November 2008 Archives

A PLANNING inspector has granted permission for a block of flats to be built in Hillingdon.

The two storey block, in Corwell Lane, Hillingdon was refused at a planning meeting in March but the appeal considered the application to be suitable.

Petitioners argued that the eight bedroom flats would be detrimental to the appearance of the area, a quiet residential street, and the impact would mean a loss of privacy and an increase in noise but these objections were rejected.

Provision for parking spaces was also included in the application, and first floor windows will be obscure glazed to address the privacy concerns.

FANS of classical music will be able to enjoy a special performance with a Gallic twist this weekend.

The Hillingdon Philharmonic Orchestra will perform French music at All Saints Church in Long Lane, Hillingdon at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Tickets can be bought on the door for £10 and £8 for concessions.

ARTISTIC students who have been promoting road safety will see their handiwork featured in a special road safety calendar next year.

The competition, run by the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) and local borough Road Safety Officers, is in its fourth year and attracted more than 650 entries from schools across the capital.

The LSCP and Metropolitan Police visited Hillingdon Primary School, in Uxbridge Road, last week to award a winning prize to the school. Eight schools, of which Hillingdon Primary was one, were chosen as overall winners, with their posters making up the 12 main pages of the calendar.

Ann Bowen-Bieslin, Head Teacher Hillingdon Primary School, said: "We are delighted that our Year Six pupils have learnt a great deal about road safety and the dangers that their age group face. The competition has also reinforced the message that speed can endanger lives. The pupils are looking forward to seeing their designs in the calendar next year."

The competition is aimed at Year Six pupils as they prepare to make the transition to secondary school - the point at which children begin to travel independently for the first time

Entries ranged from posters about excessive speed and wearing seatbelts, to the importance of stopping, looking and listening when crossing the road.

WITH a gloomy economic climate at the back of everyone's minds, a little Christmas spirit has arrived to help lift the mood of young and old alike.

To the delight of young fans, Santa Claus will be visiting Wyevale Garden Centre in Hillingdon this year.

Environmentally-conscious Santa has switched to an all-electric Mega City car, giving Rudolph and his friends a well-deserved break.

Children will be able to visit Santa in his grotto and receive a gift on selected days this November and December for a fee of £5.

He will also be hosting breakfast and tea parties at the garden centre, located on Pield Heath Road, from November 29.
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Further information can be found at www.wyevale.co.uk.

CALM and relaxation are the aims of a new garden opened at Hillingdon Hospital.

Volunteers created the restful garden for the Tudor Centre for Sexual Health at the Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge, hospital.

The garden, which was officially opened on Tuesday, November 11 was part funded by the Coca-Cola Youth Foundation and a former patient.

Barry Watson, project officer for Groundwork, said: "Our volunteers really loved the challenge of creating this garden and made a lovely job of it. We're very grateful for Coca Cola's generosity which is helping the Healing Gardens to keep going at a time when we need every penny."

Gardens at Colham Green Road and the Riverside Centre have already been created to help people with disabilities and long term illnesses.

Consultant physician at the Tudor Centre, Dr Benedict Holden, added: "Everyone is very excited about the new garden and we are all very grateful for the extra support."

A CHARITY tennis match is to be held to raise funds for Hillingdon Hospital.

Players from the Hillingdon Hospital Paediatric Diabetes Charity will compete against former Wimbledon Centre Court contestant, Lee Childs.

Audience members will also have an opportunity to play the star and professional team coach, Phil Fawler.

All proceeds from the Stoke Park, Bucks, event will go to the Hillingdon Hospital Paediatric Diabetes Charity, which helps provide activities and essential equipment for diabetic children.

Tickets cost £25 and include a drinks reception from 11am on November 30.
Contact 01753 717173 or email spa@stokeparkclub.com

UXBRIDGE past and present will be the topic of discussion at Hillingdon Family History Society this month.

The meeting will take place next Thursday, November 20 at Hillingdon Baptist Church, Hercies Road, Hillingdon.

Anybody looking to find out more about their family tree should arrive in time for the start at 7.30pm where guest speaker Philip Sherwood will speak.

For more information visit www.hfhs.co.uk or call club secretary Patricia Reynolds on 01895 444442.

GilTWO Hillingdon parents are set to attempt to swim to Africa next year.

Rob Parkinson and Ian Taplin, from Hillingdon Swimming Club, are aiming to raise money for charity, and for the development of talented swimmers in the borough.

The Strait of Gibraltar is regarded as a tougher swim than the English Channel because of its strong currents and was swam earlier this year by Olympic rower James Cracknell and Little Britain's David Walliams.

The pair will attempt the 20km swim in August 2009, where they could come into contact with whales or even great white sharks.

if any person or business is interested in helping support Ian and Rob's challenge, please contact them on swimtoafrica@talktalk.net

GREEN-FINGERED charity volunteers from across the borough have unveiled new gardens at Hillingdon Hospital.

Healing Gardens volunteers recently completed the restful looking gardens at The Tudor Centre for Sexual Health at Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road.

The charity is run by Groundwork Thames Valley as a way of engaging the community in landscape architecture and has been running for over 20 years.

The low maintenance gardens were designed with relaxation and wildlife in mind.

Seating beneath a pergola provides a peaceful spot where hardworking staff can take a break, and where birdboxes sit and feeders care for the birds.

The garden development was partly funded by the Coca-Cola Youth Foundation, which encourages young people to volunteer their time by gardening in their community.

A bequest from a former patient matched the grant and staff from Coca-Cola offices in Uxbridge rolled up their sleeves to help the Healing Gardens team on other gardens in the borough.

Barry Watson, Healing Gardens project officer, said: "Our volunteers really loved the challenge of creating this garden, and made a lovely job of it.

"We're really grateful for Coca-Cola's generosity, which is helping Healing Gardens to keep going, at a time when we need every penny."

A FED-UP resident has told of her freezing nights she endured after being without a boiler for seven weeks.

Julie Rieskins, 43, of Pole Hill Road, Hillingdon, was left without heating and hot water when her boiler broke on September 20.

To make matters worth her immersion heater broke down seven times during this period and she spent in excess of £200 keeping it maintained.

She said: "This is a joke, there is no way I should be without a boiler for seven weeks, to make matters worse nobody calls to check on the situation, I have to call up Hillingdon Homes myself.

"It was fixed on Saturday, finally after they kept double booking electricians through last week, but there is still work to be done to get all of my radiators working.

"I just can't believe how long it has took to get everything sorted out."

Tim Price, chief executive officer of Hillingdon Homes, said: "The boiler at the house in Pole Hill Road was replaced on 6 November approximately a week after the tenant reported the repair request. We are now also replacing radiators at the property which we have found to be defective and this work will be completed on Thursday.

"Our resident liaison officer will be meeting with the tenant shortly after to ensure the works have been satisfactorily completed."