November 2008 Archives

SIX cadets from 1381 (West Drayton & Yiewsley) Squadron took part in the Wing Inter-Squadron Cross Country competition held at RAF Uxbridge on November 23.

Eleven Squadrons from across the Wing took part, and the team of cadets from 1381 Squadron achieved second place in the Junior Boys group. Cadet Kane came second in the individual race and following this success has been chosen to represent Middlesex Wing at the Region Inter-Wing Cross Country competition on December 7.  

Having been awarded his Wing Blue for this competition he is hoping to go forward to
represent the London and South East Region at national level.

1381 Squadron has a current strength of around 30 cadets aged between 13
and 18 and parades on Monday and Thursday evenings between 7.00pm and
9.30pm at the Squadron HQ in Porters Way, West Drayton.

Prospective cadets are welcome to contact the Squadron on 01895 448353.

FATHER Christmas is set to sail into Yiewsley and West Drayton on a narrowboat decorated with festive lights.

He will arrive at the Yiewsley canal bridge, in High Street, Yiewsley, at 5pm on November 29 before walking to Dade's Superstore.

Gifts, donated by Tesco, will be handed out and drinks will be available outside the High Street store.

A PROPERTY developer in West Drayton is reporting surging interests from first time buyers in spite the gloomy financial markets.

St George, who own the Park West development in Porter's Way, launched their MyChoice Homebuy scheme in late October to help first time buyers get on the property ladder and are pleased at the response they have had so far.

The buying process takes six to eight weeks to complete so several buyers are currently midway through deals.

Ian Dobie, managing director of St. George, said: "The scheme allows first-time buyers and key workers the opportunity to buy a brand new property and we are pleased to report that staff at Parkwest have so far experienced very good levels of interest."

So far since October more than 1,000 visitors have checked out the new apartments, which are complete with gym and concierge.

The operations director of Firstrung has said that first-time buyers are the least likely group to have their homes repossessed under the current economic conditions.

Paul Holmes said this group is unlikely to face the same difficulties repaying their mortgages as families who have recently upgraded to larger houses.

First-time buyers have tended to take out mortgages that are "very manageable", with the average loan being £115,000 over the past two years. In contrast, buyers with mortgages in excess of £250,000 on a four or five bedroom property are likely to have "real problems", Mr Holmes warned.

First time buyers are also believed to be the group least at risk from repossessions.

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.

A PET superstore is to be opened in Yiewsley.

Pets at Home in the Cowley Retail Park in High Street, Yiewsley, will open its doors on November 28.

The 7,820 sq ft store will create 15 jobs and provide a £367,000 investment in the town.

Manager, Nader Kairimi: "I'm delighted to be opening our new store in West Drayton, we'll be catering for all pets as well as wildlife and we welcome pets of all shapes and sizes to come shopping with their owners."

CASH-strapped people are flocking to charity shops during the economic downturn in search of a bargain.

Charity shops in most areas of the borough report customer increases by as much as a third in recent months.

According to Sue Burgess, manager of the Harlington Hospice shop in Station Road, West Drayton, the number of people passing through the shop doors has gone up by almost 30 per cent in the last two months.

She said: "We have noticed a lot more people coming in who wouldn't do so normally, and they are particularly interested in clothing and shoes, but also toys and games with Christmas coming.

"Despite this, a lot of people are continuing to donate their unwanted items, and we often have to ask people to bring their stuff back the next day as we are so inundated."

Joy Crowe, manager of the British Heart Foundation shop, in High Street, Uxbridge, confirmed customer numbers up by 25 per cent, and said clothing was a particularly popular purchase.

But she noticed donations had gone down dramatically: "Donations are crucial as they keep charity shops going but unfortunately we have seen less and less in the last six weeks."

Since the economic downturn began, charities nationally have been reporting a massive increase in demand for their help and advice, while at the same time donations, both financial and of goods, have dried up.

Liz O'Keeffe, manager of the Scope shop in Station Road, Hayes, agreed, saying the shop was receiving a third fewer donations compared to last year.

She said: "We would expect to receive a lot more winter clothing at this time of year, when people traditionally clear out their wardrobes and buy new things, so the lack of donations will affect us - the less we receive, the less we have to sell.

"People are also buying less - those who used to buy two sweaters are now only buying one."

Only Jo Davies, manager of the Michael Sobell House charity shop in High Street, Ruislip, noticed no change in customers or donations.

She said: "There is still the same steady stream of customers, and we are bursting at the seams with donations.

"Ruislip is quite affluent compared to the rest of the borough, and I just don't think the credit crunch has affected the area yet."