Village Festive Evening tonight

It’s going to be dry tonight, whoopee! Good news for all the street activities in Ickenham village centre. Wrap up warm and come and enjoy an evening (6 to 9) of “music, activities, fun and shopping”, according to Ickenham Festival which makes the whole thing happen.

We’ll be in the Village Hall meeting old and new friends, running the traditional ‘sweets in the jar’ competition, selling copies of Yesterday in Ickenham and displaying images of the winners of the ‘Characters of Ickenham’ contest run earlier in the year.

We look forward to seeing you there.

(And, if you miss it, we’ll be uploading the slideshow here tomorrow morning.)

HS2 Beacons

Beacons to Light HS2 Route Again

On Saturday 21st October, the route of HS2 will once again be lit up by beacons as communities come together to oppose the proposal. In a repeat of the show of unity from communities up and down Phase 1 in 2011, communities along Phase 2 are being encouraged to light bonfires as beacons all the way down the line of HS2.

The event has been organised by former Stop HS2 Chair Lizzy Williams on Facebook, and hopes that anyone opposing HS2 can join in wherever they are in the country if they wish to show people enough is enough. In places where beacons and bonfires would not be possible, candlelit vigils can be held and are very useful in raising awareness of HS2 and the destruction it will bring.

Anyone organising their own event should take full responsibility for risk assessment and health and safety including insurance if required and of course locations to be used must have permission from the landowners, and to be safe the fire brigade should be notified in advance.

The purpose of the event is to make a highly visible national event against HS2 and to attract as much media coverage as possible. It is also to encourage a spirit of solidarity amongst action groups.

More information can be found on the Facebook Event Page.

Sadly there is no where to use in Ickenham but we understand there will be one in Denham

The Harvil Road protest against HS2

The Green Party and fellow activists are protesting about HS2 ripping out trees in Harefield. Five of them have spent the night under a digger, to prevent further damage and an eventual environmental catastrophe for Harefield and surrounding areas.

While the Ickenham Residents’ Association avoids political positioning, we feel that this ongoing story may interest many of our members. To keep track of what’s going on please check in with Get West London.

Giant Jumblie coming your way…

Giant Jumblie at the URC!

The URC is holding its Autumn Jumble Sale on Saturday 7th October from 10am to 12 noon, admission 50p.  Come along for lots of bargains and if you have items to donate please bring them to the church between 3pm and 7pm on Friday 6th October or phone Richard Piper on 01895 634348 for collection.

Hear about British-born astronaut’s life in space

The West of London Astronomical Society celebrates 50 years of astronomy and space – at Vyners school from 7:30 pm on July 10.

British-born astronaut Michael Foale CBE will describe his exciting life in space aboard six Shuttle missions and two Space Stations. He made a spacewalk to service the Hubble Space Telescope and played a key role in rescuing the Mir space station and crew after the worst collision in the history of spaceflight.

The event will also feature Libby Jackson of the UK Space Agency, former
International Space Station ESA Flight Director, as seen on BBC2’s Stargazing Live.

Adults £12 children £8. Doors open 7.00 pm. Programme starts at 7.30 and ends at around 10.15. For more information and where to buy tickets please go to www.wolas.org.uk

Master Brewer Meeting – Thurs 25th

Meyer Homes has invited residents to share their views on its emerging plans for the site. Please register your interest by email or telephone as indicated in the letter below.

If you have any comments on the proposals that you wish to share with Ickenham Residents’ Association, please write directly to us at ickenhamresidents@hotmail.com.

As always, we value your feedback.

Here goes (very slightly edited):

Hillingdon Gateway – Invitation to Neighbour Workshop 25th May 2017

Meyer Homes owns the Former Master Brewer site off Freezeland Way, Hillingdon (which we are now referring to as Hillingdon Gateway). As you are no doubt aware, this site has long been the subject of development proposals including the scheme which was approved in 2014 for a new Tesco Store, retail units, hotel and 125 new homes. Since purchasing the site from Tesco/Spenhill in 2015, Meyer Homes has been considering the most appropriate approach to the site in the context of the increasing need for new homes in Hillingdon and across the capital.

Given the site’s history and importance, we recognise that any plans for the site may be of significant interest to local people and we appreciate that you may have a specific perspective and a particular interest in what happens here. For that reason, we are keen to talk to you as a nearest neighbour, to understand your views on our emerging plans for the site and wanted to invite you to a neighbour workshop to discuss our initial thoughts.

We believe it is important to provide you with the opportunity to inform our proposals alongside the work we have been undertaking with the London Borough of Hillingdon, in order for us to consider your input as we continue to pull together the plans for the site.

Hillingdon Park Baptist Church, 25 Hercies Road, Uxbridge UB10 9LS

Thursday 25th May 2017 from 7.00pm – 9.00pm

To help us make sure the event is as useful as possible for all of us, we would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance by email at hillingdongateway@glhearn.com or by phone on 0344 225 0003. You can also use these contact details to talk to a member of the project team to ask any questions you may have.

Yours sincerely
Nick Jones
For and on behalf of Meyer Homes

Residents’ Association AGM

We were delighted to see so many members packed into the Village Hall for our AGM last Friday.

We were also pleased to welcome so many of our local councillors: Ray Puddifoot; David Simmonds; and John Hensley from Ickenham Ward, as well as Philip Corthorne and Brian Crowe from West Ruislip ward. We also welcomed our MP Nick Hurd and Squadron Leader James Tenniswood from RAF Northolt.

The formal business proceeded smoothly and the Committee members were duly re-elected for another year’s term of office plus the two co-opted members, Beryl Upton (HS2) and Simon Taylor (Traffic).

Ray Puddifoot spoke about the Council’s opposition to the third runway and its work to get agreement on traffic etc. from HS2.

Sqdr Ldr Tenniswood updated us on the planned improvements to the runway and arrester beds. He stressed the strategic importance of RAF Northolt. He also explained NORFEST and invited local organisations to take stands on the day.

Questions from the floor were mainly about HS2 and pollution. R Puddifoot stated that LBH would install monitors and keep a close eye on the results

The meeting closed with the traditional light refreshments. Our thanks to the ‘kitchen team’ led by Barbara Buckle and to Vic Silk and David John for keeping the drinks flowing.