News – Eastcote Residents' Association

Thanks to £1.3 million funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Hillingdon Council is delivering a range of improvements to the borough’s leisure facilities, public spaces, and supporting volunteer opportunities.

In Hayes, the funding is being used to identify improvements to the area around Hayes station, and in West Drayton, as part of the delivery of the new Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre, a rooftop astroturf football pitch.

Additionally, children’s play areas in Cranford Park, Stockley Recreation Ground, Fassnidge Park and Ruislip Lido have been upgraded, with the latest modern equipment, including accessible play equipment where possible and in Cranford Park, wooden equipment was used to match the woodland setting. Similar improvements to Shenley Park in Ruislip Manor and Hayes End Community Park, are set for completion by March, 2025.

To enhance the borough’s green spaces, new wildflower meadows have been sowed and the council’s tree-planting programme bolstered, with more than 700 young trees planted. The fund has also supported local opportunities for volunteering, including the Woodlarks and Waders group which helps look after Highgrove Woods in Eastcote and nearby waterways, as well as 36 other local volunteer positions.

Jess Lee, of the Woodlarks and Waders says their work gives them a ‘tremendous buzz’. She said: “This funding is not just paying for a rake, or a pruning saw or a pair of gloves, it is providing the magic wand that puts a little sparkle into everybody’s lives.”

Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, said: “UKSPF support has enabled the council to accelerate its existing work programme for improvements to public spaces and facilities.

“The wide range of initiatives delivered during the past year as part of the ‘communities and place’ element of the funding is helping to ensure our borough remains green, pleasant and a brilliant place to live.”

Funding under the UKSPF is being delivered in Hillingdon across several themes: communities and place, capital programmes, supporting local business and people and skills and supplier readiness.

Find out more at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/ukspf

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Young Persons Voice Survey

If you are a young person with SEND then Hillingdon Council would like to hear from you: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ebasqoHD-0izIPnVge6Uj0reBsCVY0dDppsTD8gegyVUME0wUFVGQlpDNzMyRkwyS1hMTjM4QkRMQi4u&route=shorturl

DRONE WATCH AND REPORT

ALL Ward Residents and The local Aviation Enthusiast Community is encouraged to report anything unusual, specifically drone activity, to their local RAF Station or Police.

THE DRONE CODE:
Don’t fly near airports or airfields
Remember to stay below 400ft (120m)
Observe your drone at all times – stay 150ft (50m) away from people and property
Never fly near aircraft
Enjoy responsibility

IF YOU SEE A DRONE PICK UP THE PHONE, DIAL 999

Help Healthwatch Gather Feedback on GP Services in Hillingdon

Healthwatch Hillingdon is the health and social care champion for the borough. We are conducting a survey to gather community feedback on accessing general practice (GP) services in the area. Our aim is to understand residents’ experiences and preferences regarding GP access, which will help shape recommendations to improve these services based on the community’s needs.

The survey offers residents the opportunity to share their recent experiences and priorities for accessing GP services. By collecting a wide range of insights, we hope to inform changes that can make GP services more accessible and responsive to the community.

In this email, I’ve included a link to an article providing further information about the survey, along with the survey link itself. The survey is brief and anonymous, and all responses will contribute to a clearer understanding of community perspectives on GP access. Please note that the survey will remain open until 31 December 2024, as we will begin analysing responses in early January.

If you have any questions or require additional materials for distribution, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support in amplifying residents’ voices on this important matter.

Survey: https://healthwatchhillingdon.org.uk/gp-access-and-experience

Survey Article: https://healthwatchhillingdon.org.uk/news/2024-01-12/what-your-experience-accessing-gp-services

Regards,
Mohammed Dardouk
Community Research & Project Support Officer
Healthwatch Hillingdon

Christmas events in Hillingdon

Hillingdon Council is continuing to offer light displays, free parking for residents to support shopping locally and a range of festive events and activities.

Once again, the council is supporting 28 council-led and four community-led Christmas lights schemes, which will illuminate areas across Hillingdon’s 21 wards, including the display at the Civic Centre forecourt on Friday 15 November which will be switched on by the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Colleen Sullivan. Residents are invited to come along from 5.45pm and enjoy free mulled wine, mince pies, tea and coffee while listening to festive tunes from a brass band and carol performances by local schools and choirs.

