Category Archives: Local issues

HS2 update

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1    SCS Noise Barrier Testing near Breakspear Road South – completion on Sun 11/01 – Postponed
The final Noise Barrier Test was due to be performed this Sun 11/01 within the HS2/SCS Site to the west of the entrance off Breakspear Road South. 

Update 09/01 – Please note that this has been postponed due to the weather forecasted for Sun 11/01 (Due to the sensitivity of the test it cannot be performed in less than favourable weather). I will update you once this final Test is rescheduled. 

The Acoustic Test will happen during the daytime (between 10am & 4pm) and will only last for a few minutes. It is unlikely to cause any noise disruption to residents
 
2    Breakspear Road South – 24/7 Road Closure over 5 Days – Sat 14/02 at 7am until Wed 18/02 at 7pm 

HS2/SCS have agreed a Road Closure of Breakspear Road South that will take place 24 Hours a Day over a 5 Day Period from Sat 14/02 at 7am until Wed 18/02 at 7pm. 

These works have been scheduled to take place during the Feb 2026 School Half-Term to cause as little disruption as possible but we are aware there is never a good time to close this road. 

Previously LBH had been informed by HS2 that all Road Closures on Breakspear Road South would be completed in 2025 but the following works are now required and unfortunately due to the methodology of the works they will require Full Road Closures to complete them: 

Rip-Rap Works – to install permanent paving and bollards to make safe the run-off area around a Drainage Swale

To carry out a Trial Hole across the whole carriageway for a Sewer Connection that was previously removed during HS2 Enabling Works (this is a new instruction from HS2 not previously known about by SCS or LBH) 
Please note – once the Trial Hole data is received, HS2/SCS will need to complete the Sewer Connection which will require a further Road Closure that they would look to request for the May School Half-Term or the School Summer Holidays.
 

Christmas Tree Collections

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Details here . Between Monday 5 and Friday 16 January, you can recycle real Christmas trees for free through the Council, providing all decorations and pots are removed. Trees taller than 6 foot need to be cut in half. Collections from houses: If you live in a house, place your tree at the edge of your property boundary (and visible to collectors) by 6am on your collection day. (It seems that 13th January is central Ickenham’s collection day) The Council’s information page (linked at the start of this post) makes no mention of whether this requires membership of the garden waste collection scheme. Given that the trees are placed separately to the tagged bags, maybe this is a free-of-obligation service.

Christmas and New Year Refuse Collections

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Bank holiday rubbish and recycling collection days Collection days for households and businesses during the bank holiday periods.
To minimise disruption to waste and recycling collections during the Christmas and New Year period, our crews will be working on Saturdays 20 and 27 December and Saturday 3 January.

Christmas collection days
Normal collection day > Revised collection day
Monday 22 December > Saturday 20 December
Tuesday 23 December > Monday 22 December
Wednesday 24 December > Tuesday 23 December
Thursday 25 December > Wednesday 24 December
Friday 26 December > Saturday 27 December

New Year holiday collection days
Normal collection day > Revised collection day
Monday 29 December > No change
Tuesday 30 December > No change
Wednesday 31 December No change
Thursday 1 January > Friday 2 January
Friday 2 January > Saturday 3 January

Please leave your rubbish out for collection by 6am, near your front gate, but not on the pavement. Separate arrangements are in place for flats and business premises.

West Ruislip HS2 works from Jan 5

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from HS2

What we are doing

From 5 January 2026, we will be continuing our work on the construction of the porous portal and the headhouse for our West Ruislip Portal site.

We will carry out the following activities:

  • Hydroscabbling: high-pressure water jets will scratch concrete surfaces to help new layers stick (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday, 8am to 1pm)
  • Formwork and steel fixing (Monday to Saturday,  24 hours a day)

HS2 is undergoing a comprehensive reset to ensure it can be built efficiently and for the lowest reasonable cost. This work is being carried out in stages and will be completed in 2026. We will provide you with updates on the reset and what this means for our plans to build the railway in your area.

Download information relating to these works

https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/headhouse-works-at-west-ruislip-portal/#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=41c5bfb6-880b-48b1-9c3c-53daa4430300
or
https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AWN-Hydroscabbling-Jan-2026.pdf

HS2/Align/SCS Christmas working hours

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Christmas Working Hours for HS2 Contractors Align & SCS 

