More HS2 works and events

from HS2

Handover to main works contractor
We wrote to you in September regarding the closure of West Ruislip golf course. We are currently in the process of handover to our main works contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCSJV). Initially there will be very little change in the activity that you will see, however, as we move further into the autumn and then winter months there will be a change in the focus of activity, and an expansion of the works area, which in turn will lead to a change and growth in the hoarding line. We appreciate that all the footpaths and rights of way are important to you and we will endeavour to keep as many footpaths open as we can. Some will need to be diverted to ensure both the safety of the public and to ensure the integrity of the working area. We will inform you of any of the specific footpath closures. These changes will be made very clear on the footpaths and users will be made aware prior to changes being made.

What works will be happening
Over the next three months we will begin to create an internal “haul road” which will allow us to use lorries to move materials east-to-west, north of the Chiltern line in order to reduce the number of larger vehicles on your local roads. To assist us in the creation of the haul road we will build a temporary bridge over the River Pinn. We will remove any top soil from our work areas and store it on the golf course. We will treat and test it, and all soil that can be reused will be used in the new golf course redesign once works are concluded. We will be building a small number of offices within the works area from which a small team of engineers and designers will be supervising all the works activity that will be taking place.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Help desk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Duration of works

From now until spring 2020 Working hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 6pm and Saturdays, 8am to 1pm (if required) We may be on site for an hour before the start and/or end of each shift.

What to expect

These works are not expected to be noisy, however we will use noise reducing barriers when required to reduce disruption. Staff and vehicles will be accessing the worksites during the above times. They will be reminded to be mindful of residents at all times

What we will do

Provide timely updates and let you know if these dates change at hs2inhillingdon.co.uk

Other upcoming works in your area
During autumn and winter 2019, SCSJV will also be carrying out further utility surveys along the HS2 route. These surveys will inform the detailed design for the new railway. We will provide further information to residents in areas that will be affected by these surveys. Further information will also be made available at www.hs2inhillingdon.co.uk

From now until late winter there will be no increase to the hoarded area.

HS2 drop-in dates
We know that you may well have questions about the SCSJV works to be undertaken in your area. Please pop along to any of our drop-in that we hold regularly in your community, the dates of which are below:

•Monday 14 October, Cannon Lane Methodist Church, Pinner, 2pm to 5pm

•Friday 25 October, Harefield Library, 2pm to 5pm

•Thursday 31 October, Committee Room at St Lawrence Church, Eastcote, 2pm to 5pm

•Monday 14 November, Ickenham Library, 2pm to 5pm

•Friday 22 November, Harefield Library, 2pm to 5pm

•Thursday 28 November, Committee Room at St Lawrence Church, Eastcote, 2pm to 5pm

•Monday 9 December, Cannon Lane Methodist Church, Pinner, 2pm to 5pm

•Thursday 12 December, Ickenham Library, 4pm to 7pm

for more info:
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-files/hs2inhillingdon/Update%20notice%20of%20Ruislip%20Golf%20Course.pdf

HS2 and its (lack of) information

An intrepid team member visited the HS2 event on September 22. Its pre-event billing promised this: See visualisations of the portal structure.

Somewhat underwhelmed, our colleague got a copy of the display boards (download the pdf – 1MB)

Anyone who was expecting to learn details, among other things, of construction noise, operational noise, how the two tunnels will be bored, how construction segments will be brought to site and where they will be stored, how the spoil will be removed, the conveyor belts, the design and visual impact of the entrance, would have been disappointed.

Furthermore, most people’s idea of a visualisation of a tunnel portal would be similar to these….

…. which came as a surprise to HS2 staff.

A footnote from me:

Looking at the main document, I was surprised to see trees in bloom in January:

Even if you use the American date format (why would you?) the picture is still misleading.

Prayer vigil 6pm this evening Hillingdon Station

Following the tragic events of Tuesday and the murder that took place on Hillingdon Station, Rev Reg Craig of Hillingdon Park Baptist Church has agreed with the Station Customer Service Manager to have a prayer vigil tomorrow evening (Thursday) at 6pm.  This will happen outside the main entrance.  The purpose of this event is for us to show solidarity as a community of all faiths and none and to stand together against the violence on our streets.  It is not political.

You are invited to attend.

URC Late Summer forecourt sale – September 7th

Keep that holiday feeling going at the URC!

Yes, even when the holidays are over and most people are back at work or school there’s the Late Summer Forecourt Sale at the URC to look forward to! It’s on Saturday 7th September from 10am to 12 Noon, admission is free and there will be a range of stalls including plants, bric-a-brac, boxed games, DVDs/CDs etc and our full range of books priced from 50p to £5.

