This update is to make you aware that from 14th December the Borough’s 24/7 Police Station front counter facility will be moving from Uxbridge Police Station to Hayes. Uxbridge Police station front counter will then be closed to members of the public, the police station will remain operational for some time to come. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that this change is in line with our plans to modernise the Metropolitan Police Service and that there are still many ways in which our communities can engage with us.
There is more demand for police to be contactable on line, and we have responded to this by improving our digital and telephone reporting systems. Local research has shown us that fewer than three reports are made via Uxbridge front counter per day and that making these changes will save the MPS £460K per year – the equivalent of 8 police constables. Most crime is not currently reported at police stations. Just 8 per cent of crimes were reported at police front counters in 2016, down from 22 per cent in 2006, and this number continues to fall.
Historic Uxbridge Street Sign Including Direction to Police Station
Where there’s not a police building on or within close proximity to a Dedicated Ward Officer’s ward, we’ll be creating additional ‘hubs’ for them – small back offices where they can pick up their kit – to enable them to spend more time in the communities they police. These new hubs will be created at locations that supports community policing, and we will be engaging in the coming months to identify these locations across the Borough. The hubs will be accessible 24/7 and located either within existing Met buildings or suitable partnership buildings, such as with: Blue Light partners; local authorities; hospitals; or with commercial services where there’s an appropriate relationship. Over the next three years 150 hubs will be rolled out across London.
In addition to these measures, we recognise that there are members of the public who still wish to make face to face contact so we will be introducing contact points. Our Dedicated Ward Officers will hold a minimum of a one hour community contact session per week per ward. The dates/times/locations will be advertised as soon as these have been finalised. For wards identified as having over 60 minutes travel time to the nearest front counter, an enhanced session will be held twice a week at a Safer Neighbourhood base or fixed place which will be retained for six months whilst we assess the effectiveness of these sessions. Services offered at both sessions will include, crime prevention advice, property marking, crime reporting, and signposting to other Met or partner agency services.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support as we make these changes, and to reassure you that we will continue to remain contactable and visible.
There is an opportunity to meet Santa on Thursday the 14th of December at Elliots Estate Agents on Long Drive. There will be hot chocolate, coffee, hot dogs and mince pies.
The event is free but organised by the South Ruislip Chamber of Commerce and a number of shops are taking part in the events which include a raffle. Donations if people would like to a SRCoC nominated charity.
Monday 27th November the Christmas lights were turned on in South Ruislip. Some of the many attending included Councillors Judy Kelly and Allan Kauffman, representatives from local business and member of the SOuth Ruislip Chamber of Commerce, Sid Jackson from the SRRA and other local residents.
[In my bias opinion they are the nicest lights we have had for many years! – Ed]
Our local library has organised a host of events early next year for us. Please support our local library and get involved with the events if they appeal!
If you go along let us know how you found it and we would be happy to publish a write up! Nice choice of events!
Inspector Rob Bryan’s newsletter is attached. Rob is responsible for the Safer Neighbourhood teams in the North of the borough including South Ruislip.
His newsletters are always worth a read (expect perhaps for the joke!)
Hillingdon Council are proposing redevelopment of the former day centre and nursery on Acol Crescent.
Are you a local resident affected by this development?
On Monday 11th December they are holding an open evening at the South Ruislip Adult Learning Centre above South Ruislip Library between 3.30pm and 7.30pm.
The plan of the development and the leaflet is attached. Get along to the Learning Centre if you are interested in the development before it goes to planning permission.
The Boundary Commission have responded with changes to the constituency of Uxbridge and Hillingdon (note the change in name from Uxbridge and South Ruislip) by moving Harefield to the Ruilsip and Pinner constituency and adding more of Ruislip to the constituency.
The controversial move to include two Ealing Council Northolt Wards in the revised Uxbridge and Hillingdon constituency remains unchanged.
Maps of the proposed new Uxbridge and Hillingdon constituency can be found at the Commissions website link below.
Councillor Douglas Mills commented, :
“The Boundary Commission have accepted the argument that South Ruislip needs to be linked with Cavendish & Manor wards but the latest proposals from the Commission continues to miss the chance of bringing most of the Ruislip area under one MP. Indeed only 9,035 Ruislip residents are actually going to be in the seat with the Ruislip name. These will be those who live in West Ruislip ward and the part of Eastcote ward that covers East Ruislip.”
19,630 Ruislip residents living in Manor, Ruislip Gardens and South Ruislip including those in Cavendish ward will have no recognition of Ruislip in their proposed new constituency. Which will be called Hillingdon & Uxbridge even though the two Ealing Northolt wards are still included!”
Do you think the boundary changes are a good idea, grounded in common sense or pragmatism? Or are you against the proposal like Cllr Mills?
The consultation is once again open to the public until 11th December 2017. This changes the political landscape until the next review so whatever your point of view we would suggest that you comment on the proposals.
Quarterly Meeting Held at St Mary’s Church On Wednesday 25th October 2017.
AGENDA
Opening Remarks.
Apologies for Absence.
Minutes of Meeting.
Matters Arising.
