Minutes

Monday 9th September 2024

Harefield Library, Park Lane, Harefield

Current committee members

Chairman Gerard Barry

Secretary Paul Daniels

Treasurer Helen Conchar

Other Members Derek and Gillian Kent, Tina Wane, Ian Costan, Lin King, Tracey, Blake

Apologies

Helen Conchar

Attendance

28 members signed in

Welcome

The Chair, Gerard Barry, welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending. 

GB outlined the current state of play with regards to the LB of Hillingdon and Councillors Jane Palmer and Martin Goddard in that the community engagement officer for the borough had written to inform the HTRA that they would be withdrawing their support from the group. 

This was discussed at length and the full transcripts of all correspondence would be posted on the HTRA website as soon as possible. 

Minutes of the last meeting

Monday 9th July 2024

All had received the minutes and they were agreed as a true copy proposed by Gillian & seconded by Andy and approved. 

Matters arising from the minutes

None

Website

the new website has been created and it is up and running in its basic form but pages are being added daily and should be completed in 10-14 days. 

The new website address is  www.harefieldresidents.org.uk & the new email address for future enquiries is enquiries@harefieldresidents.org.uk, we will also be adding in other email addresses for planning etc but for now please send any email enquiries to the above or click the contact us page on the website. 

Once the website is fully up and running we will post the minutes of each meeting to the website rather than emailing them to everyone 

GB met Danny Beales MP re Harefield Community Centre to discuss local issues and the plight of the HCC & its future existence, everyone agreed it was vital to keep the community centre open.

Guests

H4ALL- Nahdia & Samantha 

H4All is a local London Borough of Hillingdon partnership operating under the charity Third Sector Together North West London (3ST) to deliver various wellbeing and community services with its sovereign partners.  

H4All were founded by five prominent third sector organisations: Age UK Hillingdon Harrow & Brent, DASH, Carers Trust Hillingdon, Harlington Hospice and Hillingdon Mind. 

You can find our more here: https://www.h4all.org.uk/  

We have three main teams: 

Wellbeing service - A triage service that helps to signpost and find you the correct support. 

MyHealth Workshops- Free group workshops on the management of long-term conditions facilitated by GP’s (menopause, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol). 

There is a menopause workshop in Harefield 30/09 at the doctor’s surgery.  

Community Team - The team helps to build up smaller charities, connect the third sector, and recruit volunteers for the borough. 

H4ALL are looking for community champion volunteers in Harefield to help local residents find to the right service using a comprehensive directory of services in the borough.  

It is a very low commitment role, and we encourage you to use the community groups you already attend to pass on knowledge about health and services.  

There is the ability to access lots of training and attend volunteer social meetings.  

If anyone would like to be a community champion for Harefield please contact us or H4ALL directly. 

GK mentioned that the work that H4ALL are doing in terms of creating a directory of local services is what the HTRA are doing for the website and therefore replicating this bit of work 

Planning/HMO’s

It has been very quiet over the summer, little activity to report 

Weybeards Farm- published planning permission for 6 houses but this has been refused several times. 

They were asked to do a soil test to ensure the land was safe for habitation, the land used to be a landfill site with asbestos so there are concerns from the LA about exposure. They either need to dig out 0.5m soil or add the same volume on top to contain any exposure 

 

GB advised regarding HMO’s in Perivale that local residents petitioned via the LB Ealing &  organised an immediate article 4 which prevents any new HMO under Permitted development rules. 

 

The local residents have seen an increase in crime of all kinds from burglary, knife crime, rape etc & LBE are likely to have this article 4 across the borough within 12 months 

 

As a result LB Ealing are moving HMO residents of Ealing into Denham at ???? & Ruislip (Barn Hotel), a private developer did a deal with LB Ealing on a 5 year deal to move them to privately owned building in LBH & South Bucks. 

 

This is a serious concern because there is no control of the people coming in, where they go, what the living accommodation is like, i.e safe for habitation & the additional strain on local resources. 

The committee agreed to undertake an accurate census of those HMOs operating in the village with the assistance of the members. 

Health

Invite PPG members to a future HTRA meeting to discuss the role of the PPG and how the HTRA can support the PPG with local community engagement –action TB/GK 

 

Vaccine time at the surgery, starting from 6th October 

New vaccine RSV out for over 75’s 

Harefield Library on 4th October are hosting the Harefield Health hub 10;30am to 2;30pm to deliver services such as wellbeing talks, support for your health needs etc 

Police/Roads

  • Northwood Road closed from 8am on 14th September to 5pm 15th September for Affinity works between Ash Grove & Shepherds Hill House
  • Next ward panel meeting 15th October Harefield Cricket club 

AOB

– Small business spotlight Pop up market event at the HCC Tuesday 4th July 6;30pm- in support of Vasculitis UK https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/

– “Joining up Harefield”, do an ABC directory of all services that the village offers and build a compendium for people/businesses of the village. Also, to publicise key events such as D-Day, Anzac day, summer fete’s etc.

