Ruislip Residents’ Association TOWN CRIER March 2018 www.ruislipresidents.org.uk
Introducing Ruislip’s Flood Action Groups Working to stop this happening again... RUISLIP RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Founded 1919 PRESIDENT CONTENTS Brian Cowley
VICE-PRESIDENTS Joan Davis Peter Lansdown 3 Editorial
CHAIRMAN 4 Community Noticeboard Graham Bartram 5 Chairman's Message VICE-CHAIRMAN Mike Hodge 6 Education News TREASURER John Hawley 10 Flood Action Groups
SECRETARY 11 Ruislip Woods Trust - Events Patricia Wardle
CHIEF ROAD STEWARD 12 Conservation Concerns Alan Jones 15 Health Matters DEPUTY CHIEF ROAD STEWARD Vacant 17 Police Points EXECUTIVE Vivien Alcorn 20 Planning Update Brian Gunn Susan Midgley 21 Houses of Parliament Visits Paul Mitchell John Swindells John Williams 22 2018 Online Subscriptions
EDITOR 24 General Meeting - Poster Graham Bartram ✎ [email protected] ✆ 01895 673310 FO CONTACT US N’T RG Patricia Wardle O ET Honorary Secretary D 2018 Ruislip Residents’ Association Mail Boxes Etc. Box No. 231 Subscription 113 High Street Ruislip Due Middlesex Visit HA4 8JN ✎ [email protected] www.ruislipresidents.org.uk to pay online www.ruislipresidents.org.uk
2 Ruislip TOWN CRIER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Editorial Vacant POLICE LIAISON Brian Gunn
CONSERVATION It’s almost time for our Paul Mitchell telegram from HM The Queen! PUBLIC TRANSPORT Graham Bartram
Believe it or not, next year Ruislip Residents’ EDUCATION Susan Midgley Association will mark its centenary. We were founded in 1919 as Ruislip Ratepayers’ Association RAF NORTHOLT LIAISON Peter Lansdown and have been working for the community of Ruislip ever since. That makes us one of the oldest ENVIRONMENT Vacant residents’ associations in the country. We’ve been trying to think of an appropriate way of marking RUISLIP LIDO Peter Lansdown this momentous anniversary, but so far we’ve not come up with any great ideas. So what do you think HEALTH Joan Davis we should do? Suggestions gratefully received! RUISLIP RETAIL AREA In this edition of the Town Crier we have an article Vacant introducing the local Flood Action Groups (FLAGs), MANOR RETAIL AREA made up of volunteers who are working to prevent Vacant or reduce future flooding incidents, working with SOCIAL ACTIVITIES the council and other agencies. If you live in the Vivien Alcorn affected areas you could consider joining them. MEMBERSHIP Vacant
And no editorial would be complete without a plea TRAFFIC & PARKING for more volunteers! Look at the vacancies on the Vacant
right for ideas. SECRETARY Patricia Wardle
WEBSITE & IT Graham Bartram John Swindells Graham Bartram, Editor Pro Tem PLANNING Mike Hodge Please note that the views expressed in articles in the Town Crier are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Ruislip WOODLANDS Residents’ Association. Graeme Shaw
Ruislip TOWN CRIER 3 FRIENDS OF EASTCOTE HOUSE GARDEN www.eastcotehousegardens.weebly.com Eastcote House Volunteer Gardeners meet on the 1st Friday, 2nd Friday and 3rd Thursday of every month, at 9.30am. Everyone welcome - tools and refreshments provided - no experience necessary. Meet in the car park at Eastcote House Gardens. Gardening dates: April 6th, 13th, 19th; May 4th, 11th, 17th; June 1st, 8th, 21st; July 6th, 13th, 19th; August 3rd, 10th, 16th. Conservation dates: April 26th; May 24th; June 28th; July 26th; August 23rd.
The Gardens Café is now open daily from 8.30am (10am on Sunday) until 2.00pm.
