Piccadilly closures

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Heathrow passengers to face severe disruption as major Tube closures begin this week and Piccadilly line closures

London Underground passengers travelling to Heathrow this week are being warned of major disruption due to closures. From Thursday, July 30 until Sunday, August 2 the Piccadilly line will close between Acton Town and Heathrow, and between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge while engineers test new trains being introduced later this year.
The section between Acton Town and Cockfosters is open on Thursday, but will then shut between Friday and Monday, August 3 meaning the entire line is out of action between Friday and Sunday. These closures also affect Night Tube services.
Transport for London said the complex upgrade and testing programme is essential to ensure the line is ready for the first new trains to enter service in December. In May, transport bosses confirmed engineers had already carried out weight-loading testing to simulate the carriages being full with passengers, and that 119 platforms had been prepared to accommodate the new trains.
Londoners thankfully have other options such as the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express to get to and from the airport, but the Piccadilly line closure will affect passengers needing to travel overnight on Friday and Saturday. The N9 bus from Heathrow to Piccadilly Circus will be the best option for many due to the closure.
Other alternatives include National Express and FlixBus coaches or taking a taxi.
The upcoming closure is the longest planned for this summer but there are two midweek closures next month which will affect commuter. The stretch between Cockfosters and Uxbridge will shut between Tuesday, August 18 and Thursday, August 20 and the following week from Tuesday, August 25 until Thursday, August 27.
TfL has confirmed the new trains being introduced between December and June next year will feature walk-through carriages, wider doorways, onboard digital display screens and CCTV. Each train will also have 10 per cent extra capacity, while the increased fleet size will allow frequency to increase from 24 to 27 trains per hour.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s chief capital officer, said: “I’d like to thank our customers for their patience while we carry out these essential upgrades to the Piccadilly line and rigorously test the new trains which will transform journeys for many decades to come. Introducing a new fleet of trains is a huge engineering and logistical feat which inevitably requires upgrades and intensive testing.
“Although much of the hard work goes on behind the scenes, there are times when we need to close sections of the railway to ensure that these pioneering new trains can operate effectively and interact correctly with a wide range of complex infrastructure.
“We are very confident that once this intensive period of upgrades and testing is completed, and the new trains start to enter service, our customers will reap the benefits of moving around the capital on these game-changing new trains.”
 

Possible developments on Ickenham Marshes

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Development proposals on the Marshes

The Marshes are a patchwork of about 40 fields between Ickenham and Ruislip in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The Ickenham Marsh Local Nature Reserve      https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/ickenham-marsh lies at the centre of the area.  The Stafford Road Open Space sits in the south east corner. Much of the area is privately owned, with several footpaths enabling the public to enjoy this treasured landscape.
 
 
The Marshes also form part of the Crane Valley; an important West London river catchment, with an excellent network of green corridor footpaths, which give public access from the Marshes to Harrow or all the way down to the Thames.
 
For many years, the Association has been working in partnership with land owners, manager and other groups to enhance the area, to protect and enhance the superb ecological and amenity value. More details on are available on the Marshes website: Ickenham Marshes   https://ickenhammarshes.wordpress.com/
 
The proximity of the Marshes to residential areas and local train stations is a key reason why the area it is so popular with visitors. This is also the reason why the Greater London Authority (GLA), in its Draft London Plan, has proposed that land “East of Ickenham” should be developed, to help meet the housing needs of Hillingdon and the wider area.  Further details are available here: Draft London Plan consultation | London City Hall
https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/planning/london-plan/next-london-plan/draft-london-plan-consultation
We are also aware that for several months now, ecological surveys have been underway, presumably commissioned by local landowners. 
 
Although the Marshes field boundaries have remained largely unchanged since the 1780 enclosures, this is not the first time that development has been proposed in the area. A key difference now, is that central government has changed the rules on green belt, and is proposing further changes relating to land close to train stations.
 
Under the proposals set out in the draft London Plan, Hillingdon has the largest increase in annual housing targets of any borough; more than doubling from 1,083 homes to 2,403. The draft also suggests that  over the next ten years 14,750 of these new homes should be built on greenfield sites.
 
This is in the context of what is widely described as a national housing crisis, which is being felt most acutely in the south east of England.  Although there is some debate about the extent that housebuilding levels impact on house prices, according to the Office for National Statistics, average house prices in Hillingdon have risen from £120,000 in 2000, to over £500,000 today. Average earnings have gone from £25k to £40k over the same period.
 
The Draft London Plan also sets out expectations on building heights, density levels, affordable housing levels and the amount of green space within development. It’s also worth noting that there are laws on ‘biodiversity net gain’, which mean that, after land it developed, it’s biodiversity value should increase. Given the extraordinary biodiversity of the Marshes, it will be fascinating to find out more about how these provisions are being considered by developers and authorities alike.
 
