News from April 2010

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.

Read 'Neil Sullivan at Hayes and Yeading Match for Help the Heroes' in full...

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.

Read 'Moves in Parliament to Protect Local Cemeteries after Experience of Threat to Cherry Lane' in full...

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.

Read 'Petition For Bus Route to Hayes Working Mens’ Club' in full...

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Monday, 22 Jun 2009

Wimbledon Comes to Hayes- Tennis Family Funday at Dr Triplett’s School

Wimbledon comes to Hayes. Next Sunday, 28th June, there will be a family funday at Dr Triplett’s Tennis Centre. There will be a range of activities for all ages and for all abilities to encourage people to try tennis. Whether you have played tennis before or you are an absolute beginner this is an opportunity to either try tennis or brush up your skills. There will be introduction to tennis training sessions, a mini tournament and a speed gun to test the speed of your serve. The funday is absolutely free. Dr Triplett’s Tennis Centre is at the bottom of Acacia Avenue off Church Road, Hayes. Come along.

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HAYA Youth Football Tournament

Last weekend I went along to present the cups and medals at the football tournament organised for young people by the local Horn of Africa Youth Association based in Hayes. The tournament is an annual event bringing together teams from across London. HAYA started in Hayes some years ago in order to give young people the opportunity of partcipating in a range of actvities including sports. The Association also provides advice, support and training. I have worked with and supported the group over the years and believe it has done a great job in helping some of the most vulnerabke young people in our area.

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Tuesday, 16 Jun 2009

Latest Parliamentary Debate on Heathrow

Today (Tuesday) we held another debate in Parliament on the proposed expansion of Heathrow. It was an adjournment debate in Westminster Hall. An adjournment debate is a device used by backbench MPs to debate a topic of their choice. Adam Afryie, the MP for Windsor, was successful in applying for the debate and it enabled us to demonstrate once again the strength of cross party opposition to the third runway. You can watch the whole debate this video.

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Saturday, 13 Jun 2009

Archaeological Finds from Yeading, Hayes Pipeline Excavation

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I visited the exhibition today (Saturday) of just some of the archaeological finds discovered from the excavations along the National Grid gas pipeline works along Yeading Brook in Hayes. The exhibition was held in our new community cafe/drop in centre at Welbeck Parade on Barnhill Estate. The excavations have discovered new bronze age and Roman settlements in Yeading. The findings of the digs will be assessed and written up, with the exhibits eventually being placed in the Museum of London. At next year’s local history conference, which I organise with the assistance of the local Hayes and Harlington History Society, I will be inviting the archaeologists from the pipeline excavation to come back and present their findings.

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Hillingdon Rural Activities Centre

I visited Hillingdon Rural Activities Centre to discuss how the centre was operating and looking to the future. The Centre is a unique project which operates as a training centre for people with special needs, providing them with gardening and horticultural skills as well as a wonderful opportuniy to socialise and meet others. The centre also operates as a garden centre, selling the plants grown by the trainees. The centre sells an extensive range of plants and provides excellent advice on how to tend the plants. At present it is providing advice and selling plants for companion planting. This is a technique in which different types of plants are planted together to promote their health and growth for example by protecting each other from specific predators. The centre is transforming itself into a social enterprise to secure its long term future. The council is withdrawing its support for the centre, reducing its grant in stages over a five year period. As a social enterprise the centre is confident that it can succeed in maintaining its service to members of our local community with special needs and their families. To succeed the centre does need support from the local community. You can support the centre by buying your plants there and also if you visit the centre do sign up as a Friend of the Centre. As a Friend you will receive regular updates on the centre’s activities and be invited to support its various events. We must do all we can to support this wonderful local resource.

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Thursday, 04 Jun 2009

Debate on the Railway Industry in the Recession

With a railway estate in my constituency and many rail workers as constituents I take a close interest in the rail industry. I work closely with the rail unions representing the railway workers and convene the RMT Parliamentary Group of MPs. I have posted a video film of the debate.

