Category Archives: ARLA Development

ARLA Development, Lidl, Local Clubs and Associations, Parks, Planning, Police, Quarterly Meetings, RAF Northolt, Retail

MINUTES OF THE SOUTH RUISLIP RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY MEETING HELD AT ST MARY’S CHURCH – WEDNESDAY APRIL 27TH 2016

Minutes of the South Ruislip Residents Association

Quarterly Meeting Held at St Mary’s Church On Wednesday April 27th 2016

In attendance were 65 residents and 11 committee members.  Councillors present Judy Kelly and Eddie Lavery.

Apologies were received from: Jenny Hunt and Cllr Kaufmann, PC Jack Duerden.

April 2016 SRRA Quarterly Meeting
April 2016 SRRA Quarterly Meeting

1.0   Minutes signed off and Vice Chair Sid Jackson opened the meeting.

2.0   Police.

Manor and Cavendish

Acting Sergeant Tristan Brown has recently taken on this role. His dedicated ward officers are Sarah Fordham (Manor) and Ajay Shah (Cavendish).

His 2 dedicated PCSOs are Gurbinder Sandhu and John Dickens (John is currently on a small squad delivering MetTrace kits across the Borough)

The following officers are also part of the team: Aidan Young and Nathan Francis

South Ruislip

Sergeant Karl Spour is the new sergeant. His dedicated ward officer is now James Burgess

His dedicated PCSOs are Kara Remick and Anne Marie Chapman-Bennett

The following officers are part of the his team: Allan Webster, Jack Duerden, Maz Solanki and Charlie Mitchell (joins in June)

Rabournmead Drive

Skeletal remains were found.  The police believe they have identified the person.  The person had been missing since last year.   The polices working hypothesis is that the person, sadly,  died sleeping rough.

3.0   Brian Varley from Bellway Homes

Bellway Homes are the construction company building the residential homes at the ARLA site.  Construction will be fully complete in two years time.  Sales of the first phase opened at the weekend.  They are sold out on the first release.  They are working on the site with other construction companies Simmons and Stace, who deal with the commercial side of the development.

Questions/Comment from the floor:

Site access for pedestrians.  Bellway are creating a pedestrian walkway through from Station Approach which will be at the side of the Middlesex Arms.

Traffic will be separate from the shopping side of the development giving residents their own access to the site.

Drawing showed trees on the plans, but these have all been removed.  Established trees removed in the construction phase but other trees and landscaping will be planted at the perimeter. This will be completed towards the end of the development.

Question about affordable / housing association properties and quantity and proportion of these.  163 plots in total and there are 18 shared ownership homes which will be affordable and 18 rented units to let via a housing association.  No HA yet appointed to manage these.

What of car parking at the site? Parking is one space for one flat/property.  Generally thought to be low, but meets regulations etc.

Are these properties all sold to overseas buyers?  Not really, many local buyers, property advertised locally and many sold to local people.

4.0 Report from the Chairman

ARLA Site

Sid visited the ARLA site.  Impressive.  On target for completion by end of year.  Likely to be open around Easter next year.  The Focus site entrance opposite West Mead (now Aldi / B&M) will close and entrance will be part of the overall scheme.

Lidl

First phase plans approved for the development at Victoria Road, but the larger development is still waiting points to be cleared and planning application then will go to planning committee meeting.

HS2

Seeing movement in MP’s positions from opposition to mitigate the disruption that construction will cause.  See this as a sign that work will go ahead.

5.0   Treasurer’s Report

Current account balance £1,229.88.  Reserve £12,361.33.

No questions for Colin.

6.0 Chief Road Stewards Report

Hunting for Road Stewards for The Fairway, Diamond Road, Royal Crescent.  Wingfield Way.

Simple task to visit the houses and deliver.  Collecting the money is also simple, can be completed in a way that suits you.

7.0   Secretary Report

Nothing to report

8.0 Officers Election

The following officers were returned as standing for the following year.

Name Position
Vice Chair Sid Jackson
Treasurer Colin Hook
Chief Road Steward Geoff Taylor
Secretary Jeremy Wasden

9.0   Cllr Judy Kelly & report from Cllr Alan Kauffman who submitted in Writing

SKLP

Cllr Judy Kelly petition raised from local residents on Harvey Road re the disruptive behaviour from the site.  SKLP were better neighbours in 2014, but were more disruptive later last year with a poorer response from council officers and the police to the issues raised by residents.

Keen to improve the situation again for residents.

Youth Club at South Ruislip

Conversations with councillors have been ongoing. Set up meetings about way forward.  Report update when know more.

Block of Flats opposite South Ruislip Station on Great Central Avenue

Much work especially by Cllr Kauffman.  Flats will house people in need of temporary housing.  They can house up to four people.  Owned by Hillingdon but leased to a housing association.  An open day is being arranged by the provider to view the flats for local residents.  Date tba.

Yellow Lines on Field End Road

Now painted.

