News from January 2012
Friday, 27 Jan 2012
Protest Demonstration to Save Lake Farm Country Park.
I have discovered that the Council has been considering its plans to build on Lake Farm in secret. The Council has secretly commissioned and received a feasibility study on building on Lake Farm and has kept the report of the feasibility study secret. The Councillors also decided that this issue would only be considered in the secret part of its Cabinet meeting this week (Thursday) giving no opportunity for local residents to have sight of the reports to councillors, to comment on the proposal or to attend the meeting and even listen to the debate. Councillors sitting in secret to carve up local community assets isn’t democracy it is a dictatorship. Over 150 local residents attended a public meeting I convened earlier this month to protest at the Council’s proposals to build on our country park but we have heard nothing from the Council. There has been no public consultation and no discussion with local schools or the community on alternative sites for a school to avoid destroying our local green belt land. As a community we are not going to be ridden over roughshod in this way. We pay our rates that fund these councillors and we demand that decisions are in public, the feasibility study and non commercial reports are published and that local residents have their say.
Local residents are holding a protest demonstration on Botwell Common on Saturday 25th February meeting at 11am at the Skylark Statue on the Common, Botwell Lane. Come and join us in this fight to save our country park.
Read 'Protest Demonstration to Save Lake Farm Country Park.' in full...
Worries About the Effect of Local Police Cuts
Local MP John McDonnell has Expressed his Worries about Police Cuts in London.
The latest Home Office figures published this week have revealed that police numbers have dropped by over 8000 nationally with 1,710 officers being cut in London.I am now really worried at what the Government is doing to our police force. The cuts to the Metropolitan Police are deeply concerning given that serious crime is rising in our area. In the London area, robbery and theft from a person are up 14.8%, rape up 8% and residential burglary up 8.4%. We are also faced with local Police Officers being called away to police the Olympics and the Royal Jubilee celebrations in central London. I fear for our community as result of these cuts. The Government needs to think again.
Read 'Worries About the Effect of Local Police Cuts' in full...
Tuesday, 17 Jan 2012
Local Elections for Youth Parliament
Every year young people between the ages of 11 and 18 in Hillingdon have the chance to vote for their local representatives to the national Youth Parliament. The Youth Parliament speaks up for young people in this country and advises the Government about the concerns of young people and what issues and policies young people want the Government to address. I met Soila Apparicio, who is standing this year to be one of the three local representatives to the Youth Parliament. Soila is a student at Ruislip High School and her family lives in Hayes. She is brimming with ideas on what issues need to be tackled to improve the lives of young people in our area and clearly is committed to working hard for young people in our area if she is elected. You can tell that from this short interview with her that I filmed. Voting is between 6th and 10th February. People have three votes. Voting is online and voting slips can be obtained from your school or youth centre or by contacting the council. There are two candidates from Hewens College in Hayes and I will try and catch up with them too.
Read 'Local Elections for Youth Parliament' in full...
Monday, 16 Jan 2012
Nestles Closure in Hayes is a Devastating Blow to Local Economy
Nestles has announced today that it will be closing its Hayes’ factory by the end of 2014 with the loss of 230 jobs in our area. This is a devastating blow to our local economy and our community. I am deeply shocked at this decision by the company and so upset for the workers that are losing their jobs and the consequences for their families. Nestle has been part of our local history, providing skilled jobs to local people. It will be sorely missed. I will be meeting with the company and the trade union to secure the best redundancy compensation possible and assistance in securing alternative employment, including retraining, for the workers at risk. We must also not lose this valuable site for employment and I will be doing all I can to attract new employers to this site.
Read 'Nestles Closure in Hayes is a Devastating Blow to Local Economy' in full...
Tuesday, 10 Jan 2012
Government Announcement on High Speed Rail Today
The Government has announced its decision today to go ahead with the construction of a high speed line from London to Birmingham, with the prospect of it being extended eventually to the north of England and Scotland. As a result of all the local campaigning the Government has amended its plans to put the track travelling through the north of the borough into tunnels. There is still no announcement of any route for a Heathrow spur. This is left to Phase 2 of the process when proposals will be brought forward on the options for extending the line from Birmingham to the north and any direct connection to Heathrow. It is clear that the Government is willing to minimise damage to communities in urban areas by the use of tunneling. The plans to tunnel in the north of the borough is a victory for local campaigners but failing to consult on the whole route just increases the uncertainty about the possible Heathrow link and the project overall. This is no way to plan a railway or any major infrastructure project. Further inforamtion is available on the Department of Tranmsport website http://www.dft.gov.uk/highspeedrail
Read 'Government Announcement on High Speed Rail Today' in full...
Monday, 09 Jan 2012
Debate on Controlling Directors’ Pay and Bonuses
Seven years go I was the first MP to raise in Parliament the need to control bankers’ bonuses. For the Early Day Motion I put forward in the Commons on this issue I gained the support of only about 30 MPs. I raised the issue every year after that with roughly the same levels of support. No leadership of any of the major political parties supported me. In July last year in the debate on last year’s Finance Bill I tabled an amendment calling upon the Government to make the vote of shareholders on the pay of their company’s executive and directors’ pay legally binding. Once again the leaderships of the main political parties did not support the measure. This week all the major parties, including the Prime Minister are calling for action on this. Funny old world! This is a film and text of my speech in the Finance Bill debate last year. Slide the scale to 05.29.53 for the start of my speech.
Read 'Debate on Controlling Directors’ Pay and Bonuses' in full...
Public Meeting to Save Lake Farm Country Park
Public Meeting to Discuss the Threat to Lake farm and Botwell Common
Botwell Social Centre Hall, Botwell Lane, Hayes (in between Botwell School and Church)
18th January at 8pm
The Council is planning to build a new primary school on Botwell Common and Lake Farm Country Park. This will destroy one of the last areas of green belt, open space in our area and set a precedent for the erosion of all the green belt in the south of the borough.The Council has argued that it needs a new primary school and yet has refused to consider properly alternative sites. Many believe that the Council is driven by financial motives and not by local educational needs. Many suspect that if it builds a school on our green belt park, it will be able to sell off other sites in the south of the borough to use these resources in the north of the borough. Yet again our community will suffer by this asset stripping of our area.There is also a fear that once a primary school is built, taking up nearly half of the existing park, the council will inevitably come back at a later date to build a secondary school on the remainder of the park.The Council is trying to rush through this attack on our green belt park. Already drilling has taken place on Botwell Common as part of the tests for construction on the site. We now need to mobilise urgently a large scale community campaign to prevent the Council destroying our local green belt open spaces.This meeting will discuss how we can work together to organise a local campaign to halt this disastrous proposal. Please come along and please tell everyone you know to join us in this campaign.
Read 'Public Meeting to Save Lake Farm Country Park' in full...
Nursery Under Threat at Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College
Local parents approached me before Christmas with the shock news that the Board of Governors at Uxbridge College was proposing to close the nursery at the Hayes Campus of the college in Coldharbour Lane, Hayes. This is dreadful news. Many parents are anxious about the future for their children. I am also extremely concerned at the potential loss of this facility to the area. If we want parents to continue to study and to work we need more childcare places not less. Uxbridge College has played a fantastic role in our area in developing the really successful Hayes Campus and has put so much back into our community. I am hoping therefore that the college will think again. I have written to the college authorities asking them to reconsider their proposal to close the nursery. The college is undertaking a consultation at the moment. If, like me, you feel the nursery should be kept open, please do let the College know.
Read 'Nursery Under Threat at Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College' in full...
Wednesday, 04 Jan 2012
Housing Crisis is Hurting In Hayes and Harlington
From what I am seeing in my advice surgeries and people contacting my office in Hayes, the housing crisis is really hurting local families as they struggle to keep a roof over their heads. The housing charity Shelter sent me the following information, which does reflect what is happening locally.
Read 'Housing Crisis is Hurting In Hayes and Harlington' in full...
News from December 2011
Monday, 19 Dec 2011
Council Cuts £600,000 from Local Primary Schools to Give to Schools in North of Borough
I have discovered that the Council is taking way away over half a million pounds from primary schools in the south of the borough to be redistributed largely to schools in the north of the borough. Under a new formula proposed by Hillingdon Council primary schools in the south of Hillingdon will suffer a net loss of £600,000 over the next three years. The schools serving the most deprived pupils will lose out whilst this money will be redistributed largely to schools in the north of the borough, serving the wealthiest areas. Yet again it is the south of the borough that is losing out at the expense of the wealthiest areas in the north of Hillingdon. To remove funds from the schools and children that need them the most is disgraceful. £600,000 is a lot of money and represents a lot of teachers jobs. It is just unfair that time and time again under this council the resources of the south of the borough are being plundered to benefit the north. Local people feel justifiably that we are being robbed.
Sunday, 11 Dec 2011
Pensions Dispute Debate In Parliament
Last week I intervened in the debate in the House of Commons on the Pensions Dispute. I urged the Government to let proper negotiations take place to settle this dispute and to stop provoking industrial action.
