December 2011 Archives

ANOTHER cash boost for West Drayton and Yiewsley town centres will go towards reducing traffic congestion.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has earmarked £966,000 to be spent on transport improvements, as part of the ongoing improvement scheme in the area.

It will be ploughed into reducing traffic congestion, improving bus flow and opening up pedestrian and cycle routes.

Earlier this year a sum of £1.8 million was pledged by Transport for London (TfL) for improvement works designed to make shopping in the area a nicer experience.

It will fund a lit-up arc for the Colham Bridge in Yiewsley, while a colourful redevelopment of the Network Rail owned bridge in Station Road, West Drayton, is also planned.

A SWIMMING club forced to move more than a year ago says it is still struggling to offer its members pool time.

Forward Hillingdon had been based at Yiewsley Pool in Otterfield Road for 30 years.

When the pool closed last year, the club split its session between the pools at the new leisure centres in Uxbridge and in Hayes.

But now it claims its time in the water has shrunk by half.

AN ICE cream man has fallen foul of new council regulations, leaving him with a bill of more than £1,000.

Taha Khomsi, 34, of Oregano Close, Yiewsley - who trades as Mr Whippy - appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, December 6.

He was charged with failing to comply with street trading regulations, which he admitted, and fined £300, ordered to pay £784 costs and a £15 victim surcharge, bringing his total costs to £1,101.

Hillingdon Council caused controversy last year when it introduced the regulations, which prohibit ice cream van traders from operating in any town centre or close to any school or nursery, saying the reason was to 'encourage healthier eating habits'.

Mr Khomsi was caught
on July 4 trading outside Wood End Park School, in Judge Heath Lane, Hayes.

A CAMPAIGNER has described the demolition of Yiewsley Swimming Pool as a sad day for the area.

Work ran throughout last week, as workers dismantled the building piece by piece.

The pool in Otterfield Road was built in 1934 and closed last year. Hillingdon Council has pointed out that the elderly pool has been superceded by new leisure centres in Uxbridge and Hayes.

It is developing plans to build a health centre in Otterfield Road, and lease it back to the NHS.

Janet Woeginger, of the Yiewsley Save our Swimming Pool group, said: "What a sad day, and all for money.

"We look forward to plans to develop leisure facilities in Yiewsley and West Drayton. You cannot take away local facilities without replacing them.

"Many people no longer swim, and the loss of the clubs swimming at Yiewsley has left a big gap in the community."

A FORMER territorial army recruit has collected and dispatched more than 800 'goody boxes' to soldiers in Afghanistan this year.

Sue Turner, of Drayton Gardens, West Drayton, is the Heathrow co-ordinator for the charity SOS (Save Our Soldiers).

Last Wednesday was the deadline to send gift boxes to soldiers, to ensure they arrive in Afghanistan for Christmas Day.

She said: "We cut off early so we don't clog up the British Forces Post Office system and stop family mail getting down to the troops."

A minicab and private hire firm have won two national awards for their energy efficiency.

Qdell and LHR Express Cars Ltd, based in Station Road, West Drayton, triumphed at the national Energy Saving Trust awards.

They were victorious in the best small fleet category, and the smarter driving category, with their training scheme highly commended.