News from your council January/Febuary 2020 Fitness for everyone Sports sessions for all ages Vyners School expansion works Enhancing your town centres Planting trees for future generations FESTIVE EVENTS NEW FACILITIES VOLUNTEERS advertisements people Contents January/February 2020 ▸ Cover stories 10 Supporting our older residents The Leader’s Initiative for Older People funded a elcome to a new year and the first edition of variety of festive activities. Hillingdon People for 2020. WMay I start by thanking all of the staff of ▸ 12 Planting trees to protect future generations Hillingdon Council involved in the general election The council is planting more trees than ever as part held in December for their hard work and dedication of its commitment to greening the borough. to duty in delivering this important event. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate ▸ 16 Fitness for all in Hillingdon Prime Minister Boris Johnson and John McDonnell on their Find out about a diverse range of facilities and re-election as Members of Parliament for Uxbridge and South sessions to keep you fit and healthy. Ruislip and Hayes and Harlington respectively and Cllr David Simmonds elected to represent the Ruislip, Northwood and ▸ 18 Celebrating two refurbished playgrounds Pinner constituency. Transformed playgrounds at East Avenue and In this issue, you will be able to read about our planned Connaught Recreation Ground reopen. budget for 2020/21 and how we have, once again, been able to 19 New facilities for Vyners School invest in services and facilities whilst once again freezing council ▸ tax for the over-65s and keeping the general council tax rise to Expansion and improvement works provide more a minimum. As I have said many times over the years we do not places for pupils. receive any greater funding than other local authorities but we 20 Investing in your town centres do manage it better than most and continue to buck the trend ▸ by maintaining and investing in the facilities and services that Find out what’s in store for Ruislip and what work our residents tell us are important to them. has taken place in Hayes End. At this time of year it is customary for many people to make new year resolutions. These can include pledging to improve Regulars health, learning new skills or improving the environment. The 4 Hillingdon News 25 Volunteers council runs services to promote all of these. We offer a wide variety of fitness facilities and leisure 27 What’s on? 31 Contacts activities in our parks and open spaces and leisure centres. Next month will see the start of a new leisure centre management COVER PHOTO: SUSAN GRAY FROM RUISLIP AND SEKINAH OSHODI contract that will help residents of all ages to keep active and FROM HILLINGDON, WHO REGULARLY TAKE PART IN THE OUR PARKS FITNESS SESSIONS AT HILLINGDON COURT PARK. enjoy a range of sports. We will also be investing in a range of improvements across all leisure centres and building a new facility in West Drayton. A range of our adult and community learning courses start in January and offer value for money and a high quality level of tuition whether you want to learn something new, take up a hobby or gain qualifications to further your career. Improving your local environment and supporting local 4 12 businesses remains important to us. We regularly take on board your suggestions to improve community facilities, and in this edition you can see how local families are benefiting from two refurbished playgrounds via our Chrysalis scheme. We are also listening to comments from residents and businesses in order to improve your town centres and 43 shopkeepers in Ruislip have signed up to our flagship shop front 16 27 grant scheme to transform the look of their shop fronts and the look of the high street. Advertising deadline for next edition: Friday 31 January. In this edition, you can also read about how we are focusing Editorial and advertising enquiries on the environment through a range of tree planting schemes - Emma Gilbertson 01895 250828 maybe this will provide you with some inspiration to plant trees [email protected] or shrubs in your own garden. We will continue, in what are still challenging times for local www.hillingdon.gov.uk/hillingdonpeople authorities, to put residents at the heart of all we do and I wish After reading, please you all the best for the year ahead. recycle this magazine 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 556903 LEADER OF THE COUNCIL 2 January/February 2020 January/February 2020 3 news news Spreading festive cheer Schools recognised by TfL Safe council car parks impress national inspectors Our school travel and road attended the council’s The main car park ensure any problems safety team is working with Junior Road Safety Officer at Ruislip Lido along are quickly rectified. schools in the borough event and successfully bid with its residents-only Cllr Keith Burrows, to support them to for £400 at a Dragons' Willow Lane car park Cabinet Member become accredited under Den style workshop. and Harefield House car for Planning, Transport for London’s The money was used to park have received Park Transportation and (TfL) sustainable travel introduce Stop, Look and Mark awards following Recycling, said: “We programme, STARS. Listen road safety markings an inspection in August. are delighted to receive STARS - which stands for in the school playground. These new additions these new awards and Sustainable Travel: Active, Implementing the markings bring the number of Park increase the number Responsible, Safe - aims to and participating in Mark accredited car parks of Park Mark awards in inspire young Londoners events, contributed to the run by the council to 25, the borough. We want to travel to school using school being awarded out of the 32 public car to continue to provide environmentally friendly a Gold accreditation. parks in the borough. parking facilities for During the Christmas of seasonal music from modes of transport, Fellow Gold recipient The Park Mark safer residents and visitors period, the council Hillingdon Music Service’s including walking, Ryefield Primary School parking scheme is a by the British Parking Assessors from the that are easy-to-use, hosted a variety of brass band. There was scootering and cycling. received £420 towards national standard for Association on behalf of scheme praised the car well-maintained, safe festive-themed events also a decorated wooden Schools can work running a bikers breakfast, UK car parks that have the Association of Chief parks for their safety, and value for money.” and activities for adults, arbour seat, which was towards achieving either cycling competitions low crime and measures Police Officers. Assessors cleanliness and clear You can find out families and young people. new this year, where Gold, Silver or Bronze and purchasing balance in place to ensure work with the police signage. They were more about Park There were also a residents could pose accreditation, dependent bikes and helmets the safety of people to carry out a rigorous also impressed by the Mark awards at www. number of light switch- for photos and selfies. on an outlined criteria for for students, which and vehicles. It is run inspection regime. daily visits by staff to britishparking.co.uk. on events across the Our libraries ran a range each category. So far,16 they could evidence borough, with the council of free events in December, schools in Hillingdon have in their application investing £285,000 including the Ruislip Belles been accredited, with for accreditation. Waste Weekends extended Double awards win for our in lighting displays & Beaux Hand Bell Ringers, 10 achieving Gold status, To find out more visit From January, the council's Site, New Years Green adolescents team across 28 locations. christmas-themed coffee three receiving Silver and stars.tfl.gov.uk and to find popular waste weekends Lane, UB9 6LX, which The Mayor of mornings, reading events three attaining Bronze. out how your school at West Drayton will is open Monday to Hillingdon, Cllr David and card making sessions. In February last year, can get involved email be extended to offer Sunday and bank holidays Yarrow, switched on the Leader of the Council, Hayes Park School [email protected]. even more recycling (excluding Christmas Day, lights on the 33 foot tree Cllr Ray Puddifoot, said: opportunities for residents. Boxing Day, New Year's and street lamp columns “It has been wonderful to The waste weekends, Day), 8am to 4pm (8am on the Civic Centre see the community come which had been running to 6pm during summer). forecourt on Friday 29 together to celebrate and once a month since Leader of the November. Carols and enjoy the many events 2009 at Railway Sidings, Council, Cllr Ray The council’s adolescents techniques to support hymns were sung by a and decorative light Tavistock Road, UB7 Puddifoot, said: "Our team achieved success at and empower young combined choir of local displays that took place 7QT, will now be held waste weekends have two awards ceremonies people to stay safe, schoolchildren, and across Hillingdon during every weekend between been extremely well in November. reduce conflict and there was a performance the festive period.” 9am and 4pm (up to received since they were The team was remain in their home. 5pm during summer).