Chair
Janet Brown
Deputy Chair
Jenny Shave
Secretary
Wendy Rice-Morley
Treasurer
Helen Conchar
Minutes of the Harefield Tenants & Residents Association Meeting held on
Monday 14th May 2023, Park Lane, Village Centre, Harefield
Present
Chair Janet Brown
Vice-Chair Apologies
Secretary Wendy Rice-Morley
Treasurer Helen Conchar
Current Committee Members
Derek Kent
Tina Wane
Gerard Barry
Ian Costard
Paul Daniels
Guests
None
Apologies
Val Pyper
Jane Palmer
Tina Wane
Derek and Gillian Kent
Jenny Shave
Attendance
A total of 21 members signed in the book.
Thanks to HC for signing in members.
Welcome
JB thanked everyone for attending.
Minutes of Last Meeting
Agreed as a true copy and approved. Members had all received a copy.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
JB reported that she did not have an update on the ‘Improving the High Street’ project. It was reported at the last meeting the shop identified as being suitable for a Charity Shop had been sold, along with the rest of the block, and she has not heard anything else pertaining to this.
The update on the crossing to be installed on Rickmansworth Road - the money to cover its cost had now been signed off at LB Hillingdon. It is now assumed the tendering process is now in play and when completed the crossing should be installed. W.R.M to chase up the Council for information for the next meeting.
Councillor Martin Goddard has taken over Councillor Jane Palmer’s duties whilst she is off work.
Police
Owl Notifications
There is now an opportunity for you to attend a Personal Safety Awareness session in JUNE as follows:
Days/Dates: Saturday 3rd June 2023 and Saturday 24th June 2023
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 hours
Venue: Simply Gym - 70 High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1JR
What: Personal Safety Awareness sessions; Basic self defence class by a non-police instructor, and local police officers available post class to give attendees the opportunity to raise and discuss any concerns they may have about safety in the local area, and to enable the sharing of crime prevention advice and support.
Attendees are also provided with a goody bag containing some crime prevention giveaways - personal safety items (such as a torch, bells etc) and crime prevention advice materials.
For: All-inclusive (female, male, non-binary), 16+ years old
How to book:
Telephone 01895 236518
Email Richard.ross@simplygym.net
On 5th May 2023
The team have been made aware of several incidents involving the same off-road motorcycles being ridden on the roads and open spaces in Harefield.
3 addresses have been provided for the riders and action will be taken using that information.
Please feel free to contact the team with any information that will help us identify riders of these dangerous off-road bikes, any information you provide is anonymous.
On 9th May 2023
We have been made aware via Hillingdon Council of incidents of Blue Badges being stolen from vehicles in and around the following areas, mainly overnight when the vehicles are parked in disabled bays on residential roads:
- Grainge's Yard disabled bays UB8 1AB
- Rockingham Close junction with Redfern Close UB8 2UP
Crime Prevention
Even if you are not a Blue Badge holder you may have a relative or neighbour who is, and you can help by passing on the following advice - and if the holder is not on the Internet you can help them further by providing information about securing their Blue Badge, as described below:
- If parking in areas that do not actually require a Blue Badge, such as outside your own home overnight, please remember to remove your Blue Badge as this reduces the number of opportunist thefts.
- If possible, consider using a Blue Badge securing device (search the Internet for Blue Badge Protector or Blue Badge Defender), again these take extra time to put in place when you are parking but add a layer of deterrent to any would-be thief.
If you become aware of an individual offering Blue Badges for sale by any method, please contact the police with details.
The Harefield Ward Panel are due to meet on Tuesday 6th June, 2023 in the Cricket Club. Residents are invited to attend.
Planning
JB advised that Planning applications have been low, and that people appear to be following the guidelines when applying for planning permission. It was advised that DK had to also look at the Planning under Ickenham and South Harefield as we are still considered as one village even though the constituency has been split.
The Canalside development that is being proposed comes under South Harefield. A meet and greet event has been set up by the group, WELCOM, to discuss the proposal, on 22nd May at 7p.m. although the consultation deadline appears to be the 16th May. This event is being held in the River Garden Public House, Moorhall Road. Concerns were raised that it appears that the group have already cleared the river bank and it was not just bramble that was cleared and nesting birds could have been displaced, The application, for permitted development, refers to leisure moorings but it has been reported that members of WELCOM have reported permanent mooring for seven were to be developed. Janet to follow up on this apparent conflict with the plans as to whether it is permanent residential or leisure.
