safest way to stop your car being broken into. Coats and CD’s on display will tempt criminals to break into a car. The less that is on display the less there is to draw attention to your car.

For those of you who use vehicles to carry tools in, please ensure that again nothing is on display and nothing of value is left overnight in it.

Andy Lewis 

Insp 
Hillingdon Borough OCU 
East Neighbourhoods 
Phone: 741879
Mobile: 07899066138 
E-mail: Andy.C.Lewis@met.police.uk 
755, Uxbridge Road, Hayes End, Hayes Middlesex UB4 8HU

Police

Update on Violent Crimes in Hillingdon from Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Downing

Nick_Downing

“In the last week we have seen three violent incidents occur in the borough of Hillingdon which have resulted in two deaths.

All three incidents are currently under extensive investigation by specialists teams, who are working tirelessly to bring those who are involved to justice.

I must stress that all three crimes are isolated.

A murder investigation was launched on Friday 30 January, following the death of Emily Munemo at her home in Collingwood Road. Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime command have arrested and charged a man on suspicion of her murder. He currently remains in custody and will be brought before the courts imminently.

On the morning of Monday 2 February, officers were deployed to Ruislip where a man had committed three separate unprovoked attacks against two women and a man. Within minutes of receiving the initial 999 call, officers attended the scene and arrested the man who currently remains in custody awaiting mental health assessments. Fortunately, all those injured avoided serious injury and have since received the appropriate medical attention. They will also continue to receive support from my team as this investigation progresses.

On Tuesday 3 February, a second murder investigation was launched following the fatal shooting of Redwan El-Ghaidouni outside his home in Vine Lane. Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime command continue to work on this fast moving investigation to identify the perpetrator(s) in this rare and shocking crime, which is believed to have been a targeted act and in no way random.

Clearly no form of violence has any place in Hillingdon. We will not rest until we make every effort to make this borough the most hostile environment for anyone intent on committing any level of violence.

At present police officers are conducting continued high visibility patrols across the borough of Hillingdon to provide reassurance and a visible presence in support of the community. Crucially we are listening to, and acting on any concerns which may come to light.

We are in continual liaison with our partners and community members to establish any opportunities to strengthen our long-term commitment to tackling serious violence.

Protecting our community remains our top priority and we will not rest until we deliver highest level of policing in our borough.

As ever, we continue to encourage those who live and work in Hillingdon to speak to our policing teams. Your voice could ultimately become a powerful tool in the prevention and detection of crime.

If you would like to speak to us about an issue or concern, or have any information regarding this week’s incidents, please contact police by dialling 101, or your local policing team via MPSHillingdon Twitter. All 23 teams can be found via www.Met.police.uk

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Downing
Hillingdon Borough Commander

General

ARLA Update: Sainsburys to Launch Judicial Review

“Hi Jeremy 
I have been contacted this morning by Mr Clegg and Mr Hill of Sainsbury’s, they informed me that they will be launching the Judicial Review with effect from today. I told them that we believe they are wrong. This despite all the contact they have received from MPs, the Residents Association, Local Councillors and residents. They said they would abide by the judges decision whatever that may be. I asked them if they would confirm that in writing but they declined. I believe that they will try to keep this going as long as they possibly can?
Individuals must decide what action they now wish to take.
Please post this on the website and Facebook 
Regards
Sid”
– Sid Jackson, Vice Chair, SRRA
ARLA Development

Further Sainsburys Correspondence : Development at ARLA

After the last letter to Sainsbury’s , South Ruislip Residents  Association Vice-Chairman Sid Jackson received a generic reply:

“23rd January 2015

Dear Mr Jackson

Thank you for your email regarding South Ruislip and the Arla Foods scheme.

As you know the former dairy site has had a long and uncertain history – stretching back to the last decade – and was refused planning permission in February 2014.

While Citygrove subsequently secured a planning permission on the former dairy site, we believe there are genuine grounds for a legal challenge.

The Council failed to address a number of crucial policy areas in reaching their decision. These include misrepresenting National Retail Policy, failing to take account of the differences between the previous refusal and the new proposal, and the necessary financial evidence to justify the level of affordable housing.

As a result we requested that Hillingdon Council take the planning application back to committee in order to interrogate these areas in more detail but unfortunately they declined.