Corsa’s illegally parked in Brackenhill

Cat and mouse with council officers.  Now not advertised.  Looking at parking meters.

Bridge at South Ruislip

Looking to improve Station Approach.  Written to mayor, designers worked site.  Bridge is very dark.  When it floods can’t get through.  Walls seep moisture.  Perhaps put cladding on, raise pavement by two foot and raise light levels.  Circa £353k cost to improve.

10.0 RAF Northolt

Station Commander here next meeting.

The runway is going to be resurfaced next year.  New base to the tarmac needed, very invasive work.  Therefore the runway is going to close next year for around 9 months.

Display. Question from floor about whether flying displays will be affected following crash at Shoreham. Sid felt not as displays not aerobatic.

Flybe.  Wrote wanting to fly from Northolt.  Sid said feeling was it won’t happen.  Can’t operate scheduled flights as military has priority.  Once start to have a schedule the military would lose control.  There are also restrictions on aircraft passenger numbers due to ambulance cover, fire covers etc.  Not in foreseeable future.

Part 2 SRRA Meeting. 

Tea Break SRRA Quart Meeting April 2016
Tea Break SRRA Quart Meeting April 2016

Secretary Jeremy left, and Lynne Kauffman kindly completed the minutes for the evening.

Item Discussion/requests Action
11 VC Jackson carried out a vote to verify the proposed and seconded officers of the executive.

There was an overwhelming positive vote for all all committee members carried forward.

Open invitation to any member who wishes to attend the executive meetings 9thJune, 14July.
12 Update requested on the ground between the library and the youth centre on Victoria Road. Cllr Lavery stated that it was council owned land. Cllr Kelly reported on the site history for the development of the site. Cllr Kauffman and Cllr Kelly to investigate.
Members question Question on the fly tipping opposite the dentists on Northolt Avenue. To be resolved through an Members Enquiry.
Members question Use and development of the site on Station approach that was previously a nursery. Cllr Kelly though it was to be used for a day centre. Lunch club was mentioned but there is already a lunch club held at St Mary’s church hall 3 x per week run by Good Neighbours the club includes transport and outings. Publicise the lunch club in the newsletter to attract new members.
AOB from the committee.
  • GT(Chief Road Steward) raised the issue of identification for road stewards- use of photographs was suggested by a member. GT requested support still required for deliveries.
  • LC community report – Jim O’Neill walk almost impassable because of lack of drainage- suggested use of the Chrysalis fund to improve drainage.
  • CH no points to raise.
  • Non committee member(editor of newsletter) LK promoted the open meeting on EU for all South Ruislip residents 29th April 7:30 at the Ramada Hotel.
 Still required

Diamond Road

Royal Crescent

The Fairway

West End Road

Wingfield Way

 

 

To be reported by Cllr Kelly
AOB from the floor
  • Question raised ‘Are we likely to see more of Boris once the election is over.
  • Northolt Avenue fly tipping repeated
 VC to invite Boris Johnson to a meeting. Cllrs mentioned BJ’s surgery on Friday evening.
VC thanked members for attending meeting closed at 9:28pm.

Date of the next meeting 27th July.

 

ARLA Development, Planning

“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/

ARLA Development, HS2 Updates, Newsletters, Quarterly Meetings, RAF Northolt, Traffic

Minutes of the last SRRA Quarterly Meeting held 22nd July 2015

The minutes are below.  Good meeting!

Minutes of the South Ruislip Residents Association

Quarterly Meeting Held at St Mary’s Church Hall On Wednesday July 22nd 2015

In attendance were 53 residents and 11 committee members.  Councillors present Eddie Lavery, Allan Kauffman & Judy Kelly.

Apologies were received from: Cllr Jem Duducu, Michael White and Teji Barnes and committee member Francis Jones

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

 2.0  ARLA

Judgement in favour of building the ARLA development and against Sainsburys.  Sid had asked Sainsbury’s if they will appeal against the judge’s decision.  Said that they wouldn’t.  Development feted to start early September.

3.0  Newsletter in New Format

Thank you for the new format Lynne.

Amendments Stonefield Park, more detail requested on the litter pick, which goes ahead on the 15th August 2015 meeting at 10am starting at South Ruislip Library.

Full Colour newsletters – Prize if you get one!

3.1 Rats / Sainsburys

Pest Control in Sainsbury’s – rats reported, keen to have litter removed.  This has been reported to the council.

4.0  HS2

In agreement with the SRRA, Cllr Allan Kauffman presented at HS2 hearing in London.  As we were only there to discuss mitigation rather than the principle of HS2, main concerns raised over the digging in the ARLA site and the vent shaft, the volume of traffic with 200 lorries a day leaving the site.

Second issue with closing Station Approach, West End Road, Bridgewater Road and Long Drive.  Lynne and Allan counted the businesses there 91 businesses affected then there is the LIDL, B&M, housing, so more of an issue with traffic.

