Category Archives: Local issues

Give your opinions on RAF Northolt airspace planning

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From the station commander:

ROYAL AIR FORCE NORTHOLT AIRSPACE CHANGE PROPOSAL

INVITATION TO STAGE 2 DROP-IN SESSION

Royal Air Force Northolt is currently undertaking an Airspace Change Proposal that it is required to draw up as part of the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy (CAP1711). The proposal is being conducted in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority’s ‘CAP 1616’, which sets out the regulatory process for changing airspace design.

I am pleased to inform you that RAF Northolt successfully completed Stage 1 of the CAP 1616 process in July 2019, whereby the Civil Aviation Authority approved the design principles that will be used to guide the Airspace Change Proposal. RAF Northolt is now at Stage 2 of the process, where it will develop all of the possible design options for its airspace and appraise each option to understand the impact, both positive and negative.

As part of Stage 2, we will continue our engagement with those stakeholders who may be affected by any proposed flightpath changes. I would therefore like to invite you or a representative to attend one of our ‘drop in’ sessions at RAF Northolt. The sessions will be held on Tuesday 19 November 2019 from 1500-2000 and Monday 25 November 2019 from 0900-1400.

During the drop-in session, we will explain the work that has been conducted to date as part of Stage 2A: Options Development and seek feedback on the methodology we have used to develop our design options. At this stage I must stress that we have not produced potential flight paths or identified preferred routes. We have purely drawn up all the possible design options that align with our Statement of Need and design principles, that will be appraised as part of Stage 2B: Options Appraisal.

I look forward to seeing you at one of our drop-in sessions.

This gives the location:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5588281,-0.4098322,17z

There is very little parking at the venue. it would be preferable to take the Central Line to Ruislip Gardens and walk down.

If you do drive, please note there is a one way system (signposted).

More HS2 works and events

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from HS2

Handover to main works contractor
We wrote to you in September regarding the closure of West Ruislip golf course. We are currently in the process of handover to our main works contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCSJV). Initially there will be very little change in the activity that you will see, however, as we move further into the autumn and then winter months there will be a change in the focus of activity, and an expansion of the works area, which in turn will lead to a change and growth in the hoarding line. We appreciate that all the footpaths and rights of way are important to you and we will endeavour to keep as many footpaths open as we can. Some will need to be diverted to ensure both the safety of the public and to ensure the integrity of the working area. We will inform you of any of the specific footpath closures. These changes will be made very clear on the footpaths and users will be made aware prior to changes being made.

What works will be happening
Over the next three months we will begin to create an internal “haul road” which will allow us to use lorries to move materials east-to-west, north of the Chiltern line in order to reduce the number of larger vehicles on your local roads. To assist us in the creation of the haul road we will build a temporary bridge over the River Pinn. We will remove any top soil from our work areas and store it on the golf course. We will treat and test it, and all soil that can be reused will be used in the new golf course redesign once works are concluded. We will be building a small number of offices within the works area from which a small team of engineers and designers will be supervising all the works activity that will be taking place.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Help desk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Duration of works

From now until spring 2020 Working hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 6pm and Saturdays, 8am to 1pm (if required) We may be on site for an hour before the start and/or end of each shift.

What to expect

These works are not expected to be noisy, however we will use noise reducing barriers when required to reduce disruption. Staff and vehicles will be accessing the worksites during the above times. They will be reminded to be mindful of residents at all times

What we will do

Provide timely updates and let you know if these dates change at hs2inhillingdon.co.uk

Other upcoming works in your area
During autumn and winter 2019, SCSJV will also be carrying out further utility surveys along the HS2 route. These surveys will inform the detailed design for the new railway. We will provide further information to residents in areas that will be affected by these surveys. Further information will also be made available at www.hs2inhillingdon.co.uk

From now until late winter there will be no increase to the hoarded area.

HS2 drop-in dates
We know that you may well have questions about the SCSJV works to be undertaken in your area. Please pop along to any of our drop-in that we hold regularly in your community, the dates of which are below:

•Monday 14 October, Cannon Lane Methodist Church, Pinner, 2pm to 5pm

•Friday 25 October, Harefield Library, 2pm to 5pm

•Thursday 31 October, Committee Room at St Lawrence Church, Eastcote, 2pm to 5pm

•Monday 14 November, Ickenham Library, 2pm to 5pm

•Friday 22 November, Harefield Library, 2pm to 5pm

•Thursday 28 November, Committee Room at St Lawrence Church, Eastcote, 2pm to 5pm

•Monday 9 December, Cannon Lane Methodist Church, Pinner, 2pm to 5pm

•Thursday 12 December, Ickenham Library, 4pm to 7pm

for more info:
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-files/hs2inhillingdon/Update%20notice%20of%20Ruislip%20Golf%20Course.pdf

Weekday temporary traffic lights – Harvil Road

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From HS2

Lane Closure on Harvil Road

From 24 October 2019 for up to four weeks there will be temporary traffic lights on Harvil Road. Their location is just south of Lower Lodge where the existing overhead line crosses Harvil Road. Please see the map on the link below for location. This is to create improved vehicle access from the road into one of the new pylon sites. A set of two-way temporary traffic lights will operate between the 24 October and 15 November 2019 from the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm (weekdays only). We’ll do our best to keep disruption to a minimum and will re-open the road as soon as the work is complete

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-files/hs2inhillingdon/Notice%20of%20lane%20closure%20on%20Harvil%20Road%20October%202019.pdf

Help stop Green Belt encroachment

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We have been asked to circulate the following by the London Green Belt council. They are hoping to get sufficient signatures to get it debated in Parliament:

Cease all new developments on Greenbelt and Greenfield sites across the country

Government housing policy is forcing councils to meet aggressive house building targets. This directly causes new developments on Greenbelt & Greenfield. Many councils believe the targets are unrealistic. According to CPRE 460,000 homes are currently planned for greenbelt & greenfield sites.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/267197?fbclid=IwAR2TBVRquTQv7j469x6pXhf–Hl5fB3NyNufYSs5SLv9ryOhDAN5NC-pm88

HS2 and its (lack of) information

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An intrepid team member visited the HS2 event on September 22. Its pre-event billing promised this: See visualisations of the portal structure.

Somewhat underwhelmed, our colleague got a copy of the display boards (download the pdf – 1MB)

Anyone who was expecting to learn details, among other things, of construction noise, operational noise, how the two tunnels will be bored, how construction segments will be brought to site and where they will be stored, how the spoil will be removed, the conveyor belts, the design and visual impact of the entrance, would have been disappointed.

Furthermore, most people’s idea of a visualisation of a tunnel portal would be similar to these….

…. which came as a surprise to HS2 staff.

A footnote from me:

Looking at the main document, I was surprised to see trees in bloom in January:

Even if you use the American date format (why would you?) the picture is still misleading.

Tunnel, power supply and archaeology updates from HS2

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This, from HS2:

We will be advertising on Commonplace three events that will be coming up in late September today, with invites going out to the community. The events will allow people to see the plans SCS have for the tunnel portal at West Ruislip and will give other contractors an opportunity to update on other works such as archaeology and the TBM power supply.

The events will take place on:
Saturday 21 September at Harefield Community Centre 11am to 2pm
Monday 23 September at The Barn Hotel 4pm to 7pm
Wednesday 25 September at Ickenham URC 4pm to 7pm

HS2 update (with some good news?)

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the latest from HS2:

News Round-up:

Archaeological works off Harvil Road, overnight lane closures on Harvil Road postponed and changes to ground investigation works at the River Pinn
Posted on Aug 7th 2019 by HS2 in Hillingdon

Footpath closure and archaeological works off Harvil Road
We will be closing a footpath near Harvil Road for archaeological works starting on 22 August. We will be carrying out works to get a better understanding of any significant archaeological remains which are in this area. A section of the public right of way, U34 footpath will be temporarily closed from 22 August until spring 2020. This is to ensure public safety during the ongoing archaeology and site survey works. For more details please see the notification sent to residents by clicking here.

Update on overnight lane closures on Harvil Road
The overnight lane closures on Harvil Road scheduled to take place between the 16 – 31 August have been postponed. You can read the notification sent to residents about these works, by clicking here. These works will now take place after the closure of Breakspear Road South has finished. We will notify residents ahead of the works once we have new dates.

Update on River Pinn ground investigations
We have postponed the overnight River Pinn ground investigations due to take place between 11-14 August. For full details please see the notification that was sent to residents here by clicking here. Once these works have been rescheduled we will notify residents of the new dates.

Two news items: Meet Hurd/avoid Breakspear Road South

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They’re not strictly connected.

Our MP, Nick Hurd, is inviting residents to meet him in Café du Soleil on July 5th between 10 and 11.

And, as part of the ongoing HS2 saga, Breakspear Road South is officially closing as follows:

Closure of Breakspear Road South – 20 July to 14 September

Posted on Jun 21st 2019 by HS2 in Hillingdon [[ Sorry for delay – I’ve been away ]]

We are continuing HS2 preparatory works in your area. As part of this work we need to close a section of Breakspear Road South to safely complete the construction of the new Merck, Sharpe and Dohme access road, along with re-positioning and reinstalling of various utility and service connections.

We recognise road closures and diversions affect both the public and the local community and will cause significant impacts on your journey plans.

We have scheduled the work to be completed in three phases, which we explain fully below.

Phase 1 – Full road closure for 28 days, starting Saturday 20 July at 6am to Friday 16 August at 8pm

Phase 2 – Northbound lane closure for 16 days, starting Friday 16 August at 8pm to Saturday 31 August at 6am

Phase 3 – Full road closure for 15 days, starting Saturday 31 August at 6am to Saturday 14 September 2019 at 8pm

We encourage all drivers to follow the advised diversion route shown in the notification, which can be found here. We have created a dedicated Breakspear Road South Closure page on our website here.

The closure will begin north of the Merck, Sharpe and Dohme entrance and end after Gatesmead Farm. Access will be maintained to residential properties at all times. In order to complete the works as quickly as possible, we will be working 24 hours a day in the first two weeks and the final week of the closure.

While the various utilities providers are assisting HS2 to deliver the works required please be aware that should operational issues occur on their infrastructure network during the closure, then there is a risk that the utility works may be postponed to a later date as maintaining essential residential customer utilities supplies must take priority.

If you would like to talk to us about this closure please call our helpdesk on 08081434434 or visit us at a drop-in. Please click here for details of our upcoming drop-ins.

more info
https://hs2inhillingdon.commonplace.is/schemes/proposals/breakspear-road-south-closure/details