THE ARTS SOCIETY, HILLINGDON Lecture Programme April-August 2018 Wednesdays at 2.00pm, Winston Churchill Hall - admission £7 to non-members 9 May Two Great Female Artists: Gentileschi Pamela Halford & Kaufmann 13 June English Caricature: Hogarth to Punch Andrew Davies 11 July Frick Collection, NYC, and the Wallace Hilary Williams & Knole Connection 8 August Freemasonry and Women, Art and Beauty Yasha Beresiner
RUISLIP, NORTHWOOD & EASTCOTE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Lecture Programme April-November 2018 Meetings held in St Martin’s Church Hall, 8.15pm. Visitors welcome.
16 April Architecture of the London Underground Oliver Green Transport Author & Lecturer 17 September The Story of Thames Watermen Pat Hilbert 15 October AGM & Old Houses of Uxbridge Tony Mitchell 19 November From Blackwall to Bishop Rock - Britain’s historic lighthouses Tom Nancollas
4 Ruislip TOWN CRIER Chairman’s Message RRA
Well better late than opinion. The main reason appears to have never, as the saying been that Uxbridge Police Station will sell goes! It has taken a for more than Hayes End Police Station. lot longer than we Ruislip Police Station was also due to close, had hoped to sort but has been reprieved for now, thanks to out and update all our position in the north of the borough, our membership infor- and the volunteers who staff it. mation, but at last our new website is on- line and you can see it at: In addition, from June this year there http://www.ruislipresidents.org.uk will no longer be a Hillingdon division of the Metropolitan Police - instead we are An important part of the new website being merged with Ealing and Hounslow is the ability to pay your membership to form a new super division, with Chief subscription online, using a debit or Superintendant Paul Martin in charge. We credit card. Pages 22 and 23 go through have been assured that there will be no the process step-by-step. It looks reduction in our local neighbourhood complicated, but it really isn’t. We rely on policing. Read Brian Gunn’s report on your subscriptions to pay for the running page 17 for more about the changes. of the association, including printing the Town Crier, so please take a few moments HS2 have released some design proposals to try out the new system and pay this for the Colne Valley Viaduct, which will year’s subscription - it’s only £2.50! carry the railway across the River Colne, the Grand Union Canal and several lakes. You As you may have seen in the local media can download the document as a PDF from it’s been all change in the Metropolitan http://hs2inhillingdon.commonplace.is, (I Police. The public counter at Uxbridge don’t know why it’s an Icelandic website!) Police Station has closed, and instead where you can find other news from HS2 Ltd. we are meant to use the less accessible Hayes End Police Station. When a public I hope to see as many of you as possible at consultation was held on this, the feeling our meeting in April (see the back page), of the meeting was overwhelmingly but in the meantime if you see me on the against the change, but the Mayor of High Street feel free to stop me for a chat! London’s MOPAC office ignored local Graham Bartram, Chairman, ✆ 01895 673310
Ruislip TOWN CRIER 5 Schools Education News Susan Midgley
PUPILS FROM SACRED HEART RC PRIMARY First to perform were Year 6 pupils who SCHOOL ENTERTAIN LOCAL CITIZENS were followed by children from Years 2 Although Christmas seems a very long and 5. The children sang many of the well- time ago, I thought readers would like to known Christmas songs and carols, much know about the good things local chil- to the delight of the audience, some of dren have done recently to brighten the whom joined in. lives of others. Pupils from Sacred Heart were involved in two events in the period This was an enjoyable experience both for leading up to Christmas 2017. the pupils and their audience. The pupils should have felt satisfied with the way Hillingdon branch of the Stroke Asso- they brightened up the afternoon for the ciation held their first Christmas lunch for local stroke survivors and carers. stroke survivors and carers at Ruislip Rug- by Club on Tuesday, December 12th. The The second event in which the pupils club generously provided a room free of were involved was the annual Christmas charge for the event. The branch provides Party for local senior citizens. The event is a support service for stroke survivors and advertised on the school website and via carers in the borough by offering various emails to local parish offices. social activities and home visits. On December 18th, Year 6 pupils hosted As Sacred Heart is within walking distance the event which took place in the school of the club, Miss T McManus, the Head- hall. Ms McManus was in reception to teacher, was approached by the branch greet the guests and Year 6 pupils were and asked whether pupils could sing for stationed at the entrance to the hall to the visitors after lunch. She readily agreed welcome their guests and show them to a and Mrs L Gee brought with her the table. The pupils were very attentive hosts school’s keyboard so she could accom- who served everyone with tea, coffee and pany and lead the singers. cakes provided by the Parents’ Associa- tion. Some of the pupils said that it made