Reports: Chairman, Treasurer, CRS, Secretary.
Reports from Ward Councillors.
Any other Business
Before the start of the meeting 2.
NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING ON 24th January 2017 AT ST MARY’s CHURCH HALL THE FAIRWAY 8 PM
Opening Remarks
Vice Chairman Sid Jackson chaired and opened the meeting at 8pm. Sid welcomed everyone to the meeting.
In attendance were 59 residents and 9 committee members. Councillors present Cllrs Barnes and Kauffman.
Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from: Kate Fennel, Hazel Hook, Frances Jones, Geoff Quantock, Jagjit Sohal, Jenny Hunt, Cllr Lavey and Cllr White, Cllr Kelly and Duducu, Geoff Quantock.
Minutes
No comments on the last minutes
Before the start of the meeting
Police
PC Maz Solanki spoke at the meeting and initially listed crimes in the area, in the last three months:
17 Assaults with injury, 6 Burglary non residential, 19 Burglary, 15 Common assaults, 28 Harassment
29 Other crimes notifiable, 24 Other thefts, 9 Drug related crime, 27 Motor vehicle thefts
15 Shoplifting, 1 Bike Theft. 189 in total.
The ward crime team in South Ruislip is down to one officer and one PCSO with a further PC joining the team this week. Much lower than the five the ward used to have, which the officer lamented.
What are the clear up rates? Unknown. Low clear up for motor vehicle without CCTV not investigated without further evidence 9 out of 10 times it gets closed.
Closure of police station. Not informed when closed but expects shortly for Ruislip and Uxbridge especially as no custody suite at Uxbridge. [Update subsequent to meeting MOPAC is looking to retain Ruislip with a North of borough presence and close Uxbridge in favour of Hayes station]
They are likely to merge three boroughs police forces to cut costs.
How will you travel? 3 unmarked vehicles in Ruislip. Not enough for the number of officers. Likely to cycle.
There are not enough vehicles to support the officers. Who use cycles, quite possibly to cycle from Hayes. They are likely to start off in local areas and march out from the library. They don’t know where their locker rooms etc will be.
Cllr Teji Barnes raised the recent meeting at the council with MOPAC. The entire borough does not want this initiative. Discussed MOPAC initiative to shut Ruislip and Uxbridge police station. Lynne Kauffman praised a number of people who responded to the proposal and suggested people.
The PC raised concern about any of the police stations which will impact on response times.
What is causing much of the issues at the moment?
Worse issue is kids on cycles causing issues. A lot of cycling on the ARLA Dairy site especially at ASDA. Distraction thefts. Are they local children? They come from Hayes, Harrow, Ealing and the ramp and cinema are attracting them in. The police have seen a large influx. The PC has visited the parents of the children.
Cycle crime is more of an issue in the neighbouring wards than moped crime.
Disappointed with the response from security at ASDA.
Are you getting more officers to help support? No.
Getting seven or eight calls a day from the site. The onus is on security at the site. The police don’t cover the site as private land.
Reports from Vice Chairman – Sid Jackson
Introduced Rebecca and Sophie from Brunel who are Students journalists writing articles about South Ruislip
Norfest went very well and Sid thanked the committee members who attended.
ALRA development award from RICS for the site, the award goes forward to a national prize.
Treasurers Report – Colin Hook
Current account £991.44 and £12,366.43 in the reserve. Expenses to come at £215.
ARLA Site
Complaint about vehicles being unloaded for sale on the site and set for sale from Victoria Road. Seen as not adopted by council so not their issue.
Lidl
Open before March. No move on this. Further roadworks to be done.
What about the building used for worship behind? Still seeing movement in the area. But not large groups seen. Planning and appeal for worship at the site rejected.
Time for a break
9.0 HS2
Work started. Drilling bore holes for the tunnels in the area Harvil Road, Rabournmead, Bridgewater Road, Sainsburys Car Park, Great Central Avenue and Herlwyn Avenue. Expect to start work properly at the end of next year.
10.0 RAF Northolt – James Tenniswood.
What is happening? Many flights, due to Brexit, 5 people went to Caribbean moving the aid packages and water.
No plans to expand the commercial operation out of RAF Northolt and no plan for bigger aircraft and no increase in cap for flights.
There is a change in the resurface work on the runway which will now take place from July to November/December. Fixed wing traffic will cease. Rotary aircraft (helicopters) will stay and may increase when moving VIP’s around.
Whilst working on the runway they are improving the arrester bed at end of the beds. Really looking at strengthening the beds. Main work is strengthening the middle part of the runway where it is weakest.
Discussed the wider uses of the site. Varied environment 32 supported units, map making, two bands, Queens colour squadron, BFOS Post office, bomb disposal and many more. Service prosecuting authority. About 2000 people there and only 600 are RAF. The runway is only 5% of the services at RAF Northolt.
Not able to accept scheduled flights. Not geared for it. As a military base they have to be able to cancel flights as it is used by specialist agencies this would not work with scheduled flights. No customs, gates, terminals, parking to cope etc or fire crews.
They will have large military aircraft in such as the C17.
