Hillingdon People - London Borough of Hillingdon

Transcription

advertisements
my
On the first day of Christmas to the
e
true love gave to me, entranc
gym for free.
Join Hillingdon Council’s
leisure centres between
the 1st and 12th of
December and get
January for free!
(1st Direct debit payment due in February 2009)
Hayes Pool
Central Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2BG
020 8573 2785
Highgrove Swimming Pool
Eastcote Road, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 8DZ
01895 622664
Queensmead Sports Centre
Victoria Road, South Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0JE
020 8845 6010
www.hillingdon.gov.uk
2
November/December 2008 hillingdon people magazine
contents
November/December 2008
elcome
to the
latest
edition of
Hillingdon
People.
Many of you
I’m sure will have either had
personal experience of investing in
banks that the Government have
now had to effectively nationalise
or will know someone who has.
Councils, police forces and
charities have been in a similar
position. This shows the serious
and rapidly changing position that
currently exists across the world.
Let me reassure you that despite
this unprecedented period in
history, the financial management
and strength of Hillingdon Council
means we are well able to deal
with these unforeseen events.
As I have already announced, we
are committed to a zero increase
in council tax for the next two
years. This will help some way
towards supporting our residents
through this difficult period. In
addition, our first time buyers’
initiative will help some of our
residents to get a foot onto the
property ladder.
As we move into a new year,
many of our innovative projects will
be delivered. These include our
two new leisure centres, the launch
of Hillingdon First – our privilege
card for residents, and we will
continue our library improvement
programme and commence
building three new youth centres
for our young people.
I will, over the coming months,
be announcing a further
programme of significant
investment in the borough and
service improvement as part of our
civic pride initiative.
2009 promises to be an exciting
year for Hillingdon as we are able
to achieve both significant facility
and service improvement and
freeze council tax. I am aware that
it will also be a difficult time for
some of our residents and we will
be looking for ways of helping out
where we can. In the meantime
may I take this opportunity of
wishing you a happy and safe
Christmas and healthy New Year.
W
Cllr Ray Puddifoot
Leader of the Council
hillingdon people magazine November/December 2008
34 Front cover story
Ice rink and Christmas market
8 Readers’ survey results
What do you think of Hillingdon
People?
10 Keeping Hillingdon clean
How can you help to keep the
borough clean?
12 Make your money work
for you
Ways the council can help you make
your money go further
14 Summary of Accounts
How did we spend your money this
year?
18 Join us online
You can access council services 24
hours a day by visiting our website
22 Wildlife photo winners
See the winning competition entries
25 Opening hours
Find out when the council offices will
be closed over the Christmas period
Regulars
4 News
33 Hillingdon contact numbers
35 What’s on?
Photo courtesy of istock.com
Editorial and advertising enquiries
Hannah Collins 01895 250828
hillingdonpeople@hillingdon.gov.uk
After reading, please
recycle this magazine
Published by London Borough of Hillingdon
© 2008
Design Phil Burton 01895 250670
Printed by The Print Factory
Hillingdon People, 3E/07 Civic Centre,
High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW.
Products and
services advertised
in this magazine are
not necessarily
endorsed by the
council.
For a copy in large print or on tape,
call 01895 250828
3
Penicillin
discoverer
honoured
A commemorative
plaque in honour of Sir
Alexander Fleming has
been unveiled at
Harefield Hospital as
part of a scheme to
celebrate and remember
people of national or
local importance who
have lived in Hillingdon.
Sir Alexander Fleming
(1881 – 1955) was a
leading biologist,
pharmacologist and
Nobel Prize winner for
the discovery of penicillin.
He was appointed
regional pathologist at
Harefield Hospital during
the Second World War
and devoted most of his
time at Harefield’s
pathology department
studying the effects of his
discovery on a wide
variety of infections
including tuberculosis.
During his time at
Harefield Hospital,
Fleming contributed
much to the study and
development of
penicillin, which
modernised the face of
modern medicine when
it became readily
available in 1945.
inbrief
Former
councillor
sentenced
Following a court
hearing on 14 October,
Ian Oakley is no longer
a councillor for
Northwood ward.
4
Youth
Council
elections
Young people have had
the chance to nominate
themselves for the new
look Youth Council at this
year’s Youth Conference.
The conference was
held at the Civic Centre
and young people
attending had the
opportunity to put
themselves forward as
candidates for the
Youth Council.
Young people from a
variety of schools and
organisations across the
borough came together
to share their ideas
about how they feel
about youth activities
and how the borough
could be improved.
This year is the first
time young people have
had to have manifestoes
and will be elected
through email and
phone votes to be part
of the council.
BIGfest BIGger than ever!
The BIGgest BIGfest ever took place last month, with
hundreds of people turning up to the parade through
Uxbridge and the BIGfest village at Barra Hall Park
in Hayes.
There are lots more photos of the day at
www.flickr.com/hillingdon, or through the council
website at www.hillingdon.gov.uk.
Gas pipeline update
If you have been out and
about in the borough in
the last few months, you
might have noticed that
there is some construction
work going on to build a
gas pipeline.
The work, which is
being carried out by
Murphy Pipelines Ltd for
National Grid, will see a
new 18.5km pipeline laid
between Harefield and
Southall. This represents
a major investment in the
gas network by National
Grid and is vital to meet
the increase in demand
in west London.
The project is well
underway, with some
sections of the pipeline
being constructed in
underground tunnels to
allow it to cross major
roads and railway lines
without significant impact
on day-to day activities.
This includes the A40 at
Swakeleys roundabout.
Several sections of
pipeline have also been
laid in specially prepared
trenches and the ground
reinstated between
Harvil Road and
Uxbridge Park.
However, the majority of
the pipelaying will start
this year.
The council is
working with National
Grid to minimise any
disruption the work
may cause which is
scheduled to take place
during the week and on
Saturday mornings.
Work on a Sunday
might be necessary on
occasion, but this will
be kept to a minimum.
Construction teams are
working to ensure that
there is as little disruption
and inconvenience as
possible to local
communities and the
environment, with wheelwashing facilities, on-site
speed limits, dust removal
and road-sweeping
vehicles all in operation.
If you would like any
further information,
please call National Grid’s
community relations team
0800 731 1231.
hillingdon news
New gym
opens to
help
residents
stay
healthy
A new gym with the
latest facilities has been
opened in Hayes.
The active lifestyle gym
has opened in Springfield
Road, Hayes, and also has
social facilities and free
car parking. Everyone
who joins will receive a
lifestyle assessment and
fully qualified instructors
will help them achieve
their goals. One-to-one
training is also available
and customers can be
given special
programmes to reach a
variety of targets.
Cllr Henry Higgins,
Cabinet Member for
Culture, Sport and
Leisure, said: “I’m really
pleased we have provided
this marvellous new gym
to help our local residents
enjoy their leisure and
inbrief
Blue badge
spot checks
become fitter and
healthier as a result. The
gym is not just for sporty
people and our
management partners
Mytime have a great track
record of getting more
people more active more
often, and I am delighted
that they are bringing
their active lifestyle
programmes to benefit
Hillingdon and
compliment the extensive
investment the council is
making into providing
21st century leisure
facilities for our residents.”
Residents wishing to
preview the gym should
contact Andrew Crossley,
gym manager, or a
member of his team on
020 8573 2956, or visit
the leisure section on the
council website at
New contact number for
social services
From 3 December there
will be a change to the
contact number for adult
social services enquiries.
Hillingdon Social Care
Direct is a single number
for adult social services,
meaning you will not
have to keep giving your
details out to various
people. Trained staff in
the contact centre will be
answering the calls and
will be able to deal with
a variety of enquiries, for
example, requests for
care assessment for you
or someone you know.
You can also phone up
and ask about things like
handrails for the home,
or requests repairs to
equipment you already
have. You can also get
information on social
care costs and contact
details for organisations
such as Age Concern.
This will help us
improve the service we
offer to you and mean
your enquiry is dealt
with more effectively
and efficiently.
From this date, the
number to call is 01895
556633 if you have any
adult social care queries.
The line will be open
from 8am to 6pm.
From December
random spot checks
will be carried out on
motorists using Blue
Badges, Brown Badges
or parking permits.
Civil Enforcement
Officers (the new name
for parking
enforcement officers)
will be ensuring that
the people using the
badges are the badge
holders themselves.
Checks will be
starting on 1 December.
Top for benefits
information and
customer service
The council’s benefits
information and
customer service has
been voted the best by
other London
boroughs.
A mystery shopping
exercise,
commissioned by the
Customer Services for
London Group (CSLG),
took place in June and
involved 13 London
councils. Each borough
made eight phone calls
to each of the
participating councils
and rated them on
technical knowledge,
how the call was
handled and overall
satisfaction. Hillingdon
came top overall.
Hillingdon to
pilot celebratory
youth events
The Youth Council in
the borough has been
selected to be one of
the pilot areas to
organise celebratory
youth events.
The Department of
Children, Schools and
Families have given
the Youth Council
£15,000 to organise
two events focusing on
unity in the youth
community. Both of the
events will provide an
opportunity for young
people from different
parts of the borough
and from different
cultural and ethnic
groups to come
together to celebrate
their achievements.
Hillingdon has been
chosen to pilot the
scheme because of
the strength of the
Youth Council and
previous success in
similar schemes.
The events will take
place in February 2009.
Parking survey
shows residents
feel safe and
secure
Results of a recent
parking survey show
almost 63 per cent of
car park users feel
safe and secure in
Hillingdon’s car parks.
All car park users
were given the chance
to express their views
and what they thought
about the parking
facilities on street and
in council owned car
parks across the
borough. The results
showed a high level of
satisfaction with the
service in general and
94 per cent of people
said convenience was
the main reason for
choosing that particular
car parking facility.
Many of the points
highlighted in the
survey have started to
be addressed including
improvements to
stairwells at the Cedars
car park in Uxbridge.
5
hillingdon news
New
councillor
elected
John Riley has been
elected as a Conservative
ward councillor for West
Ruislip. He was elected
with 52.4 per cent of the
vote, a total of 1,351 votes.
inbrief
Benefits fraudster
sent to prison
A woman from Hayes
was sent to prison
for fraudulently
claiming £26,000 of
housing benefit.
Firdous Jalil, of
Woolacombe Way,
Hayes, was caught
committing benefit
fraud through the data
matching National
Fraud Initiative, which
revealed she had failed
to declare she was
living with her partner
while claiming housing
and council tax benefit.