Concern raised that they are planning this as a paper exercise rather than dealing with realities.  Proposing to access with in one place an location which is currently blocked so asked for a review in more detail.

Allan and Sid have received a letter from the Chair of the committee saying that they will take our concerns into consideration.

5.0 Treasurers Report

Current account £620.74 and reserve £12356.70 as at 30th June.

6.0 Chief Road Steward

Letters were late this time.  Thanks for getting them out on time.

Henry moving South, he will be around for a few months.  Looking for a new person to take over as CRS.

7.0 Police

Henry mentioned talk from victim support.  Voluntary organisation, they will come and support you with assistance.  They are looking for premises in the area.

PCSO’s are finished.  No more coming in future.

Sid recounted his frustration with police, after a HGV delivery driver damaged a number of cars and the police didn’t turn up. Discussion of a lady who was burgled and had a slow response.

Suggestion to write to Nick Downing.  General dissatisfaction.  Ask him to come to the next meeting.  People welcome to write to SRRA if they have had issues where they feel the police have not followed up.

Burglary, lack of contact from the police.  Not enough resources for the police.

8.0       Community Voice

Next meeting in September.  Discussion will be on the transfer of care from Hospitals to the community, especially at GP level.

9.0 RAF Northolt

Sid had a meeting with Ops at RAF meeting.  Nothing has changed from before re the discussion on flight path changes or planes flying over the Mahlon Avenue area.

Biggin Hill have said they have taken legal action against RAF/MOD due to more flights at RAF Northolt.  Sid said that this was a commercial action and not something we would like to be involved with.

One gentleman left the meeting.  Sid commented that it was difficult to mediate between two intractable positions, there is little room for mediation.

10.0 South Ruislip Library

Great children’s section.  Members extolled the virtues.  Great service getting in books, quiz.  Much more than just collection point for new recycling bags.  Recycling bags can also be ordered from the council on a standing order basis and they deliver each quarter.

11.0 Lorries

11.1 HGV Access to South Ruislip Estate

Large lorries rumbling around the area an issue.  Seeing more and more on The Fairway and Long Drive.  Look at estate having a 7.5 ton limit, except for access.  Roads – drop Allan a line to have more signs on local streets.  Sign in middle of road for Torcross, too late.

11.2 South Ruislip Bridge

Notices and restrictions.  Three hits on the South Ruislip Bridge recently. What can be done to improve the safety of the access.

Cllr Kauffman suggested the council will look at spending Section 106 and SIL contribution from the ARLA money on the site to improve the bridge so it becomes an asset but there are a number of warning devices and signs up already.  One gentleman commented that his van was detected as being over height but was well under the limit..

12.0 Beautiful South Ruislip

12.1 Chamber of Commerce South Ruislip

Sid apologised to Lynne for not being invited to talk at the last meeting on the subject of   Beautiful South Ruislip. Working on getting members for a chamber of commerce so they can act as a group, especially with the commercial threats from ASDA as well as Sainsburys.

12.2 Rover/MG site, Victoria Road

The site at Rover/MG site is being cleared, concern about rubbish at the site but it’s starting to be cleared.  Lidl going for planning permission for their store.

12.3 Victoria Road, Parking/Red Route

Victoria Road, parking up causing traffic flow issues.  Discussed possible Red line route status for the road.

13.0 Stonefield Park

Elaine Haynes:  Playing area is breaking up, rubber matting will be sorted for the 28th July, would like it renewed altogether though.

14.0 Any Other Business

14.1 South Ruislip Bike Parking

Cycle chain to rail at South Ruislip on the bike.  To be removed.

14.2 Proposed Zebra Crossing on Victoria Road

Refused, no further action.  Suggestion of barriers being put in place to flow people to the crossing.  Cllr Kelly would look at that.

14.3 Long Drive Rubbish

Complaint from residents about rubbish being left out too early and on the wrong days that foxes are opening and spreading.  Cllr Kelly said that she would look into this.  [Added at time writing minutes: Judy wrote to advise that the council leafleted the area informing residents of responsibilities and correct process]

14.4 Bin Collection/Recycling

Dissatisfaction expressed bin collection and spreading of mess.  Also leaving green waste bags in the road.  Tightening up needed.

14.5 Ivory Dental Service Bin

Reminder of request for reason why that was removed made of Cllr Kauffman.

15.0 Meeting Closed

 

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 “

ARLA Development, Planning

Copy of Letter Sent Today to Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe

1 Comment

At the Quarterly meeting last night Sid Jackson promised to send a letter outlining our objection and frustration with Sainsbury’s intention to launch a Judicial Review again the ARLA development which will include an ASDA supermarket.

This he has done.

The letter can be found here:  Sainsburys letter January 2015

We encourage residents to write letters of objection to Sainsbury’s to let them know their feelings.  Would love to know your feelings on this on our Facebook page.

A write-up on the meeting last night can be found just here in the online version of the Gazette.