News from October 2008

The Climate Change Bill was passed in Parliament tonight. This was a tremendous success in our campaign to tackle climate change. The Government accepted our amendments to the Bill to include aviation emissions in the calculation of the overall reduction in carbon emissions to be achieved by the Government. This was a major breakthrough.

Read 'Climate Change Bill Passed in Parliament and John Grogan’s Early Day Motion Causes a Stir' in full...

Climate Bill Today (Tuesday 28th October)

The Climate Bill is to be debated in Parliament today.

We are aiming to amend the Bill to ensure that the Government increases the target to reduce emissions in 2050 from 60% to 80% and to include aviation emissions in that target.

Read 'Climate Bill Today (Tuesday 28th October)' in full...

Major Breakthrough in Parliament for Campaign Against a Third Runway

There has been a major breakthrough in Parliament overnight in our campaign against the third runway at Heathrow. A number of non London Labour MPs have put down a motion in Parliament which calls upon the Government to “rethink its plans for a third runway at Heathrow and give full consideration to alternative solutions.”

Read 'Major Breakthrough in Parliament for Campaign Against a Third Runway' in full...

Friends of The Earth Campaigning in Hayes Town Centre on Climate Change

I joined local members of Friends of the Earth campaigning in Hayes Town Centre on Saturday calling for the strengthening of the Climate Change Bill when it comes before Parliament this week.

Read 'Friends of The Earth Campaigning in Hayes Town Centre on Climate Change' in full...

Friday, 24 Oct 2008

Visit to Minet Junior School

I called in to visit Minet Junior School on Avondale Drive in Hayes this afternoon (Friday 24th October) to speak to Headteacher, Steve Foot.

Read 'Visit to Minet Junior School' in full...

Sad News of the Loss of Stalwart Community Campaigner Ann Sobey

I learnt last night of the sad news that Ann Sobey has passed away. I have known Anne for over 30 years and held her in such high regard and affection. Along with her husband Brian she has been the cornerstone of the Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents Association. She dedicated her life to our community and the wellbeing of local residents within our area. Over decades she and Brian have been at the forefront of the campaign to save our villages from the expansion of Heathrow airport. She was a tireless and selfless worker on behalf of others. I respected and admired her for her unceasing and tenacious support for local causes and her total commitment to our community. We will all miss Anne and I send my every sympathy to Brian and all the family.

Read 'Sad News of the Loss of Stalwart Community Campaigner Ann Sobey' in full...

Wednesday, 22 Oct 2008

Pensioners Lobby Parliament for Decent Pension

Large numbers of pensioners came to lobby Parliament today for a decent pension. In the 1980s Mrs Thatcher’s government abolished the link between pension increases and the rise in earnings. As a result pensioners are now over £30 per week worse off.

Read 'Pensioners Lobby Parliament for Decent Pension' in full...

Meeting the Chagos Islanders and Hearing their Sad Story

Some years ago a number of constituents approached me to express their concern about the way the Chagos islanders had been treated and to ask me for help. The Chagos Islanders come from a group of islands in the Indian ocean which were taken over by the United States military two decades ago. These were British teritories.

Read 'Meeting the Chagos Islanders and Hearing their Sad Story' in full...

Tuesday, 21 Oct 2008

Job Centre Workers Meeting in Parliament

Job Centre workers from the PCS union met me in Parliament today at a seminar organised by the union on the Government’s plans to close job centres, lay off 12,000 staff and also cut back on benefits.

Read 'Job Centre Workers Meeting in Parliament' in full...

Thursday, 16 Oct 2008

New Start Up Units for Local Businesses at the Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College

Today I visited the new business start up units at the Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College. Newly built on the campus in Coldharbour Lane in Hayes the units provide cheap office space for young people starting up their own business. The idea is that young people who want to launch a new business in the area can rent a very reasonably priced, modern office. They will be in a superb working environment with all the facilities they need on site and be able to mix with other young entrepreneurs. There are 10 units and already 5 have been snapped. The Business Units have been funded by the London Development Agency and are managed by Uxbridge College. This really innovative scheme will bring businesses and more employment to our area, especially for local young people. I interviewed Lorraine Colins, who has led this project on behalf of the college.

Read 'New Start Up Units for Local Businesses at the Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College' in full...

Wednesday, 15 Oct 2008

RNIB Lobby of Parliament for Disability Living Allowance

Today (Wednesday 15th October) The Royal National Institute for The Blind, RNIB, organised a lobby of Parliament. Many hundreds of people came to Parliament to urge MPs to support the RNIB’s demand that higher rate Disability Living Allowance (DLA) be paid to people with restricted sight.

Read 'RNIB Lobby of Parliament for Disability Living Allowance' in full...

Tuesday, 14 Oct 2008

Busy Weekend Visiting Community Groups - Sunday

On Sunday I attended two local community events.