The fraud led to her
receiving overpayment of
benefits over four years.
If you have any
information about benefit
fraud, please contact
the council’s hotline on
0800 389 8313.
Libraries upgrades
As part of the
modernisation
programme across the
borough, Harefield
and West Drayton
libraries are closed for
refurbishment.
Alternative
arrangements have
been made, please visit
for more information.
6
Hillingdon is blooming marvellous
The borough has won a
Silver Gilt award in the
large city category in the
London in Bloom
Awards ceremony.
Organised by the Royal
Horticultural Society,
London in Bloom is one
of eighteen regions across
England, Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland that
make up Britain in Bloom.
The contest is aimed at
promoting both
floriculture and
horticulture for the benefit
of the public as well as
to encourage displays of
flowers, shrubs, trees and
landscapes in places
visible to the public.
Blooming winners announced
The best gardens in the
borough have been
recognised in the
borough’s annual
horticulture contest,
Hillingdon in Bloom.
The competition gives
recognition to local people
putting forward their
gardening achievements
through the imaginative
use of flowers, trees,
shrubs and landscaping.
There were 55 entries
this year’s contest and
the winners included:
• Woodbridge House
• Thelma White
• The Brookhouse, Hayes
• Sanctuary Close,
Harefield
• Pamela Percy
• William Constable and
• 8 Sanctuary Close,
Harefield
To see more of the
winners visit the news
section of the council
website at
www.hillingdon.gov.uk. If
you are interested in
becoming a judge or in
entering the competition
please contact Kerry
Fellows on 01895 250655
by 30 April 2009.
Have your
Northwood town centre
say on west improvements underway
London
Following a consultation
earlier this year,
waste
improvements are being
A meeting into the future
of waste services is being
held at the Civic Centre
on Monday 1 December.
Six west London
boroughs, including
Hillingdon, have joined
together to plan how to
change the way we
manage waste in the
future. The West London
Waste Plan will identify
sites to manage all of the
area’s waste until 2025.
It will prioritise waste
reduction and recycling.
The meeting will start at
6.30pm with refreshments
available. Registration
will start from 6pm. For
more information visit
www.wlwp.net and to
register your interest in the
consultation please email
info@wlwp.net, telephone
01895 558341, or write to
West London Waste Plan,
Policy and Environmental
Planning, London
Borough of Hillingdon,
Civic Centre, High Street,
Uxbridge UB8 1UW.
made to the town
centre in Northwood.
This work follows the
successful completion
of work in Harefield
and Ruislip. More
than £500,000 is
being spent, with
£413,000 from the
council and the
remainder from
Transport for
London.
We would like to
thank all residents
who took part in the
consultation and told us
their likes and dislikes
about the Green Lane
area of Northwood.
Many of these
suggestions are included
in the works that began
in October. Other
suggestions that take
longer to arrange are still
being looked into, such as
a farmers’ market, safer
pedestrian crossings and a
20 mph zone.
Cllr Keith Burrows,
Cabinet Member for
Planning and
Transportation, said:
“These works will make a
big difference to the lives
of the residents and the
suggestions were made
by them. I would like to
thank them for their
input, and also thank the
ward councillors for their
hard work on this
programme.”
If you would like more
information, please
contact Jonathan Westell
on 01895 250035 or email
jwestell@hillingdon.gov.uk
hillingdon news
Disabled playground
inbrief
opened by rugby legend Congratulations
Former England Rugby
Union captain, Lawrence
Dallaglio, has opened
what is believed to be the
first playground dedicated
to disabled children.
The playground has
been funded by the
council’s Chrysalis fund,
rugby charity Wooden
Spoon and the Peter
Harrison Foundation.
Rocket Park in Windsor
Avenue, Hillingdon will
be used by Karers 4
Kidz, a local charity,
specialist schools in the
borough and all children
with disabilities and
their families.
Play equipment
includes a yo yo swing,
cable runway,
roundabout, multiplay
unit, picnic tables and
specially designed roads
so that wheelchairs users
can practice their
wheelchair skills.
Lawrence said: “It is
a great pleasure to be
here at this wonderful
facility. There has been a
huge amount of hard
work to make sure it gets
to fruition.”
For more information
on Chrysalis please visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/
chrysalis.
to students
Students at the
borough’s secondary
schools have got the
best GCSE results ever
in their summer exams,
thanks to hard work by
them and by teachers
and school staff.
Cllr David Simmonds,
Cabinet Member for
Education and
Children’s Services,
said: “We wish all
students who took their
GCSEs this year luck in
their future, either in
continuing their studies
or starting work. They
have done themselves
and us proud.”
Uxbridge College
is outstanding
OFSTED inspectors have
rated Uxbridge College
as outstanding following
an inspection earlier
this year. The college
got the top rating in five
out of six categories
and was rated as
‘good’ in the sixth.
New home
for people
with mental
illnesses
Purpose built
accommodation for people
with mental illnesses has
been opened as part of the
council’s modernisation
programme.
Hamlet Lodge is being
leased and run by Look
Ahead Housing and
Care. Residents living
there will be supported by
24-hour staff to continue
developing independent
living skills within the
local community.
Cllr Philip
Corthorne, Cabinet
Member for Director
of Adult Social Care,
Health and Housing,
said: “Hamlet Lodge is a
fantastic building which
will really benefit the
residents who can now
call it their home.
“The flats themselves
are large and modern
and the support on hand
will be second to none.
Additions to the borough
like Hamlet Lodge
ensure Hillingdon
continues to be a
prosperous borough with
improving housing and
social care.”
Budding builders
to train at new
construction
centre
A new construction
centre has been
opened by Hillingdon
Training Ltd at
Abbotsfield School.
A range of courses
are being offered,
including carpentry,
brickwork and painting
and decorating. The
centre provides
learners new skills in
various trades and
gives them a steppingstone into
construction. The
courses result in
nationally recognised
qualifications.
Have your say
about rights
of way
The council is
consulting with
residents about how
the rights of way in the
borough meet the
needs and demands of
a range of different
users. This is part of
our work putting
together a Rights of
Way Improvement
Plan, which will be
used to guide the
future management of
public rights of way.
Residents are being
asked to comment on
the use they make of
public rights of way and
future improvements
to the network. To get
a copy of the survey,
please contact 01895
556000 or visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk.
The closing date for
forms to be returned is
Monday 8 December.
Shopkeeper
sentenced
A Hayes shopkeeper
has been fined £8,000,
given 150 hours of
community service and
an eight month prison
sentence for
possession of
unclassified
pornographic DVDs.
The council’s Trading
Standards Department
found more than 540
unclassified DVDs at
Manubhai Patel’s
storage facility in
Isleworth. In October
2005, Mr Patel was
given a warning after
voluntarily forfeiting
similar DVDs.
If you are aware of
such activities, please
call Trading Standards
on 01895 250164.
7
your hillingdon
W
e had almost 200 replies
to our readership survey,
which asked for your
thoughts on Hillingdon People.
Thank you to everyone who took
part for your ideas and suggestions.
We have now analysed all the
responses and have chosen a
winner of £25 Chimes vouchers.
Congratulations to Carolyn
Appleby of Hayes, who will be
receiving her prize soon.
Your comments tell us that the
most popular sections of the
magazine are the council news,
environmental information and the
‘What’s On’ page. The contacts
page is also popular, as is Safer
Hillingdon. A huge 95 per cent of
you like the redesign we had in July.
Around 20 per cent of you are
reading the magazine on the
What you think of
internet. We are looking at ways
we can improve this version of the
magazine so those of you who are
reading online can enjoy an
enhanced service.
There are a few places you
would like to see Hillingdon People
getting out to, as well as it being
delivered to your home. These
include libraries, which do receive
copies of the magazine, and also
supermarkets and doctor’s surgeries.
contacts
If you have any comments on
the magazine, please email
hillingdonpeople@hillingdon.gov
.uk or write to Hillingdon
People, Corporate
Communications, 3E/07 Civic
Centre, High Street, Uxbridge,
UB8 1UW.
Hillingdon First
Your questions answered
A
s we announced in the last
edition of Hillingdon
People, next year we are
launching Hillingdon First - a
privilege card for residents.
A Hillingdon First card will be
sent out to all residents over 18
years old. As we may not have the
details of all residents, we will be
publishing details nearer to the
time of how to get a card if you do
not automatically receive one.
The response from residents so
far has been overwhelmingly
positive, with many of you already
asking questions about how to get
a card, what you will be able to use
it for and more general questions
about things like cost.
Here Hillingdon People answers
some of your questions:
Why are we introducing
a residents’ card?
The council wants to make sure
Hillingdon residents get the benefits
of paying council tax in the
borough. Hillingdon First will offer
8
privileges and discounted access to
services for all of our residents.
We have consulted with residents
about introducing a residents’ card
and what it might be used for. The
response has been very positive
and residents were even involved in
choosing the name and design of
the card.
What benefits will it offer
residents?
As well as cheaper parking it will
offer discounts at a range of local
shops and services. It will also give
you access to all of our libraries
and waste sites, such as New Year’s
Green Lane.
At what shops will I be able
to use Hillingdon First?
We are still working with shops
and services to build up a directory
of local businesses that will offer
discounts to residents. We will publish
a directory of those shops and
businesses at which you can use your
card nearer the time of the launch.
What happens if I lose
my card?
You can either report it on-line or
by phone and it will immediately be
stopped. This means no one else
will be able to use it. Even if
someone does try to use it, it will not
have any of your personal details
and as it is not like a credit or debit
card, you will not lose any money.
Will residents have to
pay for their card?
No, it will be free to all residents.
contacts
For more information visit
hillingdonfirst.
WWW.THIRD-AVENUE.CO.UK
hillingdon older people
Every year Hillingdon residents are
cheated out of hundreds of thousands of
pounds by doorstep conmen. This type
of rip-off usually targets elderly
or vulnerable residents.
T
he typical scam starts when
workmen call at someone’s
house uninvited and
persuade them to have work done,
such as roofing, guttering or bushes
and trees trimmed.
Often these men say they just
happen to be in the area and can
offer you a ‘special deal’, they then
quote a low price, enticing you to
allow them to do the work.
However, when these conman start
the work, they discover further
repairs are needed and more
money is needed, usually several
thousand pounds. If they actually
complete any work, it turns out to
be of very poor quality and is often
found to have been unnecessary.
