Extra vehicles will cause gridlock

I REAFFIRM my protest so much disliked by Mr Callum May in last week’s letters section (Methinks he doth protest too much, January 30).

Please let’s not be so pedantic. True there is one supermarket, but there are also 15 superstores in South Ruislip plus West Waste and many businesses, which accounts for the dreadful traffic not enjoyed by us local residents.

I can understand why Mr May is not bothered by it because in Royal Crescent they do not get any through traffic. I should know, as I lived there for 23 years.

The road system in South Ruislip is fixed and will not be changing, therefore extra vehicles using a development such as that proposed by Arla cannot be accommodated without causing gridlock, more pollution and increased costs for our local businesses.

I also point out that there is plenty to do in south Ruislip. We have sport, educational, cultural and social facilities plus five parks, access to the Hillingdon Trail a golf course and a swimming pool just 400 metres from the area in Northolt.

I suggest Mr May gets out a bit more and gens up on the local area. Dean Park Hall would be a good starting point. He will then find plenty to do and the future rebuilt Sainsbury’s will give him great scope to past the time shopping.

DON TICEHURST

South Ruislip

People wanted us to stop littering

It IS disappointing to have read a number of negative stories in the media alleging councils are handing out litter fines as a way of making money. It’s quite simple really – if people did not litter, they would not get fined.

Our residents told us they wanted us to take a tougher stance on littering in Hillingdon and we responded.

Of those surveyed, 92 per cent supported the introduction of fines for littering, and some requested we name and shame the offenders.

In response to this feedback, the council introduced a litter fixed penalty notice scheme in partnership with Xfor Local Authority Support Ltd. The council does not aim to make a profit and the income from penalties received helps to fund the running costs of the scheme.

The cleanliness of Hillingdon’s towns has improved since the fines were introduced in 2011 and the money saved on unnecessary street cleaning of litter can be better spent on services that our residents want.

COUNCILLOR JONATHAN BIANCO

Cabinet member for finance,

property and business services

Hillingdon Council

Popular veteran will be missed

YOU may have already had the sad news that Captain Don Woodhouse died on Monday, January 28, aged 92, after a short illness.

Captain Don’s funeral arrangements are yet to be announced, but when they are there will be a massive attendance.

One of the most popular residents of Eastcote, he will be sadly missed.

I sat next to him at the 4th Eastcote Scout Group’s Christmas party and he seemed quite well, albeit a bit weary. His main complaint was that he had just given up driving.

When I have more information I shall prepare for a suitable obituary. As his connection with scouting and the Church Army stretched back over many decades, there is much to cover.

As we say in scouting, when someone in the movement dies: “Captain Don has ‘gone home’.”

He was a kind and lovely person who survived a number of illnesses, but always remained cheerful.

DAVID HORCHOVER

via email

n The Gazette will publish an obituary for Captain Don soon. If you would like to share your memories of him, please email editorialuxbridge@trinitysouth.co.uk.

Community wishes must be respected

I READ with increasing bemusement about Eastcote Hockey Club’s (EHC) endeavours to grab even more of our public land on Pinn Meadows.

Please don’t get me wrong. I am in no way opposed to hockey, football, cricket, or any other sport being played on the playing fields. Indeed, I want to encourage sport for everybody, and this is one of the main drivers for my own opposition to EHC’s repeated attempts to grab even more public land for its own, exclusive benefit.

EHC has claimed that the second Astroturf pitch is to bring sport to all. How can this be, since it would deny the huge majority of people who currently enjoy this public asset.

On previous applications, the hockey club was advised that its application has been recommended for refusal and on each occasion it has withdrawn the application days before the planning meeting, presumably to avoid having to wait three years before it can re-apply. Is this treating the community with respect? I think not.

In recent weeks, I have spoken to a number of members of the hockey club. It is very clear that support for this project is far from unanimous within the hockey club itself.

Do we really want to see an estimated £500,000, largely of public funds, spent just so a few hockey players can enjoy the occasional cup of tea on the few occasions that they have to play away from Ruislip? Is there a demonstrated need?

These plans are not justified by need, and the cost to the community is way beyond any benefit it might bring.

If EHC wants to remain where it is on Pinn Meadows, then it must respect the wishes of the community in which it exists.

MIKE PHILPOTT

Ruislip

There is demand for a new pitch

In response to Michael Grimmel’s letter (Hockey pitch plan is just not sensible, Gazette, January 23) I would like to correct a few of the misapprehensions about Eastcote Hockey Club’s plans to install an additional artificial pitch, mainly on land leased to the club for sporting use by Hillingdon Council.

