Local Authority

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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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.

A HARD-FOUGHT planning appeal that centres on the services offered at a former opticians in West Drayton will be decided within the next six weeks.

Until 2009, Colne Park House, in Colham Mill Road, West Drayton, was Crockford Mills opticians.

The property is now leased by the Heathrow Education and Welfare Association (HEWA), which wants to turn it into a community centre and place of worship.

BORIS Johnson was in West Drayton yesterday (Tuesday) to plant the capital's 10,000th street tree, following a pledge to make London greener.

The Mayor of London planted a Field Maple on the green at the end of Bell Avenue, with the help of youngsters from the 5th Hayes scouts.

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 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."

YIEWSLEY High Street will be blitzed by lorries when the Crossrail construction project comes to town.

There are expected to be up to 120 lorry movements per day in the short, congested section between the Horton Road junction and West Drayton station, as renovation work takes place - the highest number for any Crossrail site.

39 RUTTERS CLOSE - Single storey rear extension with 1x rooflight involving relocation of existing conservatory to rear and alterations to front.

41 FRAYS AVENUE - Demolition of existing detached dwelling.

UNIT 5, THE ARENA, STOCKLEY PARK STOCKLEY ROAD - Change of use from class A1 to a mixed use class A1/A3 coffee shop and Installation of 1x internally illuminated facia sign and 1x internally illuminated projecting sign.

4 LITTLEFIELD COURT, ZEALAND AVENUE - Installation of vehicular crossover to front and 1 x parking space.

COLHAM BRIDGE HIGH STREET - Removal of existing parapet wall - installation of spec parapet guardrail with arch and lighting.

5 BRANDVILLE ROAD - Single storey rear extension to include 1 rear rooflight and conversion of roof space to habitable use to include a rear dormer, involving demolition of existing conservatory to rear