Category Archives: Advice

HS2 village events – latest

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HS2 Ltd has announced that it will be holding Information Events between 3 pm and 9 pm in St Giles Church Hall, Ickenham on October 13 and Ickenham Village Hall on November 3. They wish to present their conclusions resulting from the Hillingdon Traffic Study carried out with Transport for London (TfL) and London Borough of Hillingdon.


What is HS2 Ltd proposing? …

HS2 believes it can reduce the maximum daily peak of HGV vehicles to 550 and with signalisation on Swakeleys roundabout this, in their opinion, will be manageable. HS2 also believes, subject to certain conditions, that it can reduce the amount of spoil to be dumped on the fields between Harvil Road and Breakspear Road South by re-using the spoil in the building of the new Harvil Road bridge and Uxbridge golf course. It will also re-use spoil from the West Ruislip tunnel portal on Ruislip golf course.

These efforts were as a result of the petitioning last year by Ickenham residents to the House of Commons Select Committee and political pressure from our council leader and local MPs.


What do we believe? …

We, of course, welcome any improvements in mitigation but do not share their optimism that our local roads can support HS2’s construction activities. Its plans still require over 100,000 HGV vehicle movements on roads which today cannot support the daily commuter traffic and already suffer high levels of air pollution. In addition to the construction sites in Harvil Road, Breakspear Road South and Ickenham High Road (West Ruislip) – which in themselves will cause traffic congestion – there will be significant utility works in West End Road Ruislip, construction sites in Harefield and West Hyde.  We know, from the National Grid utility works in Breakspear Road South in July/August this year, that any work by any party can cause horrendous congestion.

Our position remains that no HGV vehicles should be allowed on our suburban roads, through our shopping centre, along commuter, bus and school routes and known accident black spots. The traffic modelling upon which HS2 Ltd is basing its conclusions has not yet been agreed with TfL, LBH and our Residents Association and is unlikely to conclude until next year. The traffic numbers could change. It was our opinion that, until there was more substantive evidence, these conclusions were premature and should not be presented to the residents.

We are also disappointed that HS2 Ltd still wants to build and run concrete factories on the Green Belt by Harvil Road. We do not believe this is environmentally sound – the risks of environmental pollution are too great. We believe best practice would be to bring in the finished concrete tunnel supports from existing factories which have been proven to be environmentally safe.  HS2 Ltd has agreed that this alternative would not create additional traffic.

The Ickenham Residents Association will have a stand in the HS2 Information Event and we thank HS2 Ltd for this opportunity. Please come and meet us.

Two chances to tackle HS2

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HS2 is holding two ‘information-sharing events’ for Ickenham residents in October and November.

Here’s a summary:

HS2 has been trying to identify ways of reducing HGV traffic movements in the West Ruislip and Ickenham area, in particular, the peak two-way HGV movements from 1060 to a maximum of 550 per day at Swakeleys Roundabout.

Its report sets out its proposals, plus ways to significantly reduce sustainable placement of surplus excavated materials on land between Harvil Road and Breakspear Road South.

If you want to preview what it will be presenting, the summary report is at:  www.gov.uk/government/publications/hillingdon-traffic-study-summary-report

The invites are very similar, click on one to download it:

13th October 3-9pm St Giles

3rd November 3-9pm Village Hall

 

Ickenham hit by scammers

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Okay – not just Ickenham and not new, but we’ve had an interesting letter from someone who was hit by someone claiming to be from Talk Talk. The same day, a neighbour (who’s having operating system issues) told me Microsoft had called to help him with his computer issues. He very nearly fell for it but hung up when asked to give the caller remote access to his computer.

I always hang up immediately, as I did yesterday when an obviously non-Western voice said “Hello, I’m Tony and I’m calling from Microsoft.” I suggest you do the same.

We’re not going to make a habit of warning residents about these calls. This is an exception because we have such a clear account of one resident’s experience. We won’t give their name because it would make them a target to scammers and vendors of all kinds – especially internet and phone service providers.

Here goes:

Last week we took three phone calls within 24 hours from what sounded like a call centre for Talk-Talk which is our internet and phone provider. The caller (number withheld) knew my name and (obviously) phone number and that I was a Talk-Talk customer. He said that there was a security problem with our internet router which appeared to be being used by unauthorised users and that I should immediately log-on to my computer and he would talk me through the procedure to fix the problem and thus prevent all my personal data being’stolen’.

When I asked for his name and number the caller immediately rang off  . . . . . . but they tried twice more, each time ringing off when challenged.

I don’t know whether other residents who use different internet suppliers have been similarly targeted or whether this is just related to Talk-Talk users but I thought that you might want to pass this on in your publications.

Passed on with many thanks.

Swakeleys House open Saturday

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As part of the London Open House weekend, Swakeleys House will be open to the public (no charge) on Saturday 17th September 10:00 to 16:00.

It gives Ickenham residents the opportunity to publicly show their interest in this building. Please go if you can. Groups of up to 15 at a time will be admitted every 20 to 30 minutes.

Tell your friends and neighbours, we need to demonstrate our continuing interest in this historic and iconic building to its owners.

Thank you.

Roof cleaners/Car gritters?

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Without further comment, we repeat a warning received from an Association member:

Please be advised there are Irish fraudsters pretending to be roof

cleaning specialist. The use a high powered spray that removes the top

layer of the roof tile probably causing damage. They work off ladders

and cover neighbours cars in grit as neighbouring property and leave in a

disgraceful mess. They work for cash and drive a van with Irish plates.

They are con men and menacing please advise residents to say no.

Are you at risk from drone criminals?

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We hear that criminals are using drones in Ickenham to identify potential victims – nice cars, dodgy patio doors, unlocked sheds – all are well within the drone’s reach. And the larger the property, the more likely they are to be used.

If you hear an unusual buzzing, look for activity on the street or at the back of your property. Drone users are most likely to be in sight. If you see them, call 101.

While this seems to be new to Ickenham, it’s not new generally. The Telegraph ran a useful article on the subject last year.

Parking restriction issues

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Nothing seems to raise blood pressure more than the issue of parking restrictions. Some people love them, some hate them. Some want one-hour restrictions while others want resident permits. Just like Brexit, this means that a proportion of people are going to be unhappy with whatever’s decided.

As the Ickenham Residents’ Association, we have to remain above the fray. We are here to represent all residents and cannot take up the cudgels on behalf of one group or another. We can, however, urge you to respond whenever the Council consults you. Your anonymity is preserved and you can check the outcomes when the statistics are published.

If you really think that the Council has acted undemocratically, you probably have time to protest. In my road (Pepys Close), the scheme wasn’t implemented until ten months after the stats were published.