It is common for this type of
conman to ask for cash ‘up front’
and Trading Standards officers
know of cases where money has
been paid over to workmen for
them never to be seen again.
They are also difficult to trace if
they complete work and there are
problems with it. This is also the
case even if they give you a ten or
15-year guarantee. They use
mobile phones, give either no
names or false names, and use
false addresses.
Two trends have emerged
recently. The first involves
workmen driving up to elderly
people in the street, telling them
they have worked on their property
before and they need to carry out
a further inspection of this work.
The unsuspecting victim then
guides the workmen to their home
and the con beings. One Ruislip
resident recently lost £6,000 after
this type of incident and no work
was carried out. The conman even
drove the victim to the back to
collect the cash.
The second con involves men
calling at the door of people who
have already been the victim of a
con. He tells the homeowner he is
from Customs and Excise and
demands that VAT is paid on
previous building work. In the
cases reported to the Trading
Standards team, the conman has
usually forged Custom and Excise
letterheads, but is unable to
produce any identification.
Top tips
• Never employ an uninvited
workman who calls at your
door.
• Never pay cash up front.
• Don’t allow yourself to be
driven to the bank.
• Make sure you thoroughly
check the identification of
anyone who calls at your door.
• If you should agree for work
to go ahead, the workman is
legally required to give the
resident a written notice
explaining the resident’s right
to a seven day cooling-off
period.
contacts
If you do suspect that doorstep
conmen may be working in your
area or you are having
difficulties with someone
currently working on your
house contact your Police Safer
Neighbourhood Team or
Consumer Direct on 08454
040506.
9
hillingdon environment
We all want to live
in a cleaner,
greener borough
but we need your
help to keep it
that way.
Be cleaner
go greener
T
he council spends hundreds
of thousands of pounds
every year on cleaning the
roads, parks, collecting litter and
removing graffiti, fly-posting and
fly-tipping, all of which degrades
the environment.
Fly-tipping, litter dropping,
graffiti and fly-posting are all
classed as enviro crimes and cost
you, Hillingdon’s taxpayers. If you
are caught committing an enviro
crime, the council does have the
powers to fine or prosecute.
Cllr Sandra Jenkins,
Cabinet Member for
Environment, said: “The
council takes enviro crime
extremely seriously. We need
residents’ help to stop illegal flytippers, those throwing rubbish
and anyone spraying graffiti in the
borough by reporting them to the
council. All of these acts are
illegal and people can be
prosecuted for them.”
The council is planning to
consult with residents about your
thoughts on whether we should
take stronger action against people
who commit enviro crimes such as
littering or fly tipping. If you would
like to have your say about this,
please see www.hillingdon.gov.uk
contacts
If you see or have information
about enviro crime, please call
the council’s customer contact
centre on 01895 556000, email
eet@hillingdon.gov.uk or visit
Top tips for using your composter
W
ith thousands of free
compost bins being
delivered around the
borough, are you making the best
use of yours? Autumn is a great
time to start as you gather up
leaves, empty plant pots and
generally tidy up the garden. These
top tips should ensure you get the
optimum results out of your bin.
1. Place your composter in a
sunny spot on well-drained soil.
If you need to put it on a solid
surface, make sure there is a
layer of soil underneath;
10
2. You can compost vegetable and
fruit peelings, tea leaves, coffee
grounds and crushed egg shells,
weeds, grass cuttings, hair,
paper, spent hops and even
vacuum dust;
3. Items such as evergreen
clippings, prunings, leaves, straw
and hay can be composted in
small amounts;
4. Things such as grass, nettles and
pond weed will help speed up
the composting process;
5. eep the lid on your composter to
keep the heat and moisture in. If
you can put it in direct sunlight
so the plastic absorbs the UV
rays that will heat the compost
up. In winter, you can use old
carpet or bubble wrap to help
insulate the composter;
6. Turn the compost occasionally
to increase air flow and speed
up decomposition;
7. Dig the compost into the soil in
early spring or late autumn when
it is ready to improve the soil
structure and act as a fertiliser.
Happy recycling
Enjoy a green Christmas
Think of all the wrapping paper and cards
that are sent over Christmas. What happens
to them when the holidays are over?
W
hile we are celebrating
Christmas, we also produce
twice as much rubbish than
usual, with extra empty cans, glass
bottles and piles of Christmas cards
and wrapping paper adding to the
usual amount of waste. All of
these things can be recycled after
the holidays through your weekly
collections by the council (see below
for Christmas collection dates).
While you can leave most of
your recycling out for collection,
there are certain things you can
recycle yourself.
• If you receive unwanted gifts,
you could take them to a
charity shop where someone
else might want what you do
not. You could combine this
with a clear out ahead of the
New Year and donate some of
your older, unwanted items.
• When you take down your
Christmas cards, put them in
your clear recycling bag or take
them to one of the local shops
that offer a recycling service.
Or, recycle them yourself and
use them as gift tags for 2009.
• You can also recycle some of the
packaging your Christmas dinner
ingredients will have been in.
The Civic Amenity sites in the
borough also take a wide variety of
recycling items, including electrical
appliances, car batteries, clothes,
and the site at New Years Green
Lane in Harefield has a ‘swap
shop’ where you could take
unwanted items and see if there is
anything you want to swap them
with. Lots of the things that get
taken to the tips after Christmas
could be recycled, so think before
you throw them away.
Cllr Sandra Jenkins, Cabinet
Member for Environment,
said: “Christmas means we
generate a lot more rubbish than
usual, so please don’t forget to
recycle. Our figures for this year
show we are doing well, please
keep up the good work.”
Refuse and recycling
Christmas and New Year 2008/2009
Over the bank holidays the revised
collection days are as follows:
• Please leave your rubbish for collection between 6 am
and 6 pm on the revised collection days.
• Where two revised days are given, please put your
rubbish out on the first day. If it is not collected on the
first day it will be collected on the following day.
• Please leave your rubbish near your front gate but not
on the pavement.
• If you have any queries, or would like to report a
missed collection, call the council’s contact
centre on 01895 556000 or visit:
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/recycling
What’s missing from
your recycling bag?
A new campaign to highlight the
items missing from residents’
recycling bags and commonly put in
rubbish bags is starting in November.
As part of this, there will be piles
of rubbish in the borough’s main
high streets to raise awareness of
how much waste a typical
household produces a year.
contacts
information about recycling in
Hillingdon, please visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/recycling
call 01895 556000 or email
recycling@hillingdon.gov.uk
Normal collection day Revised collection day
Monday 22nd Dec 08
Tuesday 23rd Dec 08
Wednesday 24th Dec 08
Thursday 25th Dec 08
Friday 26th Dec 08
Monday 22nd Dec 08
Tuesday 23rd Dec 08
Wednesday 24th Dec 08
Tuesday 30th Dec 08
Friday 2nd Jan 09
Monday 29th Dec 08
Tuesday 30th Dec 08
Wednesday 31st Dec 08
Thursday 1st Jan 09
Friday 2nd Jan 09
Monday 29th Dec 08
Tuesday 6th Jan 09
Wednesday 31st Dec 08
Thursday 8th Jan 09
Friday 2nd Jan 09
Monday 5th Jan 09
Tuesday 6th Jan 09
Wednesday 7th Jan09
Thursday 8th Jan 09
Friday 9th Jan 09
Monday 5th Jan 09
Tuesday 6th Jan 09
Wednesday 7th Jan 09
Thursday 8th Jan 09
Friday 9th Jan 09
11
hillingdon finance special
Making your mo
We are all aware of the current financial climate, but what
help is on hand give you support to manage your money? And
what are we spending your money on in the borough?
There are several ways that you can get help with managing your money, from mortgage
advice to ensuring you get the benefits you are entitled to. Here we give you some ideas
on how you can you make your money go further.
Help
with your
mortgage
I
f your monthly mortgage
payments are getting difficult to
pay help and support is
available from the council.
As soon as you are experiencing
problems with your monthly
repayments, you need to ask for
help. The council can help by
giving you advice immediately
Case studies
Mrs P’s husband had not paid
the mortgage for four months
though he had agreed in court
that he would do so. When Mrs
P came to see the council she
said that he had not been able
to make the payments agreed in
court because he was not
working at the moment. Mrs P
was still working but did not
earn enough to pay the
mortgage and the bills and
housekeeping. She was
referred to the solicitors and
arrangements have been
agreed with the mortgage
lender for them to clear the
arrears and keep their home.
Mr B was 64 and was facing
repossession. He came to the
council for advice and was
12
over the phone or in person at
our offices, recommending a firm
of solicitors, referring you on to
independent debt advisors, or
providing tenants for property you
want to rent out.
If you are struggling to keep up
with payments on your own home
or as a landlord, you can call the
Housing Options and Advice
Team on 01895 250147 for
immediate advice and to talk
through your options.
referred to solicitors, the
possession warrant has been
suspended and he continues to
make regular affordable
payments on his mortgage.
Mrs D works part-time and is
the joint owner of a house with
her husband, who left the family
home earlier in the year when
they separated. Mr D stopped
paying the mortgage when he
moved out, and she was soon in
arrears of around £2,000. After
assessing her case our advisors
referred Mrs D to solicitors for
legal advice on her rights and
how to get help from her
estranged husband to
contribute to the mortgage. Mrs
D and the children have been
able to stay in the family home
and arrangements have been
made to clear the arrears.
Fight rising
fuel bills
W
ith fuel bills rising to
record levels as the colder
weather hits, hundreds of
residents across the borough could
be missing out on grants and
discounts to improve the energy
efficiency of their homes.
The council is working in
partnership with London Warm
Zone (LWZ) to offer help with
the cost of loft and cavity wall
insulation, as well as heating
improvements. If you own your
home or are a tenant of a private
landlord, you could be entitled to
have work carried out by LWZ
approved contactors.
LWZ will assess your home to
find out what help you will need to
improve its energy efficiency. If
you are over 70, or in receipt of an
income or disability benefit, you
may be eligible to have loft and
cavity wall insulation installed free
of charge. Regardless of your
income, you could receive up to 75
per cent off the cost of insulation
work. The scheme also offers up to
100 per cent grants for help with
heating repairs and replacements.
contacts
To find out more and book a
home energy assessment, call
London Warm Zone on
freephone 0800 587 2251 or visit
the website at
www.londonwarmzones.co.uk
ney work for you
On pages 14 to 17 you can read the council’s most recent
statement of accounts, which provides you with information on
the council’s budget and where it is being spent in the borough.