They believe there is a crashed WWII Hurricane which they will try to recovered and excavate but pressure to complete the runway ASAP.
Very good of James Tenniswood to come in on his own time.
11.0 SKLP
Open Evening last week, applied for planning permission for change to a sports club. This will be opposed by Hillingdon Council and ourselves. The officer opposing is keen to show any experiences that they have that highlight issues that you have had. Please send via email to the SRRA and we will forward on.
12.0 Cllr Teji Barnes – Resurface and Fly Tipping Cavendish
Funding aside for roads, Broadhurst, Whitby Road around the shops, Hunters Hill, Southbourne and Greencroft and a limited number of pavements in the area. Mount Pleasant, Ridgeway, Oxford Drive and Newnham Avenue.
Looking at getting the clock working at Field End School following Frances Jones suggestion. This will be done using the ward budget. Looking to keep the original design.
Regular fly tipping at Church near Whitby Road. Keen to report the action. Cllr Barnes keen to use mobile cameras to tackle the issue.
13.0 Report from Chief Road Steward – Geoff Taylor
Three Road Stewards are retiring. Looking for people for Mount Pleasant. One for Palace Road and Diamond Road and one for 76-170 Long Drive and Fairview.
By the way – subs do not include free teas!
Tea time!
14.0 Cycling on Pavements – Doug Lewington
Disappointed by cycleway merging with pavement as proposed by the council from Station Approach to Polish War Memorial. Designated as joint path bikes and pavement. Petition raised by Doug Lewington, with around 140 signatures going to be presented to Democratic Services by Cllr Kauffman to have this reconsidered. Concern it is dangerous, the footpath is not wide enough.
The SRCoC traders needed to pull together to combat the threat from the new trading site and to speak to the council together so have just launched the South Ruislip Chamber of Commerce.
Sarah discussed their passion to bring Christmas to South Ruislip, with a carol service and Father Christmas in the parade outside the shops. The wanted help with car parking especially the public car park next to Sainsburys.
The car park is used by commuters. Keen for spaces to be used for people who will shop locally. Cllr Allan Kauffman said this was work in progress to change 15 bays for local shopping.
Discussion on keeping the road and pavement clean. The council are not sweeping after replacing the pavements whilst this dries out. Concern a heavy sweeper will disrupt the paving slabs.
Lynne mentioned that there is a monthly litter pick scheme if people wanted to join this. They promoted cleaning the paving in front of the shops encouraging owners to take ownership for these areas.
16.0 South Ruislip Improvements – Cllr Allan Kauffman
On the subject to South Ruislip improvements, Cllr Allan Kauffman then went on to detail the improvement scheme to the shopping area of South Ruislip which is in three phases. From the nursery to the chip shop then under the bridge and to the plumbing centre finally. The improvements to the area include benches, bins, trees and other improvements.
Further from the Cllr: Christmas lights, set to improve this year: Spending £13,300 Ruislip £8,000 and £13,017 in South Ruislip. 36 columns being decorated. Installed on the 6th and 7th November and switch on the 13th November.
Road will be resurfaced. Queens Walk, Fairway and Victoria Road and Station Approach. Contact Allan if any roads missed.
Consultants working on the bridge improvement plans at South Ruislip including such as cladding, light and walkway raised.
Noted a further strike on the bridge, this time by a lorry from Spar.
Victoria Road. Sid has written to Cllr Burrows (Traffic) Proposal for parking on the road to be unveiled following plans by the council. Sid thought that the only way forward is to widen the road space and allow parking in the verges.
No right turn into West Mead and the filter into the ARLA site not working. Raised as an issue within the council.
Sid as Chair thanked the SRCoC for attending.
17.0 AOB
Colin promoted the litter picking on a Saturday morning once a month in the area. Colin picked up two bags of litter in a short distance. Concern about fly tipping in the car park opposite the Middlesex Arms.
Sid mentioned Greggs bags dumped by Queensmead students on the way to school.
Will the tip at South Ruislip open again? No, too expensive for Hillingdon after the costs were increased by operators
Geoff Taylor suggested when the runway is closed work can be done at West End Road. Should be resurfaced by TFL then suggested to Cllr AK.
Traffic headed to West End Road on Station Approach – facing long delays. Lights will be reviewed by council as part of the whole process as the ARLA centre is opened and Cllr AK said they will be improved.
12th of November Polish War Remembrance Service. RAF Padre to take the service. All welcome. Choir from Bourne School, drama students and other people coming. Service start 10.30am, arrive at 10.15. Details on the website.
There are a number of residential roads not covered by Neighbourhood watch in the area. The coordinator will send a list of these to us and we will ask for support from our members.
Discussion on Boris Johnson attending the SRRA meeting in the future. Pencilled in for 2018. It is likely to be a 4pm start on a Thursday or Friday. We will prioritise the regular attendees to come to the meeting.
Please join South Ruislip residents, RAF Notholt, Bourne School Choir, local drama students, Hillingdon Musics Service and Tumpeters at a service of remembrance at the Polish War Memorial between 10.30am and 11.15am on Sunday 12th November 2017.
The website of the South Ruilsip Residents Association
