Category Archives: Issues

Flood report is in

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Remember June 23rd last year? For some of you, it was less about the Referendum and more about the local flooding. The residents have spoken and experts have investigated. The .pdf report is 78.2MB. You can either download it using that link or go to the relevant LBH page at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/29022/Flood-risk-investigation

The quick way to find the local bits is to search for Ickenham. You’ll see all the reported incidents with a few of going into further detail with maps, actions taken, etc.

(I tried searching by road name but was less successful. I believe that Ivy House Road/Milton Road suffered quite badly but could find no details. Perhaps that one wasn’t 23rd June or may)

Anyway, if you’re interested, take a look. Maybe comment here – praise or criticism, we don’t mind.

 

HS2 and the rumour mill

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On the day following the election, some HS2 notices appeared around some of Ickenham’s open spaces. They comprised several pages and it’s easy to see why some residents drew the wrong conclusions. Unfortunately, these wrong conclusions found their way onto Facebook and created a lot of heat and steam.

We thought it best to present some of the salient facts presented in the documents. If we learn more about HS2’s intentions we will let you know.

First of all, here’s the map of the (red-outlined) area debated on Facebook:

This area lies between Hoylake Cresent and the Chiltern Railway line.

Here is a snap of what HS2 intends to do here:

Since the Facebook alarm was about HS2 using the area “for storage of construction equipment for the building of HS2”, we think this paragraph (and the fact it’s a short-term survey) led to the misunderstanding.:

Apologies for the rubbish photographs. We thought it best to present the original documents rather than a transcript.

Northolt protest notes

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Quite a number of you will have received leaflets through your letter box from a group calling itself STOP NORTHOLT. We would like to give you the facts as we know them regarding the claims in this leaflet:

  1. Runway works to start in 2018 – these are to REPAIR the runway and improve the arrester beds to prevent aircraft overshooting onto the A40. These have been promised for some time but the MoD has finally released the necessary monies
  2. Possible scheduled service – this has been floating around for some time – realistically with the airbase operating as it does now there is NO way a scheduled service could operate out of Northolt.
  3. The number of movements and type of civilian aircraft are strictly limited
    • The maximum no of movements per year is 12000 (a movement is a landing or a take-off) – these can only operate between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
  4. The maximum number of movements per day is 40.
    • Aircraft have a maximum capacity of 29 passengers.
    • We hope this helps to clarify the situation.

Microsoft Tech-Support Scammers using WannaCry attack to lure victims

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Once again, our friends at Neighbourhood Watch have sent us some information on behalf of Action Fraud (National Fraud Intelligence Bureau):

Action Fraud has received the first reports of Tech-Support scammers claiming to be from Microsoft who are taking advantage of the global WannaCry ransomware attack.

One victim fell for the scam after calling a ‘help’ number advertised on a pop-up window. The window which wouldn’t close said the victim had been affected by WannaCry Ransomware.

The victim granted the fraudsters remote access to their PC after being convinced there wasn’t sufficient anti-virus protection. The fraudsters then installed Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, which is actually free and took £320 as payment.

It is important to remember that Microsoft’s error and warning messages on your PC will never include a phone number.

Additionally Microsoft will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support. Any communication they have with you must be initiated by you.

How to protect yourself:

  • Don’t call numbers from pop-up messages.
  • Never allow remote access to your computer.
  • Always be wary of unsolicited calls. If you’re unsure of a caller’s identity, hang up.
  • Never divulge passwords or pin numbers.
  • Microsoft or someone on their behalf will never call you.

If you believe you have already been a victim:

  • Get your computer checked for any additional programmes or software that may have been installed.
  • Contact your bank to stop any further payments being taken.

Report fraud and cyber crime to Actionfraud.police.uk

Watch out for Smishing frauds

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Our friends at Neighbourhood Watch have asked us to beware of Smishing frauds:

This information has been sent on behalf of Action Fraud (National Fraud Intelligence Bureau):

Smishing – the term used for SMS phishing – is an activity which enables criminals to steal victims’ money or identity, or both, as a result of a response to a text message. Smishing uses your mobile phone (either a smartphone or traditional non-internet connected handset) to manipulate innocent people into taking various actions which can lead to being defrauded.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has received information that fraudsters are targeting victims via text message, purporting to be from their credit card provider, stating a transaction has been approved on their credit card.

The text message further states to confirm if the transaction is genuine by replying ‘Y’ for Yes or ‘N’ for No.

Through this method the fraudster would receive confirmation of the victim’s active telephone number and would be able to engage further by asking for the victim’s credit card details, CVV number (the three digits on the back of your bank card) and/or other personal information.

Protect yourself:

  • Always check the validity of the text message by contacting your credit card provider through the number provided at the back of the card or on the credit card/bank statement.
  • Beware of cold calls purporting to be from banks and/or credit card providers.
  • If the phone call from the bank seems suspicious, hang up the phone and wait for 10 minutes before calling the bank back. Again, refer to the number at the back of the card or on the bank statement in order to contact your bank.

If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, please report it to Action Fraud at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or alternatively by calling 0300 123 2040

Online pharmacies

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You may have been tempted by the ‘convenience’ of an NHS authorised online pharmacy for the supply of your prescription drugs. This works well until something goes wrong. A remote organisation is not like your local pharmacist and local doctor. With them on your doorstep, you can usually sort things out quickly.

We would urge you to continue using local services. Apart from genuine convenience under all circumstances, supporting local businesses benefits our whole community.

Before deciding to take the online option, make sure Google the name of any company offering you services for news stories. We’ve seen stories about non-deliveries and selling-on of private details.

Your choice. Of course.

Master Brewer Meeting – Thurs 25th

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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

New Parks and Public Places Protection Orders

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We’re a bit late with this but, following public consultation, a new Parks and Public Places Public Spaces Protection Order was implemented on April 19.

You can download or read the pdf document which, among other things, tells you the maximum number of dogs you can have in your sole charge (6), that you can’t have fires and barbecues wherever you want and that you have to be careful where you use remote control vehicles and aircraft.

Hillingdon Police Community Newsletter

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Last July Rob Bryan, Temporary Chief Inspector for Partnership & Neighbourhoods in Hillingdon, teamed up with our Neighbourhood Watch friends to publish a monthly Hillingdon Police Community Newsletter.

If you’re not already receiving this in your email, or if you would prefer to access it directly at your own convenience, you can access current and past issues directly from the Neighbourhood Watch website.

If you’re of a technical bent, you can read copies in your browser by using the format below for the web address (remove the quote marks – I added them to stop some browsers converting the address into a hyperlink):

“www.hillingdonnhw.co.uk/v4/docs/communicator_20yy_mm.pdf”

Just substitute yy with the last two digits of the year and mm with the number of the month.

Happy reading!

 

Residents’ Association AGM

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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.