AIR cadets have returned from a week long camp at an RAF base in Lincolnshire where they experienced life on a front-line air base.

The cadets and staff from 1381 West Drayton and Yiewsley Squadron enjoyed the action packed stay at RAF Coningsby.

Activities included climbing on the high ropes, rifle shooting, flying in a 'Typhoon' simulation, and a capture the flag night exercise.

In addition most cadets gained swimming qualifications during the week.

Chris Bigos, Squadron Commanding Officer, said: "These camps are intended to show the cadets what day-to-day life is like in the modern RAF, and to reinforce the classroom training they receive during the year.

"It is also an opportunity for them to gain confidence from the physical activities and team exercises.

"There is also a strong social thread running through the week and we aim to make it fun as well as challenging."

The squadron website is www.1381sqn.co.uk and anyone wanting to find out more can contact them on 01895 448353.

PLANS are under way for a 'West Drayton Week of Action' which will take place in June.

Activities will take place throughout the week of 20-26 June and residents are being asked for feedback on what they would like to see taking place.

The programme aims to cut down on anti-social behaviour and to offer people of all ages the opportunity to improve the environment in which they live.

Suggestions can be made to the Streets Ahead team on the Hillingdon Council website at www.hillingdon.gov.uk

ONE wedding is enough for most people- but one couple went to the altar for a second time to renew their vows on their golden wedding anniversary.

Carl and Irene Galloway celebrated their golden wedding last Saturday with a special service, followed up by a party for friends and family.

Carl said: "It was as nerve-racking as it was the first time, over 70 people were there watching.

"It all went according to plan and it was a very memorable occasion, we even had a photographer come all the way from Wimbledon."

The Galloways, who live at White Heart Avenue, West Drayton, believe the secret of a successful marriage is family values, and are keen to do everything together.

Carl is 74 and worked at the foreign office for over 30 years but still invigilates part-time at Douay Martyrs School in Ickenham, and wife Irene is 69.

PLANS for a new block of flats on the site of an old Vauxhall car garage have been refused on traffic grounds.

In total, 41 residential units had been proposed at Station Road, West Drayton, along with space for a shop on the ground floor.

But yesterday (21/4), planners decided the development had not been thought through, and not enough parking spaces for shoppers using the retail outlet would be provided.
Petitioner Mrs Ahmed, who lives on nearby Drayton Gardens, directly adjacent to the proposed property, voiced her opposition to the plans.

"There are already parking problems around here because of people that commute at the nearby station and leave their cars, and this development will only add to that problem.

"The area is already heavily congested, and in the summer the amount of people sitting outside their flats with friends in the gardens would be problematic and bring our quality of living down.

"The building also looks a bit of an eyesore and is not going to fit in with any other buildings in the road."

The flats were also objected to by the Yiewsley Community Involvment Group who expressed concerns that the area was becoming over developed, and there were too many properties but not enough services.

In a written letter they argued that doctors, dentists, and schools in the area are already full to the point of bursting, and a development such as this would only add to the extra strain.

The plans are not the first to be refused on this site, back in September 2007, a block of flats was also refused by planners, on the grounds that it was attempting to cram too many people into too small an area.

At planning committee, councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application.

PEOPLE are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting for The Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Association.
It will take place at the community centre in Harmondsworth Road, West Drayton on May 15 at 7.30pm. The event will be followed by a meeting by West Drayton Social Club Ltd.
For more information contact 01895 44 34 23.

A decision is set to be made tomorrow night (21) on a major planning appeal in Station Road.

An application has been lodged for a mixed-use development consisting of a shop floor, and 41 apartments with associated parking.

A petition has been lodged against the application, objecting to its size, and councillors will make a decision whether to allow or refuse planning permission at the Civic Centre, Uxbridge, at 7pm where it is the first item on the meeting's agenda.

A PRIMARY school teacher is running the London Marathon in memory of her partner who passed away.

Jennifer Livesey, 23, has taught at West Drayton Primary School, in Kingston Lane, since September, and is combining educating the youngsters with a heavy training schedule for the 26.2 mile run.

She said: "I've been training for a while now, I need to raise £3,000 and I'm running it in memory of my boyfriend who died suddenly.

"I am raising money for the Cardiac Risk in the Young."

If you would like to sponsor Jennifer visit justgiving.com/liveseygirls

A MAN who went on a Christmas Day wrecking spree and torched two cars has been jailed for three years.

Steven Richardson, 32, of Swan Road, West Drayton, was pleaded guilty to two counts of arson at Harrow Crown Court last Thursday.

He set fire to two cars belonging to a man in Magnolia Street, West Drayton, as part of an ongoing dispute, causing over £7,500 worth of damage.

DS Tony Norris of Hillingdon Police said: "Three years is a strong conviction, he deliberately targetted these cars, going there armed with a cannister of petrol.

"It was his first offence and he gave himself up immediately, making full admission for what he had done and it was something that he regretted.

"But the fires were lit in a heavily populated area and could have got totally out of control very quickly and endangered a lot of lives."

THE bizarre case of a mystery cat which turned up in Wales has been traced back to the borough.

The brave cat survived being hit by a car in Newport, and microchipping traced him back to Harrow, but it now turns out thanks to a mix up he originates from West Drayton.

Mandy James, deputy head nurse at Summerhill Veterinary Centre said: "The cat was found in West Drayton around a year ago as a stray and attempts to find his owner failed, so the people who found him kept him and moved to Wales where he was involved in an accident.

"We desperately would love to find his original owner, he has been through a lot in the last month."

A mix up at the RSPCA in Uxbridge led to his microchip being confused with another cat in Harrow, but now his original homeplace has been tracked down, the vets are hoping the tale will have a happy ending.

Could you be the owner? Call the newsdesk on 01895 451030.

A THREE bedroom house was found filled to the rafters with £40,000 worth of cannabis.

The house in Vine Close, West Drayton was converted into a cannabis factory, with even the loft being used.

There were approximately 350 plus plants discovered by Heathrow Villages Safer Neighbourhoods Team in the raid at 5.45pm on Thursday.

Thirty 600 watt bulbs were found which were being used at the house to cultivate the drugs, all equipment and plants have since been destroyed.

No arrests were made but police are continuing their efforts to track down those responsible.