We will be writing to the Council asking them to rectify their mistakes. Depending on their response we will be challenging London Borough of Hillingdon’s decision to approve the scheme through legal action.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our Head of Property

Communications David Mills on 07900 709393 or email david.mills@sainsburys.co.uk

Yours sincerely

Dean Clegg”

Disappointed with a generic response Sid wrote back…

“Dear Ms Torincsi

Many thanks for acknowledging receipt of my letter.
It is a shame that Mr Coupe did not see fit to respond in person, but passed it to properties who have issued a pre written statement.
No one at Sainsbury,s seems to want to or care about responding to the serious concerns of our residents.
It seems that your company are only interested in the revenue account with customers a communities coming a poor second.
 
Please show this to Mr Coupe, if he is at all interested in other people’s concerns with respect how Sainsbury,s conduct their business.
 
 Regards

 Sid Jackson”

To which Mr Coupe replied…

On 28 Jan 2015, at 16:06, Mike Coupe <Mike.Coupe@sainsburys.co.uk> wrote:

“Dear Mr Jackson
 
 Thank you for your email regarding South Ruislip and the future of the Arla Foods scheme.
 
Whilst I understand your concerns it is important to note that we have not yet carried out any action which would delay Citygrove’s ability to begin works on the site. However we believe there are serious flaws in the way Hillingdon Council made its decision to grant planning permission for the scheme which I will outline below. Citygrove’s application was refused planning permission in April 2014 by Hillingdon Council, as the development would have an unacceptable impact on retail centres across Hillingdon and surrounding boroughs such as Harrow. At that time, the Council also decided that the scheme was not in keeping with their Local Plan, which provides a guide for future development in the Borough.
 
Whilst Citygrove subsequently secured a planning permission in December 2014 we believe Hillingdon Council failed to address a number of crucial policy areas and did not provide adequate justification for overturning the April decision to refuse the first planning application. Our concerns are:

  •  The Council did not properly address the Coalition Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which clearly identifies town centres as the preferred location for retail and leisure development as opposed to out-of-centre developments such as the Arla food scheme.
  •  Hillingdon failed to note or report that there were other preferential retail sites that conformed to this Town Centre First Policy and as a result should have refused Citygrove’s second application in accordance with the NPPF. Nor was there any adequate explanation in the Council’s Committee report of the effect on the proposal on South Ruislip, including planned investments.
  •  The Council’s decision to approve the scheme did not take into account or question the differences between the initial refusal and subsequent approval, simply noting that the ‘key difference is that the supermarket is smaller and the layout has been improved’.
  •  The Council did not provide sufficient evidence to justify the low level of affordable housing proposed by Citygrove (10%), when their own Council policy proposes a minimum of 35% affordable housing in new developments.

Before the permission was granted we requested that Hillingdon Council take the planning application back to committee in order to address these issues properly but unfortunately they declined. We have now written to them giving them a further opportunity to review their decision.
 
In the meantime I want to reassure you that we remain committed to South Ruislip where we have been trading for 25 years. We will continue to serve our customers whilst we consider our next options, including a possible legal challenge.
 
We are proud of our contribution to the local economy – from being a good employer generating local jobs across the Borough (we currently employ over 750 colleagues in Hillingdon across five stores), to paying our fair share of taxes and business rates locally. We play a prominent role in the local community supporting charities, schools and businesses. Since 2005 we have donated over £1.1million worth of sports and cooking equipment to schools and community groups across Hillingdon through our Active Kids scheme. Each year customers and colleagues in our stores vote for their local charity partner who they then support – last year our store raised over £2,000 for Age UK Hillingdon, working together on a variety of fundraising from book sales, the sale of trolley coins and clothing collection days.
 
I appreciate you taking the time to write to me and if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our Head of Property Communications, David Mills, on 07900 709393 or email david.mills@sainsburys.co.uk.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Mike Coupe
 
Mike Coupe, CEO
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd | 33 Holborn, London | EC1N 2HT
 mike.coupe@sainsburys.co.uk<mailto:mike.coupe@sainsburys.co.uk”

To which Sid has responded;

“Dear Mr Coupe
 
 Many thanks for note, whilst it lists your concerns in pure terms if looked at in wider terms my observations would be-
 
 The NPPF is a framework therefore used as guidance not for strict adherence to.
If the framework were followed to the letter, only your store would be in the town centre with no other alternative site. This then would give a total monopoly to you, with no further opportunity to provide additional outlets in South Ruislip.
 Also when looking at our area the distance from your store to the far end of the ARLA site is less than a quarter of the length of Uxbridge high street which is considered to be all town centre.
 