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Cranford Park Primary School 70th Anniversary Celebrations

This morning (Thursday) I was so pleased to join the pupils and staff celebrating the 70th anniversary of Cranford Park Primary School. To celebrate the occasion the children let fly 70 balloons and I planted a tree. I then joined the children on the school council for a question and answer session on the role of an MP. The children were bright as buttons and posed some really interesting questions. Later this month on 26th June from 4 to 8 pm the school is hosting a party for all past pupils and staff. Cranford Park School is a such a good school, with a wonderful atmosphere as you visit the classrooms and meet the children. The school is giving our children an excellent start in life and helping them aspire to developing their talents to the full. I interviewed Martin Young, the school’s headteacher, who is very highly regarded within our local community and within the teaching profession for his leadership skills.

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Thursday, 28 May 2009

Demand to Give Parliament a Vote on Major Planning Proposals like Heathrow

Last week I tried yet again to secure the right of MPs to have a vote on the major planning policies which will determine whether large infrastructure projects like new airport runways and nuclear power stations go ahead. I lost the vote but demonstrated yet again that MPs in all the political parties are increasingly demanding a say on these issues. I will continue to use every opportunity to press the case for the right of Parliament to decide on major projects which affect the lives of so many of our people. This is the democratic right not just of MPs but of the constituents we represent.

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Wednesday, 27 May 2009

More Scenes from the Northwood Peace Protest

This is further footage from the Northwood Peace Protest. The names of some of the civilians killed in Afghanistan are read out as the protesters dressed as a wedding party lay in the road as if dead in order to commemorate the attack on the wedding party at Haji Nabu.

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Peace Protest at Northwood Air Base

I attended today (Thursday) a peace protest at Northwood Air Base. The peaceful demonstration marked the second anniversary of the bombing by Nato forces of a wedding party at Haji Nabu in Afghanistan. Many civilians, men women and children, were killed in this incident. Many more cases of civilian casualties have since come to light. I have received representations from constituents calling upon the Government to review its role in Afghanistan in the light of the large number of deaths amongst both civilians and British troops. I am increasingly convinced that the war in Afghanistan will prove to be a futile, tragic, disaster. I will be raising this issue in Parliament once more in the hope that an alternative and peaceful approach can at least be put on the agenda for debate.

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Saturday, 23 May 2009

Minet Schools’ “One World Week.”

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Last week Minet Infant and Junior Schools held a “One World Week” in which the children studied the cultures of a range of countries from the world’s different continents. This included learning about the language, music, cuisine and costume of each country studied. At the end of a week long programme of activities the parents were invited to a concert of music and dance from around the world performed by the children and their teachers. I assisted the schools in raising funds for the event and we were helped greatly by a grant from Hillingdon Community Trust. The pupils and teachers worked really hard, with the support of the parents. The concert was a very moving, joyous occasion, with the children throwing themselves enthusiastically into the performance. I filmed a small excerpt of the children singing the theme song for the week. The show culminated in a surprise wonderful Irish dance performance by the teachers, including headteacher of Minet Juniors, Steve Foot.

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Thursday, 21 May 2009

Heathrow Villagers Meet BAA

Tonight I organised a meeting between the Heathrow villagers and representatives from BAA to assist the local residents in getting answers to their questions about the arrangements put in place to compensate them if a third runway at Heathrow goes ahead. In over an hour of questioning the local residents became frustrated at the lack of answers from BAA. Many people felt angry that BAA had failed to take into account the impact blight was having on our local community. In the next few weeks I will be circulating details about a series of seminars at which lawyers will be providing advice on the process from here on concerning the BAA compensation scheme, compulsory purchase and other arrangements.

