HTRA Minutes 13/02/2023 – Harefield Tenants & Residents Association

Chair

Janet Brown

Deputy Chair

Mike Gordon

Secretary

Wendy Rice-Morley

Treasurer

Helen Conchar

Minutes of the Harefield Tenants & Residents Association Meeting held on

Monday 13th February 2023, Park Lane, Village Centre, Harefield

Present

Chair Janet Brown

Vice-Chair Apologies

Secretary Wendy Rice-Morley

Treasurer Helen Conchar

Current Committee Members

Derek & Gillian Kent

Jenny Shave

Tina Wane

Andrew Cordingley

Ray Davis

Guests

Representatives from SCS (HS2) Graham Dean and Adam Reeves

London Borough of Hillingdon (LBH) Marion Finney

Apologies

Val Pyper

Jackie Metcalf

Mike Gordon

Gillian Kent

Attendance

A total of 31 members signed in the book - 41 attended

Thanks to Jenny Shave and Andrew Cordingley for handing around the signing in book.

Welcome

JB welcomed representatives from SCS, one of the company groups working on HS2, also Helena Webster (LBH) and thanked them for attending to do their presentations. Members were also thanked for attending. Janet requested everyone sign in the bookfor Fire and Safety purposes.

SCS Presentations

Two presentations, using projection on to a screen were made by the representatives from SCS. These were undertaken as the first items on the agenda so they could then leave if they wished to. Graham Dean presented and answered questions on The Southern Sustainable Placement Area (the mounds between Harvil Road and Breakspear Road South) and Adam Reeves presented and answered questions on The Harvil Road Realignment. The members asked for further explanation on some aspects and raised questions which were comprehensively answered. (The Presentations, which are time limited for viewing, to be forwarded separately due to their size).

Improving Harefield High Street

JB invited Cllr Jane Palmer to introduce this item. Cllr P stated that she had been very concerned about the number of vacant shops in the high street and had been looking at ways to reduce the situation and improve provision in the village. She had therefore been working with Helena Webster (HW) from the LBH Town Centre Improvement Team. HW was unable to show her presentation for technical reasons but distributed handouts and has allowed us to distribute her presentation as an attachment.

HW explained that the key to the project was the aim of supporting HTRA in undertaking the production of a bid for funding from HS2 as part of their Business & Local Economy Fund, to take on one of the leases, of a vacant shop, for two years. The proposal was that the shop would then be opened as a local Harefield Village Charity Shop, with the proceeds going to Harefield organisations and needy causes. After initial investigation the tattoo shop had been earmarked for possible use. However, a member pointed out this shop had very recently been sold, as part of the block. However, the idea in principle was met with overwhelming support by members when JB asked for a show of handsfor who would support progressing with the process in principle. Members agreed it is something that would benefit the community in general.

Minutes of Last Meeting

Agreed as a true copy and approved, proposed by JS seconded by RD Members had all received a copy.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

JB reported the most recent documents for Brownfield Land sites from the London Borough of Hillingdon were produced in 2020. There was only one Brownfield site listed for Harefield and that was in Springwell Lane. JB had been informed that LBH would be updating the document in the future.

Police

RD attended the Harefield Police Panel Meeting on 19th January 2023. The priorities for the next three months are to be:

1. Anti-social behaviour, mainly drugs in Dovedale Close.

2. Speeding on Rickmansworth, Northwood and Breakspear Roads.

3. Violence against persons, mainly woman and girls.

We were informed that funding has been raised for the training of an additional 12 officers to use the speed gun. We should then see more checks being carried out. The police gave details of their new email address which is harefieldvillage@met.police.uk. Their phone number remains the same: 0208 721 2544. There was a Met Police Week of Action between the 23rd and 29th January. In that week our SNT carried out sweeps for drugs and weapons in various sites around the village. The police intend to visit Schools, Churches and Shops to see if they can get people from these establishments to attend the Police Panel Meetings. Anyone from the village can become a member of the panel which meets at the Cricket Club. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 21st March at 6pm. The police would like to remind all women and girls that they should feel safe when walking around the village. Please contact them if you have any concerns or speak to them when they are patrolling in the village. RD wanted to remind the owners of cars with keyless entry that they should keep their keys in a metal ‘safe’ or an approved pouch at home. It is also good practice, especially if your car is parked outside overnight, to also use a mechanical device to secure the vehicle. At the moment there is an increase in the number of these vehicles being stolen. The Neighbourhood Watch Office is concerned about the funding for the Owl Scheme. It is funded by the Mayor of London who does not seem to see it as a priority. It would be a shame if the scheme had to shut down. Let us hope funding will be found.

Health

Surgery

We have not had any further PPG meeting and I have not received any information. However, invitations have been sent out to specific patients to attend a Diabetes Awareness session and also invitations to be involved in a weight management program.

Consultation

Planned Orthopaedic Inpatient surgery for North West London all at Central Middlesex Hospital. JB reported she had attended a consultation session at Hillingdon hospital and has responded as part of the consultation. The proposal had benefits but transport is a really serious issue. Patients with knee/ hip problems getting to and from Central Middlesex Hospital!

Planning

DK advised that planning was quiet and that people appear to following the guidelines when applying for planning permission.

Bear on the Barge have applied for a “Car Wash” facility to be on their site, however, it was felt by some members that it would have a negative impact on the surrounding residents and community in general. It is also in the conservation area. The Association will comment to this effect. Some residents have also objected.

DK reported the village High Street was now a banner free zone, and this was welcomed, however, Anzac Day and the other similar special occasions would be advertised,and this was acceptable. Cllr P said she could not guarantee no more propaganda banners from the Council.

Members raised whether there was any news on Widewater Place. DK advised there was not, and Councillor Palmer stated she thought it was light years away. MF also stated, from a Council Officers perspective that LBH had not received anything at all, as yet. It was reported that the owners of Widewater Place had employed Planning Consultants, at a cost of £1.5 million, to get the plans right. So, a planning application can be expected sometime in the future. A member commented that there was an investigation taking place with regard to money laundering within the owners group.

Neighbourhood planning forum email and response

JB reported that a member had enquired, by email, whether we had a Neighbourhood Forum, which she took to mean a Neighbourhood Planning Forum (NPF). She had responded to the initial enquiry stating no we did not have one. She had made enquires at the virtual Planning Forum meeting-and informed that there were, currently, none in LBH. Two reps on the virtual meeting had been involved in developing NPF reported that it was time consuming and had been brought about by a single issue in both cases; one case resolved itself and NPF disbanded; other closed after issue addressed. LBH had provided link to initial guidance which JB had printed off. She offered this as being available for members to read or she could provide a link to it. This had been discussed at Committee and the Decision – HTRA not to undertake development of a NPF at current time. However, she advised there was nothing stopping a group setting one up themselves.

AGM

The Association missed a meeting in December due to the weather, therefore, the Annual General Meeting will now be in April instead of March. Easter falls on the usual second Monday of the month date, therefore it will be on 17th April 2023 venue to be announced later. JB reported that the Committee were reviewing the Constitution and developing some amendments in order to improve sustainability and resilience. These would be reported on at our next meeting.

AOB

ULEZ

Councillor Palmer stated that the LBH were opposing the ULEZ extension plans as were other Conservative Councils. The LBH is currently waiting for a legal decision to be made on preventing the Mayor of London putting up cameras and implementing the scheme in Conservative Boroughs. Members were encouraged to write to their M.P. to relate their opinions about the new scheme.

Traffic island on Rickmansworth Road

The money was waiting to be signed off. It was emphasised again that speeding cars were making it very difficult and dangerous to cross.

LBH Budget Consultation

Significant rises in several areas. Inequality in parking fees continues between areas eg. Harefield more expensive that Northwood.

Meeting Closed

9.20pm