There is uncertainty about the evidence and assumptions underpinning what the GLA have set out in the draft London Plan. Boroughs and the public currently have the chance to respond to the consultation, and the London Plan will not come into force until it, and it’s supporting evidence base have been rigorously tested at a public examination by a panel of independent planning inspectors. 
We will continue to engage closely with the Council on this matter, including seeking a better understanding of the amount of brownfield land that is available in Hillingdon, noting that national planning policy still firmly expects a brownfield development first approach.
 
We will also be engaging with LBH on the emerging Hillingdon Local Plan, which will need to allocate land for housing and other development across the borough for the next ten years. More details are available here: Scoping consultation | Local Plan and Review | Hillingdon Council .
https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-plan-review/4
This local plan is long overdue; a consequence of which is that our area is already subject to more relaxed planning rules because of a lack of identified land for housing. 
 

Re: hosepipe ban

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As you are probably aware, the hose pipe ban comes into effect today. However, if you qualify, you can be added to the priority.services register and still use your hose pipe (within reason)

More info: https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/priority-services
 

How to apply

Or call – 0345 357 2406

Ickenham Road closure

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A reminder that the following will come into operation this Saturday Saturday 18 July to Sunday 2 August Ickenham Road, Ruislip

Cadent Gas to  temporarily close Ickenham Road, Ruislip,from the junction of High Street to the junction of Church Avenue.

2. Diversion route will be in place via High Street, Kingsend, Ickenham Road.Westbound Closure Only
Nothing in the Order shall apply to prevent vehicular access to premises on or adjacent to the prohibited length of road insofar as access is reasonably practicable without interference with the said works.

3. The temporary restriction will be in operation between 08:00hrs on the 18th July 2026 to 17:00hrs, on the 2nd August 2026 and to such extent as indicated by traffic signs prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

Road users should assume that the closure has been put into effect only if traffic signs have been erected stating that the road has been closed and the diversion route, if necessary is in place

more info: https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/downloads/file/2948/ickenham-road-ruislip-road-closure

Summer closure of two main London stations

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Two major London stations are set to shut for three weeks this summer as part of a £20million upgrade, with commuters warned to expect disruption.
London Charing Cross and Waterloo East will close from Sunday, July 26 until Sunday, August 16, while engineers carry out major improvement works.
The closures will affect Southeastern services, with trains that normally run into Charing Cross being diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street and London Blackfriars instead.
Some services will also terminate at London Bridge.
Passengers are being urged to check their route before travelling, as alternative services will be in place throughout the closure.
Here’s everything we know about the works.
When are the stations closing?
The main closures will last 22 days, from Sunday, July 26 to Sunday, August 16, to coincide with the summer holidays.
But there will also be additional weekend closures before and after for preparation and follow-up work:
But there will also be additional weekend closures before and after for preparation and follow-up work: Saturday, July 18 Sunday, July 19 Saturday, August 22 Sunday, August 23 Saturday, October 10 Sunday, October 11 Network Rail has warned that travel arrangements on these extra closure dates may be different from the main 22-day closure, so passengers should check before setting off.
Why are Charing Cross and Waterloo East closing?
The stations are closing to allow engineers to carry out a major £20million upgrade of the railway between them.
The work will include replacing around 1,800 metres of track and installing 16 new sets of switches and crossings — the equipment that allows trains to move between different tracks.
The new infrastructure will replace equipment that has been in place since 1990, which Network Rail says will help to improve reliability and keep journeys running smoothly.
At Waterloo East, track drainage will also be upgraded to help maintain track quality and allow trains to continue running safely at full line speed.
Meanwhile, parts of Charing Cross station will be rebuilt, with new foundations and surfaces installed at the country end of the platforms to keep them safe and accessible for passengers.
Structural repairs will also be carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which takes the railway over the Thames, and the pedestrian link bridge between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
The work will keep the structures open for decades ahead, Network Rail says.
What are the likely disruptions?
No trains will call at London Charing Cross or Waterloo East while work is carried out.
Instead, Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge.
Southeastern has warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations.
 

HS2 update: Harvil Road closure cancelled

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Cancelled Harvil Road Night Time Road Closures

– 2 Nights (10pm to 5am) Sat 11/07 & Sun 12/07  

The works that required the Night Time Closure of Harvil Road for 2 Nights this weekend have now been cancelled by HS2/SCS as it has found an alternative method of working that allows for the road to remain open while it carries materials to the track below for Railway Possession works. There are currently no plans to reschedule these works.