The alteration to the planning permission, for two narrowboats on the to moor there temporarily (for three years due to ill health) to become permanent, has been turned down. The appeal is due to be heard on 6th June.
Widewater Place
No plans had been submitted at the present time. It was reported by a member that the Charity for the group owning the site was under financial investigation.
Health
Marie Franklin has left the Health Centre and a new Manager Scott, will be in post full time from 22nd May, 2023. He is in the process of setting up a meeting with PPG group to get it established again. Several members commented that the service provided by the Practice was unacceptable. Phones were not being answered, doctors were not responding to requests to call back patients. A member asked how many doctors there were and what hours did they do. Following requests, JB advised members to email a complaint to the surgery but upon failing that they could contact the CQC. There was a virtual meeting of PPG members within North West Region to discuss roles of the PPG, but unfortunately we were not able to attend. It is hoped the presentation will be available, JB to follow up.
JB requested that people let her know either by email or verbally any “quick fixes” they can think of to help get our surgery back to working more effectively and efficiently. These then can be shared with the surgery for the benefit of both the practice and patients.
Environment
TW and JB went to Brunel |University to a seminar on “Improving the Green Belt.” JB has the presentations and will forward them to anyone upon request .It was reported that Broadwater Lake is a key roosting site for six or seven Wild Fowl.
HS2
Moorhall Road – Narrow Lanes in operation until end of October 2023
In advance of the Colne Valley Viaduct being built over Moorhall Road later this summer, HS2/Align have started to prepare the area to be able to accommodate the Viaduct Crossing works. A Narrow Lanes Setup is in place, the Eastbound Lane will be narrowed to allow construction of Columns to support the Viaduct during construction. The Narrow Lanes Setup will then be in place from 17/04 until 27/10. There should be no disruption to the flow of traffic with lanes of 3.5 metres width. A 20mph Speed Limit is in place until completion of the works-end of October 23.
Moorhall Road – Programme Crossing of Colne Valley Viaduct
LBH Officers have reviewed the Viaduct Crossing works proposals and agreed the Programme dates. The works will take place over the Summer Holiday period July and August 2023 (+ 1 night in October to remove Traffic Management). There will be a Communications piece from HS2/Align for residents in this area.
There have been ongoing issues with operation of the Traffic Lights at the Haul Road Crossing on Moorhall Road (HS2/Align). Traffic Lights in London are operated and managed by Transport for London (TfL). Despite discussion between LBH, HS2/Align and TFL, the issues (Traffic Lights on a fixed cycle, turning Red when there is no traffic waiting to cross) has not been fixed by TFL.
HS2/Align and LBH gave TfL a deadline to resolve the issues and stated that if not resolved then HS2/Align would take over the operation of these Traffic Lights. HS2/Align and LBH want the setup changed to use sensors, (this requires the Traffic Lights to have a data connection so they can be controlled and changed remotely to react to changes in demand of traffic flow).
HS2/Align will be taking over the operation of these Traffic Lights and plan to manage them as they do with the other Traffic Lights under their control at their site access across Buckinghamshire. Once the Traffic Lights operation has been taken over by HS2/Align we expect the issues that have plagued the operation of these Traffic Lights resolved immediately.
Harvil Road Realignment Works Programme
Background
HS2/SCS works are ongoing on the Realignment of Harvil Road due for completion by November 2023. There are works that will involve Traffic Management on the current Harvil Road in 2 areas where the new road will ‘tie-in’ with the existing road, around the Skip Lane junction (which is being rebuilt and will be incorporated into the new Realigned Harvil Road which will run over the Chiltern Railway Line on a new Bridge) and near the Dogs Trust (where HS2 Gate 2 is being relocated, and various other Utilities works are being done).
The ‘Swan Neck’ layout is in operation so traffic is now using this part of the road up to Skip Lane junction while the rest of the new road and bridge is built offline.
Current works
The current Traffic Management is 3-Way Traffic Lights, to allow safe access from the Certas Oil Depot so will always maintain a green signal on the northbound and southbound carriageways on Harvil Road until a vehicle wishes to exit the Oil Depot, when the lights on the northbound and southbound carriageways turn to red. Previously in place over Christmas 2022 period it is expected to only cause minor delays when traffic is exiting the Oil Depot.