Are you
getting
what you’re
entitled to?
B
enefits are designed to help
people who are on a low
income for a variety of
reasons, and there are several kinds
that you can claim depending on
your circumstances.
Sometimes people are unaware
of the benefits they could be
claiming, meaning they are not
making the most of what help they
are entitled to. The council offers a
free entitlement check to residents,
in association with the Pension
Service, to make sure everyone is
benefiting as much as they can
from financial support.
Officers from the department
can arrange for home visits if
needs be, and could help you claim
hundreds of pounds that you are
entitled to but did not know about.
Cllr Philip Corthorne,
Cabinet Member for Adult
Social Care, Health and
Housing, said: “This service
means that people can find out
about benefits they are eligible for,
which could help them when their
finances are tight. I would
encourage anyone who is uncertain
about their benefit entitlement to
take advantage of this service to
see if it could help them.”
Case studies
Mrs G is 81 and had been
relying on her son for pocket
money. She called at the
Information Point for help and
advice and had no knowledge
of pension credit or other
benefits. A benefits officer
completed an application for
pension credit with her and
chased up the application,
keeping her informed about
what was happening. Mrs G
has been awarded pension
credit of £124.05 per week,
with backdated arrears for
£7,827.30.
Mr and Mrs K were visited by an
officer for a full benefit health
check. They were already in
receipt of state retirement
pension, attendance allowance
and pension credit. They
discussed the carers allowance
and a further form was
completed for a review in their
entitlement to pension credit.
Mr and Mrs K have now been
awarded the couple rate of
contacts
The Joint Team Advice Line on
01895 216812 or 01895 216814
between 9am and 4.30pm
Monday to Friday.
severe disability premium and
carers’ premium and their
pension credit has increased to
£74.35 a week. They can also
get full council tax benefit.
Following a phone call from the
Domestic Violence Unit (DVU),
an officer visited Mrs L at the
DVU in Uxbridge to see what
benefits she could claim. She
was unable to take home visits
as her husband was controlling
and if he realised she was
receiving pension credits he
would take it from her. The
officer spoke to her about what
benefits she could claim and
completed the application form
fully so no further contact was
needed. She is now getting her
pension credit paid by giro to
the c/o address of the DVU and
is almost £82 a week better off.
She also received almost £2,000
in arrears. While visiting her,
the officer also promoted the
help available through the
council to other women so they
can also get advice in claiming
what they are entitled to.
contacts
For more information on how
the council can help you, visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk.
Uxbridge Citizens Advice
Bureau (CAB) has set up a new
money advice service for people
worried about the credit crunch.
You can get in touch by emailing
mas@hillingdoncab.org.uk or
call in to one of our three
bureaux. Opening times are on
www.hillingdoncab.org.uk
where you can also download a
free debt self-help guide.
13
How did we spend yo
Earlier this year,
we asked you how
you would like to
get information
about the council’s
budget and how
we spent your
money. Most of
our residents told
us they would
prefer to read
about the council’s
finances in
Hillingdon People.
This summary
tells you how we
spent your money
last year, what
assets we
currently have and
how we are
investing your
money.
14
ur money last year?
A
ll councils must publish their
full accounts in a way
prescribed by the
Government. If you would like a
full set of the council’s accounts
please log onto the council’s web
site www.hillingdon.gov.uk or
contact the Corporate Accounting
Team on 01895 556073.
How council
services are funded
Councils are unique in that they
deliver nearly 800 different
services. Like all councils,
Hillingdon gets the money to pay
for these services by a mixture of:
• Council tax
• Grants from central
government
• Business rates and
• Fees and charges for things
like rents.
The council tax that you pay in
Hillingdon only covers 14.7 per
cent of the total amount the
council spends on services. The
council is also required to collect
council tax on behalf of the
Mayor of London. £29.2m was
collected from Hillingdon residents
and paid to the Mayor in 2007/8.
We also receive grants from
government to help us deliver
services. Many of the grants we are
given have to be spent on things the
government tell us. For example, we
get £158.4m that we have to give
to our schools for them to deliver
education for our children.
Our council houses and repairs
are managed on our behalf by
Hillingdon Homes, which is run as
a separate business.
Last year we collected £245m in
rates from businesses in
Hillingdon. This money is paid
direct to the government, who
then decide how much we get
back. Last year, we were given
£63.9m, which represents only 26
per cent of the business rates we
collected in the borough.
Financial review
Through strong financial
management, and by making
efficiencies in the way we run the
council, the overall financial
position of the council is now
much stronger.
Our general reserves, which is
the money that we can call on for
unplanned costs stands at £12.6m.
This meets the recommendations
of our independent auditors and
means that we have hit our target
of getting to £12m two years early.
We have been lobbying the
government for nearly two years
for them to fully fund the costs of
supporting unaccompanied asylum
seeking children that come through
Heathrow Airport. They have
recently announced that we will be
getting around £4m. However, we
are still concerned about funding
from the government for future
years and will continue to press for
a fair deal for Hillingdon.
We will also continue to invest
significant sums in facility and
services. The council tax increase
for Hillingdon services for 2007/8
was 3.75 per cent and for 2008/9,
three per cent. It is our intention
to freeze council tax for in
Hillingdon for the next two years,
this will mean no increase in
council tax for two years.
The cost of council
services in
2007/2008
Explanation of services
Cultural, environmental and
planning services – includes
libraries, parks, waste collection and
disposal and environmental health.
Corporate and democratic
services is the administrative cost
of running the organisation
including the democratic process.
Central and other services
include council tax administration
and voluntary sector grants.
Education and children’s
services includes services for
children, families and schools.
The Housing Revenue account
covers the financial position for the
council’s housing stock. Hillingdon
Homes Ltd manages the housing
stock on an arms length basis.
School budgets are managed by
school governing bodies although
they form part of the council’s
overall finances. School reserves
(the amount of money they can
call on in unforeseen
circumstances) reduced by £600k
during 2007/8 to £13m. At this
level they are around six per cent
of school’s gross budgets.
15
£000s
Income
Revenue Support Grant
Business Rates
Council Tax
Interest & Investment Income
Total
Council Services
Education
Adult Social Care
Housing Services
Transportation & Roads
Cultural Environmental and Planning Services
Corporate & Democratic Core
Central Services to the Public
Other
Unapportionable Central Overheads
Interest Payable and Similar Charges
Housing Revenue Account deficit for year
Net cost of services
Amount met from Government Grant and Council Tax
General Fund Surplus for year
13,231
63,948
103,411
7,376
187,966
38,864
64,831
3,524
18,625
33,033
8,300
4,409
81
1,536
11,651
339
185,194
177,818
2,772
An additional £8.2m was invested
in Hillingdon’s schools in 2007/8.
GCSE results and literacy and
numeracy tests continue to show
an improvement year-on-year. The
level of permanently excluded
pupils has fallen to very low levels
over the past three years. Persistent
absence is also being targeted with
the aim of reducing the proportion
of pupils with more than ten days’
absence a year. For secondary
schools this figure is below five per
cent and at 1.5 per cent for
primary school children
Additional money invested in care
services has helped people to
remain living in their own home.
We have also introduced a first time
buyers’ deposit scheme as part of
our affordable housing programme.
Waiting times for a social care
assessment have also been reduced.
More than £60,000 was spent
on alley gating and other crime
reduction schemes to help people
feel safer in the borough. We also
recovered around £1m of local
taxpayers’ money from council tax,
benefit fraud and overpayments
through proactive investigations.
We spent £2.94m improving
roads and streets including
£816,000 from Transport for
London. This also included street
lighting and drainage.
The council’s
balance sheet
at 31 March 2008.
The balance sheet reflects the
overall financial position of the
council at the end of the financial
year. The council owns assets with
a net value of £1,388m after
taking account of loans of
£128m. These are mostly involved
in delivering services and we
regularly review whether assets are
still needed. Last year the council
raised £29.8m from asset sales
that was used to invest in our
buildings, such as libraries and
leisure centres.
Through good management and
maximising our investments, we
also earned £7.3m interest for the
council during 2007/8.
16
Capital expenditure
This is money we spend on buying
new assets or improving our
existing assets. In 2007/08, the
council spent £68m doing this.
These schemes included:
£5.2m was spent on transport and
road works. Many of these were
focussed on safety, improving cycle
ways and footpaths, bus priority
and highways maintenance;
£14.2m upgrading and extending
Oak Farm Primary, Uxbridge High
and Haydon secondary schools;
Almost £1m was allocated to the
Chrysalis programme, our
programme of environmental and
community safety improvement
projects which aim to improve
council land and facilities and works
towards safer, cleaner, greener and
more active communities.
More than £2m was given to home
owners to provide disabled facilities;
£24.1m was spent on refurbishing
council houses to bring them up to
a decent standard;
£2m was spent on Manor Farm
heritage site. The Grade II listed
buildings have been fully restored
and include an interpretation centre;
Almost £1m has been invested in
Breakspear Crematorium following
public consultation.
£2.2m on Victoria Hall and Ruislip
Manor Library. This was opened in
October last year and incorporates
a café, new personal computers and
contemporary design;
Over £5.2m was spent on sport
and leisure facilities, including the
prestigious Uxbridge Lido;
Money saving
Some of the examples of how the
council is helping to save money
include the Abandoned Vehicle
Team reporting any suspicious
vehicles that could have been
stolen or involved in criminal
activity. This has helped to
promote a safer borough and has
also resulted in cost savings
through the reduction of
administration needs. Around 20
stolen vehicles were located in
2007/08 as a result of the work.
The Green Spaces team have
been working to make sure graffiti
is removed quickly and more
efficiently. Following a review of
the team last year, graffiti removal
was outsourced to our
maintenance contractor,
Connaught, and the time it takes
for graffiti to be removed has been
reduced to two working days. This
is saving around £30,000 a year.
Councils’ deposits in Icelandic banks
Leader of the Council, Cllr Ray
Puddifoot, said: “More than 100
councils, 30 police forces, Transport
for London and a range of charities
have all been affected by this
particular aspect of the current
global financial position and we are
expecting the government to support
councils and other organisations as
they are doing for banks and other
financial institutions.