Read 'Pensions Dispute Debate In Parliament' in full...
Opening Laurel Lane Schoool Library
Last week I had the honour of opening the new library at Laurel Lane School in West Drayton. The library has been developed by the pupils themselves with the help of a volunteer retired librarian and their teachers. The children have designed the layout of the library, chosen many of the books, catalogued them and made labels for the bookshelves. Some of the children have become the school’s librarians and are organising the library on behalf of the other pupils. This is a marvelous school. The children are as bright as buttons and the whole atmosphere of the school is so warm, happy and inviting. This is all down to the total dedication of an inspirational headteacher, a highly committed and professional team of staff, backed up by a hard working set of governors. They all deserve our admiration and thanks.
Read 'Opening Laurel Lane Schoool Library' in full...
Council Starts Attack on Lake Farm Country Park
This week we discovered that Hillingdon Council had started test drilling on our local Lake Farm Country in preparation for building on this treasured green belt land. Hillingdon Council has given no notice of this work commencing and there has been no public consultation on the Council’s proposals for building a school covering over a third of the country park. Similarly no planning application has yet been published by the Council. There are a range of more suitable alternative sites for a new school but the Council has failed to consult on these options so far. Local Hayes Councillors and residents groups believe that what lies behind the Council’s plans is its aim to gain income from the sale of sites in the south of the borough for investment in the north of the borough. The Council’s intention seems to be to build on our country park and sell off the other available sites and use the capital receipts gained to pay for improvements in Ruislip and Uxbridge. I will be convening a further public meeting on this threat to our green belt early in the New Year to organise opposition to this attack on our open spaces. I fear that if the Council gets its way on building on this important part of our green belt no green belt site will be safe from development in our area.
Read 'Council Starts Attack on Lake Farm Country Park' in full...
Wednesday, 30 Nov 2011
Pensions Strike Today.
I visited the picket lines in my constituency today to support my constituents, who were taking industrial action to protect their pensions. I called in at the picket lines of a number of local schools,Hillingdon hospital, Hayes Job Centre, Brunel University, Heathrow airport, Hillingdon Civic Centre and the Vehicle Testing Centre in Yeading.I also joined the staff of the House of Commons on their picket line and went on the march and rally in central London. Talking to people on the picket lines and demonstration it was clear that the issue for them was that they felt they had no other option but to strike because the Government was refusing to negotiate seriously to settle this dispute. All of the union members I met were angry that they were being asked to work longer, pay significantly increased contributions and get less in their pension. For them this was made even worse by the fact that the increased contributions weren’t going to pay for their pensions but straight to the Government Treasury to pay off the deficit caused by the economic crisis. The argument consistently put to me was why should teachers, nurses, council staff and civil servants have to pay for a crisis they didn’t cause? The bankers, speculators and all those rich corporations evading and avoiding their taxes should pay. I fully agree and support this industrial action 100%. It is obvious that the Government needs to start negotiating in earnest or there will innevitaby be more strikes.
Read 'Pensions Strike Today.' in full...
Promoting Our Canal In Hayes
For over 10 years now I have been campaigning for improvements to the canal area in Hayes town. My idea was to open up the canalside, encourage boating activity on the canal and to encourage British Waterways to allow both temporary and residential moorings along the canal in the own centre. I am also keen to open up Shackles Dock which is silted up at the moment. At long last despite numerous delays the Council has now opened up the views to the canal by replacing the wall alongside the towpath with railings. Last Sunday, Thames 21 experimented with a limited number of activities on the water, including boat trips in the floating classroom and canoeing. The project to build the Floating Classroom came from a meeting I convened some years ago of canal enthusiasts, such as Arthur Bennett, the manager of Willow Tree Marina. The local scouts facilitated the canoeing and although it was a cold, wet day it was a demonstration of what could be achieved in attracting people onto the canal. On the question of the residential moorings British Waterways have gained planning permission for the residential moorings but say they do not have sufficient funds to complete the project. We approached Hillingdon Community Trust but with no success. My next step is to see if there are any organisations that have an interest in canals that can help us fund the construction of these moorings. I am also looking to see if Shackles Dock could be dug out using volunteers with some expert advice and supervision. At least with the imminent completion of the Ballymore development we will have temporary moorings for overnight mooring. I established a local canal society some time ago so if there is anyone interested in joning us to help improve our local canal please contact me.
Read 'Promoting Our Canal In Hayes' in full...
Monday, 28 Nov 2011
Campaign to Save Harlington’s Dower House
Some months ago the Dower House in Harlington was badly damaged by a fire that is being investigated by the Police as a possible arson attack. The Dower House is at laest 300 years old and there is evidence of a much older building on this site. It is a nationally listed building. After the fire I convened a meeting for local residents with the local Conservation Panel, the local history society, the council, English Heritage and representatives of the owner of the building. Local residents are anxious that the house is saved from demolition and is fully restored. I raised in Parliament my worries about the loss of local heritage buildings and sites, including the Dower House, Harmondsworth Barn and Benlow Works. After our local campaigning I am pleased to report that work has started in earnest on securing the Dower House site and preserving and refurbishing the building. We must remain vigilant that this work is completed satisfactorily and the Dower House becomes once again one of our much cherished local heritage buildings.
Read 'Campaign to Save Harlington’s Dower House' in full...
Tuesday, 20 Sep 2011
Boundary Commission Proposals to Break Up Hayes and Harlington
You may have seen in the local and national media that the Government has launched a review of the boundaries for Parliamentary constituencies to reduce the number of seats by 50 and to ensure that the constituencies are roughly the same population sizes.
The Boundary Commission has just produced its initial proposals for our area for consultation.
The Boundary Commission is proposing to add Yiewsley to the constituency from the current Uxbridge constituency and to transfer Charville to Uxbridge and Barnhill and Yeading wards to a new Greenford and Northolt constituency. To make up the numbers the Boundary Commission has recommended moving three wards from Hounslow south of the airport into the constituency. These are Bedfont, Feltham North and Feltham West.
These proposals can be viewed on the Boundary Commission’s website www.independent.gov.uk/boundarycommissionforengland and a copy of the report can be obtained from the Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ tel 0207 276 1102, email information@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk
There is now to be a consultation lasting until 5th December 2011. Everybody who wishes to express their views on the Boundary Commission’s proposals for their area may submit their views in writing or via the Commission’s website. There will also be a public hearing.
I welcome the movement of Yiewsley into the constituency as this links it back up with its neighbour, West Drayton, which was moved into the constituency at the last election. This would make the Hayes and Harlington constituency the appropriate size.
However I am extremely concerned that Hayes and Harlington is to be broken up with the removal of the Hayes wards of Charville including Hayes End, and Barnhill and Yeading from our constituency. This appears to defy the logic of following natural and historic community boundaries to break north Hayes up into Uxbridge and Greenford. The movement of the Hounslow wards into the constituency appears to be an artificial device simply to make up the numbers.
I would urge local residents and local organisations that feel as strongly as I do about the break up of our community in this way to make their views known to the Boundary Commission.
I have represented our constituency in various roles for over 35 years and have worked hard to build a sense of community in our area. I fear that these proposals will contribute to undermining that sense of community and belonging. I hope that you share my views and will let the Boundary Commission know.
Read 'Boundary Commission Proposals to Break Up Hayes and Harlington' in full...
Monday, 08 Aug 2011
Campaign to Save Our Green Belt
Hillingdon’s Conservative Council appears determined to build upon our green belt, country park site at Lake Farm. I visited the site today (Monday 8th August) to meet the local ward councillors to discuss the council’s proposal. It has been revealed that the Council wants to take 5 hectares of land. This means we could lose at first a 5th of the country park but it is assumed that the council will want to come back at a next stage for nearly half the park. I was pleased that the local Labour councillors are totally opposed to the Council’s plan and are helping to mobilise our local community against it and to save our country park.
Read 'Campaign to Save Our Green Belt' in full...
Friday, 05 Aug 2011
Local MP, John McDonnell, has Launched the Battle to Save Lake Farm from Attack by the Council
Along with the local ward councillors I have launched a battle against Hillingdon Council to save this green belt site from development by the council. 20 years ago I set up the Friends of Lake Farm to prevent this green belt site from being used as a gravel pit and waste tip. Campaigning with local residents we won at a public inquiry and I persuaded the then Labour controlled council to buy the land and transform it into the first newly created country park in West London in decades. I am the chair of the Friends of Lake Farm, which includes representatives of local residents groups, David Brough from the Town Centre Partnership, the Hayes Hawks BMX club and the Golden Crescent Sikh Gurdwara. Last week the Friends of Lake Farm voted unanimously to oppose the council’s plans to build on this green belt area of the park. At the packed public meeting of local residents I convened in two weeks ago local residents also launched a petition opposing this incursion into the green belt.