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Wednesday, 20 May 2009

Public Meeting For Heathrow Villagers on Airport Expansion

I have convened a public meeting on Thursday night at 8pm at Heathrow Primary School for Heathrow villagers to discuss the compensation arrangements for those affected by the proposed expansion of the airport. Like most commentators I do not believe that the third runway will go ahead for a host of reasons, not least being the mass opposition there is against this plan. However I have a duty as the local MP to ensure that the future of my constituents is protected no matter what happens. For this reason at last month’s annual meeting of the Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents Association we agreed that I convene a meeting for all residents and invite BAA to send a representative to discuss the compensation arrangements if the runway proposal goes ahead. This will give local residents the opppportunity to put questions to BAA. Because we are aware that BAA is in discussions about possible changes to its bond scheme we may not be able to obtain definitive answers to some of our questions but we will be able to list those questions that we need BAA to come back to us with answers. Thursday’s meeting is not a campaigning meeting but a serious attempt to gain greater information on the compensation arrangements and I will be urging everyone (including myself) to contain any understandable strong feelings they may have about BAA’s expansion proposals so that we can use this meeting to gain as much information as possible. I have also requested a further meeting with Ministers for local residents and myself to discuss in detail the compensation arrangements needed if residents are to be protected.

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Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Hayes Ahmadya Muslim Society Peace Symposium.

Last Saturday I attended a symposium convened by the local Hayes Ahmadya Muslim Society on the issue of peace. The aim of the symposium was to bring together representatives of the local community and of all religious faiths to discuss how peace can be secured in the world. The Ahmadya Society has a long track record of supporting local, national and international initiatives combatting poverty, ill health and conflict. The Society used the opportunity of the symposium to dismiss the myths associating Islam with violence and terrorism. The key speakers emphasised the core duty within Islam of living in peace and harmony with one’s fellow human beings. I felt the symposium was an excellent way in which different sections of our community were brought together to increase mutual understanding and respect.

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Monday, 18 May 2009

Hayes Campus Open Day in Barra Hall Park

Saturday was another busy day for me with a flash mob demonstration with local residents and campaigners in Heathrow Terminal one against the third runway, an open day in Barra Hall Park theatre for local students from the Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College, a Versaikhi celebration with the local Sikh Arts and Culture Society and a symposium on peace convened by the Hayes Ahmadya Muslim Society.

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Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Opening of Harlington School Training Kitchens

I attended the opening of Harlington School’s training kitchens this morning (Thursday). The school has linked up with Thames Valley University and the Hillingdon Business Partnership to create a training kitchen which enables the students to gain an excellent grounding in catering skills, leading on to placements in some of the top catering establishments in London and also to opportunities for further education at the university. The official opening was undertaken by the world famous chef, Brian Turner CBE, who has worked hard to support the development of catering and hospitality courses at the university and in local schools. I interviewed Richard Broad, who is head of Design and Technology with Hospitality at the school and who has pioneered this specialism within the school’s curriculum.

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Sunday, 10 May 2009

Hayes and Yeading United Promoted

Hayes and Yeading United won promotion last week into the Conference. This is a massive achievement for our local football club, which was formed only two years ago out of the merger of Hayes Fc and Yeading Fc. I am the honorary vice president and attend most home matches. I went along to the play off final at Hampton on Thursday and videoed the team celebration after the match. The game was exillarating. We deserved to win, playing some beautiful football. This will give our community a major boost. Thanks to the manager, team, supporters and all associated with the club for putting our town on the football map.

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Cherry Lane Cemetery Demonstration

Last weekend we held two demonstrations to highlight the continuing threat to Cherry Lane Cemetery from the road network planned by the British Airports Authority to cope with the increased traffic generated by the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport. If a third runway goes ahead it will generate 23 million extra traffic movements according to BAA’s own estimates. We discovered that BAA proposed a road going through our local cemetery. THis caused immense distress and we have petitioned Parliament, lobbied Ministers and challenged BAA to drop this plan. So far BAA has tried to assure us that this road plan is only “indicative” but we have been given no legally binding commitment that our cemetery will be safe. Many of us have friends and relatives buried in this cemetery and we will not stand by and let it be desecrated in this way. The demonstrations last weekend included a procession from Trafalgar Square to Parliament and then from Harlington Baptist Church to a ceremony in Cherry Lane Cemetery. I interviewed Reverend Kip Bennett who was one of the religious ministers addressing our service in the cemetery.