Hillingdon invested £5 million
with an Icelandic bank and £15
million in a bank, which is a UK
subsidiary of an Icelandic bank.
We are however, financially sound
and with an annual cashflow of
more than £1 billion and the
investment in question will not
affect our ability to continue to
deliver high quality services to
our residents.
Some residents will ask why we
invest money in banks at all. All
councils invest money to help
reduce the level of council tax and
to maximise the amount of money
we have to deliver services. We
follow very strict government
guidelines and all of the banks we
invest in have the highest credit
rating. However, in these highly
unusual times, these ratings are
changing on a daily basis.
The financial management and
strength of Hillingdon Council
means we are well able to deal with
this type of unforeseen event.”
17
hillingdon online
Join us
Hillingdon’s online community is growing. There are now
many different ways to contact us, help yourself to services
or have your say online - and it’s easy to get involved!
18
hillingdon online
online
D
id you know that you can
order recycling bags at 6am
on collection day? Pay your
council tax late at night not long
before it’s due? Or report that
annoying graffiti when you get
home from work at 7pm? Well you
can if you do it online through
Hillingdon Council’s website.
Do it online
We have developed a range of
online services to make it easier for
you to get those inconvenient things
done quickly and at a time
convenient for you. Information and
contact details about all of the
council’s services can be found on
the council website. In addition there
are a range of forms, transactions
and clever tools available to save you
a phone call or a journey to the
council’s offices. Applications,
bookings, payments, reports, requests
and searches may all be done online.
Different ways
to find us online
If you don’t have an internet
connection at home you will find
free access to computers and the
internet at your local library, and
staff who are happy to help. You
can also get council information
and contact us through your TV if
you subscribe to a cable or satellite
service: just press the interactive
button on your remote control.
And you can use your phone too!
To access council information using
a mobile phone with internet access:
go to www.hillingdon.gov.uk/mobile
or use the Looking Local link
available on some services. Or text
us: send a message to 07950 080321
to report an issue as you see it. Be
sure to include your name, door
number, postcode, the nature of the
report (e.g. street light, street
cleaning or recycling bags), and the
location if appropriate.
New and the future
In addition to the forms, payments
and service information, there are
lots of other ways to get involved.
You can now take part in online
surveys, watch videos from the
local community on YouTube,
browse photos of Hillingdon on
Flickr, read council news on
Twitter, or sign up to Hillingdon’s
Facebook page. You may also have
your say on health and social care
issues through Hillingdon’s Local
Involvement Network.
Over the coming months we will
be improving the Hillingdon
website with quicker access to
forms and services online,
enhanced interactive maps with
local links, and more podcasts and
video clips. We also want to make
it easier for you to engage with the
council so expect to see more
opportunities to have your say.
It’s easy to connect with the
council and your community when
you do it online!
Join us online:
Hillingdon’s growing
online community
• Sign up to Hillingdon’s
Facebook page
• Read council news on Twitter
• Watch council and community
videos on YouTube
• Browse Hillingdon photos on
Flickr
• Discuss health and care
issues on the Local
Involvement Network
Do it online: tips on
how to save time
with online services
• Apply for planning permission
or look up applications
• Report graffiti, missed
collections, flytipping,
abandoned vehicles, and
much more
• Request recycling bags
• Calculate benefits you may be
entitled to
• Reserve a school place
• Pay council tax, rent, parking
fines and more
• Contact your councillor
• Sign up to receive council
news by email or by SMS text
on your mobile
Visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/doitonline
Safety online
Hillingdon Council
encourages the
community to get
safe online. The
national ‘Get Safe
Online’ campaign promotes
internet security awareness and the
campaign website offers a range of
helpful guidance, including a ‘10minute guide for
beginners’. Go to
www.getsafeonline.org
Visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/joinus
19
safer hillingdon
Just
another
normal
Boxing Day?
Keep your
home safe
and sound for
Christmas
Now the clocks have gone back and the
evenings are darker, make sure you are
taking precautions to keep your home
safe and secure during the upcoming
holiday period.
C
ompared to nearby boroughs,
crime levels in Hillingdon are
low and there is no need to
be unduly worried about being a
victim of a crime. In the 12 months
up to the end of August 2008,
Hillingdon recorded fewer crimes
per 1,000 population than
neighbouring Hounslow, Ealing,
Slough, South Bucks and Watford.
To help keep it that way, here are
a few simple measures that can
deter and prevent crime and help
you keep the season jolly:
At home
• Leave a light on to make your
home look occupied when you
are out to deter burglars;
• Install external lights to deter
vandals;
• Don’t leave presents under the
Christmas tree in view of the
window. Hide them somewhere
safe until you need them (which
makes it more of a surprise too!)
• Mark expensive presents, such
as electronic equipment with
contacts
For more advice on security
devices, please contact your
local crime prevention officer on
020 8246 1778.
20
your postcode by engraving or
using a UV pen;
• Dispose of packing carefully as
empty boxes left outside can
advertise that you have new
goods inside.
An incident of domestic violence
takes place every six to 20 seconds
in the UK and the police get a call
every minute relating to domestic
violence. Many local families will
endure extreme pain and suffering
over the holiday season and
victims of domestic violence are
being urged to seek help and
support this Christmas.
The stresses of Christmas and
the fact that more alcohol is
around can often lead to tempers
boiling over. Christmas for most is
a time of fun and family,
however, for some the
emotional strain of
the season can
contribute to a
rise in domestic
violence.
If you are away
over the holidays
• Remember to tell your
neighbours that you will be
away and ask them to keep an
eye on the house. Cancel milk
and papers;
• Buy some timers for your lights,
radio and TV so it looks as if
you are at home. These can be
picked up cheaply from any
DIY store;
• Remember to securely lock all
doors and windows.
contacts
On a night out?
• Don’t leave bags over the back
of your chair and keep wallets
and purses close to your body;
• Make prior arrangements as to
how you will get home. Make
sure someone knows where you
are going and what time you
will be back;
• Don’t use unlicensed taxis.
If you are suffering from
domestic violence and would
like help and support, please
contact:
Community Safety Unit (Police):
020 8246 1766.
Independent Domestic Violence
Advocacy Service: 020 8246
1745.
Domestic Violence Floating
Support: 01895 457421.
hillingdon sport
Extra cash for
future Olympians
A ‘Gold’ bursary which will support the borough’s best
athletes has been announced as London took over the
Olympic flag in preparation for the 2012 Games.
T
he bursary is unique to
Hillingdon and will provide
financial support of up to
£10,000 for selected borough
residents who are already, or are
expected to, represent Great
Britain or England at an
international level.
Leader of the Council, Cllr
Ray Puddifoot, said: “Ablebodied and disabled sports people
who have outstanding talent will be
able to apply for a ‘Gold bursary’
from the council to provide them
with up to £10,000 to help them
reach their full potential.
“This is something that could
really make a difference to our
elite athletes whilst the new top
class sports facilities in Uxbridge
and Hayes will be a great
community asset for everyone.
This is part of our continued
commitment to becoming a more
active, healthy and successful
sporting borough and providing a
legacy for the future generations of
Hillingdon residents.”
Fifteen-year-old swimmer
Francesca Marr is one budding star
that could be in line to benefit from
this support. She swims with
Hillingdon Borough and is coached
by David Hemmings. Francesca is
tipped for the top after being rated
among the top three in the country
for her age group.
Francesca said: “I do the 100
and 200m breast stroke. I’ve been
to the European Juniors this year,
national competitions, the national
Olympic trials for Beijing, which is
the British Championships.
“I’m looking forward to 2012, it’s
quite exciting because it’s going to
be on your doorstep.”
Francesca is among a group of
potential athletes who could benefit
from the bursary, which is one of
several schemes available to help
budding sports stars. Another grant
scheme is Hillingdon Sports Council
grants which are funded by the
council and have been revitalised to
enable the community to develop its
sporting involvement and capacity
SUPERSTARS
Cllr Henry Higgins,
Cabinet Member for
Culture, Sport and
Leisure (far left)
with Leader of the
Council, Cllr Ray
Puddifoot (far right)
Rion Pierre and
budding cycling
stars Slipstreams
Junior Cycling Club
and to support emerging sporting
talent. The four grant strands are:
Club Up to £3,000 on enhancing
sessions, increasing participation
and performance and equipment;
Coaching For coaching,
umpiring and officiating at level 1,
2 and 3;
Individual Supporting local and
regional standard athletes with
additional coaching, transport,
equipment and accommodation costs;
Clubmark Rewarding clubs for
gaining Clubmark accreditation,
which shows they are child safe
clubs with welfare and first aid
trained members and have coaches
at Level 2 standard or above.
contacts
For more information contact
Lorna Radford on 01895 277766
or email
lradford@hillingdon.gov.uk
21
Wild winners
of competition
The winners of the
wildlife photograph
competition, run by the
council in conjunction
with A Rocha, have
been selected.
OVER 16
Bob Barton’s
photo, taken
in his garden,
which won the
over-16
category
T
he winners of the wildlife
photograph competition, run
by the council in conjunction
with A Rocha, have been selected.
Thank you to everyone who took
part, all the entries were of a very
high standard and the judges had a
difficult decision to choose the
winners in both categories.
Seven-year-old Morgan Liu, of
Uxbridge, won the under-16 section
of the competition for his photo of
a shield bug on a leaf. His photo
was chosen because it was an
excellent achievement for someone
of his age and it had been taken
very carefully.
Bob Barton, of Hayes, won the
adult section with his photo of a
garden snail on a water lily.
Dave Coleman, of A Rocha
and the wildlife artist who is
providing the prizes, said: “It’s a
composition that is very expressive.
UNDER 16
The photo
taken by
Morgan Liu
to win the
under-16
category
The relationship between the
negative outline at the top and the
flower is nicely balanced. I loved the
sweep of the snail through it as well.”
The winners will be receiving
paintings by Dave as their prizes
early next year.
contacts
For more information on Green
Spaces in the borough, visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk and for
more on A Rocha, visit
www.arocha.org
Keep safe on the roads this Christmas
I
f you are heading off to see
family or friends during the
holidays, make sure you stay safe
on your journeys, whether you are in
your car or travelling as a pedestrian.
Now the clocks have gone back,
the evenings are darker and you
need to be careful walking home
from work, or picking the children
up from school.
With lots of parties and social
events over the holidays, it is
important to remember that
drinking and driving is an offence.
