News

Local Picket Line in Civil Servants’ Strike

2010-03-09T15:01:09Z

I joined the picket lines set up over the last two days by the PCS trade union at both the Hayes Job Centre and the HMRC offices in Uxbridge. I support the union in this national dispute and support my constituents in taking this industrial action. The Government has unilaterally imposed a significant cut in the compensation arrangements for civil servants who are made redundant. This tears up the contract on which the Government hired these workers. We know that the Government and opposition parties are all predicting large numbers of cuts in public sector jobs. This change in the compensation arrangements will mean that many civil servants who lose their jobs will now also lose large amounts of redundancy payments. I have laid an Early Day Motion before Parliament opposing this measure and gained the support of over 150 MPs. However the Government is refusing to hold a vote in Parliament on this issue and is now refusing further negotiations with PCS. I am calling on Government Ministers to return to the negotiating table to resolve this dispute. I interviewed PCS members on the picket line in Hillingdon.

Petition For Bus Route to Hayes Working Mens’ Club

2010-03-08T16:33:35Z

Last week we presented a petition to the Deputy Mayor for London, Richard Barnes, calling upon the Mayor and Greater London Authority to provide a bus route that links up Pump Lane in Hayes, enabling people to access Hayes Working Mens’ Club and the various shops, offices and factories in the Pump Lane area. This is needed as more and more people are using this area and need public transport to reach its facilities.

John Launches Shop Local Campaign to Save Heathrow Villages.

2010-03-08T16:25:13Z

The 3rd Runway has blighted not just homes but also local shops and businesses. This is a double whammy for local shopkeepers and publicans who live above their business premises. They are at risk of losing their homes and their businesses. I am making representations to BAA and the Government to compensate those who are threatened in this way and I raised this issue at Prime Minister’s questions. I have also launched a “Shop Local Campaign” urging all those who support us in our campaign against the 3rd runway to help us to save our local businesses and shops by shopping locally. In this way people can help our campaign to preserve our local village life. Please come and shop and visit our local pubs and restaurants in Sipson and the local Heathrow villages.

Debate on Football in Parliament

2010-02-16T13:23:21Z

Hayes has always been a footballing area dating from the early history of football in this country. With Hayes and Yeading United gaining promotion to the Conference Premier division the fortunes of the local team and the state of football generally are important issues for many of my constituents. Last week there was a debate in Parliament on the administration of football and the need for reform. It was a short debate in which I took the opportunity to set out briefly some ideas for reform to secure the long term future of the sport. You can see this film of the debate.

Tackling the Flytipping in Alleyways in Hayes

2010-02-16T13:08:58Z

For some time now I have been working with local Councillor Lynne Allen to try and tackle the flytipping that is causing such a mess in the alleyway in Hayes town centre between East Avenue and Coldharbour Lane. I visited the alley this weekend and saw again the mess and health hazard that is being caused by rubbish dumped in the alleys. At long last action has been promised by the council in the coming weeks. As in other areas where I have forced the Council to tackle this issue I will keep the pressure up to secure improvements. I interviewed Councillor Lynne Allen, who has worked hard on this problem across the Townfield ward.

Sahara Fundraising Trek by Local Nurses

2010-02-06T14:32:45Z

A group of local palliative care nurses, including Claire Colman, Claire Young, Liz Bunker, Fiona Hamer and Lorraine Barton, is undertaking a 100 km trek across the Sahara to raise funds for a new centre at Hillingdon Hospital, which will provide information and practical support for people and their families, who have been diagnosed with serious health conditions. This is a brilliant new initiative, which deserves our support. The group aims to raise the funding for the project from the Macmillan charity from local people. They have already raised £20,000 by people sponsoring their fundraising trek. Please help if you can. Lorraine explains the project and how you can help in this film. To show your support visit www.justgiving.com/theraragirls

Opening of Townfield Community Centre

2010-02-06T14:19:11Z

Last weekend we celebrated the re-opening of Townfield Community Centre in Townfield Road in Hayes. In the 1980s I grant aided the centre when I was the local GLC Councillor but unfortunately the local council for years failed to maintain the centre and it became derelict and unsafe. Thanks to our campaigning as local residents and especially local Councillor Lynne Allen, we prevented the site being sold off by the council and last year gained a grant of half a million pounds from the government, which I helped secure, and £100,000 from HCT to renovate and reopen the centre. The centre will be for local community use for everybody. Hillingdon Age Concern will manage the centre but it is open for use for all ages. Do go along and have a look. It has been renovated and furnished to a high standard, including a built in underground renewable energy source. If you are part of a group that would like to use the centre contact Julie, the centre manager, who I have interviewed in this film.