 We are aware of your contribution to our community, that is why we believe it would be a great shame to spoil all that by continuing with this unpopular course of action.
 
 Regards
  
Sid Jackson “

Police

Update from Inspector Rob Bryan

Inspector Rob Bryan
Inspector Rob Bryan

Please see the update from Inspector Rob Bryan.

At the quarterly meeting Rob was busy helping with the gentleman who was taken ill.  He was keen that his email was made available should anyone wished to have informed Rob of any matters which you wanted to draw to his attention.
Over to Rob’s latest informative email…..
++++
Dear Reader,
 
Last month, I asked for anyone who was interested in volunteering with the police to drop me a line. So far, I have had 9 people contact me which is really good. Many thanks.
 
 Designated Sergeants:
 
After letting you have the contact details for your Dedicated Ward Officers in last month’s circular, it is now time to let you have contact details for your Sergeants. As before, I would encourage you to contact them if you need their help. With these details you should now have contact details for me, your sergeant and your Ward Officer. Please make use of them: 
 
Cavendish and Manor Wards – Sgt Jonno Shard (jonathan.shard@met.police.uk)
Eastcote & East Ruislip and West Ruislip – Sgt Eleanor Charlston (eleanor.charlston@met.police.uk)
Harefield and Ickenham – Sgt Ali Fagg (alastair.fagg@met.police.uk)
Northwood and Northwood Hills – Sgt Alison Fanton (alison.fanton@met.police.uk)
South Ruislip – Sgt Chris Kerr (chris.f.kerr@met.police.uk)
 
 Confidence and Satisfaction
 
We regularly look at how the police are performing for confidence and satisfaction. The figures do have a lag in them before we are told the results but I have been disappointed with how poorly we do in some areas. The recent statistics, which cover October 2013 to September 2014 show that of those who were quizzed as part of the survey:
 
Only 8% knew what their local police team’s priorities were.
Only 20% had received information about their local police team.
Only 38% had heard about their local police team. 
 
Those numbers need to be massively improved and I would ask for your help in achieving that. Please forward these e-mails to anyone who you feel may benefit from them. The more people who read about what we are doing, the more satisfied (hopefully) they will be. To find out what your local police team’s priorities are please go to http://content.met.police.uk/Page/TeamFinder?scope_id=1257246764018
 
To improve confidence in local policing, I also attend Residents Association meetings, Ward Panel meetings and Neighbourhood Watch meetings. If you run any of these groups and have yet to see me, please let me know so I can attend. I hope face to face contact with your local inspector will help you get direct answers to the questions you have. 
 
Motor Vehicle crime prevention
 
Villains are now gaining access to cars by using electronic disabling devices. Our crime prevention advice is to purchase an old fashioned crooklock and use it. Simple but effective.
 
Yours,
 
Inspector Rob Bryan
North Cluster
Hillingdon Borough
( 020 8246 1816 | ( 07500097182 | 8 robert.bryan@met.pnn.police.uk+ Ruislip Police Station, The Oaks, HA4 7LE
RAF Northolt

RAF Northolt – Late Night Flight Warning

An update from RAF Northolt this afternoon, who report there will be extra flight activity during the night on Monday and Wednesday night/following morning ….

“RAF Northolt will have one of its periodic checks of its flight safety radar systems on 2-3 Feb 15 from 11pm to 4am and again on 3-4 Feb 15 from 11pm to 4am.  Only one aircraft will be operating from RAF Northolt throughout the period, making repeated approaches to the runway.  The first night will calibrate the Instrument Landing System to Runway 25 (approaching from the east over Ruislip) and the second night will calibrate the Precision Approach Radar to Runway 07 (approaching from the west over Ickenham).  These calibration flights are an essential safety assurance process and have to take place when Heathrow is closed.”

As always, the calibration flights will be subject to acceptable weather conditions and may be rescheduled if the weather is not suitable. RAF Northolt apologises for any disruption caused to local residents and appreciates the continued support and understanding of the local community in ensuring that the Station operates to the highest safety standards.”

The website of the South Ruilsip Residents Association