News from your council July/August 2019 Town and village improvements Events for all the family Be the one to foster Learn new skills Hundreds of courses on offer AWARD WIN NEW FACILITY JOIN A CLUB advertisements people Contents July/August 2019 ▸ Cover stories ▸ 10 Be the one...to show them new things elcome to this summer edition of Hillingdon The council is looking for more foster carers to look People, which sees me start my 20th year after young people. Was Leader of Hillingdon Council. We should in the near future have a new Prime Minister in ▸ 12 Events for all the family A review of some of our summer highlights and what office which will provide an opportunity to review the viability activities are still to come. of both HS2 and the proposed third runway at Heathrow. In the meantime as Hillingdon Council has, once again, 15 Providing pupils with the best start finished the financial year over £2 million under budget we Our secondary school building and expansion have allocated a further £500,000 to the funds available to programme continues. deal appropriately with both of these projects as required. ▸ 16 Learn something new Our sound financial management has meant that not only See what adult learning courses are available this can we continue to freeze council tax for the over-65s and September. have the lowest rise in London for all residents, with no service 18 Be bowled away reductions, we are also able to invest significantly in improving ▸ or creating new facilities and services for residents of all ages. A look at how this leisure activity can offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits. This is illustrated in a range of leisure projects featured in this issue. At our Cabinet meeting at the end of May we ▸ 21 Bringing new life to towns and villages shared more details about our proposals for a new state-of- Find out about the latest improvements in Eastcote the-art leisure centre in the Yiewsley and West Drayton area. and Harmondsworth. At the beginning of June we opened a new sports centre in Regulars South Ruislip. The £1.43 million redevelopment of this site will provide a home and high quality facilities for two local sports clubs. 9 Older people 25 Volunteers The council is also continuing its bowling clubhouse improvement 27 What’s on? 31 Contacts programme, which has upgraded a number of buildings and facilities COVER PHOTO: PRIYA WADHWA FROM UXBRIDGE RECENTLY across the borough in recent years. Work is currently taking place COMPLETED A LEVEL 2 DIPLOMA IN FLORISTRY WITH HILLINGDON at various sites to deliver improvements for several clubs this year. ADULT AND COMMUNITY LEARNING. All of these leisure facilities will help to keep residents fit and active but also provide social opportunities. By investing in new developments or improving existing venues across the borough, we are recognising the importance of these community facilities and the benefits they offer residents of all ages. On the theme of investment, our £254 million school building and expansion programme is continuing, with works taking place 12 18 at Ruislip High School and Vyners School in Ickenham to provide high quality learning environments and meet the demand for school places as the local population continues to grow. With education in mind, as the new academic year approaches, you may be thinking about learning a new skill or gaining a qualification. Our adult learning programme 23 25 for 2019/20 offers a range of value for money courses. July and August herald the return of our much-loved community Advertising deadline for next edition: Friday 2 August. events. I hope that you enjoyed the Hayes Community Family Editorial and advertising enquiries Fun Day on Saturday 6 July, and there is more to come with Emma Gilbertson 01895 250828 our Family Fishing Fun Days on Sundays 28 July and 11 [email protected] August, Playday on Wednesday 7 August and the Summer www.hillingdon.gov.uk/hillingdonpeople Reading Challenge throughout the holidays in our libraries. After reading, please We will continue to put our environment and the health recycle this magazine and wellbeing of our residents at the heart of all that we do, and I hope that you all enjoy the summer months. Published by London Borough of Hillingdon © 2019 Hillingdon People, 3S/05 Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW. Design Corporate Communications Printed by Paragon Service Point Products and services advertised in this magazine are not necessarily endorsed by the council. For a copy in large print or as an Cllr Ray Puddifoot MBE audio version call 01895 250828 LEADER OF THE COUNCIL 2 July/August 2019 July/August 2019 3 news news Council continues to fight Heathrow expansion plans Visitor centre scoops award Respect our Following the Divisional Development The surface access There are no good news On Thursday 16 May, the The judges also remarked Court’s judgement, an