As a break from browsing and buying there will be coffee, tea and lovely homemade cakes as well. Please get there if you can, and if you have items to donate bring them to the church between 3pm and 7pm on Friday 6th or ring Richard Piper on 01895 634348 for collection.

Should the sun stop shining most things will be inside, but it has been shining on us in another sense as we are currently running over £500 ahead of where we were at this time last year, so many thanks from us and “our” good causes for all the support.

Last but not least, make sure that you note the date of 5th October for our Autumn jumble sale. The one earlier in the year raised a four figure sum and represented a new record for us and it would be nice to do it again!

Richard Piper

Tunnel, power supply and archaeology updates from HS2

This, from HS2:

We will be advertising on Commonplace three events that will be coming up in late September today, with invites going out to the community. The events will allow people to see the plans SCS have for the tunnel portal at West Ruislip and will give other contractors an opportunity to update on other works such as archaeology and the TBM power supply.

The events will take place on:
Saturday 21 September at Harefield Community Centre 11am to 2pm
Monday 23 September at The Barn Hotel 4pm to 7pm
Wednesday 25 September at Ickenham URC 4pm to 7pm

HS2 update (with some good news?)

the latest from HS2:

News Round-up:

Archaeological works off Harvil Road, overnight lane closures on Harvil Road postponed and changes to ground investigation works at the River Pinn
Posted on Aug 7th 2019 by HS2 in Hillingdon

Footpath closure and archaeological works off Harvil Road
We will be closing a footpath near Harvil Road for archaeological works starting on 22 August. We will be carrying out works to get a better understanding of any significant archaeological remains which are in this area. A section of the public right of way, U34 footpath will be temporarily closed from 22 August until spring 2020. This is to ensure public safety during the ongoing archaeology and site survey works. For more details please see the notification sent to residents by clicking here.

Update on overnight lane closures on Harvil Road
The overnight lane closures on Harvil Road scheduled to take place between the 16 – 31 August have been postponed. You can read the notification sent to residents about these works, by clicking here. These works will now take place after the closure of Breakspear Road South has finished. We will notify residents ahead of the works once we have new dates.

Update on River Pinn ground investigations
We have postponed the overnight River Pinn ground investigations due to take place between 11-14 August. For full details please see the notification that was sent to residents here by clicking here. Once these works have been rescheduled we will notify residents of the new dates.

O to be a road steward!

The Ickenham Residents’ Association’s (largely unsung) heroes are the volunteer road stewards who deliver the Ickenham Calling newsletter to our members and collect the subs once a year. This activity keeps Association members informed on a range of issues including HS2 of course, road safety and traffic, the fight against crime, health, conservation and green spaces,

Every so often, the Committee organises a thank you knees up. Well, not quite a knees up, more a quiz evening with food and drink thrown in (not literally).

We get a sprinkling of emails after the event from some of the attendees. They always seem to have a good time and appreciate the Committee’s efforts. (Not me, this year, I was away sadly.)

Here are just some of the comments we received from our 26th July event. We have mixed them up and preserved the writers’ anonymities.

They opened with comments like these:
“A really happy event.” “Most enjoyable.” “Such fun.” “A good evening.” “Enjoyable and good fun.” “Appreciated by all.” “Warm and welcoming.”

In the middle, they said things like:
“A good way to meet and greet lots of good friends and acquaintances.” “The food was really delicious.” “The quizzes were challenging and fun.” “The quiz was excellent.” “Much laughter and giggling as we wracked our brains.”

And, at the end, apart from lots of “thank you”s their closing remarks included:
“I do applaud the hard work that must have gone in.” “A great job.” “Such a success.” “We happily went home.”

Hope that last one wasn’t provoked by relief.

 

PS (If you fancy becoming a road steward, after reading this, you’d be very welcome. If so, please send us an email. Thank you.)

Master Brewer plans in context

Further to the earlier posting here’s some useful background for you:

Earlier this year the Council refused permission for the 437 home ‘Hillingdon Gateway’ development at Master Brewer, citing 10 reasons for refusal including unacceptable over-development. The Association is one of several local groups that have contributed to the creation of a Community Masterplan for Hillingdon Circus, which outlines what we want, bearing in mind the Council have allocated the area for mixed-use residential-led development. Details of the Community Masterplan are available here:

https://ickenhamplan.wordpress.com/2019/07/12/hillingdon-circus-update/

This will be subject to formal public consultation later this year as part of the emerging Ickenham Neighbourhood Plan.

Separately from the Community Masterplan process, the owners of the site are exhibiting plans for a different Master Brewer development on July 25th 4pm to 8pm. Their leaflet is reproduced again below: