Category Archives: Local issues

HS2 village events – latest

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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.

Swakeleys House open Saturday

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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.

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 ]

Are you missing ‘Hillingdon People’?

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Adam James, the LBH Community Involvement Consultation Advisor, tells us that the May/June edition of Hillingdon People magazine is now out.

If you’ve not received your copy, fill in the missed delivery form at  http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/hillingdonpeople or phone the council’s contact centre on 01895 556000. The gap in your life will be filled.

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.