Local Authority

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.

AROUND 80 Harefield residents enjoyed a Christmas tea and entertainment at the village's brand new school on Monday (15/12).

Staff and pupils at Harefield Academy in Northwood Way joined the guests for tea followed by carol singing, drama, a samba band and a Mozart Bassoon Concerto played by Meave McHugh.

Year 11 pupil Sarah Owen sang, All I want for Christmas, the gym display team performed and they also managed to fit in a game of bingo.

The High Tea was prepared and served by the school's catering students and hampers were handed out at the end of the day.

Guests took home mince pies, biscuits, cakes, jam and sweets supplied by students of the academy and gifts from Waitrose in Northwood and Ruislip, and Sainsbury's, Ruislip and Tesco in Watford.

An important meeting on December 18 could decide the future of the village's long-standing Harefield Tenants' and Residents' Association (HTRA) which feels its independence is under threat.

Members do not usually meet in December but it was thought the question mark over the future of the association was important enough to arrange a question and answer session with Sarah Laing, head of services development at Hillingdon Homes, which manages Hillingdon Council's social housing, and is proposing to restructure tenants' and residents' groups.

The continuing saga of Tesco's efforts to build an express store and flats on the Kings Arms site in Rickmansworth Road will also be under discussion at the meeting which starts at 8pm, as new plans have been submitted.

These can be viewed at the Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, between 8.45am and 5.15pm Monday-Friday. Any responses need to be made by December 31.

Anyone who lives in Harefield is welcome to the important meeting at Park Lane village centre, which begins at 8pm. A Christmas drink and nibbles will round the meeting off.

PROTESTORS are keeping the pot boiling in their quest to stop a Tesco Express from moving in to the village.

Residents and retailers fear that a supermarket at the Kings Arms site in Rickmansworth Road would threaten the small shops and spoil the uniqueness of the village.

Tesco put in an amended planning application after the original plan, which included three flats, was turned down in October.

Atul Sodha, who runs the Londis store in Harefield, said : "We have had huge support from residents including signing the petition and about 50-60 letters they have given us to send to the council."

The date of the Hillingdon Council meeting where the application will be considered has not yet been published but the petition must be in by December 10.

RESIDENTS of Newdigate Road will present a petition to councillors tonight (November 26) to ask for help with parking problems.

They are hoping to be allotted residents-only parking restrictions because they are unable to park outside their own houses during the day.

Staff from nearby offices and Harefield Hospital are blamed for filling the spaces.

The meeting with Councillor Keith Burrows is at the Civic Centre,High Street,Uxbridge, in committee room 3 at 7pm and is open to the public.

MONTHS of hard grafting and well maintained spaces were recognised at Hillingdon's annual allotments competition prize-giving ceremony.

The annual contest, organised by the council and Hillingdon Allotment and Horticultural Federation, saw first prize for best kept plot awarded to Allan Ellingham for his allotment in Hill House Allotment Site, Harefield.

Second and third prizes went to Audrey and Michael Kilmartin and Barbara Toull, respectively.

Judging for the competition takes place between June and August each year and all allotment holders are automatically entered.

Mary Worrall, Head of Highways and Green Spaces, presented the prizes and added that: "Allotments play an important part in contributing to Hillingdon's green spaces."

Ms Worrall highlighted the health and social benefits of being an allotment holder, saying they "benefit from the fruits of their labour" and the "chance to meet new friends".

Hayes End Allotment Site won best large site, with best small site going to Hill House.
A further prize was awarded to West Drayton Cemetery Allotments, for best council managed site.

Leaflets on how to find allotment sites across the borough are available from all libraries and the Civic Centre.

By Chris Longhurst

Leaflets outlining supermarket giant Tesco's plans for Harefield have finally begun dropping through letterboxes