6 Ruislip TOWN CRIER them happy to see their guests having a good time and it also gave them a sense of responsibility.
The entertainment was provided by pu- pils from Reception to Year 6 whose sing- ing was delightful. Also Mrs Gee and two pupils played We Wish You A Merry Christ- mas on their flutes. Sacred Heart pupils singing for Stroke The senior citizens thoroughly enjoyed Survivors at Ruislip Rugby Club the afternoon and it was heart-warming to see children happily giving something back to their community.
UXBRIDGE COLLEGE A LEVEL BEST “VALUE ADDED” IN LONDON Uxbridge College is the best college in London for Value Added at A level as well as being one of the best colleges in the UK, according to Government figures.
Value Added is a measure of how much Mrs Gee and pupils playing their flutes at Sacred Heart RC Primary School improvement students make compared to their peers nationally. Sometimes de- scribed as “distance travelled”, Value Add- ed reflects how much “value” a school or college adds to its students by comparing students’ achievement levels before they begin their A levels to their performance when they finish. The Department for Ed- ucation (DfE) figures show that 16-18 year olds taking A levels are making better pro- gress at Uxbridge College than any other Sixth Form College or Further Education Ashuit Khanna and Vlad Bunys College in Hillingdon, or the capital as a celebrate their A level results
Ruislip TOWN CRIER 7 whole. The figures for 2017 measure stu- service where they find candidates with dent improvement which produces what the right skills and experience to meet are known as Value Added scores. The sta- the needs of the schools in order to best tistics rank the progress of students at all A equip them make decisions that are right level providers including colleges, school for them and best for their pupils/stu- sixth forms and independent schools. dents. This ensures that the skills mem- bers of the community bring to the role Amanda Washbrook, Head of Uxbridge have maximum impact for the schools College Sixth Form Centre said: “It’s re- where they are appointed as governors. ally important to us that we help every student achieve the very best they can School governors have three core roles: while they are here with us, whether they i Setting the vision and strategic direc- achieved Cs or A*s at GCSE. Increasingly, tion for the school. measures of progress such as the A level ii Holding the Head Teacher to account Value Added score are viewed as the best for the educational performance of the indicator of how well a school or college school. is doing for its students. It is good to see iii Ensuring financial probity and that the that the DfE data that has just been pub- school is making the best use of its lished reflects the hard work of all my staff money. and the excellent progress our A level stu- dents are making.” This is an exciting opportunity to improve the quality of education for local children. Congratulations to all the College’s staff Members of the community will make a and students. valuable contribution to the educational outcomes of local schools, while at the ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING same time learning new skills. A SCHOOL GOVERNOR? Governors for Schools are currently un- If you think you have relevant skills, would dertaking a recruitment drive to be gov- like more information or to volunteer, visit: ernors in Hillingdon to address a current http://www.becomeagovernor.com need for new governors in the local area. They provide a free outstanding recruit- DR LEWIS OWENS RUNS 100 MILES ment and placement service for skilled TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY and committed people to be governors By the time this article is published Dr and trustees of schools and academies. Lewis Owens, a Ruislip resident, will have They work on a skills-based matching completed his run from Ruislip to Can-
8 Ruislip TOWN CRIER terbury to raise money for the Prisoners’ Dr Owens’ motivation for his challenge Education Trust (PET). This charity which stemmed from his interest in the history was founded in 1989 has been providing of his local church, St Martin’s, Ruislip access to broader learning opportunities which is dedicated to St Martin of Tours for some of the poorest and under-privi- who cared deeply for the plight of the leged prisoners to enhance their chances poor and vulnerable. Easter seemed an of building a better life after their release. appropriate time to undertake his 100 mile run which began on Friday, March 23rd from St Martin’s, Ruislip and ended on Easter Sunday, April 1st at St Martin’s Church, Canterbury.