Wednesday, 03 Aug 2011
Update on the Dower House in Harlington
Following the fire at the Dower House I convened a meeting for local residents and subsequently I raised our concerns about the future of the property with Hillingdon Council and with Government Ministers in a speech I made in Parliament. As a result, I was able to convene a recent meeting with representatives from English Heritage, Hillingdon Council, the local Conservation Panel and our local Friends of the Dower House steering group to hear how the building was to be protected and renovated.At that meeting we were informed that the site of the house had been designated as a crime scene and a person had been arrested following the fire. The Police have now released the property and a meeting has taken place between the Council and the owner to discuss the renovation of the building. Scaffolding had been put up by the Council to support and protect the building but it is likely that the roof will need to be removed to commence restoration. The discussion over the full renovation of the building has also involved both the owner’s insurers and English Heritage. The renovation project will be a major piece of work given the extent of the damage and the historical significance of the building. Both the Council’s heritage officers and English Heritage have confirmed that they are firmly committed to ensuring the restoration of the building. Along with me, the local Conservation Panel and Local History Society have impressed upon all the agencies and the owner the importance local people place on seeing the building restored. I will be convening a meeting for residents in September/October to invite the relevant council officers to provide a detailed progress report to us all. In addition whenever necessary I will bring together representatives from all the agencies to ensure all that is possible is being done to restore the Dower House as part of our local heritage.
Read 'Update on the Dower House in Harlington' in full...
Tuesday, 02 Aug 2011
Government Publishes Pension Details
Last month I joined local teachers, college lecturers and civil servants on their picket lines when they undertook a day’s industrial action in protest at the Government’s attack on their pensions.I spoke at the unions’ strike rally in Westminster. This is a film of my speech. Last week the Government published the details of the increased contributions public sector workers would have to pay if the Government gets its way in the current pensions negotiations. This announcement by the Government in the middle of the negotiations has produced a strong reaction from the unions and has almost innevitably provoked further industrial action. An independent assessment of the affordability of the pensions schemes commissioned by the Government has confirmed that the pension schemes are viable with their costs falling in the coming years. The unons also agreed two years ago that if there were any additional costs arising out of people living longer, then these costs would be paid for by increased contributions paid by the employees not the employers. The increase in pension contributions currently demanded by the Government are to be paid into the Treasury to pay for the economic crisis caused by the bankers. It is no wonder that the teachers, lecturers and civil servants are angry. They are being forced to pay for an economic crisis they never caused and they are fearful if the Government gets its way that public sector pensions will be destroyed just as private sector pensions were destroyed in the 1980s and 1990s. The UK is the 5th richest country in the world and can afford to have workers in both the public and private sectors to have a decent pension. If we had a fair taxation system which collected the £150 billion a year lost as a result of tax evasion and avoidance by the large corporations and the rich, there wouldn’t be any cuts in pensions or public services.
Read 'Government Publishes Pension Details' in full...
Sunday, 31 Jul 2011
Sky Ride Cycling Event Comes to Hayes
Every year a part of London is chosen for a major cycling event called the Sky Ride. A route through a town is designated for the Sky Ride and thousands of people turn up to cycle the route and in this way promote cycling and a healthy lifestyle. Hayes was chosen for this year’s Sky Ride and this morning I joined lots of local people and people from across London to cycle the route through Barra Hall Park,on to Lake Farm and Hayes Hawks BMX track, through Hayes Town Centre, then through the Railway estate, and further on to Minet Country Park and cycle track and then back through Townfield, past St Mary’s and back to Barra Hall. It was a really great event with lots of children and families coming out to ride the circuit or spectate and wave the cyclists on. I know there was some inconvenience with road closures but it is a once in a life time event and I hope people didn’t mind too much. I interviewed Pam and Kevin Gates from Barnhill just before they set off on the ride.
Read 'Sky Ride Cycling Event Comes to Hayes' in full...
Saturday, 30 Jul 2011
Murdoch and BSkyB
A number of constituents have asked me what my views are on Murdoch and his attempt to takeover BSkyB. In recent weeks since the telephone hacking scandal broke in earnest, a lot of politicians came out against Murdoch’s takeover of BSkyB and he has withdrawn his offer. I was the first MP to table a motion in Parliament calling for Murdoch’s bid for BSkyB to be referred to the Competition Commission and back in March when the Government Minister, Jeremy Hunt, refused to do so I went on television to condemn this. Along with my colleague, Austin Mitchell, I was the only MP to do so. It was difficult to find MPs at that stage willing to speak out for fear of what attack the Murdoch media would launch against them. I was glad that I did and I will continue to speak out on issues like this no matter what the risk is, because it is the right thing to do. Back in 2004 I moved amendments to the then Government’s Employment Bill to include a conscience clause for journalists which would enable them to refuse any instruction by their editor or owner of their paper that was against the NUJ or Press Complaints Commission Code of Conduct. This would have included things like hacking or blagging. The then Government rejected my amendment because they said it would interfere in the rights of the employers. Neither the Conservative nor Liberal Parties supported me either. In the debate in parliament on hacking last week I expressed the hope that the Government will introduce the conscience clause now. This is the BBC interview I gave back in March expressing my opposition to Murdoch when most other MPs were keeping their heads down.
Read 'Murdoch and BSkyB' in full...
Tuesday, 26 Jul 2011
Council Threat to Lake Farm Country Park and Botwell Common Green Belt.—Sign Our petition
Without any public consultation Hillingdon Council has announced that it is proposing to build a school on green belt land at Lake Farm Country Park at Botwell Common, located at the corner of Botwell Lane and Botwell Common Road. The first local residents heard about the proposal was when the local newspaper published limited details of a Council cabinet report last week.I contacted the Council to find out what was being proposed but could only discover that a report had been discussed at the Council’s cabinet meeting this month identifying this site for a school. The construction of a school is not compatible with green belt policy.Local residents campaigned with me for over 20 years to secure Lake Farm as a country park for our local community and we don’t want to lose it now. In addition local councillors and residents groups have reported that there are other brown field sites that are available in the south of the borough which would be suitable for a new school. I convened a meeting this evening (Tuesday) for residents living near the site and there was strong opposition expressed to the choice of this site by the council and real concern voiced at the failure of the council to undertake a proper consultation with the local community on a full range of options for expanding school places in the area.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Speaking Up in Parliament to Protect our Local Heritage
This week I spoke up in Parliament to highlight the threat to our local heritage buildings. Each year I hold a local history conference and two years ago I convened a local community conference to discuss the risk to our local heritage. Too many buildings of local historical interest have been lost over the years and my aim was to try and protect and improve what we have left. Local residents enthusiastically rose to the challenge and working with the council’s conservation officers we went out and mapped and researched all the local buildings to update the council’s list of buildings to be protected. We also set up the Hayes and Harlington Conservation Panel to monitor new planning applications and work to protect our local heritage sites. Since then our local heritage buildings have come under further pressure and attack. I raised this matter in Parliament and appealed for assistance from English Heritage and the Government. You can watch my speech in this video of the Commons recess debate. The recess debate is quite long and so if you move the cursor along to about 6.24 on the dial on the left and you will catch my speech.
Read 'Speaking Up in Parliament to Protect our Local Heritage' in full...
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Save Harlington Dower House
Last week the Dower House in Harlington was damaged by a major fire. The Police are investigating the cause of the fire. If you have any information please contact the local Police. The house is at least 350 and possibly 500 years old. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in our area. It is a listed building and a local heritage site. Last month a planning application was turned down for a large scale hotel development incorporating the Dower House. Only last year I was instrumental in setting up the Hayes and Harlington Conservation Panel, which comprises local residents who are concerned to protect our local heritage.We are committed as a community to preserving our local heritage. I will be convening a meeting of local residents and community groups with the Conservation Panel, the council, the local history society and English Heritage to see how we can secure the restoration of this important building to its former glory.
Read 'Save Harlington Dower House' in full...
Friday, 06 May 2011
Local Housing Crisis
Our local area is now facing the worst housing crisis since the Second World War. 900 local families are homeless and over 7,500 families are on the local housing waiting list with a wait of between 7 and 10 years before they have any chance of a council house. The Coalition Government is now cutting investment in social house building and cutting housing benefits. This means local families having virtually no hope of gaining a decent roof over their heads. In the private sector many buy to let landlords are making massive profits from housing families in overcrowded appalling conditions. I raised my concerns about the local housing crisis in the House of Commons this week.
Read 'Local Housing Crisis' in full...
Saturday, 16 Apr 2011
Council Decides to Sell Off Hayes Library Despite Local Protests and Petitions
Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet met on Thursday night and despite all the local protests and petitons from local residents the ruling Conservative Councillors forced through the sale of the much loved Golden Crescent library in Hayes to convert it to flats. Not a single councillor involved in this decision comes from or represents the Hayes area.
I have launched an appeal to Hiillingdon Community Trust to purchase the library and to put it into trust to safeguard the building for community use. Many local voluntary and community organisations need office and meeting space and the library would be an ideal facility for local community use for residents of all ages and all cultural backgrounds.
Local residents are submitting this letter to HCT to urge that the trust intervenes to save the library building. Please print the letter and submit it to the HCT trustess to assist our camapiagn to save our wonderful library building.
