Local Authority

DRIVERS are being warned of the dangers of alcohol over the Christmas period in an initiative to prevent road deaths.

Hillingdon Council is supporting the national 'Think Campaign', which warns that drink driving has the potential to ruin lives.

THREE new play areas for children will be built in Harefield thanks to a new Government investment.

Hillingdon Council approved the plans to build the sites at Mount Pleasant, Ash Grove, and Taylors Meadow.

The areas are part of a £1.2 million investment programme in facilities in Hillingdon over the next two years.

A FLAG raising ceremony was held at the village green to celebrate being awarded a top accolade for the sixth year in a row.

A STREET which was knocked off its winning perch at last week's Hillingdon in Bloom horticultural awards has vowed to come back stronger next year.

Sanctuary Close, in Harefield, was the winner of best residential street for three years in a row at the annual contest, but this year it was beaten by Havens Close, in Hayes.

Would-be protestors were left stunned last night (Thursday) when it was announced Hillingdon Council would not be pressing ahead with their plans to merge the two Harefield primary schools.

Since March this year, governors at Harefield Infant School, in High Street, Harefield, and Harefield Junior School, in Park Lane, Harefield, have been fighting with the backing of the community against possible amalgamation.

PROTESTORS who campaigned for renovations to their golf club to be refused are celebrating after the plans were withdrawn.

The plans for Uxbridge Golf Club, in Harvil Road, Ickenham, caused uproar among members, and the communities of Ickenham and Harefield, at both ends of the road.

THE biggest coffee morning in the world comes to Harefield on Tuesday to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.

Tea, coffee, and cakes are available to buy at the annual coffee morning at St Mary's Church Hall, in High Street, Harefield on Tuesday (22).

DRUNKEN youths throwing rubbish in the village pond have been warned their actions could result in fines and public shaming.

Bottles of Lambrini alcohol were spotted floating in the pond besides the ducks near the Village Green on Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after a major clean up had taken place.

A FURTHER £80,000 has been allocated as part of the council's ward budget initiative. Spending has been approved for several new projects, although there is still £384,500 available until the end of December. The new projects are shown by ward, which each have £25,000 to spend.

RESIDENTS in Harefield were partly reassured by a speaker representing Hillingdon Homes last night (18/12) after worries their association could be changed out of all recognition.

Members of the 40-year-old Harefield Tenants' and Residents' Association (HTRA) were concerned that a review of tenants' and residents' associations by Hillingdon Homes, which pays the groups annual grants, would have excluded stalwarts like chairwoman Pauline Crawley.

New rules have proposed limiting positions of authority to tenants and leaseholders only.
Sarah Laing, head of services development at Hillingdon Homes said, at the meeting at Park Lane Village Centre, the responses from residents' and tenants' groups were still being looked at and more concrete proposals would eventually be given to them for their consideration.

She explained the tighter rules were aimed at those groups that, unlike HTRA, were not run well and needed tighter constraints, particularly where the funding was concerned.

However, Ms Laing said exceptions could be made to any new rules and that people like Mrs Crawley who have given exemplary service to a well-run, long standing group, would be able to continue if voted back into office by members.

She said: "We are not trying to screen people out, but trying to get new people in.The money that goes to residents' and tenants' associations comes from rent and service charges so we have a responsibility to see it is spent properly.

"I really want to hear any comments about our proposals. I am listening."

Mrs Crawley, who has chaired HTRA for 10 years, said she had felt hurt by the proposals,which would have excluded people like herself from being eligible to stand for office again.

She said it was completely different to being voted out of office, if someone else wished to stand.

HTRA will still discuss at their annual meeting in March whether to forsake the grant and go independent by returning to members' subscription.