– Volunteers work on the 1st Saturday of every month & collect rubbish from 9;30am at the Common, we are asking if anyone would like to help they are more than welcome to

keep the village clean. Well done to those who give up their time every week to do this, its very much appreciated.

– Does South Harefield fall out of the local electoral area? Go to the electoral commission, put postcode in and see where your street falls under.

– Ian Price Reform UK Ruislip, Northwood & Pinner, spoke to the members and praised the community for getting together like this caring about the village. He advised he was willing to stay behind and have a chat with anyone about key matters or take up a discussions at another time.

– Hustings- discussions about calling a hustings with all the main parties to get some assurances from the local candidates that we as a village are not overlooked and we put our points across.

– Harefield Infants & Juniors Summer fete Saturday 29th June 12-3pm

Traffic (Inc ULEZ)

  • 7.5t access through the village, container lorries coming through the village which far exceed the weight limit but seems that nothing is done even.
  • Issues with speeding on Hill End Road, Park Lane, Harvil Road, Northwood Road will be brought up at the next ward panel meeting
  • Reports made by residents to LBH about skip lorries going through the village but nothing is being done, skip lorries are seen going down Vernon Drive which has signs at both ends stating “unsuitable for HGV’s”

The Committee will continue to keep raising this issue with LB Hillingdon, the Councillors and eventually the MP. 

Direct action may then be needed in the form of raising awareness through banners, a leaflet and a petition. 

HS2

  • New HS2 Joint Community ‘Drop-In’ Event with Align & SCS in Harefield – Tue 10th September 5-7pm  & 17th September Harefield Community Centre between 4pm & 7pm 
  • HS2 Align Colne Valley Viaduct Newsletter – Summer 2024 (in Community Engagement section)
  • Video Update on the construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct (in Community Engagement section)
  • Video Update on the construction of the Copthall Tunnel (in Community Engagement section) 

Environment

The Medi Parc (Grade 1 Site of Interest for Nature Conservation) 

Yet again the Medi Parc has been stripped, the foliage has been cut down and the earth scraped up to stop people walking on the site. I have written again to Hillingdon Council and the Environment Agency asking if there is any way the Medi Parc can be protected from the damage the owner/developers are inflicting on the flora and fauna of the site.  Unfortunately over the years the Council has not provided any answers that will protect the site from destruction. 

Broadwater Lake – HOAC 

Broadwater Lake development to create a watersports and activity centre. 

There has not been a decision with regard to the planning application to develop the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) into a watersports and activity centre.  The applicant, Hillingdon Council, is looking to provide more information in support of its application.  However, people can still access the information online and comment on the application. 

The application number is 2382/APP/2023/2906, access via Hillingdon Council Planning, and search planning numbers. 

Denham Country Park 

Buckinghamshire Council has been awarded funding from HS2 to carry out improvements to Denham Country Park following HS2’s viaduct construction and associated works.  in particular the National Grid’s pylon relocation which has had a significant impact on the area , taking out a large swathe of land and habitats from the Colne Valley, and directly affecting the Denham Country Park. 

Harefield Litter Pickers 

Harefield Litter pickers, organised by Jackey Metcraft, meet once a month on the first Saturday at 9.30am on the village green near the Hare sculpture. 

They would appreciate more people to help them.  This is just a once-a-month commitment and just for a couple hours, but not if it is raining.  Please go along and find out what is involve they would really like to meet you. 

LBH 

GB discussed the current situation with the connection of the HTRA, LBH & the Councillors 

There was a sense of dissatisfaction from some residents with Cllr Jane Palmer as she has not been visible in some time, has not been to a HTRA meeting since the meetings resumed in June 24 and ignores requests for assistance from members of the village. 

GB will present a powerpoint presentation on the exchanges/emails between all parties at the next HTRA meeting.- Action GB 

AOB

  • The tennis courts at Priory Close by the Harefield Community Centre are locked up & work is  underway to get the courts re-laid, it looks like there will only be 2 courts there now & work seems to have stalled as there has been no activity there for several weeks.  

GB has contacted the councillor Martin Goddard to enquire as to why and his response was negative & non responsive. The Councillor has so far refused to respond on the matter.  

  • Below is a publicised list of where defibrillator are in Harefield but not all of these are accessible out of hours:  

Defib finder – find the defibrillators nearest you. 

St Marys Church Hall 

Harefield Library 

Harefield Junior School 

Harefield Baptist Church 

ISG Construction (Harefield Academy construction site) 

Unit 3 Woodcock Hill Industrial Estate, Harefield Road, Rickmansworth, WD3 1PQ 

Dogs Trust 

  • Tracey Blake reported that Father Christmas comes around every year & they are looking for donations to supply toys. Please look up Paul Bentley on Facebook & contact him if you can donate. 

Action Points

TB/GK to invite PPG to a future HTRA meeting 

GB to prepare presentation on recent history of discussions with LBH & the councillors  

Next Meeting

Monday 14th October 2024 – 7:30pm