A conviction for drink driving has
the potential to ruin your life with
penalties including a 12 month
22
driving ban, a criminal record, a
hefty fine and lifestyle changes, for
example, potential loss of job,
relationships or car.
The effect of alcohol on your
driving can include:
• Slower reactions
• Reduced field of vision
• Poorer judgement of speed
and distance
• Overconfidence and increased
risk taking, increasing the
danger to all road users
including yourself.
Cllr Keith Burrows, Cabinet
Member for Planning and
Transportation, said: “Christmas
is a time where people spend a lot
of time travelling to visit family
and friends and we would like to
remind everyone to make sure they
are safe while they are doing this.
Hillingdon has a good road safety
record but we want to make sure it
stays that way.”
There will be events happening
around the borough throughout
National Road Safety week (10-16
November) to encourage everyone
to be careful on the road.
contacts
Visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/
roadsafety for more information
on road safety.
hillingdon young people
We want
your views
on youth
services
W
Work is progressing on new youth
facilities across the borough, with young
people getting involved in the design of
the centres.
P
lans are underway for new
youth facilities in
Northwood, Charville and
South Ruislip. Development work
in the Northwood and Charville
locations is now fully underway,
with young people working with
the council, local partners and
architects on the design and
features they would like to see
included at the new facilities.
The three new facilities are part
of continued investment in
services for young people across
the borough.
Cabinet Member for Education
and Children’s Services, said:
“We are dedicated to improving
facilities for young people in the
borough and we are looking forward
to working with them to provide
facilities they want to see. We work
hard as a council to give young
people the best services possible,
through the Deputy Leader’s
Initiative among other projects. By
working with young people we are
ensuring that the centres we provide
are the ones they want to use.”
e don’t want to hear
young people say there is
nothing to do! We know
there is loads going on in
Hillingdon but the question is...is it
what you want, how you want it
and when you want it?
The council wants to hear what
you like and what you don’t like so
we can offer you a service that suits
your needs. The survey is for all
young people, whether you use
council services or not, and is
designed to help us improve what
we have to offer you in the
borough. The answers will help
feed into any future plans for the
youth service and help to design
services and activities offered
across the borough.
Cabinet Member for
Education and Children’s
Services, said: “It is really
important that we get feedback
from young people so we know
what they like and want to see
more of, and what they don’t like
and want to see changed. We will
be using all the feedback in our
planning for future activities for
young people so it will be great to
hear from as many as possible.”
There are a number of prizes to
be won for those that take part in
the survey with a top prize of
£150 of vouchers for someone
who completes the survey.
Some of you will receive
questionnaires through schools, but
if you do not get one, visit
young.hillingdon.gov.uk and you
can answer easily online.
14 young people have been
trained to carry out research with
their peers as part of a peer research
group as another way of speaking to
young people in the borough.
contacts
Visit young.hillingdon.gov.uk to
make your voice heard before
the end of January.
23
safer hillingdon
Top tips for a trouble free feast
As Christmas approaches and thoughts turn to preparing
the traditional feast for family and friends, there are
several tips to help make sure festive food is safe to eat.
• Before stocking up, defrost your
fridge and freezer and give
them a good clean using an
anti-bacterial cleaner.
• Make sure you have adequate
space in your fridge and freezer
to keep the food at the proper
temperature (between 0ºC and
5ºC for the fridge).
• Keep cooked and raw foods on
separate shelves in the fridge, never
store cooked food below raw.
• Don’t leave food that should be
refrigerated at room
temperature. Refrigerate
cooked food as soon as it is cool
and use leftovers up within 48
hours. Only reheat leftovers
once and serve piping hot.
• Make sure meat and poultry is
fully thawed before cooking.
• Use separate chopping boards
and utensils for raw meat and
any cooked or ready to eat
foods or alternatively wash
thoroughly in hot soapy water
to avoid cross contamination.
• Always serve food piping hot
and as soon as it is ready. If
there is a delay between
heating and eating, keep the
food covered.
• Always wash your hands before
handling food and after
handling raw meat and poultry.
Dry them on clean towels.
• Wash work surfaces, dishes and
utensils in clean hot water and
detergent between and after
preparing different types of
food. Keep cloths clean and use
a kitchen sanitiser.
• To make sure your turkey is
cooked properly, check it’s
piping hot all the way through,
cut into the thickest part to
check that none of the meat is
pink, if juices run out they
should be clear.
contacts
information about food safety
please contact 01895 250190.
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2009, 7.30pm
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To book call Pam on
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Venue: All Saints Hall,
Long Lane Hillingdon,
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Hannah Collins on
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Please mention
Hillingdon People
when responding
to adverts
(Singles Opportunities for Lodgings
run by Paradigm Housing Group)
Accommodation wanted
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24
your hillingdon
Hillingdon Council
Christmas and New Year
arrangements 2008/2009
Hillingdon Council will have a reduced service between 24 December 2008 and 1
January 2009. 25 and 26 December and 1 January are public holidays.
The arrangements for essential services are listed below. If you plan to visit the Civic
Centre in Uxbridge, or other council offices between these dates, it is advisable to check whether the
office is open.
Details of council services can be accessed 24 hours a day at www.hillingdon.gov.uk. Please see page
18 for information about what services you can do online.
Adult Social Care, Health and Housing
Leisure centres
Meals service:
There will be a weekend service from 25 December to
28 December and on 1 January with normal service
on 24, 29, 30 and 31 December.
Highgrove Pool will be open from 8am to 2pm on 24
and 31 December, with the pool closing at 1.30pm,
closed on 25 and 26 December. It will be open as
normal on 27, 28, 29 and 30 December. It will be
closed on 1 January and open normal from 2 January.
Day centres:
Asha Day Centre
Opening and closing at normal time, 9am to 4.30pm
during Christmas and New Year period. The centre
will be closed on 25, 26 December and 1 January.
Hayes Pool will be closed on 24, 25, 26 December and
1 January and open from 8am to 2pm on 31
December with the pool closing at 1.30pm.
Eastbury Road
The centre will be closed on 25, 26 December and 1
January but open as usual for the rest of the holidays.
Queensmead Sports Centre will be closed on 24, 25
and 26 December, open from 10am to 4pm on 27 and
28 December, open as normal on 29 and 30
December, closed on 31 December and 1 January and
open as normal on 2 January.
Grassy Meadow
The centre will be open over the Christmas and New
Year period as usual. It will be closed on 25, 26
December and 1 January.
Poplar Farm
The centre will be closed on 25 and 26 December and
1 January and open as usual through the rest of the
holiday period.
Poplar Farm DC Saturday Service
The Saturday service is due to be closed on
27 December.
Noise service
The service will be closed on 25, 26 December and 1
January. Open from 9pm to 3am on 27 December,
7pm to 1am on 28 December and from 9am to 5pm
on 29, 30 and 31 December.
Hillingdon Council’s Contact Centre
Closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Normal opening hours (8am to 6pm) for all other days.
See page 33 for all the numbers and opening times.
Rubbish collection
For rubbish collection dates over Christmas, please see
page 11, or visit our website at
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/recycling.
Hayes Stadium Sports Centre is closed from 24 December
to 1 January and will re-open as normal on 2 January.
Libraries
All libraries are closing at 1pm on 24 December and
will be closed on 25 and 26 December. They will be
open usual hours from 27 December until 30
December. On 31 December the libraries will close at
5.30pm and will remain closed until 2 January when
usual hours will resume.
Hayes One Stop Shop
The One Stop Shop will be closed on Christmas Day,
Boxing Day and New Years Day and open as usual all
other days.
Health services
There will be no evening contraceptive clinics on
Wednesday 24 or 31 December.
There will be a clinic at Uxbridge Health Centre on
27, 29 and 30 December.
The Hesa Centre in Station Road, Hayes, will be
holding a clinic at 1.30pm on 24 and 31 December.
Yiewsley Health Centre will be open from 9.30am to
11.30am and Warren Medical Centre, Hayes, is open
on 30 December from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
There will be an emergency service at Hillingdon
Hospital Accident and Emergency department.
25
Cleaner, Greener
Hillingdon
Abandoned vehicles success
Hillingdon is best in London for the removal of abandoned
vehicles on our streets.
The number of abandoned vehicles in the borough has
dropped for the last five years and the latest figures show we
have the least in London and are fifth best in the country.
In 2002/03 there were 3,741 vehicles, in the years 04/05
there were 310 and in the years 2006/07 only 214. The
reduction is being put down to a combination of tougher
enforcement, new rules deterring car dumpers and high
scrap metal prices.
vehicle is taken
An abandoned in Bolingbroke Way,
off the street
Hayes
To count as an abandoned vehicle a number of
inspections must be carried out, including road tax
status, condition of vehicle, age, damage and nature of
area where left. If you wish to report a vehicle you will
need to provide as much information about the vehicle
as possible such as its location, car model, colour and
registration. All requests should be sent to the council’s
Customer Contact Centre on 01895 556000.
National Tree Week
The end of November marks National Tree Week, a week celebrating
trees and woods and signalling the start of the tree planting season.
The council will be planting trees as part of the week. The first
survey of trees in the borough has just been completed and more
than 700 trees that are dead or dying have been identified. These
are now being removed.
The survey means new trees will be planted at the sites where
these trees are being removed. It also means tree pruning can be
programmed rather than being pruned reactively when we get
complaints or enquiries.
Cllr Sandra Jenkins, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “As
one of the greenest boroughs in London, trees have a unique
role in ensuring the borough is a pleasant and attractive place
to live and work. It is important we preserve the trees we have
and plant more to benefit future generations.”
Tree li
Cranforned path in
d Park
26
News in brief
Hillingdon cycle training
one of best in London
Noisy neighbour fined
Hillingdon Council has been
praised for the quality of its
free cycle training for young
people in a recent study
commissioned by Transport
for London (TfL).
A man who left his stereo
blaring while he went out has
been fined £250 and £500 costs
and a £15 victim surcharge
after pleading guilty at Uxbridge
Magistrates Court.
The study stated: “Hillingdon
has a very highly skilled
professional team delivering
very high quality training. The
team is diverse and will be an
excellent resource for local
development and innovation.
Much of the training could be
used as a blueprint for good
practice for other borough
training schemes.”
Tuna Ozel of Uxbridge, was
visited by the council’s Noise
Team after a complaint was
received by one of his
neighbours. When they visited
his home, the front door and
entire house was shaking due
to the loud music.
