Local Authority

HILLINGDON Council have pledged to fight 'unfeasible' plans to increase to number of pitches for traveller sites in the borough.

A report by the Greater London Authority has recommended a capital-wide increase in the areas set aside for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.

It specifies recommendations that Hillingdon must up its lot from 20 pitches to 42, but the council are urging strategists to have an urgent rethink.

WEST Drayton residents will be voting for a different MP this election, after new boundary changes were introduced.

The majority of West Drayton is now part of the Hayes and Harlington constituency, meaning if the status quo was selected, then MP John McDonnell (Lab) would become the area's parliamentary representative, rather than John Randall (Con).

OVER £400,000 is to be spent giving the town centres of Yiewsley and West Drayton a much-needed facelift.

A more spacious High Street with better access for vehicles and pedestrians is aimed at making the place better for shoppers.

The project will span two years, and the budget for the first phase has just been signed off.

MP John Randall has spoken of his delight that a pub's bid for a lapdancing license was refused.

The De Burgh Arms, in Station Road, West Drayton, had its application refused yesterday at a licensing committee.

Residents in Yiewsley and West Drayton had been angered at the bid at the venue, which is right next to West Drayton rail station.

John Randall (Con) who represents Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said: "I am very pleased with the result, obviously I was opposed to it.

"I just do not think it is the right location for that sort of establishment, I'm delighted.

"Potentially, this whole thing could save the area, as it shows Yiewsley and West Drayton will not be dragged down."

What are your views on the pub's lapdancing knockback?

A PUB'S bid to be converted to a lapdancing bar has been refused by a licensing committee.

The De Burgh Arms, in Station Approach, High Street, West Drayton, had applied for permission to become a venue for lapdancing at the end of December to boost its trade.

The news however angered local residents and MP John Randall, who described the bid as 'a backwards step' for the towns of Yiewsley and West Drayton.

A deciding factor for the licensing committee in their refusal was that the bar was so close to West Drayton train station and the bus stop, and made the site for such a venue far from ideal.

A CONTROVERSIAL request from a pub for a lapdancing license to boost its trade is being opposed by an MP.

MP John Randall (Con) who represents Uxbridge, has sent two letters of objection to Hillingdon Council's licensing committee, about the proposal from the De Burgh Arms.

The De Burgh Arms, in High Street, Yiewsley, made the application in December, and it will be considered at a meeting on Tuesday 26th January.

Speaking to the Gazette, Mr Randall said: "I'm very disappointed, it is the last thing we need there.

"We are trying to regenerate Yiewsley and West Drayton, but this will give a rather seedy element to it.

"It should be recognised there is a great deal of concern about the type of operation in a prominent High Street location, next to a railway station that is used by a large number of people of all ages.

"I regard this variation could potentially cause a public nuisance and which could lead to public disorder. It could also potentially put under age children in harm's way."

However, Mr Randall, who has campaigned against lapdancing bar Spearmint Rhino in Uxbridge High Street, in the past, is aware that moral grounds and reasons are not considered when it comes to plans.

One of the things Mr Randall is pushing for, in case it is approved, is for a ban on advertising the nature of the entertainment within is imposed, and strict controls about being able to observe from outside.

Concerns from police licensing officer Sergeant Ian Meens have also been raised.

"The pub has had a chequered history with regard to disorder until recent times when it has operated at a more acceptable level.

"There are police concerns based on objectives regarding the supervision aspect of the activity, the link between such entertainment and its association to other offences and the position of the premises to children attending the station and thereby passing very near."

Police have therefore asked for a minimum of two staff to be present at all times, and for it to be impossible to see the dance area from the street, with a strict under 18s policy.

The application refers to a standalone part of the pub which is a detached and standalone bar area.

Petitions from objecting residents from the area will also be taken into consideration at the meeting on Tuesday 26th.

A NEW development which is looking to regenerate West Drayton is speeding ahead with plans for the first section of housing ready for consideration.

An outline application for the 775 home Drayton Garden Village project was submitted to Hillingdon Council last month, and now a full planning application has been submitted for the first section of housing.

The application, in the north-east corner of the former NATS site, on Porter's Way, West Drayton, is for 62 of the homes.

Stephen Wicks, chief executive of Inland Homes, said: "We hope that planning permission will be granted as soon as possible for this first phase.

"The former buildings on the area have now been demolished and once we have planning permission we will start construction immediately.

"The first properties on the first phase should be ready for occupation by the end of 2010."

This initial phase will be adjacent to Rutters Close, however, Inland Developments have promised that no construction traffic will be accessing the site via Rutters Close.
Once occupied, the new residents will use Rutters Close on a temporary basis until access can be gained through Porters Way.

Mr Wicks added: "We are encouraged by the interest shown in this development. Our second phase will be the area fronting Porters Way and it is intended that this will include the medical centre and care home for the elderly.

"It is unusual that amenities such as the medical centre and the care home come so early in a development. Usually they follow, once all of the housing is built and sold. We are conscious that there is a need for these facilities."

DRIVERS are being warned of the dangers of alcohol over the Christmas period in an initiative to prevent road deaths.

Hillingdon Council is supporting the national 'Think Campaign', which warns that drink driving has the potential to ruin lives.

RELIEF is to be offered to Hillingdon residents- in the form of new public toilets.

The new toilets are to be opened in West Drayton this weekend as part of plans to boost facilities in the borough.

NEIGHBOURS were disturbed from their evening meals on Monday evening when their road was turned into a rubbish dump by a fly tipper.

The incident happened on Monday in Hawthorne Crescent, West Drayton at 7.40pm, with a resident describing the sound of the rubbish being dumped like 'very loud fireworks'.