Hockey is not in long term decline and neither is Eastcote Hockey Club. Figures from England Hockey show that participation in London has risen 45 per cent over the last five years (figures from England Hockey Board January 2013).

At Eastcote HC, we have seen demand grow in our ladies and colts sections since the Olympics, with another ladies side about to be launched, taking the number to 15 adult sides including five ladies, on Saturdays.

Our colts section is virtually at capacity due to lack of space at King’s College Road and Harefield on Sunday mornings, and we cannot take any more new players into our lower age group sides.

We have demand from football groups, Middlesex Hockey Association and our own unsatisfied training and playing requirements to make sure that the additional facility will be used as much as the existing pitch.

The new pitch will allow hockey, football and other sports to be played on it. The ability to use the pitch after dark allows increased mid-week community use. It is used by local schools and provides free hockey coaching sessions to the local community, All excellent ideals I am sure Mr Grimmel would agree with.

The additional use of King’s College Playing Fields for sporting use will help to increase sporting activity a stated aim of national and local government.

The hockey club are a non-profit making community amateur sports club open to all. As such, we feel this additional sporting facility can only enhance the borough’s sporting credentials, and it has been developed as part of the Hillingdon Olympic legacy.

ROB RIDDLESTON

Chairman

Eastcote Hockey Club

Meadows are not solely for hockey

The meadows at King’s College Playing Fields, Ruislip, are for the pleasure and usage of all the local residents, not solely for Eastcote Hockey Club (Hockey club leaders say pitch is essential, Gazette, January 30).

To erect another floodlit Colditz-style sports pitch there is unthinkable, and would also take away space from the local football teams that play there.

VINCENT LANGFORD

via email

Police are facing tough challenges

The crime and policing plan proposed by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has set some tough challenges, both for reducing crime and improving public confidence in us.

To achieve this, at a time when we have to make major financial savings, the Metropolitan Police will have to change the way it operates. The changes are intended not only to make us more efficient, but also make us the best police service possible.

Starting in the spring we will begin to make our safer neighbourhoods teams the foundation of what we do and ensure that the 22 wards in Hillingdon Borough have the support to deliver the results the public expects.

Officers will be available for longer and at times when communities really need it. Every day of the week, including weekends, safer neighbourhoods officers and police community support officers will be on duty.

Communities will still have a named officer and PCSO, with a named sergeant responsible for one or, in some cases, two wards. They will have access to more officers to support them if required.

The increased teams will have more of a focus on cutting crime – having a role in the investigation of crimes in local communities and catching local criminals.

Naturally, with a change such as this, moving officers into different roles and the recruitment of officers into the force will take time to achieve. We aim to achieve these numbers of officers in post between April 2013 and April 2015.

Public access to policing services has changed considerably in recent years. The introduction of the 101 non-emergency number and our ability to diary appointments for members of the public, coupled with internet access, means greater flexibility to access our services.

The impact is that there has been a 20 per cent decrease in the number of crimes reported to front counters in four years. The proposed closures of front counter facilities is being discussed.

Uxbridge Police Station has been identified as a suitable site to provide access for the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 24-hour front counter will be improved to provide a better service for the public and will eventually include, for example, initial contact kiosks to provide instant access translation for the public.

We want to seek your views. There is a public consultation meeting convened by MOPAC in Hillingdon tonight (Wednesday) from 6pm to 7pm at the Civic Hall in the Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge.

You can also register your views online. For more information on the consultation and how to have your say, please visit www.london.gov.uk/events/policing-and-crime-consultation-events.

STEVE KERSHAW

Hillingdon Borough Police Commander

Ideas for naming school on RAF site

Since asking for names for the new school to be built at RAF Uxbridge, the Gazette has received a number of suggestions. Here are a some of the best.

n I would like to suggest Wingfield School or Wingsfield School, as I think these roll off the tongue easily.

I hope for most people this would have obvious connections with flying. The motto of the school might then be able to reflect an education which enables each child to reach their highest potential.

WENDY WILLIAMS, via email

n As the base was used by famous people such as Sir Keith Park and TE Lawrence, I think it would be ideal to name the school Lawrence Park School.

MARK NEWTON, Ickenham

n I think The Churchill School would be a most appropriate name for the new school, as Churchill’s bunker is on the site, from which the most ‘dangerous’ day of the Battle of Britain battle was played out. This day was a key turning point in the war.

EILEEN RUNKEL, Ickenham

n There are so many RAF connections that I think a fitting name would be The John Randall School.

The Randalls are a long-established family in Uxbridge and, as an MP, John Randall is second to none, although the late Michael Shearsby was also a great man for the residents.

The only other name that I would think fitting would be Hillingdon House School.

ANONYMOUS, via email