Read 'Council Decides to Sell Off Hayes Library Despite Local Protests and Petitions' in full...
Thursday, 14 Apr 2011
Demonstrating to Save St Mary’s Fields
Local residents demonstrated in St Mary’s fields in protest at Hillingdon Council’s failure to consult them over the conversion of these fields into formal football pitches. Folowing a local consultation several years ago the residents agreed that the fields be used for cricket and informal football. However without any consultation or even informing the local residents the council put forward a proposal to put a number of formal football pitches on the fields so that it could give planning permision for a housing estate to be built on the Railway estate, against the wishes of local residents who would lose their sports pitch. The council gains half a million pounds from the developer for allowing this development to go ahead.The Sports Council and Football Association objected to the Council’s proposal to put the football pitches on St Mary’s fields and made it clear that they were not an adequate replacement for the loss of the sports pitch. The residents are making their own views clear that they are against this proposal. They fear the increase in traffic, parking problems and the risk to the safety of children as this site is surrounded by busy roads. I fully agree and support the residents in this campaign.
Read 'Demonstrating to Save St Mary’s Fields' in full...
Campaign to Tidy Up Hitherbroom Park in Hayes
I visited Hitherbroom Park in Hayes this week with local councillors Lynne Allen and Peter Curling. Over the years we have campaigned with local residents to ensure that the park is kept tidy and to overcome the problems of flooding that has occurred when the stream through the park becomes blocked. Each year I get together a group of local residents called the Friends of Hitherbroom Park to do a litter pick and general tidy up. However we agreed with the council a few years ago a management plan for the park, which included a programme of regular drainage works to prevent the stream and pond becoming blocked and flooding occurring. On my inspection visit with the local ward councillors I could see that although some drainage work had been undertaken there was still debris dumped in the stream We will take this up with the council and make sure this park is properly maintained. It is one of the many local parks and green space areas that we are fighting to protect and keep to a high environmental standard. We are all determined as local residents that we do lose our open spaces or allow them to become run down.
Read 'Campaign to Tidy Up Hitherbroom Park in Hayes' in full...
Thursday, 07 Apr 2011
Council Installs Dangerous Windows in Hayes Tower Blocks
I visited the tower blocks in Avondale Drive in Hayes this week because residents had expressed fears about the new windows the council had installed in their flats. There are no locks on the windows and they open outwards a leaving a massive gap in the window frame.To open the windows to clean them, you have to lean out over the window frame. Residents are worried that it could be easy to topple over and fall through the window. There are a large number of children that live in these flats and we are all fearful that an accident will happen. Some of the older residents have also said that they are frightened of fully opening the window for fear of falling out. I visited a number of the apartments and filmed a demonstration of how these windows work. It scared me but when we came out of the apartment block I noticed a young child actually standing on a window ledge.I am urging the council to look urgently at how these windows can be made safe do that we do not witness an accident in these apartments.
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Friday, 25 Mar 2011
Council to Sell Off Hayes Old Library. MP Accuses Council of Betraying Community.
Hayes Library in Golden Crescent is one of the oldest community buildings in Hayes and is a local heritage site. Now closed because a new library has been opened, local residents had been assured by the Council that the building would be retained for local community use. It has now been revealed that a report is going to Hillingdon’s next Cabinet Meeting to sell off the building to the highest bidder. It is therefore likely that the building will be sold to a developer and demolished for commercial or housing development. I have condemned the Council’s action as a betrayal of the local community. This building is a much loved part of our local heritage and for the Council to even consider selling it off is a betrayal of our local community. There are a wide range of local community groups representing local people of all ages and backgrounds that want to use this centre for their activities and were meeting to put their ideas to the Council for the community use of this precious building. Now they feel really let down. We are determined though that we will not let theses Councillors from the north of the borough sell off this vital Hayes community asset. The people of Hayes paid for this building and will not allow it to be stolen from us by this Council. If we have to occupy our old library to stop this municipal vandalism we will.
I have convened a demonstration with local residents and Hayes Councillors outside the library on Monday at 1pm. There will also be a street stall in Hayes town centre on Wednesday 31st March at 12 noon collecting signatures for a petition against the sell off and a public meeting that night at 8pm at Botwell Church Hall. (Venue to be confirmed on Monday).
Read 'Council to Sell Off Hayes Old Library. MP Accuses Council of Betraying Community.' in full...
Council Plan to Take Over St Mary’s Fields for Football Pitches
We have just heard that the Council is proposing to take over St Mary’s Fields, our open fields behind Church Road, and convert them into a large number of formal football pitches with the risk of further development on the site.This proposal is being rushed through the Council’s Planning Committee on next Tuesday night 29th March, with no consultation with the local residents, any of the local resident associations or community or sports groups, the Hayes Conservation Panel, the local councillors, or local MP.
A property developer is seeking planning permission to develop for housing a site on the Hayes Railway Estate. The developer’s original plans were rejected at a planning inquiry because they resulted in the loss of football pitches. In order to overcome this objection the developer has been working with the council to find a site for alternative football pitches. The first site at Albion Road was rejected after a protest campaign by local residents. As a result the council is now offering up our local fields. If the housing development goes ahead the council will then receive half a million pounds in a S106 agreement from the developer.
St Mary’s Fields have been used in the past by Hayes Cricket club and following consultation with local residents only a few years ago local residents agreed that the council put back an artificial cricket pitch and a couple of goalposts for informal park use. We never agreed to formal football pitches because of the intensive use that this would result in, bringing with it all the problems of parking, noise, and litter and the potential for further developments on the site such as floodlighting and clubhouse etc.
Without telling any local residents the Council is now trying to sneak through the proposal for what will in effect be a football ground, opening up the potential for much greater development in the future. This land is one of the last pieces of free open space in our area and I believe that we must stand up against this attempt to undermine our conservation area. Even Sport England, the national body responsible for promoting sports sites and the Football Association have told the council that our fields are unsuitable.
I am writing to appeal to you to contact the Council immediately to object to this proposal. Write or phone to the Planning Department, Civic Centre, Uxbridge, 01895 250111.
I would also urge you also to attend the Planning Meeting on Tuesday at 7pm at the Civic Centre where we will be lobbying the councillors on the planning committee to reject this proposal.
I have dealt with planning issues in this area for over 30 years and I can say that I have never seen such an outrageous attempt to force a development like this through at such a speed without even informing or consulting the local residents to be effected. Please help me save our local environment.
Read 'Council Plan to Take Over St Mary’s Fields for Football Pitches' in full...
Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011
Commons Debate on Libya
I have set out below the record of my speech in the House of Commons yesterday (Monday 21st March 2011) opposing the military action in Libya and calling for a peace initiative.
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Thursday, 17 Mar 2011
Youth Unemployment Hits Million Mark. Jarrow Youth March
The Government’s unemployment figures came out this week, showing that unemployment has reached 2.53 million, with nearly a million youg people under 24 now unemployed. I am really fearful of effect this will have on the lives of so many youngsters. I remember what happened in the 1980s when unemployment scarred the lives of so many young people then and for a long time to come. A group of young people have got together to retrace the steps of the Jarrow unemployed workers, who 75 years ago marched to London to highlight the plight of the unemployed. I am supporting this march because I believe that we need to put pressure on the Government to do more to create jobs and help young people get into work, training or higher education. I raised this issue in Parliament by tabling an Early Day Motion on Wednesday.
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Tuesday, 15 Mar 2011
Community Conference on Saturday to Discuss Planning Framwork
This Saturday I have convened a community conference to formulate our community response to the Council’s consultaion document on its Local Development Framework. The Framework will determine the Council’s planning policies for the next 15 years. This includes decisions on the protection of the green belt, the areas to be set aside for housing or commercial development, the conservation of our heritage sites and many other key issue that will affect the future of our area. The conference starts at 10 am and will close at 2pm. It is open to all local residents, residents associations and community groups. Please do come along. To help us draft our submission to the Council we have the assistance of Richard Lee, a community planning expert. In this short film Richard explains the process of the Local Development Framework.
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Friday, 11 Mar 2011
MP Supporting Local Lads in their 1000 Mile Bike Ride for Charity
You may have seen in the local Gazette that two old school friends are preparing to take on the epic Lands End to John O’Groats cycle challenge to raise thousands of pounds for charity. Martin Dunkling and Lee Gritt are setting off from Cornwall on the 1000-mile ride on May 6 to raise funds for Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation. The aim is to raise £6000. These young men have been friends since their days at our local Mellow Lane High School and have been fundraising with the help of Barnhill Community Centre and Hayes and Yeading United Football Club. A fundraising disco is taking place on April 2, at the Barnhill Community Centre, in Ayles Road, Hayes. This is a great intitiative by local lads and deserves our support. If you would like to make a donation go to www.justgiving.com/mdlg-bike-ride
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Tuesday, 08 Mar 2011
Demonstration to Protect Hayes Park Green Belt Fields
The private company that owns the land surrounding Hayes Park is looking to develop this site but to do so it needs to ensure that some or all of this land is taken out of the green belt and lose its green belt protection against development.The local Council is currently consulting on its planning policies for the area, (its Local Development Framework), including how to protect the local green belt. It has published its draft Core Strategy document on its website, www.hillingdon.gov.uk under “have your say”. It is also available at the local library. Local people are asked for their views on the Core Strategy document. If we are to protect the Hayes Park fields it is important that we ensure the Council maintains the land in the green belt and that it is fully protected from development.
