Tag Archives: ARLA

“Surprising new developments set to regenerate Ruislip”

Michael Peters has posted an article on his blog detailing the ARLA site ground breaking ceremony. The article details the construction phases and companies involved. 
If you have an opinion or are interested in this key local build the feature makes for a good read….

http://www.tiemotalkofthetown.wordpress.com/2015/12/21/surprising-new-developments-set-to-regenerate-ruislip/

Minutes of the South Ruislip Residents Association Quarterly Meeting Held at St Mary’s Church – Wednesday October 28th 2015

Minutes of the South Ruislip Residents Association

Quarterly Meeting Held at St Mary’s Church On

Wednesday October 28th 2015

In attendance were 62 residents and 10 committee members.  Councillors present Allan Kauffman & Teji Barnes.

Apologies were received from: Cllrs Judy Kelly, Gem Duducu, Michael White and Eddie Lavery.  Lynne Kauffman, Colin Hook, Hazel Hook, Kris Borucka, Geoff Quantock, Mrs Josie McFadden, Mrs Wills

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

Amendment to last minutes of 22nd July 2015  From “2.0  ARLA.  Judgement in favour of building the ARLA development and against Sainsburys…”. To “Judgement in favour Sainsburys development….”  [Apologies Secretary]

2.0  Newsletter/ Chief Road Steward

Apologies for the delay in getting the newsletter out.  With Henry moving away, the move, in the end, all happened very early for our Chief Road Steward.  He has worked very hard to do a great job for a number of years and SRRA greatly appreciate it.  With the speed of the handover there were some delays with taking over the system so apologies for any wrong numbers, miss-deliveries etc.

We are looking at a new team for the Chief Road Steward’s role and will update on progress as we go.  Thank you to the committee for pitching in and helping get the newsletters out and especially to Lynne Kauffman for spending a couple of days organising the newsletters to go to

A couple of people have agreed to help, maybe working as a team.

3.0  Police

Sgt Kerr, appealed for email addresses from the audience so that he can keep them informed of local activities.  Follow on Twitter @MPSSouthRuislip. Dispersal notice made in Bradfield Road where a joint operation was held with immigration services.

Local traffic checks with a number of drivers charges for driving at 40+ in a 30mph zone.  5 not wearing seatbelts and a number of other offenses picked up.

They attended the Polish War service.  As well as Knife crime talk at youth club and bike marking at Victoria Road retail park.

Burglary still looking at.  More police in high vis-jackets.  Burglaries are currently approx 50% of last years rate in South Ruislip.

Theft from motor vehicle.  Don’t leave Sat Nav, mobile phone and laptop on display.  Don’t leave Bluetooth on in cars as thieves use to detect items.

Anti Social Behaviour, at the moment mostly from vehicles.  If you see ASB from someone in the vehicle take details and pass to Sgt Kerr.  He will write to offenders and threaten confiscation of the vehicle in future.

Rolling out Smartwater use in South Ruislip.  Free and well worth taking if offered by the police.

From the audience question about advise about cyclists on the pavement and being advised to muzzle the dog walking with it.

Police Ward Panel for South Ruislip.  Looking for ward panel members.  Need a few more people increase the variety of opinions.  Meeting important to discuss what the priorities are.

4.0    Shirley Kirk from Dementia Friends

Discussion from Shirley Kirk discussing the benefits of greater community awareness of issues of dementia.

People as young as thirty have dementia and it’s not a natural part of aging, not inevitable.  It is caused by diseases in the brain.  It’s a set of symptoms.  Not a disease itself.

If the mind is like thousands of fairy lights.  Dementia makes the lights go out, which lights will be individual. Alzheimer’s is a common cause.  It’s progressive.  Worth knowing the type of dementia someone has so have an idea of the course.

Emphasis is on living with dementia not suffering.

More information at https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/

Shirley happy to run sessions to train Dementia Friends for local groups.

5.0    Smart Water

Presentation from officer Sgt Webber.  One in seven households will get a pack of traceable water, Smart water   This is applied to property and the Met routinely will trace stolen items using UV light and the manufacturers lab assistance.  It is strong evidence to link the robber with the address.

For quantities across the borough they will receive 10k, then another 18k.  Where are the kits?  Pushing kits towards the North of the borough.  Worth taking if offered.  Roads either side of addresses with Smartwater also see reductions.

http://www.smartwater.com/

6.0    Chairman’s Report

6.1    ARLA

Work has started at the site on the commercial side.  Bellway Homes has submitted an increase in housing for the site.  An extra 30+ residences.

As a group we dislike the changes and increase in density.  Have organised a petition to be signed at end of meeting.  Also dislike the low density of parking.

Sid met with managers from Bellway homes and are looking to get rid of overlooked gardens and replace with these with flats.

6.2    Library South Ruislip

Site by the library to be developed for circa 30 flats which will pay for the library and youth centre.  Other sites being looked at by the council for possible development.

6.3    Sainsburys

Discussion with Sainsbury held re tidying up some of area by Station Approach. Meeting with head of PR there.

6.4    LIDL

Plan to develop the Rover Motor Sales room.  There was a planning application, now a road traffic survey entered in.  Two referral points.  Now to be heard at Major applications on 18th November. [Editor: Which as passed]

6.5    HS2

Hybrid bill plodding along.  Committee report stage now.

