Category Archives: Issues

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.

 

Breakspear Road South closure

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This has just come in from Hillingdon Neighbourhood Watch:

Breakspear Road South will be closed from Breakspear Road to the junction with Swakeleys Road for six weeks from 20th July until 4th September for major GAS work.

This will obviously have a major impact on traffic flow in the area.

 

[ And something that HS2 could learn much from – Ed ]

In business? Being threatened by Lizard Squad?

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This information below this paragraph is taken straight from a Neighbourhood Watch notice dated April 29. The last section is good advice regardless of the source of attack. Action Fraud is a good source of information on many types of online attack – personal and business. Here goes:

Within the past 24 hours a number of businesses throughout the UK have received extortion demands from a group calling themselves ‘Lizard Squad’.

Method of Attack:
The group have sent emails demanding payment of 5 Bitcoins, to be paid by a certain time and date. The email states that this demand will increase by 5 Bitcoins for each day that it goes unpaid.

If their demand is not met, they have threatened to launch a Denial of Service attack against the businesses’ websites and networks, taking them offline until payment is made.

The demand states that once their actions have started, they cannot be undone.

What to do if you’ve received  one of these demands:

  • Report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or by using the online reporting tool
  • Do not pay the demand
  • Retain the original emails (with headers)
  • Maintain a timeline of the attack, recording all times, type and content of the contact

If you are experiencing a DDoS right now you should:

  • Report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 immediately.
  • Call your Internet Service Provider (ISP) (or hosting provider if you do not host your own Web server), tell them you are under attack and ask for help.
  • Keep a timeline of events and save server logs, web logs, email logs, any packet capture, network graphs, reports etc.

Get Safe Online top tips for protecting your business from a DDoS:

  • Consider the likelihood and risks to your organisation of a DDoS attack, and put appropriate threat reduction/mitigation measures in place.
  • If you consider that protection is necessary, speak to a DDoS prevention specialist.
  • Whether you are at risk of a DDoS attack or not, you should have the hosting facilities in place to handle large, unexpected volumes of website hits.

 

New HS2 Working Group will get best deal for Hillingdon

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This news update is taken directly from a press release from Zac Goldsmith MP who participated in Monday’s meeting with, Nick Hurd, our MP, Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, and key local stakeholders.

We have made tiny edits in style to make it flow better but, otherwise, it’s exactly as he issued it. Here goes:

New HS2 Working Group will get best deal for Hillingdon

An HS2 working group has been set up for Hillingdon following a meeting between Conservative candidate for London Mayor Zac Goldsmith, the Transport Secretary and key local stakeholders.

The meeting was set up by Zac Goldsmith who recently met with HS2 campaigners in Ruislip.  He was joined at the meeting by fellow campaigners Nick Hurd MP, the current Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP, and Leader of Hillingdon Borough Council Cllr Ray Puddifoot for the meeting at the Department for Transport.

Goldsmith said, “This was a productive discussion.  I am very pleased that the Transport Secretary listened to our concerns and we can make the case for a tunnel under Hillingdon.”

He added, “I will continue to apply maximum pressure to ensure that HS2 is tunnelled under Hillingdon, protecting the environment and our community.  I want to minimise the potential disruption that HS2 could cause.”

“I am the only candidate who can work with the Government to protect London’s economy and investment in transport infrastructure.  Khan’s £1.9 billion budget black hole would jeopardise investment and put Hillingdon’s security at risk. My Action Plan for Greater London will deliver for Hillingdon residents.”

Here’s what some of the other participants had to say:

Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP: “HS2 will have a transformative effect on the whole of the UK but it is essential that when we build it we get it right. Part of this process will mean looking again where necessary. Zac, Nick, Boris and Ray have made a strong case on behalf of Hillingdon and I have asked for a working group to be established between Hillingdon Borough Council, HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport. I expect this group to work through the important issues raised in our meeting and report to back to me.”

Boris Johnson MP: “This is great news, this fresh work will now look again into the possibility of the Colne Valley tunnel. I believe we can show it makes good sense in terms of both cost and efficiency. If the tunnel can be delivered for the same cost, it’d be crazy not to do it.”

Nick Hurd MP: “We have argued for a long time that a tunnel extension is the best solution to all the problems that HS2 causes in the area. Up till now that option has not been taken seriously. I am pleased that we have managed to put it back on the agenda.”

Cllr Ray Puddifoot: “I am grateful to Zac for leading on this initiative and the Secretary of State for agreeing to look at the case for a tunnel.  It is without doubt the most cost effective solution and will cause the least amount of damage and disruption to our environment and our residents.”

The working group will be made up of six people; three from Hillingdon Borough Council, two from HS2 Ltd and one from the Department for Transport.

 

Tunnel meeting with Secretary of State for Transport

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Here’s a brief note from Brian Cable about today’s meeting between Ray Puddifoot and representatives of Ruislip, Ickenham and Harefield residents concerning Monday’s meeting between the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, Nick Hurd, Boris Johnson, Zac Goldsmith, Ray Puddifoot.

We expect a formal statement soon and will publish it here.

In a nutshell:

The meeting with the Secretary of State was a success and he went from being lukewarm about reconsidering a tunnel extension to acceptance that it would be worth looking at again and saying that he would task HS2 with carrying out a new cost and technical analysis, in concert with Transport For London and the London Borough of Hillingdon. He will be writing to confirm this.

Ray was full of praise for Nick, Zac and Boris in the way they presented the case on our behalf.

Ray was equally unequivocal in saying that this had only come about as a result of the pressures brought by us in the communities and our representatives in exhibiting passion, determination, and putting forward well-informed arguments in our petitions and communications.

LBH intends to engage PBA again as its consultants on the tunnel.

He also pointed out potential pitfalls and political difficulties. Basically, it is a step forward, but we still need to attend to the Lords’ petitioning process and the current studies on traffic and dumping still need to be pursued to the end.

I feel a little less discouraged than I did this morning!

In anticipation that there will be a statement very soon.

Regards, Brian

Chairman’s review of 2015-6

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As part of the AGM, the Chairman reviews the Association’s activities during the preceding year. She also does a lot of other things like calling for votes on this and that and introducing the guest speakers. While much of this has to await the members’ approval next year, we thought it would be a good idea to see the body of her presentation here.