Consent Order strategy appears as stories in this submission. It Battle of Britain Bunker that the building provides wardens application for permission Away from the court muddled now as it did demonstrates exactly why Exhibition and Visitor first-class facilities to Preventing illegal parking to appeal was made to the proceedings, Heathrow when the government first this council will continue Centre in Uxbridge showcase the Grade I listed is an important council same court on Wednesday Airport Ltd is continuing presented; the proposals to fight these incredibly won the Tourism and Battle of Britain Bunker. job, with parking wardens 8 May on behalf of to develop its expansion include two huge new damaging proposals to Leisure category in the The council acquired (officially known as civil Hillingdon Council and proposals and published car parks and a lorry park, protect residents from South East Region finals the Battle of Britain Bunker enforcement officers) the other local authorities its latest plans on Tuesday making it difficult to see how the harm an expanded for this year’s Royal in 2015 from the Ministry doing sterling work in involved in the legal 18 June. This is the first air pollution will be kept Heathrow would cause.” Institution of Chartered of Defence and invested ensuring that parking bays challenge - which was also major statutory consultation to current levels let alone To provide your views Surveyors (RICS) awards. £6 million to create a are reserved for law- supported by Greenpeace and forms part of the improved to safe levels. The on the proposals by Friday At the ceremony at permanent visitor centre abiding motorists and that and the Mayor of London. Development Consent proposals also confirm the 13 September, visit www. the Hilton Hotel at the at the site, which was our streets aren’t plagued It is not unusual for Order process which will demolition of community heathrowconsultation.com. Ageas Bowl, Southampton, opened in March last year. with obstructive vehicles. the court that made the ultimately determine whether facilities, hundreds of judges commended the The project team was While most residents are decision not to agree that permission should be houses, whole villages and Consultation events project team’s collaborative made up of Hillingdon supportive of the council’s it can be appealed and granted for Heathrow or not. Harmondsworth School. • Yiewsley and West Drayton approach in creating a Council, Faithful+Gould, one of the best tourist efforts, unprovoked once the appeal request The submission is The reality is that the noise Community Centre, centre that has a bold and Pattern Architects and destinations in the region physical altercations was denied, the council made up of nearly 150 impacts will decimate a far 228 Harmondsworth contemporary design Volker Fitzpatrick. and I commend everyone involving members of the and the coalition made an documents, including wider area and will also Road, West Drayton and houses an extensive The site now goes through involved. It has also been public and parking wardens application for permission to various reports, plans and require the movement UB7 9JL on Saturday exhibition with a range of to the national final on Friday incredibly well received by are sadly on the rise. appeal directly to the Court figures. The council will of additional schools. 13 July, 10am to 4pm. interactive displays and a full- 4 October at the Royal residents and visitors alike, Although thankfully of Appeal on Tuesday 21 scrutinise these in full and Leader of the Council, • London Heathrow Marriott, sized Spitfire and Hurricane. Lancaster Hotel, London. with more than 25,000 no-one has been seriously May. In considering this provide a comprehensive Cllr Ray Puddifoot, said: Bath Road, Harlington, The centre beat five Cllr Jonathan Bianco, people passing through injured in any of these application, the Court of and robust response. “The documents reveal UB3 5AN on Wednesday nominees in the category Cabinet Member for its doors during its first incidents in Hillingdon, Appeal has to determine Initial consideration of the enormity of the harm 31 July. 2pm to 8pm. and was assessed on its Finance, Property and year and an abundance residents and visitors are whether there is a realistic the thousands of pages of the project in more • St Peter and St Paul’s design, construction, Business Services, said: of glowing reviews.” being reminded to respect prospect of an appeal shows that the expansion detail for the first time. Church Harlington, High along with the benefits to “We’re truly honoured To find out more parking wardens and raise succeeding or accepting that plans are not quite up Yet there is still important Street, Harlington, Hayes the area and increasing that this stunning building about the centre, visit any grievances directly with the matters causing concern to the government’s information missing.