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Monday, 27 Apr 2009

Opening of Playbox Toy Library in Hayes End Methodist Church Hall

On Thursday I opened the new toy library in Hayes End. The toy library, called Play Box, is located in the church hall of the Hayes End Methodist Church. The library is open to all local families and local childminders, who want to join. It provides toys to borrow for young children and offers the opportunity for families with young children to come along and link up with other parents. Hayes End Methodist church has allowed its hall to be opened up for use by families with young children and by local childminders. We all now appreciate so much more the importance of play and this toy library will provide young children with such a wonderful oppportunity to enjoy themselves and to mix with other children. I interviewed Jeanette Richardson the driving force behind this project.

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Thursday, 23 Apr 2009

St Anselm’s Church Hayes Celebrates its 80th Anniversary Patronal Service

On Monday St Anselm’s Church in Hayes town centre celebrated its 80th anniversary patronal service. It is the 900 year anniversary of the death of the church’s patron saint and the church was founded on this date in Hayes in 1929. St Anselm’s is a beautiful building and is one of the secret architectural jewels of our area. It has fantastic acoustics and over the years there have been some delightful musical performances in the building. The church currently hosts Hayes FM in its side rooms and has opened its doors to many other local community groups. The whole church, both priest and parishioners, work hard to foster this spirit of community service and involvement. I interviewed Susan Chick, who is a really hard working active member of the church.

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Hayes Nepalese Society’s New Year Celebrations

This week was the celebration of the New Year by the local Hayes Nepalese Society. In the Nepalese calendar the New Year is in April and this year is 2066. I attended the New Year celebrations which were held at Hayes and Yeading United Football Club. The event was a joyous celebration of Nepalese culture with local artists singing, playing and dancing. The Nepalese ambassador attended and the newly formed local Nepalese Society invited local councillors, the Mayor and myself to join in the festival. The event was really fascinating and enjoyable

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Tuesday, 07 Apr 2009

Legal Challenge Mounted to 3rd Runway at Heathrow

Today local councils combined with environmental groups and the local No Third Runway campaign to launch a legal challenge to the Government’s decision to go ahead with a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow. The legal challenge argues that the Government’s consultation on expanding Heathrow was flawed and failed to properly assess the impacts of expansion on air pollution, noise, the economy and climatr change.

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Hayes Cricket Club Colts Launch New Season

Some years ago Hayes Cricket club invited me to become its patron but at that time was on the verghe of folding. Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated band of supporters the club has not only been revived it is now one of the most successful sports clubs in the area. The club has been really effective in recruiting youngsters to train and play cricket. Standards are improving every season and the involvement of the youngsters and their parents have made the club something to be especially proud of locally.

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Thursday, 02 Apr 2009

The Residents Have their Say over the Townfield Cente Renovation

I asked for the views of some of the local residents who have campaigned for the renovation and reopening of Townfield Community Centre.

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Refurbishing Townfield Community Centre

On Monday I attended the launch of the refurbishment of Townfield Community Centre. As a result of lack of maintenance over the years by the council the Townfield Community Centre became derelict. Local residents and community groups lost a much needed meeting place. Now thanks to a grant from the Government work has started to refurbish and reopen the centre for the community.

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Wednesday, 25 Mar 2009

Debate on Inquiry into Iraq War

The Government promised that there would be an inquiry into the Iraq war at the appropriate time. Now that the Prime Minister has announced that British troops are to be withdrawn later this year MPs are debating today whether the inquiry should now be timetabled. This inquiry is aimed at revealing what exactly happened in the run up to the decision to take this country to war and to discover at long last the truth behind the decision making in Government. As someone who opposed the war and was sceptical about the Government’s motives I welcome an early inquiry. I believe that this inquiry is long overdue. I interviewed Jeremy Corbyn MP who has been an ardent opponent of the war and has called consistently for an independent inquiry.

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North Hyde Road Problems with Heavy Traffic.