Debate on Punjabi Community in Britain

2010-02-04T16:20:17Z

A large number of my constituents are of Punjabi origin. Consequently I am the chair of the All Party Group in Parliament on the Punjabi Community in Britain. This group serves as the voice of the Punjabi community in Parliament. From time to time I apply to hold a debate to discuss the issues we are dealing with and the progress of our work. This year’s Adjournment Debate on the Punjabi Community in Britain was held yesterday in the Westminster Hall chamber of Parliament. This is the film of the debate. If you move the slider under the picture it to 02.037 it will take to the start of the debate.

Compensation for Small Businesses blighted by 3rd Runway Threat.

2010-02-04T00:41:10Z

Local small businesses in Sipson have beeen blighted by the threat of the 3rd runway. There is no compensation scheme in place to assist these businesses. Some people, like the local hairdresser and publican, who live above their workplaces, are thretaened with losing their homes and jobs if a 3rd runway goes ahead. I have demanded compensation and protection for my constituents effected in this way. I raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Question time in order to secure a meeting with Ministers to resolve this pressing problem.

Challenging the Consensus

2010-01-22T23:57:48Z

In the debate in Parliament this week on the Government’s Fiscal Responsibility Bill there emerged a grotesque consensus across all the main political parties that the people who will pay for the economic crisis brought about by greedy bankers and incompetent ministers will be ordinary working people who will suffer cuts in public services and job losses. In the short time I was given to speak I challenged this consensus.

Conservative Bow Group Report Backs Heathrow Expansion

2010-01-22T15:38:57Z

Local people may have seen this report which appeared on the BBC News website yesterday and has been followed up in today’s newspapers.

“Heseltine backs Heathrow expansion report”

Conservative leader David Cameron’s decision to oppose the expansion of Heathrow airport has been questioned in a report backed by Lord Heseltine.
A report by Tory think tank the Bow Group says rail versus air is a “false debate” and there was a need for extra capacity at Heathrow.
Lord Heseltine, a key adviser to Mr Cameron, writes the report’s foreword. Backing a high-speed rail network, the Bow Group says it is essential it connects directly to Heathrow, rather than through a spur or loop line, to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. But it argues this cannot substitute for further growth at Heathrow as a new link will actually create demand for more flights from people wanting to take advantage of the better transport links. “Many commentators believe that a high-speed rail network is a substitute for extra runway at Heathrow,” it argues. “The reality is that they are complementary.”

This is obviously a worrying sign. On the last two occasions where a promise has been given by opposition parties opposing Heathrow expansion, they have reneged on this commitment soon after they were elected. In response on Monday I am launching a “Heathrow Manifesto” with an Early Day Motion in Parliament asking MPs of all parties to commit themselves to preventing the 3rd runway by signing the EDM statement promising not to support a 3rd runway at Heathrow. In this way my aim is to demonstrate that whoever forms the next Government a majority of MPs from all parties will prevent the runway going ahead.

Fresh Fish Shop Opening is Good News for Hayes in New Year

2009-12-30T17:03:13Z

This month a fresh fish shop has opened Hayes Town Centre. This is really good news for the continuing revival of town centre for the New Year. There hasn’t been a fresh fish shop in the town centre for many, many years. The new shop greatly improves the opportunities for local shoppers. The new shop is the venture of local resident Mr Mohammed Titouh. There is a real gap in the market for local fresh fish, particularly with the promotion of fish as part of a healthy diet, and this shop provides a wide range of the fresh fish and seafoods that are in local demand. The shop is located in the town centre near to both the Hesa Health Centre and St Anselm’s church. It will make a major contribution to reviving our town centre. A few years ago I set up the Hayes Town Centre Partnership to bring together all those agencies, businesses and local groups who could assist in regenerating our town centre. Since then there have been quite a few improvements but there is alot more that needs to be done. One of my New Year’s resolutions will be to continue to do all I can to bring our town centre back to life. In 2010 we will be organising through Hayes FM the Hayes Town Centre community arts programme, which will aim to attract people into the town centre not just for shopping during the day but also for a wide range of entertainment in the evening.

Community Groups at Hayes Christmas Festival

2009-12-23T10:06:40Z

Many community groups and local churches joined the Hayes Christmas Festival setting up their stalls and singing carols, including Hayes Town Chapel, Hillingdon’s Rural Activities Centre, Breathe Easy, the Hayes Elim Church and Hayes Methodist Church. The Hayes Methodist Church sets up its stall every Saturday in the town centre.

Fair Trade Stall at Hayes Christmas Festival

2009-12-23T09:47:48Z

Local community groups came along to the Hayes Christmas Festival and set up stalls to promote their organisations and raise funds for their causes. The local Fair Trade group came along. Fair trade is taking off in Hayes and the aim is to make Hayes a Fair Trade town. Ann explains in this film how Fair Trade is is being promoted locally.

West Drayton Training Band at the Hayes Christmas Festival

2009-12-23T09:41:07Z

The young people, who form the training section of the West Drayton Brass band, came along to paly at the Hayes Christmas Festival as well. The training band provides young people with an introduction to music and the opportunity to gain experience in performing. They go on to become members of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Brass Band.