The first was the launch of a Women’s Forum for women from Somaliland at the Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College in Coldharbour Lane, Hayes. Somaliland was a British colony and has maintained strong links with Britain. Local community groups have supported projects to assist schools and the university in Somaliland’s capital of Hegesa. The women’s forum will provide a vehicle for women to express their views and work together on different projects.

Read 'Busy Weekend Visiting Community Groups - Sunday' in full...

Meeting of MPs and Lords in Parliament on Heathrow Campaign

I chaired a meeting of the group of MPs and Lords, which I set up some time ago to organise the campaign in Parliament against Heathrow expansion. The meeting was well attended with MPs and Lords from all parties. We also had representatives from the local councils and national environmental groups.

Read 'Meeting of MPs and Lords in Parliament on Heathrow Campaign' in full...

Busy Weekend Visiting Local Community Groups- Saturday

This weekend was busy as usual visiting local community groups and suporting local events.

On Saturday morning in Hayes Town centre I joined the local Police and Councillors in raising funds for the Kicks Football project being run in Hayes recreation ground. In a link up with Queens Park Rangers football club the local police organise football training and matches for local young people each week in the evening in the park. The project attracts over 100 youngsters each week. I strongly support this initiative and we were out in the town centre on Saturday with a raffle to raise funds for floodlighting so that the football can go on through the winter when the nights get dark. Thanks to the hard work of the local Safer Neighbourhood Police teams we raised alot of funds and support.

Read 'Busy Weekend Visiting Local Community Groups- Saturday' in full...

Thursday, 09 Oct 2008

Outcome of Grange Residents Meeting Tonight Thursday 9th October

There was a good turnout of about 40 residents at our open meeting this evening to discuss the plans for the construction of a new community centre on the Grange site. The proposals were welcomed by local residents. Local councillor Peter Curling and Rita Kiss from the Grange Residents Association took people through a detailed presentation of the plans for the site.

Read 'Outcome of Grange Residents Meeting Tonight Thursday 9th October' in full...

Tuesday, 07 Oct 2008

Grange Site Public Meeting on Thursday at 7.30 at Grange Park School, Lansbury Drive.

I have organised a public meeting for this Thursday 9th October at 7.30 pm at Grange Park Primary School in Lansbury Drive Hayes to discuss the agreement we have now secured with the Council for the development of the Grange site for community use.

Read 'Grange Site Public Meeting on Thursday at 7.30 at Grange Park School, Lansbury Drive.' in full...

Monday, 06 Oct 2008

Victory for Avondale Residents

For at least three years I have been working with the Avondale Residents Association to press their landlord, Hillingdon Homes, to take seriously the safety fears of the residents, worried about crime and anti social behaviour in and around their appartment blocks. Councillor Lynne Allen has taken up the cause of the local residents and battled away on their behalf.

Read 'Victory for Avondale Residents' in full...

Saturday, 04 Oct 2008

Local Celebration of 125 Years of Boys Brigade

Today (Saturday 4th October) I attended the celebration party organised by the Hayes Boys Brigade to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Boys Brigade.

Read 'Local Celebration of 125 Years of Boys Brigade' in full...

Friday, 03 Oct 2008

Local MP Convenes Meeting to Protect Harmondsworth Barn

The medieval barn at Harmondsworth is one of the most signifcant heritage buildings in Hillingdon and is of national historical importance. In 2006 the owners of the barn went into liquidation. Both Hillingdon Council and English Heritage had the opportunity to purchase the barn for a nominal sum of £1 but declined, largely because of their anxieties about shouldering the ongoing cost of maintenance. The barn was then bought by a company based abroad.

Read 'Local MP Convenes Meeting to Protect Harmondsworth Barn' in full...

Thursday, 02 Oct 2008

Report of Meeting to Save Cherry Lane Cemetery; We are united against BAA’s road plan.

Read 'Report of Meeting to Save Cherry Lane Cemetery; We are united against BAA’s road plan.' in full...

Last night I spoke at the meeting we arranged at Barnhill Community Centre in protest at BAA’ s proposals to drive a road through our local cemetery at Cherry Lane as part of their plans to build a third runway at Heathrow. The meeting was packed with between 500 and 600 people, angry at the threat to the graves of their loved ones. People from all denominatons were there united in their oppposition to this monstrous plan. All had relatives buried in the cemetery and were distressed to learn about the threat to the resting place of their loved ones.

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Wednesday, 01 Oct 2008

Launch of Credit Union at Local School

I visited Dr Tripletts, one of our local primary schools, this week to launch a credit union for children. Hillingdon Credit Union is promoting the role of credit unions in teaching children about savings and how to manage money. I am the patron of the credit union and so I dropped in to see how the preparations for the launch were going.