You can help by letting the Council have your views on its Core Strategy document emphasising that the green belt in our area must be fully protected as well as drawing attention to the pressures placed on the local community by the density of housing and commercial development in the area.
You can submit your views to the Council online on www.hillingdon.gov.uk under “have your say” or email to ldfconsultation@hillingdon.gov.uk or by writing to the Council at LDF Team 3N/02, Planning, Environment and Community Services, Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW or by requesting and completing a response form available by telephoning 01895 250230. Responses have to be back by 25th March 2011.
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Friday, 04 Feb 2011
MPs Expenses Claims Published
As part of the new system for MPs expenses members of the public can inspect all MPs claims by going onto the Independent Standards Authority (IPSA) website. This will then set out all the claims submitted, the claims paid and the claims not paid. If you type in my name you will see the claims I have made. They are the usual items of expenditure for my constituency office in Hayes. I am finding the new computer system for claiming a bit of a challenge like everybody else but it is certainly improving my computer skills. We are still having a number of problems but I would like to thank Anne Simpson, a member of the IPSA staff, for all the courteous and good natured help she has provided us. You will see I have had 4 claims not paid. Two for car mileage to Parliament from Hayes to the Commons and within the constituency. These were not paid because I set out the claim as under the old system listing the number of miles but didn’t do a daily breakdown. I didnt know we had to but I know from now on. I believe that the computer system has been improved to help on this. By the way I am trying to use the train as much as possible and walking in the constituency (part of my fitness drive too) but it is much harder if Parliament is sitting late or I have to dash back for meetings in Hayes. I am trying a car share with another MP as well. The other travel claim was to drive to and from the TUC in Manchester. I did this because the TUC was debating my Bill on trade union rights that was going through Parliament that month and I was also speaking to meetings of trade union officials on it. I checked that this was in the rules but it still wasnt paid for some reason. I didnt bother resubmitting because I just didnt have time and so paid it myself. I drove because I couldn’t get a train back late enough to get back for a meeting early the next day. The other claim not paid was our office fax line. IPSA has lost the bill we sent in and I haven’t had time to obtain and send another copy. If you have any queries on all this let me know. As you know the Telegraph described me as a saint in their exposure of the MPs expenses scandal last year and I don’t want to lose that reputation.
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Wednesday, 12 Jan 2011
Regeneration of Hayes Town Centre Canal Area Moves a Step Closer
I have been campaigning for the last 10 years to regenerate the canal area in Hayes Town Centre and have been pressing British Waterways, who are responsible for the canal, to allow residential barges to be permanently moored in Hayes Town. This will greatly assist in opening up the canal area and transforming this potentially beautiful area of the town centre. I am pleased that the Council has this month given BW planning perrmission for residential moorings but there is a long way to go in raising the funds to pay for this improvement scheme. I am urging the Council and Hillingdon Community Trust (HCT) to work with BW and jointly fund the development of the moorings and the improvement of the canal side area. The Council has the funds set aside from recent planning developments in our area and HCT has a remit to use its funds to improve our environment. I think this scheme should be one of their top priorities.
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News from December 2010
Friday, 10 Dec 2010
Launch of Campaign to Save Charville Fields
A developer has written to local residents in the Hayes End/Charville area asking them to complete a questionnaire on the development of the Charville fields site, including Home Farm. The developer’s proposals include a possible housing estate, shops, hotel, business units and workshops. The questionnaire also includes the options of a nature trail, bridle ways and sports provision. This land is in the green belt and for decades we have campaigned as a community to protect this site from development as one of the last areas of green belt open space in the Charville and Hayes End area. It is clear that the developer is seeking to lobby the council and gain the support of the local communuty to build on this land. I am extremely worried about the effect of these develpoment propo,sals on the local environment and the well being of our community,particularly the impact of increased speeding traffic, congestion, pollution, the destruction of natural habitats and the placing of further heavy demands on our local public services, especially our health and education services. I am writing to local residents to alert them to this threat and I have convened a public meeting for local residents on Saturday 8th January 2011 at 10.30 am at Charville Primary School in Bury Avenue. If you are a local resident please come along.
Read 'Launch of Campaign to Save Charville Fields' in full...
Tuesday, 28 Sep 2010
Afghanistan Debate in Parliament
I set out my views once again on the need to withdraw from Afghanistan in the debate that took place last month in the Commons. I voted along with 13 other MPs to seek a solution to the Afghan war based upon withdrawal of our troops and a negotiated settlement. I am deeply distressed at the continuing loss of life in Afghanistan and find it difficult to bear the sadness every time another of our young people loses their life in this war. We have to find a solution to this conflict. The debate has now moved on to find that solution.
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Restarting My Local Website
I had to take this website down for the election and since then I have been frenetically busy in dealing with local and national issues with the result that I have not posted on the site since the election. Apologies for this gap. Over the next few days I will be loading up on the website a selection of various videos of my activities in Parliament and participation in local events. Please do let me have your views on these or any other issues you feel I should be addressing locally or in Parliament. Best wishes, John
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Tuesday, 13 Apr 2010
Notice
This website was established while I was a Member of Parliament.
As Parliament has been dissolved there are no Members of
Parliament until after the election on 6th May 2010”.
Friday, 02 Apr 2010
Neil Sullivan at Hayes and Yeading Match for Help the Heroes
I went to the Hayes and Yeading FC match against Oxford today. I am proud to have been honorary vice president of the club for the last 13 years. Neil Sullivan, a local lad who works at Hayes Swimming Pool, was there to launch the England World Cup song that he has made with Black Lace to raise funds for the Help the Heroes charity. They went on the pitch at half time and performed their song. It’s great and Neil and Black Lace were well received by the crowd. This is a great intitiative and Neil deserves our thanks and congratulations. You can download the song from iTunes, join the Facebook group and visit the website www.wearetheenglandfans.co.uk Well done Neil. By the way we won 2-1.
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Wednesday, 31 Mar 2010
Moves in Parliament to Protect Local Cemeteries after Experience of Threat to Cherry Lane
I have just tabled a motion in Parliament to secure greater protection for local cemeteries after the distress caused to local families from the threat to Cherry Lane cemetery resulting from BAA’s plans for a road through the cemetery.I have been working with members of the Save Cherry Lane Cemetery Campaign to see how we can secure greater protection for cemeteries against the threat of major developments such as roads, railway lines and new buildings. We are now confident that we have fought off the threat to our local cemetery but we do not want to risk BAA or any other body threatening us again. At the same time we want to help others who in the future might also be threatened in this way in the future. That is why we have launched a campaign in Parliament to press the Government for a swift review of the existing laws to protect cemeteries and to bring forward proposals for a reform of the legislation to give greater protection and security. We do not want to have to go through all the distress again of the threat to our cemetery and we do not want others to go through this either.
Saturday, 27 Mar 2010
West Drayton DotCOM Cafe
I held a community tea at the West Drayton DotCom cafe this morning (Saturday). This is an excellent local community facility, providing a range of services to local families. The tea enabled local residents to drop in and have a chat about any local issues they were concerned about. It was good to see a number of members of the local community. I interviewed David Graham, who co-ordinates the cafe’s activities.
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Friday, 26 Mar 2010
High Court Judgement on 3rd Runway
High Court Judgement on 3rd Runway
You may have heard that today (Friday 25th March) we have won a major victory in the High Court against the 3rd runway.
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Monday, 15 Mar 2010
St Patrick’s in Hayes Town Centre
On Saturday I helped organise, with Hayes FM, a St Patrick’s music festival in Hayes Town Centre. This is all part of our campaign to attract more people into the town centre and use our shopping facilities. The festival included music from a local Irish band “Trim the Velvet”, community stalls raising funds for local charities and servings of excellent home made Irish stew, and Irish soda bread that I had baked that night. Over the coming months Hayes FM is hosting local bands and entertainment from the bandstand every Saturday in the town centre.
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Tuesday, 09 Mar 2010
Local Picket Line in Civil Servants’ Strike
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.
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Monday, 08 Mar 2010
Petition For Bus Route to Hayes Working Mens’ Club
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.
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John Launches Shop Local Campaign to Save Heathrow Villages.
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.
Read 'John Launches Shop Local Campaign to Save Heathrow Villages.' in full...
Tuesday, 16 Feb 2010
Debate on Football in Parliament
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.
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Tackling the Flytipping in Alleyways in Hayes
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.
Read 'Tackling the Flytipping in Alleyways in Hayes' in full...
