Category Archives: Petitioning

New emissions proposals: Have your say

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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

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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.

Two chances to tackle HS2

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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

 

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.

 

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.