Category Archives: Issues

HS2 Ground Inspections begin

Posted on by

We’ve received a letter from HS2’s engagement team about ground inspections due to start next week. If you need to engage, details are at the foot of the email:

Dear all,

Please note that the Ground Investigation (GI) works that were discussed at the HS2 information event on Thursday 13 October are due to commence next week. As a result of the GI, you may notice the following:

•        Background noise from the drilling of boreholes or digging of the trial pits and use of water pumps.
•        Hoarding around ground investigation sites.
•        Contractor vehicle movements to and from the sites.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Matt

________________________________________

Matthew Edgar | Engagement Manager | HS2 Ltd
Tel: 020 7944 5138 | Mobile: 07769 624611 | Matthew.edgar@hs2.org.uk | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, 5th Floor, Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT  | www.gov.uk/hs2

New emissions proposals: Have your say

Posted on by

Transport for London and the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is seeking views on proposals to introduce a new £10 daily Emission Surcharge (also known as the “T-charge”) in 2017. This would be for cars, vans, minibus and heavy vehicles registered in 2005 and older. This would be in addition to the Congestion Charge.

They would also like your views on changes to the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), a separate scheme that will replace the Emissions Surcharge and will have stricter emissions standards for vehicles. These changes include:

•    Introducing a central London ULEZ in 2019 rather than 2020
•    Extending the zone up to the North and South Circular in 2019 or later
•    Extending the zone London-wide for heavy vehicles only in 2019 or later

The main link is here: tfl.gov.uk/airquality-consultation

If you want to go straight to the survey, click here.

The consultation ends on Sunday 18 December.

HS2 village events – latest

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.

Want to quiz Met’ Police boss?

Posted on by

This message is from A/Chief Inspector David George:

Dear Hillingdon Residents, Business Persons and Partners,

The Commissioner Bernard Hogan Howe will be holding a Road show at Hillingdon Civic Centre on Wednesday 24th August between 1830 to 1930.

The aim of the event is to address the community and finish with a Questions & Answer session. The Commissioner will be joined by the Hillingdon Borough Leadership Team to answer questions from the audience.

Local community policing team officers along with other victim support services provided by the police (Community Safety Unit, I Victim Support, Court Support, Safeguarding Adults, Burglary Squad, Smart water team ) will also be on hand.

There is no need to register for the event and the community are requested to just turn up on the night. Attendees will be required to attend no later than 1820 to allow time for seating.

Thank you and I hope to see you on the evening

 

Roof cleaners/Car gritters?

Posted on by

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.