Saturday, 06 Feb 2010
Sahara Fundraising Trek by Local Nurses
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
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Opening of Townfield Community Centre
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.
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Thursday, 04 Feb 2010
Debate on Punjabi Community in Britain
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.
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Compensation for Small Businesses blighted by 3rd Runway Threat.
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.
Read 'Compensation for Small Businesses blighted by 3rd Runway Threat.' in full...
Saturday, 23 Jan 2010
Challenging the Consensus
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.
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Friday, 22 Jan 2010
Conservative Bow Group Report Backs Heathrow Expansion
Local people may have seen this report which appeared on the BBC News website yesterday and has been followed up in today’s newspapers.
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News from December 2009
Wednesday, 30 Dec 2009
Fresh Fish Shop Opening is Good News for Hayes in New Year
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.
Read 'Fresh Fish Shop Opening is Good News for Hayes in New Year' in full...
Wednesday, 23 Dec 2009
Community Groups at Hayes Christmas Festival
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.
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Fair Trade Stall at Hayes Christmas Festival
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.
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West Drayton Training Band at the Hayes Christmas Festival
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.
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Tuesday, 22 Dec 2009
More from the Hayes Christmas Festival
The next school choir singing was Yeading Junior School.
Read 'More from the Hayes Christmas Festival' in full...
Christmas Festival in Hayes Town Centre
This year we have revived the Christmas Festival in Hayes Town Centre. Organised by Hayes FM the festival included church and school choirs singing carols from the bandstand, community stalls and Father Christmas coming into the town centre on a traditional double decker red bus. The event was a really enjoyable success and part of the the process of regenerating the town centre and attracting more and more peope back into the area. I filmed a range of the choirs and activities. The first choir was Brookside School ffrom Yeading.
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Wednesday, 25 Nov 2009
Switch on of Hayes Town Centre Christmas Lights
Our local Councillors Lynne Allen and Janet Gardner switched on our Christmas lights in Hayes Town Centre on Friday. Minet Junior School choir sang carols and lots of local people turned up to sing along. On Saturday 12th December we are relaunching the Hayes Christmas festival in the town centre with Hayes FM, local school choirs, community stalls, a panto matinee and, of course, Father Christmas. On the Friday evening before there will be a Christmas concert at St Anselm’s church. Come along.
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25th Anniversary Celebrated at Charville Community Centre
Last weekend we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Charville Community Centre in Bury Avenue, Hayes. The celebrations included an exhibition on the centre’s history on Saturday, a dance in the evening and a children’s panto and disco on Sunday. The whole event was a really enjoyable success for the whole community, thanks to the hard work of the centre’s volunteers. 25 years ago I was the GLC councillor for Hayes and Harlington and as the Chair of the GLC’s Finance Committee I awarded a grant to help build the centre. I am so pleased at the contribution the centre has made to our local community over the years. I interviewed Janet Nuth, who was one of the original campaigners for setting up the centre and on its first committee. She has also been a stalwart in organising and supporting activities at the centre.
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Thursday, 19 Nov 2009
Campaign to Restore the Golden Bridge, Hayes
The Golden Bridge in Charville Lane along the Yeading Brook in Hayes is famous for being the site of a demonstration in 1929 involving local people, including the actor Bernard Miles, demanding a right of way in the face of opposition from local landowners. This was part of what became a large scale national protest movement to open up our countryside to the people. There has been a bridge across the brook in this area dating back to at least the sixteenth century. In 1986 a new bridge was erected and the area became part of the local rambling network, the Hillingdon Trail. The bridge and the surrounding waterside embankment area have become a bit rundown and unkempt. Recently I convened a meeting of local residents on the site and we agreed to set up a new project to tidy up the area and reinstate the bridge to its former glory. To do this I aim to establish a Friends of the Golden Bridge. This Saturday (November 21st) I will be at the Charville Community Centre at the corner of Bury Avenue and Charville Lane to join in the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the opening of the community centre. When I was the GLC councillor for Hayes twenty five years ago I awarded a grant to the community centre to enable it to open. On Saturday from 10 am to 12 noon I will be mounting a small exhibition about the Golden Bridge and recruiting local residents to join the Friends of the Golden Bridge. Please come along and if you can spare a little bit of time please join our Friends group to assist us in restoring the bridge and its environment to its former glory.
Read 'Campaign to Restore the Golden Bridge, Hayes' in full...
Monday, 16 Nov 2009
Opening of Parent Zone at Brookside School in Yeading
On Friday I attended the opening of the Parent Zone at Brookside School in Yeading. The school has erected a small building in the school grounds on Perth Avenue, called the Parent Zone. This is a fantastic initiative to involve members of the local community in the life of the school and also to provide a community facility in the school for use by local residents. The Parent Zone provides parents and members of the local community a place to meet and access to a wide range of activities from coffeee mornings to education and training opportunities. There is now even talk of a club for older members of the community. I interviewed Carol Parsons, the co-ordinator of the project.
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Monday, 09 Nov 2009
Greening Hayes Conference “Insulating our Homes”
On Saturday I convened a community seminar on the local environment called Greening Hayes. The seminar attended by local residents discussed the way in which we can all contribute to tackling climate change. The seminar was opened by Sally Harrison from Eaga, the group responsible for delivering locally the government’s “Warm Front” policy. The aim of “Warm Front” is to provide assistance to residents in insulating their homes and renewing heating systems so that we can keep people warm, overcome fuel poverty and reduce the emisions that cause climate change. The “Warm Front” scheme has been successful in our area in helping hundreds of people insulate their lofts, draught proof their windows and install new boilers. If you want to know more about “Warm Front” you can contact Eaga by telephone on 0800 316 6011 and on the website www.warmfront.co.uk You can watch my interview of Eaga’s Sally Harrison.
Read 'Greening Hayes Conference “Insulating our Homes”' in full...
Saturday, 24 Oct 2009
Public Meeting on Thursday on Latest Position on 3rd Runway
I have convened a public meeting on Thursday (29th October) at 7.30pm at Heathrow Primary School in Harmonsdworth Lane, Sipson to discuss the latest position on the 3rd Runway and the opening of the Bond Scheme by BAA. All local residents are welcome. It is always difficult to estimate how many people will turn up and the school hall is the largest hall I can find so if there is not enough room for everyone I will convene a second meeting. With the assistance of volunteers we are currently distributing a leaflet throughout the villages. Please do let your neighbours know about the meeting.
Read 'Public Meeting on Thursday on Latest Position on 3rd Runway' in full...
Friday, 23 Oct 2009
Opening of Grange Park School Environmental Garden
I joined the children and teachers from a number of our local primary schools for the opening of an environmental garden at Grange park School in Hayes. The garden, designed by a local pupil and funded by the local extended schools collaborative, will provide an ideal site for local children to learn about the environment, gardening and wildlife. I interviewed the environmentalists from Groundwork, who carried out the planting and construction of the garden, its pond and shelter. The children were kind enough to invite me to plant a fig tree in the garden.
Read 'Opening of Grange Park School Environmental Garden' in full...
Tuesday, 20 Oct 2009
BAA Announces Offer to Purchase Properties Under Threat of 3rd Runway
This morning (Tuesday 20th October) BAA has written to residents under threat of the 3rd runway offering to buy properties within the area designated under its Property Market Support Bond scheme. (a copy of the letter is printed below).This offer is open to residents for the next 12 months. I have been pressing BAA for months to implement the Bond Scheme to assist residents who are trapped in unsuitable accommodation and unable to sell their properties on the open market. Two weeks ago I met representatives from BAA with Rob Fodder, an example of a local resident unable to sell his property and trapped with his growing family in overcrowded conditions. Last week I also tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for action to resolve this issue.I welcome BAA’s announcement because it will help local families who are suffering from being trapped in unsuitable accommodation because they cannot sell. Over the next week I am convening a public meeting for local residents to discuss the implications of this decision. In addition over the coming weeks we will be convening via the local law centre a series of smaller seminars with lawyers to provide advice to local residents on the details of the scheme and the process from hereon. I believe that the 3rd runway will never be built but before we can kill off this runway threat once and for all we need to ensure that families affected by blight are properly protected. I will write to local residents in the villages and put all the details of these events on this website, inform Hayes FM and the local press.
Read BAA’s Letter to Residents in Heathrow Villages in full by clicking on news item.
Read 'BAA Announces Offer to Purchase Properties Under Threat of 3rd Runway' in full...