Lewis’ aim was to raise £10,000. At the time of writing (March 3rd) the total raised was just under £8,000 of which £6,125 had been donated to the Myosotis Trust, a charity founded by a lady from Ruislip, Carol Daniel, to improve the physical, spir- itual and mental health of the poor, the sick and orphaned in Barlad, Eastern Ro- Dr Lewis Owens mania. The remainder of the total raised Dr Owens is the founder and manag- will go to the Prisoners’ Education Trust. ing director of Edmission UK, a London- based consultancy advising students and Readers who would like more information families globally on UK Higher Education, about Lewis’ challenge should visit: Music and The Arts. He is also a respected http://www.stmartins-challenge.co.uk playwright and is currently writing his first For anyone who would like to make a novel The Pentonville Experiment which is donation the page will be open for two set in Ruislip in 1842/3 and based on his- weeks after the event. torical research. Lewis is also a trustee of the Autism Research Trust at Cambridge Residents will be able to discover the fi- University and author of the Archie’s Way nal amount raised by visiting the Ruislip children’s e-books, all proceeds of which Residents’ Association website and going go to autism charities. He also volunteers to the Education page. at Pentonville Prison and Feltham Young Offenders Institute. ✎ [email protected]
Ruislip TOWN CRIER 9 Flooding Flood Action Groups
Residents of Ruislip have suffered from lowing a Natural Flood Management flooding over many years, most recently (NFM) funding grant from the Environ- in June 2016 when a number of areas were ment Agency, work is planned to start in badly affected. Many householders felt Park Wood later this year. As Park Wood is there was little help received at the time or an SSSI and NNR, any work has to be ap- subsequently from a number of agencies. proved by Natural England. Consequently, they decided to take some action themselves and three Flood Action The FLAG have conducted several walks in Groups (FLAGs) were formed last year in or- Park Wood with various agencies to show der to have more communication and con- them the current situation. Work is under sultation with Hillingdon Council, Environ- way to investigate the Park Wood network ment Agency, Thames Water and Affinity. of drainage channels, which direct surface water towards the River Pinn. If anyone The three FLAGS are: North Ruislip FLAG knows Park Wood well and would like to (NRFLAG), covering residents of Broad- contribute their knowledge, the FLAG wood and Park Avenue, and neighbour- would be pleased to hear from them. ing streets; Cannon Brook FLAG (CBFLAG), ✎ [email protected] covering residents along the Cannon Brook; and Brook Drive & Evelyn Avenue Cannon Brook FLAG (CBFLAG) FLAG (BDEAFLAG), covering the two Four houses along Wallington Close named roads. Their email addresses are flooded on the 23rd June 2016; some given below each item: residents were out of their homes for over three months and it took almost a year to North Ruislip FLAG (NRFLAG) fully settle insurance claims and get hous- The main flood risk for this group is from es back to a livable state. Park Wood, caused mainly by heavy sum- mer deluges, or prolonged winter rain The FLAG are working to secure funding and melting snow. and improvement works along the Can- non Brook, with assistance from various After an initial setup period, they and agencies. As it stands Cannon Brook is the Council are making progress and, fol- not in a position to cope with large down-
10 Ruislip TOWN CRIER pours. Some residents have the added veyed and blockages cleared (including a complication of being ‘Riparian Owners’ of considerable blockage in Evelyn Avenue Cannon Brook. The FLAG are seeking clari- which would have no doubt exacerbated fication of this issue and its repercussions, the surface water flooding in June 2016). so residents have a better understanding. The local sewers have now been placed ✎ [email protected] on an annual cleaning programme.
Brook Drive & Evelyn Avenue FLAG (BDEAFLAG) The FLAG has met with representatives This FLAG has worked with Thames Wa- of the Environment Agency and remains ter to start sorting out the local drainage optimistic that plans for flood alleviation - sewer pipes in Evelyn Avenue (which work which are due to be shared later in were previously unknown to Thames March will have the appropriate impact to Water) have now been placed on their stop flooding in the area. sewer mapping (and will therefore be ✎ [email protected] maintained). Sewer pipes have been sur-
RUISLIP WOODS TRUST Upcoming Spring events
The Ruislip Woods Festival takes place on Sunday 13th May between Noon and 4.30pm at Bayhurst Wood, beside Break- spear Road North. Entry is free, as is car