An important meeting tomorrow (Thursday) could decide the future of the village's long-standing (HTRA) which feels its independence is under threat.

A meeting is not usually held in December but it was thought the question mark over the future of the association was important enough to arrange a question and answer session with Sarah Laing, head of services development at Hillingdon Homes, which manages Hillingdon Council's social housing, and is proposing to restructure tenants' and residents' groups.

The Harefield Association, which has been going for more than 40 years, was always independent and propelled by members' subscription until Hillingdon Homes began funding it a few years ago.

It is one of the largest in the borough, covering not just one or two roads, but all the homes in Harefield.

Now with proposed changes, different levels of groups are being proposed to replace the old ones, from a senate (the former Hillingdon Consultative Forum) at the top, to three levels of community action groups.

Though HTRA would come under level three they would not be able to have representatives on the senate, the old Hillingdon Consultative Forum, as there has to be 35 per cent tenants in the area to qualify, and there are only 800 tenants in Harefield.

Leading roles in the new groups would be given to tenants and lease holders and those not currently regis-tered as community leaders with Hillingdon Homes, so people like Mrs Crawley who has been chair for ten years and on the committee since 1979, would not be eligible to continue in office.

Mrs Crawley, of Sanctuary Close, who is highly regarded in Harefield for her fair and informed leadership of HTRA, said: "It is quite distressing to people, particularly those that have worked hard for a number of years.

"They feel they are being discarded in preference to those that have not been involved before.

"If members are not happy with the outcome after the meeting tomorrow we will put it to everyone at the annual meeting on March 19 whether to stay under the present system - or go."

If the latter is decided, HTRA will return to independence, forsaking Hillingdon Homes funding (at present £700 a year) and will return to members' subscription, which used to be £1.25 a year.

The continuing saga of Tesco's efforts to build an Express store and flats on The King's Arms site in Rickmansworth Road will also be under discussion at the meeting which starts at 8pm, as new plans have been submitted.

These can be viewed at the Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, between 8.45 and 5.15pm Monday-Friday.

Any responses need to be made by

December 31.

Anyone who lives in Harefield, not just members, are welcome to the important meeting at Park Lane village centre, which begins at 8pm.

A Christmas drink and nibbles will round the meeting off.