Residents are also being encouraged to shop locally to support the borough’s high streets and independent businesses. The council is once again providing free parking to HillingdonFirst cardholders on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15, and Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December. This offer is available in council-owned car parks and on-street parking bays. Residents using PayByPhone must register their HillingdonFirst card on the app. For more information, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/festive-parking.

Many local businesses offer residents with HillindgonFirst cards discounts on their products and services. For a list of participating businesses, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/businessdirectory.

From Monday 2 December, the council’s Rural Activities Garden Centre on West Drayton Road, Hillingdon will be selling real Nordmann non-drop premium real Christmas trees. Priced competitively between £40 to £60, depending on height, these high-quality trees are perfect for adding a festive touch to your home. A variety of potted trees grown at the centre, alongside a collection of handcrafted Christmas wreaths, festive gifts and decorations will also be available.

Hillingdon theatres will be putting on performances of The Santa Show and Snow White starting from Thursday 5 December at the Compass Theatre in Ickenham. For the full listings and to book, visit discover.hillingdon.gov.uk/theatres.

Libraries across Hillingdon will be hosting festive children’s storytime sessions, light-up Christmas card, advent calendar and snow globe making workshops, and Christmas-themed coffee mornings with carol singing from local schools for older residents. Free mini wreath making sessions will be hosted at Cranford Park on Saturday 30 November, Sunday 1 and Saturday 14 December from midday to 2pm. And The Battle of Britain Bunker will have Mess Hall crafts and trails around the museum on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December from 11am to 3.30pm.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Ian Edwards, said: “We are continuing to invest in our communities and put up Christmas lights, offer free parking over two weekends and host a range of festive events and activities in our libraries and heritage sites.

“These events are a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, and I also encourage everyone to shop local and support our independent businesses as we celebrate the season of giving.”

For more information on Christmas events and to book spaces (where necessary), visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/events.

review of Hillingdon’s Strategic Climate Action Plan

The consultation on the review of the Strategic Climate Action Plan was launched on 11 November 2024. It runs until 12 January 2025.

The review sets out the actions for the next three-year cycle to ensure we maintain the right priorities and allocate resources accordingly. We are therefore very keen for people to engage with this consultation, to share views and thoughts and to be involved in the way we continue to respond to the climate emergency.

The consultation can be found on this link: https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/climate-strategy-consultation

There is a survey within the consultation page that allows you to feedback your views, share your ideas and make suggestions.

If you have any questions, please e-mail climate-emergency@hillingdon.gov.uk

We very much welcome and encourage views from all our residents and communities.

Blue Badge amnesty to crack down on fraud

A Blue Badge amnesty has been launched by Hillingdon Council to reduce incidents of disabled parking permit fraud.
The amnesty from 18 November to 2 December is an opportunity for residents to hand in badges they have that they are not entitled to with no questions asked or any ramifications.
More than 14,000 residents have Blue Badges issued by the council. The service is highly valued by people with disabilities and serious health conditions who struggle with mobility.
Residents can return Blue Badges that have expired, belong to another person or are no longer necessary to the collection boxes in the reception areas at the Civic Centre, Uxbridge, Botwell Green Library and Northwood Hills Library.
As part of Fraud Awareness Week (17 to 23 November) the council is also raising awareness of common types of fraud, how it’s tackling them and how residents can play their part in reporting deception.
The council’s counter fraud team has identified savings related to fraud and prevented the loss of more than £5.8 million so far this financial year and the team is ranked one of the best in the country for recovering the most social housing (103 properties) thanks to its proactive investigative work.
Cllr Martin Goddard, Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation, said: “Blue Badges help people with disabilities and health conditions park closer to their destination but sadly they can be abused which is unfair on those that rely on the exemptions and dedicated parking spaces.
“We have prosecuted 11 people for Blue Badge fraud in the past year with each receiving a fine, and we are giving people who may be misusing them this opportunity to return them with no questions asked.”
If you suspect that someone is committing fraud against the council, you can report it directly to us in confidence at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/reportfraud or by calling 0800 389 8313.