Sunday, 18 Oct 2009
Protecting our Local Heritage
Earlier this year after we had witnessed the destruction of a local landmark by a developer I convened a community conference to discuss how we can protect our local heritage. At this conference a senior local planning officer, Charmian Baker, described the exercise she was undertaking to map local heritage sites in order to examine how they could best be protected. After the conference we encouraged local people to submit their views on what local buildings needed to be preserved. On Saturday I reconvened the community conference to receive a progress report from Charmian and her colleague Nairita Chakraborty. The meeting was very well attended with many local groups and residents’ associations represented. The mapping exercise has been very successful and a comprehensive list of sites already protected or proposed for protection has been produced. The Council will launch a public consultation on the list in the New Year. At the conference we also launched the setting up of a Conservation Panel for Hayes and Harlington. The panel will comprise local volunteers who will meet regularly to advise the council on how to protect our local heritage sites, including advising on planning applications, which may have an impact on local buildings of historical or architectural interest. Please contact me if you are interested in joning the panel. Protecting our local heritage requires constant vigilance and so the message from Saturday’s conference was that we are determined to fight to preserve our local environment. I interviewed Charmian and Nairita.
Read 'Protecting our Local Heritage' in full...
Wednesday, 14 Oct 2009
Come Along to Our Local Heiritage Community Meeting on Saturday
Earlier this year many of us expressed our concerns about the loss of local heritage buildings and sites, bulldozed by developers. I convened a community conference to work with the local council’s conservation officers to map local heritage buildings and sites and to set up the appropriate protection. I am now convening a recall conference to report back on the progress so far and to set up a new conservation panel for Hayes and Harlington. The Community Conference is open to all local residents and community organisations. It takes place on 17th October at Barra Hall, Wood End Green Road, Hayes.
Read 'Come Along to Our Local Heiritage Community Meeting on Saturday' in full...
We must not Drop Our Guard on the 3rd Runway
The Sunday Times reported last Sunday that BAA is not preparing to submit a planning application for a 3rd runway until after a general election. This is further evidence that the success of the campaign against the 3rd runway. Now most independent commentators believe that the 3rd runway will not go ahead. However it was already known that BAA was unable logistically to submit a planning application for another 12 to 18 months. Just as with BAA’s assurances over Terminal 5, it suspected that BAA strategy is to accept a delay but to continue lobbying for a 3rd runway when BAA’s finances are in a better position in two to three years time. That is why as the local MP I have welcomed the news reports of BAA’s planning delay but I have cautioned that anti runway campaigners must not drop their guard. After all their lies over Terminal 5 none of us trust BAA an inch and although I welcome BAA’s delay in submitting a 3rd runway planning application as another step in killing off the runway threat, we must not drop our guard. We need to continue to ensure that through our legal challenge, our community campaigning and by building a massive majority in Parliament against the runway this threat is killed off once and for all.
Read 'We must not Drop Our Guard on the 3rd Runway' in full...
Thursday, 01 Oct 2009
BAA Meeting on 3rd Runway Blight Protection
I met with BAA today (Thursday) to press for action from the company to protect my constituents from the blight over their homes caused by the threat of the 3rd runway proposal. BAA and the Government gave an undertaking when a 3rd runway was announced for Heathrow that the value of residents homes would be protected by a bond scheme. This scheme is supposed to reassure residents that if a runway went ahead their property would be bought at a protected value. The problem is that the bond scheme does not take effect until a formal planning application is submitted. This could be another year or two. In the meantime some people, who need to move home because their families are growing or because they are retiring to live elsewhere, are trapped in unsuitable often overcrowded accommodation, unable to sell their property. I took along to the BAA meeting, Mr and Mrs Fodder, a young family who are suffering a great deal because they now have a child and live in accomodation which no longer meets their needs and which they cannot sell. We have been told by BAA that the implementation of the bond scheme would be brought forward. That was months ago but we are still waiting. Today BAA was unwilling to give us a date for when the scheme will start and when families like the Fodders will be assisted. I am extremely angry at the treatment of my constituents, whose homes are blighted in ths way, and informed the BAA representatives today that I will be raising this issue with ministers and in Parliament and using every method I can to force BAA to live up to its responsibilities.
Read 'BAA Meeting on 3rd Runway Blight Protection' in full...
Sunday, 27 Sep 2009
Heathrow Special Needs Farm, Longford
Earlier this month I visited the open day at Heathrow Special Needs Farm in Longford. The farm provides a great opportunity for local children and schools to learn all about how a farm operates, how to care for animals and the environment. It is specially adapted for children with special needs. The farm is run by volunteers on a charitable basis, raising all its funds from donations, sponsorships and fund raising events. It deserves our support. This week I received my certificate for sponsoring Clyde, an anglo nubian goat at the farm. You can meet Clyde on my film of the farm. If you can help the farm in any way, including by sponsoring an animal, please contact the farm on its website or let me know and I will put you in touch with this wonderful local group.
Read 'Heathrow Special Needs Farm, Longford' in full...
Barnhill Pensioners’ Lunch and Bingo Session
Mark Gritt from Barnhill Community Centre noticed that local pensioners needed more opportunities to socialise on the estate and so he took the initiative and now organises a pensioners’ lunch every Tuesday at the Community Centre. Local pensioners come along for an excellent lunch prepared and served by local volunteers. They meet old friends and make new ones, have a chat and play a game of bingo. I called in last Tuesday and Mark got me calling the bingo. Mark filmed me bingo calling though you may notice that although he is an absolute star for organising the pensioners’ lunches and many other community activities at the centre, he may need a bit more training on the camera!!!
Read 'Barnhill Pensioners’ Lunch and Bingo Session' in full...
Thursday, 24 Sep 2009
St Mary’s Flower Festival, Harmondsworth
I have been visiting numerous local community groups throughout the summer. One of my favourite events held every couple of years is St Mary’s Flower Festival in Harmondsworth. The parishioners work really hard to decorate the church with magnificent displays of flowers. This is a short film whch gives a glimpse of the church interior decorated with beautiful flower arrangements.
Read 'St Mary’s Flower Festival, Harmondsworth' in full...
Thursday, 06 Aug 2009
The Fourth Act Theatre Company In Barra Hall Open Air Theatre
Here are the members of Fourth Act, the theatre company that successfully performed for us Rosa O’Connor’s play “Grimmly Ever After” in Barra Hall Park’s open air theatre. You can see more small excerpts from the play on Youtube, using the search for HayesFC22.
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Barra Hall park Summer Season includes a Children’s Play in Barra Hall Open Air Theatre
This year as part of the Barra Hall Park Summer season we have been really lucky in having the theatre company, Fourth Act, perform a children’s play written by Rosa O’Connor, called “Grimmly Ever After.” Despite the damp weather large numbers of children and parents have come along over the three days of the play to enjoy this very, very funny and entertaining fairy tale with a twist.The Barra Hall Community Development Committee, the community group I set up 11 years ago, has renovated Barra Hall, its park and the open air theatre. Each summer we organise Sunday afternoon concerts from the bandstand and performances of drama, dance and children’s entertainment in the open air theatre.This year every Sunday in August sees a band playing and on Saturday 29th August the Hillingdon Play Association is hosting in the park a talent competition for local bands. I filmed a few excerpts from Rosa O’Connor’s play.
Wednesday, 05 Aug 2009
Dedication of a Bench at St Mary’s Church, Harmondsworth, in Memory of Anne Sobey
I attended today (Tuesday) the moving ceremony to dedicate a bench in the grounds of St Mary’s Church, Harmondsworth in memory of Anne Sobey. Anne was the secretary of the Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents Association for decades and, with her husband Bryan, was a longstanding campaigner against airport expansion. In keeping with Anne’s commitment to protecting the environment the bench is made of recycled materials and will stand in commemoration of Anne’s dedicated service to our local community. I filmed Bryan’s prayer in dedication of the bench.
Read 'Dedication of a Bench at St Mary’s Church, Harmondsworth, in Memory of Anne Sobey' in full...
Thursday, 23 Jul 2009
The Gary McKinnon Case under the Extradition Treaty.
Before the Parliamentary recess started there was another debate on the implications of the Extradition Treaty with the United States that the Government introduced last year. I voted against the treaty because I was concerned that it would not afford British citizens the same protection against extradition that it would provide to US citizens facing extradition to Britain. In fact it meant that it would be easier to extradite British people to the US than US citizens to Britain. I felt that this was unfair and could result in miscarriages of justice. The Gary McKinnon case has confirmed my fears. Gary Mckinnon is a young man suffering from Aspergers Syndrome, who tapped into a number of US state computers because he has a bit of an obsession with UFOs. For this reason the US government is seeking his extradition under the new treaty. The treaty means that the US government only has to demonstrate reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed rather than present clear evidence of a crime. Gary could be tried in a British court but the Home secretary has agreed to is extradition to the US. I voted to refuse to extradite Gary.
Read 'The Gary McKinnon Case under the Extradition Treaty.' in full...
Tuesday, 21 Jul 2009
John McDonnell Raises in Parliament Blight to Heathrow Villages from 3rd Runway Threat
I raised in Parliament today (Tuesday) the blight to their properties, which residents in the Heathrow villages are experiencing as a result of the 3rd runway threat, and the failure of BAA to keep its promise to bring forward the implementation of the bond scheme. I also expressed my fears about the potential risks to our environment from the development of the Gasworks site in Southall, in particular the massive increase in traffic and also the potential pollution resulting from the excavation of this contaminated land. You can watch my speech in the House of Commons chamber on the film.