This morning I visited North Hyde Road in Hayes to meet local residents who are concerned about the heavy traffic on this road. This has been a real problem for some time with an increasing number of heavy lorries using this road as the access point to the southern end of the Hayes Bypass and M4.

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Wednesday, 18 Mar 2009

Support for Bill in Parliament to Improve Redundancy Payments

Last week I supported a Private Members Bill in Parliament to improve redundancy payments. Under the private Members Bill procedure an MP who is chosen in a ballot can bring forward a proposal for a new law and ask the House of Commons for support. These Bills rarely become law unless they have alot of support and the Government gives way and supports the Bill. Lindsey Hoyle MP brought forward a BIll to ensure that each year redundancy payments are uprated in line with the increase in earnings or inflation, whichever is the higher.

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Friday, 06 Mar 2009

£1 million Government Grant to Improve Local Children’s Play Facilities

The Government has awarded Hillingdon £1million to improve local play facilities. This grant is aimed at encouraging local children to enjoy playing in our local parks and community areas. The grant will be spent on the basis of what local people, especially local children, say is needed to improve play facilities in the area. I am really pleased that the Government has given us this golden opportunity to improve and create new local play areas.
6 years ago I convened a meeting of all the local organisations in Hillingdon that were interested in children’s play. At that meeting we set up the Hillingdon Play Network and a few years later we became Hillingdon Play Association and gained a lottery grant of £500,000 to encourage improvements in play in Hillingdon. We have developed a play strategy and have a team of playworkers based at Barra Hall. Thanks to the lobbying of the government by play associations like ours we now have a national programme for investment in play and Hillingdon has gained this new £1 million opportunity to build and enhance new and existing play areas.

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Friday, 13 Feb 2009

Opening of New Nursery at Rosedale College in Hayes

Last Saturday along with the Mayor and local children, I opened the brand new nursery at Rosedale College in Hayes. This is a wonderful new nursery for local families and is managed by an excellent child care specialist, Debbie Kearns. Debbie has made a real mark locally assisting in the training of local nursery workers to a very high standard and promoting good quality child care in the area. I was the Chair of the Early Years and Childcare Partnership and also Chair of the Surestart Partnership when we developed with Clive Neathey, the dynamic headteacher at Rosedale, the idea of a nursery at the school. So I was so pleased to be invited to the opening of this wonderful facility. I interviewed Debbie about the nursery.

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Tuesday, 10 Feb 2009

Third Runway Statement when I was Suspended From Parliament

On the day of the Government’s announcement approving the expansion of Heathrow I was suspended from Parliament for lifting the mace in protest at the refusal of the Government to allow a vote in the House of Commons on this issue. I felt strongly that this was a denial of democracy and therefore took the only action I thought open to me to draw attention to this decision. Since then I have convened a series of meetings in the constituency speaking to over 1000 constituents and writing to and leafletting the homes of thousands more.

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Wednesday, 14 Jan 2009

Government to Announce Tomorrow Approval for Third Runway

The Government is to announce tomorrow its approval of a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.

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Monday, 12 Jan 2009

Reports of Further Delay in Third Runway Decision

It was widely expected that the Government was to announce its decision on a third runway at Heathrow this week. There are newspaper reports that after protests from Labour MPs the Prime Minister may delay any announcement once again. These are unconfirmed reports and so may be only speculation. As soon as I know anything for certain I will be convening meetings across the area to let local people know and for us to plan our response as a community.

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Monday, 05 Jan 2009

Brookside Community Centre Wins Grant for Youngsters’ Talent Competition

I went along to present a grant to Charlie Farmer from the Brookside Community Centre today (Monday 5th January). The grant was provided by Barclay’s Bank to support local groups in their community activities. Charlie Farmer is a local hero, who has worked on behalf of our community for decades. I first met Charlie when he was setting up the Charville Community Centre back in the 1980s. At that time I was the Chair of the GLC’s Finance Committee and I awarded Charlie a grant to help open the new centre.

