A ROYAL British Legion branch wants to set the record straight about its future, with false rumours spreading that Tesco had bought its land.

Staff at the West Drayton branch, in Station Road, say there has been a massive decline in numbers attending since hoardings went up and construction began on a Tesco Express store next door.

Conservative peers have come out in support of a Third Runway at Heathrow.

In a debate on aviation policy in the House of Lords on Monday, several peers were in agreement that delaying expansion would impact on the UK economy.

WEST Drayton singer Joelle Moses was eliminated from BBC talent show, The Voice, in her second live show of the competition.

The 21 year-old had her heart set on singing I Surrender by Celine Dion for Saturday's elimination round, but 'uber producer' and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, her mentor on the show, convinced her to opt for a more upbeat track, and she eventually settled for Kelly Clarkson's latest US hit, Stronger.

WHAT better way to spend your wedding anniversary than doing something to help others?

A SUPPORT group for stroke survivors that was axed because of funding cuts has been rescued.

ONE of three men who stood trial for the murder of West Drayton's Anthony Dickson on Christmas Eve 2010 has been convicted of manslaughter.

IN BLAZING Spring sunshine, Christians from all the churches in Yiewsley joined with members of the local community to mark Good Friday with open air worship in Yiewsley High Street, outside St Matthew's Church.

FEARS are mounting that Yiewsley will not get the health centre it was promised two years ago.

Hillingdon Council announced in April 2010 it had struck an agreement with the Primary Care Trust to build a community health centre in place of Yiewsley Pool, in Otterfield Road, Yiewsley which would then be leased to the health authority.

Yiewsley pool finally shut its doors that July, amid much acrimony and despite a last ditch attempt to rescue it. The building was demolished at the end of the year.

A year on and the project appears to have stalled.

NHS North West London said in a statement that it was committed to improving healthcare facilities in the area and the pool site was its 'preferred option', but did not give a timescale or any further details.

NHS Hillingdon said in a statement: "The projected costs of the project have increased due to changes in the specification to the building requested by the GPs who will use it.

"We are in discussion with Hillingdon Council and the GPs about the future of the project and provision of healthcare in Yiewsley."

The council said officers were 'looking at a range of options' before proposals for the site are made.

The Hillingdon Primary Care Trust (PCT) committed itself to the project before the last general election, but the coalition government will be dismantling PCTs across the country by next spring as part of NHS reforms - and now some observers fear the Yiewsley project will fall by the wayside.

At the last West Drayton Town Centre action group meeting, Councillor Dominic Gilham (Con, Yiewsley) called for a cross-party petition on the issue and accused the PCT of 'dragging its feet'.

Fellow ward Councillor Paul Harmsworth (Lab) vented his anger at the delay.
"The plans have gone bottoms up, and my constituents and I have been led on," he said.

"The PCT can afford to pay for it, and I think the best we can hope for is an extension of the existing centre (in High Street). We has been asking for this for 15 years."

John Davies, who chairs the Yiewsley and West Drayton Action Group, added: "What was a hard and fast decision two years ago is no longer certain, and residents are of the view that it just won't go ahead.

"The pool was a loss to the community, and a lot of people thought that a little bit of money could have been spent on it to keep it open but it wasn't to be.

"The area does desperately need a health centre, it is well past its due date.

"We have got all this housing going up, but no infrastructure to support it."

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PEOPLE will be able to enjoy a packed summer of entertainment and cultural events this year, thanks to the efforts of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Town Centre Action Group.
The group, made up of volunteers who live in both towns, local councillors and members of other community organisations, is putting together a programme of summer attractions.

The centrepiece will be a Jubilee Carnival in the Park at Yiewsley Recreation Ground on Saturday, June 9.
Group chairman John Davies explained how the idea came about:
"I raised it at a meeting of the group in June last year and we started kicking the idea about among us.

"I was very conscious we were one of the few parts of the borough of Hillingdon that didn't put on any kind of summer event. One thing led to another and the plans suddenly started to take shape.
"I have to say that without the amazing efforts of the volunteers, none of this would be going to happen - they have really put a huge amount of effort into pushing things forward."
The carnival, from 2.30pm to 8pm, will feature fairground rides, street dancing, face painting, a children's fancy dress competition, shire horse and cart rides, a reptile stand and a fire eater, along with a host of community stalls and exhibits.

Mr Davies added: "We'd like as many local community groups as possible to get involved and bring along their stands to take part."
Apart from the Jubilee Carnival - so-called because it coincides with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations - the festival will consist of a number of events.
They range from a flower festival, Theatre in the Park and an arts and crafts fair, a celebration of music and dance and an event centred on the Grand Union Canal in Yiewsley, which will offer a chance to try out canoeing skills along with trips aboard the West London Floating Classroom, complete with a jazz band.

Other events are being planned, and the festival is shaping up to be bigger than even the now defunct Middlesex Show, for years the borough's keynote summer event.
Mr Davies estimates the total cost of the festival will be between £10,000 and £12,000, and the action group is keen to find sponsors.

"John Guest, the plumbing specialists, have been very helpful and Tesco have also offered to help us," said Mr Davies. "But it would be great if more local businesses were to offer financial help.
"Although this is the first time we've organised a summer festival, there's clearly a lot of support out there. When we helped to open up Drayton Hall as part of the Open House scheme, 500 people turned up, so hopefully everyone will rally round and get involved."
The organisers want hear from people willing to be a steward during the festival. Call Mr Davies on 07775 728 688 if you can help.

The Gazette will publish details of the events as they become available. Have your say at www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/yiewsley.

Grill politicians about the London Mayoral elections and local issues at a special Q&A session.

Fire your questions at a panel of guests consisting of Labour's Val Shawcross, London assembly member and running mate to Ken Livingstone in the elections on May 3; Mike Cox, Former Hillingdon Councillor and Lib Dem candidate for the Ealing and Hillingdon London Assembly seat; The Green Party's Natalie Bennett; and Councillor Dominic Gilham (Cons, Yiewsley).

The event is being held on Thursday, March 15 between 2-4pm at the West Drayton Women's Institute (W.I) hall, in The Green, West Drayton.

For more information call Liz Morell on 07903 387 891, or email elizabeth.morrell@hotmail.co.uk.