7.0    Treasurers report

Balance £781.74 and Reserve Account £12,358.25.

8.0    RAF

RAF Open day.  Will be purely RAF families next year.

9.0    Community Voice

The last meeting was held with the chairs of the local Clinical Commissioning Groups.  As the second largest borough in London, Hillingdon, wants to improve service especially with added health with higher birth rates and migrants.  They are keen to improve hospital hubs and have identified 5 possible sites.

http://www.communityvoicehealth.org.uk/

10.0    Doug Lewington Spoke on Biggin Hill

Re Letter to residents associations from Biggin Hill.  Which stated that the RAF’s expansion of civil flights was anti competitive.  Sid Jackson pointed out this had been subject to a judicial review and findings on the RAF Northolt website.  Biggin Hill is a commercial argument which the SRRA does not plan to get involved with.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafnortholt/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=E33BB804-5056-A318-A81E3A93FA61AF54

11.0    Mrs Nurse

John Clifford sadly announced that Mrs Nurse, an active member of the SRRA including previously  died in tragic circumstances.  Mrs Nurse was taken to Hillingdon Hospital.  Funeral arrangements to be announced.

12.0    Stonefield Park

Children’s play area there is in need of renovation, Elaine made a request for signatures to secure resources from Chrysalis Fund.  Elaine was seeking adventure playground development to make it more suitable for 8-10 years olds.

13.0    Remembrance Service

Parade at the Polish War Memorial 10.30 and finishes at 11.15.  08/11/2015

14.0    Litter Collection

Litter pick 3rd Saturday of the month.  About 15 members taking part.  Starts at the library in South Ruislip.

15.0    Waste Food Caddy

Councillor Allan Kauffman brought in a food caddy to demonstrate it’s use and how fox proof it was.

16.0 Nurses at the Surgery on Thursday in South Ruislip

Discussion re no nurses on Thursday at South Ruislip Doctors.  With no nurses patients with bandages etc needing daily changes have to go to Mount Vernon as Dr’s not providing them.  Noted that the doctors provide the level of care so it their decision rather than NHS as a whole.  If not happy with service could be worth taking up with Primary Care Trust CQC who police the surgery.

17.0    SKLPC Complaints 

Iris Ellis a resident of Harvey Road brought up issue of SKLPC complaints. When festival in place again parking difficult on the S bend.  Very intrusive with music and floodlights.    Thanks to Allan for getting police over and Antoi Social Behaviour sport from the council andpolice but took a long term and Iris was expecting an improvement over last year when numerous discussion with Hillingdon Council had taken place.

Suggested to involve Boris Johnson and visit at a constituency surgery held every fortnight.

Meeting Close at 21:48

SRRA Member Question: What Next for the Land of Leather and Focus Site?

Good Morning,

I have lived in South Ruislip for the past 15 years where we appear to have more and more unused property which is getting to be a little concerning to say the least.
I am aware of the city grove development and the challenges faced by Sainsbury which is not ideal as was looking forward to the development which has so much potential for the area, however I guess I got a bit lost when I heard that the old Focus and Land of Leather site is not part of the old dairy development.

When making enquires I was informed that any of the following could be moving into the site, A Smyth's Toy Store, A night club and a Aldi.
I haven't seen anything come through my door with regards to this and surely as a resident we should be informed of what is being attracted to the area specifically if a night club is planned.

Could you please confirm if know what is planned for the old Focus/Land of Leather site as this is concerning that it is not part of the old dairy development and anything could end up in there.

Kind regards,

A Concerned Resident.

Good question.

You are quite right it is a separate site.

However the fate of that site is firmly tied with the ARLA development.  Provided the ARLA site goes ahead the Focus/Land of Leather site becomes more valuable to the owners (AVIVA) because of the expected footfall the ARLA development brings.

Latest planning requests show requests for retail variations on planning rather than activity such as nightclubs, but these are registered from July last year and are still undecided, although have recently been amended (03/03/2015) assuming that the Citygrove development goes ahead.

Hearsay indicates Aldi and a B&M Homestore, but you can appreciate that who goes in there under existing planning classes is not something we can lobby on or will necessarily be aware of.

If we saw a planning request for a nightclub we would be most vocal about it!  I think this unlikely given the owners have put in these retail variations.

Better quality retail units being attracted to this site is another reason for supporting Sainsbury’s restriction of competition in the area by calling for a Judicial Review of the 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 “

October Newsletter

We distSRRA Newsletter Cover Oct 2014ribute the SRRA newsletters ahead of the Quarterly meetings which take place in January, April, July and October each year. Please find at the link below the October 2014 SRRA Newsletter.  Much has moved on as we discussed at the meeting on the 22nd October. Time, tide and South Ruislip wait for no man. October 2014 Newsletter

Please note the next meeting is on the 21st January 2015 not 28th as mentioned in the newsletter.

Signs of Life at the Focus Site….

Focus Site
Focus Site

Toys shop planning applications and there two  others online at Hillingdon planning.  This could well be seen now because the owners, AVIVA, expect the ARLA site on Victoria Road to get planning permission…

In brief the plans are straightforward  and seem to be amendments to the two units:

  • To demolish the garden centre section in favour of car parking
  • To extend the range of goods to be sold.
  • Change in the internal configuration

For more information search online at Hillingdon Planning for applications