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The Attack on Gaza

I have been extremely concerned at the loss of life and suffering caused by the Israeli bombing and now invasion of Gaza. Parliament does not come back from the Christmas recess until next week. This means that there has been no opportunity for MPs to discuss the issue and to determine what role the UK government should play. I believe that the UK government could assist in mobilising an international to bring about a ceasefire by putting diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel. I have called for the recall of Parliament to enable Ministers to report on their activities and for MPs to discuss this serious international situation.

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News from December 2008

Sunday, 28 Dec 2008

Celebrating Christmas in our Community

One of the great things about Hayes and Harlington is the continuing and growing strong sense of community. This Christmas I had the pleasure of being invited to the Christmas celebrations of several community groups. Two of my favourite events are the Cranford Good Neighbours Project Christmas party and the Christmas party of the Pensioners Friday Club that we set up as part of the Barra Hall Regeneration project. The club now meets at Hayes Cricket club every Friday and local older people have a really enjoyable time meeting old friends, playing bingo and having a good chat. I attended the Hayes and Yeading United match on Boxing Day and the club gave a new match football to all the youngsters attending the game. This was a really nice touch. We also won 2-0 against local rivals Maidenhead so this rounded off a marvelloues Christmas. I hope everybody had a good Christmas and I wish all my constituents a happy and peaceful New Year. With the recession hitting hard we will need to stand together as a community and help each other get through what are likely to be very difficult times.

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Tuesday, 23 Dec 2008

Hayes FM Completes its First Year of Broadcasting

Hayes FM is our local community radio station and has completed its first year of broadcasting. The idea for a community radio station came out of one of our local community conferences which I convene every year. Local resident and professional broadcaster, Sutish Sharma, has taken the project from idea to implementation. I am chair of the Hayes FM board and serve on the board along with a group of community representatives who loke me volunteer their time to make the radio station a success. However without Sutish we would not have been able to undertake this project and certainly would not have been so successful in securing this important community resource. Hayes FM is increasingly becoming an ideal medium for the voices of the local community. I interviewed Sutish on the development of our community radio station and its plans for the future.

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Friday, 19 Dec 2008

Salvation Army Christmas Concert at Barnhill Community Centre

One of the great things about being the local MP is that I get invited to so many enjoyable local community events, especially at Chritsmas. Over the last few weeks I have visited the Christmas bazaars of so many local community organisations and churches. In addition I have been the guest at nativity plays and carol services at many local schools including Brookside in Yeading, Minet Infants, Charville Primary, Brookside Community Centre nursery, Douay Martyrs Secondary school and St Mary’s in Harmondsworth.

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Saturday, 13 Dec 2008

Community Christmas Reception

Today (Saturday) I held a Christmas reception for local community organisations at our local Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College.

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Thursday, 11 Dec 2008

Government’s Welfare Reform Proposals

The Government published its proposals for the reform of the welfare system yesterday. There are a range of measures to improve the current system but there are some worrying proposals that in my view will hit people hard if there are not sufficient protections in place to prevent people being penalised unfairly. At my weekly advice surgery I already see too many people who find it too difficult and complicated to gain the benefits they are entitled to.

Read 'Government’s Welfare Reform Proposals' in full...

Tuesday, 09 Dec 2008

Opening of Hayes Cricket Clubhouse Extension

On Sunday I opened the new extension to Hayes Cricket Club’s clubhouse. For some years I have had the honour of being the patron of the club.

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Southall Gasworks Site Consultation

Plans have been put forward from the National Grid to develop the Southall Gasworks site, which runs alongside our Minet Country Park and the Grand Union Canal. The proposals are for an immense new development of 4000 properties. This development will have an enormous impact on Hayes as one of the main points of access and egress from the site is a road planned to run from the gasworks site across the south of the Minet open space and onto the Hayes by-pass at Pump Lane.

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Monday, 08 Dec 2008

No Third Runway Campaigners Join the Climate Change Demonstration

On Saturday campaigners from the No Third Runway Campaign joined the national Climate Change demonstration in Parliament Square. The demonstration was very big with thousands of people marching on this annual event to draw attention to the need for urgent action by the Government to stop climate change.