Monday, 20 Jul 2009
John McDonnell Joins Heathrow Villagers’ Picnic on Airplot Site
On Saturday I joined local residents and campaigners from the Heathrow villages in a picnic on the airplot site in Sipson, which with the assistance of Greenpeace, thousands of us have bought to prevent the 3rd runway being built over our village. The site is exactly where the 3rd runway and sixth terminal would be built if BAA gets its way. However most commentators and campaigners now believe that the runway proposal is dead, given the volume of opposition to this lunatic plan, which flies in the face of all the policies now being developed to protect our environmennt and to tackle climate change. I filmed a short spell at the picnic and our site.
Read 'John McDonnell Joins Heathrow Villagers’ Picnic on Airplot Site' in full...
Sunday, 19 Jul 2009
Hayes Cricket Club Family Funday
Hayes Cricket club, which I am proud to be the patron of, held its annual family funday and colts teams award ceremony today (Sunday). After experiencing a difficult time six years ago the club has gone from strength in recent years thanks to the hard work of a number of volunteers and the commitment of the young players and their parents. Keith Wallis, the club secretary, has played a major role in its success. Despite the weather the funday was really enjoyable. I interviewed Keith about the club’s progress, the plans for the future and how people can get involved. The weather was overcast and windy so you may need to turn up the volume for Keith’s first sentence as the wind affected the microphone.
Read 'Hayes Cricket Club Family Funday' in full...
Saturday, 18 Jul 2009
Yeading Meadows Nature Day at Yeading School, Hayes.
This Saturday I visited the Prakash celebration at Guru Nanak School, Brookside Community Centre’s “Brookside’s Got talent” show and the Yeading Meadows Nature Day at Yeading Junior School.
Read 'Yeading Meadows Nature Day at Yeading School, Hayes.' in full...
Friday, 17 Jul 2009
Twinkle Totz Nursery Brookside Hayes
This week I went along to the end of term performance of the “Three Little Pigs” by the children at Twinkle Totz nursery in the Brookside Community Centre in Hayes. The children sang and acted with such confidence and enthusiasm. They were a real credit to the nursery and their parents. This is a wonderful nursery and the children were so happy. I interviewed Susan Dhillon, who has been the driving force behind the nursery and Mrs Angus, the head of the nursery, who has worked so hard for the children with her excellent team of staff.
Read 'Twinkle Totz Nursery Brookside Hayes' in full...
Thursday, 16 Jul 2009
Parliamentary Debate on the War in Afghanistan
The war in Afghanistan has claimed more lives of British soldiers this week. This terrible loss of life prompted a debate in Parliament today (Thursday). The debate focused on an at times unseemly tussle between the political parties on whether the Government had provided sufficient support in terms of troops and equipment to fight this war. I spoke in the debate to express my distress at the loss of so many young lives and my view that this war was unnecessary, unwinnable and ill-judged.
Read 'Parliamentary Debate on the War in Afghanistan' in full...
Saturday, 11 Jul 2009
No 3rd Runway Campaign at Hayes Carnival
The No 3rd Runway Campaign participated in the Hayes Carnival and gained a really warm response from members of the local community who lined the roads as the procession passed by.
Read 'No 3rd Runway Campaign at Hayes Carnival' in full...
Hayes Carnival 2009
Last year the Hayes Carnival was threatened by the withdrawal of support by Hillingdon Council but the community rallied round and we saved the carnival. I convened a meeting of local community groups and we set up the Hayes Carnival Committee, chaired by John Chamberlain from Hayes End Methodist Church and comprising representatives from many local groups, charities and religious organisations. The Carnival Committee has worked hard and secured a small grant from Hillingdon Community Trust to support local groups participating in this year’s carnival procession. This year has seen the number of community organisations participating in the carnival almost double. The whole event has been a tremendous success. I filmed some of the carnival participants. We will commence planning next year’s carnival in September. Our aim is to make it bigger and better each year. If you would like to get involved in the carnival next year please contact me.
Read 'Hayes Carnival 2009' in full...
Wednesday, 08 Jul 2009
St Mary’s, Hayes, Flower Festival
Every year St Mary’s Church in Hayes holds its summer fete and flower festival. It is always a really enjoyable occasion for the whole community. This year the fete comprised all the usual home made cakes, jams, tombola and games stalls. In addition, there were children’s dance groups, a dog show and music from Hayes FM, our local community radio. It is a tradition that the children from Dr Tripletts school decorate the hedge along the path to the church with their own little bouquets of flowers and the church itself is decorated with absolutely beautiful flower arrangements. In the church hall parishioners were serving a delicious spread of salads and cakes. The sun shone, the music played and laughter rang out as local residents enjoyed a great day.
Read 'St Mary’s, Hayes, Flower Festival' in full...
Opening of Safer Neighbourhood Team Police Base in Barnhill
On Saturday I joined the local councillors, Police officers and members of the community for the official opening of the new base for the Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams on the Barnhill Estate. This idea came from the Barnhill Initiative Group, which I set up 10 years ago to bring local people together to improve the quality of life in the area. Local Councillors John Major and Anthony Way have led on the project over the last three years. They identified three empty shops on Welbeck Parade. This was a site where anti social behaviour was bringing the whole area down. Now thanks to the funds we have raised, one of the shops is a community cafe and the other two have been converted into a Police office and drop in for the Police Safer Neighbourhood teams for Barnhill and Charville Wards. This will put our local Police teams at the heart of the communities they serve, helping reduce crime and this increased Police presence will reassure local residents.
Read 'Opening of Safer Neighbourhood Team Police Base in Barnhill' in full...
Friday, 03 Jul 2009
Petition for Pump Lane Bus Route
The Hayes Working Men’s Club has launched a petition to secure a bus route down Pump Lane. We have tried over the years to get a bus route extended to the bottom of Pump Lane to serve the local residents in that area and the shops, office, factories and the Working Men’s Club. The Club has gained the support of the local Townfield councillors, Lynne Allen, Tony Eginton and Robin Sansapuri. I fully support this campaign and interviewed Alan Grover from the Club. If you would like to add your support please email me with your name and address and I will ensure that you are included in the petition. The petition will be presented to the leader of Hillingdon Council and the Mayor for London, who is responsible for Transport for London and thus in deciding London’s bus routes.
Read 'Petition for Pump Lane Bus Route' in full...
Sunday, 28 Jun 2009
Triplett’s Tennis Family Funday a Huge Success
Last Sunday (28th June) Dr Triplett’s Tennis Centre held its family funday and it was a huge success. The Dr Triplett’s Tennis Partnership organised a funday to introduce more local people to tennis just at the time of Wimbledon. Local schools helped by allowing their pupils to take home a leaflet advertising this free event. The result was a large number of people, particularly youngsters, turning up and having a go at tennis. Well done to the tennis partnership. The future of tennis successes in this country will be achieved by introducing more and more people to tennis in this way. Hayes is already well known for its splendid performance in encouraging people to participate in sports and bringing forward sporting talent in a wide range of sports from football to cycling. Now the Dr Triplett’s Tennis Partnership is putting Hayes on the tennis sporting map. If you want to know more about how you can have a try at tennis, brush up your skills or just want to play, contact the tennis partnership on 0208 569 3065 or the Hillingdon tennis Academy on 01895 813746.
Read 'Triplett’s Tennis Family Funday a Huge Success' in full...
Age Concern Wants More Volunteers
Age Concern Hillingdon, which will be managing the Townfield Centre on behalf of all the community, is looking for more volunteers to help in the wide range of local projects. I interviewed Leslie, the organisation’s volunteer coordinator, on how people can volunteer. Age Concern plays a really valuable role in our local community. Please do contact Leslie if you have a few spare hours you can offer as a volunteer.
Read 'Age Concern Wants More Volunteers' in full...
Townfield Community Centre Festival
On Saturday a community festival was held on the green in Townfield Square to highlight the renovation of Townfieod Community Centre. The Centre is being refurbished with funding from the Government and a contribution from Hillingdon Community Trust. The centre will open for community use early in the New Year and will be managed by Hillingdon Age Concern for use by all the community. Local residents and local councillors, Lynne Allen and Tony Eginton have worked hard with me to secure the site and the funding for the modernisation of the centre after fears at one time that the council might demolish it and sell off the site. Now thanks to all their efforts the centre will become once again a valuable base for community activities for local residents of all ages. I interviewed Joyce Moon from Age Concern about the project.
Read 'Townfield Community Centre Festival' in full...
Wednesday, 24 Jun 2009
Iraq Inquiry Debate
Today the House of Commons debated a resolution calling upon the Government to ensure that the inquiry into the Iraq war is held in public and that witnesses should be questioned on oath. I voted against the war and believe that it is now time to have the full truth told in public about how this country was taken to war. I spoke in the debate calling for the Government to think again about how this inquiry is to be conducted so that it carries the confidence of all parties in the House poof Commons but more importantly people in the country.
Read 'Iraq Inquiry Debate' in full...
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