Skip Lane Phase 5 – over 7 months – Between 19/02/23 to Sept 2023
- Construction of new road ‘offline’ within SCS Site
- 3-Way traffic lights as above
Upcoming Works
HS2/SCS in discussion with LBH Officers regarding the next phases of works on Harvil Road that HS2/SCS hope to have completed by early July 2023 (prior to the major works on Moorhall Road for the Colne Valley Viaduct Crossing). Proposals from HS2/SCS for either 6 weeks of works (4 weeks of Lane Closures followed by a 2week Full Closure) or a 4 week Full Closure. LBH feel these works could be better packaged into a Full Road Closure for 3 weeks in duration- a more definitive update, hopefully, within the next couple of weeks.
Harvil Road - Temporary 30mph Speed Reduction
Harvil Road now has a temporary speed reduction to 30mph in the section between HS2 Gate 1 (near Shorthill Cottage) and Skip Lane junction - shown by 30mph Signs on this section of the road by HS2/SCS - the speed reduction in place until works are completed on the Realignment of Harvil Road (currently Oct/Nov 2023).
Issues with Mud on Harvil Road
Complaints of mud on Harvil Road being reported to LBH by residents and stakeholders. LBH have been liaising with HS2/SCS to ensure that their Road Sweeping vehicles that clean within the site and entrances will also clean the carriageway on Harvil Road (between Swakeleys Road and Newyears
Green Lane several times each day. Doing this alongside the Wheel Washing facilities at each HS2 Site exit point, hopefully, the mud on the road will be brought under control.
By next Winter the new Realigned Harvil Road should be open with traffic using the New Bridge over the Chiltern Line alleviating the issue.
Update
Weekly audit of conditions on Harvil Road being carried out. Conditions at various points along the road are evaluated by LBH using Video Footage and should additional resources be required to clean the road, this can be targeted.
LBH Officers undertook an audit of the Wheel Washing facilities at the HS2/SCS Sites on Harvil Road. Members of the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team may be involved in an audit the facilities at businesses along Skip Lane to make sure they meet the same standards, in an effort to tackle this issue proactively once and for all.
HS2 ANPR Camera Installations
ANPR Cameras are being installed at 15 locations on roads across the north of the borough as part of the HS2 Vehicle Route Compliance System being rolled out in Hillingdon. These ANPR Cameras once operational will capture real-time data of HS2 lorries to make sure these vehicles are using the HS2 Approved Lorry Routes. It is hoped this will help HS2 and LBH in policing lorries that are non-compliant.
These Cameras will be configured to only capture data related to HS2 lorries, no other vehicle data will be captured or stored. This is part of a Network of Cameras being rolled out across those London Boroughs that have HS2 Sites and will be managed by HS2/SCS. LBH will have real-time access to the data. The system is to undergo a period of testing and is expected to be ‘live’ during summer 2023.
3 cameras located in Harefield:
- Moorhall Road – junction with Harvil Road
- Moorhall Road
- Harvil Road
The Cameras will be installed on LBH Lamp Columns and will display HS2 Signage (so purpose is easily identifiable and they are not confused with ULEZ Cameras): This information is also now available on the LBH Website at HS2 in Hillingdon updates - Hillingdon Council
Website
Following the support of a website by members at previous meetings and the collection of ideas for content at the AGM in April:
It was agreed at a recent committee meeting that a website developer would be engaged to set up a site for the H.T.R.A. J.S has since met with the person engaged and has paid for a domain name to allow the development to progress. It was agreed some basic information would be placed on the site to allow for its development adding further items and information later. J.S. will be the administrator for the site.
AOB
Grants from Align
A meeting was set up, at short notice, with Jemma Regnard (JR) from Allign (who presented at our March meeting). This was attended by J.B. J.S. WRM.
Jemma representing Align covers Hillingdon for applications for grants. JB asked whether their fund would be able to support the HTRA website development costs. J.R could not guarantee but felt positive about the application. Discussion on the amount to request took place and how to apply, preferably by the following Wednesday as an executive meeting was due to take place. JB to make the application. W.R.M requested funding for a defibrillator for community use, attached to the wall of the Baptist Church, Rickmansworth Road and for toys for the new toddlers’ group being set up there. JR advised that she should also apply, separately – as they were for different projects.
J.S. asked if the tours of the HS2 sites were still available for Harefield residents as she had been contacted by interested members. J.B to send a contact link to J.S. to organise the trips. One bus used for the tours is disability friendly - so access for all.
Suggestions for speakers included M.P. David Simmons and
Person to talk about the cameras in the village – GB to investigate possible dates.
Meeting Closed
8.30pm