The Noise Team and Police
forced entry to the house and
seized noise equipment
including 200 watt speakers.
Older people can have
allotments rotovated
Green fingered older residents
are set to benefit from ready
rotovated allotments to help
them stay more healthy, active
and encourage more of them to
take up plots.
Leader of the Council and Older
People’s Champion, Cllr Ray
Puddifoot, made the
announcement to mark
National Allotments Week. The
council is also looking at ways
to improve access to allotments
and introducing toilets.
Trainee cycl
practice
their skills atists
B
re
Junior School, R akspear
uislip
The council’s Road Safety team
currently trains 1,500
youngsters aged between nine
and 11 years, one of the highest
number in London. The
Bikeability scheme helps ensure
that people using bikes are
trained to a national standard
and have the skills and
confidence to ride their bikes
safely on the borough’s roads.
New water feature makes a splash
Children have enjoyed
splashing in a new
water play feature at
Ruislip Lido.
The 300sq m interactive
feature has been built
on the beach outside
the beach café. The
council funded the
£155,000 installation,
which opened in
September.
There are a number of available
plots in the borough, please call
01895 277765 or email
nporter@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Dangerous fireworks
shop prosecuted
A shopkeeper has been fined
£350 and ordered to pay £400
costs after pleading guilty at
Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court for
failing to store fireworks safely.
Karim Mawji, of Young’s in Field
End Road, Eastcote, was found to
be storing fireworks incorrectly
after an underage fireworks test
purchasing exercise by Trading
Standards Officers. They were
not stored safely or securely or
away from combustible material
in the shop. The container
outside the rear of the shop was
also open and accessible by
members of the public.
re
the water featu
Children enjoy
Ruislip Lido
at
The feature will be
closed over the winter
but will re-open again
next Easter. It is made
up of a number of
different elements,
including jet sprays
and is designed to be
suitable for young
children of a variety
of ages.
Cllr Sandra Jenkins,
Cabinet Member for
Environment, said: “This is the first
water feature of this size in Hillingdon and I hope children have
enjoyed it and are looking forward to playing in it again next year. I
am sure it has been a big hit with children and their parents and will
provide lots of enjoyment for those who visit.”
27
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Be Healthy & Warm
• Do you own your own home but do
not have central heating?
• Do you have an old in-efficient boiler that
costs you the earth to run?
• Or has your boiler packed in or is it about to?
If you receive income or disability related benefits and have
no heating system or if your boiler is in need of
replacement, you may be entitled to a grant.
[Subject to available funding. Grants
do not cover boiler repairs or servicing.]
Having a warm home that you can afford to heat is essential for
your health and well-being.
With energy costs continually rising, having an efficient gas central heating system can save you
£££’s off your heating bills!
To be considered, please complete the reply form below. OWNER OCCUPIERS ONLY!
Name: _________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________ Post code: __________________
Telephone: ______________________________________________________________________
Are you over 60?
Yes
No Are you disabled?
Yes
No
Do you have children under 16?
Yes
No
Please indicate which benefits you receive:
Pension Credit
Income Support
Disability Living Allowance
Attendance Allowance
Incapacity Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Other (Please state) ____________________________________________________________
Tenure:
Please indicate details about your present heating:
I own my own home
My gas central heating has broken down
I rent my home privately
My gas boiler is working but is old and in need of
I rent my home through a
replacement
Housing Association
I do not have a gas central heating system
I rent my home through the council
Please return your completed reply form to:
Grants & Energy Team, London Borough of Hillingdon
Private Sector Housing, 2E/07 Civic Centre
High Street, Uxbridge
Middlesex, UB8 1UW
28
Entertain yourself in the
run-up to Christmas
Whether you want to find out about life as a superhero, keep the children occupied
with a pantomime, or treat them to a ride with Santa himself, there are plenty of
events to keep the winter days flying by.
Super – A musical comedy about the superhuman condition
The world premier of this newly-written work, performed by the Purple
Theatre Company. An original show, written by a Hillingdon resident,
Phil Burton, along with Bas Dickson Leach and Toby Vennard.
What’s it like to be a superhero? To go day to day, fighting crime
and righting wrongs, all in the name of justice, while all the time
wearing a colourful costume that some may point out as silly? This is
the hilarious tale of what it means to live up to the title of superhero,
whilst living in the world they have to protect. And what’s more,
doing it to music! Come along and see the Purple Theatre Company
do what they do best - saving the world one laugh at a time.
Cost: £11, all tickets on opening night are £9. Concessions are
available on Thursday only at £9
When: Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th November, 7.30pm
Where: Compass Theatre, Glebe Avenue, Ickenham
Information: Visit www.meanwhiledotdotdot.com or to book tickets
call the Compass Theatre box office on 01895 673200.
Peter Pan
Featuring Leslie Grantham, Toby Hull and Emu from CiTV, and
Mark Jones who makes a return by popular demand as Smee.
This is the enchanting tale of the boy who never grew up brought to
life through magical sets and costumes. It is being staged by Qdos
Pantomimes, the same team that presented last year’s record-breaking
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Peter Pan promises to have
the Beck’s hallmark
of quality and value for money.
Cost: £16.50 and £20
When: Friday 12 December to Sunday 4 January, various times
Where: The Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes
Contact: Visit www.becktheatre.org.uk
or telephone 020 8561 8371.
Have a train
ride with Santa
Santa has confirmed that he will be visiting the Ruislip Lido
Railway again to meet good boys and girls from across the
borough.
The man himself will be appearing at the railway on three
Saturdays in the run up to Christmas. The railway will also be
running at the usual times from 26 December until 3 January.
When: 7, 14 and 21 December
Where: Ruislip Lido Railway, Reservoir Road, Ruislip
Contact: To book your ride with Santa, you can book in
advance in October and November on 0845 643 0182, or you
can turn up on the day. Visit www.ruisliplidorailway.org for
more information on times.
29
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30
Gift wrapping
help needed
Could you help
the homeless?
If you enjoy gift
wrapping and have a
couple of hours to spare
to help raise money for
charity, you could help
Michael Sobell House.
The charity is having
two days of wrapping in
the Chimes and Mall
Pavilions shopping
centres in December.
For more information
please contact Ophelia
Chambers-Henry on
01923 844829 or email
ochambers@michaelso
bellhouse.co.uk
Hillingdon Council will
soon be opening its
winter shelter for
homeless men for the
third year running –
the result of close
collaboration and joint
working with some of
our key external
partners and local
church groups.
The shelter will run
from 12 January – 8
March and will once
again be based at St.
Andrew’s Church hall
in Uxbridge.
It will provide bed
spaces for up to eight
rough sleepers each
night during the coldest
weeks of the year.
The winter night
shelter will be staffed
by an experienced
manager working
alongside a bank of
volunteers who will
help by either supplying
an evening meal, assist
with cleaning and
preparing packed
lunches for the next
day or provide sleeping
night cover to support
the manager.
If you would like to
volunteer for any of
these roles or think
you can make a
donation, please
contact Gillian
Donnelly on 01895
556935 or email
gdonnelly@hillingdon.g
ov.uk for more
information from
Monday to Friday.
to help transporting
adults with learning
difficulties or physically
disabled people to a
leisure activities club
twice a week.
The group is affiliated
to the Royal Mencap
Society and aims to
provide help and
support for adults with
learning disabilities
along with their parents
and carers. Volunteers
would be driving a
Mencap minibus and
a minibus licence is
not necessary.
Any drivers would
also be welcome to
help in the club itself.
Age Concern advice
shop in Uxbridge.
The role would be on
a Thursday or Friday
morning and would be
based in Uxbridge.
time on your hands?
Could you
be a friend?
Help blind people
stay independent
The Community Cancer
Support and Drop-in
Service is looking for
volunteers to support
cancer patients and
their carers. If you are a
caring person and are
willing to be a listening
ear, and can be
dedicated to the role,
this could be the perfect
opportunity for you.
Training will be
provided for anyone
interested in skills of
self management,
befriending, fatigue
management,
symptom/pain cycle,
mental/physical
exercise,
communication and
assertiveness.
Volunteers can be
male or female and of
any age, as long as you
have a basic
understanding of
cancer and the needs
of cancer patients.
The role will be based
within the borough.
Could you offer blind
and partially sighted
people the chance to
live more independent
lives?
Hillingdon Association
for the Blind is looking
for volunteers for the
Home Visiting Service,
which supports blind,
partially sighted and
deafblind clients to
lead independent lives
in their own homes,
the MidSight help and
information desks at
Hillingdon and Mount
Vernon Hospitals and
also to help provide IT
training.
If you are able to
space a couple of
hours a week or a
fortnight, you could
help provide a valuable
service to the visually
impaired. Full training
will be given.
Mini bus
drivers needed
The Wren Club in
Ruislip needs a driver
Information and
advice volunteer
A friendly and helpful
volunteer who is able
to empathise and offer
support and assistance
in solving problems is
needed to help at the
Can you
help DASH?
The Disablement
Association Hillingdon
(DASH) is run by and
with disabled people,
their carers and
professionals with an
interest in disabilities.
Volunteer minibus
drivers are needed for
the Activities 4 All
project, which takes
disabled people to a
variety of activities,
including theatres or
safari parks.
You will need to be
over 21 and have held
a full European driving
licence for more than
two years. Midas
training will be provided.
For more information on
these appeals call the
Volunteer Centre Hillingdon
on 01895 442730
31
advertisements
Do you have good quality, unwanted
furniture or electricals?
For free and friendly collection, please contact us
on: 01895 256655 or 020 8797 9505
email:
shop@trinityhomelessprojects.org
We are a social enterprise that recycles quality
unwanted furniture and electricals, providing
paid employment and training to disadvantaged
people and bargain prices to the public.
