News from May 2009

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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