HS2 Main Contractor Align, who have built the Colne Valley Viaduct in LBH, have provided details of their Christmas 2025 Working Hours:  All Align Sites will close at midday on Tuesday 23/12/25 and will re-open on Monday 05/01/26 Security & some daily maintenance activities will be in place at Sites during these times  HS2 Main Contractor SCS, who operate the Sites in Hillingdon from the East Side of Harvil Road towards London, have provided details of their Christmas 2025 Working Hours:  All SCS Sites will close on Wednesday 24/12/25 and Sites will re-open on Monday 05/01/26 SCS Offices will reopen on Fri 02/01/26 Security & some daily maintenance activities will be in place at Sites during these times  The HS2 Helpdesk is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year by:
Freephone: 08081 434 434 | Minicom: 08081 456 472 | Email: hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk
 
 

Roadworks – Swakeleys Rd/High Rd, Ickenham

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Richard Mascarenhas, Metropolitan Police, PCSO, WA Ickenham South Harefield reports that there are currently temporary traffic lights on the junction of SWAKELEYS ROAD and HIGH ROAD in Ickenham. This is causing significant delays in travel in the area. Please check the traffic before beginning your journey and use alternative routes if able. 

HS2 works update w/c 22/11/25

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Breakspear Road South Road Closure for Conveyor Bridge Removal – Fri 28/11 at 8pm to Sun 30/11 at 8pm
 
HS2/SCS have agreed with LBH that Breakspear Road South will be Closed at the Chiltern Railway Bridge while the Conveyor Bridge that oversails the Highway is removed These works have been rescheduled to take place on the weekend of Fri 28/11 at 8pm to Sun 30/11 at 8pm.
 
The Conveyor Bridge carries the Conveyor system that was used to transport the TBM Spoil/Material over Breakspear Road South towards the Treatment Area at Harvil Road Gate 1. Now that both TBMs have completed their tunnelling between West Ruislip and Greenpark Way in LB Ealing the Conveyors are being removed and the Bridges that carry the Conveyor can also be removed.
 
These works will involve laying Matting on the road surface to protect it, then using a Crane to lower the Bridge to ground level before dismantling and removing it. The road would then be cleared with the Matting removed before reopening to the public.
 

  • There will be no Emergency Services Access during this Road Closure due to overhead lifting operations on the carriageway.
  • The Pedestrian Crossing which runs diagonally underneath the Chiltern Line Bridge will be closed for the duration of this Road Closure (also due to overhead lifting).
  • Notices & Signage will be installed in advance to advise walkers of the Pedestrian Crossing Closure.
  • The Diversion Route has now been confirmed with HS2/SCS and is the usual Diversion via Swakeleys Road, Ickenham High Road, Bury Street, Breakspear Road 

Piling and Drainage Installation works for Noise Barrier in West Ruislip Embankment area – 28/07/25 to 27/03/26

From 28/07/25 to 27/03/26 HS2/SCS will be carrying out works to allow the construction of the Noise Barriers along the HS2 route between the Copthall Tunnel and West Ruislip Portal. These works will be happening during Core Hours only (Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm & Sat 8am to 1pm).

Update Nov 2025 – The Noise barrier Piling is being completed in 2 Phases. Please note that Phase 1 was completed in Oct 2025 and Phase 2 has now started in Nov 2025 (from w/c 17/11).
HS2/SCS will start by installing Concrete Piles to stabilise the ground, followed by the installation of Drainage Systems.

Asylum accommodation and protests

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Metropolitan Police Service Statement – Hillingdon
We understand the concerns raised by our communities in Hillingdon regarding asylum accommodation and related protest activity. We want to reassure residents that these issues are being taken seriously and that significant policing resources are committed to keeping people safe and maintaining public order.  
Our priorities are clear:
Protect life and prevent harm Investigate crime and bring offenders to justice Support lawful protest while preventing disorder  
What we are doing: Preventing offences and tackling criminal behaviour
Our focus remains on preventing harm and addressing criminality—not on commenting on every post or video circulating online. Multiple individuals have already been arrested following recent disorder, and further investigations are ongoing. We record and investigate all reports of crime, and while we cannot comment publicly on the specifics of ongoing investigations, every case is assessed and progressed in line with our established processes. Suggestions that we favour one group over another are incorrect. Our approach is based on evidence and the law, regardless of who is involved.   Supporting lawful protest, preventing disorder
We respect the right to peaceful protest. However, violent or unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated. We have committed significant resources to supporting lawful protest over the last two months and, when faced with criminality, have acted decisively.   Visible reassurance and partnership working
Officers are carrying out regular patrols at hotel sites and in affected areas such as West Drayton and Hayes. We are working closely with Hillingdon Council, Clearsprings, and community leaders to address tensions and investigate offences. We continue to commit additional resources to this challenge.   The ask: Intelligence and information are key Please report offences to us online, via 101 or 999 as appropriate. If you have useful information, please share this with us through the same channels. We collate, analyse, and use all this information to inform policing activity—even if we don’t provide updates on every report. Crimestoppers can always be used if you’re concerned about anonymity.