Trimfleet House, Arundel Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2SD
Reg. Charity No. 1118222, Company No. 03683014
www.trinityhomelessprojects.org
32
Golden
numbers
Environment and
Street Scene
01895 556000
Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm
Anti-Social Behaviour
0800 694 0240
Council Tax
01895 250000
Housing/Council Tax
Benefits,Noise and
Housing Needs
01895 556666
Older Peoples’ Services
01895 556633
Racial Harassment
0800 694 0240
Mon - Fri, 9am – 5pm
School Admissions
and Benefits
01895 556644
Council Main
Switchboard
01895 250111
Mon – Fri,
8.30am – 5.30pm
Trees & Landscapes
01895 250230
Fraud Hotline
0800 389 8313
24 hours
Out of Hours Service
01895 250111
Advice and
support
To report housing
benefit fraud and other
fraudulent claims
including the
unauthorised
occupation of council
housing
0800 389 8313
Families’ Information
Service
0800 073 4800
Citizens’ advice
0870 126 4021
Hayes One Stop Shop
01895 556004
hayesonestop@
hillingdon.gov.uk
Hillingdon
Independent Domestic
Violence Advocacy
Service
020 8246 174
Care services
To request social
services for people
aged over 65 years or
for younger people
who have physical or
sensory disabilities
01895 556633
Careline
01895 250380
Adoption and fostering
01895 277850
Drugs or sexual health
for young people up to
21 years
01895 257285
Community
information
Hillingdon Age
Concern
01895 431331
Hillingdon Racial
Equality Council
020 8848 1380
London Fire Brigade
(Hillingdon team)
020 7587 4402
NoTRAG
020 8759 1677
Samaritans
01895 253355
Social Security
(Benefits Agency)
020 8426 3000
Three Valley Water
0800 376 5325
Environment
and street
scene
To report abandoned
cars, flytipping,
graffiti, flooding, grass
cutting, parks and
open spaces, potholes
and pavements,
recycling, refuse
collection, trees, street
lighting, parking
appeals and request
special collections
01895 556000
Current and proposed
roadworks in Hillingdon
roadworks
Learning
Library information
desk
01895 250600
Advice and guidance
(young people)
01895 257855
Enquiries about school
transport
01895 250008
Enquiries about school
admission
01895 556644
Truancy hotline
01895 250858
Leisure
General leisure
enquiries
01895 250453
sportsdev@hillingdon.
gov.uk
Hayes Pool
020 8573 2785
Hayes Stadium
020 8573 0093
Highgrove Pool,
Ruislip
01895 630753
Queensmead Sports
Centre, South Ruislip
020 8845 6010
Local
democracy
Councillors’ names,
addresses and advice
surgeries
01895 250600
Council meeting dates
and agendas
01895 250636
Conservative group
office
01895 250316/250728
Electoral registration
01895 250251
electoralservices@
hillingdon.gov.uk
Labour group office
01895 250780/250271
Liberal Democrats
group office
01895 277821
Mayor’s Office
01895 250763
Planning
applications
Building control
enquiries, inspection
requests and
dangerous structures
01895 250804
/05/06/07/08
Dangerous structures
(out of hours)
01895 250111
Land charges
enquiries
01895 250689
Hospitals
Harefield Hospital
01895 823737
Hillingdon Hospital
01895 238282
Mount Vernon Hospital
01923 826111
Northwick Park
Hospital
020 8864 3232
Watford General
Hospital
01923 244366
NHS Direct advice line
0845 4647
Police
Hayes
020 8569 1212
Ruislip
01895 251212
Uxbridge
01895 251212
West Drayton
01895 437212
hillingdon.enquiries@
met.police.uk
Hillingdon Police
Community Advice
Line (for non urgent
matters)
020 8246 1860
Mon – Sat,
10am – 5pm
Community Safety Unit
(to report race crime)
020 8246 1766
33
For more information visit
Music
Sine Nomine Singers’
Golden Jubilee Concert
Saturday 15 November, 7pm
The Sine Nomine Singers
will be celebrating their 50th
anniversary with a performance
of Haydn’s Creation.
Cost: £10
Contact: 020 8933 9708,
mail@sinenomine.org.uk,
www.sinenomine.org.uk
All Saints’ Church
An evening with
Andy Abraham
Wednesday 19 November,
7.30pm
Andy Abraham won the
hearts of millions of
television viewers as he
competed to win X Factor,
and this event will showcase
songs from his three albums.
Contact: 020 8561 8371
Beck Theatre
A Celebration of
Flanders and Swann
Friday 12 December, 7.30pm
Starring Gordon Peters, star
of BBC1’s Gordon Peters
Show and Dad’s Army,
presented by Ruislip Lions
Club in aid of local charities.
Cost: Adults £12 and
children £8
Contact: 07806 766993
Winston Churchill Hall
Ruislip Lions
Christmas Concert
Saturday 13 December, 7.30pm
Starring music, theatre and
dance. In aid of local charities.
Cost: Adults £12, children £8
Contact: 07806 766993
Winston Churchill Hall
Leisure
Girls Football
Every Tuesday, 6.30pm
and Saturday, 10.45am
Girls football training for
school years 4-9 with
Ruislip Rangers Youth FC.
Open to experienced
players and beginners
alike. Goalkeepers
particularly welcome.
Contact: Dave Holden on
07956 304966 or email
d_l_holden@yahoo.co.uk.
Tuesday - Goals South
Ruislip; Saturday - Kings
College Playing Fields.
Taekwondo Classes
Wednesday and Friday
evenings, Saturday morning
All levels of ability are
welcome in this friendly
and thriving club, from five
years old. Please enquire
about our adults only class.
Contact: Brian 020 8423 6088,
or visit
www.ruisliptaekwondo.com
South Ruislip Community
Centre
Kids’ Karate
Wednesdays,
5.45pm – 6.45pm
Suitable for children aged
seven and over.
Contact: 01895 440486.
St Giles’ Church Hall
Postnatal Yoga for
Mums and Babies
will be available to buy after
the show. Hot and cold
canapés will be served and
there will be a licensed bar.
Cost: £20
Contact: 01923 844829 or
email ochambers@
michaelsobellhouse.co.uk
Elstree Film Studio
Thursdays 9.45 – 11.15am,
A great way to help with back
pain, stiffness and other
aches, to firm up tummy
muscles, fight exhaustion
and bond with the baby
through gentle exercises.
Contact: Katja 07951 763851
or email
katjapatel@yahoo.co.uk
Ickenham First Girl Guide hut
Christmas door hangings
Christmas Gift Fayre
Model Christmas tree
making
Saturday 15 November,
10.30am – 2.30pm
Come and buy lovely new gifts
from various gift stalls all in
aid of Michael Sobell House.
Cost: Entry £2, refreshments
will be available
Michael Sobell House
Saturday Special – Minet
Wild Adventure!
Saturday 15 November,
2pm – 4pm
Suitable for children aged
five to 11. Come along to our
wild adventure and explore
the deepest depths of Minet
Country Park. Please bring
suitable clothes, footwear
and your imagination but
parents not required.
Contact: Sarah Leedham
020 8573 0761
Minet Country Park
Ruislip Manor Chamber
of Commerce Christmas
lights
Saturday 15 November
The Christmas lights in Ruislip
Manor will be switched on
with a mini fun day for
families, with sideshows, a
barbecue and music.
The lights will be officially
switched on by Deputy Mayor
of Hillingdon, Cllr Shirley
Harper-O’Neill at 5pm.
Victoria Road
Light up a life
Sunday 30 November, 4pm
You can remember a loved
one, a friend, or celebrate a
new life at our service this
year. Dedication forms are
available from the main
noticeboard or the
fundraising office. Part of
the event will be taking
place outside so please
dress accordingly.
Glitzy glamour evening
at Elstree Studios
Thursday 4 December,
7.30pm for 8pm start
A pre-Christmas party
complete with catwalk
fashion and work by fashion
students, some of which
Thursday 18 December,
2pm – 4pm
A special event as part of
Caring, actually, for the over
60s. Includes refreshments.
Cost: £5 per person
Contact: Booking is
essential, please contact
01895 270730
Iver Nature Study Centre
Monday 22 December,
10.30am – 12.30pm
Part of the I’m Bored
programme, suitable for
children five to nine years
old. You can make a model
Christmas tree and
decorate it with sweets.
Cost: £8 per child
Contact: Booking is
essential, please contact
01895 270730
Theatre
Harefield Amateur
Dramatic Society
present Rumours
Thursday 13 to Saturday 15
November, 8pm
A comedy by Neil Simon.
Cost: £7.50, concessions £5
on Thursday only
Contact: 01895 823633 or
O’Donoghues in High
Street, Harefield
St Mary’s Church Hall
venues
All Saint’s Church
The Ghost Train
Wednesday 19 to Saturday
22 November, 7.45pm
Ruislip Dramatic Society
presents a classic thriller,
written by Arnold Ridley, and
filled with suspense, mystery
and a dramatic storyline that
will leave you guessing until
its conclusion.
Cost: Tickets cost £10, £9 for
concessions on Wednesday
and Thursday only.
Contact: Visit
www.ruislipdramatic.org or
telephone RDS on 01895
637422 or the Compass
Theatre on 01895 673200.
Compass Theatre
Hurricane Productions
present Dick Whittington
Sunday 23rd November,
2pm – 3.30pm
Capture the children’s
imagination with our classic
take of Dick Whittington and
his cat! This show is ideally
suited to children aged 3-11
years old.
Cost: Adults £6, children
and senior citizens £4 each.
Contact: 020 8845 1714 for
more information and
ticket sales.
Yeading Community Centre
The Purple Theatre
Company presents
Super - A musical
comedy about the
superhuman condition
Wednesday 26 to Saturday
29 November, 7.30pm
See page 29 for details.
Mount Vernon Hospital
(see below)
Long Lane, Hillingdon
Minet Country Park
Beck Theatre
Springfield Road, Hayes
Grange Road, Hayes
Mount Vernon Hospital,
Compass Theatre
via gate 3, off White Hill,
Northwood.
Glebe Avenue, Ickenham
Elstree Film Studio
Shenley Road,
Borehamwood, Herts
Ickenham First
Girl Guide hut
St Edmund’s Hall
Pinner Road, Northwood Hills
St Giles’ Church Hall
Swakeleys Road, Ickenham
St Mary’s Church Hall
Community Close, Ickenham
High Street, Harefield
Ickenham Library
South Ruislip
Community Centre
Community Close, Long
Lane, Ickenham
Long Drive, South Ruislip
Yeading Community Centre
Slough Road, Iver Heath, Bucks Ditchfield Road, Yeading
Kings College Playing Fields Winston Churchill Hall
Kings College Road, Ruislip
Pinn Way, Ruislip
If you wish to publicise an event, please email details to
hillingdonpeople@hillingdon.gov.uk or send to Hillingdon
People, 3E/07 Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW.
Events are selected at the editor’s discretion.
35

Hillingdon People - London Borough of Hillingdon

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